In the Bible Christian Ministry
Sunday 9-21-25 (Slow Burn, Part 2)
  • Song
  • We want things yesterday.
    When we want change we go all in. And we want results.
    We imagine what it looks like we think about the future and dream and we want it to happen fast.
    Fast Money
    Fast change
    Recap
    God wants to progress you forward. And what we may see as a slow growth He sees as perfect growth.
    Learned about Spiritual Growth and how even when you may want to give up God can lift you to new heights and we looked at the life of Elijah
    Today we speak about how that fire must be given room to grow.
    Spiritual Growth
    Fire pit
    As long as a fire has fuel it will continue to burn.
    Some of us start out on fire but for some reason Sometimes we feel discouraged about your progress in faith and we feel we need to renew our trust in God’s promise to finish his work in you.
    What happened to us.
    Why do we feel so discouraged sometimes.
    Ever look back and say “What happened to me, How did I get like this?”
    That’s discouraging
    Look what Paul wrote to the Philippians:
    Philippians 1:5–6 NIV
    5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
    Letting them know don’t get discouraged
    We read about Elijah last week and how he got discouraged after seeing God do a great work
    So yes we recognize the fire, the blaze but for what?
    But there are times where you don’t see what your blaze is all about, but we have to trust.
    Not blindly trust
    What is blind trust?
    God proves himself consistently so while we don’t blindly trust we may not always know exactly what he has planned only that it is going to be GREAT

    1. Samuel’s Greatness Wasn’t About Samuel

    Samuel is one of the towering figures of the Old Testament.
    His life was full of accomplishments all established by God.
    He was the last judge of Israel, leading the people with wisdom and integrity.
    Judges were raised up by God after Israel fell into sin, oppression, and cried out for deliverance.
    They were not kings, but more like military leaders, deliverers, and spiritual guides.
    Their role:
    Deliver Israel from oppressors (Judges 2:16).
    Lead the people back to God (though not always successfully).
    Provide leadership in times of crisis.
    12 Judges
    Samuel was both a prophet, priest, and judge.
    He led Israel spiritually, guided them back to God, and acted as a transitional leader before the monarchy.
    📖 Judges 2:16 – “Then the Lord raised up judges, who saved them out of the hands of these raiders.”
    The people needed his leadership
    1 Samuel 7:15–17 NIV
    15 Samuel continued as Israel’s leader all the days of his life. 16 From year to year he went on a circuit from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah, judging Israel in all those places. 17 But he always went back to Ramah, where his home was, and there he also held court for Israel. And he built an altar there to the Lord.
    Acts 13:20 NIV
    20 All this took about 450 years. “After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet.
    He defeated the Philistines and restored order to Israel.
    1 Samuel 7:9–10 NIV
    9 Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and sacrificed it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. He cried out to the Lord on Israel’s behalf, and the Lord answered him. 10 While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle. But that day the Lord thundered with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic that they were routed before the Israelites.

    1. Israel’s Defeat Under Eli (Before Samuel’s Leadership)

    During Eli’s days, Israel fought the Philistines and lost badly.
    The Ark was even captured by the Philistines (1 Samuel 4:10–11).
    This was a period of judgment because Israel was not faithful to God.
    Philistine’s had been oppressing the people, and Israel couldn’t defeat them. They even stole the ark of the covenant
    But Samuel recognized something It wasn’t about the Philistines. It was about the People!!!
    Samuel didn’t defeat the Philistines with military might, but through prayer, sacrifice, and dependence on God’s power. The Lord fought for Israel.
    God destroyed the Philistines before their eyes with His power, not by Israel’s military might.
    We all got our Philistines —- those people and things that are set up where we can’t overcome or they are just against us
    Samuel set up a stone called Ebenezer (“stone of help”) to commemorate how God had delivered them
    He anointed Israel’s first king, Saul.
    1 Samuel 9:15–16 NIV
    15 Now the day before Saul came, the Lord had revealed this to Samuel: 16 “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him ruler over my people Israel; he will deliver them from the hand of the Philistines. I have looked on my people, for their cry has reached me.”
    When Saul failed, Samuel was faithful to God’s plan and anointed David.
    1 Samuel 16:12–13 NIV
    12 So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.” 13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.
    God established a covenant with David:
    2 Samuel 7:12–14 NIV
    12 When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands.
    Acts 3:24 NIV
    24 “Indeed, beginning with Samuel, all the prophets who have spoken have foretold these days.
    If you just look at Samuel’s résumé, it’s easy to think the story starts and ends with him. But Samuel’s greatness wasn’t about Samuel. His story was the result of a slow burn God started long before Samuel ever preached a word.

    How Great is Samuel

    And then we go to Jesus
    Luke 1:30–31 NIV
    30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.
    Luke 1:38 NIV
    38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
    All this started with Samuel. This slow burn throughout HISTORY!!!!
    His obedience
    His dedication
    His focus to allow God to use him and allow the fire to keep going.
    But the spark didn’t start there.

    The Slow Burn Began With Hannah’s Prayer

    Behind Samuel was his mother, Hannah—a woman who was broken, desperate, and praying in the temple for something very simple: a child.
    She wasn’t asking for power, fame, or influence. She just wanted a son.
    Yet she added a vow of obedience: “If you give me this son, Lord, I’ll give him back to You.”
    1 Samuel 1:11–18 NIV
    11 And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.” 12 As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk 14 and said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.” 15 “Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. 16 Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.” 17 Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.” 18 She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.
    She didn’t care what people thought
    She didn’t care what she looked like
    She PRAYED —- And she didn’t even pray OUT LOUD!!!!!
    God answered her prayer, and Samuel was born. But Hannah kept her word—she released her son into God’s service.
    What looked small—a mother’s prayer and obedience—was actually the spark of a slow burn that would affect the course of history.
    So this burning blaze that started with Hannah’s prayer went to Samuel, who led the people and anointed David, then advised David, then God made a promise to David and then fast forward over 1000 years later and this fire is still going and is brought to Mary and she accepts her part and then you have this blaze continuing with Jesus and our SALVATION>

    Samuel wasn’t even supposed to be the priest.

    Eli had sons were next in line. And everyone knew it and expected it...it was tradition, but they were wicked. So God removed them and with Hannah’s prayer replaced them with Samuel
    God came to Samuel at night and told him to tell Eli his sons wouldn’t make it.
    But a small prayer
    Now during this time Israel wanted a King
    They being oppressed by Philistines
    Idolatry and False Worship
    Civil War and Division
    So what Man may expect to HAPPEN God does not HAVE to do!!!!
    A Forever promise:

    5. Mary: The Same Flame Ignites Again

    Then, in the New Testament, we see that same slow burn burst into full flame through Mary. Like Hannah, she was an ordinary woman. Like Hannah, she said “yes” to God.
    Hannah prayed, “Lord, give me a son.”
    Mary responded, “Let it be to me according to Your word.”
    Through Mary’s obedience, the Son of God was born. The slow burn that began in Hannah’s prayer ignited in Jesus Christ—the Savior of the world.
    But here is the crazy thing
    that same FLAME is in YOU!!!!!

    6. Application: God’s Slow Burn in Us

    The lesson of Samuel isn’t just about what he accomplished. It’s about what God accomplishes when simple people say “yes.”
    Hannah asked for something simple—God gave her something eternal in mind.
    Mary gave a simple yes—God used it to save the world.
    Eli’s sons should have inherited leadership, but God raised up Samuel instead—because His ways are higher than ours.
    When he uses you he uses you all the way.
    We may feel like our prayers are too small
    We may feel like our desires are to frivolous
    We may think that what we need isn’t important
    We may be praying small prayers:
    “Lord, help me raise this child.”
    “Lord, meet this need.”
    “Lord, give me strength today.”
    But God is always thinking bigger. He may be starting a slow burn in your life that will outlive you, bless generations, and change eternity.
    So while you’re praying for a solution, God is already preparing a blessing.
    While you’re asking for guidance, He’s arranging your breakthrough.
    While you’re seeking deliverance, He’s setting you up not just to escape, but to overcome and conquer.
    And while you’re praying just to figure it out, He’s planning to transform your whole family, your future, and even generations to come.
    But What about my Problems What about our Philistines?
    There are things that are there that I can’t overcome
    Depression got me down
    My happiness is gone— I don’t smile no more
    I’m sick
    I got issues...I got problems

    Illustration: What about Our “Philistines”; What about our Demons?

    Israel thought their biggest problem was the Philistines—this enemy army that was stronger, better armed, and always pressing them down. But Samuel saw something deeper: their real problem wasn’t out there; it was in here. Their hearts had turned from God.
    It’s the same with us. We all have “Philistines” in our lives—giants that seem too strong for us:
    Fear that keeps us up at night.
    Finances that feel like they’re crushing us.
    Family conflicts that never seem to end.
    Personal sins or habits that we can’t beat on our own.
    We think, “If I could just beat this problem, everything would be better.”
    But like Samuel showed Israel, the battle isn’t really against the “Philistines”—it’s about our hearts.
    When Israel repented and turned back to God, He fought the Philistines for them. And He still does that for us today. The fight is the Lord’s.
    “Israel thought their biggest problem was the Philistines, but Samuel knew their real problem was a heart problem. And when they turned back to God, He fought the Philistines for them. The same is true for us—when we give God our hearts, He takes care of the giants we could never defeat on our own.”
    When we turn to God through prayer and obedience, everything changes.
    Turn your worry into prayer.
    Turn your will into obedience.
    And watch Him turn your struggles, your problems, even your shame into complete victory.
    1 John 5:3–4 NIV
    3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.
    So while your Philistines may look like more than what you got to fight with
    Look stronger than you
    Look destructive
    You have God on your side.
    No need to fight you Pray
    No need to strategize you be Obedient
    And watch God destroy them before your eyes and they will not set foot in your world
    and you can set you up a memorial of how things used to be
    I used to be depressed
    I used to be down and out
    I used to be in pain
    I used to not want to wake up in morning like Elijah
    I used to worry
    I used to doubt
    But Now!!!!!
    “Don’t underestimate the spark of your obedience—because God can use it to set generations on fire.”
    “What God starts as a spark, He finishes as a EVERLASTING flame.”

      • Philippians 1:6NIV2011

      • 2 Corinthians 12:9NIV2011

      • Ephesians 2:10NIV2011

      • Micah 6:8NIV2011

      • Ephesians 2:8–10NIV2011

      • 1 Kings 19:3–5NIV2011

      • Exodus 18:17–18NIV2011

      • John 14:16–17NIV2011

      • Acts 2:2NIV2011

      • Hebrews 12:29NIV2011

      • Jeremiah 20:9NIV2011

In the Bible Christian Ministry
404-622-1202
https://www.itbcministry.org/
4 members • 4 followers