Samuel was one of the most powerful demonstrations of apostolic ministry in the Old Testament.  He became a receptacle of God on the earth because of His constant access to revelation and the proceeding Word. His indestructible life empowered him to govern Israel with supernatural stature. He radiated superhuman authority keeping the Philistines outside the borders of Israel all the days of his life. But many don’t know that Samuel’s ministry began in a difficult period of Israel’s history. From 1 Samuel we understand that:

The conditions in the Temple were deplorable in Samuel’s day.

Firstly, the priesthood had deteriorated into decadence and self-indulgence. We are told in 1 Samuel 2:2 that “the sons of Eli were corrupt”. Not only did they desecrate the sacrifices offered in the temple, they were also violating sexually the devout women who served in the temple. Another problem was the famine of the proceeding Word in the temple. 1 Samuel 3:1 tells us “the Word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation”. Moreover, an expired priesthood was holding the monopoly on religion over Israel. Eli was at the helm of the temple and “Eli was very old” and “his eyes had begun to grow so dim that he could not see” (1 Samuel 2:22 and 3:2 respectively).

The Philistines were prevailing over Israel in Samuel’s day

1 Samuel 4:1-3 tells us that Israel went out to battle against the Philistines and was defeated. Verse 10 says “So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and every man fled to his tent. There was a very great slaughter, and there fell of Israel thirty thousand foot soldiers”. This was a very difficult period in Israel’s history. It is uncanny how we are experiencing precisely similar things in our day. The dire state of the temple in Samuel’s day is tantamount to what is happening in the global Church today. The Church, both leaders and saints, are consumed with excessive living and self-indulgence. Churches are lacking the current speakings of God and many pastors and preachers alike have no clue as to what God is saying or doing in the earth right now.

The contemporary Church has unfortunately become a defunct Church. A defunct Church gives rise to a defunct society. No wonder the world’s system advances against the Church, just as the Philistines advanced against Israel. You will agree, we are currently experiencing one of the most wicked periods in the earth’s history considering the global onslaught against biblical values. When such negative conditions are rife on the earth, heaven unleashes a countermeasure. A brand-new mantle and grace is sent into the earth: THE MANTLE OF SAMUEL. God has already judged the expired priesthood in the Church, a priesthood which is in the process of being removed (1 Sam. 2:30-31). The old guard is being replaced with the new and there’s a rapid shift from “church as usual” to “church unusual”.

FIVE DISTINCT FEATURES OF THE MANTLE OF SAMUEL:

1.  The power to prevail in unconducive environments

The ministry conditions of the temple in Samuel’s day were unfavourable and erroneous. But Samuel changed the prevailing culture and order in the temple. He was able to “minister to the Lord (even) before Eli” (1 Sam.3:1). And although the Word of the Lord was rare, the Lord kept revealing Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord (1 Sam.3:21).

When the mantle of Samuel comes upon you, you become immune to the toxic examples of worldly  churches and expired Christian leaders. You prevail in the midst of religious systems and worldliness. You are able to turn things around no matter what the circumstances. Even in the midst demonic territories and hostile environments you will know how to open the heavens. When all other priests in the temple assumed that heaven was sealed, Samuel opened up the heavens!

2. The grace to preserve and protect people

1 Samuel 7:8-10 “So the children of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not cease to cry out to the LORD our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines.” (9)  And Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. Then Samuel cried out to the LORD for Israel, and the LORD answered him.  (10)  Now as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. But the LORD thundered with a loud thunder upon the Philistines that day, and so confused them that they were overcome before Israel”.

The mantle of Samuel is a powerful grace. It brings a veil of protection over people, whether in the church, over our cities or our nation. Let me give you an example: On Sunday 9^th December 2018, the Spirit led our local church to prophesy over our roads, highways and beaches. It was the holiday season, a time when road accidents and drownings increase in our region. We commanded our highways and seas not to devour lives during the December holidays, and we rebuked every bloodthirsty spirit. At the end of December our Transport Minister Blade Nzimande stated in a national report that the death toll on South African roads between December 1^st and 28^th had increased by 16%! However, what was interesting was that a statement released from our local municipality (Kwadukuza) reported otherwise: “Kwadukuza has shown an almost 30% decrease in collision fatalities so far, and an 80% decrease in drownings compared to the same time last year”!!! The mantle of Samuel gives us grace and power to preserve and protect people!

3. The stature to crush powers of darkness & subdue the enemy

1 Samuel 7:13 “So the Philistines were subdued, and they did not come anymore into the territory of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel”. The mantle of Samuel is so powerful that it can push hell out and keep demonic spirits outside our regions and cities. It can subdue those principalities and powers that have kept entire nations bound for years on end. It can subvert any system and organisation that stands against God in insurrection. What holds your region and city bound? Is it poverty, divorce, gangsterism, drugs, racism or other evils? Ask God to put the mantle and anointing of Samuel upon you so you have the power to push these vices out of your vicinity.

4.  The power to turn the tide (to be the agents of change)

1 Samuel 7:14 “Then the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath; and Israel recovered its territory from the hands of the Philistines. Also there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.” Samuel was an atmosphere-changer. He supernaturally affected the state of the land as well as the hearts of Israel’s enemies.

The mantle of Samuel will give you the power to reverse negative trends and change things for the better. You will be able to recover and restore what was lost or taken from you, others and your region. Samuel’s mantle gives you the power to change the hearts of those who oppose you. Remember Isaac and Abimelech in Genesis 26. Initially, Abimelech sent Isaac away from him because Isaac has become mightier than him (v.16). However, afterwards, God changed Abimelech’s hearts and he returned to Isaac to make an oath with him and compelled him to stay (v.28). Such is the power of this mantle and anointing.

5.  The grace to govern over territories and atmospheres

Samuel possessed a territorial governing grace. Through his life he exuded supernatural dominion and governance over the whole nation. When we receive the mantle of Samuel we receive the grace to govern over regions, cities and nations. We are able to exercise spiritual rule and reign over the jurisdictions that God has allocated to us. We become watchmen on the wall and spiritual mayors over our cities! The mantle of Samuel will transform pastors and preachers. You will not longer be just a pastor or preacher; you will become the Word! We will no longer release mere rhetoric and learning from our pulpits, we will begin to govern and transform our regions and cities. Pastors of churches will become elders of cities. When the mantle of Samuel comes upon you it brings with it the indestructible life and stature of Christ. And that’s why your environment will begin to align with your spirit!

Let me conclude by saying that a change of priesthood is imminent in the global Church and God is changing the mantle of leaders within His Church. This is not the season and time for pastoral leaders but leaders with a governing grace, like Samuel. Through such leaders the Melchizedek Order, which is the church that rules and reigns from the right hand of God, will find expression. May God bestow THE MANTLE OF SAMUEL upon you and enable you to join the ranks and calibre of these mighty end-time reformers whom He is raising in His Church in this hour.