December 2002

Issued Monthly

"Now the boy Samuel ministered to the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation. And it came to pass at that time, while Eli was lying down in his place, and when his eyes had begun to grow so dim that he could not see, and before the lamp of God went out in the tabernacle of the Lord where the ark of God was, and while Samuel was lying down, that the Lord called Samuel. And he answered, 'Here I am!' So he ran to Eli and said, 'Here I am, for you called me.' And he said, 'I did not call; lie down again ... Now the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, 'Samuel! Samuel!' And Samuel answered, Speak, Lord, for your servant hears." I Samuel 3.

Though Eli and Samuel did not realize their significance in the prophetic design of God, Eli represented Israel's old order of religion that was in its dying hour. That order had been God-ordained, genuine, Scripturally correct--but by Eli's day was surviving wholly on the revelation of its past. It had no fresh word from Heaven, no life-giving inspiration, and had replaced "its first love" with doctrine, formalism, and Jewish tradition. When Scripture speaks of Eli's eyes "growing dim," and "the lamp of God going out in the Tabernacle," the message is powerfully prophetic. It was Eli's spiritual darkness preparing to engulf Israel which caused God to say, "It is time to shut this system down and begin a new era." That night, before Samuel fell into the same spiritual drowsiness as Eli, God called the boy, saying, "Samuel! Get up! Listen to what I say, I am making changes!" The story of Eli and Samuel is not merely the account of an old Israeli priest and his young servant. Their story is far more relevant to the church than we ever imagined.

Samuel represents God's introduction of new life into Israel. As with renewal in today's church, that life was radically different from the one Israel had known in the past. The new one was spiritually empowered, unique, and challenging. On that historic night, Israel's days of uninspired, liturgical worship came to an abrupt end. There was no advance warning, no preparation, no time for getting ready. The new, prophetic-era would be confrontational, clashing, conflicting. Such times are stressful and religious people invariably resist change. No one wants to "follow the cloud" into unknown territory. Now as then, God could care less about their pious-sounding excuses. He wants His Word obeyed. Eli had failed; without explanations, Samuel was suddenly thrust into the scene of leadership. This is precisely what has happened with God's thrusting today's church into the charismatic renewal.

Note that on that famous night, God did not speak to Eli. He had done that earlier and been refused. Identically, there are denominational boards, church leaders, and pastors today, to whom God has spoken, been refused, and to whom He will not speak again. As with Eli, He is finished with them. Instead, He may speak to the church janitor, a housewife, deacon, or Sunday School teacher, fill that one with the Holy Spirit, excite him with visions and dreams, and use him in power-ministry. Acts 2:17. Such men and women are usually forced out of their churches, made to begin a new congregation, and in time explode in power. Of the 500 fastest growing churches in American today, 450 are not mainline denominational churches.

What does that tell us? It says that while Eli is in his chamber sleeping, Samuel is awake and hearing God. The newest, most rapidly expanding church in my part of Florida is pastored by a former football coach who has never been to Bible School. That provides no problem to God; God is more concerned about devotion than Degrees. In ten years, this inter-denominational congregation has grown from zero to more than 10,000 worshipers.

Samuel's first reaction to the Voice was to run to Eli for an explanation. In effect, he was asking the "old order" to explain the mystery of God's "new order." That was a mistake. Then, as now, the old order cannot explain what it does not understand. Eli's response was, "I heard no voice. Go back to bed." This is exactly what is happening in the modern church. In many cases, the old church says to its children who have been caught-up in renewal, "You are disturbing my rest. Be quiet! Go back to sleep!" In other words, "Stay in the dark, be wearied like the rest of us." As an obedient son, Samuel tried to submit to his elder. But the Voice called again. Once more, Samuel returned to Eli. And again, the old man's instruction was, "Go back to sleep!" It is not difficult to see this same parallel with many today. Those with the call of God upon them and the power of the Holy Spirit churning within them are an annoyance to those who want to sleep.

The problem is this: When you have heard the voice of God, you cannot "go back to sleep." That was especially true when God's word to Samuel was radical and frightening. It spoke of coming judgement on the house of Eli; "his sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them." When God's message to Samuel had finished, the boy "lay down until morning and opened the doors of the house of the Lord." Scripture indicates that he did not go back to sleep. At daybreak, Eli said to him, "What is the word that the Lord spoke to you. Please do not hide it from me ..." Vs. 17. Boldly, Samuel told the old man everything--even though it foretold the deaths of Eli, his sons, and his daughter-in-law. 4:11-22. Accepting defeat, Eli said of the prophecy, "It is the Lord. Let Him do what seems good to Him." V.s.. 18. Unlike Hezekiah, who, in a similar circumstance "turned his face to the wall and prayed," Eli made no such petition. Faith was gone, fatalism had taken over. Almost immediately, his sons were killed in battle, the Ark of God was captured by the enemy, Eli's daughter-in-law went into premature labor and died. Her last words were the naming of her son "Ichabod," which meant, "the glory has departed." In hearing this news, Eli fell backward off a bench and broke his neck. In lightening swiftness, God purged Israel of its unfaithful leadership.

But the issue in many churches and denominations is not about people "making themselves vile." Usually, the resistance to God's voice centers upon an iron-hard determination to protect denominational-identity. To do that, the straight-forward message of Scripture is rejected. Hear me carefully: Whether the issue is morality or abuse of Scripture, God has not given us the choice to deviate from His Word. I Corinthians 12 and 14 are just as valid as Romans 8 or Ephesians 1. Many modern Christians are like Eli. His spiritual-eyes had dimmed with age; his most pressing concern was to be undisturbed and to rest in familiar surroundings of the past. Like some Christians, he wanted things "left as they were." That deception caused him to ignore God's warning about his sons and Israel's need for spiritual renewal. 3:13. He made the same mistake numerous others have made: Pride would not allow him to admit his reign was inferior to other High Priests. He assumed Israel's spiritual life had always been as it was with him. Millions of Christians today fall into the same trap, naively assuming that they--and their church—still maintains the historic principles of their ancestors. Not so. In some cases, only the name remains unchanged. The chimney is still there but the fire--once blazing and hot--has gone out. Almost imperceptibly, religious movements that began in glory slide back into coldness and death. When someone appears on the scene with new, energized-motivation and tries to change that condition he is frequently accused of being a "trouble-maker" and threat to the church. In some cases, people protest loudly, arrange "block" votes to fire the pastor, control the church, and keep it in darkness. The Holy Spirit never causes such disasters; that happens when Christians fight back against His will and demand their own abortive way. Such action always brings tragedy. This still does not stop God. When He says, "I am taking back My church!," believers will do well to step out of His way. Those who refuse to step out get stepped on.

Weep not! There is good news. In spite of Eli's declining health, the modern Samuel is alive and well. He has refused the old man's order to "go back to sleep." The noise you hear is rejoicing coming from his part of Zion. The saints in his care are happy--experiencing the "demonstration and power of the Holy Spirit." If you don't know where Samuel is, find him! Love him. Support him. Be blessed by him. And pray for men and women like him who are hearing God's voice in the night, whose response is, "Speak, Lord, your servant is listening!" These courageous ones--regardless of age--are bringing life back to the church.

Charles Carrin,

A YOUNG MOTHER'S AMAZING TESTIMONY

My Dear Brother Charles, During the Fall Conference, 2001, in which you and Jack Taylor preached at our church in Groton, Connecticut, the Spirit of God came through you so powerfully that I was healed from years of manic depression, lupus, and emotional scars from a lifetime of abuse by my mother. I grew up in her constant criticism and verbal attack. The last time I saw her alive, August, 1997, she wouldn't even look at me. My father, whom I dearly loved and needed, died when I was only eleven years old. The morning he died, he was upset about something, and when I asked for his blessing (we were Puerto Rican and that tradition was important to me), he snapped at me and told me never to ask him again. He died later that same day. When you came to our church I was desperately sick and had attempted suicide many times. In 1993, after my son's birth, I developed postpartum depression and it never went away. In time, my son was diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and was given medication for it. We could not get away from the demons that haunted us.

Brother Charles, this is where you came into my life. On the day you prayed for me I was about to divorce my husband of twelve years. I did not love him any longer--or so I thought. That same day he was to speak to the lawyer about the divorce I went to the Conference at Pleasant Valley Church. I had just come out of the psychiatric hospital and when you saw me crying, you called me to come forward, laid your hands on me, and prayed for the Holy Spirit to come. And He sure came! I fell to the floor and began coughing and gagging. You explained that my manic-depression was coming out in that way. After the coughing ended, the most wonderful, sweet peace came upon me. Never in my life had I felt such beautiful mercy and grace shower upon me. I cried out in happiness! I had never known so much love. That day, God spoke into my heart to stay in my marriage; He said to put it all in His hands and He would take care of everything else. My husband re-dedicated his life to Jesus and now attends church with me. We go to church as a family! There are no words to express the love I have for my husband. Our relationship was completely restored. My son is healthy and off all medications! Glory to God! We are happy! Thank you for allowing God to use you in such a powerful way. ---

Your sister in Christ, L.H., Groton, Connecticut.

Dear Brother Carrin, Thank you for being so persistent in a service in Dadeville, Alabama, in April last year. For the first time I saw people falling under the power of God but I felt condemned and wouldn't go forward. Finally, you tricked me when you asked everyone to come toward the altar and just worship God. My life was so messed up that I couldn't raise my hands in worship and I had a tough time not my blaming God for my problems. Then I heard your voice near by saying, "Fill him, Lord." Pow! Before I left that night I remember your telling me I would "experience joy." Wow! Now I realize I had never really known what true joy was until the Holy Spirit came into my life. I shudder to think what might have happened to me had you not been persistent that night in Dadeville. I had just about forgotten what it was to love. Then to have God's liquid love gushing out of me --- Wow~ And to go to church and His love wash over me ---Wow! Last February I went to LifeChurch in Birmingham, Alabama, to hear you speak --- God didn't wait till the end of the service. Immediately after you stepped to the podium the love of God washed in a torrent over my face. Now I've had such glorious experiences in the Holy Spirit that I almost feel irreverent talking about them.

Thank you for your ministry in the Holy Spirit! I would trade the rest of my life to keep those moments where His love washed over me. But I've learned the only way to keep His love is to give it away; now it's wonderful to lose my life to gain Him. I love Jesus! I delight in reading about the resurrection, and the Book of Acts is no longer painful to read. But it's not me doing it --- it's Him in me. Wow! There have been many times when I would have been sucked away from this new life in the Holy Spirit had I not received the understanding from God's word in your writing. Thank you for helping my roots get down deep.

I love you, Charles. --- Sam Wyckoff, Opelika, Alabama

Dear Brother Charles, Thank you for ministering to me at Faith Tabernacle in Florence, Alabama. I needed the Lord's touch. He met me there; little did I know it was just the beginning of the work the Lord would do in my heart. I received major deliverance from some strongholds that had me bound. The love in Christ you showed me opened my heart to allow the Lord to empty all that wasn't from Him and to be filled with such peace ... I so desire to know the Lord more and to be used by Him. I am so blessed when I see David Rhea ministering at your side. You have mentored him to become a servant/leader--humble, and yet full of authority. I continue to pray for the ministry of the Lord to gush out from your inner-most parts like rivers of Living Water.

Blessings, E.P. --- Estill Springs, Tennessee.