This is a message I preached this last week in chapel. I thought it may be interesting to you.
(1 Samuel 10:9) 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.
Introduction:
The Israelites had been established in the land of Canaan for about 400 years, being ruled by God through the judges. The Israelites, however, started looking at the nations around them, desiring to pattern themselves after them. They demanded to have a king rule them. This was a rejection of God and His leadership.
- We need to learn to follow God and His leadership in our lives. We think that we know what’s best for ourselves, but we don’t. Only God knows what is truly best.
God looked out among the people and chose Saul. He had no real position of leadership and possessed a humility that was unique among the Israelites at that time. When Saul was approached about becoming the first king, he didn’t want to do it! Even after being anointed, he went back and tried to continue his old life.
- It doesn’t matter what you’ve done before. When God calls you to do something, stand up and accept the responsibility. It’s not a matter of pride vs. humility. It’s a matter of obedience and boldness. The boldness is not because of who we are, but because of who we serve. Look at Moses: he possessed boldness when facing Pharaoh and the Egyptian army, but God said that he was the meekest man alive.
In our text, we can see in verse 9 that “God gave him another heart.” When God calls us, He changes our heart.
Here’s a question for you to consider: How is your heart?
We just came out of the Missions’ Conference and heard the stories from the missionaries. The preaching went out, encouraging us to stand up and offer ourselves up to God’s will. We heard Bro. Andrew Aaron share his testimony about God’s goodness to him and his family – a tremendous example of Romans 8:28 in action.
Is your heart the same? Or did God change your heart a little?
- Do you have a stubborn heart? (Ecc. 8:11)
- Do you have a heart of madness? (Ecc. 9:3)
- Do you have a depraved heart? (Jer. 17:9)
- Do you have a heart of extortion? (Matt. 23:25)
- Do you have a defiling heart? (Mark 7:20-23)
- Do you have an unbelieving heart? (Heb. 3:12)
- Do you have an impenitent heart? (Rom. 2:5)
- Do you have a hardened heart? (Ex. 4:21; 14:17; Is. 63: 17; Matt. 19:8)
Ezekiel 18:31 – “Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?”
Ezekiel 36:26 – “A new heart also will I give you, and new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.”
Job 23:16 – “For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:”