Assemblies of God, Ghana, Sunday School Manual (2017 First half) Lesson 4

Assemblies of God, Ghana, Sunday School Manual (2017 First half)
Lesson 4: The Call of Samuel
Central Truth: Though God does not call everyone in the same way, He does call each of us to serve.

Memory Verse:
1 Samuel 3:9
(New International Version) So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.'” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

Lesson text: 1 Samuel 3:1-10, 16-20

Lesson Objective: That at the end of the lesson the student would be able to
1. Explain how God called Samuel
2. Respond to God’s call to service

LESSON OUTLINE
I. MINISTRY TO THE LORD
• Under Eli’s dimming eye
• A lamp about to go out

II. LISTENING TO THE LORD
• A call unrecognised
• A call answered
• A message received

III. OBEYING THE LORD
• The message told
• A growing ministry

INTRODUCTION
In the light of last week’s lesson concerning the greed and corruption of Eli and his sons, we must conclude that the environment at Shiloh was not as ideal as Samuels mother probably supposed. Had it not been that she surrounded his earliest years with her love and faith, he might have been influenced by the bad example of Eli’s sons.
Actually, all Israel was in a very poor spiritual condition. A comparison of Judges 10:7; 13:1; 1 Samuel 7:10; and other passages shows that the judgeship of Jephthah, Samson, and Eli overlapped. Each of these judges exercised leadership in different parts of Israel, but none gave strong spiritual leadership. As a result, the tribes of Israel were drifting further and further apart.
In the midst of this demoralized situation, God sought out the boy Samuel and found in him a response and a willingness to obey. God chose him to be a prophet, priest, teacher, intercessor, and judge. As we shall see in later lessons, God was able use him to reunite the scattered tribes and restore the spiritual foundations of the nation. In this lesson we see the beginning of God’s direct dealings with him, how, God called him, and how God lifted him out of the depth of unspiritual religion to accomplish His will.

LIFE APPLICATION
1. Does God speak in an audible voice today?
Are there other ways in which God speaks?
If so, what are they?
We are inclined to place rank-ordered priorities on methods of dealing with men. Thus, when someone says “I heard God speak in an audible voice!” or “I saw a vision of God!” we are inclined to think that we are somehow inferior if we have not had such an experience.
Actually, God speaks to every believer. The primary issues, then, are:
Are we sensitive enough to hear God speak?
How does God speak?
I. He speaks by His Word (Psalm 119:105).
II. He speaks by (literally “in”) His Son (Hebrews 1:2). The conduct and the values system of Jesus speak to us by example.
III. He speaks to us by the exercise of the gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:4-11)
IV. He speaks to us by the ordering of our experiences.
The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord”
(Psalm 37:23)
5, He speaks by giving us a deep and unshakable Inner awareness; we just know, that’s all (2 Timothy 1:12),
The important thing to remember is that the Bible gives the requirements needed to authenticate spiritual experience. Every truth, every prophecy, and all God-initiated decisions require the witness of at least two persons (Deuteronomy 17:6; 2 Corinthians 13:1; 1 Timothy 5:19; 2 Peter 1:20).
The local church may be sovereign but there should be order in the careful decisions of the assembly. False prophets can be discerned by Spirit-filled men. We have access to the gift of “discerning of spirits” (1 Corinthians 12:10); we are urged to “try the spirit whether, they are of God” (1 John 4:1); and we are enjoined to compare “spiritual things with spiritual” (1 Corinthians M3).*

DAILY BIBLE READING
Mon. God knew us before we were born – Jer. l:4-5
Tue. Be diligent in your calling – 2 Pet. 1:10-11. ^
Wed. God gave authority to those He calls – Lk. 9:1-2.
Thurs. We were called from darkness to light Col. 1:13-14.
Fri. Called to honour God – Eph. 2:1-10.
Sat. Called by Grace – John 6:44.