Can You Hear Me Now?

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> 1 Samuel 3.

- 50% As of 1995 of the world have phones

- 93% USA can make a phone connection from home

- Cell phones have been available since 1983

- In the United States,65% households own a mobile phone

- This is up 10% from last year

Verizon “Can you hear me now?" "Good." This line has made Paul Marcarelli famous as the ’tester’ for Verizon wireless. He is from New York City and is 34

This ad help grow Verizon by 10% Test Man roams the country through wheat fields, across snowy mountains, through airports, along highways, in a bowling alley , and on buses. He beat out more than 1,000 applicants for that role, including Tony Danza, (Who’s the Boss) Emilio Estevez, (St. Elmo’s Fire, The Breakfast Club) and Macauly Caulkin.(Home Alone) He Wears his own glasses in his television commercials for Verizon.

+ You Can’t Hear Me Now

> 3:1 "THE Word of the Lord was precious (rare) in those days; there was no open vision. "

- Why ?

> 2. 12-17, 22 Wickedness unbelief unrighteousness of God’s professing people

- In these desperate days God takes the child Samuel and sets him up

> That out of the mouth of this babe He might ordain strength (Psa. 8. 2).

> God hath chosen the weak things to confound the mighty (1 Cor. 1. 27).

- Samuel was "lent unto the Lord" (chap. 1. 28). Now the Lord takes the loan of him that He might through him speak to all Israel. We may learn here—

> 1. You Can Hear While You Are Young

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- v. 1 - Samuel might have been about six years of age.

- Be sure to introduce kids to Christ

- Here the Almighty, the "Ancient of Days," making His will known to a child? "

- Prov. 8. 17 - They that seek Me early shall find Me".

- Isa. 57. 15."The High and Lofty One that inhabiteth eternity" dwells with the humble spirit

> 2. You Can Hear Without Experience.

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- v. 7 -"Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord".

- He believed in Him, The existence of God was known to him

- Had had no personal dealings with Him.

- Experience makes a difference

- Those who honestly seek like Samuel shall surely find.

> 3. You Can Hear On A Troubled Line

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- v. 3 "Ere the lamp of God went out".

- Allowing God’s lamp to go out

- It can not happen

- Lev. 24. 2 - Lamp was to burn continually.

- How fares it with the lamp of God in our own hearts ?

- Is our testimony dying down for the lack of fresh oil ?

> 4. You Need To Hear Loud & Clear.

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- v. 4, 5 "The Lord called Samuel, and he ran unto Eli".

- He thought it was the voice of Eli.

- The voice of God can come in unexpected ways - family friends circumstance Word

- Samuel’s response was instantaneous obedience

> 5. You Respond To What You Hear

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- v. 10 - "Speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth"

- Eli could give Samuel no answer to the call of God.

- Those called of Him must respond to Him for themselves.

- It is so in the matter of salvation.

- Same with those gone astray from God must turn back to Him

- The same in service.

- No man can do this for us.

- We must yield ourselves unto God (Rom. 6. 13).

> 6. You Sometimes Hear Bad News.

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- v. 15 - "Samuel feared to show Eli the vision"

- An adult message from a boy

- He and his house were to be set aside as unworthy of the priesthood.

- Truth must be told,

- v. 17-18 The PRIEST was prepared to hear all that God had spoken

- Remember God will be Holy

- He will show himself true

> 7. You Hear By Staying Connected.

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- v. 19 - "The Lord was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground".

- His presence with us is the guarantee that He will bring it to pass. - Deut. 18. 22 -."If the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken"

- The word was not Samuel’s, but the Lord’s

- The secret of success in the Lord’s work always lies in the doing of His will.

- John 2. 5 - "Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it".

+ Check Your Equipment

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> Read Consistently

> Memorize Constantly

> Pray Carefully

> Fellowship Continually

> Share Completely

> Serve Confidently

> Give Cheerfully

> Philip 4:8-9