1 samuel 2b Contrast a heart for the Lord and hearts for the devil.

www.rossvillechurch.com

781 Salem Road, Rossville, GA 307411July 31, 2011

At the age of three yearsthree years, Samuel was given to the Lord.

He would live at the templtemple, and be raisedbe raised by Eli, the priest.

BeforeBefore the return journey home, the family worshippedworshipped and

prayedprayed.

Last time we studied the recorded worshiprecorded worship of Hannah at that time.

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Instead of bemoaning her fatebemoaning her fate, that God had given her a son and she had given him back,

She worshipped the GiverGiver of that gift.

She didn't rationalizerationalize, "I was upsetupset when I made that vowvow; I don't believe God would finallyfinally give

me a son, only to want him backwant him back" --

She keptkept her vow, and gave God gave God thanksthanks.

1 Samuel 2:11 And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did minister unto the Lord before Eli the priest.

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The family went home, but three year oldthree year old Samuel began his dutieshis duties at the temple.

Eli was trainingtraining him to become a priest.

12 Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the Lord.

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Eli had totally failedfailed as a parent in raising his sons.

They had turned into vile sinnersvile sinners, abusing the office of the priesthoodpriesthood for their own pleasure.

Samuel has a heart for God.

13 And the priests' customcustom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was in seething (boiling), with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand; 14 And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither.

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15 Also before they burnt the fat, the priest's servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw. 16 And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force.

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They wantedThey wanted to grill it, roast it, or fry it;

Stole it beforebefore it was sacrificed.

17 Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord: for men abhorred the offering of the Lord.

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People soon began to hatehate making sacrifices, because they knew they were being stolenbeing stolen.

Thompson testified that he used money from the church's building fund for his lifestyle, but said it mostlymostly went to run the church.David Thompson was the former

pastor of The World of Pentecost Church on East Main Street, Columbus, Ohio.http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2010/09/02/story-columbus-ex-pastor-testifies-embezzlement-trial.html?sid=102

Corruption in the churchCorruption in the church is destructive and poisonous, like a malignant cancermalignant cancer.

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It's a favorite tool of the deviltool of the devil to hinder God's Work.

We must take every precautionprecaution against it.

That's why the pastor of this church does notdoes not have direct accessdirect access to the money.

I can't writecan't write a check.

I can't even votevote to spend money.

We keep careful recordscareful records of every penny that is spent.

18 But Samuel ministered before the Lord, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.

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We can faithfully serve the Lord, if we willif we will.

Whatever the situationsituation,WhereverWherever we may be,

No matter how evilevil our surroundings,

We canWe can serve the Lord our God.

19 Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.

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Hannah didn'tdidn't put Samuel in the temple and forgetforget about him.

She made him clothesclothes and broughtbrought them every year.

Remember those from whom we are necessarilynecessarily separated.

Pray for them, and visit them.Pray for them, and visit them.

20 And Eli blessedEli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The Lord give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the Lord. And they went unto their own home. 21 And the Lordthe Lord visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the Lord.

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Elkanah and Hannah continuedcontinued to love one another

and have marital relations.

GodGod gave the increase.

22 Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 23 And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people.

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24 Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the Lord's people to transgress. 25 If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the Lord, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened notthey hearkened not unto the voice of their father, becausebecause the Lord would slay them.

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Eli's rebuke was Eli's rebuke was too littletoo little, , too latetoo late..

God had already judgedalready judged these men, and determineddetermined to kill them for their sins.

26 And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favor both with the Lord, and also with men.

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None of this evilevil touched Samuel.

He was a shining lightshining light in a very dark place.

We live in a very dark world.

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Don't be ashamed or embarrassed about living life living life

God's WayGod's Way.

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Let's be like SamuelSamuel; no matter what the worldthe world chooses to do, let uslet us stand for God.

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Do you love the Lordlove the Lord with allall your heart, mind, soul, and strength?

Jesus said, "If you love Me, keep My Commandments."

We who lovelove the Lord and understand how muchhow much He loves us, willinglywillingly live life His Way.

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God's Way is the Way of JoyJoy and PeacePeace.

When we go our own wayour own way, determined to do as we wish, we

find troubletrouble and sorrowsorrow.StudyStudy to know God's Way;

Walk obedientlyobediently and willinglywillingly in it.