Encouraging Notes

Can you imagine walking down the street one day and accidentally running into someone who has the power to declare you as the next president or prime minister of a nation? Sound crazy? Well, this is what happened in the story found in first Samuel chapter 10. An unsuspecting young man, by the name of Saul, from the small tribe of Benjamin was looking for his father’s lost donkeys. After days of searching, he seemingly, on accident, ran into Samuel, the prophet of God. The prophet immediately told him that he would be spending the night with him. After a sumptuous meal and a night’s rest, the prophet of God told Saul that he would be the king of Israel and that three supernatural events would happen to him immediately after he left. He also assured him that when those supernatural events occurred, he would be changed into another man.

1 Sam 10:6-9 At that time, the Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them. You will be changed into a different person. After these signs take place, do what must be done, for God is with you. Then go down to Gilgal ahead of me. I will join you there to sacrifice burnt offerings and peace offerings. You must wait for seven days until I arrive and give you further instructions.” As Saul turned and started to leave, God gave him a new heart, and all Samuel’s signs were fulfilled that day.

Wow! That very day God changed Saul into another man! What made it happen? Simply a word from God! Yes! A single moment in God’s presence can transform your life forever! Just one word from God can set the course of your life in a completely new direction! Tommy Tenney said, “An ounce of favor it’s worth a lifetime of labor.” A life of intimacy with God is the best way to experience a powerful word from God! The secret to intimacy with God is knowing how precious you are to him and what he has done for you!

God is in love with you today! By the blood of his Son, Jesus Christ, he has declared you perfect in his sight! If you look at him, you will see that his eyes are gleaming with pleasure as he looks at you! You are everything he’s ever wanted! Be sure; amazing and wonderful life change is available for you, and all it takes is…

ONE WORD

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I truly believe that God has great plans for your life! He created you for a great purpose and is intent on seeing that purpose fulfilled! Do you remember the story of the prophet Samuel? As a boy, he had a genuine heart for God. Because of his obedience and trust in God, a powerful anointing to lead and prophesy was released into his life at a very young age. Because his life was fully surrendered to Go will d, Samuel spoke words under God’s anointing, and those words always came to pass. Look at this profound Scripture.

1 Samuel 3:19 The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground.

Wow! Not one of his words ever fell to the ground! That is a powerful statement! Every one of his prophecies came to pass! What is exciting is that I know that God is the same, yesterday, today, and forever! Hebrews 13:8 I want you know that in God’s economy, things have not changed! God is still looking for those through whom he can pour out his Spirit.

I am praying today that your heart would be like Samuel, wholly surrendered and unconditionally trusting in God! God has a mighty purpose for your life, and all he needs is your simple trust! The glory of God living in you and through you is the most exciting, rewarding, and fulfilling way of living!

My dear friend, may this exciting life be yours! Yes! As I write this today, I’m declaring that what God has planned for you will be accomplished! In the name of Jesus, you will carry out what God has designed for you! Just as God had great plans for Samuel’s life, I believe God has…

GREAT PLANS FOR YOU

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What God has done for you and me defies all natural logic! Do you know that God desires to use you to display his manifold wisdom to the powers of the universe? I know that sounds crazy but hear me out on this. First, let’s look at the Scripture that declares God’s intent.

Eph 3:8-11 Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose, which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

So what is God’s manifold wisdom? There are spiritual entities that are behind the religions of the world. These spiritual entities are the rulers and authorities that God is going to display his wisdom to. The wisdom of every religion on earth except true Christianity is based upon works to gain a better afterlife. This is not so with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Part of the mystery spoken of in the Scripture above is God’s intense wisdom of righteousness that defies all natural logic. Please read the following Scripture carefully!

Romans 11:32-38 For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.

Doxology

33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!

How unsearchable his judgments,

and his paths beyond tracing out!

34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord?

Or who has been his counselor?”

35 “Who has ever given to God

that God should repay him?”

36 For from him and through him and to him are all things.

To him be the glory forever! Amen.

Do you see it? The wisdom of God has bound all men over the sin so that he can have mercy on them all. This includes you and me! Wow! This flies in the face of all religions on earth outside of Christianity. In other religions, a person’s good works must outweigh the bad to secure a better afterlife.

On the contrary, the eternal wisdom of God is bound up in the word LOVE. You see, God is so deeply in love with us that he gave his only son to pay for all of our failures and mistakes, and whoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 Because of this, God has declared you and me as perfect in his sight. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2Corinthians 5:21 WOW! The manifold wisdom of God is displayed to the powers of the universe when you don’t trust in your works but wholly trust in what Christ has done for you! This is mind-blowing! Our right standing with God does not depend on our works but rather on faith! Your total reliance upon what Christ has done for you instead of your works is how God is displaying his manifold wisdom to the rulers and authorities of the universe. And this…

DEFIES ALL NATURAL LOGIC

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Some people are wealthy but give credit for their wealth to God and choose to put Him first in their money and life. But, some think that the expensive car they drive, the fashionable clothes they are blessed to wear, or the fancy house they live in came from their ingenuity and strength. But if we carefully observe the situation, we will see that it was God who gave us all the desires, connections, and help we needed, right down to the very breath that we breathe. Take a look at this…

You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today. Deuteronomy 8:17, 18

God is the one who gave you everything you need for prosperity. The desire to read those books, watch those videos, start that project, or hang out with that person or people that changed your outlook on life and financial future all came from God. It is so important that we give credit where credit is due! God is the one who has been looking out for you even from your mother’s womb!

Psalm 139:13-14 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Don’t ever forget that every desire, gift, talent, and connection was granted to you by God! Don’t ever forget that it is he who has given you all you have needed to prosper! Next time when you consider your prosperity, let it be that you…

REMEMBER THE LORD YOUR GOD

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My prayer life is and an essential part of who I am! There are many things and that are important to me, but few things are this important! We deem many actions as sin, but you are probably not likely to think of not praying for someone as sin. Look at this quote from the prophet Samuel:

1 Samuel 12:23 As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right.

Colossians 1:9 So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.

In the eyes of Samuel, the prophet, not praying for the people of Israel would be a sin. Wow! How many times have I known that someone needed prayer and failed to pray for them? I want to have a heart and a lifestyle like apostle Paul, who said, “I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.” 2 Timothy 1:3

God has strategically placed people in our lives for us to care for and influence. May we be those who care so much about them that we are faithful to bring them to God in prayer, believing for God’s very best in their lives!

Question: Are there those in your life that you know need prayer? Would you be willing to take time right now to bring them to God in prayer? And, when you pray, pray for them with the zeal and tenacity that you would exert if it were your own child or spouse. You can be sure that praying for those God has put in your life is very important to God! When it comes to not praying for those God has put our lives, may we say like the prophet Samuel…

FAR BE IT FROM ME!

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