John K. Jenkins Sr - The Importance of Raising Children to Hear and Follow God's Voice - Part 1

If you have your Bibles, I want you to open them to 1 Samuel, chapter 1. If you don’t know where 1 Samuel is, it’s right before 2 Samuel. I know that will help you out a little bit. 1 Samuel, chapter 1. Today, I want to give a narrative message. It’s a narrative, which means I’m telling a story- a story through the Bible, and there are no delineated points, so don’t wait for the points to come up on the screen like I normally do. Write down whatever God tells you; He will speak to you. I believe God will speak to you throughout the course of this particular message and challenge.

Let me just say how proud I am of our young people today, leading us in worship. I want to salute Jonathan Queen for being the director of our Children and Youth Department. Thank you, sir, and to Minister Andre Crouch — how long have you been a youth pastor now? Ten months? Ten months! You’re still wet behind the ears, young man. I am grateful for their service to our church; they’re doing a great job along with all those who are associated with our youth ministry.

I want to talk today about the importance of raising children to hear and follow God’s voice. Let me tell you that again: that’s the title of this narrative message- the importance of raising children to hear and follow God’s voice. What I want to do today is tell you the story about Hannah. Hannah was married to Elkanah, who had two wives. I can’t imagine; my hands are full with one! One of his wives, Peninnah, had many children, but Hannah had no children. This was a point of tension for Hannah. She felt frustrated, unhappy, and troubled by the fact that she was not able to bear children; her womb was closed.

One particular day, she went into the temple and prayed, asking God to give her a child. Ultimately, God gave her a child, and they named him Samuel. In chapter 1 of 1 Samuel, if you could turn there, I want to read starting at verse 19. She prays, and God gives her a child named Samuel.

In verse 19, it says this: I’m going to read verses 19-28. It’s a lot of verses, but you ain’t got nowhere to go; thank you for your time, Pastor. Then they arose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord, and returned and came to their house at Ramah. Elkanah knew Hannah, his wife, and the Lord remembered her. So it came to pass, in the process of time, that Hannah conceived and bore a son and called his name Samuel, saying, «Because I have asked for him from the Lord.»

Now the man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and his vow. But Hannah did not go up; for she said to her husband, «Not until the child is weaned; then I will take him that he may appear before the Lord and remain there forever.» So Elkanah, her husband, said to her, «Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him. Only let the Lord establish His word.» Then the woman stayed and nursed her son until she had weaned him.

Now when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls, one ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the Lord in Shiloh. The child was young. Somebody say, «The child was young.» The child was. Then they slaughtered a bull and brought the child to Eli. I’m going to come back to that verse in just a moment. And she said, «Oh my lord, as your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to the Lord for this child. I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me my petition, which I asked of Him. Therefore, I also have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives, he shall be lent to the Lord.» So they worshiped the Lord there. Somebody say, «Amen.»

I want to talk about the importance of raising children to hear and follow God’s voice. Hannah, finally, after much prayer, has her womb blessed with a child; they name him Samuel. This particular story tells us about the significant things that Samuel accomplished in his life. He became a prophet to the nation, a priest, and a judge; he appointed and anointed the king of Israel, anointing David to succeed Saul. I could go on and on about the significant things that Samuel accomplished in his life.

The reason I want to raise this issue is that, unfortunately, in our culture, we measure success by a different standard, a different model. We think if our children get great jobs and make a lot of money — if they become lawyers or doctors — those are all great things, all significant achievements, and we celebrate that. If they drive a nice car, live in a nice house, and make a lot of money, we salute and celebrate them.

But I want to raise an issue today: you can earn a lot of money and achieve great things, climb the ladder of success, and achieve all kinds of educational accomplishments. However, if you do not have a living, vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ, it, my brothers and sisters, is problematic. That 's right .