Grow In The Lord

I. EXORDIUM:

Can you please everyone?

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

Believers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To point out that if our relationship and knowledge of GOD is right, men's point of view will be corrected as well.

IV. TEXT:

1 Samuel 2:26 (Amplified Bible)

Now the boy Samuel grew and was in favor both with the Lord and with men.

V. THESIS:

Please GOD and you'll grow good with GOD and men.

VI. TITLE:

Grow in the LORD

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Author: unknown

B. Date written: 1011 B.C.

C. Purpose: To record the founding of the Hebrew monarchy.

D. To whom written: Nation of Israel

E. Keyword: king

F. Key verses:

1 Samuel 8:7-8 (The Message)

God answered Samuel, "Go ahead and do what they're asking. They are not rejecting you. They've rejected me as their King.

From the day I brought them out of Egypt until this very day they've been behaving like this, leaving me for other gods. And now they're doing it to you.

1 Samuel 15:22 (The Message)

Then Samuel said, Do you think all God wants are sacrifices— empty rituals just for show? He wants you to listen to him! Plain listening is the thing, not staging a lavish religious production.

VIII. MAIN BODY:

A. Grow in His knowledge and relationship

"Now the boy Samuel grew and was in favor both with the Lord"

1. Samuel's walk with GOD

1 Samuel 2:21 (Amplified Bible)

And the Lord visited Hannah, so that she bore three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the Lord.

Samuel knew how to grow in the LORD in both His knowledge with the LORD GOD and his relationship with Him, that's why He's living up to his own name: "Samuel" or "Shemuel" in Hebrew, meaning "heard of GOD". If we want GOD to hear us more often, and more deeper, let's grow in our knowledge and relationship with the LORD GOD. Read and meditate more about Him, and commune with Him more often in our prayers to Him. To grown means to walk with GOD. To walk with GOD, simply means "to have habitual fellowship with GOD".

2. Enoch's walk with GOD

Genesis 5:24 (Amplified Bible)

And Enoch walked [in habitual fellowship] with God; and he was not, for God took him [home with Him].

Hebrews 11:5 (Amplified Bible)

Because of faith Enoch was caught up and transferred to heaven, so that he did not have a glimpse of death; and he was not found, because God had translated him. For even before he was taken to heaven, he received testimony [still on record] that he had pleased and been satisfactory to God.

How do we know how Enoch "walked" or "grew" with GOD? It's by his faith. To please GOD, is to have simply faith in Him. Yes, we can enjoy "walking" with GOD while here on earth, and GOD will not limit our presence here on earth but will allow us to "grow" with Him even in the midst of sinners.

3. Noah's walk with GOD

Genesis 6:9 (Amplified Bible)

This is the history of the generations of Noah. Noah was a just and righteous man, blameless in his [evil] generation; Noah walked [in habitual fellowship] with God.

4. Abraham's walk with GOD

Genesis 17:1 (Amplified Bible)

WHEN ABRAM was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, I am the Almighty God; walk and live habitually before Me and be perfect (blameless, wholehearted, complete).

5. Jacob's walk with GOD

Genesis 32:1 (Amplified Bible)

THEN JACOB went on his way, and God’s angels met him.

6. David's walk with GOD

Psalms 119:3 (Amplified Bible)

Yes, they do no unrighteousness [no willful wandering from His precepts]; they walk in His ways.

Psalms 119:45 (Amplified Bible)

And I will walk at liberty and at ease, for I have sought and inquired for [and desperately required] Your precepts.

B. As a result, man was pleased with him

"and with men"

Luke 2:52 (Amplified Bible)

And Jesus increased in wisdom (in broad and full understanding) and in stature and years, and in favor with God and man.

Samuel, an old testament character, was like JESUS CHRIST in the New Covenant, He grew "good" with GOD and man. GOD can't say anything bad about him and also men can't say anything bad about him.

If you can't love men that you see, how much more, to love GOD for He's invisible. Our love is expressed by loving our fellow men and neighbor.

Mark 12:31 (Amplified Bible)

The second is like it and is this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.

Matthew 22:39 (Amplified Bible)

And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself.

If you say you love GOD but don't love your neighbor, you are lying, because if you can't love the people you see everyday, how can you love GOD who's invisible?