Your Servant is Listening
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Spiritual disciplines ARE HOLY HABITS that help us intentionally, repeatedly place ourselves before God and nurture a deeper, fuller inner life.
Inward Spiritual Disciplines:
Prayer, Fasting, Meditation, Study
Outward Spiritual Disciplines:
Simplicity, Solitude, Submission, Service
Corporate Spiritual Disciplines:
Confession, Worship, Guidance, Celebration
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Prayer, Fasting, Meditation, Study
Simplicity, Solitude, Submission, Service
Confession, Worship, Guidance, Celebration
The word of the Lord was rare in those times
The word of the Lord was rare in those times
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.
And no wonder
Unholy priesthood:
Unholy priesthood:
Now Eli was very old, and he kept hearing all that his sons were doing to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who were serving at the entrance to the tent of meeting.
Use of religion for personal gain:
Use of religion for personal gain:
Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the Lord. The custom of the priests with the people was that when any man offered sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come, while the meat was boiling, with a three-pronged fork in his hand, and he would thrust it into the pan or kettle or cauldron or pot. All that the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. This is what they did at Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there. Moreover, before the fat was burned, the priest’s servant would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, “Give meat for the priest to roast, for he will not accept boiled meat from you but only raw.” And if the man said to him, “Let them burn the fat first, and then take as much as you wish,” he would say, “No, you must give it now, and if not, I will take it by force.”
Religion as tool of government and war:
Religion as tool of government and war:
And when the people came to the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has the Lord defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord here from Shiloh, that it may come among us and save us from the power of our enemies.” So the people sent to Shiloh and brought from there the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts, who is enthroned on the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
Religion as superstition or talisman
Religion as superstition or talisman
Idolatry = Trying to USE GOD - USE RELIGION
God Calls
God Calls
Did Not Yet Know the Lord
Did Not Yet Know the Lord
Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.
This despite:
v.1 Ministering in the presence of the Lord.
v.3 living in the temple of the Lord.
1 Sam 2:26 "growing in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.”
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You can minister in the house of the Lord and not know him.
You can live in the church. Go to every function. Volunteer. And not know him.
But maybe you’re growing… in wisdom and stature and favor...
He didn’t know the Lord, but he was in the right place!
God Calls Again
God Calls Again
God Calls a Third Time
God Calls a Third Time
God is not giving up!
Eli figures it out
Tells Samuel what to do
And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.”
Your Servant is Listening!
Conclusion
Conclusion