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[Bible Study] 1 Samuel Chapter 02 - God Will Raise Up a Faithful Priest for Himself

2022-06-30 22,584 1 Samuel Reverence for God Sense of Responsibility God's Will Compassionate Heart Faithful Priest Divine Judgment

Faithfulness is Based on the Knowledge of God

Good day to everyone! Let us turn to 1 Samuel chapter 2. Consider first the main theme in this chapter: God wants to establish a faithful priest for Himself. Chapter 1 speaks of Hannah, Samuel’s mother, who with great difficulty conceived a son, and then dedicated him to God; this is symbolic of something else, that it is also not easy for God to find a faithful priest for Himself, similar to Hannah obtaining a son. Are there more faithful priests before God today, or unfaithful ones? More unfaithful ones! Those who hear me say this, please do not identify good and evil with me, I really cannot claim to be a faithful priest, I am merely striving to become one.

Some have left messages for me on the website, because whenever I speak on these topics, I invariably bring up certain matters, and then some people take offense. The implication is: Do you think you are so great? Actually, I am not! But what is the issue? The issue is that we should love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our strength! But let us see, are there many who love God with all their heart, soul, and strength? Not many! Are there many faithful priests? Also not many! What does it mean that God wants to establish a faithful priest for Himself? It intends to inspire you and me through this passage to be a faithful priest before God; this is my lifelong pursuit!

Brothers and sisters, know that I cannot claim to be holy or faithful, but I have such a pursuit in my heart. When you read 1 Samuel chapter 3, you will see that the relationship between God and the faithful priest He establishes is very close. Therefore, when I read these passages, my heart is filled with longing, longing to be a faithful priest as well. Speaking of faithfulness, it is not blind faithfulness; it is faithfulness based on the knowledge of God. If you do not know God, it is really difficult to speak of faithfulness, and even harder to be faithful. Some people say: I do not know how to love God. I simply say this: Do you love money? If you do, then apply that feeling of loving money to loving God! Some people say: I do not know how to apply it to God. I say: Then forget it! It is your destiny!

You love money, but do you really know money? I tell you: An ignorant person cannot be faithful, so faithfulness must be based on a clear understanding of God! In the last days, the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. Do not use ignorance to claim that you are faithful to God! I ask you, is thumping your chest being faithful to God? You stare at me blankly for a long time and say: Your question is quite difficult! Therefore, brothers and sisters, you must know that a person who does not know God's will is not faithful! That is just reckless behavior! I dare not encourage others, I only encourage myself to constantly pursue and constantly know God.

Recently, we have been discussing the Mingding Destiny series. I am fascinated by the word “Destiny.” This word is closely related to the faithful priest. If you say your Destiny is to be a designer! Then you must be faithful to the work of a designer. If you say you want to be an outstanding lawyer! Then you must be faithful to the legal profession. If you say you want to be an accountant! Then you must be faithful to the accounting profession. Do you remember what I once said? If you want to be a lawyer, be an outstanding lawyer! If you want to be an accountant, be an outstanding accountant! If you want to be an engineer, be an outstanding engineer! Many people have forgotten the latter part.

I also said that if you want to be a priest, be an outstanding priest! If you want to be a Christian, be an outstanding Christian! Pat your chest and see if you are an outstanding Christian? Of course, you do not need to condemn yourself; this is all the ability you have for now. Being faithful to God is primarily based on the knowledge of God. If you know God, you will know how wonderful it is to be a priest of God! Do you all know that this is a treasure? A person with Alzheimer's often mixes things up. To what extent can he be confused? He mistakes excrement for Jiangmi Tiao (a kind of sweet snack). When he sees excrement, he thinks it is Jiangmi Tiao, and when he sees real Jiangmi Tiao, he thinks it is excrement.

When he is sober, I ask this person with Alzheimer's: Did you eat it or not? He is too embarrassed to tell me. Eat or not? It sounds disgusting because he does not know he is confused. If a person does not know how rewarding it is to be a faithful priest, then that is a problem! I encourage you all not to eat this Jiangmi Tiao anymore. Of course, you can still eat real Jiangmi Tiao. How wonderful it is to know God! What a glorious office! What a great Mingding Destiny! What a rich glory! What rich rewards! What could be better than this? It is a tragedy that people do not know! They only know money. What problems can money solve? I hope you can examine it carefully.

Hannah's Knowledge of God

Knowledge One

And Hannah prayed and said: “My heart rejoices in the Lord; my horn is exalted in the Lord. My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies; because I rejoice in Your salvation. (1 Samuel 2:1)

Can you also have Hannah's knowledge of God? Among us, many people like to be named Hannah, perhaps hoping your child will be Samuel, but I still hope you can have the same knowledge of God as Hannah in the Bible. You say: I don’t understand Hannah’s words. If you don’t understand, I can explain it to you. My heart rejoices in the Lord! We often live in sorrow in this world. If you are not sorrowful, others can make you sorrowful with just a word. The hen that cannot lay eggs from the previous chapter, do you still remember it?

A person who loves God and has faith in God, I tell you, you will surely see God's promise, and you will surely see God accomplish wonderful things in you. It may be a day, a month, or a year. Hannah felt that dedicating her child to God was the best choice. Abraham offering Isaac to God, he thought that was the best choice. Can you imagine that? Some people will say: No, I was wrong then, I chose the wrong thing! Isn’t this silly? Don’t you know how wonderful it is to offer it to God? Sometimes I tell brothers and sisters, if one day God asks you for the most precious thing, don’t tell God: Let me consider it. Let me consider, don’t consider it again, don't think about it again, don't be silly!

God asks of you, that is a sign of respect! Only the Lord is holy; there is no one like Him, nor is there any rock like our God! This is the first point of Hannah's knowledge of God. Whether you can also have such knowledge of God depends on your Mingding Destiny. Some people just cannot recognize it, so I can only lower myself to your level of understanding to discuss with you, but that does not mean I want to stay at that level; rather, I want to bring you up. I will not give up on you, but that does not mean I see things from the same perspective as you. I hope that all brothers and sisters have the same knowledge of God as Hannah.

Knowledge Two

The Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and raises up. The Lord makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up. (1 Samuel 2:6-7)

I tell you, to put it bluntly: The Lord our God is in control of everything, so we must be faithful priests of the Lord. Some people have the opportunity to serve God but do not do it properly, insisting on being unfaithful priests. From my understanding of the Bible, combined with what I see today, the outcomes for faithful and unfaithful pastors are vastly different. Faithfulness and unfaithfulness are based on the knowledge of God. Do you really know that the Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and raises up. He makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up? If you really know this, you will surely be a faithful priest before God.

Many years ago, I had not been a believer for long, but I liked to read the Bible. After reading the Book of Samuel, I was deeply moved: God will establish a faithful priest for Himself! I said in my heart: God, have mercy, let me be faithful before You all my life! This reminds me of a Christian couple among us who drove a brand-new Mercedes-Benz, and were killed in a car accident. I went to the funeral. When I stood beside the coffin and saw the stitched-up face, I learned a deep lesson. I told myself: I must be a faithful Christian!

Why? Because I knew a little about the people who died in the car accident. They loved cars very much. Even their testimonies were about buying cars. Some testimonies were about: God is so good to me, my business is good; God is so good to me, I bought this and that, all these things. Not long after, a pastor in the church died in a car accident because he loved cars, and his children were very young. From then on, I never dared to like cars again, and I did not have the courage to like cars. I warned myself in my heart to love God well all my life! The Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and raises up; matters of life and death are not a joke. Don't argue with God, don't fiddle with this and that all day long. It's not a good thing to offend God! You don't know when you'll die, and then you'll be in trouble!

Knowledge Three

He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the beggar from the ash heap, to set them among princes and make them inherit the throne of glory. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and He has set the world upon them. He will guard the feet of His saints, but the wicked shall be silent in darkness. For by strength shall no man prevail. (1 Samuel 2:8-9)

Hannah’s knowledge of God is very powerful. She dedicated the young Samuel to God and placed him next to old Eli, with those two idiotic sons of Eli also there, which was really worrying! Hannah is powerful because she knows that God is in control of everything, and people cannot rely on their own strength; they cannot protect their own children, but God can protect her son! Therefore, Hannah’s knowledge of God is very different from that of ordinary people. Hannah tells us: Don’t always try to protect your children; you cannot decide their fate. It is best to dedicate them to God. We do not know what our children will be like in the future; we cannot control them, but God can!

God raises the poor from the dust and lifts the beggar from the ash heap. Flowers can also grow from the ash heap. If you are a faithful priest of God, He can make you sit with princes and inherit the throne of glory! It is my pursuit to be a faithful priest. I really want to come before God one day. As for whether I can obtain this, I am still working hard. When I come before God, what I want most is for God to tell me: You are the most faithful and good servant! My service is actually very difficult. I have been walking this road for more than 20 years with almost no rest. There are many things to do, and I have to catch up with everything, which is exhausting. On Sundays, I put everything down to participate in Sunday service. In the past, I used to take a bus to attend small group meetings. The weather in Singapore is humid and hot. When I got off the bus, I would be covered in sweat, and then I would rush to people's homes to attend small group meetings, which was very hard.

I have been walking like this, and I have become accustomed to it. I like it this way and have been walking like this until today, really without resting for a single day. Why do I do this? It is because I want to be a faithful priest and a faithful Christian before God! Because of this, God is extremely gracious to me. God has been so good to me beyond my expectation. When the time comes, God will prepare an opportunity for me to be blessed financially and in all aspects. It is simply unbelievable.

Knowledge Four

So Hannah spoke.

Talk no more so very proudly; let no arrogance come from your mouth, for the Lord is the God of knowledge; and by Him actions are weighed. The bows of the mighty men are broken, and those who stumbled are girded with strength. Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, and the hungry have ceased to hunger. Even the barren has borne seven, and she who has many children has become feeble. (1 Samuel 2:3-5)

In fact, whether you are strong or not, whether you have children or not, it does not matter. What is most important is that the Lord God is a God of knowledge. Whether people are boastful or not, whether they have children or not; Oh! I have this condition, I do not have that condition; look how smart that person is, I am not good, all these things are useless. Only one thing is useful: to be faithful and good before God, to be a faithful priest! Our God has plenty of knowledge, even a little for you is enough. Our God has plenty of wisdom, even a little for you is enough. Trust in God! People, do not rely on yourselves!

The Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and raises up. He makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up. (1 Samuel 2:6-7)

Knowledge Five

The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken in pieces; from heaven He will thunder against them. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth. He will give strength to His king, and exalt the horn of His anointed. (1 Samuel 2:10)

Never go against God; obey God! If you want to oppose God, it doesn't matter; see if your arm can twist God's thigh. If you want to try, then try! Anyway, I am not the one who suffers, so why should I worry? So we must learn to be a person with Mingding Destiny. This place mentions the anointed one. What is the anointed one? The anointed one is a person with Mingding Destiny, anointed to obey God's will, fulfill God's Mingding Destiny, and fulfill God's plan. This is Hannah's knowledge of God!

Samuel's Knowledge of God

Samuel’s knowledge of God is very powerful! I tell you, you can tell how a child will be when they grow up, but today you can still choose; if you were very messed up when you were young, and you have been messing around for the past ten or twenty years, let's just forget about the past after listening to what I said! Let's make the right choice next. Samuel's knowledge of God when he was little was the same as his mother's knowledge of God. Have you noticed that children start to rebel when they are in their teens? Most children inherit from their mothers when they are young, but some children do not obey their mothers; some children are very obedient to their mothers. Whatever their mothers say, they believe. They are so cute. Among us, some brothers and sisters have two children. The older one is very stubborn, and the younger one may please the mother, and they say some spiritual things.

Samuel is very magical. He understands his mother as soon as he is born. Don’t look at his young age. He understands everything. Hannah did not pray like this for one day! After having Samuel, she kept mumbling in Samuel's ear every day, to what extent? He knows it by heart. He remembers everything his mother says in his ear every day. Then he wrote it in the Book of Samuel. The Book of Samuel was written by Samuel. Little Samuel recognized what his mother recognized. Hannah said: Son, do you know? Mother could not have children before. Later, she went to the temple. There was a man named old Eli. I went there to ask for a child. Old Eli said a few words to me, and then I gave birth to you. Son! Mother wants to teach you: The Lord kills and makes alive. You must be a faithful priest before God!

I tell you, the influence of a mother on her child is very far-reaching. When Samuel was about 3 years old, Hannah told Samuel: After weaning, mother will send you to the temple to serve God. This is a great choice. Don't cry! Because the purpose of your coming into this world is to serve God before God. This is extremely good! So do you know? It is not about putting the child in the kindergarten and picking him up at night. Some parents with children send their children to the kindergarten, and they cry there, crying until you pick them up. The next day, they send them there again, and they become crying machines! Little Samuel received this concept from his mother since he was a child. As a result, Hannah put the child there, and little Samuel said: Mom, you go back!

The Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and raises up. (1 Samuel 2:6)

I know that God reigns in people, so you do not have to worry about me. See? This child said these words when he was 3 years old. My heart rejoices in the Lord. Who did he learn this from? He learned it from his mother. It is amazing!

My heart rejoices in the Lord; my horn is exalted in the Lord. My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies; because I rejoice in Your salvation. (1 Samuel 2:1)

Children learn things quickly! Beyond imagination, so this child served the Lord before Eli the priest. It was very interesting for the little one to serve the Lord there. He looked very cute. Of course, you ask me: Did this 3-year-old child learn what he learned when he was with his mother, or when he was with old Eli? Children learn everything from their mothers! Wearing an ephod, like a 3-year-old child carrying a very big schoolbag, dangling under his butt, walking with a rattling sound. This child is so good! He served the Lord before the Lord and before Eli, in a proper manner, very disciplined. Why? Because his mother trained him to be disciplined since he was a child. As a result, this child is very interesting. The Bible says:

But Samuel ministered before the Lord, even as a child, wearing a linen ephod. (1 Samuel 2:18)

And the child Samuel grew in the presence of the Lord. (1 Samuel 2:21)

Do you know grow? In the past, Samuel's mother described God like this. After he grew up, what his mother said constantly became his own. In fact, I really hope that what I tell you can become your knowledge. However, my knowledge of God is one thing, but if it can become your knowledge, that is grow! I hope that everyone can grow, but there is no rush. It is like a child growing in height. There is no use in being anxious! Children must be willing to receive it inside. Samuel started watching at old Eli's place. Oh! Is this what my mother meant? What did my mother mean? He saw a lot of testimonies.

He saw old Eli in the temple, and many people came to offer sacrifices. He served God there. The child spoke like an adult, which was also very cute. Wearing a small ephod, he was there watching. Many people like his mother Hannah came to the temple to express their hearts before God. Later, another one came, not necessarily named Hannah, maybe named Haggi; she came and poured out her heart before the Lord. Then little Samuel saw that after a year or two, she came back and said: Look, God answered what I asked for before God. After Samuel served God for a long time, wow! What my mother said is true! Mother's knowledge of God gradually became his own knowledge of God. This is called grow.

And the boy Samuel grew in stature, and in favor both with the Lord and with men. (1 Samuel 2:26)

Samuel's knowledge of God is getting deeper and deeper, and the Lord God and people are increasingly fond of him. Samuel did only what pleased God, and God made everyone around him like Samuel. People may often discuss: There is a child in the temple, that child is so cute, if you raise a child, you should raise it like Samuel. People are likely to talk behind his back: Samuel is the son of Elkanah, and his mother is Hannah, how Hannah prayed before God, and then gave birth to Samuel. Samuel's story spread among the people of Israel, and God also liked Samuel.

Everyone who came to the temple and saw this child loved him, and when they went back, they thought: God, let me have a son like Samuel. Among the Israelites, Samuel became other people's children. They may usually teach their children like this: Child, why can't you learn from Samuel? Next year, when we go to the temple, I will take you to see Samuel. He is serving God at seven or eight years old. What are you doing? Why are you so undisciplined? Later Samuel was about ten years old, he grew up beautifully, he could speak well, and he could do things well. Samuel's knowledge of God gradually penetrated deeply. This is called grow.

Brothers and sisters, do you yearn for growth? If you desire to grow in God, and if God is pleased with you, how could you possibly encounter misfortune? If others seem to succeed in whatever they do, while you consistently fail, what is the reason for this? It is because our hearts are not focused on God. It is God who makes rich, makes poor, causes misfortune, brings about car accidents, elevates, sends to the grave, gives life, and brings death. But the question is: are you a person who is loyal to God?

Samuel had a deep understanding of God; he was a highly responsible individual. If he was assigned a duty, he would certainly fulfill it well. Brothers and sisters, if you harbor an irresponsible attitude, I will not criticize you, but I must inform you that this is not growth. A mature person is a responsible person. For instance, if you keep a dog at home, and when you are happy, you eat and the dog eats, feeding it regularly; but when you are unhappy, you neglect to feed the dog for three to five days, the dog will perceive you as highly irresponsible. Even the cat and the rats on the street will deem you irresponsible. The birds in the sky will sing a song: This is a disloyal person, this is an irresponsible person. But the issue lies in whether we are aware that engaging in such behavior is detrimental to ourselves? We are not!

Because of Samuel’s understanding of God, he did not follow his own feelings but sought to align with God's will. Therefore, he was undeniably a responsible person. Remember: A person without a sense of responsibility has not matured and often acts according to his own feelings. Brothers and sisters, cease following your own feelings and instead align with God’s will. Even if it requires forcing yourself, do so. If you cannot do it yourself, I can assist you. We must know for certain that God wants to establish a faithful priest for Himself. Faithfulness is cultivated starting from small matters; cease following your own feelings.

Eli's Sons Did Not Know God

Why do people come to offer sacrifices? Because they are burdened with sorrow and filled with problems, seeking God's assistance. However, when they come to offer sacrifices, Eli’s sons would first desecrate the offerings before they were sacrificed, causing people to feel uneasy in their conscience. They would think: The offering has been desecrated, and my sacrifice will surely not please God! Thus, they corrupted many people. Eli’s two sons despised the offerings of the Lord and acted recklessly as priests; they were ignorant of the fact that such actions could lead to death! If they had known that such actions could lead to death, would they still have acted in this manner? People told them that doing so would lead to death! But they did not listen and insisted on doing it anyway!

Not only did they refuse to listen, but they also hired a few thugs, muscle-bound individuals with limited intellect, telling them: Go and snatch the meat for me. How much can a one-pronged fork hold? Use a three-pronged fork! With one thrust, all the meat was taken away. The one offering the sacrifice thought: Oh, God! This is the end. Throughout Israel, it was not only proclaimed that Samuel was a well-behaved child, but also that Eli's two sons were wicked priests. God orchestrated a scene, a very interesting scene.

If one person sins against another, God may mediate for the offender; but if anyone sins against the Lord, who can intercede for them?” His sons, however, did not listen to their father’s rebuke, for it was the Lord’s will to put them to death (1 Samuel 2:25).

God was going to kill Eli’s two sons for the things they had done; God orchestrated this scene. Whether God wants someone to die or to live, there is a reason. Because these two sons were ignorant! They did not know that they could not act in this manner, and they would not listen to anything. They insisted on acting this way! Many people serve God in a manner similar to that of Eli’s two sons. There was a sister whose father was dying of cancer, and her aunt, a preacher, would pray for her father, charging money for each prayer. How did I know about this? Because when I prayed for her, she asked me: Pastor, when you pray for my father, will you charge money? I was taken aback by this question, wondering what was going on.

I replied: No, why would I charge money? She said: Why does my aunt charge money then? Such preachers deserve a terrible end! What nonsense! She's messing things up! She does not know God! Encouraging people to give offerings is a good thing, but if you pocket their offerings for yourself, that is problematic; it undermines their faith. We must spread our faith, and our service should be free. Why? Because the offering you are making is to God, and you must offer it willingly and joyfully. If you are unwilling and not joyful, we will not accept it because this is a place for distributing blessings.

Many people come to me, and I ask them: Why don’t you seek help from your own church? Does your church not also do healing and deliverance? They say: Pastor, you don’t know! Our church only does healing and deliverance once a month. I said: Then go! Once is still good! Go! They said: No, our church only does healing and deliverance for outsiders. I thought: Why only for outsiders? Because it is easier to collect money! It is to enrich themselves. Are these not like Eli’s two sons? Today, there is a similar code of conduct in the church. If I were to teach everyone about it, those outsiders would hate me! I would be exposing their unspoken rules. I thought: How audacious! How can one serve God in this manner? How can one be so bold in serving God? I dare not!

There are many in this generation who serve in the same manner as Eli’s two sons. There is also a church that is quite interesting. They learn about healing and deliverance from the Bible. They say: In the days of Jesus, there was a pool called Bethesda. After a period of time, the water in the pool would begin to stir, and those who jumped in would be healed. So they do the same thing. Was it Jesus who did that? The stories they tell are so interesting, but I do not understand many of them.

Today, our brothers and sisters come to church with sorrow in their hearts. I hope that our small group leaders, including myself, have a heart of compassion. Do you hear? Some people have problems that are difficult to speak about, but they are truly in pain. They cannot express it because it is embarrassing! They themselves know it is embarrassing. When they come to church, should you not deliver them from the hands of the devil? You should! Some people enjoy listening to these base stories. After listening, they even ask about the details, asking how it felt. As soon as someone starts to speak, I listen and say: You don’t need to say more, I understand. You don’t need to tell me the details; I know you are in pain. Brothers and sisters, a person serving God must have a heart of compassion. What God requires of His priests is to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.

Eli Also Did Not Know God

Do you know where Eli's lack of knowledge of God was manifested? Eli was a priest of the Lord, and later he passed this position on to his sons. Why did Eli not know God? Because he honored his sons more than he honored God. I tell you, there are some who are as reckless as Eli's sons, but there are also quite a few who are as muddled as Eli. Why did Eli honor his sons more than he honored God? Can anyone guess? Because Eli’s children grew up before his eyes. It is nonsense to say that Eli did not care about them.

“No, my sons; it is not a good report that I hear circulating among all the Lord’s people. If one person sins against another, God may mediate for the offender; but if anyone sins against the Lord, who can intercede for them?” His sons, however, did not listen to their father’s rebuke, for it was the Lord’s will to put them to death (1 Samuel 2:24-25).

Why was this so? Because when his sons were young, he did not discipline them well. Why did he not discipline them well? Because if he did, the tigress would come out, and there would be turmoil in the family. The influence of the mother on the child is profound. Usually, when you see a well-behaved child, his mother must have done a good job. Children who are not well-behaved often have lazy mothers. I saw a short video where the father pinned the child on the bed and said: I was wrong! The child said: I was wrong! Then his wife rushed in, and the husband quickly said to his wife in fright: I was wrong! The child then snuggled into his mother's arms. How can you discipline him? In the end, everything has its master.

But today, if you want to be a priest of the Lord God, you cannot be mastered! Once you are mastered, you cannot be a faithful priest. Can you say that Eli did not know God? Not really! It should be said that he knew God, but he honored his sons and his wife more than he honored God. His sons grew up like this since they were young, and when they grew up, he gave them the position of priest. His sons were so reckless! What was the problem? Eli did not take this matter seriously enough; he thought that things should just be like this! What can I do? I can’t do anything! Did God not say that He would establish my house?

Brothers and sisters, know that even to this day, God is still judging those unfaithful priests, so brothers and sisters, fear God! Have a clear conscience before the Lord God, and be a faithful priest before the Lord God. You cannot fear this or fear that; be coerced by this or coerced by that; and constantly be in a state of being controlled. There is a pastor I know who said: I want to learn your healing and deliverance ministry; I want to build a glorious church. After returning home, his wife glared at him and said: Build what? Get past me first! He made solemn promises to the church leaders, but two weeks later, he was gone because he was suppressed by his wife at home. Such things happen often! Many people even take pride in it.

God's Judgment Will Surely Come Upon Unfaithful Priests

God’s judgment will surely come upon unfaithful priests. The Bible says:

And every one of thine that I shall not cut off from mine altar shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart: and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age (1 Samuel 2:33).

If you look closely, serving God is an extremely high-risk profession, so when serving God, never serve to the point of being cursed!

And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left in thine house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the priests' offices, that I may eat a piece of bread (1 Samuel 2:36).

This is a tragedy! It is a tragedy to serve God to such a state! When I studied the Bible, I discovered that the later Jerusalem church was an extremely poor church. The Jerusalem church is definitely not a church we should emulate. If you don’t believe me, go and study the Bible yourself.

God Will Raise Up A Faithful Priest For Himself

And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever (1 Samuel 2:35).

God will raise up a faithful priest for Himself, who will act according to His heart. God will establish a house for him, and he will walk before the anointed one. In the past few years, I have seen many of God’s judgments. When judgment comes, do not be surprised; there is nothing to be surprised about because there are many unfaithful deeds. When we see these things, we must know that this is God’s heart, and we must hold on tightly to God’s heart and act according to His heart. Do you truly know God’s heart? If you do not know God’s heart, how can you be a faithful priest? Know God’s heart, act according to His heart, and God will surely establish a firm house for him. Do you think it is your house? No, it is God’s house!

He will build a house of God for you. Do you think it is the house of you and your wife? No! It is called the family of a priest! What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. This is a spiritual house; this is God’s house. God will build a strong and glorious church for you! I thank God! Today, I can boast before everyone that God has established a strong church for us! Because of my service before Him, God has had mercy on me and established a strong church! There is absolutely no infighting among us. People who do not walk in God’s heart are either afraid of this or afraid of that. They have a lot of things, but they are not God’s heart, so it is a tragedy!

Last year, a pastor died. A few days before his death, he left a message saying that he had seen a lot of infighting in the church. Wasn’t that the church you built? Why did you allow infighting in the church? If we act according to God’s heart and be a faithful priest before God, God will surely walk with us! God will surely be with us! God will surely build a strong and glorious church among us! Isn’t the Bible something we read together? Are we not reading the same Bible? Do we truly know God’s heart?

Therefore, brothers and sisters, begin to rise up and not be an ignorant people. Everyone must be raised up to be a person who knows God and understands God’s heart and then acts according to God’s heart, and God will surely build a strong spiritual house for you! This place is the place that God wants to strengthen because there is a group of faithful people in this place. Although we humbly say that we cannot be completely faithful, we really want to be faithful. So brothers and sisters, when you see how we serve, emulate how we serve. Although there are still many shortcomings in our service, this is not an opportunity for everyone to be critical; it is to allow everyone to begin to learn to be a faithful person together, so that the breaches can be closed. May God have mercy on us!

Because God’s heart is to be satisfied in this generation, God wants to satisfy His heart through us. God will surely make us prosper, God will surely make our name great, and God will surely make us a great nation. God will make us a blessing to all the nations on earth! Being a faithful priest means not caring about your own feelings but only caring about God’s feelings. Let the captives be released, and let the oppressed go free. Whoever comes among us, no matter how young they are as spiritual infants, we will bring them up little by little, gradually growing into adults, growing to the full stature of Jesus Christ. Let God’s will be done among us as it is in heaven. Amen!

May God bless everyone!

1 Samuel Chapter 2 Scripture

2:1 And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine horn is exalted in the Lord: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.
2:2 There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.
2:3 Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.
2:4 The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength.
2:5 They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.
2:6 The Lord killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.
2:7 The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.
2:8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and he hath set the world upon them.
2:9 He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.
2:10 The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the Lord shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.
2:11 And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did minister unto the Lord before Eli the priest.
2:12 Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the Lord.
2:13 And the priests' custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand;
2:14 And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither.
2:15 Also before they burnt the fat, the priest's servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw.
2:16 And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, saying, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force.
2:17 Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord: for men abhorred the offering of the Lord.
2:18 But Samuel ministered before the Lord, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.
2:19 Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.
2:20 And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The Lord give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the Lord. And they went unto their own home.
2:21 And the Lord visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the Lord.
2:22 Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
2:23 And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people.
2:24 Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the Lord's people to transgress.
2:25 If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the Lord, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the Lord would slay them.
2:26 And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the Lord, and also with men.
2:27 And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house?
2:28 And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by the children of Israel?
2:29 Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?
2:30 Wherefore the Lord God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the Lord saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.
2:31 Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father's house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house.
2:32 And thou shalt see an enemy in my habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel: and there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever.
2:33 And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart: and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age.
2:34 And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die both of them.
2:35 And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever.
2:36 And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left in thine house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the priests' offices, that I may eat a piece of bread.

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