So many times it is our earliest memories that produce our deepest narrative. Addiction in our lives is nothing more than a normal default to the deeper narrative that exists within us. Jesus is rewriting the deepest narrative of our lives and for this we are eternally grateful!!!
it is easier to train up a child than to repair an adult. Emilia Perry is ten years old. During our worship night at Destiny Emilia came up in tears as I was standing on the platform speaking. I walked down she explained that she had sensed a strong word from God, so she came up to talk to me after I was finished. She shared what God had spoken to her and it was exactly what I had just shared from the platform. We prayed in agreement that people would hear what God was confirming that he was saying.
When I think of how Emilia nervously came forward sensing a word from God I think of great men and women of the faith and their journey through childhood in the Bible. Imagine young David standing nervously before mighty Samuel the Prophet of God. What do you think went through David’s mind as he was standing before this powerful man of God?
When the Prophet Samuel came to town it was an expression of visitation from God Himself. The Israelites had such respect for his voice that leaders would greet him with gifts before he ever even arrived in hopes of a favorable message from God.
God used Samuel to awaken the lineage of the Messiah and prophetically propel young David into another dimension of life as God was bringing him into his own place of powerful influence from God.
These two powerful men of God Samuel and David were used mightily by God. Both men had early memories of hearing God’s voice that established the deepest narrative of carrying God’s power in the earth! Here is young David before powerful Samuel but we also read about a young Samuel in his early years as well.
Samuel’s early memory of hearing God’s voice produced a prophetic narrative that would produce this powerful gift to be used so mightily by God.
1 Sam 3:1-3 The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions. 2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the LORD, where the ark of God was. NIV
The lamp of God had not gone out. There is the indication of this flickering flame in the lamp of God. Eli’s light was flickering. Israel was flickering because of the corruption in the Temple from Eli’s sons.
What would it look like if our light could be seen? Would your flame be flickering or would it be strong? We might be flickering but coming to church we continue to press in! Every day we are willing to press in deeper our flame grows stronger because the Word of the Lord is calling to the deeper narrative of our lives!
1 Sam 3:4-10 Then the LORD called Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am.” 5 And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down. 6 Again the LORD called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” “My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. 8 A third time the LORD called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. 9 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. 10 The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” NIV
Maturity moves beyond being called by God but running to man. Notice that Samuel was serving when he was called by God just as David was serving when he received his call and anointing to be king. There really are certain things that are only revealed to those who serve. Don’t just sit there waiting for God to do something because that will cost you more than you realize. You might be waiting on God but waiting on God isn’t like waiting on a bus. Waiting on God is like waiting on a table. This kind of waiting involves serving and releases breakthrough.
Isa 40:31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. NKJV
When we lead our children in serving the purposes of God, we cultivate these early memories that produce their deepest narrative that will help them embrace the priorities of God almighty. This positions them for God to use them in mighty ways!
Do you not know every major revolution that has happened in this country has happened in the mouths of young people, who said, "We are sick and tired of it, and we are not taking it anymore"? From women's rights to civil rights to every other kind of injustice, it was a bunch of young, radical people who were willing to rise up and say, "We stand for something more than what we see happening right now because we sense something more and we can’t let it go!
Eli didn’t hear it but he finally perceived after the third disruption. Maybe the reason this boy is so disruptive, up and down and in and out is because God is calling him! Maybe that child you think of who is disruptive isn’t bad. Maybe he’s wrestling with the deepest narrative known to man, the call of God. He does not know how to respond to the depth of something beyond comprehension and not only do you not understand his behavior, but he doesn’t understand his behavior.
Your revolution happens to the strongest degree while you are still able to march and fight. Be careful young people: Eli may be telling you to go back to bed at first but that doesn’t mean he’s not a significant part of your destiny.
The Bible says Samuel could hear it, but only Eli could understand it.
Eli was old and had made some mistakes. He couldn't jump out of the bed like Samuel did and maybe Eli's best days were behind him. He didn’t hear the sound of God’s voice, but he could understand it. It was Eli’s instruction that unlocked the conversation God was trying to have with young Samuel that night. Young people you need us.
“Us” people we have a great responsibility to unlock the prophetic nature of God in the next generation. Maybe you didn’t come from a long legacy of people serving Jesus but you can start that legacy with your generation!
Jesus is the Master at addressing disrepair if we are willing allow him to reach into the deepest sense of narrative that exists within our lives. It’s natural to grow weeds. It takes work to cultivate a garden.
In this season of understanding God’s conversational design we see how when God wants to have a conversation about healing a larger conversation begins to result! Amazing testimonies immediately started coming in as a result of our worship and baptism night after God unlocked a wave of healing among us!
Lexi Neisent, “My hands were so hot during worship as if I was having a food allergy reaction but I knew I wasn’t. Then when I came forward and we all began praying for healing it was like an air conditioner started blowing on these inflamed areas. Then it was like an ice pack was on my hands and my hands are never cold like that. Obviously God was touching me supernaturally.”
Jenn Dannelley recently had surgery to remove two lumps (that came back as benign) but she experienced post-op complications led to her using a wound vac 24 hours a day.) She said “during our worship night my incision hurt every single time I clapped, every single time I attempted to raise my hand...just as it has every single day for the last 25 days...until something shifted in the atmosphere. Pastor Lawrence began sharing about supernatural healing and I grew so desperate for it. As we sang Ain’t No Grave, I believed for healing of the pain, healing of the incision, and healing of the discouragement that has come with this whole ordeal. I prayed, worshiped, and cried as Jay, Dharani, and dear friends surrounded me and many others in prayer and sang songs over us...
...and then the song ended. We all clapped and I FELT N O P A I N. Then two friends separately spoke to me specifically about being encouraged and not discouraged in the midst of it all. As we drove home, I stretched my affected arm to the ceiling with NO PAIN. I could reach to hand things to my kids in the backseat with NO PAIN. I’m so grateful to God and His love and kindness towards me.
Follow-up with the surgeon the next day: “The wound is one-fifth the size it was when I last saw the doctor two weeks ago. He had originally estimated I’d need the wound vac for 3-4 weeks with three times a week changed. Now it looks like I’ll only need it for a total of 16 days, so only one more week and it has only needed to be changed twice a week. The pain in the incision is completely gone...it didn’t hurt at all as he examined it today.”
Stacia Kelley: After a lifestyle of drug addiction and being free now for 8 years she shared, “I have been struggling with the pain medication that has been prescribed for the pain in my broken leg. I have been being very mindful of when and how much I take and at times waiting too long and experiencing excruciating pain. After the song being sang over me and others In Our church family, I went home last night and didn’t need to elevate my leg while sleeping. Woke up this morning and have not felt the need to take any type of pain medicine- prescribed or over the counter! HEALING !! In the name of Jesus!!”
WE BRING GP2RL ACTION POINT:
Memorize a meaningful portion of Scripture this week and rehearse it every day. Consider 2 Pet 1:3-8
DISCUSSION GUIDE FOR COMMUNITY GROUP LEADERS
Click here for a downloadable PDF file of this guide.
Please begin your group by reading the dates and events from the back of the Sunday Note Card before you begin to rehearse that which is coming.
UNDERSTANDING THE SEASON: Over these next several weeks we are pressing into the idea that God is the ultimate conversationalist. Words are meant for more than mere communication. God uses words to create. He created the fabric and existence of the entire universe with his words. Jesus came to open the dialogue between each of us and our God. It was as if the Father said, “I’d like a word with you” so He sent His Word, Jesus to come and initiate a conversation at his table. When we are engaged in conversation with God our lives and the world around us is transformed.
This year in our Community Groups we want to start each group with the first and primary question:
DISCUSSION:
1. Where are you reading in your Bible and what are you sensing from God?
Many times it is our earliest memories that produce the deepest narrative in our lives.
DISCUSSION:
2. Share a positive memory from your childhood.
3. How has that memory affected your overall perspective today?
As you read the following portion of Scripture think about what stands out to you:
1 Sam 3:1-10 The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions. 2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the LORD, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the LORD called Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am.” 5 And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down. 6 Again the LORD called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” “My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. 8 A third time the LORD called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. 9 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. 10 The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” NIV
DISCUSSION:
4. What are some of the things you notice about this story in Scripture?
Samuel’s early memory of hearing God’s voice produced a prophetic narrative that would produce this prophetic gift to be used so mightily by God.
God used Samuel to further awaken the lineage of the Messiah and prophetically propel young David into another dimension of life as he moved toward becoming King David.
GP2RL: Memorize a meaningful portion of Scripture this week and rehearse it every day. Consider 2 Pet 1:3-8