The Ebenezer Principle | Jentezen Franklin

Sunday, September 7



Scriptures 

I Samuel 4:1-5:1; I Samuel 7:9-12; Joshua 24:27; Genesis 12:3; Revelation 12:11; Acts 4:11-12; Ephesians 2:20; Matthew 1:1; I Samuel 11:9 

Introduction 

Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.” 1Samuel:7:12 

Today we’ll explore the message, ‘The Ebenezer Principle’ by Pastor Jentezen Franklin.  The message encourages us to recognize that, despite our current circumstances or trials, God has been faithful to be with us constantly.  Moreover, the evidence of God’s presence in our past is a reminder that we can trust Him with our present and future.   The concept of the "Ebenezer Principle" is that we make a monument (physical or metaphorical) of the times that God has shown His faithfulness through life's challenges so we can remain grateful for our past and confident in our future. It gives substance of the promise in Romans 8:31 when Paul reminds us: What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 

Pastor Franklin contrasted difference between Israel's moments of defeat and God's transformative victory.  He used the story of the Ark of the Covenant, as detailed in 1 Samuel chapters 4-7 to starkly illustrate how God can take our defeats and turn them into His victories. While Israel saw defeat and national humiliation, God used the capture of the Ark by the Philistines to showcase his sovereign power and expose the emptiness of idol worship. The humbling experience of the Ark's capture led to a period of genuine repentance in Israel under the leadership of Samuel. When the Philistines attacked again, the Israelites prayed, and God intervened with thunder, throwing the Philistines into confusion and securing a decisive Israelite victory. 

In today’s study we will start the process of looking for the circumstances and evidence that God was indeed in our past and faithfully looking to help us.  We will also learn to erect spiritual Ebenezer memorials to remind us of what God has done, how faithful He is, and that His faithfulness endures forever. 

This week we will dig into: 

  • The Place of Defeat 
  • God’s restoration and Victory 
  • Personal Testimony and Memorials 
  • What stood out to you in this past Sunday’s message? 
  • What are some circumstances in your life that give a testimony to the fact that God was with you then? 

The Place of Defeat 

Defeat is a universal experience, touching each of us in different ways. Whether it’s a personal setback or a collective loss, the question remains: Where do we go from here, and how do we accept it? 

The story of Ichabod, meaning "the glory has departed," illustrates the depth of despair that can follow defeat. In the biblical account, the Israelites suffered a devastating loss to the Philistines at Ebenezer, with over 34,000 soldiers killed and the Ark of the Covenant captured (1 Samuel 4:1–2, 10). The weight of this defeat was overwhelming. When Eli, the high priest, heard of the Ark’s capture and the deaths of his two sons, he fell backward, broke his neck, and died. His daughter-in-law, in the agony of childbirth, named her newborn son Ichabod before dying herself, leaving the child motherless, fatherless, and grandfatherless. Like it says in 1 Samuel 4:21–22, “She named the boy Ichabod, saying, ‘The Glory has departed from Israel’—because of the capture of the ark of God and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband.” This profound tragedy underscores the consequences of the Israelites’ disobedience. The Ark, now in the hands of the Philistines, was taken to Ashdod and placed in the temple of their god Dagon (1 Samuel 5:1), marking a moment of national and spiritual crisis for Israel. 

Yet, even in such a dire situation, were they truly abandoned? God never forsakes His people. Despite their failures, He remains present, working through His divine plan to restore and redeem. Defeat, though painful, is not the end. It invites us to reflect, repent, and trust in God’s unwavering presence and purpose. 

  • How have you experienced a personal or communal "defeat" in your life, and what helped you move forward from that moment of loss or despair? 
  • The name Ichabod signifies "the glory has departed." When have you felt a sense of God’s presence or glory fading in your life, and how did you seek to reconnect with His plan and purpose? 
  • The Israelites faced consequences for their disobedience, yet God remained faithful. How can we trust in God’s presence and plan when we face setbacks due to our own choices or circumstances beyond our control? 

God's Restoration and Victory 

The Philistines, having heard the Israelites were gathered at Mizpah, went up against Israel [1 Samuel 7:10]. “Went up” means to ascend, and in military terms, it signifies an offensive movement. The Israelites, hearing the Philistines were coming, were afraid [1 Samuel 7:7], yet they gathered to pray, fast, and confess their sins. Both parties heard, both moved forward, both on the offensive. 

The Israelites may not have realized they were on the offensive, but in their fear, they sought God’s help. What could have been a place of defeat became a place of victory. That victory began long before anything was visible to the human eye. Why? Because they humbled themselves, as Scripture reminds us in 1 Peter 5:6: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” They sought the Lord (Matthew 6:33) and invited God’s power and proven faithfulness into their situation, trusting that His presence would bring deliverance even when the outcome was still unseen. 

  • Given God’s proven faithfulness in our past, why do you think we sometimes lack confidence in Him during current trials?  
  • How can focusing on perceived imminent defeat or giving in to fear prevent us from seeking God through prayer, fasting, and repentance (clearing hindrances to prayer or miracles)? 

A God-fearing, God-seeking, repentant person has God fighting on their side, making them invincible. Small faith in the true and living God is more powerful than strong faith in a lie or self-sufficiency. The term "little faith" in Matthew 17:20 refers not to the quantity of faith but to difficulty in trusting God’s power and provision. 

Hitherto... The Lord Has Helped Us 

The Lord thundered with a loud thunder [1 Samuel 7:10]. God fought from heaven on behalf of Israel [Deuteronomy 20:4], granting them victory. The Philistines were confused and defeated. God can turn any place of defeat into a place of victory when invited to rule and reign over the situation. The victory belongs to the Lord [Proverbs 21:31]. Notably, the Israelites heard the same thunder, but only the Philistines were confused. Our God saves, sanctifies, and delivers with the precision of a surgeon because He knows us intimately [Psalm 139, Luke 12:7]. 

“Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, ‘Thus far the Lord has helped us’” [1 Samuel 7:12]. Ebenezer means “stone of help.” Samuel memorialized the place where repentance met rescue, prayer met provision, and fasting met faithful deliverance from defeat. God’s past work in your life is a pledge of His future help. 

“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death” [Revelation 12:11]. We overcome the enemy and everything that seeks to steal, kill, and destroy through God, who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ [1 Corinthians 15:57]. We retain that victory by knowing His character and recalling all He is, all He has done, all He can do, and all He will do. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever [Hebrews 13:8]. His Word does not return void [Isaiah 55:11]. His Word is settled in heaven [Psalm 119:89]. 

  • When was the last time you took inventory of all that God has brought you through?  
  • When you recall His faithfulness “hitherto” (up to this point), can you testify to His goodness with certainty? If so, how did recalling His past help, faithfulness, and love shift your perspective?  
  • What are some ways to set up your own “stone of remembrance”? 

Personal Testimony and memorials  

From the pasture to the palace, David reflected on how far the Lord had brought him and how His presence and faithfulness gave him success in all he undertook. In awe, David prayed: “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?” — 1 Chronicles 17:16 

The power of reflection and remembering God’s faithfulness cannot be underestimated. Setting up our modern-day Ebenezer stones testifies to His goodness during times of trouble and reminds us that, no matter what we face, we stand on a firm foundation. 

“So, you are not foreigners or guests, but rather you are the children of the city of the holy ones… You are rising like the perfectly fitted stones of the temple… and best of all, you are connected to the Head Cornerstone of the building, the Anointed One, Jesus Christ himself!” —Ephesians 2:19-20 TPT 

When we remember who God has been in our lives, He re-members us—taking the disjointed, discouraged pieces and putting them back together. Stone by stone, brick by brick, our faith is rebuilt with Jesus as the Cornerstone, our ultimate stone of help (Acts 4:11). 

Take time this week to pause and reflect. Set up your own ‘Ebenezer stone’—a reminder of how far God has brought you. Meditate on this truth: Jesus, our Cornerstone, gives us confidence and assurance to boldly declare: “Thou hast brought me hitherto.” 

  • What could your own “modern-day Ebenezer stone” look like?  
  • In what ways do you see God “re-membering” (putting back together) areas of your life right now? 

Conclusion 

“Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, ‘Thus far the Lord has helped us.” [1 Samuel 7:12] 

Although the digital age has changed things, many of us are old enough to remember creating photo albums. Before digital photography, our pictures were printed, arriving in envelopes containing stacks of 24 or 36 photos. To organize them, we would select images from a specific event or subject, choose our favorites, and place them in a photo album. While creating the album was a joyful way to relive the past, if we never revisited it, those memories could easily fade. 

Similarly, as we reflect on God’s work in our lives, we face a challenge: unless we memorialize our encounters with Him, we risk forgetting His faithfulness. This forgetfulness can erode our confidence in God’s ability and willingness to help us in current troubles or future needs. Therefore, it is vital for each of us to create our own “Ebenezer” memorials—testimonies of God’s faithfulness that we can revisit to recall His mighty acts. We must commit to reflecting on these memorials during personal prayer time to keep God’s faithfulness fresh in our minds. 

Just as flipping through old photo albums evokes nostalgia and floods of pleasant memories, revisiting our Ebenezers inspires gratitude and confidence in our Heavenly Father. This practice embodies Jesus’ promise: “…And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” [Matthew 28:20b]. Despite life’s uncertainties, God’s help remains constant, and believers can proclaim, “Hitherto, the Lord has helped me,” as a source of hope and strength. Let us trust in Jesus as the ultimate Ebenezer, our ever-present help and foundation of faith. 

Call To Action:   

  • Find areas of your life where you have faced struggles or crises, 
  • Look for the evidence that God was with you through those times, 
  • Identify how God’s presence and help brought you through that season, 
  • Create your own Ebenezer in the form of a journal entry, Scripture print, picture, object, etc. to associate with that event as a visible reminder of God’s presence and help at that point in your life.
  • Most importantly, go back with intentionality and review your Ebenezers focusing on  what God has done as a reminder that He can and will do it again.  

Prayer:   

Heavenly Father, help me to remember all that you have done for me throughout my life.  Help me to see Your hand at work in all my circumstances.  Enable me to see the truth of Your love for me and Your faithfulness to do what is best for me.  As a result, empower me to be grateful and bold to share what You have done in transforming my life.  Help me to be sensitive to the direction and guidance of Your Holy Spirit so I don’t miss opportunities to be an active participant in Your Kingdom’s work.  

In Your Holy Name Jesus, we pray. Amen. 

Resources 

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