As I write this sermon, I too admit that I have had times in my life where the Voice of God has been hard to discern. As I look back however, those times in my life are usually when there are so many other voices going on that I have trouble focusing in on what God is telling me. How many times have we missed God’s message to us because we were listening to other things or people instead of Him?
St. Ignatius of Loyola said: "It is true that the voice of God, having once fully penetrated the heart, becomes strong as the tempest and loud as the thunder; but before reaching the heart it is as weak as a light breath which scarcely agitates the air. It shrinks from noise, and is silent amid agitation."
A more humorous example of how God may communicate to man:
When a mother saw a thunderstorm forming in mid-afternoon, she worried about her seven-year-old daughter who would be walking the three blocks from school to home. Deciding to meet her, the mother saw her walking nonchalantly along, stopping to smile whenever lightning flashed.
Seeing her mother, the little girl ran to her, explaining happily, "All the way home, God’s been taking my picture!"
Read Text – the entirety of 1 Samuel Chapter 3
I would like to suggest four facts about the voice of God that I hope will help you identify, listen to, and respond to His voice when it is directed at you!
I. God can call anyone.
Does God speak solely to Christians? No! It’s in the Bible!
God can talk to believers.
Acts 16:9: And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."
Paul was already a believer and a full-time missionary at this point. Notice this call was to missions.
God can talk to non-believers.
Acts 9:4: Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?"
This is the verse that refers to Paul’s conversion experience. Notice this call was a call unto salvation.
God has called us!
1 Peter 2:9: But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
If you are a Christian and you are wondering about hearing the voice of God, look at that scripture! He has already called us!
If you are not a Christian, I would like to suggest today that God has called you unto salvation because of His great love for you! Keep listening!
Samuel heard the Voice of God. However, the scripture says that Samuel did not yet know the Lord. The word of the Lord had not been revealed to Him.
The word “word” is the Hebrew word “dabar” which actually carries a spoken connotation – which tells me that perhaps the writer is telling us that Samuel believed in God (he worked in a temple) but did not have a relationship with God yet. He did not yet know and was not yet capable of recognizing God’s voice (it took Samuel 3 times of going to Eli to ask who was calling him!).
Concerning the voice of God, let’s read the following passage about shepherds and sheep:
John 10:4-5:
And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
5: Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers."
Ask yourself this today : How well do I recognize God’s voice? Can I tell it apart from the voice of the world, or the voice of my own desires? When God is calling me, do I discern his voice as that of my Savior and Lord?
Maybe you are here today because you believe in God, but do you know God? Do you have a relationship with him that allows you to talk to Him (cast your cares upon him) AND listen to Him?
Could God be calling you today to something more? A closer walk with Him? A deeper intimacy with Him? Perhaps He is calling you to recall and live in the joy of salvation!
II. God can use others to help us as we are being called.
Samuel was able to rely on Eli in this instance. Eli was older and wiser and more experienced. He was wise enough to be able to figure out what was going on that night when God called Samuel:
1 Samuel 3:8-9:
And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. Then he arose and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you did call me." Then Eli perceived that the Lord had called the boy.
Therefore Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, ’Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears.’ " So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
Struggling with hearing and recognizing the voice of God?
Talk to a wise counselor! A pastor or a wiser, more experienced friend might be able to help you and give you godly counsel. There are plenty of people in our church who would be glad to give you counsel that is both biblical and consistent. Take advantage of those who are willing to share of their life experiences and would be glad to do so.
Also, consider accountability partners. An accountability partner is one who can listen and talk to you without changing their opinion of you. It is one who will hold you to a higher standard while relying on you to do the same for them. Instead of a person dragging another person down in a relationship, in an accountability relationship, 2 persons work together to go up.
I would recommend a person with a similar schedule, age, family situation, and geographical location – perhaps a relationship where there is already a friendship. And stick to the same gender! That is a non-negotiable must.
Proverbs 27:17: As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
III. God’s call leads to different outcomes:
1. Samuel received a message (a tough message at that) –
1 Samuel 3:11-14:
Then the Lord said to Samuel: "Behold, I will do something in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle.
3:12
In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end.
3:13
For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knows, because his sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them.
3:14
And therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever."
2. Paul received a missions opportunity.
Acts 16:9 - And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."
Perhaps there are people here who have been called to missions but have never participated in a missions trip. I don’t know why you haven’t gone yet, but you need to go! Speak to Pastor Bill next week about Thailand. If God calls you, you know he will provide a way.
God doesn’t call the equipped, he equips the called.
3. God’s call is always a mandate. He isn’t bargaining with us! He doesn’t ask “pretty please!” God calls with the intention that we answer His call.
IV. God’s call requires our complete and total obedience.
Not only should we listen for, identify, pray about, and sometimes receive counsel about what God is calling us to/for, we should respond with all of ourselves in total obedience to him.
Paul’s response - Acts 16:10 - Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.
Samuel’s response - 1 Samuel 3:18- Then Samuel told him (Eli) everything, and hid nothing from him.
What is your response to God?
Ignore God? Put him off?
Maybe? Hem-haw around?
I’m not qualified/worthy?
Let our response be Yes, Lord Yes!
I’ll say yes Lord yes
To Your will and to Your way
I’ll say yes Lord yes
I will trust You and obey
When the Spirit speaks to me
With my whole heart I’ll agree
And my answer will be
Yes Lord yes
Used by permission CCLI ****** (insert your valid CCLI number)
Transition appropriately into an invitation.
