Family Faith Transfer: To Spiritually Receptive Children (Lesson 6)

A. INTRODUCTION: I SAMUEL 3:1-21

As a young boy, Samuel was unusually receptive to God. His childhood laid a foundation for his usefulness later in life.

“For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of Him: Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there . . . but Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen Ephod” (I Sam. 1:27,28; 2:18).

B. WHAT MADE THE CHILD RECEPTIVE?

1. A dedicated mother. Hannah considered herself, “A handmaiden of the Lord” (1:11).

2. A praying mother. “If thou will indeed look on the affliction of thy handmaid . . . and give unto thy handmaiden a man child” (1:11).

3. A committed mother. “She vowed a vow . . . I will give him unto the Lord, all the days of his life” (1:11).

4. A fasting mother. “Then said Elkanah her husband to her . . . why eatest thou not?” (1:8)

5. A sacrificial mother. “She took him (Samuel) up with her . . . unto the house of the Lord in Shiloh, and the child was young” (1:24). “I have lent him to the Lord, as long as he liveth” (1:28).

6. A worshipping mother. “Hannah prayed and said, ‘My heart rejoices in you Lord, . . . there is none holy like you O Lord, for there is none beside you, neither is there any rock that will save us like you, O our God’” (I Sam. 2:1,2, ELT).

7. A caring mother. “Each year his mother made a small coat for him and brought it to him, when she came with her husband for the sacrifice” (2:19, LB).

C. HOW WAS SAMUEL RECEPTIVE?

1. Worshipped as a child when brought to God’s house. “He worshipped the Lord there” (1:28).

2. He served the Lord. “Samuel ministered before the Lord, being a child” (2:18).

3. He stayed close to God’s presence. “Samuel was sleeping in the Tabernacle” (3:3).

4. He got up early to serve God. Samuel had to extinguish the lamp before dawn. “His sons (Levi) shall order it from evening till morning” (Ex. 27:21).

5. He was respectful to the elderly. “He ran to Eli, and said, ‘Here am I’” (3:4).

6. He was quick to obey. “Suddenly, the Lord called out, ‘Samuel!’ ‘Samuel!’ . . . he jumped up and ran . . .” (3:4,5).

7. He was continuously obedient. “The Lord called Samuel again a third time. And he arose and went” (3:8).

8. He was obedient without full knowledge. “Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither was the Word of God yet revealed unto him” (3:7).

9. Samuel learned how to listen to God. “Eli said . . . if he call thee . . . say, speak Lord; for thy servant heareth” (3:9).

10. Samuel was faithful. “Then he got up and opened the doors to the Tabernacle as usual” (3:15, LB)

11. Samuel honored those in authority. “He was afraid to tell Eli what the Lord had said to him” (3:15).

12. Samuel grew because he was receptive to God. “And Samuel grew and the Lord was with him” (2:19).

D. THE SIX EXPRESSIONS OF FAITH

To transfer faith is more than getting them to believe historic Christianity. They must love the Lord with all their heart and desire to live by faith. A parent must communicate all six of these expressions of faith to their children.

1. Objective Faith, i.e., the Bible. “The faith once delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). “The Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the Word of the Lord” (3:21).

2. Saving Faith, i.e., salvation. “Samuel did not know the Lord, neither was the Word of the Lord yet revealed unto him” (3:7).

3. Indwelling Faith, i.e., Christ in you. “The Lord was with him” (3:19).

4. The Gift of Faith, i.e., service. “Samuel ministered” (3:1).

5. Living by Faith, i.e., daily obedience. “We walk by faith, not by sight” (II Cor. 5:7).

6. Justifying Faith, i.e., declared righteous. “Being justified by faith” (Rom. 5:1).

(See What the Faith is All About by Elmer Towns, chapter 2).

If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:

Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.