The one-night passage describes Samuel hearing God's call three times while ministering before the Lord under Eli's guidance in the house of the Lord. Though Eli's eyes were weak, he did not realize it was God calling Samuel until the third time. Eli then told Samuel to respond "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening" if called again. The Lord then spoke, and Samuel responded as instructed, showing he was ready to listen to God.

1. 1 Samuel 3:1-10
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Sunday 5 August 2012

2. The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord
under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord
was rare; there were not many visions.
One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so
weak that he could barely see, was lying down
in his usual place. The lamp of God had not yet
gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the
house of the Lord, where the ark of God
was. Then the Lord called Samuel.
Sunday 5 August 2012

3. Samuel answered, “Here I am. ” And he ran to
Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”
But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie
down.” So he went and lay down.
Again the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel
got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you
called me.”
“My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie
down.”
Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The
word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to
him.
Sunday 5 August 2012

4. A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And
Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I
am; you called me.”
Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the
boy. So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if
he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is
listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his
place.
The Lord came and stood there, calling as at
the other times, “Samuel! Samuel! ”
Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is
listening.”
Sunday 5 August 2012

5. 1. Your
past does
not
determine
your
future
Sunday 5 August 2012

6. 1. Your
past does
not
determine
your
future
Sunday 5 August 2012

7. 1. Your
The Lord was with Samuel as he grew
up, and he let none of Samuel’s words
past does
fall to the ground. And all Israel from
Dannot
to Beersheba recognized that
Samuel was attested as a prophet of the
determine
Lord. The Lord continued to appear at
yourthere he revealed himself to
Shiloh, and
future
Samuel through his word.
Sunday 5 August 2012

8. 2. Your circumstances do
not determine your
actions
Sunday 5 August 2012

9. 2. Your circumstances do
Eli’s sons were scoundrels; they had no
not determine your the
regard for the Lord...This sin of
actions
young men was very great in the Lord’s
sight, for they were treating the Lord’s
offering with contempt.
But Samuel was ministering before
theLord—a boy wearing a linen ephod.
2:12, 17-18
Sunday 5 August 2012

10. 2. Your circumstancesSo, if
“The eye is the lamp of the body. do
Eli’s sonsis healthy, your whole body will
your eye were scoundrels; they had no
not determine your the
beregard light, but if your eyesinbad, your
full of for the Lord...This is of
actions
young men was be full of darkness...Sell
whole body will very great in the Lord’s
sight, for they were treating the needy.
your possessions, and give to Lord’s
offering with contempt.
Provide yourselves with money bags that
do not grow old, with a treasure in the
But Samuel was ministering before
heavens that boy wearing a linen ephod.
theLord—a does not fail...For where your
treasure is, there will your heart be also.
2:12, 17-18
Matt 6:22, 23, Luke 12:33, 34
Sunday 5 August 2012

11. 3. You
choose
your
focus
Sunday 5 August 2012

12. 3. You
choose
your
focus
Sunday 5 August 2012

13. 4. You are made to hear
God’s voice
Sunday 5 August 2012

14. 4. You are made to hear
God’s voice
When he has brought out all his own, he
goes before them, and the sheep follow
him, for they know his voice...
For all who are led by the Spirit of God
are sons of God.
John 10:4, Rom 8:14
Sunday 5 August 2012

15. Would you know the voice of
God if it hit you in the face?
Sunday 5 August 2012

16. 5. Be careful not to become
a priest who cannot see
Sunday 5 August 2012

17. 5. Be careful not to become
a priest Eli, whose eyes were
One night who cannot see
becoming so weak that he could barely
see, was lying down in his usual
place...Then Eli realized that the Lord
was calling the boy...“What was it he
said to you?” Eli asked...So Samuel told
him everything, hiding nothing from him.
Then Eli said, “He is the Lord; let him do
what is good in his eyes.”
Sunday 5 August 2012

18. - Eli was almost blind
physically, was he also
blind spiritually?
- he had lost his vision
- he chose to ignore sin,
possibly for fear of losing
what little he had
- the result was that he
lost everything, the
priesthood, his
preeminent position
Sunday 5 August 2012

19. - he had been
warned
previously but
had failed to act
- he had habit
and tradition, but
had lost God
Sunday 5 August 2012

20. “Listen to no man who fails to
listen to God.”...No man has
any right to offer advice who
has not first heard God speak.
No man has any right to
counsel others who is not
ready to hear and follow the
counsel of the Lord.
AW Tozer
Sunday 5 August 2012

21. The
End
Sunday 5 August 2012