This is a beautiful message by a very dear friend and brother in Christ, Patrick Smith, this last Sunday. He wept through nearly all of it. I pray it will be a blessing, by the grace of God, to you as well. (Preaching starts about 31:40 minute mark.)
Watch the entire message here:
The Refinery Chula Vista: https://subsplash.com/u/the-refinery/media/d/mp3zrqz-samuel
A few post thoughts in preaching to myself –
You know when we unintentionally, or even intentionally, switch our rolls with God, things always fail. This is what satan wants of those who profess. If we try to take the place of God’s power, we fail, and if we try to place God where our obedience must act, we fail. For us, to really understand the working power of gods grace through Christ, Jesus and the spirit of God, we obey, and he empowers us to obey in faith. The switching of that roll is what makes life in our culture and across the globe so difficult, no impossible. The duty is mine – the power is His. Thereby, if we will ask anything according to his will, He will grant it, and it is of His will that we would be empowered through Jesus and by His Spirit. So may we ask more of Him, and may we be sanctified in our minds more and more on a minute by minute basis. Amen
The powerful working of the grace of God works in beautiful unison with our call, to obediently, respond joyfully and humbly unto Christ. Sadly, too many people are choosing camps on either end of the spectrum, and I fear both are wrong and a distraction. Titus, 2 regarding the grace of God needs to be an active process in my life, with the working of willing obedience.
Interestingly enough, I had preached on 1st Samuel 1-4 on Father’s Day of this year. You can watch/listen to the message, “Don’t Be A Worthless Father.”
Jeremy B. Strang 
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