"Samuel Did Not Yet Know The Lord ... "

This is Part 9 of a 12-Part Series on Church Hurt

For the sake of simplicity, in this series, I am typically going to refer to any place of worship as a "church" and any type of leader as a "pastor" and/or "priest".

"Samuel did not yet know the Lord because he had never had a message from the Lord before." - 1 Samuel 3:7

Samuel grew up in the church under the leadership and mentorship of Eli. He had been raised and taught Scripture in the church, but he "did not yet know the Lord".

You can go to church, be a "Christian", know Scripture, and even study Scripture, and still not know the Lord!

Samuel had never had a message from the Lord before. He had never experienced two-way communication. And that is the difference between having a "religion" and having a "relationship".

Knowing Scripture and studying Scripture is not the same as having God speak to you personally through Scripture.

Attending church and learning under the guidance and leadership of a pastor is not the same as having God speak to you personally through a message or teaching from a pastor.

Having a Christian mentor or friend who gives good advice is not the same as having God speak to you personally through a conversation with a mentor or friend.

Seeing a rainbow or experiencing a "well-timed coincidence" is not the same as hearing God "speak" to you personally through a well-timed rainbow, song, or sign.

While God most certainly speaks most often and most powerfully through Scipture, He does not speak exclusively through Scripture. And contrary to what many churches teach and preach, God does not speak only or exclusively through men.

He didn't speak only in the past and now He's suddenly and indefinitely silent! Jesus said, "My sheep listen to My Voice; I know them, and they follow Me." - (John 10:27)

The "litmus test" for Samuel for knowing God was hearing God's Voice; that was when he knew the Lord.

God spoke to people throughout Scripture - in many ways, through many means, and to many people.

If you have never done the "Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God" Bible Study by Henry Blackaby and Claude King, I would highly recommend it. It is Scripture based and will help you better discern the Voice of God in your life ... and that includes being able to discern when a rainbow is just a beautiful rainbow or when a message given by a pastor is good, but not necessarily one you are supposed to act upon, or when a certain passage of Scripture is God speaking to you as opposed to when it is being used to manipulate you.

And being able to discern God's Voice amidst the noise of this world is life-changing!

"Your Word is a lamp to guide my feet, and a light for my path." - Psalm 119:105

© I Lift My Voice, 2025

Click Here to Read Part 10 in This 12-Part Series on Church Hurt