Bible-Prayer-Europe Equipping Center

Becoming a Man of God

by Jay Powers © 2009

CHAPTER 6-THE PREPARATION 1 (SAMUEL)

To gain a biblical view of manhood and what it is we need to do to achieve God’s standards, you have to start at the very beginning: the place where you did not know God. No man can stand and say that he has been a mature Christian all his life. True, some came from church backgrounds, but all started at the place Samuel started in 1 Samuel 3. 

1 Samuel 3:7 states: “Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither was the word of the Lord revealed to him.” Samuel’s story has simple beginnings: his job was to do menial tasks around the temple in Shiloh and assist Eli the priest in the priestly duties. Note the very beginning of chapter 3: “and the child Samuel ministered to the Lord.” Note that Samuel had not been told he would be a great prophet and that kings would ask advice of him. He simply knew it was important to be with the Lord, doing the things as revealed in the Scripture that he was to do. What things does God call everyone to do? Micah 6:8 tells us: “What does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” Samuel was humbly ministering to God when he began to hear God’s voice. A college degree is not required for serving God. A church background is not necessary. An open heart is. 

The first step in the path to spiritual maturity is an open heart to God’s Word. Eli’s sons were the official office holders and on the surface, more blessed in possessions. But they acted immorally and eventually were both killed by judgment of God. Samuel wasn’t even Eli’s son, but he became much greater than Eli. Why? Because he followed God with a clean heart, a heart of service to God and to others. 

It was at the point of obedience that God began speaking to Samuel. Samuel did not even recognize God’s voice. Eli realized God was speaking to Samuel, so he told Samuel to lie back down and to say to the Lord, “Speak, for your servant hears.” When we get to the point where we refuse to dictate to God what He wants to say or do, then we have made the first step in our spiritual walk. This is what separates the saved and the unsaved: the unsaved person wants to get saved in his own way in his own time. The saved realize that God is sovereign and has one clear Way to be saved. Samuel could have rebelled against Eli’s instructions and in the process become as lost as Eli’s sons were. But Samuel was wise and chose to follow godly leadership. We must obey the godly commands our pastors give us if we are to succeed. The disciples were powerless when they were on their own apart from the Lord.

Today is the day you can make a new beginning. If you have been reading this and realized you need salvation, click here. Being born again is critical to spiritual growth. No amount of good works will bring you closer to God. Be open to the Spirit’s leading. If you are already Christians but realize you have strayed from a simple childlike faith such as Samuel’s, you too can start again. Simply confess your sins to God, repent of them, and you will be forgiven. Read your Bible and pray. Seek godly counsel. It is never too late. Once Samuel listened for God’s voice, he was never the same.

 KEY VERSES: 1 Samuel 3, Micah 6:8