1 Samuel
Speaker: Sam Low
Date: 22nd September 2013
Passage: 1 Samuel 3:1-21
00:00:00 --> 00:00:06 I have been particularly excited about preaching this particular section of 1 Samuel since we've begun the series.
00:00:07 --> 00:00:14 And that's because when I was younger, a friend of our family's who was an artist gave me this picture,
00:00:14 --> 00:00:18 which was his summary of basically the chapter.
00:00:19 --> 00:00:22 Obviously, my name being Samuel, it was his gift to me.
00:00:22 --> 00:00:26 I could see Tarshi questioning the artistic credibility of this with that facial expression,
00:00:27 --> 00:00:28 but he's famous and you're not.
00:00:30 --> 00:00:35 But I will equally accept a gift from you if it's a summary of a chapter of the Bible.
00:00:36 --> 00:00:39 Let me pray and we're going to get stuck into this chapter.
00:00:41 --> 00:00:43 Father God, we do thank you for your word.
00:00:43 --> 00:00:46 We thank you that you give it to us so that we might know you.
00:00:47 --> 00:00:50 And God, we ask that as you speak tonight that you would help us to listen,
00:00:51 --> 00:00:57 that you would help us to recognize the things that we do or the ways that we approach your word
00:00:57 --> 00:01:00 that maybe prevent us from hearing what it is you have to say.
00:01:00 --> 00:01:06 And I pray that the result will be that as we hear you speak, we will see you clearly and we will live accordingly.
00:01:07 --> 00:01:07 Amen.
00:01:09 --> 00:01:11 Have you ever had a one-sided conversation?
00:01:12 --> 00:01:17 I have a gift which some of you have heard about before and if you're really lucky have seen in action.
00:01:17 --> 00:01:22 Basically, that gift is when the television is on, nothing else exists.
00:01:23 --> 00:01:28 When I was a teenager or maybe just out of high school, so maybe I can't claim youthful ignorance,
00:01:28 --> 00:01:33 but I was dating a girl and we were having a conversation as you do.
00:01:33 --> 00:01:36 This was before you could sit on Facebook all the time and do that sort of stuff.
00:01:36 --> 00:01:41 So we were actually on the phone and I was watching TV and a really, really significant thing came on.
00:01:41 --> 00:01:45 It was an ad or an infomercial or something, something equally life-changing.
00:01:46 --> 00:01:52 And I got sort of really involved in this ad and then at the end of the ad, the show came back on.
00:01:52 --> 00:01:56 I noticed that I was holding a phone to my ear, but there was no one there,
00:01:56 --> 00:01:58 so I put it down and just continued watching the show.
00:01:59 --> 00:02:04 It turned out that my girlfriend at the time had been chatting away and pouring out her heart.
00:02:05 --> 00:02:08 I got in a fair bit of trouble off the back of that.
00:02:08 --> 00:02:10 But a one-sided conversation doesn't really work.
00:02:10 --> 00:02:16 It's necessary that there is two people both giving, both talking, both communicating.
00:02:16 --> 00:02:24 But as we open this chapter of 1 Samuel, it kind of feels like Israel and God are having a one-sided conversation.
00:02:25 --> 00:02:26 The word of the Lord is rare.
00:02:27 --> 00:02:28 There's not many visions.
00:02:29 --> 00:02:32 And we've got to be careful not to let that slip past easily.
00:02:33 --> 00:02:38 We need to remember that this chapter is happening within a historical context.
00:02:38 --> 00:02:41 And if you've missed what we've been looking at throughout this series,
00:02:41 --> 00:02:48 basically God's agenda throughout human history is that he wants a relationship with his people.
00:02:48 --> 00:02:50 That's what he's doing in creation.
00:02:51 --> 00:02:52 That's why there's priests.
00:02:52 --> 00:02:55 That's why there was a tent for them to meet at.
00:02:55 --> 00:03:04 And God's word, which is particularly rare, is a way of just referring to what God has revealed of himself.
00:03:04 --> 00:03:08 His word, if you like, is not so much word as in sit or run or jump or whatever.
00:03:08 --> 00:03:12 It's the stuff that he has shown of himself for us to know.
00:03:13 --> 00:03:20 And it's essential, if people are going to know him, that they get his word, that they get what he reveals of himself.
00:03:20 --> 00:03:27 And so into that context, with a God who wants a relationship and people who want that relationship back,
00:03:28 --> 00:03:31 God is being strangely quiet.
00:03:32 --> 00:03:32 Don't you think?
00:03:33 --> 00:03:35 God's agenda is, I want to know people.
00:03:36 --> 00:03:37 And then we hear at the beginning of this chapter,
00:03:38 --> 00:03:43 in those days, the word of the Lord is rare and there's not many visions.
00:03:43 --> 00:03:46 Now, it's not that he's completely silent,
00:03:47 --> 00:03:50 because just last week when we were looking in chapter 2,
00:03:50 --> 00:03:53 he delivered his word that Eli was about to be judged,
00:03:53 --> 00:03:55 because he'd failed to restrain his sons.
00:03:56 --> 00:03:58 But his word is still rare.
00:03:58 --> 00:04:01 And when it does come, it's almost like people don't want to listen.
00:04:02 --> 00:04:03 They don't want to hear it.
00:04:03 --> 00:04:05 And the problem's not with God.
00:04:05 --> 00:04:07 It's with the priests.
00:04:07 --> 00:04:09 It's where we were last week.
00:04:09 --> 00:04:14 Their job, they're supposed to be the ones who hear God's word and then pass it on.
00:04:14 --> 00:04:15 They're the representatives.
00:04:16 --> 00:04:17 But of course, the problem with that is,
00:04:18 --> 00:04:20 the priests, Hophni and Phinehas, don't even know God.
00:04:21 --> 00:04:25 So they haven't got much hope of introducing God to everyone else,
00:04:25 --> 00:04:27 or teaching everyone else about God.
00:04:27 --> 00:04:29 Now, look at verse 7.
00:04:30 --> 00:04:32 Samuel did not yet know the Lord.
00:04:32 --> 00:04:34 Samuel has been living at the temple.
00:04:34 --> 00:04:36 This is God's house, if you like.
00:04:36 --> 00:04:38 Samuel has been training as a priest.
00:04:38 --> 00:04:40 He's been under Eli's leadership.
00:04:40 --> 00:04:42 And when God actually speaks to him,
00:04:43 --> 00:04:45 like audibly speaks to him,
00:04:46 --> 00:04:48 Samuel doesn't know what's going on.
00:04:49 --> 00:04:51 Because he doesn't yet know the Lord.
00:04:52 --> 00:04:54 He doesn't yet know God's word.
00:04:54 --> 00:04:57 The priests in Israel, the priests of God's people,
00:04:57 --> 00:04:59 have failed so significantly
00:04:59 --> 00:05:01 that a priest in training
00:05:01 --> 00:05:04 doesn't even know who God is.
00:05:04 --> 00:05:07 Doesn't even have a relationship with God.
00:05:07 --> 00:05:10 He hasn't even yet heard the word of the Lord.
00:05:11 --> 00:05:13 That is the whole priestly responsibility,
00:05:13 --> 00:05:15 to bring the word of the Lord to the people.
00:05:16 --> 00:05:17 And yet one of their own in training
00:05:17 --> 00:05:20 doesn't know what the word of the Lord is.
00:05:20 --> 00:05:22 Now, we need to put that in a bit of context.
00:05:23 --> 00:05:25 So last week in chapter 2,
00:05:25 --> 00:05:29 we saw that Samuel is already ministering before the Lord.
00:05:29 --> 00:05:31 He's already growing in the presence of the Lord.
00:05:31 --> 00:05:33 He's already growing in favor with the Lord.
00:05:34 --> 00:05:35 Yet at the same time,
00:05:35 --> 00:05:37 we've just read in chapter 3,
00:05:37 --> 00:05:39 he did not know him.
00:05:40 --> 00:05:43 How can he be in his presence,
00:05:43 --> 00:05:44 be growing in his favor,
00:05:44 --> 00:05:45 but not know him?
00:05:46 --> 00:05:48 The key word comes in verse 7.
00:05:48 --> 00:05:49 It's revealed.
00:05:50 --> 00:05:51 Look at verse 7 again.
00:05:52 --> 00:05:53 Samuel did not yet know the Lord.
00:05:54 --> 00:05:55 The word of the Lord
00:05:55 --> 00:05:58 had not yet been revealed to him.
00:05:59 --> 00:06:01 Now, in spite of the fact that Samuel's in the right place,
00:06:02 --> 00:06:03 he's at the temple,
00:06:03 --> 00:06:05 he's where God's going to speak if he does,
00:06:05 --> 00:06:07 in spite of the fact that he's being trained personally
00:06:07 --> 00:06:09 by God's priest,
00:06:10 --> 00:06:14 the word of the Lord has not yet been revealed to him.
00:06:14 --> 00:06:17 So Samuel's learnt all the right moves.
00:06:17 --> 00:06:19 He's learnt about the sacrifices and the prayers.
00:06:20 --> 00:06:22 He's learnt about what things he's supposed to wear.
00:06:22 --> 00:06:25 But the priests have failed to show him,
00:06:25 --> 00:06:26 this priest in training,
00:06:27 --> 00:06:28 that everything he does,
00:06:28 --> 00:06:29 points to God.
00:06:30 --> 00:06:32 Everything is trying to teach him something about God.
00:06:32 --> 00:06:34 God gave them this whole tent
00:06:34 --> 00:06:36 and this sacrificial system
00:06:36 --> 00:06:38 as a means of revealing himself.
00:06:39 --> 00:06:40 That's the whole point of it.
00:06:40 --> 00:06:42 And the priests are there to maintain it,
00:06:42 --> 00:06:43 to oversee it,
00:06:43 --> 00:06:45 to ensure that it's continuing.
00:06:46 --> 00:06:47 And so they're like a conduit,
00:06:47 --> 00:06:48 if you like,
00:06:48 --> 00:06:49 of God's revelation.
00:06:50 --> 00:06:52 But the priests that we've got at this point in Samuel
00:06:52 --> 00:06:54 are not a conduit,
00:06:55 --> 00:06:55 they've become a barrier.
00:06:55 --> 00:07:00 It's almost like a mirror has been installed backwards.
00:07:01 --> 00:07:04 The whole function of a mirror is for light particles
00:07:04 --> 00:07:06 to hit it and bounce back so that you can see something
00:07:06 --> 00:07:08 that you couldn't see before.
00:07:08 --> 00:07:10 But if you flip that mirror around,
00:07:10 --> 00:07:11 it's completely non-functional.
00:07:12 --> 00:07:13 It's still a mirror,
00:07:13 --> 00:07:16 but the light particles hit it and stop.
00:07:17 --> 00:07:18 You don't see anything extra.
00:07:19 --> 00:07:19 See,
00:07:20 --> 00:07:23 the priestly system is supposed to show people
00:07:23 --> 00:07:24 God that they can't see,
00:07:24 --> 00:07:27 that they can't just approach and know for themselves.
00:07:27 --> 00:07:29 But it's like they've flipped it around backwards
00:07:29 --> 00:07:30 and what was supposed to help
00:07:30 --> 00:07:32 is now blocking their vision
00:07:32 --> 00:07:34 of something that they need to see
00:07:34 --> 00:07:35 if they're going to know God.
00:07:35 --> 00:07:38 And God hasn't yet dealt with that barrier.
00:07:38 --> 00:07:39 He's about to,
00:07:40 --> 00:07:43 but so long as these priests stand there as a barrier,
00:07:44 --> 00:07:46 Samuel does not and will not know the Lord.
00:07:47 --> 00:07:48 He's in the right place,
00:07:48 --> 00:07:50 but with the barrier there,
00:07:50 --> 00:07:51 he cannot know the Lord.
00:07:51 --> 00:07:53 God hasn't revealed himself yet,
00:07:53 --> 00:07:55 at least not directly.
00:07:55 --> 00:07:57 And for Samuel to know God,
00:07:57 --> 00:07:58 in fact,
00:07:58 --> 00:07:59 for anyone to know God,
00:07:59 --> 00:08:03 God has to take the initiative to reveal himself.
00:08:04 --> 00:08:06 You can't take hold of God by force.
00:08:07 --> 00:08:09 God has to come and introduce himself to you.
00:08:10 --> 00:08:13 I was wasting some time last night,
00:08:13 --> 00:08:13 actually,
00:08:13 --> 00:08:15 in front of the television
00:08:15 --> 00:08:18 and just the fantastic show,
00:08:18 --> 00:08:18 The Bachelor,
00:08:18 --> 00:08:20 was giving an encore episode,
00:08:21 --> 00:08:22 Bachelor Australia.
00:08:22 --> 00:08:22 Now,
00:08:22 --> 00:08:24 for anyone who hasn't had the opportunity
00:08:24 --> 00:08:25 to waste some time watching this show,
00:08:26 --> 00:08:27 let me give you the basic premise.
00:08:27 --> 00:08:29 There's some guy who apparently used to be
00:08:29 --> 00:08:30 a topless waiter,
00:08:31 --> 00:08:33 and apparently that's really appealing.
00:08:34 --> 00:08:35 And then there's 20 girls
00:08:35 --> 00:08:37 fighting for his affection.
00:08:37 --> 00:08:38 And it's just,
00:08:38 --> 00:08:40 it's comical to watch.
00:08:40 --> 00:08:41 These girls are sitting there
00:08:41 --> 00:08:42 and they're devastated
00:08:42 --> 00:08:44 because they haven't had their chance
00:08:44 --> 00:08:46 to get some time with this guy.
00:08:46 --> 00:08:46 I'm like,
00:08:46 --> 00:08:47 there's 20 of you,
00:08:47 --> 00:08:48 that's the whole point.
00:08:48 --> 00:08:49 But every single one of them
00:08:49 --> 00:08:50 is getting really emotional
00:08:50 --> 00:08:51 and really catty,
00:08:52 --> 00:08:53 and, you know,
00:08:53 --> 00:08:54 the word above,
00:08:54 --> 00:08:54 catty.
00:08:55 --> 00:08:56 They're getting very aggressive
00:08:56 --> 00:08:58 towards one another
00:08:58 --> 00:09:00 because they want their chance
00:09:00 --> 00:09:01 to get to know this guy.
00:09:01 --> 00:09:02 And you watch them scheming.
00:09:03 --> 00:09:04 And so the guy will come in
00:09:04 --> 00:09:04 and pick the girl
00:09:04 --> 00:09:05 he wants to talk to,
00:09:05 --> 00:09:06 and he'll take them for a walk
00:09:06 --> 00:09:08 off to the other side of the house
00:09:08 --> 00:09:09 and they'll sit down and talk.
00:09:09 --> 00:09:10 And the other girls
00:09:10 --> 00:09:11 kind of try and sneak in
00:09:11 --> 00:09:11 and hover
00:09:11 --> 00:09:12 as if somehow
00:09:12 --> 00:09:13 they can force their way in
00:09:13 --> 00:09:15 to having a conversation
00:09:15 --> 00:09:15 with this guy.
00:09:15 --> 00:09:17 And it just keeps not working.
00:09:17 --> 00:09:19 And these girls are left awkwardly
00:09:19 --> 00:09:20 kind of standing next
00:09:20 --> 00:09:20 to a conversation
00:09:20 --> 00:09:21 that's happening
00:09:21 --> 00:09:23 just trying to hope
00:09:23 --> 00:09:24 they can get into it.
00:09:24 --> 00:09:25 And it's like
00:09:25 --> 00:09:26 the bachelor's sitting there
00:09:26 --> 00:09:27 and he's like,
00:09:27 --> 00:09:27 hi.
00:09:28 --> 00:09:29 Just keeps talking to the girl
00:09:29 --> 00:09:30 that he wants to talk to
00:09:30 --> 00:09:32 because he has all the power
00:09:32 --> 00:09:33 in this scenario.
00:09:33 --> 00:09:34 It's all about
00:09:34 --> 00:09:35 who he wants to get to know.
00:09:35 --> 00:09:36 If he doesn't want to get to know,
00:09:36 --> 00:09:37 you don't get your flower,
00:09:37 --> 00:09:38 you go home
00:09:38 --> 00:09:38 and you've made an idiot
00:09:38 --> 00:09:39 of yourself on TV
00:09:39 --> 00:09:40 and that's all that you've gained.
00:09:41 --> 00:09:43 But in a relationship like that,
00:09:43 --> 00:09:44 one person has the power
00:09:44 --> 00:09:45 and it's all about
00:09:45 --> 00:09:45 his initiative.
00:09:47 --> 00:09:49 And it's not exactly the same,
00:09:50 --> 00:09:51 but on some level,
00:09:52 --> 00:09:54 God has all the power
00:09:54 --> 00:09:56 when it comes to relating to him.
00:09:56 --> 00:09:58 No matter how clever you are,
00:09:58 --> 00:09:59 no matter how,
00:09:59 --> 00:10:00 what ways you invent
00:10:00 --> 00:10:01 to come and start
00:10:01 --> 00:10:02 a relationship with God,
00:10:02 --> 00:10:04 actually it only begins
00:10:04 --> 00:10:04 if he chooses
00:10:04 --> 00:10:06 to reveal himself to you.
00:10:07 --> 00:10:07 And so Samuel's
00:10:07 --> 00:10:08 in the right place.
00:10:09 --> 00:10:10 Samuel's training as a priest.
00:10:10 --> 00:10:11 Samuel's doing
00:10:11 --> 00:10:12 all the right things.
00:10:12 --> 00:10:15 But until God reveals himself,
00:10:16 --> 00:10:17 Samuel will just continue
00:10:17 --> 00:10:19 going through the motions
00:10:19 --> 00:10:20 without ever actually
00:10:20 --> 00:10:22 having a relationship.
00:10:24 --> 00:10:25 But thankfully,
00:10:26 --> 00:10:28 God is about to remove
00:10:28 --> 00:10:29 the barrier.
00:10:29 --> 00:10:30 Verse 4.
00:10:31 --> 00:10:35 Then the Lord called Samuel.
00:10:36 --> 00:10:38 We can't underestimate this.
00:10:38 --> 00:10:39 It's just a few words,
00:10:40 --> 00:10:41 but we've just heard
00:10:41 --> 00:10:41 in verse 1,
00:10:41 --> 00:10:42 the word of the Lord
00:10:42 --> 00:10:43 is rare.
00:10:44 --> 00:10:44 We know that we've got
00:10:44 --> 00:10:45 three dodgy priests
00:10:45 --> 00:10:46 standing in the way
00:10:46 --> 00:10:48 and making it really difficult
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 for Israel to know God.
00:10:51 --> 00:10:52 And God punches through
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 and breaks the drought,
00:10:53 --> 00:10:54 not with Eli,
00:10:54 --> 00:10:55 the most senior priest,
00:10:56 --> 00:10:57 not with Hophni,
00:10:57 --> 00:10:58 not with Phinehas,
00:10:58 --> 00:10:59 but with Samuel.
00:11:00 --> 00:11:02 He bypasses the dodgy,
00:11:02 --> 00:11:03 failing priesthood
00:11:03 --> 00:11:06 and calls a new one instead.
00:11:07 --> 00:11:08 I mean,
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 look at Samuel in this story.
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 Even as someone who doesn't
00:11:10 --> 00:11:12 know the Lord yet,
00:11:12 --> 00:11:14 he's ready to listen.
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 He's eager to obey,
00:11:16 --> 00:11:17 unlike everyone else.
00:11:18 --> 00:11:20 Eli is asleep in his usual place.
00:11:20 --> 00:11:21 Now, we don't know exactly
00:11:21 --> 00:11:22 where that usual place is.
00:11:22 --> 00:11:23 It doesn't say.
00:11:23 --> 00:11:25 It just says Eli is in his usual place.
00:11:25 --> 00:11:27 But we do know that Eli's
00:11:27 --> 00:11:28 usual place for sleeping
00:11:28 --> 00:11:30 and Samuel's usual place
00:11:30 --> 00:11:31 for sleeping are different.
00:11:31 --> 00:11:33 Because each time Samuel hears his voice,
00:11:33 --> 00:11:34 he has to get up and run
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 to get to where Eli is
00:11:35 --> 00:11:36 and say,
00:11:36 --> 00:11:37 Eli, you called me.
00:11:37 --> 00:11:39 So we don't know exactly,
00:11:39 --> 00:11:40 but it's in a different place.
00:11:40 --> 00:11:40 But where's Samuel?
00:11:42 --> 00:11:45 Samuel is in the house of the Lord.
00:11:46 --> 00:11:48 Samuel is sleeping where the ark is.
00:11:49 --> 00:11:51 Samuel is where God is.
00:11:52 --> 00:11:53 Now, the ark,
00:11:53 --> 00:11:54 if you're not familiar with that,
00:11:54 --> 00:11:56 is basically a fancy box.
00:11:56 --> 00:11:57 It's a pretty big box.
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 It's covered in gold.
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 It's something that Israel
00:12:00 --> 00:12:01 carried with them as they went.
00:12:01 --> 00:12:02 And inside this box
00:12:02 --> 00:12:04 was the tablets of stone
00:12:04 --> 00:12:05 from when God gave
00:12:05 --> 00:12:07 the commandments to Moses.
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 So this is significant
00:12:08 --> 00:12:09 for their history
00:12:09 --> 00:12:11 because those tablets
00:12:11 --> 00:12:15 represent God's covenant
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 or God's contract,
00:12:16 --> 00:12:16 if you like,
00:12:16 --> 00:12:17 with Israel.
00:12:17 --> 00:12:19 This was in writing
00:12:19 --> 00:12:20 that God had chosen them.
00:12:21 --> 00:12:22 This is God's way
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 of committing to them.
00:12:23 --> 00:12:24 And so they carried it around.
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 It mattered to them.
00:12:25 --> 00:12:26 And it represented
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 this box and the stuff
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 that was in it,
00:12:28 --> 00:12:30 God being present
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 with his people.
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 So this was in the middle.
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 This was the centerpiece
00:12:33 --> 00:12:34 of the tent
00:12:34 --> 00:12:35 that Samuel works at.
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 And this tent
00:12:36 --> 00:12:37 was in the centerpiece
00:12:37 --> 00:12:38 of the country
00:12:38 --> 00:12:39 that Israel had control of.
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 It was everything to them
00:12:40 --> 00:12:42 because it was God with them.
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 And so if you wanted
00:12:44 --> 00:12:45 to meet God,
00:12:45 --> 00:12:47 if you wanted to talk to God,
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 if you wanted to interact
00:12:48 --> 00:12:48 with God,
00:12:49 --> 00:12:50 you did it in the house
00:12:50 --> 00:12:50 of the Lord
00:12:50 --> 00:12:52 where the ark was.
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53 And so Samuel,
00:12:53 --> 00:12:54 at least,
00:12:54 --> 00:12:56 out of all the other priests,
00:12:56 --> 00:12:57 is in the right location
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58 to hear from God.
00:12:59 --> 00:13:00 He's actually there.
00:13:00 --> 00:13:01 If God's going to speak,
00:13:01 --> 00:13:02 Samuel's going to be
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 the first one to hear it.
00:13:03 --> 00:13:04 Now, that's not to say
00:13:04 --> 00:13:06 God is limited to a room
00:13:06 --> 00:13:06 or a box.
00:13:07 --> 00:13:07 It's not to say
00:13:07 --> 00:13:09 there is a specific country
00:13:09 --> 00:13:09 we need to go
00:13:09 --> 00:13:11 if we want to hear from God.
00:13:12 --> 00:13:14 But it is important
00:13:14 --> 00:13:16 that Samuel is the only one
00:13:16 --> 00:13:17 we find
00:13:17 --> 00:13:20 in the right location
00:13:20 --> 00:13:21 to hear from God.
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 This was the place
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 God had told them
00:13:24 --> 00:13:24 he would be.
00:13:25 --> 00:13:25 It was the place
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 that he had chosen
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 to limit his dwelling
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 for them.
00:13:29 --> 00:13:29 And if and when
00:13:29 --> 00:13:30 he does speak,
00:13:30 --> 00:13:32 Samuel is at least
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 ready to hear.
00:13:35 --> 00:13:35 Now,
00:13:35 --> 00:13:36 I wonder,
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 for those of us
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 who call ourselves Christians,
00:13:39 --> 00:13:41 I wonder if we're waiting
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 for God to speak
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 into some circumstances
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 in our life.
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 I wonder if there's answers
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 that we're after,
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 if there's direction
00:13:47 --> 00:13:47 that we want.
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 But we're kind of like Eli
00:13:49 --> 00:13:51 and we're just in our usual place.
00:13:52 --> 00:13:53 We're not actually going
00:13:53 --> 00:13:53 to look
00:13:53 --> 00:13:55 in the obvious place
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 where God has said
00:13:56 --> 00:13:56 he's going to be
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 and he's going to speak.
00:13:57 --> 00:13:59 We sit there going,
00:13:59 --> 00:13:59 God,
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 I really want to know
00:14:00 --> 00:14:00 what your will is
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 for my life
00:14:01 --> 00:14:03 with our Bibles closed.
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 Being in the right location
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 matters.
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 But as well as being
00:14:09 --> 00:14:09 in the right place
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 at the right time,
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 Samuel's attitude matters.
00:14:13 --> 00:14:15 He sits under authority here
00:14:15 --> 00:14:17 almost before he even
00:14:17 --> 00:14:19 recognizes who the authority is.
00:14:19 --> 00:14:21 He sits under the imperfect
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 authority of Eli
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 who we know is already
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 getting judged by God.
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 I mean,
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 after Samuel hears
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 his name called out,
00:14:27 --> 00:14:29 what's his response?
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 Verse 4,
00:14:30 --> 00:14:30 have a look.
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 The Lord called Samuel,
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 Samuel answered,
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 here I am.
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 And then he ran to Eli
00:14:37 --> 00:14:37 and said,
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 here I am,
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 you called me.
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 Samuel's ready to do
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 whatever is required of him.
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 He's ready to go.
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 He's eager.
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 He doesn't say,
00:14:46 --> 00:14:46 shh,
00:14:47 --> 00:14:47 I'm trying to sleep.
00:14:48 --> 00:14:48 He doesn't say,
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 temple will be open again
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 tomorrow about nine
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 if you can come back then.
00:14:51 --> 00:14:54 Even in the confusion
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 of running to Eli
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 three times.
00:14:57 --> 00:14:57 I mean,
00:14:57 --> 00:14:57 can you imagine?
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 He gets up,
00:14:58 --> 00:14:58 he hears a voice,
00:14:59 --> 00:14:59 goes to Eli,
00:14:59 --> 00:14:59 no,
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 it wasn't me.
00:15:00 --> 00:15:00 He goes to bed,
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 what was that?
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 Again,
00:15:02 --> 00:15:02 runs to Eli
00:15:02 --> 00:15:04 over and over and over
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 but every time
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 he says,
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 here I am.
00:15:08 --> 00:15:08 What do you need?
00:15:09 --> 00:15:09 I'm ready,
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 I'm willing.
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 And then finally
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 when Eli figures out
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 what's going on,
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 sends Samuel back
00:15:15 --> 00:15:17 and how does Samuel
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 respond to hearing from God
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 knowing that it's God
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 the very first time?
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 Verse 10,
00:15:21 --> 00:15:23 the Lord came
00:15:23 --> 00:15:23 and stood there
00:15:23 --> 00:15:25 calling as at the other time
00:15:25 --> 00:15:25 Samuel,
00:15:26 --> 00:15:26 Samuel.
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 Then Samuel said,
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 speak for your servant
00:15:30 --> 00:15:32 is listening.
00:15:33 --> 00:15:35 His first response
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 to the word of God
00:15:36 --> 00:15:39 is I am your servant.
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 He hasn't even seen
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 what it looks like
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 to serve God.
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 His only model
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 is three dodgy priests
00:15:45 --> 00:15:47 who use their position
00:15:47 --> 00:15:47 for power
00:15:47 --> 00:15:49 and for abusing women,
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 forgetting food,
00:15:51 --> 00:15:54 and his first response
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 to God
00:15:55 --> 00:15:55 when he speaks
00:15:55 --> 00:15:57 is I am willing,
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 use me.
00:16:00 --> 00:16:02 But calling yourself
00:16:02 --> 00:16:02 God's servant
00:16:02 --> 00:16:04 and actually serving him
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 are two pretty
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 different things.
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 Again,
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 if you follow Jesus
00:16:09 --> 00:16:09 I'm sure
00:16:09 --> 00:16:11 that you would say
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 you're ready to obey him.
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 I'm sure you would say
00:16:14 --> 00:16:14 that your agenda
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 is to do
00:16:15 --> 00:16:17 what he would have you do.
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 But do you ever
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 come to God's word
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 with a bit of an attitude
00:16:20 --> 00:16:22 of I'm going to see
00:16:22 --> 00:16:22 what it says
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 before I commit
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 to doing it?
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 Do you actually
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 approach God's word
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 every time
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 before God speaks
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 to you
00:16:31 --> 00:16:31 and say
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 I'm your servant
00:16:32 --> 00:16:34 just tell me
00:16:34 --> 00:16:34 which way to go?
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 Or do you open
00:16:36 --> 00:16:36 the Bible
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 do you come to church
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 thinking
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 I'm going to hear
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 what God has to say
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 and then I'll consider
00:16:41 --> 00:16:41 whether or not
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 I think that's the best
00:16:42 --> 00:16:42 thing for me?
00:16:42 --> 00:16:45 When you open
00:16:45 --> 00:16:45 the Bible
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 and God says
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 I want you to be
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 generous
00:16:48 --> 00:16:48 with the things
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 I've given you
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 is there a part
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 of you that goes
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 not this week
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 I'm really keen
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 on a pair of shoes?
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 Is there a part
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 of you that goes
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 let me just have a look
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 at my situation
00:16:59 --> 00:16:59 my finances
00:16:59 --> 00:17:01 and I'll think about it?
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 When God calls you
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 to purity
00:17:04 --> 00:17:04 sexually
00:17:04 --> 00:17:07 do you hear that
00:17:07 --> 00:17:07 and you go
00:17:07 --> 00:17:09 I understand why
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 but God
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 I'm just in this
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 great relationship
00:17:12 --> 00:17:14 me and this girl
00:17:14 --> 00:17:14 we just
00:17:14 --> 00:17:16 we make each other
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 so happy
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 physically
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 it's just great
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 so I hear what
00:17:20 --> 00:17:20 you're saying
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 but not for me
00:17:21 --> 00:17:21 right now
00:17:21 --> 00:17:24 or when you open
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 the Bible
00:17:25 --> 00:17:25 and God calls you
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 to sacrifice
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 for Him
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 calls you
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 to put Him
00:17:29 --> 00:17:29 first
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 calls you
00:17:30 --> 00:17:30 to forsake
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 everything else
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 in your life
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 and love Him
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 more than anything else
00:17:34 --> 00:17:34 do you hear that
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 and go
00:17:35 --> 00:17:35 God
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 whatever you need
00:17:36 --> 00:17:38 or do you go
00:17:38 --> 00:17:38 God
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 just let me think
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 about whether or not
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 I'm actually in for that
00:17:41 --> 00:17:44 calling yourself
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 a servant of God
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 saying you are following Him
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 saying you love Him
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 and actually doing it
00:17:48 --> 00:17:50 are two very
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 different things
00:17:51 --> 00:17:51 and I wonder
00:17:51 --> 00:17:54 will Samuel still be so eager
00:17:54 --> 00:17:56 when he hears the message
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 that God's got for him
00:17:57 --> 00:17:59 I mean imagine this
00:17:59 --> 00:18:01 this is Samuel's first
00:18:01 --> 00:18:01 assignment
00:18:01 --> 00:18:03 as a prophet
00:18:03 --> 00:18:05 this is the first message
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 that God
00:18:06 --> 00:18:06 gives him
00:18:06 --> 00:18:08 listen to it
00:18:08 --> 00:18:08 verse 11
00:18:08 --> 00:18:11 the Lord said to Samuel
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 see I'm about to do
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 something in Israel
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 that will make the ears
00:18:14 --> 00:18:16 of everyone who hears
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 about it tingle
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 at that time
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 I will carry out
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 against Eli
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 everything I spoke
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 against his family
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 from beginning to end
00:18:23 --> 00:18:25 for I told him
00:18:25 --> 00:18:25 that I will judge
00:18:25 --> 00:18:27 his family forever
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 because of the sin
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 he knew about
00:18:29 --> 00:18:29 his sons
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 blasphemed God
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 and he failed
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 to restrain them
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 therefore I swore
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 to the house of Eli
00:18:34 --> 00:18:36 the guilt of Eli's house
00:18:36 --> 00:18:38 will never be atoned for
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 by sacrifice
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 or offering
00:18:40 --> 00:18:42 Samuel lay down
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 until morning
00:18:43 --> 00:18:43 and then opened
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 the doors
00:18:44 --> 00:18:44 of the house
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 of the Lord
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 he was afraid
00:18:46 --> 00:18:48 to tell Eli
00:18:48 --> 00:18:48 the vision
00:18:48 --> 00:18:51 this is the moment
00:18:51 --> 00:18:51 of truth
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 in this chapter
00:18:52 --> 00:18:54 God has broken in
00:18:54 --> 00:18:54 God has spoken
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 God has called Samuel
00:18:55 --> 00:18:57 and the first message
00:18:57 --> 00:18:57 Samuel gets
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 is basically this
00:18:58 --> 00:19:00 go and tell
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 the man who raised you
00:19:01 --> 00:19:03 go and tell
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 your father figure
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 Eli even calls
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 Samuel his son
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 in this passage
00:19:06 --> 00:19:08 go and tell
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 that guy
00:19:09 --> 00:19:11 that God
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 is about to judge him
00:19:12 --> 00:19:14 and there is no hope
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 for forgiveness
00:19:14 --> 00:19:18 I mean did you catch
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 that in verse 14
00:19:19 --> 00:19:22 the guilt of Eli's house
00:19:22 --> 00:19:22 will never
00:19:22 --> 00:19:24 be atoned for
00:19:24 --> 00:19:26 judgment is definite
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 Samuel's not giving
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 a message to Eli
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 hoping that Eli
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 will turn around
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 and fix his life
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 and come back to God
00:19:32 --> 00:19:34 Samuel is telling
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 his father figure
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 that God's judgment
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 is coming
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 and it cannot
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 be escaped
00:19:39 --> 00:19:42 no wonder
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 Samuel was scared
00:19:43 --> 00:19:45 this is his first
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 word from the Lord
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 and he has to go
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 to somebody
00:19:48 --> 00:19:48 he cares for
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 and tell them
00:19:49 --> 00:19:49 that they
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 will face
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 the judgment
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 of God
00:19:52 --> 00:19:54 but this is
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 the moment
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 of truth
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 is it just
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 lip service
00:19:57 --> 00:19:57 from Samuel
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 that he's a servant
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 of God
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 is it just lip service
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 that he loves him
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 that he wants
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 to follow him
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 or will he bear
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 the weight
00:20:03 --> 00:20:03 of speaking
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 God's word
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 no matter
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 what it costs
00:20:06 --> 00:20:06 him personally
00:20:06 --> 00:20:10 look at verse 15
00:20:10 --> 00:20:12 Samuel lay down
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 until morning
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 and then he opened
00:20:13 --> 00:20:13 the doors
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 of the house
00:20:14 --> 00:20:14 of the Lord
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 he was afraid
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 to tell Eli
00:20:16 --> 00:20:16 the vision
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 but Eli
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 called him
00:20:18 --> 00:20:18 and said
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 Samuel my son
00:20:19 --> 00:20:21 Samuel answered
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 again
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 here I am
00:20:23 --> 00:20:25 what was it
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 he said to you
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 Eli asked
00:20:27 --> 00:20:27 do not hide
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 it from me
00:20:28 --> 00:20:28 may God
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 deal with you
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 be it ever
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 so severely
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 if you hide
00:20:31 --> 00:20:31 from me
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 anything
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 he told
00:20:33 --> 00:20:33 you
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 so Samuel
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 told him
00:20:35 --> 00:20:35 everything
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 hiding nothing
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 from him
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 then Eli
00:20:38 --> 00:20:38 said
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 he is the Lord
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 let him do
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 what is good
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 in his eyes
00:20:41 --> 00:20:43 the Lord
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 was with Samuel
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 as he grew up
00:20:45 --> 00:20:45 and he let
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 none of Samuel's
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 words fall
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 to the ground
00:20:47 --> 00:20:49 and all Israel
00:20:49 --> 00:20:49 from Dan
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 to Beersheba
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 recognized
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 that Samuel
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 was attested
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 as a prophet
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 of the Lord
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 the Lord
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 continued
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 to appear
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 at Shiloh
00:20:56 --> 00:20:56 and there
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 he revealed
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 himself to Samuel
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 through his word
00:20:59 --> 00:21:02 Samuel's faithfulness
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 in those few verses
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 there shows
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 that the situation
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 has changed
00:21:06 --> 00:21:09 the beginning
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 of the chapter
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 we have dodgy
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 priests
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 we have a fairly
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 silent God
00:21:12 --> 00:21:14 and now
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 they have a prophet
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 things are about
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 to be different
00:21:17 --> 00:21:17 for Israel
00:21:17 --> 00:21:19 Samuel is growing
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 up as somebody
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 who now knows
00:21:21 --> 00:21:21 God
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 as somebody
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 who will speak
00:21:23 --> 00:21:23 God's word
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 even if it costs
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 him personally
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 and it tells us
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 that God is with him
00:21:27 --> 00:21:29 and God empowers
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 him
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 so that the words
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 he speaks
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 are effective
00:21:32 --> 00:21:34 but the really
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 exciting and important
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 thing in this whole
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 chapter comes there
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 in the last verse
00:21:37 --> 00:21:39 we open the chapter
00:21:39 --> 00:21:41 with a quiet God
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 not many visions
00:21:42 --> 00:21:42 and Samuel
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 not even knowing
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 the Lord
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 and everything
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 that comes with that
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 all the problems
00:21:47 --> 00:21:49 now we get to the end
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 we have the Lord
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 continuing to appear
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 at Shiloh
00:21:52 --> 00:21:54 we have God
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 revealing himself
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 to Samuel
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 in a way that
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 Samuel can pass
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 the message on
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 we've got a God
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 speaking again
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 a God who wants
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 to be known
00:22:02 --> 00:22:02 a God who has
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 pushed over the
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 barrier of dodgy
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 priests
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 and is making
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 himself available
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 to his people
00:22:08 --> 00:22:11 now it's tempting
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 given the focus
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 on Samuel
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 in this story
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 and given the book
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 is called
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 One Samuel
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 to think
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 that the key
00:22:18 --> 00:22:20 thing to take away
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 is wow
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 thank God for Samuel
00:22:22 --> 00:22:24 what a great guy
00:22:24 --> 00:22:26 he's better than
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 those dodgy priests
00:22:27 --> 00:22:27 we had before
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 he's the saviour
00:22:28 --> 00:22:30 he's fixed everything
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 but look again
00:22:31 --> 00:22:33 the big change
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 both in Samuel
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 and in all of Israel
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 is there
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 the difference between
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 verse 1 and verse 21
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 look at them
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 verse 1
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 in those days
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 the word of the Lord
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 was rare
00:22:43 --> 00:22:45 verse 21
00:22:45 --> 00:22:47 there he revealed
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 himself to Samuel
00:22:48 --> 00:22:51 through his word
00:22:51 --> 00:22:53 the thing that
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 changes in this
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 passage
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 is not so much
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 Samuel
00:22:56 --> 00:22:58 it's the word
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 of the Lord
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 it's God's word
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 that makes a
00:23:01 --> 00:23:01 difference to people
00:23:01 --> 00:23:03 it's God revealing
00:23:03 --> 00:23:03 himself
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 that changes
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 circumstances
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 that changes
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 attitudes
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 I mean if you
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 take God's word
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 out of this chapter
00:23:09 --> 00:23:11 you've still got
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 Samuel
00:23:11 --> 00:23:13 but he doesn't
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 know God
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 nothing changes
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 you just get
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 another generation
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 of dodgy priests
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 no matter how hard
00:23:19 --> 00:23:19 they try
00:23:19 --> 00:23:21 who can't do the
00:23:21 --> 00:23:21 job that they're
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 supposed to do
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 I mean without
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 God's word
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 Samuel is useless
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 he's pointless
00:23:26 --> 00:23:28 I mean he can open
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 the doors of the
00:23:29 --> 00:23:29 temple
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 that was one of his
00:23:30 --> 00:23:30 jobs
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 he can probably tidy
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 up around the place
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 but as a priest
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 he's about as useful
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 as a comb is
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 to a bald person
00:23:36 --> 00:23:38 he can't actually
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 fulfill the function
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 that he needs to
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 as a priest
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 he can't point
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 people to God
00:23:43 --> 00:23:45 he can't hand on
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 the revelation
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 that God has
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 entrusted to him
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 God's word
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 is what matters
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 God himself
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 is what matters
00:23:52 --> 00:23:55 and only as God
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 reveals himself
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 can Israel
00:23:57 --> 00:23:59 come to know him
00:23:59 --> 00:24:01 now for Israel
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 at this point
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 in history
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 God reveals
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 God's revelation
00:24:05 --> 00:24:05 of himself
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 is kind of limited
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 there's just a
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 small number of
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 people that he's
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 working through
00:24:10 --> 00:24:10 there's a very
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 specific system
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 with the tent
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 and the sacrifice
00:24:13 --> 00:24:13 and all that
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 and now it was
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 still sufficient
00:24:15 --> 00:24:17 to define their
00:24:17 --> 00:24:17 whole existence
00:24:17 --> 00:24:19 as a nation
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 they revolved
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 around who God
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 had shown himself
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 to be
00:24:23 --> 00:24:25 but we get
00:24:25 --> 00:24:25 so much more
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 than they had
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 let me read to you
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 a couple of verses
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 out of Hebrews
00:24:29 --> 00:24:29 chapter 1
00:24:29 --> 00:24:31 it says
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 in the past
00:24:32 --> 00:24:32 in the past
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 God spoke to
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 our ancestors
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 through the prophets
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 at many times
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 and in various ways
00:24:37 --> 00:24:39 but in these last days
00:24:39 --> 00:24:41 he has spoken to us
00:24:41 --> 00:24:41 by his son
00:24:41 --> 00:24:43 whom he appointed
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 heir of all things
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 and through whom
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 he also made the universe
00:24:46 --> 00:24:49 the son is the radiance
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 of God's glory
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 and the exact
00:24:51 --> 00:24:51 representation
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 of his being
00:24:52 --> 00:24:54 sustaining all things
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 by his powerful word
00:24:55 --> 00:24:58 after he had provided
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 purification for sins
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 he sat down
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 at the right hand
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 of the majesty
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 in heaven
00:25:03 --> 00:25:06 God used to speak
00:25:06 --> 00:25:06 in bursts
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 he used to have
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 the odd revelation
00:25:08 --> 00:25:10 the odd special event
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 where he would show himself
00:25:11 --> 00:25:11 with fire
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 or with thunder
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 or with whatever it was
00:25:13 --> 00:25:15 but now
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 in Jesus
00:25:16 --> 00:25:18 God has blurted
00:25:18 --> 00:25:18 it all out
00:25:18 --> 00:25:20 there's no more secrets
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 there's nothing more
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 he has given us
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 everything that we need
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 to know
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 Jesus is
00:25:25 --> 00:25:27 the word of God
00:25:27 --> 00:25:29 the word that Israel
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 so desperately
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 wanted to know more of
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 we get it all
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 in Jesus
00:25:33 --> 00:25:35 he is God
00:25:35 --> 00:25:35 on display
00:25:35 --> 00:25:37 he is the window
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 the mirror
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 into the glory
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 of God
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 Jesus came
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 so that we could know
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 the God of heaven
00:25:43 --> 00:25:46 Jesus has sacrificed
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 himself
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 so that we can be
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 forgiven
00:25:49 --> 00:25:51 so that the temple
00:25:51 --> 00:25:51 and the sacrifices
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 that we read about
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 in 1 Samuel
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 and all through
00:25:54 --> 00:25:54 the Old Testament
00:25:54 --> 00:25:56 can be replaced
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 by a group
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 of forgiven people
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 gathering around
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 God's word
00:26:00 --> 00:26:00 in scripture
00:26:00 --> 00:26:03 Jesus has come
00:26:03 --> 00:26:03 to take away
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 the barriers
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 to make the access
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 easy
00:26:06 --> 00:26:06 to make the access
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 possible
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 everything you would
00:26:08 --> 00:26:10 ever need to know
00:26:10 --> 00:26:10 about God
00:26:10 --> 00:26:12 is found in Jesus
00:26:12 --> 00:26:14 he is the full
00:26:14 --> 00:26:16 revelation of God
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 he is the answer
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 to every prayer
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 and desire
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 of your heart
00:26:20 --> 00:26:22 he is God's
00:26:22 --> 00:26:22 full
00:26:22 --> 00:26:24 and final answer
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 to whatever it is
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 that you need
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 to ask him
00:26:27 --> 00:26:32 sometimes I think
00:26:32 --> 00:26:34 we have selective
00:26:34 --> 00:26:34 hearing
00:26:34 --> 00:26:36 we hear
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 what it is
00:26:37 --> 00:26:37 that we want
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 to hear
00:26:38 --> 00:26:41 what if God
00:26:41 --> 00:26:41 is already
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 speaking to us
00:26:42 --> 00:26:44 and we are just
00:26:44 --> 00:26:44 not listening
00:26:44 --> 00:26:47 what if
00:26:47 --> 00:26:49 we are so
00:26:49 --> 00:26:49 convinced
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 that there is
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 a specific
00:26:51 --> 00:26:51 answer
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 that we want
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 from God
00:26:53 --> 00:26:53 that we refuse
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 to hear
00:26:54 --> 00:26:54 the one
00:26:54 --> 00:26:54 that he is
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 giving to us
00:26:55 --> 00:26:58 what if
00:26:58 --> 00:26:58 you are like
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 me
00:26:59 --> 00:26:59 and God
00:26:59 --> 00:26:59 is speaking
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 down the phone
00:27:00 --> 00:27:00 and you are
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 distracted
00:27:01 --> 00:27:01 by something
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 trivial
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 and unimportant
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 I know it
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 doesn't feel
00:27:05 --> 00:27:05 trivial
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 or unimportant
00:27:06 --> 00:27:08 but what if
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 God is speaking
00:27:09 --> 00:27:09 to you
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 and you are
00:27:10 --> 00:27:10 just
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 not listening
00:27:11 --> 00:27:14 here is why
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 all this stuff
00:27:15 --> 00:27:15 matters
00:27:15 --> 00:27:17 here is why
00:27:17 --> 00:27:17 this matters
00:27:17 --> 00:27:17 when you go
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 to work
00:27:18 --> 00:27:18 tomorrow
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 when you go
00:27:19 --> 00:27:19 to uni
00:27:19 --> 00:27:19 when you go
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 to school
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 here is why
00:27:21 --> 00:27:21 this matters
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 when you have
00:27:22 --> 00:27:22 a fight
00:27:22 --> 00:27:22 with your
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 friends
00:27:23 --> 00:27:23 when you are
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 overwhelmed
00:27:24 --> 00:27:24 with stress
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 when you can't
00:27:25 --> 00:27:25 afford your
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 bills
00:27:26 --> 00:27:26 when you are
00:27:26 --> 00:27:26 wrestling
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 with a big
00:27:27 --> 00:27:27 decision
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 about your
00:27:28 --> 00:27:28 future
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 or a job
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 or a career
00:27:30 --> 00:27:34 as you cry
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 out to God
00:27:35 --> 00:27:36 searching for
00:27:36 --> 00:27:36 his answer
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 wanting him
00:27:37 --> 00:27:38 to speak
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 to you
00:27:39 --> 00:27:40 wanting him
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 to be specific
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 about your
00:27:42 --> 00:27:42 circumstance
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 and your
00:27:43 --> 00:27:43 situation
00:27:43 --> 00:27:47 God's word
00:27:47 --> 00:27:48 which changes
00:27:48 --> 00:27:49 everything
00:27:49 --> 00:27:51 has already
00:27:51 --> 00:27:52 been spoken
00:27:52 --> 00:27:53 to you
00:27:53 --> 00:27:55 in Jesus
00:27:55 --> 00:27:57 that is
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 God's answer
00:27:58 --> 00:28:00 to unemployment
00:28:00 --> 00:28:02 to singleness
00:28:02 --> 00:28:05 to heartache
00:28:05 --> 00:28:07 to sickness
00:28:07 --> 00:28:10 Jesus is
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 God's word
00:28:11 --> 00:28:11 to you
00:28:11 --> 00:28:13 Jesus is
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 the best
00:28:14 --> 00:28:14 answer that
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 God has
00:28:15 --> 00:28:15 for your
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 situation
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 he's the
00:28:17 --> 00:28:17 answer to
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 the questions
00:28:18 --> 00:28:18 that you're
00:28:18 --> 00:28:19 asking
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 Jesus
00:28:20 --> 00:28:21 will give
00:28:21 --> 00:28:21 you the
00:28:21 --> 00:28:21 vision
00:28:21 --> 00:28:22 of God
00:28:22 --> 00:28:22 which is
00:28:22 --> 00:28:23 firmer
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24 than the
00:28:24 --> 00:28:24 foundation
00:28:24 --> 00:28:25 that you're
00:28:25 --> 00:28:25 standing on
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 now
00:28:26 --> 00:28:27 Jesus
00:28:27 --> 00:28:27 will give
00:28:27 --> 00:28:27 you the
00:28:27 --> 00:28:28 vision
00:28:28 --> 00:28:28 of God
00:28:28 --> 00:28:29 that can
00:28:29 --> 00:28:30 allow you
00:28:30 --> 00:28:30 to pray
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 like Hannah
00:28:31 --> 00:28:31 did
00:28:31 --> 00:28:31 when she
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 still didn't
00:28:32 --> 00:28:32 have any
00:28:32 --> 00:28:32 kids
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 remember
00:28:33 --> 00:28:34 she'd had
00:28:34 --> 00:28:34 her one
00:28:34 --> 00:28:34 she'd given
00:28:34 --> 00:28:35 him back
00:28:35 --> 00:28:35 she's still
00:28:35 --> 00:28:36 a childless
00:28:36 --> 00:28:36 woman
00:28:36 --> 00:28:37 and she
00:28:37 --> 00:28:38 prays
00:28:38 --> 00:28:38 I rejoice
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 in my
00:28:39 --> 00:28:39 God
00:28:39 --> 00:28:40 because there
00:28:40 --> 00:28:40 is no
00:28:40 --> 00:28:41 one like
00:28:41 --> 00:28:41 him
00:28:41 --> 00:28:44 in Jesus
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 God looks
00:28:45 --> 00:28:46 in your
00:28:46 --> 00:28:46 situation
00:28:46 --> 00:28:47 and says
00:28:47 --> 00:28:48 I love
00:28:48 --> 00:28:48 you
00:28:48 --> 00:28:51 in Jesus
00:28:51 --> 00:28:51 God says
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 never will
00:28:52 --> 00:28:52 I leave
00:28:52 --> 00:28:53 you
00:28:53 --> 00:28:54 never will
00:28:54 --> 00:28:54 I forsake
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 you
00:28:55 --> 00:28:56 in Jesus
00:28:56 --> 00:28:57 God says
00:28:57 --> 00:28:57 in everything
00:28:57 --> 00:28:58 you're going
00:28:58 --> 00:28:58 through
00:28:58 --> 00:28:59 I'm working
00:28:59 --> 00:28:59 for your
00:28:59 --> 00:29:00 good
00:29:00 --> 00:29:01 not just
00:29:01 --> 00:29:01 some vague
00:29:01 --> 00:29:02 idea of
00:29:02 --> 00:29:02 good
00:29:02 --> 00:29:03 your good
00:29:03 --> 00:29:05 in Jesus
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 God says
00:29:06 --> 00:29:06 I'm sufficient
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 when you're
00:29:07 --> 00:29:07 weak
00:29:07 --> 00:29:08 when you're
00:29:08 --> 00:29:08 struggling
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 when you're
00:29:09 --> 00:29:09 suffering
00:29:09 --> 00:29:11 and in
00:29:11 --> 00:29:11 Jesus
00:29:11 --> 00:29:12 God says
00:29:12 --> 00:29:12 someday
00:29:12 --> 00:29:13 soon
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 I'm going
00:29:14 --> 00:29:14 to fix
00:29:14 --> 00:29:15 it all
00:29:15 --> 00:29:16 someday
00:29:16 --> 00:29:16 soon
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 I'm going
00:29:17 --> 00:29:17 to right
00:29:17 --> 00:29:18 every wrong
00:29:18 --> 00:29:18 I'm going
00:29:18 --> 00:29:18 to wipe
00:29:18 --> 00:29:19 every tear
00:29:19 --> 00:29:19 I'm going
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 to end
00:29:20 --> 00:29:20 all the
00:29:20 --> 00:29:20 pain
00:29:20 --> 00:29:23 God is
00:29:23 --> 00:29:24 not silent
00:29:24 --> 00:29:25 anymore
00:29:25 --> 00:29:27 God has
00:29:27 --> 00:29:27 spoken
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 decisively
00:29:28 --> 00:29:29 and fully
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 in his
00:29:30 --> 00:29:30 son
00:29:30 --> 00:29:33 the question
00:29:33 --> 00:29:33 for you
00:29:33 --> 00:29:33 isn't
00:29:33 --> 00:29:34 what will
00:29:34 --> 00:29:35 God say
00:29:35 --> 00:29:35 in my
00:29:35 --> 00:29:36 situation
00:29:36 --> 00:29:39 the question
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 is
00:29:40 --> 00:29:40 are you
00:29:40 --> 00:29:40 listening
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 to what
00:29:41 --> 00:29:42 he is
00:29:42 --> 00:29:42 saying
00:29:42 --> 00:29:43 in Jesus
00:29:43 --> 00:29:46 because
00:29:46 --> 00:29:47 Jesus
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 changes
00:29:48 --> 00:29:48 everything
00:29:48 --> 00:29:51 he changes
00:29:51 --> 00:29:52 barrenness
00:29:52 --> 00:29:52 for Hannah
00:29:52 --> 00:29:53 he changes
00:29:53 --> 00:29:54 unemployment
00:29:54 --> 00:29:54 he changes
00:29:54 --> 00:29:55 sickness
00:29:55 --> 00:29:55 he changes
00:29:55 --> 00:29:56 death
00:29:56 --> 00:29:58 Jesus
00:29:58 --> 00:29:59 is God's
00:29:59 --> 00:29:59 word to
00:29:59 --> 00:30:00 you
00:30:00 --> 00:30:01 in your
00:30:01 --> 00:30:01 situation
00:30:01 --> 00:30:02 whatever
00:30:02 --> 00:30:03 that situation
00:30:03 --> 00:30:03 is
00:30:03 --> 00:30:05 the question
00:30:05 --> 00:30:05 is
00:30:05 --> 00:30:05 are you
00:30:05 --> 00:30:05 listening
00:30:05 --> 00:30:10 let's
00:30:10 --> 00:30:10 pray
00:30:10 --> 00:30:18 father
00:30:18 --> 00:30:18 god
00:30:18 --> 00:30:18 we want
00:30:18 --> 00:30:19 to
00:30:19 --> 00:30:21 admit
00:30:21 --> 00:30:21 that we
00:30:21 --> 00:30:22 take for
00:30:22 --> 00:30:22 granted
00:30:22 --> 00:30:23 that you
00:30:23 --> 00:30:23 have
00:30:23 --> 00:30:23 given
00:30:23 --> 00:30:24 us
00:30:24 --> 00:30:24 free
00:30:24 --> 00:30:25 access
00:30:25 --> 00:30:25 to
00:30:25 --> 00:30:25 your
00:30:25 --> 00:30:26 word
00:30:26 --> 00:30:29 we want
00:30:29 --> 00:30:29 to admit
00:30:29 --> 00:30:29 that we
00:30:29 --> 00:30:30 waste
00:30:30 --> 00:30:30 so much
00:30:30 --> 00:30:31 time
00:30:31 --> 00:30:31 and
00:30:31 --> 00:30:31 opportunity
00:30:31 --> 00:30:32 that you
00:30:32 --> 00:30:32 have
00:30:32 --> 00:30:32 given
00:30:32 --> 00:30:32 us
00:30:32 --> 00:30:33 to have
00:30:33 --> 00:30:33 you
00:30:33 --> 00:30:33 speak
00:30:33 --> 00:30:33 into
00:30:33 --> 00:30:34 our
00:30:34 --> 00:30:34 lives
00:30:34 --> 00:30:35 we
00:30:35 --> 00:30:36 want
00:30:36 --> 00:30:36 to
00:30:36 --> 00:30:36 admit
00:30:36 --> 00:30:36 that we
00:30:36 --> 00:30:37 distract
00:30:37 --> 00:30:38 ourselves
00:30:38 --> 00:30:38 with our
00:30:38 --> 00:30:38 own
00:30:38 --> 00:30:39 desires
00:30:39 --> 00:30:39 or with
00:30:39 --> 00:30:39 what we
00:30:39 --> 00:30:40 think
00:30:40 --> 00:30:40 the
00:30:40 --> 00:30:40 answers
00:30:40 --> 00:30:40 should
00:30:40 --> 00:30:41 be
00:30:41 --> 00:30:43 and we
00:30:43 --> 00:30:44 want to
00:30:44 --> 00:30:44 admit
00:30:44 --> 00:30:44 that sometimes
00:30:44 --> 00:30:45 we just
00:30:45 --> 00:30:45 don't listen
00:30:45 --> 00:30:46 to the
00:30:46 --> 00:30:46 better
00:30:46 --> 00:30:46 answers
00:30:46 --> 00:30:47 that you
00:30:47 --> 00:30:47 have
00:30:47 --> 00:30:47 offered
00:30:47 --> 00:30:47 us
00:30:47 --> 00:30:48 in your
00:30:48 --> 00:30:48 son
00:30:48 --> 00:30:50 God
00:30:50 --> 00:30:50 God I
00:30:50 --> 00:30:50 want to
00:30:50 --> 00:30:51 pray for
00:30:51 --> 00:30:51 all of
00:30:51 --> 00:30:52 us
00:30:52 --> 00:30:52 in this
00:30:52 --> 00:30:52 room
00:30:52 --> 00:30:52 whether
00:30:52 --> 00:30:53 we're
00:30:53 --> 00:30:53 wrestling
00:30:53 --> 00:30:53 with
00:30:53 --> 00:30:54 stress
00:30:54 --> 00:30:55 loss
00:30:55 --> 00:30:57 plenty
00:30:57 --> 00:30:57 whatever
00:30:57 --> 00:30:58 it is
00:30:58 --> 00:30:58 that is
00:30:58 --> 00:30:58 in our
00:30:58 --> 00:30:59 situation
00:30:59 --> 00:30:59 right now
00:30:59 --> 00:31:02 show us
00:31:02 --> 00:31:02 how Jesus
00:31:02 --> 00:31:03 changes
00:31:03 --> 00:31:03 that
00:31:03 --> 00:31:06 show us
00:31:06 --> 00:31:06 how Jesus
00:31:06 --> 00:31:07 redefines
00:31:07 --> 00:31:07 that
00:31:07 --> 00:31:10 God I
00:31:10 --> 00:31:11 want to
00:31:11 --> 00:31:11 pray for
00:31:11 --> 00:31:11 people who
00:31:11 --> 00:31:12 are hurting
00:31:12 --> 00:31:12 right now
00:31:12 --> 00:31:14 that you
00:31:14 --> 00:31:15 would open
00:31:15 --> 00:31:15 their ears
00:31:15 --> 00:31:16 to hear
00:31:16 --> 00:31:16 that you
00:31:16 --> 00:31:16 love them
00:31:16 --> 00:31:17 in Jesus
00:31:17 --> 00:31:20 for those
00:31:20 --> 00:31:20 who feel
00:31:20 --> 00:31:21 sufficient in
00:31:21 --> 00:31:22 themselves
00:31:22 --> 00:31:24 open their
00:31:24 --> 00:31:24 ears to
00:31:24 --> 00:31:26 hear that
00:31:26 --> 00:31:26 they need
00:31:26 --> 00:31:26 you
00:31:26 --> 00:31:29 and that
00:31:29 --> 00:31:29 Jesus is
00:31:29 --> 00:31:30 the only
00:31:30 --> 00:31:30 way that
00:31:30 --> 00:31:30 we can
00:31:30 --> 00:31:31 know you
00:31:31 --> 00:31:32 and we
00:31:32 --> 00:31:33 can call
00:31:33 --> 00:31:33 you our
00:31:33 --> 00:31:33 heavenly
00:31:33 --> 00:31:34 father
00:31:34 --> 00:31:36 God I
00:31:36 --> 00:31:37 want to
00:31:37 --> 00:31:37 pray that
00:31:37 --> 00:31:37 we would
00:31:37 --> 00:31:38 be people
00:31:38 --> 00:31:38 who are
00:31:38 --> 00:31:39 so firmly
00:31:39 --> 00:31:40 fixed on
00:31:40 --> 00:31:40 what you
00:31:40 --> 00:31:41 have done
00:31:41 --> 00:31:41 for us
00:31:41 --> 00:31:41 in sending
00:31:41 --> 00:31:42 your son
00:31:42 --> 00:31:45 so focused
00:31:45 --> 00:31:45 on his
00:31:45 --> 00:31:46 death and
00:31:46 --> 00:31:46 his resurrection
00:31:46 --> 00:31:47 in our
00:31:47 --> 00:31:47 place
00:31:47 --> 00:31:49 that our
00:31:49 --> 00:31:50 lives would
00:31:50 --> 00:31:51 also speak
00:31:51 --> 00:31:51 your word
00:31:51 --> 00:31:51 to the
00:31:51 --> 00:31:52 world around
00:31:52 --> 00:31:52 us
00:31:52 --> 00:31:54 may people
00:31:54 --> 00:31:55 hear of
00:31:55 --> 00:31:55 your love
00:31:55 --> 00:31:56 because of
00:31:56 --> 00:31:56 the hope
00:31:56 --> 00:31:57 and the
00:31:57 --> 00:31:57 foundation
00:31:57 --> 00:31:58 that we
00:31:58 --> 00:31:58 have
00:31:58 --> 00:32:03 father speak
00:32:03 --> 00:32:04 to us
00:32:04 --> 00:32:05 your servants
00:32:05 --> 00:32:05 for we
00:32:05 --> 00:32:06 are listening
00:32:06 --> 00:32:08 amen