The Stone of Help
This sermon examines the narrative in 1 Samuel 7, where Samuel erects a stone named Ebenezer to memorialize God's help against the Philistines. The central message identifies four essential steps that precede divine intervention: national lamentation for sin, heartfelt consecration to God, fervent supplication, and the ultimate act of God stepping in to deliver His people. The preacher emphasizes that this sequence serves as a model for the church today, urging believers to move beyond spiritual complacency and compromise by turning their hearts fully to the Lord. By analysing the historical context of Israel's defeat and subsequent revival, the message encourages a posture of dependence on God rather than human effort, asserting that true victory comes only when God intervenes. The tone is both convicting regarding the need for repentance and comforting in the assurance that God remains faithful to His covenant people.