Faithful & Obedient

***Turn to 1 Samuel 3

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!! —Everyone has a mom = big deal.

Small gift after service.

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Intro:

(Q) How many of you here in the church are BIG CHIC-FIL-A PEOPLE??

ARBY’S = PERSONAL FAVORITE…but we typically go to CFA...

OPINIONS = VARIED.... EVERYONE AGREES CFA = GREAT SERVICE.

Great attitudes

Great company culture

“My pleasure”

ORDER = RIGHT

Many Places:

order = wrong

employees = bad attitude.

(Q) DOESN’T the EMPLOYEES’ DEMEANOR AFFECT EXPERIENCE?

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SERVING GOD…HOW DO WE REPRESENT?

Are we eager?

Are we willing?

What’s our attitude like?

KING = SO MUCH GREATER than CFA C.E.O...

(Q) Do our attitudes and lives reflect the culture of the Kingdom of God?

DO WE DO KING’S WORK W/ MCDONALD’s ATTITUDE??

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Recap:

SAMUEL’S miraculous BIRTH & DEDICATION to the Lord

SERVING GOD in SHILOH amongst priests @ Tabernacle

Last week:

Picture of WORSHIP @ SHILOH (REALLY BAD)

HOPHNI & PHINEHAS, sons of Eli, WICKED men, ABUSING their OFFICE .

PROPHET COMES — MESSAGE = JUDGMENT coming to Eli’s house…Eli = complacent.

GLIMMER of HOPE— SAMUEL= FAITHFULLY SERVING the Lord behind the scenes

(T) STORY today PICKS UP on the HEELS of the JUDGMENT PRONOUNCED on ELI’S HOUSE...

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Setting (v1)

1 Samuel 3:1–4:1 (ESV)

1 Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision.

Another CONTRAST in 1 Samuel

HUGE PROBLEMS for ELI’S HOUSE & sons...

SAMUEL= FAITHFULLY MINISTERING to the Lord.

Prob 12 YEARS OLD (ISH) (tradition, Josephus)

CONSISTENTLY SERVING OVER TIME

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Don’t miss this:

In MIDST of TURMOIL & GREAT SIN amongst leadership…GOD was RAISING UP SAMUEL

GOD AT WORK BEHIND SCENES…NOT ABSENT.

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(v1b) DURING the WAITING— DROUGHT on PROPHETIC visitation.

GOD NOT SPEAKING MUCH = JUDGMENT...

God’s promise came— Abraham

God’s Law came— Moses

God’s family was preserved— Joseph

But GOD was PRESENTLY SILENT (most part).....Remember prophet last week.

GOD HAD GIVEN LAW (TORAH)…NOTHING NEW UNTIL YOU OBEY THAT!

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***Some PEOPLE TODAY— PLEADING with GOD for SIGN, for God to speak, but BIBLE is CLOSED.

(Q) If you don’t start w/ what you’ve got…why would God give you more?

SOMETIMES DROUGHT = GOD’S SIDE....SOMETIMES = OURS.

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Thank God:

SPOKEN FINALLY through His SON! (Physical/LIVING WORD!)

Canon of SCRIPTURE is COMPLETE && Scripture is ABUNDANTLY AVAILABLE

Printing press

Modern technology...

And yet, oftentimes in our day, there is a drought on the Word, only because people are unwilling to open it up to hear from God.

Want to hear what’s going on in world:

Listen to news

favorite news podcast

social media

If these are our only input & WE KEEP GOD’S WORD SHUT, we MIGHT find ourselves MISSING what GOD is DOING today!

***We should NEVER TAKE LIGHTLY that we HOLD the WRITTEN WORD of GOD in hands & can FREELY COME TO CHURCH & hear the Word!!

(T) And so then our text continues and says in verse 2,

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Further Setting (v2-3)

2 At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was.

SAMUEL SERVING at SHILOH under ELI:

ELI = old man, NEARLY BLIND physically

Setting:

SAMUEL continually SERVING GOD in Shiloh

NO PROPHETIC VISITATION in Israel

ELI is LYING DOWN in his room

SAMUEL is LYING DOWN NEAR the ARK of God.

EARLY MORNING… B4 LAMP WENT OUT.

LAMP in INNER COURT....

Tabernacle had three courts:

Outer court (everyone)

Inner court/Holy Place (priesthood)

Most Holy Place/ Holy of Holies (High priest, once a year)

Samuel = near ark of God.

a WOODEN CHEST overlayed w/ gold & cherubim (similar to angels) on top & the MERCY SEAT...

MERCY SEAT was like a THRONE

SYMBOLIZED GOD’S PRESENCE as KING amongst His people!

HOPHNI & PHINEHAS = SLEEPING AROUND… SAMUEL SLEEPING BY PRESENCE OF GOD.

(T) And so as SAMUEL is LYING in BED in the middle of the NIGHT during a TIME of MORAL DECAY and a DROUGHT on GOD’S WORD... as he’s serving alongside blind Eli, what’s going to happen next? Well, the text says that,

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Inciting Incident (v4-7)

4 Then the Lord called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am!” 5 and ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down.

6 And the Lord called again, “Samuel!” and Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.

There’s a SUDDEN BREAK in the DROUGHT. For GOD SPEAKS TO SAMUEL

1ST TIME… DROUGHT on GOD’S WORD...

SAMUEL DIDN’T HAVE RELATIONSHIP W/ LORD YET…DIDN’T KNOW GOD’S VOICE...

SAMUEL GOES to ELI (3-5a.m.) “Good morning.”

(Q) Anyone love when someone comes to talk to you this early??

Eli-- “GO BACK TO BED.”

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2ND CALL: CALLS SAMUEL BY NAME!

**God knows your name!

The GOD who MADE the STARS and put EVERY PLANET into place and crafted all that we see,

the God who made the mountain tops and the deepest depths of the ocean that haven’t even been explored yet,

HE KNOWS YOUR NAME...

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SAMUEL GOES TO ELI AGAIN...

***Samuel’s response every time: “HERE I AM.”

God called to ABRAHAM— “Here I am.”

God called to MOSES— “Here I am.”

God called to JACOB— “Here I am.”

God in search of someone…ISAIAH responds, “Here I am.”

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***HUMBLE SUBMISSION to GOD’S WILL & PLAN = MODEL FOR US...

READY to SERVE… “HOW CAN I BE of SERVICE?

BELIEVERS…REMEMBER WHO WE’RE TALKING TO!

ARNIE on PHONE in COUDY.. “Hello”… “What?!?!”

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AMAZING—GOD COMES TO HIS CREATION…encountering a 12 year old (ish) boy....beginning relationship w/ Him

GOD in His GRACE, VISITING SAMUEL & His people again.

SAMUEL DIDN’T REACH to HEAVEN, HEAVEN CAME DOWN to him!

GOD CALLS US TO RELATIONSHIP TODAY!!

(T) And so GOD’S now GIVEN SAMUEL 2 OPPORTUNITIES to RESPOND to Him, and yet SAMUEL has essentially FLUNKED both times, for he has MISTAKEN the VOICE of GOD for ELI. So, let’s see what happens next.

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Growing Tension (v8-10)

8 And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10 And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.”

***SAMUEL GETS ANOTHER CHANCE

SAMUEL MISTAKES GOD FOR ELI, Eli sends boy to bed, 3X!! (GETTING OLD for everyone surely!!)

GOD= PATIENT…chosen Samuel…waiting for them to get it right.

GOD ISN’T JUST A JUDGE w/ GAVEL WAITING for US to FAIL.

***Yes, GOD is JUDGE…yes he HATES SIN…yes all of these things...

BUT GOD is ALSO INCREDIBLY PATIENT w/ His CREATION & His people.

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JUDGMENT on ELI’S HOUSE---ONLY AFTER YEARS!

God is:

merciful…

gracious…

slow to anger…

abounding in steadfast love...

Patient towards us, not willing that any should perish.

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WORD of LORD = RARE…UNEXPECTED for BOTH SAMUEL & ELI… GOD = PATIENT...

ELI TELLS SAMUEL, “Speak Lord, for your servant hears”

SERVANT LANGUAGE—HANNAH

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4TH CALL: SAMUEL’S NAME TWICE!

SAMUEL RESPONDS TO GOD, “speak Lord for your servant hears”

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Samuel’s responses:

HERE I AM (at your service)

SPEAK LORD…servant hears.

HUMBLE…NOT PRIVILEGED at all…NOT ENTITLED... Humble…honored to be used.

**WHAT AN EXAMPLE for us today!!

(Q) Are we privileged to be used by God, or do we think God is the one who is privileged to use us?

(T) Now, that Samuel finally responds to the Lord, knowing it’s not Eli who is speaking, WE’LL SEE WHAT GOD HAS TO SAY to him. Look at verse 11.

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Climax (v11-14)

11 Then the Lord said to Samuel, “Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which the two ears of everyone who hears it will tingle.

(Q) Don’t you just love this introduction?

Essentially, “To THOSE who have THOUGHT I’VE BEEN ABSENT these LAST FEW YEARS, GET your EARS READY, they’re about to tingle at what I’m going to do.”

12 On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end.

13 And I declare to him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them. 14 Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.”

OOF!

SAMUEL RECEIVES CONFIRMING WORD to LAST TEXT’S PROPHET

SHOCKING THING = JUDGMENT UPON ELI & HIS HOUSE, coming quickly

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MORE BAD NEWS to ELI…NOT SONS!

ELI’S PASSIVITY PUTS HIM TO BLAME...

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*** Because they SCORNED GOD’S OFFERING,,, it WOULDN’T BE EFFECTIVE for them.... NO MORE ATONEMENT...

(Q) DO WE EVER SCORN THE ATONEMENT WE’VE RECEIVED BY CONTINUALLY SINNING?

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Now IMAGINE YOUNG SAMUEL QUAKING in HIS SANDALS!…

GOD’S WORD = DIFFICULT!!

(T) So, WHAT in the world is SAMUEL GOING TO DO with this tough message that he’s received from the Lord? Will he share it with Eli? Will he WRITE IT DOWN and SLIP it ANONYMOUSLY UNDER the DOOR? Well, verse 15 says,

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Resolution (v15-18)

15 Samuel lay until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the Lord. And Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. 16 But Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son.” And he said, “Here I am.”

17 And Eli said, “What was it that he told you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also if you hide anything from me of all that he told you.” 18 So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. And he said, “It is the Lord. Let him do what seems good to him.”

SAMUEL REMAINS in BED…PROBABLY WIDE AWAKE!!!

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ELI ASKS SAMUEL, “WHAT DID GOD SAY??”

(Q) You ever have to tell someone something you didn’t want to??

Story of Uncle Phil & my confession?

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IMAGINE SAMUEL’S SITUATION...

RAISED BY ELI since approx 3-4 years old

FATHER-FIGURE...

1ST MESSAGE SAMUEL RECEIVES....JUDGMENT UPON THIS MAN....

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A TEST OF OBEDIENCE....

“Samuel, will you be faithful to deliver my Word when it isn’t easy??”

SAMUEL GIVES HARSH WORDS LATER TOO....

TOUGH ASSIGNMENTS = PROVING GROUND...

God’s test:

***If you’re FAITHFUL with the HARD THINGS....you’ll be FAITHFUL WITH the EASY...

***If you’ll be FAITHFUL with the SMALL THINGS…you’ll be FAITHFUL with the BIG THINGS...

We can’t be expected to be trusted with greater responsibilities in God if we aren’t faithful with what He’s already given us.

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SAMUEL = PROVEN FAITHFUL…DELIVERS MESSAGE in entirety!!

ELI ACCEPTS GOD’S WILL...“Let the Lord do what is good in His eyes”...

Eli…passive…but still a believer.

(T) And so what is going to happen in Samuel’s life after his faithful obedience in this text, well the text goes on to say,

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Conclusion (v19-4:1a)

19 And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of the Lord. 21 And the Lord appeared again at Shiloh, for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the Lord. 1 And the word of Samuel came to all Israel.

SAMUEL’S FAITHFUL OBEDIENCE PAVED the WAY for him to be ESTABLISHED as a PROPHET of GOD...

FROM DAN (NORTH)…TO BEERSHEBA (SOUTH)…SAMUEL WAS ESTABLISHED.

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Because SAMUEL = FAITHFUL …GOD GRANTED HIM a REPUTATION & a RELIABLE PROPHETIC WORD.

***Didn’t get it right 75% of the time. Or 51% of the time…but 100%

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The DROUGHT HAD ENDED, GOD HAD A PROPHET IN ISRAEL!

**Originally— WORD WAS RARE…now WORD of the LORD through Samuel GOES TO ALL ISRAEL!

GOD REVERSED THE EVIL DAYS & HIS SEEMING ABSENCE!

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Homiletical Idea:

God will honor and use those who have a heart of obedience and are faithful to Him.

If you’re faithful with little…God gives more...

If you’re faithful with tough…God will entrust with more...

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NONE ARE CALLED to be ISRAEL’S PROPHET…YET ALL ARE CALLED.

Gospel:

GOD’S CALL BEGINS W/ CALL to SALVATION...

---GOD HAS SPOKEN FINALLY through HIS SON

God spoke through PROPHETS

God spoke through KINGS

God spoke through SONG-WRITERES

God even spoke through a DONKEY.

GOD SPOKE THROUGH SON…IMMANUEL, GOD W/ US!

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B4 CALLED TO DO ANYTHING FOR GOD....CALLED TO GOD!

#1 THING......RECEIVING the SAVIOR through FAITH…OBEDIENCE to the FINAL MESSAGE of GOD.

Doesn’t begin w/ obedience to the other things.

NOT SAVED by GOOD WORKS, OR BY FULFILLING our CALLING...

NOT EARNED!

FINAL MESSAGE—SAVED BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH...

JESUS DIED to DISPLAY FATHER’S LOVE FOR US...

THIS IS GOD’S MESSAGE…BELIEVING BY FAITH…ATONING DEATH, RESURRECTION of CHRIST = SAVED.

#1 thing. BEGINS HERE!!

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For THOSE of us WHO KNOW the LORD??

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Takeaways:

Learn about God?

GOD ISN’T ABSENT or UNINVOLVED forever...

Wicked leadership

Drought on God’s Word.

All overturned @ right time w/ right man.

God was restoring godly leadership && His Word in Israel.

GOD is PATIENT & MERCIFUL

Judgment upon Eli’s house took years…many opportunities to turn.

God called to Samuel a total of 4 times...

GOD = EAR-TINGLING GOD!

Not up to much??? Think again!

God works in shocking ways!

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Learn about Us?

PURSUE CONTINUAL FAITHFULNESS to God in life…ESP. LITTLE & DIFFICULT THINGS...

SAMUEL BEGAN—SERVING IN OBSCURITY…LITTLE THINGS…PROVING HIMSELF!

See our continual faithfulness in the seemingly small things is part of our proving ground to being used by God in this life.

App:

(Q) Beyond calling to salvation…what has God given you to do in this life??

NOT PROPHET in ISRAEL…BUT HERE FOR A REASON!

Looking over GIFTS/ABILITIES

POSITIONAL PLACEMENT in life

(Q) What has God entrusted you to do?

***Obedience begins with the small things & being faithful… + faithful w/ good attitude...

GOD ISN’T PRIVILEGED TO USE US… WE’RE PRIVILEGED TO BE USED!

So with what God has given to you, do you serve Him with gritted teeth,

or are you joyfully saying, Lord it’s my pleasure to serve you in this life?

Close in Prayer