The Union of the Spirit
Submitted by: Joanne Cain
Bible Version: King James
In the last week I have been reviewing a tape called Holy Seed. Interestingly the word I was lead to share in service last week was received as what is being said as “holy seed.” Contemplating the meaning of these words for my own walk; I have been on a journey this week to find a time of quiet and then be still and listen. Yet the more that I sought this elusive butterfly the more I was drawn in the opposite direction.
Looking at the word listen: to give ear to hear; to pay attention, to give consideration and to be alert to the sound. Most would probably say we are hearing the word; and we would probably even say we are alert to his voice but within myself I wonder. This last week I came head to head with something that made me again say Father…help me to walk by your direction and let me not assume I know anything. And even more so let me not question the hand of the Potter when he begins to purge what is unseemly making this vessel according to HIS PATTERN. Looking at the word one can find many verses to describe this pattern and we can even back up the need to listen with a lot of knowledge and surely one would agree his word is full of the light of his direction; yet one has to put their ear to the ground and listen. Looking at the word direction; it refers to explicit instruction, order, and a guiding, governing, motivating course of action.
On Thursday this week I went for my annual blood test to prove the remission that occurred in 2003 for hairy cell leukemia is still alive and well. As I am not one to enjoy being poked I was pretty nervous about the thought of needles…yet much to others surprise the thought of anything else did not have me wavering in peace. Why because there is an order…a way that is established and one that penetrates all fear for me…it’s in His word…a word that echoes in me even now.
1 Samuel 3:1-21 And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision. 2 And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see; 3 And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep; 4 That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I. 5 And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou callest me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down. 6 And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again. 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him. 8 And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child. 9 Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth. 11 And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle. 12 In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end. 13 For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not. 14 And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever. 15 And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision. 16 Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I. 17 And he said, What is the thing that the LORD hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee. 18 And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good. 19 And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD. 21 And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD. (KJV)
In reading these verses several things come to the top: The word of the Lord in those days was precious, it came to pass, and when Samuel was sleeping he was called by the Lord 3 times...answering HERE I AM. It states that Samuel did not know the Lord nor was he revealed to him…this tells me that the Lord had a plan with a beginning and an end… It took Samuels obedience to put it in place. Yet it is all to easy to take this as common…the other night as I walked home I heard the sound of an owl…and last night I was awakened with the sound of a bird in the night. Neither of these sounds is as precious as His voice moving within; yet what does it take to truly listen and not have a response except here I am send me.