## Men Whose Hearts God Had Touched

## I Samuel 10:17-27

1 SAMUEL 10:26 AND SAUL ALSO WENT HOME TO GIBEAH; AND THERE WENT WITH HIM A BAND OF MEN, WHOSE HEARTS GOD HAD TOUCHED.

God, in His permissive will, allowed Israel to have a king. They did not NEED a king. God had led them through His prophets, through judges, and through priests. When they asked God for a king, however, God gave them one. When God chose Saul to be king, he was a good man and a humble man. He was God's choice. Verse 27 says that some men did not honor God's choice. Verse 26 says, however, that there was a band of men who followed their new king, because GOD HAD TOUCHED THEIR HEARTS.

Tonight, I would like for each of us to receive this challenge. To be men who will allow God to touch our hearts! I believe God touches hearts today, but some resist the touch of God now as some did back then. They want to be "untouchables." They don't want to bothered by God.

I. God Touches Our Hearts About Our Problem (We Call It Conviction.)

ACTS 9:5, "AND HE SAID, WHO ART THOU, LORD? AND THE LORD SAID, I AM JESUS WHOM THOU PERSECUTEST: IT IS HARD FOR THEE TO KICK AGAINST THE PRICKS."

A. He speaks to us about our need for conversion

B. He speaks to us about our need for commitment

C. He speaks to us about our need for communion with God

II. God Touches Our Hearts About Our Purpose

ACTS 13:2, "AS THEY MINISTERED TO THE LORD, AND FASTED, THE HOLY GHOST SAID, SEPARATE ME BARNABAS AND SAUL FOR THE WORK WHEREUNTO I HAVE CALLED THEM."

A. Our purpose in Christ

1. To glorify God

2. To praise God

3. To know God and know Him better

4. To fellowship with God

5. To please God

B. Our purpose in our community

1. To make the Lord known to others

2. To preach the gospel

3. To live holy and work for Him

C. Our purpose in the church

1. Service toward others

2. Support of the weak

3. Sending out of workers in the fields

III. God Touches Our Hearts About People

ROMANS 10:1, "BRETHREN, MY HEART'S DESIRE AND PRAYER TO GOD FOR ISRAEL IS, THAT THEY MIGHT BE SAVED."

A. People are in need of deliverance

1. From the devil

2. From damnation

3. From doubts

B. People are in need of direction

1. Through the Spirit of God

2. Through the scriptures

3. Through the saints

C. People are in need of discipleship

1. Enlistment

2. Edification

3. Encouragement

Will we determine to be men who will allow God to touch our hearts? Men who will follow the leadership of God? Or will we resist God's touch? The choice is ours. The king allowed the people to decide whether or not they would follow. What will be our choice?