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Intro: We have all heard and read of Samuel and what a miracle baby that he was, and all of
us that have any children understand that they are all miracles. Those of us who have had our children for very long understand
that it will take a lot more miracles if they make it to adulthood with any sense at all, or with us having any sense at all
either! Yet there was about Samuel a special something. As yet a small child he served God. From the time he was but a boy,
he had his own linen ephod. John Wesley wrote concerning this ephod: it was “A garment used in God's service, and
allowed not only to the inferior priests and Levites but also to eminent persons of the people, and therefore to Samuel, who,
though no Levite, was a Nazarite, from his birth.” As but a small child, he was adorned in the garments reserved for
the “eminent persons of the people.” The Scripture Further states that his parents would come once a year
to the tabernacle to offer sacrifice. His mother would bring to him a little coat that she had made for him each year. It
would have certainly been too big at the first of the year and probably too small by the end of the year. This was his outer
garment that he wore above the ephod. It kept him warm in cold weather, and it served to dress up his appearance to all that
were around. In my estimation, it was like a sport coat. Every sport coat that I have ever had was lined with an inner
lining and had pockets on the inside and out. I don’t know for certain that this is the way that this coat was made,
but I would like to believe that it was. A good mother, however, would not send this boy a coat with empty pockets. She would
have put goodies in every pocket. Each day Samuel would put on his coat, reach his hand in his pocket, and pull out another
gift from Mom and Dad. I want to preach by the help of the Lord, on Pockets of Blessings. What kind of things are you
putting in your children’s pockets? Are you giving them the example of a drunkard? Are you putting in their pockets
the worldliness of this generation? Are you putting in their pockets hope only in this life? If your child has a pocket filled
with money in an inheritance from you, but they do not have the assurance that the family circle will never be broken, they
are going to be very poor! Load your child’s pockets with: I. Prayer: I Sam 1:10, Hannah prayed that God
would give Samuel to her, and she prayed for what he would be as an adult. How long has it been since your children heard
you pray for them? II. Personal Testimony: I Sam 1:5, Though she could have no children, Elkannah gave
unto her a portion worthy of a mother. For the Godly woman, her family will know and declare her testimony. (Prov 31:28-30,
“Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously,
but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.”).
I wonder if your children know your testimony. Do they know about your salvation experience? Does your walk with God show
your relationship with him (I will contend that it does). Have you raised up any stones? Do your children ask what they mean?
If they don’t ever ask, you have no stones. III. Powerful Worship: I Sam 2:1-10, She writes a
song and sings it unto the Lord. She is not ashamed to be seen praying in the altar at the house of God. She is not ashamed
to worship in song and testimony before the Lord and the people. How long has it been since your children saw you worship…
ever? IV. Proven Word: I Sam 3:1, It was considered precious because it was right, it was real, and
it was rare. It is still precious for all the same reasons. Don’t raise your kids on nursery rhymes; teach them the
Word of God! Psalms 119:11, Deuteronomy 6:4-9, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the
LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this
day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest
in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them
for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of
thy house, and on thy gates. V. Precious Memories: Prov 22:6 “Train up a child…”
They may run, but they can’t outrun their upbringing. The memories will follow them, and the Holy Ghost will use them
to draw them to himself. And Romans 2:4 says that the goodness of God will lead them to repentance. Teach them of that goodness. Conclusion:
These pockets full of blessings will result in a person filled with character. The things you put in your children’s
pockets today will become infused in their hearts in adulthood.
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