GROWING IN THE LORD

PROCLAMATION

“And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favor both with The Lord, and also with men.”  1 Samuel 2:26 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

The first part of The Bible of Samuel was written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the Prophet Samuel.  Chapter two begins with Hannah’s prayer. (1 Samuel 2:1-10)  The boy Samuel was presented to and left with Eli the priest, and his parents Elkanah and Hannah returned home. (1 Samuel 2:11)  Eli had two sons who knew not The Lord and behaved as scoundrels. (1 Samuel 2:12-17)  The child Samuel ministered before The Lord and grew up in the presence of The Lord. (1 Samuel 2:18-21)  But Eli’s sons continued to misbehave even after he confronted them about their behavior. (1 Samuel 2:22-25)  And Samuel grew in statue and in favor with The Lord and with the people. (1 Samuel 2:26)  Then came a man of God unto Eli and told him that because of the behavior of his sons, no one in his family would reach old age, and that his two sons would die on the same day. (1 Samuel 2:27-34)  Samuel served The Lord and grew in The Lord. (1 Samuel 2:11, 2:18, 2:21, and 2:26)

 

APPLICATION

One can grow up in the church and not grow in The Lord.  Joining the church during childhood and attending church services regularly does not guarantee that one will grow in knowledge and holiness or in service to The Lord.  In the church there are wolves in sheep’s clothing, and there are those believers who have been in church for years but are still babes in Christ and must be fed The Word of God as mild instead of meat. (1 Corinthians 3:1-2)  However, those believers who grow in The Lord will be able to rightly divide The Word of Truth and they will be able to share it with others. (1 Timothy 2:15)  Their behavior will manifest the fruit of The Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)  They will live in The Spirit and they will walk in The Spirit. (Galatians 5:25)

PRAYER REQUEST ANSWERED

PROCLAMATION

“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.’ ”  1 Samuel 1:20 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

The first part of The Bible of Samuel was written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the Prophet Samuel, while the second part was written by Nathan and Gad.  Chapter one begins with a discussion of Hannah, the mother of Samuel, who at this time was barren.  Her husband Elkanah had two wives; the other was Peninnah who had children. (1 Samuel 1:1-2)  Year after year Peninnah would provoke Hannah to tears because The Lord had closed her womb. (1 Samuel 1:3-8)  Once Eli the priest saw her crying and praying, moving her lips without making a sound, and he thought that she was drunk.  Hannah had made a vow unto The Lord that if He would give her a son, then she would give her son back to Him. (1 Samuel 1:11)  When Eli told her to put away her wine, she told him that she was not drunk and explained her situation to him. (1 Samuel 1:12-15)  Eli told her, “Go in peace, and may The God of Israel grant you what you have asked of Him.’ (1 Samuel 1:17)  Later Hannah conceived and bore a son, Samuel.  She kept him at home until he was weaned.  After he was weaned she took him to the temple and presented him to Eli to raise him in the service of The Lord. (1 Samuel 1:20-28)

 

APPLICATION

The Lord God does hear and answer our prayers. (Proverbs 15:29)  Some of the time He gives us exactly what we asked for, and other times not.  We need to make sure that what we ask for when we pray will give God glory.  The sincere prayers of a righteous person are effective and avails much. (James 5:16)

HUMBLE AND INDUSTRIOUS

PROCLAMATION

“And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, ‘Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace.  And she said unto her, ‘Go, my daughter.’  And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers …”  Ruth 2:2-3 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

The Bible Book of Ruth was written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the Prophet Samuel.  After leaving Moab, Naomi and Ruth arrived in Bethlehem just as the harvest was beginning. (Ruth 1:22)  As two women alone, they had no means of support.  They were so poor that Naomi told those who knew her to call her Mara because The Lord God had made her life very bitter. (Ruth 1:20-21)  But Ruth did not just sit by, she humbled herself and went into the fields, and followed the harvesters, and gathered the grain which they dropped or missed. (Ruth 2:2-3)  She worked in the fields from morning until evening, then she threshed the grains she had gathered, and returned to Naomi and shared it with her. (Ruth 2:17-18)  She told Naomi about her meeting with Boaz, the owner of the field, and the kindness that he showed to her. (Ruth 2:19-22)  Ruth continued to glean the fields until the harvests were finished. (Ruth 2:23)

 

APPLICATION

Bad things can happen to good people, but that does not have to get them down.  Naomi seemed to be a little bit depressed by her situation but Ruth remained positive. Ruth humbled herself and got busy doing something that she would not normally do.  We should do likewise.  Whatever the current situation we are in, which is beyond our control, we can choose how we respond to it.  We may have to do some things that we would not ordinarily do, but we do not have sit by idly and complain.  All things happen for a reason, they may be a blessing or a test.  Whatever it is that occurs, all things work together for the good of them that love The Lord. (Romans 8:28)

COMMITMENT AND DEDICATION

PROCLAMATION

“And Ruth said, ‘Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following thee; for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge; thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.  Where thou diest, I will die, and there will I be buried; The Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.”  Ruth 1:16-17 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

This Bible Book of Ruth was written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the Prophet Samuel.  The first chapter begins with the account of Elimelek, a man from Bethlehem in Judah, who went to Moab with his wife Naomi and his two sons because of the famine in his homeland. (Ruth 1:1-2)  While there both of his sons married Moabite women.  After living there for ten years, Elimelek and both of his sons died leaving Naomi alone with the wives of her sons, Orpah and Ruth. (Ruth 1:3-5)  Naomi told both daughters-in-law to return to their home and families, and maybe they would find a new husband.  They cried and then Orpah kissed Naomi and said goodbye, but Ruth clung to her and would not leave. (Ruth 1:6-14)  Naomi urged Ruth to also return to her home but she was determined to stay with her until death parted them.  She was so insistent and her commitment was so strong that Naomi stopped urging Ruth to leave. (Ruth 1:15-18)  Then the two women left Moab and journeyed to Bethlehem where Naomi was well known. (Ruth 1:19-22)

 

APPLICATION

This is an example of true repentance, real dedication, and absolute commitment.  This demonstrates a steadfast determination of Ruth to stay with Naomi until her death.   Modern marriage partners should have this level of commitment to each other.  Marriage vows should be as strong as this.  Ruth did not marry Naomi but her commitment to stay with her until death separated them is as strong as a marriage vow.  Unfortunately today too many of our personal relationships are only temporary and fleeting.  People will tell you that they will be with you “through thick and thin” only to leave you “high and dry” when the going gets difficult and you really need them.  Let us make “Ruth type” commitments to our loved ones.

A MOTHER'S MISTAKE

PROCLAMATION

“And there was a man of Mount Ephraim, whose name was Micah.  And he said unto his mother, ‘The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from thee … behold, the silver is with me; I took it.’  And his mother said, ‘Blessed be thou of The Lord, my son.’ … his mother said, I had wholly dedicated the silver unto The Lord … and his mother took two hundred shekels of silver, and gave them to the founder, who made thereof a graven image … and they were in the house of Micah.”  Judges 17:1-4 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of God which were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the Prophet Samuel.  Micah stole eleven hundred pieces of silver from his mother.  After she noticed that the silver was missing, she was upset and pronounced a curse on the thief.  Then Micah told her that he had taken the silver and he gave it back to her.  Instead of punishing him for stealing, she blessed him for returning the silver.  She took the silver to a silversmith and he made an image and overlaid it with molten silver.  This idol was placed in Micah’s house along with the other idols that he had and worshiped. (Judges 17:1-5)  At that time there was not king in Israel and the people did whatever they thought was right in their own eyes. (Judges 17:6)  Then a young Levite from Bethlehem in Judah came to town searching for a place to stay and Micah invited him the live with them.  Micah offered to pay him and to give him clothes and food.  The young Levite agreed and Micah made him his priest thinking that this would please The Lord. (Judges 17:7-13)

 

APPLICATION

There are people today who believe that punishing a child who does wrong is wrong.  However, praising a child who did wrong is never a good idea.  We should not be so in love with our children or grandchildren that we praise them for doing wrong.  This mother complicated the situation by making a graven image out of the silver, basically commemorating the bad act by making an idol to be worshiped.  The Bible says, “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image …” (Exodus 20:4)  We are not to worship or place anything before The Lord God. (Exodus 20:3)  That includes any possession, family members or loved ones.  We may not “worship” them, but if we put them before God then we are wrong.  We are to love The Lord God with all of our heart, soul, might, and mind. (Deuteronomy 6:5, Matthew 22:37, Mark 12:30, and Luke 10:27)  Nothing should be more important to us than The Lord God.

SOMETIMES WE TALK TOO MUCH

PROCLAMATION

“… Thou hast mocked me three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth.  And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words … so that his soul was vexed … he told her all his heart, and said unto her, ‘There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother’s womb; if a be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and be like any other man.’  And … Delilah … sent and called for the lords of the Philistines …’ Then … the Philistines came … and brought money ...”  Judges 16:15-18

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of God which were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the Prophet Samuel.  After his victory over the Philistine army, (Judges 15:13-16) Samson fell in love with Delilah another Philistine woman. (Judges 16:4)  The Philistine rulers urged her to find out the secret of his power so they could subdue him, and the offered to each give her eleven hundred pieces of silver. (Judges 16:5)  She asked Samson three times to tell her the source of his strength, and three times he gave her the wrong information. (Judges 16:6-15)  Finally Delilah nagged him so until he told her the whole truth.  Then she quickly told the Philistine rulers.  When he fell asleep, she had a man cut off his hair. (Judges 16:15-19)  The Philistines then seized him, gouged out his eyes, bound him with shackles, and took him to Gaza.  There they tied him to a grain grinding machine. (Judges 16:19-21)  The Philistines gathered to offer a great sacrifice to their god Dagon and to celebrate the defeat of Samson.  But the hair on Samson’s head began to grow.  While they were in high spirits, they brought Samson out of prison to perform for them. (Judges 16:22-25)  Samson asked to placed where he could feel the pillars that supported the temple.  Then he prayed to The Lord to strengthen him one more time and let him get revenge on the Philistines.  Then Samson pushed against the pillars and they crumbled and the temple collapsed killing himself and all of the three thousand plus Philistine men and women who were inside the temple. (Judges 16:25-31)

 

APPLICATION

Sometimes we talk too much, even to friends, family, and loved ones.  Some things we need to keep to ourselves and share them only with The lord God in prayer.  We really should not be mad at people who tell others our secrets, we couldn’t keep it to ourselves and we told them. 

 

WITH GOD'S HELP SAMSON GETS HIS REVENGE

PROCLAMATION

“… And the Philistines came up, and burnt her and her father with fire.  And Samson said unto them, ‘Though ye have done this, yet will I be avenged of you, and after that I will cease.’ ”  Judges 15:6-7 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of God which were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the Prophet Samuel.  After Samson’s Philistine wife told her people the answer to the riddle, Samson went down to Ashkelon and struck down thirty men, stripped them of their clothing, and gave the clothes to the thirty Philistine men who were assigned to be his “companions.”  While he was gone Samson’s wife was given to one of his companions. (Judges 14:19-20)  When he returned Samson went to visit his wife but her father would not let him in because she had been given to one of his companions. (Judges 15:1-2)  Angered, Samson went out and caught three hundred foxes, tied a torch to every pair of tails, lit the torches, let the foxes loose in the grain fields, and burned up the grain, the vineyards, and the olive groves. (Judges 15:3-5)  When the Philistines found out that he had done this, they burned his wife and her father to death.  Then Samson swore that he would have his revenge on them.  He attacked them and slaughtered many of them before going to a cave to rest. (Judges 15:6-8)  The men of Judah went to Samson to explain to him that the Philistine army had come for him and would attack them if they did not turn him over to them.  So he agreed to be tied up and given to the Philistines. (Judges 15:9-13)  When the Philistines approached him, The Spirit of The Lord came powerfully upon him and he took the jawbone of a donkey and killed three thousand men.  Afterwards, Samson led Israel for twenty years. (Judges 15:14-20)

 

APPLICATION

Being human, it is not easy to be a Christian and behave in a Christ-like manner.  In His Sermon on The Mount, Christ taught that we should love our enemies, bless them that curse us, do good to them that hate us, and pray for them that despitefully use us and persecute us. (Matthew 5:44)  We are told to be kind to our enemy, for by doing so we are heaping burning coals upon their head. (Romans 12:20)  The Bible says, “Avenge not yourselves … for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine; I will repay,’ saith The Lord.” (Romans 12:19)  We need help.