Date: SUN 7:00 PM 27th April 2025
Preacher: Stephen Cassells
Bible Reference: 1 Samuel 3:1
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.
Sermon Summary
Stephen Cassells, a preacher approaching his 50th birthday, delivers a heartfelt sermon reflecting on his personal faith journey, the historical revivals of his church and region, and the urgent need for spiritual renewal, drawing heavily on biblical parallels from the Book of Samuel.
As I near my 50th birthday, coinciding with our church’s 50th anniversary—a “jubilee year”—I find myself reflecting on my conversion to Christianity in July 1994 at age 18. I came to faith in Christ after leaving a church that offered little meaningful Bible teaching, and I’m saddened to see its spiritual state has only worsened since. My growth in faith owes much to Reverend Elliott at Bethany church, an evangelist and gifted teacher of God’s Word, who sparked my passion for church history. I find inspiration in stories of past revivals, like W.P. Nicholson’s preaching during Ulster’s near-riotous days, which brought hundreds to Christ and averted chaos. Our denomination, too, emerged in a time of spiritual darkness—marked by apostasy, communism, and Romanism—yet grew mightily as God “re-flamed the fire” of salvation.
Today, I’m alarmed by the decline in church attendance and the apathy towards spiritual matters in our province. People prioritise pleasure, business, and worldliness, leaving little time for Jesus Christ. This mirrors the dark days before Samuel’s birth, when the “lamp of God” nearly went out due to sin in the temple. Eli’s sons, “sons of Belial,” stole from God’s offerings, led people into sin, and engaged in immoral acts at the tabernacle. Despite Eli knowing their wickedness, he failed to act, worsening the spiritual decay.
Yet, I find hope in Scripture, where the lamp of God, though flickering, never extinguished. I’m moved by Hannah’s story—a barren woman who poured her soul out to God, praying for a son and vowing to dedicate him to the Lord. God granted her Samuel, who grew in His presence and was raised to rekindle Israel’s spiritual fire, anointing David as king and preserving the Messianic line to Christ.
I see the temple’s lamp as a symbol of Jesus Christ, the pure, sinless light of the world. In Exodus 27:20 and 37:17, the candlestick of pure, beaten gold, fuelled by pure, beaten olive oil, reflects Christ’s sinless nature and the Holy Spirit’s power. The word “beaten” reminds me of Christ’s suffering in Isaiah 53, wounded for our sins. In Revelation 1:12–14, John’s vision of Christ among seven golden candlesticks reinforces His eternal light.
I believe personal revival is essential before we see renewal in our churches or nation. Unaddressed sin, like that of Eli’s sons, harms our testimony and hinders outreach. I urge us to pray for sanctification, to be clean vessels for God’s use, and to avoid stumbling blocks for the lost. I’m troubled by how television and social media drown out God’s voice, making His Word “precious” and rare, as in Samuel’s day.
When God called Samuel, saying, “Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth,” it marked the start of his transformative ministry. I challenge us to ask if we truly know the Lord and to accept Christ as the light who dispels darkness. I firmly believe God won’t let the gospel’s light go out until Christ returns. I call us to pray fervently for revival in our generation, echoing Hannah’s dedication and Samuel’s obedience. I invite you to embrace Christ as Saviour and carry His glorious light, trusting in His power to revive our land.
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