Title: Hearing the voice of God
Theme:
Text: 1 Samuel 3:1-15
John 10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. 6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.
14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
There are two important things that we can learn from these verses that relate to us and our relationship with the Lord. The Bible often uses this shepherd and sheep illustration when talking about our relationship to the Lord. I have been reading on Psalms 23. This passage is full of vital information about how the Lord feels about us.
But notice these two things. 1) We can know the voice of God. In other words in this world where everything is clamoring for our attention we can know the voice of God.
2) He knows us. This is so important for some of you to hear. God knows you and he cares about you. He knows where you are at. He knows what you are going through. He knows where you are going. And he loves you. He knows you by name. He calls you by name.
Now let me give you Three reasons why people don’t hear the voice of God.
1. Sin Eph 4:26-27
Eph 4:26-27 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: (27) Neither give place to the devil.
When we sin we give a place or foothold to the devil. When we allow sin in our life we lose focus on God and Satan begins to clog the channel. We can’t hear the voice of God.
“Just as forgiveness cleans us up, sin clogs us up.”
Psa 66:18 tells us “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: “ Just as much we will also not hear God. Sin is one of the major hindrances to hearing God.
John Bunyan once wrote “Prayer will make a man cease from sin or sin will make a man cease from prayer”.
2. Neglect. Luke 10:41-42 As the Martha and Mary story in scriptures.
We know the story. Martha is in the kitchen worrying herself to death. She is busy. She looks out and sees Mary at the feet of Jesus. Animosity swells up in her heart and she says to Jesus.
Luk 10:40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. (Doesn’t it bother you Lord that while Mary is sitting I am working).
Luk 10:41-42 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: (42) But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
Mary has chosen the things that are important
Busyness is not working. Working is doing what is most important at the time.
Notice the writer of Hebrews speaking of salvation says in Hebrews 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation;
We must be careful that we don’t miss what is important. Not spending enough time with the Lord.
We have to be careful that we are not too busy to hear his voice.
3. Inexperience. We want to hear his voice but we are not sure when he speaks.
Which leads us into our main message. We need to know how to listen to God.
Six practical steps in how to listen God.
1Sa 3:1-10 And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious (rare) in those days; there was no open vision. (2) And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see; (3) And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep; (4) That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I. (5) And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down. (6) And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again. (7) Now Samuel did not yet know (he did not yet interact with the Lord, not a personal relationship) the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him (young). (8) And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child. (9) Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. (10) And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.
I. Minister unto the Lord (vs. 1)
Ministering unto the Lord means to worship him to praise him, to come into his presence with worship. This is not getting busy with ministry but it is being a servant and a minister unto the Lord.
II. Seek counsel from mature Christians (vs. 5,6,8)
Prov 11:14, Prov 24:6
“Where no counsel [is], the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors [there is] safety.” (Proverbs 11:14)
“For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors [there is] safety.” (Proverbs 24:6 AV)
When you go, go with the right heart and the right information.
III. Test the Spirits vs. 4-9
1Jo 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try(test) the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Some questions to ask while “testing the spirit” are:
1. Are my motives pure?
2. Is the message consistent? a) with His word b) with God’s people c) with God’s movement
3. Is the message persistent? Can I not get away from it, does it keep coming back?
4. Will this bless the Lord and others
IV. Submit to his Lordship vs. 8 “Here am I”
Rom 12:1-2 I beseech (urge) you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present (submit) your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, (Why?) that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
We must first submit so that we can hear.
Speaking of the Israelites standing on the edge of the wilderness
Ps 106:13 They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel: 14 But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God (tried to restrain God) in the desert. (sadly verse 15 says) 15 And he gave them their request; but sent leanness (emptiness) into their soul.
V. Have faith that God will speak to you vs. 9
(9) Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. (10) And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.
He went and laid down at the same place where God had spoken to him. He went back to that special place where God had spoken to him.
VI. Obey Boldly
When God does speak obey him boldly. God revealed to Samuel that he was going to do a great work. God told him to speak to Eli’s family.
1Sa 3:15-18 And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision. (16) Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I. (17) And he said, What is the thing that the LORD hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee. (18) And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.
Conclusion
There are so many challenges that are facing our church today. More than ever before we need to hear the voice of God. We need to hear his will. We need to know that he is speaking to us.
Over these next few months we will be faced with great challenges.
Yet also you need to hear his voice. Maybe God has been speaking to you. Is there sin? Is there neglect? Or do you just need to learn.
1. Minister unto the Lord
2. Seek counsel from mature Christians
3. Test the Spirits
4. Submit to His Lordship
5. Have faith that God will speak to you
6. Obey Boldly
