Thrust: The Road of Your Life as a believer must be paved with prayer, obedience and availability in order to live a life that is set apart for God.

In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” --- Judges 21:25

Samuel's life signalled a transition between the time of the judges to the time of Kings, and his road of life was set apart for God. What elements were in his life that set him apart for God, and from the moral decline of those around him?

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I. Prayer Paves the Way Towards Transformation

A. Persistent Prayer Leads to Miracles

So it went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat ... 10 She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. --- 1 Sam 1:7, 10

15 … I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. 16 Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation. --- 1 Sam 1:15-16

19 … the Lord remembered her. 20 And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, "I have asked for him from the Lord." --- 1 Sam 1:19-20

• The Parable of the Persistent Widow (Lk 18:1-8)
• “Pray at all times in the Spirit” (Eph 6:18)
• “Continue steadfastly in prayer” (Col 4:2)
• “Be constant in prayer” (Rom 12:12)
• ”Pray without ceasing” (1 Th 5:17)

B. Fervent Prayer Leads to Breakthroughs

8 And the people of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not cease to cry out to the Lord our God for us, that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines.” 9 ... And Samuel cried out to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord answered him. 10 As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to attack Israel. But the Lord thundered with a mighty sound that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion, and they were defeated before Israel … 13 So the Philistines were subdued and did not again enter the territory of Israel. And the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. 14 The cities that the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath, and Israel delivered their territory from the hand of the Philistines. --- 1 Sam 7:8-14

Prayer that is persistent and fervent must be in the road of our life and it will pave the way towards Transformation - transforming the way we live so that we are set apart from the world and set apart for God.

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II. Obedience Paves The Way Towards Spiritual Strength

A. Consistent Obedience Leads to Growth

... the boy was ministering before the Lord --- 1 Sam 2:11, 18; 3:1

Eli's sons were consistently disobedient, while Samuel consistently demonstrated obedience. (1 Sam 2:11-26)

Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the Lord and also with man. --- 1 Sam 2:26

B. Unwavering Obedience Leads to Greater Faith

And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. --- 1 Sam 3:19

• Samuel could pray for supernatural breakthrough against the Philistines (1 Sam 7)
• Samuel could pray for thunder and rain during the dry season (1 Sam 12)

… go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to [the tax collectors] for me and for yourself. --- Mt 17:27

Jesus' disciples could have greater faith in Jesus' seemingly unreasonable instructions because they knew from experience that Jesus' Words would come to pass.

Obedience that is consistent and unwavering must be in the road of our life and it will pave the way towards Spiritual Strength. If we want to grow in spiritual muscle and in our faith, then we must practice consistent and unwavering obedience.

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III. Availability Paves the Way Towards Significance

A. A Ready Heart to Hear Leads to Discernment

• Samuel's faithfulness and obedience to God positioned his heart to be ready to hear God's voice (1 Sam 3:1-10)
• Samuel could discern God's voice in his life
• What would happen when and after Saul met Samuel (1 Sam 9-10)
• Who the Lord would anoint as King after Saul (1 Sam 16)

6 When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him.” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. --- 1 Sam 16:6-7

B. A Willing Heart to Act Leads to Authority

And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of the LORD. --- 1 Sam 3:20

As prophet, Samuel never failed to seek the Lord for direction, and acted willingly on God's instruction despite how he felt.

6 But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the LORD. 7 And the LORD said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. 8 According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you. 9 Now then, obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them.” --- 1 Samuel 8:6–9

In the worldly kingdom, man says empower me first, then I will be willing to act. But in the Kingdom of God, God says first you be willing to act, then you will be empowered.

42 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. --- Mark 10:42–44

The priority in God's call is not according to how qualified we are, but by how available we are.

Our road of life must be characterized by Availability - we must have a ready heart to hear what God says, and a willing heart to do what God wants us to do. Then it will lead us towards living our life with significant purpose for His Kingdom.

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CHALLENGE

1. Be Prayerful, because persistent and fervent prayer paves the way for God’s transformative miracles and breakthroughs.

2. Be Obedient, because consistent and unwavering obedience paves the way towards spiritual muscle and greater faith.

3. Be Available, because our lives take on significant purpose when we are ready and willing to be used by God.