Saying what God says even when it's scary | 1 Samuel 3:15-18, Acts 20:25-28 | Dominic Steele | 29 June 2021

Samuel has heard the word of the Lord. It's a frightening word of judgement for the family of Eli. In the morning Eli asks Samuel, what the Lord says. And Samuel tells him everything and doesn't hide anything from him. 15 Samuel lay down until the morning; then he opened the doors of the Lord’s house. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision,  16 but Eli called him and said, “Samuel, my son.” “Here I am,” answered Samuel. 17 “What was the message He gave you?” Eli asked. “Don’t hide it from me. May God punish you and do so severely if you hide anything from me that He told you.” 18 So Samuel told him everything and did not hide anything from him.  Samuel is a model for prophets of God today. As shepherds in the household of God we are to say what God says. This is particularly challenging for us in areas where the society is running differently to the voice of God. But this is where the shepherd needs to choose 'will we please people or God?'Acts 20:25 “And now I know that none of you will ever see my face again—everyone I went about preaching the kingdom to. 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of everyone’s blood, 27 for I did not shrink back from declaring to you the whole plan of God.