Samuel, the Summit Who Saved the Church (1 Samuel 2:18-21) 2/07/2021
The Field of Answers of the 1st 2nd 3rd RUTC:
Samuel, the Summit Who Saved the Church (1 Samuel 2:18-21) 2/07/2021
What is the first evidence that arises through the person who realizes the gospel and enjoys it? They are raised as ones who save the church (Matthew 16:18). We become the church (1 Corinthians 3:16), strengthen the sanctuary church, and become the ones who raise a church in my field. Satan will bring suffering in the world with many curses and disasters in the final days, but what is he really trying to do? He is attempting to destroy the church of Christ. All that is needed is for the church to lose hold of the gospel. 2 Timothy 3 says that believers will only love themselves, fall into division, like the things of the world, and lose hold of spiritual power. The works to raise spiritual summits whom God will use to save all 237 nations and heal them is God’s conclusion, the gospel’s conclusion, and our life’s conclusion. We must become the platform of that blessing and the church is where the platform should be. The spiritual summit that can save the church—this is the covenant that we must hold onto this week. Samuel is our model.
- What kind of works took place in the church of that age when a spiritual summit like Samuel arose?
1) We know how spiritually dark the church and spiritual leaders were when Samuel arose.
There was prophet Eli and other Levites as helpers, but they were spiritually dark, and the children were extremely corrupted (1 Samuel 2:9-30). It said that God no longer gave them the word (1 Samuel 3:1). What was the result of that? The Israelites were always oppressed by the Philistines, fell into their idols, and later on even had the Lord’s Ark captured away.
2) God chose and raised Samuel then.
God said, “I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind.” (1 Samuel 2:35). The Mizpah movement that Samuel started changed the history of Israel. Through this Samuel, a politician like David who is pleasing to God’s heart comes forth. The world will change when the church, the servants of the Lord and church officers live.
- Pay attention to Samuel’s growth process. What we must hold onto and what we must do for our posterity will be revealed in this.
“Samuel was ministering before the Lord, a boy clothed with a linen ephod.” (verse 18). Pay attention to two spiritual facts.
1) Being “clothed with a linen ephod” didn’t merely mean he wore priestly clothing.
① The clothes important people wear signify their identity, power, and authority (why judges, doctors, and pastors wear gowns).
Therefore, the important thing is that those who have been baptized in Christ’s name “have clothed themselves with Christ” (Galatians 3:27). It means we are those who have been granted Christ’s authority (2 Corinthians 5:20, 1 Peter 2:9).
② The moment we believe in Christ’s name and are baptized, we have become ones with the identity and authority of a summit who can save, recreate and rule the world.
I need to first restore this identity and plant it into the Remnants. No problems and hardships become relevant to believers who have realized this identity. They are in the middle of summit training and are on the summit journey. Joseph’s life from last week was like this and today, Samuel is on that journey.
2) “Ministering before the Lord” signifies a deep relationship with God.
① He already learned how to enjoy a deep relationship with God from a young age.
What is the beginning and end to enjoying a relationship with God? Worship. Worship is the time to exalt God, look upon God, realize the deep things of God, and enjoy the grace, strength, and vision only God can give. Thus, believers must discover and enjoy everything in worship. How will you live in this world full of evil and suffering if you cannot enjoy this blessing? You will die only suffering. Hence, successful worship is success in everything, and failing worship is the failure of everything.
② What was the result of Samuel’s life who knew his identity and learned how to deeply enjoy God since he was young?
It said that Samuel grew in favor with God and other people (1 Samuel 2:26). God said that He would raise His house through Samuel (1 Samuel 2:35). God was with Samuel and none of his words fell to the ground (1 Samuel 3:19). If we and our posterity enjoy these three blessings, the life of the summit will actually come to life and evidence will come forth.
- It is the lifelong covenantal contract that Samuel and his parents held onto.
1) A covenantal contract means to privately sign on the covenant that God has given to me.
It was a resolution to place the God-given covenant deep in my heart and prayer, hold onto that, and live before God. That is called my gospel, my covenant, my oath, my mission. Examine whether I have this or not. It doesn’t matter what problems may come, neither does it matter if everything is taken or yielded. There are a separate absolute answer and absolute blessing that we will enjoy(Mark10:29-30).
2) Deeply meditate on three things while praying and form my covenantal contract before God.
① Look at the problems of this age and form my covenantal contract before God.
It’s a very difficult age. More importantly, it is an age where the gospel has been taken away. There are too many people who are suffering, afflicted, and suffering under mental illnesses even while attending church. The start is mostly from one’s own scars but eventually, there surely is Satan’s works. This is what Christ did (Isaiah 61:1). This is the reason he came as the Son of God (1 John 3:8). What is even more serious is that churches are closing down. What is my heart like before this reality? How about God’s heart? All I, who is lacking, needs is the centered heart that I will save the church and do evangelism and mission with the mystery of the unique Christ. All I need is the prayer that at least my lacking self and my child will devote ourselves to fulfill God’s will (Hannah’s vow).
② Form a covenantal contract in everything I do before God.
In my workplace, my business, hold onto the absolute reason for Christ’s power and authority that transcends time and space to take place. You can be honest and stake your life even in the smallest task. Do it before God (Coram Deo). You’re not doing it to merely succeed or compete. It is only for God’s glory (Soli Deo Gloria). There is no reason to be stressed in anything you do, and you become bold. It is because God will help you with the power that transcends time and space.
③ Form my covenantal contract with God in my failure, pain, and problem.
It is the resolution that I will only look upon God because I fail, feel pain and no one can help me. It is the resolution that I will devote myself to save others like me if the evidence is given to me. This is what was wanted from Peter who had failed (Luke 22:31-32). With this centered heart, Paul confessed that he shared the gospel with a heart that was obligated to all people (Romans 1:14).
Conclusion – Examine my identity, my worship, and my covenantal contract. May we and our posterity stand as the true summit that God has raised so that our church may go towards the 237 nations, healing, and the blessing and mission of the summit.