Second Sunday after the Epiphany (4)

CALL TO WORSHIP

Psalm 139

You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.

You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

StF 13: Sing of God in majesty divinity.

A GATHERING PRAYER

Speak to us, Lord: help us to hear. Show us your glory, Lord: help us to see. May we taste and sense your presence, Lord: help us to feel. In our time, and in your time, Lord, lead us where you want us to go, and show us what you want us to know. Amen.

A PRAYER OF ADORATION

Vibrant God, call us afresh today to a new vision of your kingdom, to a new understanding of your purposes, to a new knowing of how best to serve you, to a new appreciation of your presence with us, to a new awareness of all that you would have us do, as your people in this place and time. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

A PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Forgive me and help me to trust you more deeply. Dear God, when knowing myself causes me – to doubt that you could ever want me as your disciple: to doubt that you could ever love me: to doubt that you could ever accept me: In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS

Generous God, thank you that, in forgiving us, you give us fresh energy to serve you, fresh understanding of our calling, fresh wisdom as we share our faith, fresh purpose as we live out that faith day by day, fresh appreciation of the gifts of others, and fresh hope for all that lies ahead. Amen.

StF 663: I the Lord of sea and sky.

READINGS

1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20)

The Lord Calls Samuel

3 The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.

2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the Lord called Samuel.

Samuel answered, “Here I am.” 5 And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down.

6 Again the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

“My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.”

7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.

8 A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10 The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”

Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

11 And the Lord said to Samuel: “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle. 12 At that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family—from beginning to end. 13 For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons blasphemed God,[a] and he failed to restrain them. 14 Therefore I swore to the house of Eli, ‘The guilt of Eli’s house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.’”

15 Samuel lay down until morning and then opened the doors of the house of the Lord. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision, 16 but Eli called him and said, “Samuel, my son.”

Samuel answered, “Here I am.”

17 “What was it he said to you?” Eli asked. “Do not hide it from me. May God deal with you, be it ever so severely, if you hide from me anything he told you.” 18 So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. Then Eli said, “He is the Lord; let him do what is good in his eyes.”

19 The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the Lord.

John 1: 45-51

45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.

“Come and see,” said Philip.

47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”

48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.

Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”

49 Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”

50 Jesus said, “You believe[a] because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” 51 He then added, “Very truly I tell you,[b] you[c] will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’[d] the Son of Man.”

StF 673: Will you come and follow me.

SERMON

ENGAGE

Story or interesting fact, grab attention.

There is a well-known person who was a convinced atheist born in 1898 he was well respected professor. Who do you think it is?

If I say, there was a recent film made about his life?

The film is named “the reluctant convert.”

C S Lewis managed to avoid being called by God until 1929 he said “That which I greatly feared had at last come upon me. In the Trinity term of 1929 I gave in, and admitted that God was God, and knelt and prayed: perhaps, that night, the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England" From the book Surprised By Joy.

“Surprised by Joy “is I think one of the greatest titles that can be given to a book that is to tell the story of a conversion. and it is this title that C.S. Lewis chose for his autobiography, which he wrote at the age of 56.

TENSION

Bring some kind of problem (related to the message)

What about you do you feel God has called you.

We live in a time when many have turned their back on our creator, when let’s face it God can seem very distant.

But this is not unusual if we look at Samuel God seemed distant.

Today I want us to think about the Call of God and the light of God.

TRUTH

God’s word (ensure to keep God’s truth as central) to resolve the tension.

The book of Samuel begins with Hannah who was baron, year after year coming to God and asking for a child. God blesses her and she promises her son to God,

Since the book of Judges, Israel's leaders have only gotten worse. Then, after 400 years of silence, Samuel hears God speak. The last time God spoke directly was 400 years before to Malachi after such a long time it’s no wonder Eli was not expecting this. So, it took a few times for him to realise it was God calling Samuel.

The ark of God was kept the innermost room of the tabernacle where only the high priest could enter once a year.

In front of the most holy place, Just outside the holy place was a court with small rooms where the priests stayed.

Samuel probably slept here with the other priests, only a few yards away from the ark.

1 Samuel 3:3 NIV

3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the LORD, where the ark of God was.

So, Samuel probably slept close to the light. The lamp of God was to burn throughout the night. It might have even been Samuel’s job to make sure the light never went out. But I also believe that this may be a reference to Samuel as well.

There was a great darkness that characterised Shiloh at that time.

I believe that God had found hope in Samuel. I think that this light represents the hope that Samuel would become a light to the people.

As God spoke to Samuel than night it was the beginning of a ministry that would change Israel’s history.

Samuel was the last of the judges and the first of the prophets. He also would anoint Saul and David as king. Through the ministry of Samuel, the spiritual life of the Israelite's improved.

Nathaniel appears in our Gospel reading, with his calling being given an important place in Matthew’s Gospel. But we do not hear of Nathaniel later in the Gospel; he was not one of the 12 apostles.

Here Nathaniel disappears but did he see the light of Christ, his eyes were opened by the revelation that Jesus said, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”

It is interesting that Jesus knew about him. He had even seen him sitting under the fig tree before they met! When we hear God’s call to us, we are being called to the task by one who knows and loves us so we can have confidence when we follow him.

APPLICATION

What did the words mean to the original hearers, once you have this bring into today.

Introduce the big idea!

So, that night when God spoke to Samuel, I believe that this flame here is mentioned in scripture for us to understand that God saw hope in the new priest that was being raised up and that night God called Samuel to something greater.

So, what does light mean to you? Does it allow you to see in the darkness? Does it give you hope that there is something greater ahead? Does it open your world up to new possibilities? It did for Israel that night. God saw hope in Samuel. God in essence was telling Samuel to keep the flame burning. Don’t let the flame go out. Where there is light there is hope.

This is the God who knows you as you sit under your own fig tree.

As the Psalm 139 says

You know when I sit and when I rise.

you perceive my thoughts from afar.

You discern my going out and my lying down.

you are familiar with all my ways.

Before a word is on my tongue

you, LORD, know it completely.

You can keep the flame burning as well. In essence, a new year is a time to start all over. We get to begin again. Anything that has happened in the past is in the past. Today is a new day a new year and a new beginning.

If you have let the flame extinguish in the past. Begin today and let it shine brighter than before. Don’t let the flame go out.

So, how do we keep the fire from going out? Anyone will tell you that there are three things a fire needs to keep burning.

INSPIRATION

Reflect on what you are trying to accomplish with the message. What are you trying to give as a takeaway.

1 Heat

A fire can’t start or spread unless there is heat involved. That is why firefighters begin by putting water on a fire and why most fire extinguishers are filled with a cooling agent. Also, firefighters turn off the power to a building that is on fire to take away the heat source.

2. Fuel

A fire needs a fuel source. That fuel source could be anything flammable like paper, wood, fabric, chemicals and so on. If you remove the fuel from the fire, then it will go out.

3. Oxygen

This is one of the most important factors because oxygen is everywhere. A fire needs oxygen to ignite and keep burning. You take away the oxygen and you take away the fire.

Just like a fire needs these elements to continue to burn we need those things in our spiritual life so that the flame is not extinguished. But they look a little different.

1. Holy Spirit

The first person we need as a part of our life here on this earth to keep the flame burning in us is the Holy Spirit. We need a relationship with the Holy Spirit.

Jesus told his followers that it is better if He goes away. Why is that?

Because He was sending us someone better. Jesus was in human form. That means that even though He was God He was still human and could only be in one place at a time, The Holy Spirit is with us everywhere. You and I need to develop a relationship with the Holy Spirit. We need to learn to know the Holy Spirit intimately. We need that relationship, Jesus tells us.

John 14:12 NIV

12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

2. Consistent Prayer Life

A consistent prayer life is the fuel that keeps us going. Just as fuel keeps the fire going, a consistent prayer life keeps us going. If I stopped talking to my wife what would happen to our relationship. It would fade. So, if happens with her, then what do you think will happen if I stop talking to God. The flame will go out and my relationship with God will fade. You can’t make it in this life without talking to God.

James 5:16 NIV

16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Prayer changes things. And don’t just pray when you need something. Keep a consistent prayer life with God. Keep an open line of communication with the Father.

3. Word of God

Just like the fire needs oxygen you need the breath of God working in your life. The breath of God is the word of God.

2 Timothy 3:16 NIV

16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness,

Hebrews 4:12

12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints, and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Let me say it again. You need God’s Word in your life.

So, here is what I want us to do today. Each of you were given a candle when you came it. If you don’t have one, please raise your hand and an usher will bring you one.

I want us to come to the front and form a line across the altar area. Please make room. I also believe that there is coming a day when we won’t have enough room to fit around the altar area. I want a couple of you to get a flame and then pass your flame amongst each other until all the candles are lit. You may come and do this at this time.

ACTION

The invitation.

Here is my charge to you.

This flame represents your Christian walk. There will be temptations, there will be falsehoods, there will be doubts, and fears and all kinds of things that will try to put out your flame. But I say, develop a relationship with the Holy Spirit in 2024. Have a consistent prayer life in 2024. And make sure that you get in God’s Word. Make scripture a part of your life in 2024.

OFFERING DURING HYMN

StF 662: Have you heard God’s voice.

PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING AND INTERCESSION

We praise you, God of grace, for bringing into our lives those who draw us closer to you, those who speak your words of encouragement, those who believe in your calling for our lives, those whose testimonies inspire, excite and move us, and those who reflect your love, faithfulness and compassion, day by day. Amen.

Come and see, and join in praying for the people of the world waiting to hear good news.

Loving God, we pray for the whole of the UK in the days and weeks ahead. We pray for an end to violence, for wisdom for those who lead our country and all who have influence on our future. Lord, hear our prayer and draw us all closer to you.

We pray for those around the world at the mercy of extreme weather conditions. We pray for the people of Japan, of Indonesia, especially those rescue workers who died trying to save others, for those bereaved, for those in our own country find it hard to afford power and heat. Those who are in need of food, facing the choice of warmth or food on the table. We pray for those tackling the challenges of our time and for our own response in our day to day lives. Lord, hear our prayer and draw us all closer to you.

We pray for all who are pushed to their limits at work and at home, for all in the emergency services, for GP's, teachers, and school staff, for parents and students, for all whose mental health is at breaking point. We pray for our Government and all whose decisions affect millions of lives. And we pray for one another as we respond to the restrictions locally and nationally. Lord, hear our prayer and draw us all closer to you.

We pray for those whose businesses are closed, whose shops are locked up, whose rooms have no guests, for those whose money is running out, for those on the brink of despair. Lord, hear our prayer and draw us all closer to you.

We pray for your church, entrusted with the good news of Jesus, and charged with serving all those in need. We pray for hospital chaplains, for those ministering to the bereaved, and for one another as we seek to share our faith and our hope in Jesus Christ. Lord, hear our prayer and draw us all closer to you. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father who art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name,

Thy Kingdom come,

Thy will be done,

On earth as it is in heaven,

Give us this day our daily bread,

And forgive us our trespasses,

As we forgive those who trespass against us,

And lead us not into temptation,

But deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory,

For ever and ever Amen.

StF 545: Be, thou, my vision.

BLESSING

So now we go out with confidence in you, our loving God who leads us; you know our weaknesses and our strengths. Lord, call us, guide us, and strengthen us in your service. Amen.

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”’