Ebenezer: The LORD has helped us

This was extracted from write-ups that our Pastor, Pastor Femi Olawale sends out to the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Canada on a monthly basis. Read and be Blessed!!

The sermon draws from 1 Samuel 7:9, describing how Prophet Samuel led Israel against the Philistines through unconventional means. Rather than relying on military strength, Samuel "offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD" and "cried out to the LORD for Israel, and the LORD answered him."

The Philistines assembled against Israel with great intimidation of size and number and as expected, they were all fearful, except Prophet Samuel. The prophet engaged a none conventional weapon of prayer — total surrender and complete trust in God.

After God's miraculous intervention through thunder that confused their enemies, Samuel established a memorial stone called Ebenezer, meaning "Thus far the LORD has helped us."

Pastor Olawale applies this biblical account to contemporary believers. He emphasises that despite widespread death and suffering around them, those still living should recognise divine preservation. He encourages readers to acknowledge God's deliverance by establishing their own spiritual "stones" — metaphorical monuments of gratitude.

Look around you today. Consider how far God has brought you. Consider the dangers you have passed through, the illnesses you have survived, the crises that did not consume you. Every single one of those moments is an Ebenezer — a stone of remembrance.

The closing exhortation calls believers to become "that grateful soul who recognises the mighty deliverance God has wrought" and declare EBENEZER in acknowledgment of God's faithfulness.