Category Archives: Faith

The Lord Vindicates Samuel

The Lord Vindicates Samuel as a True Prophet of the Lord

Grape Vines in Eastern Washington

Lets read just a little bit more, here. We are looking at I Samuel 3:19, “And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and let none of his words fall to the ground .” In other words, God was vindicating whatever Samuel spoke. Verse 20, “And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD. 21 And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.” Notice verse 21 says, “God appeared again at Shiloh.” It is like God was waiting for a faithful priest. God was waiting for someone with a heart to hear and a heart to obey, and when He found someone like that, He was going to appear again.

Its All By Listening

Spokane River near Downtown Spokane

Did you know, faith comes by hearing, and hearing the Word of God. That’s from Romans 10.

Do we really trust God at His word. Do we really believe His speaking. In the end all is gone, but God and us, our stuff will be gone. So live for eternity. One day this world as we know it is over. We don’t take our toys and electronic gadgets to heaven (or hell). By grace the promises comes to us. So listen to God’s speaking via His Word, the Bible.

The encouraging verse is Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and what is heard comes through the word about Christ.

God Speaks to Samuel

God Speaks to Samuel

Haystack Rock, Cannon Beach, Oregon

Let’s read from the third chapter of I Samuel 3:1, “Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD under Eli, and the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision.” It is interesting that the writer would say that the Word of the LORD was rare. God was not speaking much in that day because the hearts of the people were far from Him. I have heard people comment, “It doesn’t seem like the Lord is speaking, and when I read the Word it’s not living and real to me.” Number one, when our hearts are not open to God and the things of God, and we really don’t want to listen, then God doesn’t speak that much. Secondly, when God knows we aren’t going to obey what He says, He is not obligated to speak to us.

God’s Word was rare in those days because the priesthood was polluted and the people were being led astray. God began to speak to Samuel, but Samuel didn’t yet know the Lord in a real way. God called to Samuel, “Samuel, Samuel”. Samuel said, “Here am I”, but he thought it was Eli who was speaking to him. The Lord was speaking to Samuel, yet Samuel didn’t recognize it was the Lord speaking to him. The Lord continued to call out to Samuel, and Samuel kept going to Eli asking, “Didn’t you call me?” Finally Eli got the picture that it was probably the Lord who was calling Samuel. He instructed Samuel, “Samuel, if you hear that again, it must be the Lord speaking to you, so just say, ‘Speak Lord, Thy servant hears’.” God called Samuel again and Samuel responded as Eli had instructed him, “Speak Lord, Thy servant hears.”

Samuel was telling the Lord that he was ready to listen to what He had to say. He was saying, “Speak, Lord. I am Your servant. I am here to do whatever You want me to do.” I believe those are the two conditions for hearing God speak. Number one, you need an ear to hear, and number two, a heart to obey and to do what God wants done. Samuel did not know the Lord, but he was in the process of learning to recognize the voice of God. When Samuel said, “Speak, Lord, for Thy Servant hears”, this indicated he had an ear to hear, and a heart to obey what God was speaking to Him.

God’s Strength – Paul’s Secret

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things in him that strengtheneth me.

Mountain Peak with Snow, Leavenworth, Washington

The big secret to confidence and peace of mind is trusting God no matter what “mountains” we face in life. This is easier said than done, of course, but we can learn to turn our up-and-down feelings over to God, and depend upon Him every day. God may, or may not bless what we do, but His strength, grace, and wisdom are always available for us to tap in to.

The Apostle Paul went through many trials and difficulties, but he learned the secret of trusting God and relying on His strength. Paul’s sufficiency was found in Jesus Christ!

This verse is a great encouraging Bible verse.

God Answers Hannah’s Prayer

God Answers Prayer

Ancient Olive Tree in Jerusalem, Israel

Hannah prayed this prayer in Shiloh, a city in Samaria, Israel.

God Answers Hannah’s Prayer
Verse 21, “Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD.” Hannah named her son, Samuel. The name, Samuel, means, “Asked of God”. I would even say Hannah named Samuel after her prayer. I asked God for something and God answered my prayer. Samuel is his name, which means, “God answers prayer”.

Hannah Fulfills Her Vow to the Lord
After the child had been weaned, Hannah went on to say that she would bring him to appear in the presence of the Lord that he might abide there forever. In other words, Hannah kept her promise. In verse 23 we read that Hannah’s husband said, “And may the Lord establish His word.” Hannah had been praying that God would establish the words of Samuel. Then in I Samuel 1:26 Hannah said, “…Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD.” She brought Samuel to the Lord and spoke to Eli. Verse 27, “For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of Him: 28 Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.” In other words, Hannah gave him to the Lord and they worshipped the Lord.

Hannah’s Prayer of Thanksgiving
Hannah begins to pray. The whole prayer is quite good. I will not read the whole thing, just portions of it. I Samuel 1:27, “For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of Him: 28 Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.” She really experienced the Lord being her Rock. If you read the psalms of David you will often see him talking about being on a Rock, meaning he is in a secure place with the Lord. When you are in God’s presence, you are really secure.

Hannah prayed this prayer in Shiloh, a city in Samaria, Israel.

Trunk of Ancient Olive Tree in Jerusalem, Israel

Picking up Hannah’s prayer again in I Samuel 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. 4 The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength. 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. The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: He bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. 7 The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: He bringeth low, and lifteth up. 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. 9 He will keep the feet of His saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.” Notice it’s not by might, but by prayer. Verse 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.”

Hannah asked God for something and God answered her prayer. Samuel is his name, which means, “God answers prayer”.

Pray and Seek the Kingdom – from John Calvin

The Bible verse is Matthew 6:33, But seek ye first His kingdom, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Be not therefore anxious for the morrow:….

Pray and Seek the Kingdom – California Beach

John Calvin talks about “restraining excessive anxiety”. Of course, excessive anxiety can arise in many areas of life such as money, time, relationships, work or societal issues.

John Calvin says: But rather seek first the kingdom of God. This is another argument for restraining excessive anxiety about food. It argues a gross and indolent neglect of the soul, and of the heavenly life. Christ reminds us that there is the greatest inconsistency in men, who are born to a better life, being wholly employed about earthly objects. He who assigns the first rank to the kingdom of God, will not carry beyond moderation his anxiety about life. Nothing is better adapted to restrain the wantonness of the flesh from breaking out in the course of the present life, than meditation on the life of the heavens. The word righteousness may be either understood as applying to God, or to the kingdom: for we know that the kingdom of God consists in righteousness, ( Romans 14:17 ,) that is, in the newness of spiritual life. All other things shall be added. This means, that those things which relate to the present life are but favorable appendages, and ought to be reckoned greatly inferior to the kingdom of God. – from the John Calvin Commentary.

Remember God’s Promises

Remember God’s Promises – Two trees, lake and mountains in Idaho

The Bible verse is Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you” — this is the Lord’s declaration — “plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Unfortunately God’s people at that time were not happy with God or themselves. They had no faith in God that He could deliver them. So they doubted God, and only had “evil” thoughts about God, His plan and His purpose.

God still remembers His plan, purpose and promises towards the nation of Israel. God’s plan had not changed, but their thoughts about God did. So let’s remember God’s promises.

Look at God’s promise in this Bible verse in Deuteronomy 30:1 “And when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the Lord your God has driven you, 2 and return to the Lord your God, you and your children, and obey his voice in all that I command you today, with all your heart and with all your soul, 3 then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you, and he will gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you.

What Happens When We Die

What Happens When We Die – in simplicity, we actually meet God.

What Happens When We Die – Chorazin, Israel – north of the Sea of Galilee

Look at the pictures above and below of Chorazin, Israel, a Bible city, in northern Galilea. The city is a few miles from Capernaum on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee. The city is also called Korazin. Jesus talked about Chorazin in both the gospels of Matthew and Luke. Today no one lives in this ancient city, the residents (as far as we know) have all died. What happened to each of them after death?

God, on His calendar has a date for our birth and a date for our death. It is usually non-negotiable, at least I know of few who been able to change those dates. Life and death is in the hands of God. Death is unknown to us, it just happens.

Here is one of Jeremiah’s Prayer in Jeremiah 23, I know, O Lord, that a man’s life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps.

John 5:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

Read more in the article: What Happens When I Die.

Jeremiah’s Prayer – a man’s life is not his own – picture of Chorazin, Israel – north of the Sea of Galilee

Christian Bible Study – AnimatedFaith

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