我们来看撒木尔记上 First Samuel Chapter 1 撒木尔记上第一章 We read
from verse 24 我们从第二十四节读起 First Samuel Chapter 1
verse 24 撒木尔记上第一章第二十四节 And she took him up
with her the she here is Hannah and
the him is Samuel and Hannah took Samuel
up with her when she had weaned him
with three bullets and one ephah of flour
and a flask of wine and brought him
to the house of Jehovah to Shiloh and
the boy was young and they slaughtered the
bullet and brought the boy to Eli and
she said oh my lord as thy soul
lives my lord I'm the woman that stood
by thee here to pray to Jehovah for
this boy I pray and Jehovah has granted
me my petition which I ask of him
and also I have lent him to Jehovah
all the days that he lives he is
lent to Jehovah and he worshiped Jehovah there
and the boy Samuel ministered to Jehovah before
Eli and the word of Jehovah was rare
in those days a vision was not frequent
and it came to pass at that time
when Eli lay in his place now his
eyes began to grow dim he could not
see and the lamp of God had not
yet gone out and Samuel lay in the
temple of Jehovah where the ark of God
was that Jehovah called to Samuel and he
said here am I and he ran to
Eli and he said here am I for
thou callest me and he said I did
not call lie down again and he went
and lay down and Jehovah called again Samuel
and Samuel arose and went to Eli and
said here am I for thou callest me
and he said I did not call my
son lie down again now Samuel did not
yet know Jehovah neither had the word of
Jehovah yet been revealed to him and Jehovah
called again the third time Samuel and he
arose and went to Eli and said here
am I for thou callest me and Eli
perceived that Jehovah was calling the boy and
Eli said to Samuel go lie down and
it shall be if he call thee that
thou shall say speak Jehovah for thy servants
hearing so Samuel went and lay down in
his place and Jehovah came and called and
called as at the other time Samuel Samuel
and Samuel said speak for thy servants hearing
Samuel recited chapter three chapter one and Samuel
served Jehovah before Eli and in those days
Jehovah did not speak much and did not
have much to say one day Eli lay
down in his own place his eyes were
dim and he could not see clearly and
he was waiting in the shop of Jehovah
where the moon was and there was no
sun and Samuel was already asleep and Jehovah
called Samuel and Samuel said I am here
and went to Eli and said you called
me I am here and Eli said I
did not call you go to sleep and
he went to sleep and Jehovah called Samuel
again and Samuel got up and said to
Eli you called me I am here and
Eli said my son I did not call
you go to sleep and at that time
Samuel did not know Jehovah and did not
know Jehovah's end and Jehovah called Samuel for
the third time and Samuel got up and
said to Eli you called me again I
am here and Eli realized Jehovah called his
son and Eli said to Samuel you can
go to sleep and Jehovah called you again
and you said Jehovah please say please Jehovah
went and he slept and Jehovah came again
and called Samuel for the third time and
said Samuel Samuel answered please say please May
we have a further word of prayer Let
us have a little prayer Dear Lord as
we gather together in thy presence Our hearts
are full of gratitude.
We thank Thee for Thy amazing love for
us, that Thou should die for us, that
Thou should give Thy own life to us,
and Thou does love us even to the
uttermost.
Lord, as we are here before Thee, our
hearts long to hear Thy voice.
Speak to us as Thou didst speak to
Samuel.
Call us to be what Thou want us
to be.
May Thy name be glorified in our lives,
and may Thy work be done.
We ask in Thy precious name.
Last night we mentioned that we will spend
our time together, this time on Samuel.
We are interested in Samuel, not because just
we want to know his story.
But because Samuel illustrates to us an important
principle.
Samuel is an epoch-making vessel of God.
Through Samuel, God changed the time of the
judges to the time of the kings.
And brothers and sisters, we realize that today,
we are on the verge of another big
change.
Thank God we have been in this age
of grace for over two thousand years.
The time has been long.
It tells us of the long patience of
God.
Because He does not want any to perish,
but everyone to believe unto eternal life.
For this time of grace is coming to
an end.
Because our Lord Jesus is coming again.
At His first coming, He brought in grace.
Now at His second coming, He will on
the one hand judge this world.
And on the other hand, He will come
to receive His own unto Himself.
The time of grace is almost over.
And the time of justice, righteousness is coming
upon this earth.
But for the change of time, it is
God's way always to find some vessel that
He can use.
So that He can make the change.
And as in the time of Samuel, God
raised up Samuel to be that effort making
vessel.
So in our days, we believe that God
is looking for a corporate effort making vessel.
God wants to have a number of people
who will be like Samuel.
That God can use to change the time.
To bring in the king.
To bring in the kingdom of God.
So brothers and sisters, we find in the
life of Samuel, we can learn why God
used Samuel.
And by the grace of God, we hope
that He will use us in the same
way.
Last evening, we mentioned about the birth of
Samuel.
Samuel was born supernaturally.
Because his mother Hannah was barren.
But through travailing prayer, Hannah began to realize
that God also had a need.
And she prayed to God.
If you will give me a son, I
will lend it to you.
And God answered her prayer.
And Samuel was born.
You know Samuel means ask for of God.
And Hannah means grace.
Now in the same way, you will find
God is working in our life.
We were born once of the flesh.
But thank God we are being born again.
The second birth is supernatural.
It is because of the finished work of
our Lord Jesus.
So the Holy Spirit is able to beget
us into new life.
So in a sense, our birth is like
Samuel.
But remember, Samuel was born for a purpose.
He was not born just for his mother.
He was not born just for himself.
He was born for the will of God.
So before he was born, his mother made
a vow.
It is the vow of the Nazirite.
That the child to be born is to
be a Nazirite for life.
A Nazirite is one who devotes his life
to God.
A Nazirite is one who lives for God.
Whatever God may use the Nazirite, the principle
is he lives for God.
And Samuel is a Nazirite for life.
So brothers and sisters, we believe that this
happens to all of us in the same
way.
We are not only supernaturally born again.
But we are born for a purpose.
We are born to be a Nazirite for
life.
To be separated from everything.
Separated from the world.
Separated even from ourselves.
And to be wholly given to God.
Allowing God to work out his purpose in
our lives.
Dear brothers and sisters, do you realize that
you are born a Nazirite?
You are born again to be a Nazirite
for life.
As we mentioned last night, by his right
of redemption, he can claim us to live
for him.
But he will rather persuade us by his
love.
He wants to use his love to constrain
us.
That we may voluntarily give ourselves to him.
And allow him to work out his full
salvation in us.
And so God's purpose may be done in
us.
Now this morning we would like to go
a little bit further.
And it is about the making or the
training of an epoch making vessel.
Samuel was born.
He was born a Nazirite.
But to be that epoch making vessel, needs
something more than just being born.
Needs more than just be called and elected.
We find that to be really to be
an epoch making vessel.
There is certain training, certain discipline that need
to be done in that life.
So generally speaking brothers and sisters, every one
of you is born a Nazirite.
And God's purpose in each of your life
is that you may be in that epoch
making vessel.
You may be the one that will bring
in the king.
And what a glorious work that is.
Are you expecting the Lord to come again?
Are you waiting for the kingdom of God?
And what a work is entrusted to such
people.
And you are elected to be such.
But then you need to make your election
and calling sure.
That is you need to go through certain
training.
After Samuel was born, his mother said, 他的母親就說,
她要把孩子留在家裡。
她不要每一年都把孩子帶到斯羅, 然後又回到家裡。
她寧願把孩子留在家裡, 擄養他只等到他斷了奶。
And then she will take him to the
house of God in Shiloh.
然後她就要把孩子帶到斯羅,帶到神的殿裡。
And will leave him there.
這就把他留在那裡。
So first of all you find in the
training of this epoch making vessel.
所以你看在作為轉移時代的器皿的訓練裡面同一件事。
It was done at home.
是在家裡的。
Now in the old days, 你知道在古時, 你知道孩子斷奶的歲數是比現在多了。
當孩子斷奶的時候,他已經是一個小孩子了。
他可以被留在殿裡了。
In the home.
就在這一段時間在家裡。
You know Hannah not only nurse him.
Hannah不但是擄養他, But as he was nursing him.
當他擄養他的時候, He impart to this little child a
sense of God.
他就灌輸給這個孩子關於神的事。
A sense of the fear of God.
就是灌輸給這個孩子敬畏神的心。
You know a child is very limited in
his understanding.
你知道一個小孩子他所明白的不多。
Sometimes we think well he is just a
baby, he is just a child.
What does he know?
有的時候我們就說不過這個孩子他知道有多少呢?
But strangely you find, 但是很稀奇的, Even if a
child is so limited in understanding, 你就看見雖然這個小孩子他的認知雖然很有限, And
yet he is born with an intuitive capacity
for God.
然而他生下來他裡面就有一個本能是能夠認識神的。
So you find Hannah being grace.
你就看見Hannah是有恩典的。
He imparts to his child the fear of
God.
他就能夠灌輸給這個孩子敬畏神的心。
That there is a God.
有一位神。
That this God is to be worshipped.
這位神是我們要敬拜的。
You know his understanding may be very very
little.
你知道孩子他所明白的可能是很少。
But an impression is given to that child.
但是在他裡面已經有一個印象。
It is a kind of attitude.
這是在他裡面有一個的態度。
Not so much of knowledge.
不是自私。
But it is an attitude.
乃至一個態度。
And that inward attitude you find was instilled
in this child.
所以你看就灌輸給這個孩子裡面有一個另一代的態度。
You remember in the book of Proverbs.
你記得在真言書。
There is such a word.
有這一句的話。
Train up a child.
According to the tenor of his way.
And even when he is old.
He will not depart from it.
我們如果從小就用閻國華的道路教導孩子。
直到他年老他也不會走歪了路。
If you train up a child.
如果你好好訓練一個孩子。
According to the tenor of his way.
In other words according at the very outset
of his life.
就是在他從他生命的開始就按著閻國華的道路教導他。
You know you train a child at the
very beginning of his life.
你知道一個孩子從他一出生你就訓練他。
And even when he is old.
He will never depart from it.
直到他年紀老邁他也不會走歪了路。
Dear brothers and sisters.
Especially fathers and mothers.
You know you have a responsibility.
When God entrusts a soul into your hand.
It is a sacred trust.
And it is for you to train up
the child.
乃是要你把這個孩子訓練。
According to the discipline, admonition of the Lord.
按著閻國華的管教和註冊。
It is for you to impart to them
a sense of God.
你需要灌輸給孩子關於神的事。
A sense of worshipping God.
關於敬拜神的事。
And if you do that.
你如果這樣做的話。
Even when he is old.
He will not depart from it.
Brothers and sisters.
I do thank the Lord.
Because I was brought up in a Christian
home.
My father loved the Lord.
And from our youth.
How he led us before God.
Every evening he will gather the children together.
He will read the Bible with the word
to us.
And he will lead us in prayer.
Now even though we do not understand much.
And we do not really know the meaning
of the word that was being read.
But an impression is made in my heart.
I can never forget that.
There is a sense that we are before
God.
There is a sense of the presence of
God.
And that remains in my heart.
這一直是留在我的心裡的。
Even though I do not understand much.
雖然我當時不明白。
But that impression is made.
但是印象已經留下了。
So here you find Samuel.
所以在這裡面看見湯姆爾。
When he was weaned.
當他斷了奶。
His mother took him to the temple.
他的母親就把他帶到殿裡。
And just left him there.
就把他留在那裡。
And what did you read?
我們讀的是什麼呢?
In chapter 1 verse 28.
第一章第二十八節。
And also I have lent him to Jehovah
all the days that he lived.
He is lent to Jehovah.
第二十八節。
所以我將這孩子賄與耶穌華。
使他終生賄與耶穌華。
And then you notice.
然後我們看見。
And he worshiped Jehovah there.
於是他在那裡敬拜耶穌華。
You know when you read this verse.
你知道當我們讀這一節的正經。
Probably when you come to the end of
this verse.
You say and she worshiped Jehovah there.
我們的印象乃至說是哈娜在那裡敬拜耶穌華。
So because Hannah knew the Lord.
因為哈娜認識主。
And now she gave her son to the
Lord.
現在她把她兒子獻給神了。
So naturally she will worship the Lord there.
所以很自然的哈娜就會在那裡敬拜神。
But you notice the Bible says and he
worshiped Jehovah there.
但是我們小心的來看。
我們就讀到這裡是於撒木爾敬拜耶穌華。
So the he is Samuel.
所以這裡是說到撒木爾。
Samuel is just a boy.
撒木爾不過是個童子。
His understanding is very limited.
他所明白的是非常的有限。
And yet he already knows how to worship
God.
然而他已經知道了他怎麼樣來敬拜耶穌華。
Brothers and sisters.
弟兄姊妹們。
Do not think that worship is something beyond
us.
不要以為敬拜是我們所不能夠達到的。
Now it is true.
Worship is the highest spiritual experience you can
ever have.
不錯。
敬拜實在是屬靈經歷最高的一層。
And yet it is also the foundational, the
most beginning of your spiritual experience.
但是同時也是我們屬靈經歷最基本的乃是我們的基礎。
You remember in John Chapter 4.
你記得在約翰福音第三章第四節。
Our Lord Jesus was talking to a Samaritan
woman.
我們的主耶穌和撒瑪利亞婦人說話。
And this Samaritan woman was a sinful woman.
這個撒瑪利亞的婦人乃是個賤人。
And she already had five husbands.
And the sixth one actually was not her
husband.
她已經有了五個丈夫。
第六個也不是她的。
And she was thirsty.
她實在是喝了。
And you remember our Lord talked to her.
你記得主耶穌向她說話。
And offered to her the living water.
又把活水給她。
And as our Lord was talking to her.
當主耶穌和她說話的時候。
She began to realize that our Lord Jesus
must be a prophet.
她就知道主耶穌他一定是一位先知。
And so she began to ask a question.
所以她就問了一個問題。
She said we Samaritans worship in the Mount
of Gerasim.
她說我們撒瑪利亞人是在迦勒頂的山上來敬拜。
And you Jews worship in the temple in
Jerusalem.
你們猶太人仍然是在耶路撒冷的聖殿裡面敬拜。
Now, who is right?
誰是對呢?
Why should you worship?
我們到那裡敬拜呢?
And the Lord said the time has come.
但是主耶穌說之後將到。
And now is.
如今就是了。
You do not worship in Mount Gerasim nor
in the temple in Jerusalem.
你不是在迦勒頂的山上來敬拜。
也不是在耶路撒冷的殿裡敬拜。
You worship in spirit and in truth.
你乃是用靈和誠實來敬拜。
Do you think our Lord was discussing such
a high theological subject with this sinful woman?
是不是主耶穌在這裡和這位撒瑪利亞婦人談到非常高超的宗教的教道呢?
No, 不是的。
Because we are born instinctively with a sense
of God.
因為我們生下來我們就已經有一個本能是能夠認識神的。
We know we are limited.
我們知道我們是有限的。
We need someone who is higher than us.
我們需要有一位是高過我們的, To worship and to trust.
來敬拜,來信靠。
It is a human instinct.
這是一個人的本能。
You know whenever you are in trouble, you
call heaven.
你知道當你有難處的時候,你就向天來求了。
It is an instinct within us.
這是在我們裡面的本能。
So at the very beginning, that instinct needs
to be brought up.
所以一開始我們這個本能就需要被帶領長大。
Let our children know there is God.
讓我們的孩子們知道有一位神。
Let our children know how to worship God.
讓我們的孩子知道怎麼樣來敬拜神。
Worship simply means putting God in his rightful
place.
敬拜很簡單地來說就是讓神得到他應有的地位。
And we put ourselves in our proper place.
我們就把自己放在我們應該在的地位。
He is God.
祂是神。
We are His created.
我們是祂所造的。
And we worship Him.
我們敬拜祂。
我們認為神是配得的。
你知道這個的態度應該從小就放在孩子們的心裡。
實在來說在哺乳學這就是我們所需要做的一個非常基本的工作。
至少不是告訴他們一些聖經的故事。
乃是要灌輸給他們有一個敬拜的心。
所以親愛的弟兄姊妹們。
我們這些從上面生的。
很自然地我們就呼喊說阿爸父。
很自然地我們就向他有敬拜。
這個敬拜的靈需要被培養。
所以你看見這就是撒木爾是怎麼樣被撫養的。
作為一個童子他已經敬拜耶和華了。
這是在家裡所應該做的。
所以親愛的弟兄姊妹們。
我們做父母的。
我們有一個很大的責任。
不單要養育他們叫他們能夠長大。
甚至讓他們做做教育。
最大的責任是嘗試將他們裡面帶出一股敬拜的精神。
然後這個孩子就被留在殿裡了。
而聖經告訴我們。
聖經就告訴我們說撒木爾在以利的面前侍奉耶和華。
你記得他頭一個訓練是在家裡。
現在他繼續地在神的殿裡做訓練。
用新約的話來說。
我們這些從生的。
我們現在被帶到神的教會裡面。
每一個信徒都是屬於教會的。
你知道神的教會不是我們簽了一封的申請書就進入的。
你如果是從上面生的。
你就是已經在神的教會裡的。
神已經把我們放在那裡。
讓我們能夠學習如何來侍奉他。
你知道每一個信徒都是一個的祭司。
這是神的心意。
每一個信徒都是要來侍奉耶和華的。
你知道作為一個孩子。
撒木爾不能做很多的事。
因為他所明白的不多。
然而有一些是他能夠做的。
所以你在這裡看見撒木爾當他在耶和華的殿裡。
他是服侍耶和華的。
他穿著衣服的。
就是說他在做訓練做一個祭司。
那麼交給這個孩子的工作是什麼呢?
看來是要把殿的門打開的。
這是一個孩子能夠做的工作。
雖然是很小的事。
然而這是非常重要的事。
為什麼呢?
因為如果殿的門沒有打開的話。
人就不能夠進到殿裡敬拜了。
他們也不能夠進到殿裡獻祭。
另外一方面呢?
要一個孩子每天早上打開殿門也是一件很大的事。
Because boys like to sleep late.
Now if he should sleep late.
And the door was not open.
Now people cannot come in and pray and
sacrifice.
So it is a great responsibility.
A small thing, a great responsibility.
很小的事,但是很大的責任。
你就看見 Samuel 他是那樣的負責。
你知道一個小孩子要他早起來。
你知道殿門打開的時候,就是太陽出來的時候。
請教你們,你們起來的時候是不是在那個時候呢?
然而 Samuel 他是中性的。
而聖經告訴我們說,我們如果在小事上中心,肯定要把大的事交託給我們。
不要輕看小的事。
因為在小的事上,你會看見很重要的成果。
所以 Samuel 在耶和華的殿裏就學習負責任。
那弟兄姊妹們,你們今天得救了以後。
已經在教會裏了。
很可能的,你還是有一段的時間在這裏受餵養。
你沒有做什麼。
你還是要求許多的。
但是你是一位弟子。
基督身體每一個的肢體都需要發揮功用。
按照你所知道的。
你需要學習來服事。
開始的時候,你的服事可能是很小的事。
不要以為說,如果我要服事呢?
我要好像彼得一樣。
當我站起來的時候,三千人就得救了。
不是的。
你要在小的事上開始。
在小的事上忠心。
你看見,上古人乃至在以利的面前,侍奉耶和華的。
換句話說,他不是隨意的,以為對的,用那個方法來侍奉耶和華。
不是的,他乃至在以利的面前來侍奉耶和華。
以利那個時候是一位祀師。
他也是祭祀。
但是以利已經年紀老慢了。
他的眼目昏花,看不分明。
直到以利有兩個兒子。
這兩個兒子都是很壞的。
他們也是在神的殿裡做祭祀的。
但是他們是那樣的惡劣。
這些聖殿來獻祭的人,他們都受傷了。
因為這兩個兒子,他們是非常貪心的。
你知道當人來獻祭的時候,特別是獻平安祭
,那家人就會享用這個所獻的祭。
但是有一部分是給祭祀的。
但是這兩個以利的兒子,生在腐肉的時候,
就是在獻祭的開始的時候,他們的僕人就來了, 就拿出一個叉子,
就把叉子一叉栽在那個積木上面,
就把最好的肉拿出來了。
所以獻祭的人就覺得很不妥當。
以利聽天了。
他就跟他的兒子說了。
但是聖經告訴我們
,他幫助他的孩子沒有尊神為大。
可能他也享用最好的肉。
所以你看以利祖靈的光景是非常的壞。
他曾經是被神所用的。
他曾經是認識神的。
他還是愛神的。
但是他祖靈的光景是那麼的軟弱。
然而神把撒木爾放在以利之下。
我為什麼要在你以下服侍呢?
不是的。
雖然以利的光景是這樣。
你看見撒木爾是尊重以利的。
他忠心的來侍奉以利。
這個老人可能晚上常常呼喚撒木爾。
他要撒木爾為他做一些的事。
晚上孩子總是喜歡睡覺。
但是你看見撒木爾對以利是何等的忠心。
一個晚上。
撒木爾聽見以華的聲音三次。
但是他不知道這是什麼聲音。
他以為是以利叫他了。
這就叫我們知道以利實在是常常叫他的。
每一次他聽見聲音,他就起來了,就跑到人家。
就說你呼喚我,我在這裡。
以利說沒有呼喚你,你去睡吧。
第二次。
他又來了。
第三次。
撒木爾又來了。
如果是你的話,你會怎麼樣做呢?
第一次你可能會起來了。
第二次呢,不太快。
第三次呢,你根本就不會起來了。
但是撒木爾不是這樣。
所以,親愛的弟兄姊妹。
這裡你看見有一個孩子。
神把他放在管教之下。
這個的觀景實在好像不太有利的。
然而他能夠尊重以利。
他能夠忠心的聽他的呼喚。
這是一個我們品格所需要有的訓練。
你知道弟兄姊妹們。
我們如果要被神所用, Our character has to be cultivated.
It is Christian character.
It is the character of our Lord Jesus.
The character of humility.
The character of lowliness.
You know, this character needs to be worked
into our lives.
It needs to be organized into our lives.
Today's young people, especially those who are maybe
in high school, they thought they knew everything.
They despise their parents.
You, what do you know?
We have the new technology.
Brothers and sisters, Are you developing a character
of humility?
Not only that.
Samuel was put in a very bad situation.
He lived in the temple.
He lived with Eli.
And he lived with the two wicked sons
of Eli.
You know, it is easy to learn what
is bad.
It is very hard to learn what is
good.
That's natural.
But look at this boy.
He was surrounded by this adverse situation.
And yet he did not learn the bad
habits of the two sons of Eli.
You know, as a boy, he would naturally
look at these two sons as models.
Yet he did not follow them.
He purposed in his heart to keep himself
pure for God.
Do you remember Daniel?
Daniel.
Do you remember Daniel?
When he was in his teens, he was
captured into Babylon.
As a hostage.
He was in a bad environment.
And out of this bad environment as a
hostage.
He was suddenly given such a brilliant future.
He was chosen to be one of the
young people.
To be trained for three years.
To learn all the learnings of Babylon.
And to stand before the greatest king in
the world.
And for three years, they were to be
fed with the king's food and the king's
wine.
Now what an unexpected blessing.
But Daniel purposed in his heart not to
be polluted by the king's wine and the
king's food.
And how God preserved him.
And how God gave him wisdom.
And how God used him mightily to be
a witness for God.
To the nation.
Two brothers and sisters.
You know sometimes God may put you into
a not too good condition.
You know sometimes God may put you into
a not too good condition.
We think that church is like heaven.
You know the world is evil.
But when you come to church, you live
in heaven.
It is all hallelujah.
And everything is just glorious.
What did you find out?
Did you find out that church is like
heaven?
The longer you are in the church, you
may feel the church is like a cave.
Ah, you'll find in the church poverty.
Ah, you'll find in the church many maneuvering.
Ah, you'll find in the church there was
hatred, jealousy, contention.
Now as young people, what will you do?
Learn humility.
Learn to keep yourself pure for God.
God put you in such environment with a
purpose.
He wants you to learn so that you
may be an honorable vessel to God.
Thank God for sharing.
So dear brothers and sisters, young people here,
do not complain of any situation, whether it
is adverse or whether it is smooth.
God put you there to learn to develop
your character.
Be faithful to the Lord.
Keep yourself pure for the Lord.
And in due time, the Lord will exalt
you.
But Samuel, at that time, did not know
God.
He knew of God.
You know, he had a sense within him.
From his childhood, he knew there is God.
And he feared God.
Now the fear of the Lord is the
beginning of wisdom.
But he had not had a personal contact
with God yet.
But then the day came.
One day Samuel was in bed.
And God came to him.
And called him.
Samuel heard.
He thought he was Eli.
So he got up and went to Eli.
And he was done three times.
And finally it dawned upon that old man.
It must be God who is calling him.
You know, Eli had that experience before.
But he was long forgotten.
So it did not dawn to him until
three times later.
So he told Samuel.
Well, the old man still had something to
help the young man.
So he said, when you hear the voice.
You say.
Here.
Jehovah.
Your servant.
Here.
And sure enough, the Lord came the fourth
time.
He stood by his bed.
And said, Samuel.
Samuel.
And Samuel said, dear Lord.
Your servant.
Here.
That's the beginning of a personal touch with
the Lord.
And from that time onward, you'll find how
he grew in the Lord.
You know, during the days of Eli.
The Word of God was rare.
And the vision was always unknown.
In other words, the spiritual condition was so
low.
God was not able to speak to his
people.
God was not able to appear to his
people.
You know, God wants to speak.
God wants to appear.
Because he loves his people.
But the condition of the people were such.
They shut the mouth of God.
They put God out of the door.
But thank you, God.
So Samuel.
God began to appear again.
God began to speak again.
His Word came to Samuel.
And whatever Samuel said, it became true.
So everybody knew God had raised up a
prophet.
Dear brothers and sisters.
You know, this is the way that an
effort making vessel is being made.
Not because you're born from above.
Not because you're called to be a Nazarite.
But because you're willing.
To receive the training.
You're willing to allow the character of Christ
being built up within you.
You are faithful.
You have a heart for God.
And you're seeking him with all your heart.
Sooner or later.
The Lord will come to you.
There will be such a personal contact with
the Lord.
You will have first hand knowledge of God.
You cannot serve God with second hand or
third hand knowledge.
If you serve God according to tradition.
It's a disservice to God.
You can only serve God when you know
him personally.
When he by his Spirit speaks to you.
In the Old Testament time.
The Holy Spirit has not yet come.
So you find God has to appear to
them.
He has to speak to them.
Audibly.
Physically.
But today.
The Holy Spirit has come.
He dwells in each one of us.
And through by the Holy Spirit.
God will speak to your spirit.
A still small voice.
Speaking.
In the innermost of your being.
Saying this is the way.
Walking in it.
This is not the way.
Don't go into it.
It doesn't matter.
You find that you need to have that
intimate personal knowledge of the Lord.
When you read the Bible.
As you are waiting upon him.
As you are meditating upon his Word.
The Holy Spirit will enlighten the Word to
you.
The Holy Spirit will speak to you through
the written Word.
Sometimes you will convince.
You have full confidence.
You need to call upon your faith and
repent.
Sometimes.
He loves you.
Seeing the marvelous grace of God.
That you have to praise and worship.
You need that personal God.
Do not try to seek for supernatural power.
If you are faithful in small things.
If you are learning Christ.
He will come to you.
He will speak to you.
And he will appear to you.
In your spirit.
You can see Him.
Say I do see.
I do see.
I know what He wants.
I am willing to do His will.
Brothers and sisters.
Begin with small things.
And the Lord will ask you.
If you are faithful.
Until a ministry is being produced.
And then you will be used by God.
As an epoch making act.
What a glorious work this is.
That you will be privileged.
To bring in the King.
Come quickly.
The more you come.
Let us pray together.
Since we thank you.
Because you will come again.
When you come.
It is a time of glory.
You will establish your kingdom in this world.
Do apprehend each one of us here.
That each one will really offer himself or
herself to you.
Willing to be trained by your spirit.
That you can use to do this work.
Lord hear our prayer.
In the name of our Lord.
Lord hear our prayer.