April 09, 2014 - Wednesday

Start Time: 7:39 A.M.

End Time: 8:10 A.M.

Title: Saul Made King

Scripture: 1 Samuel 10:1 – 27

God’s Message / God’s Promise / God’s Commands:

→ Then Samuel took a flask of olive oil and poured it on Saul’s head and kissed him, saying, “Has not the Lord anointed you ruler over his inheritance?^[a] When you leave me today, you will meet two men near Rachel’s tomb, at Zelzah on the border of Benjamin. They will say to you, ‘The donkeys you set out to look for have been found. And now your father has stopped thinking about them and is worried about you. He is asking, “What shall I do about my son?”’  “Then you will go on from there until you reach the great tree of Tabor. Three men going up to worship God at Bethel will meet you there. One will be carrying three young goats, another three loaves of bread, and another a skin of wine.  They will greet you and offer you two loaves of bread, which you will accept from them.   “After that you will go to Gibeah of God, where there is a Philistine outpost. As you approach the town, you will meet a procession of prophets coming down from the high place with lyres, timbrels, pipes and harps being played before them, and they will be prophesying. The Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person. Once these signs are fulfilled, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God is with you.  “Go down ahead of me to Gilgal. I will surely come down to you to sacrifice burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, but you must wait seven days until I come to you and tell you what you are to do.”

NOTES:

Ø Only when the Spirit of the Lord comes upon us that we will be changed into a different person!  God is all-powerful and the only person who can change us.  Saul was unworthy and came from a weak clan yet Samuel, gave him specific instructions so the Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon him and only then did he become different person, then he was said to do whatever his hand finds to do for God is with him.  Know that our own strength, our own effort or time is futile.  No matter how strongly we feel that we need to change, this desire will be useless without the Spirit of the Lord upon us.  So it is true that people don’t change, only God can change us.  We need to be filled with His Spirit so we become a different person from who we really are – deceitful, weak, sinful, proud, selfish, etc.  We need the Spirit of the Lord to come powerfully upon us to break ourselves and become a change person!  Praise Jesus for His power and love to change us to become a better person!  Thank You Lord!

→As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul’s heart, and all these signs were fulfilled that day.  When he and his servant arrived at Gibeah, a procession of prophets met him; the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, and he joined in their prophesying.  When all those who had formerly known him saw him prophesying with the prophets, they asked each other, “What is this that has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?”  A man who lived there answered, “And who is their father?” So it became a saying: “Is Saul also among the prophets?”  After Saul stopped prophesying, he went to the high place.  Now Saul’s uncle asked him and his servant, “Where have you been?” “Looking for the donkeys,” he said. “But when we saw they were not to be found, we went to Samuel.” Saul’s uncle said, “Tell me what Samuel said to you.” Saul replied, “He assured us that the donkeys had been found.” But he did not tell his uncle what Samuel had said about the kingship.

NOTES:

Ø When God’s Spirit is upon us, the whole people will be amazed and wonder of our identity because we were once weak but now we are strong!  When God is upon us, the people will question where we came from and who’s parents we have because of our obvious greatness and might that does not give clear explanation.  People will wonder how we became to be this person and they will try to seek answer by seeking into our past or our history yet when God operates, our past is not a limitation; our history has no bearing; only His power stands!  Hallelujah!  Thank God because He does not choose us because of our past or our capabilities!  People will wonder and will try to explain what happened to us and in the end, they will be directed to one answer only, the power of God!

Ø God has a perfect time for everything, including the declaration of good news! Saul could have boasted to his uncle what Samuel told him.  Saul was chosen to be king and this is great news!  Human nature will definitely shout and tell of this great news to family and friends; yet Saul restrained himself and did not tell his uncle of this great news for most likely, Saul has his unbelief or uncertainties at this time (note that at this time, the Spirit of the Lord was already upon him, yet he was still unsure of what Samuel told him about)

→ Samuel summoned the people of Israel to the Lord at Mizpah and said to them, “This is what theLord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I brought Israel up out of Egypt, and I delivered you from the power of Egypt and all the kingdoms that oppressed you.’  But you have now rejected your God, who savesyou out of all your disasters and calamities. And you have said, ‘No, appoint a king over us.’ So now present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and clans.”  When Samuel had all Israel come forward by tribes, the tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot.  Then he brought forward the tribe of Benjamin, clan by clan, and Matri’s clan was taken. Finally Saul son of Kish was taken. But when they looked for him, he was not to be found. So they inquired further of the Lord, “Has the man come here yet?” And the Lord said, “Yes, he has hidden himself among the supplies.” They ran and brought him out, and as he stood among the people he was a head taller than any of the others. Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the man the Lord has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people.” Then the people shouted, “Long live the king!”  Samuel explained to the people the rights and duties of kingship. He wrote them down on a scroll and deposited it before the Lord. Then Samuel dismissed the people to go to their own homes.  Saul also went to his home in Gibeah, accompanied by valiant men whose hearts God had touched. But some scoundrels said, “How can this fellow save us?” They despised him and brought him no gifts. But Saul kept silent.

NOTES:

Ø God gave assurance to Saul by announcing his new role to all Israelites, yet the decision to believe and trust God is ours!  Saul, despite of Samuel’s (the prophet of God) declaration of his role to the people, hid himself among the supplies.  Many times in our lives, God has set us in a leadership role or in a position with influence, yet we reject it for fear of failing and unbelief.  When God appoints His leaders, people will question for this is man’s nature but this should not stop us in taking responsibilities or adhering to our calling.  Instead, it should encourage us because the enemy will only attack those that are truly appointed by the Lord.  So let us not be like Saul but instead, let us embrace the role God has appointed us into despite of what others may think or say.  What matters is God’s perception of us!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, my precious Savior and King.  Thank You because I do not need to worry of things because You will be my strength.  Thank You Lord because Your Spirit is a gift to me and I willingly accept it.  Jesus, help me to understand that I cannot do anything successfully without You.  Let me see that my efforts are useless and weak.  The only time I become a different person or the only time I will be change is when Your Spirit come upon me powerfully and changed me to be the person I should be.  Lord let me see that it is never by my own strength so that I will stop fighting my battles with my own strength but instead allow You to win the battle for me.  Lord thank You because people will see wonders and a major change in my life when You come upon me and it will lead them back to give You all glory and honor.  Lord help me to be patient as well and know that You have a perfect time for everything, even in declaring good news.  At times, I am excited and would like to announce the great things in my life yet You have a perfect time for everything and I want to declare these good news at Your own time.  Thank You for always assuring me Lord.  Thank you because You are always with me even when I am uncertain or unsure of You.  Help me to take away my unbelief Lord by focusing on Your goodness in my life and Your certainty.  Let me choose the right decision to trust and believe You and You alone.  Thank you for everything Jesus.  I Love You!  In Jesus’ Name, Amen!