The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 11 October 2024 — A New Heart For God’s Service
TOPIC: A New Heart For God’s Service
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.
PRAYER POINT: Pray for all Christian leaders and believers to be continually filled with the Spirit of God.
PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY’S DAILY FOUNTAIN DEVOTIONAL
DATE: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2024
TOPIC: A NEW HEART FOR GOD’S SERVICE
- Father in the name of Jesus, thank You for the grace to see this new day in good health and sound mind.
- Father, thank You for the special gift of life, many wished to see this day, but they couldn’t.
- Thank You Jesus for being there for us, Your children.
- Thank You Lord for Your plans for me this month and this year. They are plans of good, not of evil, to give me a successful and good end.
- Father, please forgive me all my known and unknown sins, and give me power to overcome sin and its lustful desires, in Jesus’ name
- Fill me Lord with Your spirit and give me a new heart for Your service, in Jesus’ name
- Holy Spirit, help me to walk in line with God’s plans and purpose for my life, in Jesus’ name.
- LORD, make me ready for Your use, in Jesus’ name.
- Father Lord, please, continually fill Your ministers with Your Spirit, that they may do Your will and Your will only, in Jesus’ name.
- LORD, equip Your servants for Your service, in Jesus’ name
- LORD, help us to get it right in Nigeria, and let Your perfect will be enforced on us in Jesus’ name.
- Heavenly Father, let Your peace reign in this country,
- Whether the devil likes it or not, I will make heaven and receive my eternal rewards in Jesus’ Name.
- This is the day the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.
- Personal and family prayer requests.
- Confession: God bless the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), God bless the Universal Church, and bless our country Nigeria -1 Chronicles 17:27.
- Thank You Lord for answered prayers, in Jesus’ Mighty Name we pray. Amen.
