Brother Gyme Sunday Evening 5/5/13

Brother Gyme Sunday Evening 5/5/13

1Sa 2:1  And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.

Hannah had gone to the Lord, and prayed silently.  Eli thought that she was drunk, but she said, “No I am pouring my heart out to God.”  Silently she prayed and now she is openly rejoicing.  This is not only a prayer but a prophecy. 

Hannah was thankful for the answered prayer.  She came back and was rejoicing in God and prophesying about the greatness of God.  She was worshipping.  One the key things about worship is that it always involves being thankful. 

Her prayer was answered and she kept her promise and gave the child back to the Lord.

We can trust God that when we pray and we do what we should, He always answers.  She didn’t come back and say how great Samuel was but she came back and praised God the giver. 

Peninnah had given her a hard time and this was a big deal to Hannah.  We have a lot to rejoice about in God’s salvation.

1Sa 2:2  There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.

God is the only foundation that we want to build on.  If we build upon anything else it will fail every time.  We see people trying this over and over again.  In Isaiah we see people wanted to only be covered with the covering.  It doesn’t work.

1Sa 2:3  Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

We can be misunderstood.  Aren’t you glad that God has the balance?  We need to get over being misunderstood.  That is a part of becoming a man and being manly.  We make a joke at work, “Do you want to fill out a hurt feelings report?”  Sometimes I have to say that to myself.  Get over it.

1Sa 2:4  The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength.

1Sa 2:5  They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.

1Sa 2:6  The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.

Rev 1:18  I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

God has the keys of life and death.  Hannah wanted a son.  God had the key.  God has the keys for what we need.  Those things that we need to get rid of in our life He has the keys.

I know how to be abased and how to abound.

This is important not only for me to learn but also for children to learn.  They need to learn how to abound with good things.  We want them to be happy, but we must be in check.  There is a balance. 

Children need to know how to be abased also.  They need to know how to do without.  You pick up a magazine and they would make you think that you need what they have.  It is the same when we go to a store.  They need to know how to do without some things.

1Sa 2:7  The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.

1Sa 2:8  He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, and he hath set the world upon them.

God is in control.  He will keep the feet of His saints.

1Sa 2:9  He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.

1Sa 2:10  The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.

1Sa 2:11  And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did minister unto the LORD before Eli the priest.

1Sa 2:12  Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD.

We know that Eli’s sons were wicked. 

1Sa 2:18  But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.

Our pastor has done an excellent job teaching us that a little child can come and pray at the altar and as long as things are done in order, they can worship.  It is important that at a small age a child learns to worship. 

Samuel may not have been at an age to do what a priest did, but he was ministering to the Lord.  Maybe he was opening a door or whatever he could do.  He attended as a worshipper and contributed as a servant.

Mat 21:15  And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased,

Mat 21:16  And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?

We can learn something from this.  It is important that we teach these children that they are old enough to worship. 

Samuel was girded with priestly garments: the linen ephod.  He could offer up praise and worship as a child.  You are never too young to start worshipping.  Have good devotions.  Read your bible and pray.

Pray.  God will answer your prayer.  Timberly puts it on the children, “Have you prayed and asked God about that?”  God has a way of always coming through and increasing their faith and increasing our faith.

Hannah didn’t quit after receiving the blessing.  She came back yearly and worshipped.

1Sa 2:19  Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.

1Sa 2:20  And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The LORD give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the LORD. And they went unto their own home.

1Sa 2:21  And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the LORD.

God gave more back.  This is just like God.  He always gives more back than we can give Him.

1Sa 2:22  Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

1Sa 2:23  And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people.

1Sa 2:24  Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the LORD'S people to transgress.

1Sa 2:25  If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the LORD would slay them.

Samuel didn’t have it easy.  There was opposition.  These young boys were wicked.  Samuel went right on doing what he knew to do.  There is no excuse for us or for anyone.  We have no excuse because of what is going on around us.  Samuel went right on being a servant and a minister.

1Sa 2:26  And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men.

Favor means good, beautiful, best, bountiful, cheerful, kindness, loving merry, most precious, ready, sweet, wealth, welfare, well being and well favored.  God made Samuel’s life beautiful. 

1Sa 3:1  And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.

1Sa 3:2  And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;

1Sa 3:3  And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;

1Sa 3:4  That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.

1Sa 3:5  And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.

1Sa 3:6  And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.

1Sa 3:7  Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.

1Sa 3:8  And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.

Brother Gary has been teaching about having ears to hear.  I want to have ears to hear.  God does talk to these children and we want the children to have ears to hear what God says to them. 

We want those around and those that come to have ears to hear God’s call.  God does call man and women.  We want them to hear.

1Sa 3:9  Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

1Sa 3:10  And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.

This is how we want to be.  We want to say, “Speak thy servant heareth.”  God is talking and the call goes out.  The question is: are we listening?