A NEW HEART FOR GOD’S SERVICE

A NEW HEART FOR GOD’S SERVICE – ANGLICAN COMMUNION

READ: 1 Samuel 10: 1-16 (KJV)

1 Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the Lord hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?

2 When thou art departed from me to day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel’s sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son?

3 Then shalt thou go on forward from thence, and thou shalt come to the plain of Tabor, and there shall meet thee three men going up to God to Bethel, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine:

4 And they will salute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread; which thou shalt receive of their hands.

5 After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy:

6 And the Spirit of the Lord will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.

7 And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee.

8 And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold, I will come down unto thee, to offer burnt offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings: seven days shalt thou tarry, till I come to thee, and shew thee what thou shalt do.

9 And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day.

10 And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.

11 And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?

12 And one of the same place answered and said, But who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets?

13 And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place.

14 And Saul’s uncle said unto him and to his servant, Whither went ye? And he said, To seek the asses: and when we saw that they were no where, we came to Samuel.

15 And Saul’s uncle said, Tell me, I pray thee, what Samuel said unto you.

16 And Saul said unto his uncle, He told us plainly that the asses were found. But of the matter of the kingdom, whereof Samuel spake, he told him not.

THE MESSAGE:

God chose Saul to be the first king of Israel and he was anointed privately by Samuel before a public official coronation (1 Samuel 10: 17-25; 11: 14-15). It is significant to note that Saul had to receive the Spirit of God and was turned into another man with a new heart, for him to be able to serve as king in Israel (verse 6 & verse 9). Historically, Israel was known as God’s people so why was it still necessary for the Spirit of God to come upon Saul (an Israelite), to turn him into another man with a new heart (verse 6 & verse 9)? The reason is because titles do not make one a habitation of God’s Spirit. No one can be turned into another man for the service of God without the indwelling of the Spirit of God. The carnal mind is enmity against God and His laws; and those in the flesh cannot please God (Romans 8: 7).

It is unfortunate that many answer Christians, obtain titles from the Church and even get committed in the service of God without having the Spirit of God in their lives. He that does not have the Spirit of God is none of His (Romans 8: 9). The Spirit of God is obtained by repentance and inviting Jesus into our lives as Lord and Saviour (Ezekiel 36: 25-27; Titus 3: 5-6). Follow these simple step and the spirit of God will change your heart and inhabit and equip you for His service.