The Call of God
I Samuel 3
February 27, 2000
Nature of conversion and calling - God comes to Samuel
Nature of his calling - hear word of the Lord; speak the word without fear of man; remain steadfast and faithful.
Setting: sliding during period of Judges (Judges 21:25); Eli knew right but didn't do it;
Hophni and Phineas were wicked; nation was under oppressive hand of Philistines; there was no spiritual or political leadership; there was growing anticipation of needing word of the Lord; disgust over Eli's tenure (2:12-17)
But God had not forgotten them (2:7-10):
- helpless condition of Israel
- unfailing love of the Lord
- God raises up his servant (e.g. Moses, David, Elijah)
- It is God's prerogative to call individuals out for His own purposes.
1. Condition for salvation v. 7
(1) No relationship ("know") e.g. "kingdom of God," "know Christ," Ephesians 4:18 "darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them."
(2) No revelation ("word...been revealed") I Thessalonians 2:13
2. Call to Salvation vv. 3, 6, 8, 10
(1) Who pursued whom? II Peter 1:2-3, 5:10; II Thessalonians 2:13-14. Martin Lloyd Jones: "A Christian is the result of the operation of God, nothing less, nothing else. No man can make himself a Christian. God alone makes Christians" (The Sacred Anointing 24). I Thessalonians 1:4, I Corinthians 1:26-31.
(2) Heard the voice of the Lord v. 10 -- Galatians 3:1 "before whose eyes..." similar idea in Matthew 13:11-16.
II. The Nature of God's Call
(1) Individual and personal v. 4 e.g. Moses - Exodus 3-4 - Deliverer and leader; Gideon - Judges 6 - Deliverer and judge; Jeremiah - Jeremiah 1:4-10 - Prophet. "In the final analysis the call to preach is the sovereign initiative of God in the life and experience of the one who is predestinated to fulfill that role" (Anointed Expository Preaching, S.F.O. 8). Romans 10:13-15 "sent."
(2) Comes with certainty v. 10-15 - Amos was shepherding and growing figs when god called him to prophesy against Israel (7:14-17); Paul - Galatians 1:15-17. It is important to recognize for God's call is what often keeps the messenger going (Quote MLJ 104, Preaching and Preachers).
(3) Particular message v. 11-15 - "lay down until morning" the message burned within. I Corinthians 9:16. Paul - mystery of the gospel - Colossians 1:24-27. II Timothy 4 - Be ready in season and out of season
(4) Affirmed by the church vv. 3:19-4:1a - I Timothy 5:21-22. Sargent of MLJ: 1. The need is not the call. 2. The church does not issue the call. 3. The church's function is to check the validity of the call (24-26).
(5) Faithfulness required vv. 15-19
(1) Cannot let regard for others silence the message. Samuel learned this lesson right up front. Eli may have had his crowning moment to spur on the young prophet.
(2) Must continue growth and development v. 19.
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