HAVE YOU HEARD GOD’S CALL?

I want to preach today about the story of the “Call” of Samuel. His father was Elkannah; his mother, Hannah. At a very young age his parents “lent him to the Lord” to serve God in the temple (1:28).

1 Samuel 3:1-11 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. 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; 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; 4 That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I. 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. 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. 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him. 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. 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. 10 And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.

From this passage we learn important truths concerning God’s Call.

1.   God’s Call Comes To Those Exposed To The Word Of God (v 1). “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.”

Romans 10:13-17 “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? … 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

In John 6:44 Jesus said, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him:…”

2.   God’s Call Should Come Very Early In Life (v 2-3).

·      In these verses we see the contrast of age. Isn’t it wonderful that God can make His will known to a child?

Proverbs 8:17 “Those that seek me early shall find me.”

Luke 18:16-17 “Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.”

3.   God’s Call Is NOT A Result of Ceremonial Experience (v 7). “Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord.”

·      Samuel believed in God, but had no personal relationship with Him. The existence of God was known to him and he worshipped the Lord, according to the tradition of faith (1:28), but he was not saved.

·      It makes a tremendous difference in our life when God’s Voice has been heard and His will is revealed. This is true Salvation!

4.   God’s Call Comes At A Time Of His Choosing (v 3). “Ere the lamp of God went out.”

·      Samuel’s call came in the hour just before dawn.

·      God called Paul on the road to Damascus at noon day.

·      God called the Ethiopian Eunuch from a chariot.

·      God called the Philippian Jailer at midnight.

·      When did God call YOU?

5.   God’s Call May NOT Come In The Way We Think (v 4-5). “The LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I. 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.”

·      Those being called need our help to understand.

·      Samuel's obedience to the call reveals a submissive spirit.

1 Peter 5:5-6 “Be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:”

6.   God’s Call Requires A Response (v 10). “Speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth.”

·      Eli could not answer for Samuel.

·      When God calls, you must respond to Him yourself.

·      Every lost soul must turn to God or be lost forever.

·      It is the same in the matter of consecration and service. No man can do this for us. We must yield ourselves to God (Rom 10:13).

7.   God’s Call Comes With His Divine Blessing (v 19). “The Lord was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.”

John 5:24 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life”

John 6:37 He “that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”

John 10: 27-29 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand”

BE A MAN

1 Corinthians 16:13

"Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong."

It’s an undeniable reality that men and women are very different from one another – God intended it that way! God’s word describes…

·      What makes a man different from a woman.

·      A man's role in the family, church, work-place and world in general.

·      How a man supposed to treat a woman.

Modern culture is in the process of perverting God’s idea of masculinity?

What should men be doing to be all that God wants them to be?

If men are to realize their godly identity, these questions must be biblically defined.

We live in a cut-throat, dog-eat-dog, do whatever it takes to get ahead world, but the character and example of Christ points us in a radically different direction – We are called to be like Christ!

I want to attempt a start this morning at defining these boundaries by breaking down for you what God says in our text…

1.   BE ON GUARD. “Watch ye.”  Be awake, alert, constantly on guard, never sleepy or sluggish, never to let down one’s guard.

1 Peter 5:8 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour:"

Ephesians 6:12 "We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

Let every man be a spiritual watchman. "What I say unto you, I say unto all, Watch!" (Mark 13:37).

2.   BE GROUNDED. "Stand fast in the faith." Stand your ground, stand true to the faith…

2 Thessalonians 2:15 "Brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle."

1 Corinthians 15:58 "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."

3.   BE MANLY. "Quit you like men." Andrizomai – make a man of; show yourself to be a man; behave in a manly manner.

Ezekiel 22:30 "I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none."

God is looking for men who will be men of God! Men who have the right priorities.

Men Who Put God First:

Matthew 6:33 "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righte-ousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

Malachi 1:6 "A son honors his father and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honor? And if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts..."

Men Who Put Family Next:

Love your wife. Your wife should be the most important person in your life next to God.

Ephesians 5:25 "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;"

Ecclesiastes 9:9 "Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labor which thou takest under the sun."

Love your children.

Ephesians 6:4 "Fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."

1.   Admit when you are wrong.

2.   Don’t try to be someone you’re not.

3.   Be careful what we say about others.

4.   Avoid things that are irreverent.

5.   Question our motives and use of Scripture.

6.   Trust in God and do the right thing.

Luke 15:17-20 “When he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! ¹⁸ I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, ¹⁹ And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. ²⁰ And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.”

Men Who Put Their Occupation In Proper Perspective: 1 Timothy 5:8 "If any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel."

God has given you a career as a means to meet your needs.

Deuteronomy 8:18 “Thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.”

God doesn’t want your career to run your life.

Ephesians 6:5-7 “Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; ⁶ Not with eye service, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; ⁷ With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:”

1 Timothy 6:10 “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

Do your work honestly as unto the Lord. Romans 12:11 We are not to be "slothful in business; but fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;"

4.   BE BORN AGAIN. Being “strong” begins with being born again.

Mark 8:34-38 “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. ³⁵ For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. ³⁶ For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? ³⁷ Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? ³⁸ Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”