Year 2 Day 256

Year 2 Day 256


Pray (ACts)


Read - 1 Samuel 10:16-27


Message - Alan Burke 
Saul had been annoyed by Samuel, even though he had expressed his insignificance in all of this it is the Lord who was at work. To show this Samuel gives Saul a sketch of the signs that would come about, it would be the most unusual day, and the Spirit of the Lord would come upon him in power (6) he will join them in their prophesying indeed he would be turned into another man. These signs and fulfilment authenticate the anointing and God worked by his Spirit in Saul (9). It was the Lord who was at work in the midst of it all, he was the one who brought Saul to this point, he had used what seemed like the ordinary mundane things of life by his providence. 


As Saul returned home, the change was seen in him by his uncle, asking not so much of an itinerary but for an explanation of the change that has happened in his life (14), everyone can see that he is not the same man that left, just like those who remarked when they saw him prophesying (11). Even so, it seems that Saul didn’t discuss any of what had been revealed with his family, instead he waited as he had been instructed by Samuel, the time at home was like a time for Saul to take stock of all that had happened to him in the past few days, how his life had changed dramatically. 


Up to now it had only been Samuel and Saul who were aware of what God was doing and had done. The people were called together, there lots are cast in order to see whom God had chosen because they could not be influenced by anyone other than God. This casting of lots leads to the discovery of Saul as the one. What surprised everyone initially is that not who God had chosen to be king but that the one who was chosen was off hiding among the equipment, but when he was brought in his stature struck everyone, Samuel presented him to the people and they responded “long live the King” (24)!


The LORD gave the people what they wanted but they would find out in time it wasn’t really want they wanted and it wasn’t really what they needed, they needed God and the true king not a king to be like the other nations. Like all of us we need the Lord God and the true King Jesus to rule and reign in our lives. 


Two things I want to leave you with. Firstly, God gave Saul all he needed for what lay ahead. For us through Christ and the work of the Spirit, His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness (2Pet1:3). This is the kind of encouragement that many of us need on a continuing basis, were not going to have someone give us the kind of signs that Saul was given, but all of us need to know that he has given us everything we need. And we can all play our part in encouraging those around us, affirming that we are in Christ able to do all that he has called us or enabled us. 


Finally what God has done in us should be seen for others to see, there will be times that that will be more clear for others to see, but Saul’s uncle knew that his nephew was transformed, the people who witnessed him prophecy knew he was transformed. I have met many people who say they have made a commitment but it is not clear for others to see, there has never been a change in their lives, they may have put their hand up in that meeting but it made not one bit of difference, the work of Christ by the Spirit should be seen in us!


Pray (acTS)


Sing

WSC
Q22 How did Christ, being the Son of God, become man?
Christ, the Son of God, became man, by taking to himself a true body, (Heb. 2:14,16, Heb. 10:5) and a reasonable soul, (Matt. 26:38) being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the womb of the Virgin Mary, and born of her, (Luke 1:27,31,35,42, Gal. 4:4) yet without sin. (Heb. 4:15, Heb. 7:26)
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