Are You Listening? I Sam. 3

I. Eli Was Nearly Blind Spiritually

A. Eli was blind to what God had been doing, he did not heed the warnings Yahweh had give him. He didn’t discern Hannah praying. This once spiritual man, was becoming blind spiritually just as he was becoming blind physically. (Reasons people become blind spiritually speaking: busyness, idols, self, greed, religion, flesh, excuses)

B. He didn’t recognize that Hannah was praying. (1:13-14) “Prayer isn’t God up there and us down here; it is the Holy Spirit speaking within us, bearing witness with our spirits that we might know the mind of Christ”- Charles Stanley

C. Eli had made his sons an idol and didn’t stop them from serving after learning of their treachery (Ken Schapp/Jack Schapp ex)

D. It took a while for Eli to understand what was going on, because he hadn’t actively listened to Yahweh in a long time. (Active vs. Passive listening ex.)

E. Eli didn’t even weep, he had hardened himself for so long, that he was on the sideline and didn’t even realize it. Maybe he thought he was too weak, and only God could handle his sons.

II. Samuel was Learning to Listen

A. Samuel was too young, and inexperienced to understand what was happening.

B. Samuel was obedient to those in charge of him, and more importantly to Yahweh.

C. He learning to grow into the role that Yahweh had called him to. (David, Joseph, Abraham ex)

III. Where Are You?

A. Who are you like Eli, or Samuel?

B. Maybe you need to pay attention in prayer for Yahweh to reveal it to you.