Covenant 1/10/2021

Well, it's great to be back together with you guys worshipping with you guys. We enjoyed a couple weeks off. We had family that came in all the way from far away from California from God's country to bring back some of that good Bible Belt influence of Temptation and their fall would be realized one day but not only descendant of Adam but it descended it. Abraham would come in the future and crush the head of the serpent once and for all though that serpent would strike his heel, of course in anticipation of the coming of Jesus Christ the Messiah we turned Abraham and and Isaac and Jacob we looked at the story of Joseph as God's people made their way to to Egypt for salvation in the midst of a famine. Everything forgotten in the story of Moses. We saw how God remembered his people in Chains and redeem them from their despair. He brought them out of Egypt and across the desert and yet even as they came up upon the territory of the land that he had promised they'd seen grade in miraculous things. They lost heart and they turn back in a whole generation faithless Lee was lost in the wilderness and we watch their children return to this very cusp of the promised land as leadership passed from Moses to Joshua and Joshua along with a new generation who seem to have greater Faith though. They had seen fewer miracles in their lives step into the promised land and Graydon tumultuous battles overcame, the people that God had brought judgment upon and we're ushered into the land that God had Promised. It wasn't long after they found their feet in the promised land that the people began to go Wayward once again, and we read in the book of kings that in those days Israel had no king and all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes. We saw them time and time fall under the power of the Philistines were the amalekites the amorites and God would lift up a a redeemer a judge who would leave them in battle. So they could reclaim their freedom. And then once again, they would fall back into Wayward ways until they repented and turn to the Lord and God raised up another deliver another judge read the story of Gideon and Samson men that certainly weren't righteous or outstanding really in their own ways in any remarkable fashion, but men that God used it even in Deborah woman that God you The overcome the enemies of the Lord and to continue that gracious promise in their lives and yet we saw as we just preceded the Christmas season, the real big degeneration of that Israelite Society is things just seemed the collapse and they went their own ways. Our final message before we entered Christmas was the story of Naomi and Ruth and Israelites family who in the midst of a famine went to a foreign land hoping to survive and found himself in Moab and yet Naomi's husband elimelech passed away and then her two sons and her daughter-in-law's one stayed or pub at the other Ruth went back to Israel with her. We read the story of how a kinsman redeemer a cared for them and watched over them Boaz married roof and a son was born a son named David whose name would be significant in the series that will look at in the days ahead because obeyed that child of the kinsman redeemer of that unique relationship that wonderful story is Pastor Bob pulled it after a month or so ago that that sun obit became the father of Jessie. And now you're beginning to Lincoln the names that you're familiar with because of course Jesse was the father of seven sons. One of whom was named David and some of those familiar biblical stories become begin to come into Focus. But today we're going to be looking at looking at one of the stories that really tugs at my heart in the scriptures. It's a transition moment from the. Of the judges ended the. Of the Kings and in a central figure arises a young boy who was born miraculously in the Christmas season, we celebrate that miraculous birth of Jesus Christ. When the Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary so that the child that she gave birth to would be called. Holy the Son of God Hunter Earthly mother but not a Heavenly Father a miraculous birth. Like no other that the Savior the Redeemer long-promised might be born fully God. And fully man, but Jesus Christ's birth is not the only birth that God had his hand upon in the pages of scripture. And in the life of God's people so many times. We read that a husband and wife who were Barren who could not buy any natural means have a child. We're blessed by God in a miraculous way that a child might be born now. No other child was born like Jesus was his father was God Almighty, but so many of these promised Sons and Daughters we've been so often of the sons are born by miraculous means and we'll see another story just like that today. You got your Bibles. Please take them out in and turn with me to the book of 1st Samuel study is story this morning. As I said that really tugs at my heart. It's a powerful story. It's a very interesting story about a young boy who was born who God would use in many ways to change the course of Israel's corporate life 1st Samuel chapter 1. I'll read it follow along if you would if you got a Bible take it out follow with me so that you can see we've got some good some reading to do today. And I want you to be able to track along with what we're looking at here is what we read first Samuel chapter 1 There was a certain man of La Mafia theme of the Hill Country of Ephraim whose name was elkanah the sin of jeroboam, son of a wife who son of tohu son of Zeus and Aphrodite tiny braids to read these words for me every we did the home study and where I came from the chapter to read with all those stuff names and he started reef and he made it all the way through I thought wow, that's pretty good. So anyway, he had two wives the name of one was Hannah and the name of the other Pnina. Antonina had children. But Hannah had no children. This man was used to go up year-by-year from his City to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts at Shiloh where the two sons of Eli. Hophni and phinehas were Priests of the Lord. Call the day when Elkton or sacrifice he would give portions to Pnina his wife and all her sons and daughters. But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her fill the Lord had closed for womb. And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her because the Lord had closed her womb interesting statement there. The Lord had closed her womb out the scriptures recognize the sovereignty of God, even in places that we might be hesitant to talk like that so it went on here by year as often as she went up to the house of the Lord choose to provoke her there for Hana webtoon would not eat in Elkin off her husband said to her Hannah. Why do You Weep and why do you not eat? And why is your heart and sad am I not more to you than ten Sons? activate eaten and drunk and Shiloh Hannah Rose Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the Temple of the Lord. That's really the Tabernacle. It's found its way there in Shiloh. We might talk about that a little bit later you like sitting there in front of the Tabernacle the Temple of the Lord she was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly and she vowed a vow and said Lord of hosts. If you will indeed look on the Affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant but will give to your servant a son that I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life and no razor shall touch his head. I think continued praying before the Lord Eli observed her mouth Hannah was speaking in her heart only her lips moved and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman and he likes said to her. How long will you go on being drunk put your wine away from you? But Hannah answered no my Lord. I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine or strong drink, but I've been pouring out my soul before the Lord did not regret your serving as a worthless woman for all the long. I had been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation. Pennywise I answered go in peace and the god of Israel grant you your petition that you have made to him and she said let your servant find favor in your eyes woman went her way and 8th and her face was no longer sad. They Rose early in the morning and worship before the Lord then they went back to their house at Rama and Elkin. New Hannah his wife and the Lord remembered her 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.

Now there are several stories as we found in are forerunners of the faith Series where you learn about a person who will enter onto the pages of scripture before they're even born. I think it was the Lord who spoke to think it was was it? Let's see here Rebecca and said, there are two sons wrestling in your womb two great Nations speaking of Jacobin and if he saw them before they were born the Lord had spoken to her as a mother about the future of these children the older will serve the younger and can you almost you almost know is you read that story in the biblical text that these children are going to be significant in God's work of redemption. It almost implies that God is Sovereign over who lives over who is born over who comes into this world but his purposes for them are written even before they were born if there's not a single child who is an accident that though they might be an accident from the minds of their parents. And I know that some children are no one is an accident in the plan of God Jacob and Esau anticipated before their birth announcement the Lord to their mother and we anticipate as readers that they will have a significant role to play in God's work of redemption in the world. We heard also in our forerunners of Faith story of another young child not before he was born, but after he was born whose mother had to care for him Do ultimately had to hide him who put him into a basket and floated him down the river before he had done anything with where we come to the realization that this child in this Reed basket will have a significant impact on the Redemptive plan of God, of course, who am I speaking of you speaking of Moses? And then we come to learn the mighty way in which God directed Moses is like a plan that the Lord had for Moses even before he was born does preparing for this message. I got the text that William kepper had been born better as we celebrate with the Caper's we celebrate with the blessing of God on them. I can still remember when Troy and Andy stood right where I'm standing now and made their vows before the Lord to become husband and wife. I remember praying for them during that time as we all prayed together for God's blessing upon them and one of our prayers as A team of pastors that did that wedding. Was that the Lord if he chose might bless them with Children. What a remarkable thing it is these many years later to see God do just that and I pray for young William and I pray for Troy and Andy that God's hand will Miley be upon them and mightily be upon William that God will bring him to know the grace of God in Jesus Christ more so than any other truth that he will come to know in this life. There is no greater gift in the gift that God has provided in the person of his son Jesus Christ. That's why I pray that I know that you pray that for him as well for young William is part of the purpose of God in this life, Jacob Esau Moses work and get this young boy. Apparently very well might be unique as well. Can we hear the beginning of the story of this boy who does not yet have a name sometimes the angels will give the name to the mother before the child is born but here and name is not given but the Lord had once closed the womb of Hannah for a season of time in great morning. She found herself for those many years even persecuted by Pnina year upon year, but then God opened her womb the Lord remembered her and blessed her and gave her a son. In fact, you would give her many daughters and sons after the birth of this child. The man who she found beer in Shiloh outside of the Temple of the lord of the Tabernacle was a man named Eli will learn a little bit more about Eli but Eli I was a grandson of Aaron most probably he was probably the high priest at this time. It's kind of interesting that the biblical text doesn't speak of it that way but it's very probable. He was sitting there at the Temple of the Lord as you read it there and 1st Samuel, but it's really the Tabernacle which had been taken into the promised land and eventually found its resting place of a long residence in the city of Shiloh. That's where the religious festivities would take place. In fact, we read a weird story about a month-and-a-half ago about the fact that one of the tribes of Israel needed wives and so the other tribes told him we'll go to Shiloh during the religious festivals and you can kidnap in the young girls that you find your mom that weird story. Read a couple months ago with a really kind of a troubling story. It kind of conveyed the the degenerative minds of the Israelites at this time, but Shiloh was the center of worship. It was the religious Capital at that moment and Eli sat outside of the Tabernacle interesting ly enough archaeologist in Shiloh have found holes dug small holes dug into rock formation that they believe where the places in which the tent poles of the Tabernacle for set. They found one of the altars of Israel there in Shiloh as well. Probably from after the. That were speaking of here, but they documented these very things that the scripture speak of it's interesting how the scriptures prove themselves true historically so often about the archaeologist who searched for those things, but he'll I was there in front of the Tabernacle at the the mouth of the temple as Hannah Trade-in and and he told her that the Lord's blessing would be upon her and the Lord blessed her even as Eli had said let's continue with the story in chapter 1 verse 21. It's the story continues course the Lord remembered her and blessed her and the man L knoppers 21 and all his house went back up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and to pay his vow, but Hannah did not go up for she said to her husband as soon as the child is weed. I will bring him so that he may appear in the presence of the Lord and dwell there forever. Elkin. Her husband said to her do what seems best to you. Wait until you wean him only may the Lord establishes word. To the woman remained in nursed her son until she wins him and when she had weaned him she took him up with her along with the three year old Bull and he fought a flower and a skin of wine and she brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh and the child was young. Then they slaughter the bull and they brought the child to Eli and she said oh my Lord as you live my Lord I am the woman who is standing here in your presence praying to the Lord for this child. I prayed and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him. Therefore. I have lent him to the Lord as long as he lives. He is Lent to the Lord. And he worshipped the lord they're interesting. That isn't saying she Worship the Lord there, but he speaking of the child that the promise that God had fulfilled the Hannah in the birth of this son that she had been faithful to fulfill what she had promised and after he grew up she brought him and entrusted him to whom to Eli or to the Lord. Entrusted him to the Lord a beautiful song follows in Chapter 2 is she calls out to the Lord? I don't want to stop and make an observation. I think it's a little bit about Moses's mother as well. It's interesting the way that these two young boys. rise up and develop they come from these Godly women who care deeply for their children and also care deeply for the Lord who are courageous. I music of Moses's mother courageously Define the Pharaohs order to save her child's life praying that God would watch over him and then entrusting him into the hands of a Godless woman Pharaoh's daughter because she didn't trust him in the Pharaohs hands. Did she but she entrusted him in the Lord's hands and trusted that the Lord would watch over him any of Daniel in as he went into Babylon a Godly young boy who was taken in the Babylon at a very young age, but continued to to grow in the ways of the Lord what must Daniel's parents have done to prepare him for that or even pray for him and dinner scene from him when he was out of their grasp. I think about a Moses I think of that as well find of Hannah as well as she turns her son over and sing to the Lord I received from her song that she knew who the Lord was. This was a Godly woman who love the Lord with all of your heart mind and soul who gave the Lord her greatest gift for his glory and for the goodness of his son and for the greatness of God hears what she writes and 1st Samuel to my heart exults in the Lord. My horn is exalted in the Lord to my mouth the rides my enemies because I rejoice in your salvation with her vision in the song is not just about what God has done in the birth of this child, but it's so much greater than that. It's a vision of the Salvation that God will bring not simply in the birth of a child. But in the Fulfillment of the promise to God's very people of her family of whom her family would play a significant role. There is none. Holy like the Lord for there is none besides you there is no Rock like our God a mind you these words come even before the storms come to us. But powerful language from this godly woman about what God has done for us at the people of God for her and the nation of Israel for her family and even for herself talk no more. So very proudly let not arrogance come from your mouth for the Lord is a god of knowledge and by him actions are weighed the bows of the mighty or broken but the feeble behind on string those who were full of hired themselves out for bread, but those who are hungry and cease to hunger the baron has been born 7, but she you as many children as forlorn the Lord kills and brings to life. He brings down to sheol and raises up the Lord makes poor and makes rich he brings low and he exalts he raises up the poor from the dust. He lifts the needy from a sheep to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of Honor for the pillar of the Earth are the Lords and on them he has Set the world. He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness for not by might shall a man prevail. The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to Pieces against them. He will find her in heaven. The Lord will judge the ends of the Earth. He will give strength to his King and exalt the Horn of his anointed.

It's one of the most remarkable songs are prayers that we've seen at this point in the scriptures. From this mother of this child this blessed child. What a great mother she would be to raise him in the way of the Lord. It in God's Providence. She's giving him to the Lord to care for. The reason why I point that out is because this young child was going to enter into a family or a temple that was out of whack.

Honestly, you would think that he would have been much better off with his mother. Then he would be with Eli in Eli's sons and yet this godly woman certainly prayed for this boy day in and day out. He was probably too young to have gained much knowledge of things from her and yet us will see and you will leave she would visit him. I can only imagine how much she would look forward to those visit as she would bring him new clothes that she would ask him what he had seen that she would certainly say to him. Are you are you in the scriptures? Are you studying the Lord? What have you seen God do it? She would encourage him in that sweet time of Fellowship year by year. I can't imagine that she ever left his thoughts, but she turned him over to the Lord a great blessing and answer to prayer. And then we begin to read about the story of this young child as he finds his way into the the Tabernacle in in a sense into the family and influence of Eli in the beginning of that story is a little bit discouraging you take a look with me at first Samuel chapter 2 verse 12. This is what we read about God's assessment about where he'd brought this miraculously born boy where the Lord has chosen chosen to set this young child. And here's what we read first Samuel 2:12. Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the Lord. Stark contrast to what we've seen so far. That this child Hannah was being given to the Lord, but he would find himself in the midst quite surprisingly of what God himself calls in scripture here worthless, man who did not know the Lord who were these men blacksmith or you know Traders or or or shepherd's know these were the priests of the Lord. These were the sons of the high priest. These were the sons of Eli who oversaw the offerings who oversaw the worship of the Lord there in the temple and Shiloh. Hophni and phinehas were their names and the account goes on to describe how worthless they work when the Israelites came to Shiloh to offer their sacrifices to the Lord. They would bring sacrificial animals as as a demonstration of their offerings to Lorde with a sin offering or an offer. Fellowship or whatever it might have been an infant a Hassan Hosny with would run up to the the pilgrims who would come and they were preparing the meat and it would take a forked tongue like a pitchfork type of a handheld barbecue thing and stick it in their pots and pull the meat out before it had been prepared because they wanted the barbecue that meat and they didn't want it to be boiled out all the flavor and the pilgrims would say stop. We're not spending preparing to meet and it would say you don't give it to me that we're not going to accept it and they would it says to us in scripture. Take it by force. And for what so they can enjoy the flavor eating the foods that came taking advantage of the pilgrims and taking advantage of the sacrifices that were meant for the Lord. Himself, not only that but we learned a little bit later there and in this story that fits in a Hass and hophni were engaged in immorality with the women who were helping with the curse of the Temple. I just was well-known to the people of Israel and it was also well known to Eli as well. These were worthless men that did not know the Lord and yet the Lord had brought Samuel this youngboy right into their mixed. And we read about Samuel coming onto the scene here and 1st Samuel chapter 2 verse 18. Here's what we read Samuel was ministering before the Lord. A boy clothes with a linen ephod and his mother used to make for him a little robe and take it to him each year when she went up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifices that he'll I would bless El cunado in his wife and and say it's May the Lord give you children by this woman for the petition. She asked the Lord and so they would return and the Lord did bless Hannah with many more children, even then then Samuel as they went home and they continue to care for him each year as they came to see a how he was doing. And yet Samuel begins to grow. He grows in in in stature in an in-service there in the temple and we come across in chapter 3. What I think is just one of the most remarkable stories in the scriptures. the story of the day on which the Lord called Samuel We read it here and it's remarkable and as much as it's a young boy, who hears the Lord speak in these ways, but it's remarkable inasmuch as it characterizes the way in which the Lord initiates his relationship not just with Samuel but with us as well as the boy who got hit set apart. This is the one in the child was born. The promise was made the Lord had plans for Samuel long before this moment long before Samuel would become aware of those planned long before Samuel would really become aware of who the Lord was the Lord knew exactly who Samuel was but look at how this story flushes out. It's the final part of Samuel story that we're going to look at Today Chapter 3 Verse 1. This is what we read. In the midst of all that troubling group of Eli and his sons. This is how the Lord was interacting with this young boy. 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. At that time Eli whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see was lying down in his own place. 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. Then the Lord called Samuel. And Samuel said here I am. And ran to Eli and said here I am for you called me. But Eli said I did not call lie down again. So he went and lay down. 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. Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. 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 he'll I perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel go lie down and if he calls you you shall say Speak Lord for your servant hears to Samuel went and laid down in his place. Isn't that a remarkable story? Yeah, I remember a sheep or for the pages of the Old Testament to learn more about God to learn about how he interacts with others EU. I don't know about you but I paid very close attention to these stories very close attention to the burning bush that was seen and then Moses went to see what was going on. And then the Lord is there take off your shoes the the ground on which you're standing is Holy Ground and the Lord of dresses Moses. He speaks to him and I listen to those stories for how is God speaking. How is he interacting with these people with this story is so you need It's not the story of the way in which the Lord addresses a grown man in the middle of a Wilderness. But this young boy did the Lord know this boy before this encounter. He certainly did. Why was this boy in the temple at this moment? Because the Lord had planned it beforehand. Everything is decreed by God. There's no surprises to him. Samuel laying here in the temple by the Ark of the Lord was all the work of God, even before he was born before Hannah under the prayer Scott in sealed her womb for these events that transpired that you can have this conversation with this young boy that he can transform this young boy's life and through this young boy transform the shape that over of Israel would have all of God's called people.

Samuel rest and he hears a voice and he gets up and he runs and he wakes up old Eli there and I don't know by Eli I do, you know in the morning times about 7 a.m. 6 a.m. We begin to hear the wrestling of children, especially after Christmas. We got some presents that they like and so they get up at the crack of dawn. If you can beat it Christmas morning our boys got up at 4:30 a m. Can you beat that? Give me a hand if you can beat that and went to Martha's the guest room where Martha was in her little guest bedroom and just piled into that thing a bit. Thankfully they fell asleep but up at 4:30 in the morning. I can hear the kids wrestling what I just said give me some more time to sleep right after Samuel comes to Eli the camel the Lord had not burned out. It seems like it was deep into the night maybe moving towards the early morning as they would have let those candles at the end of the night. It would burn to the night and hadn't yet gone out. We're told that someone in the Black movie part morning and Eli runs if you called me, I'm sorry Sandra runs and you called me and what did you guys say? I didn't call you get back to bed. I need a couple hours of sleep, right and then it happens again. And then finally the third time it happens. What does Elie realize? It was a lord who is calling the boy.

We're not going to hear good things about Eli here as time goes on. In fact the Lord will basically put him to death before the story is over for his Godless activity Eli and for his family every spell you to watch over and superintend the Temple of the Lord and take seriously those matters that are to be taken seriously, but here in this moment. What is Eli tell Samuel but it's the Lord who's calling you? How did Eli tell Samuel that? Because I knew I had heard that voice before in his life. He knew the voice of the Lord not too surprising but very disheartening committed this point in his life. It seems as if his heart has grown harder. I did in the wife of this young boy in this moment, perhaps by the illumination is sense of the Holy Spirit. He was able to tell the boy. Go back and lay down. And when you hear the voice again say Speak Lord your servant hears.

How do you think a son or a daughter comes to know the voice of the Lord? I think quite often it's because their parents have heard it before. And they construct that child in the way that that child should go a parent whose listen for that voice and be attentive to the calling of the Lord is all the more capable and probably only capable of encouraging their child to listen for the voice of the Lord young William who was born just this week Troy and Andy will encourage to listen for the voice of the Lord. They will raise him in the Lord and in the scriptures and point him to Jesus Christ. He will begin to see the world through the eyes of Faith before he has a faith of his own because it is the faith of his parents that's part of the blessing that God gives not just to one generation to the thousandth generation of those who love him. Because the greatest Heritage that we can pass on is the love of the Lord. There is no greater enduring wealth in this life than a knowledge of Jesus Christ and the goodness of God. And even here in this moment this man whose heart had grown Harden his own Sons had turn their back on the Lord with able to encourage young Samuel to go back and lay down and say Speak Lord for your servant is listening.

And the conversation that would follow will change the shape of Samuel's life and changed the shape and history of the life of the people of God. As this young boy laying before the Ark of the Covenant there in the temple space in this relationship in this conversation will inaugurate a relationship that will impact hundreds of thousands in the years ahead. I look out here and in the congregation and many of you. I know some of you have kids so we have kids were here right now. Right and others have kids were fully grown who were somewhere else and yet the role of a parent to point their children to the Lord. There is no greater role that you have. Have I said before I can without a doubt Hannah is she would return year upon year would encourage Samuel in the ways of the Lord and maybe even write him notes. If she could do that at that time. We've been very difficult in that season of culture to be able to do those kinds of things could shoot it encouraged him in the Lord even be like here is able to point him toward the lord you with children Point your children to the Lord. He doesn't matter if there is Young A-Z life. They've never heard the voice of God yet. Maybe they're fully grown and mature in wrestling and struggling continue to point them back to the Lord. Never fail to do that. If they're Believers certainly, so encourage them. How you doing with Christ? How are you walking with him? And if they're not Believers yet continue to encourage them. I know many of our mothers a covenant have grown children who don't have faith looks continue to encourage them where else would they find a voice like that in their lives and what greater witness is there than a Godly mother who loves you to point you to the greatest thing that there is that this life has to offer. It's a god uses Eli even though he's Faith. Listen this season of Life 2.0 young Samuel to open his ears to open his heart and listen and Samuels life will change.

What's the next week? How challenging even the first word that the Lord brought to Young Samuel was because the next morning he has to wake up and he'll I will say to him. What did the Lord say to you? And sandals, very anxious and nervous about telling Eli what the Lord told him. It's so we'll see not only hear an example of God initiating that relationship with one who me loves with the courage that a Believer needs to have as he shares the word of the Lord with those that God intends it for. Do you have a relationship with the Lord yourself? if you don't you certainly can't Point your children the one who calls. That's why I encourage you who are not yet parents those of you who are currently parenting children in your house those of you who parent children who are far away. Grow in maturity and your own relationship with the Lord open your ears and your heart so that when he calls you may say Speak Lord for your servant is listening. put yourself in a position even greater than the position that Eli found himself in the waning years of his life as his heart had grown somewhat hard and put yourself in a position even more soap to be able to encourage those that God has put in your life to listen to him know what his voice sounds like So that you can help others hear it for the first time. Let's close our time together in a word of Prayer. gracious and holy God we are so grateful or It do we are sinful and fall in and so often Wayward you still speak to us? Lord forgive us of our sin as we grow older and life so often or we grow harder in our hearts and rougher in our ways. Open our ears are fresh today those of us who are older who walked with you for many years soften our hearts that we might hear your voice of fresh and a new. Help us Lord, even as you spoke to Samuel to have eager ears to listen. That new and fresh experience that we experienced in the burgeoning opening weeks and months of our relationship with you Lord me that same passion and intensity and fervor returned to us and Inspire us a fresh in these later years of life. Can we pray Lord for our young boys and girls in our congregation? They even for William who was just born this week that you will speak to them through your son Jesus Christ. Do your Holy Spirit and do they are sinful and Fallen as all of Adam's sons and daughters are that that you will speak and you will speak of the Redemption that you have provided for them in that promised Messiah that you will speak your words of grace and mercy that you will show them the path that you have prepared for them. Even before they took their first breath that they might grow up to honor you to know you to glorify you in the love you with all their hearts minds and souls were so grateful Lord that you are the God who speaks and the word you speak is a word of love that will never fail the person and work of your son the word Jesus the Christ we pray all these things and his name. Amen. Let's sing together Amazing Grace as we reflect on what God has done for us.