Speak for your servant is listening

Pray

Well it’s good to be back again this morning. In case you didn’t know, this last week I had the opportunity to attend district conference in Hope church in Westerville, right outside Columbus. And while I was there, I had the privilege of hearing the alliance President John Stumbo preach, Kim and I also had the chance to tour the current site of the national office in Reynoldsburg and get a glimpse of what it will look like when the $50 million new facility is in place.

Which by the way, is a massive amount of money… but where I’m encouraged is the vision of this facility is to be right in the heart of the city… what used to be an area where drug deals would be going down on a regular basis, what is now an abandoned K-Mart, is the future site for migration between, district office and those in such need. (So, I’m encouraged this morning…)

But here’s where I want us to go for a moment this morning. You see, aside from the delicious avocado egg rolls that Kim and I had on Tuesday night at BJ’s Brewhouse… what I’ve found through my years in ministry, is that anytime I’m intentional about getting away with God… God always has a way of showing up and speaking to me.

And so, for the next 30 minutes or so, I just want to touch on what I was hearing during district conference.... by those who spoke, because the truth is… this is concept that each of use can relate with in one way or another. And that concept is hearing from God.

Interestingly enough, 2 weeks ago, Tim Young spoke on the concept of prayer. And his emphasis, was that, in prayer, we need to be mindful of what God is already doing. And oftentimes, we should be praying, like whatever it is your doing God “do more of that…” and so we’re going to talk about prayer this morning…

But here’s where we’re going… this idea of listening to God.

And I want us to think for moment, how many times in life… do we go to God with our list of things we need or want… and Ask God to do something about A, B, C? Like God, here’s my problem, fix my problem. I’m not saying we shouldn’t do that… in fact, the bible tells us to cast all of our cares on him, (for he what?) He cares for us… We should go to God with our problems… but here’s my question to you this morning… when was the last time that you spent time in prayer, and just waited in silence (for like 20 – 30 minutes) to see what God was saying?

Oftentimes, we ask God to bless what we’re already doing… we get ahead of God, and do things that make sense to us, and then without praying about stuff, we’re like “oh by the way God, can you bless this…” all the while, God is like, I wasn’t in that…

But how many times, do we pray…. and Just Listen… hmm

Think about that…

This morning, I want us to be mindful of listening. Would we be as Samuel and say: “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.”

If you have your bibles, turn with me to 1 Samuel 3, and as your turning there this morning, I want to draw our attention to 3 concepts as we discuss this idea of prayer. 1. Recognize the voice of God. 2. Ask God to Speak. 3. Listen when He Speaks.

1. Recognizing the voice of God

1 The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions. 2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am.” 5 And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down.

6 Again the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” “My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. 8 A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

I want to stop and consider the scripturefor a moment. We see in verse 1, 1 The blank Samuel (what’s that word? Right, doesn’t saying high school graduate, college graduate, wasn’t even a teen… the Boy Samuel) ministered before the Lord under Eli.. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.

So, we have 2 primary characters in focus. One being the boy, Samuel. the other being Eli the priest, or likely high priest. And they are serving in Shiloah, where the tabernacle had been set up… and this would have been the main place for the people of Israel to worship… for at this time, Solomen of course had not yet built the temple. And so, this tent, or tabernacle, was the house of the Lord in Shiloah, a city north of Israel, it also housed the ark of the covenant… and it was being overseen by, Eli the priest, who’s also a judge in Israel, and what’s interesting is at this point, his eyes are starting to fail him, he’s 98 years old.

And as the story plays out, we’re told that 2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. In contrast to Samuel, who is sleeping in a slightly different spot for we’re told: 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was.

And what happens 4 Then the Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am.”

You see for you in your life… You may want to hear from God… and if we’re not careful, we can overlook scripture. But I want us to notice 2 thingsfor a moment. Where was Samuel when he heard from God? He was in the house of the Lord… he was in the presence of God. and Whatis his posture??? now at the time, he’s lying down, and so he’s probably asleep… but certainly for us, we could all learn from this idea of prostrating our selves (lying down) or finding a posture of prayer… in our walk, where our knees our bent and our eyes are looking to heaven…

So, there’s a positional component… but watch this… I also want us to catch this idea, of recognizing the voice of the Lord in our life: 4 Then the Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am.” 5 And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down.

6 Again the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” “My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. 8 A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

The bible Says at this point. Samuel did not yet know the Lord. So, although He was set aside from birth for the Lord’s purpose. Although he had a Nazirite vow on his life, and in time, would go on to be Israel last Judge, would serve as a priest prophet… in these moments, Samuel did not yet know the Lord. And so, although God, is calling out to Him… he doesn’t recognize (at least at first) the voice of the Lord. And actually requires, the help of Eli, the priest, to recognize God is calling to him.

For some of us this morning with young people in our lives, parents, grandparents, relatives.. Oftentimes, you’ve learned lessons in your walk with Christ that the next generation has not yet learned, and we are wise to teach and relay these truths on to the next generation… still, in these moments, Samuel did not yet know the Lord. It took Eli Realizing that God was calling Samuel…. 9 So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

We touched on the idea of the posture of prayer in our life. And being available to hear from God. John 4:8 tells us: 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. But I want us to touch base on this idea of recognizing the voice of the Lord in our life.

You see have you ever been in a situation in your life where you’re making an important decision and you would say, “I really want to know what God is saying in this?” or “I really want to know his will”… The question is how do we recognize the voice of the Lord.

Alongthese lines, as Kim and I were preparing to move to Kenton. We knew God had put a call on our lives, he was beginning to move in our hearts… but we weren’t quite sure, what specifically we were supposed to do. In fact, before coming to Kenton, there is a small-town church in Laconia New Hampshire, that I received word would be looking for a pastor in the near future. And I felt, maybe this was a word from God. and I remember being in a room with Tom Flanders, now the district superintendent for Florida. And he gave me some wise advice… he said: “How has God spoken to you in the past?” He said, very often, the way that God speaks to you at one point…. Is how he will continue to speak to you going forward. For me, I’ll just let you know, that often times… when God is speaking to me, he actually will use several people (often 3 people or more) in a very small amount of time maybe a few weeks… to speak the same message… and that in combination with what he’s doing inside, I begin to recognize he’s speaking to me…

I’ve also seen this to be true when temptation comes, or there is a warning of a threat… I start to have this nagging, Feeling in my spirit… or a sense of sadness like something is just going on… and what it is, is God is getting my attention and he’s trying to speak to me in my situation…. God’s also spoken to me through dreams in the past. Finally, in my call to ministry 9 years ago was through a dream I received in Kenya, and God has given me other dreams through the years…

But here’s the key… how Does God speak to you? Do we recognize his voice? And are we asking God to speak?

2. Asking God to Speak

8 A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

As we consider the scripture, we see that the Lord continues to call to Samuel. The Lord had called Samuel 3 times previously, and Samuel didn’t recognize the voice of the Lord. But this time, 10 The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” (And I want us to notice how Samuel responds, what does he say?) It says: Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

I want to draw out attention to this word Servant. Eḇeḏ עֶבֶד - Which means slave, servant, man-servant. And during this time of Israel’s history, a slave would be owned by a master as In the case of Israel who was the “ébed”/slave to Egypt. But they also had a job, they were a "worker.”

And there were many people in the Old Testament who are called "servants, " among them Abraham Jacob , Joshua, Ruth, Jesse, Isaiah, Daniel, Moses, and David.

But listen, here’s the key, although these men and women were leaders. They were servants first of all to God. And as servants. They had a job to do that only God could tell them.

Let me put it this way, they didn’t work for others, they didn’t work for themselves. Their allegiance first and foremost was to God… and so as they lived their lives, as they lead. They were looking to God for their next steps.

You see, Samuel would go on to be successful by outward standards. He would be a leader in Israel, he would be influential in anointing King Saul and King David. He would serve in many ways. But his greatness ultimately, was rooted in his ability to Listen to God.

I came across a story this week that explains: Peyton Manning will retire with the best quarterback statistics in the history of the NFL. His younger brother Eli is also an elite NFL quarterback. Yet, both brothers have quietly spent the past few off-seasons going back to their old coach-Coach Cut-and allowing him to deconstruct them and take them back to their most basic quarterback fundamentals.

Coach Cut (or David Cutcliffe) was Peyton's quarterback coach at the University of Tennessee. They've stayed close. "He's always been my coach," Peyton said in a recent interview. When Coach Cut started coaching for the University of Mississippi, Eli took notice and signed on to play there.

Peyton Manning was released by the Indianapolis Colts in 2012, when a serious neck injury left them believing his career was over. Enter coach Cut. After watching tape of Peyton's throwing sessions, Coach Cut told him, "Your mechanics are all wrong, you're going to blow out your arm." Cutcliffe then spent the next two years reconstructing Peyton by taking him unceremoniously back to the basics. Similarly, Eli Manning had a rough season in 2013, like his brother, he allowed Coach Cut to carve him up and help rebuild him… In the coming years, both quarterbacks would go on to experience great success. Both would elevate their game to all-time highs, but both realized their need for the coach.

For us this morning, we need to look to the coach. And many of us are facing questions in life, from one moment to the next, there are many options, many things we could do… and friends we could in fact do a lot of Good… but I don’t know about you, but I don’t want Good choices in my life… I want God.

Friends, our father knows best. And though he was just beginning to walk with the Lord, Samuel did well by asking God to speak. Vs 10 tells us: 10 The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

Friends, are we asking God to speak this morning? Are we asking for what he has? Are we finding time in prayer? Do we go to the Lord and ask him to speak? Or do we go in prayer, list of our list of needs, or complaints? And then rush on about our day? Friends, would we ask God to speak… For his servant is listening

3. Listening when He Speaks.

11 And the Lord said to Samuel: “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle. 12 At that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family—from beginning to end. 13 For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons blasphemed God, and he failed to restrain them. 14 Therefore I swore to the house of Eli, ‘The guilt of Eli’s house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.’”

15 Samuel lay down until morning and then opened the doors of the house of the Lord. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision, 16 but Eli called him and said, “Samuel, my son.” Samuel answered, “Here I am.”

17 “What was it he said to you?” Eli asked. “Do not hide it from me. May God deal with you, be it ever so severely, if you hide from me anything he told you.” 18 So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. Then Eli said, “He is the Lord; let him do what is good in his eyes.”

As we see in scripture, Samuel asks the Lord to speak, and what does the Lord do? Right, He speaks. But what’s interesting is this, what type of a message is given. Is it good news? Is it hopeful news? No! The bible tells us in verse 11: And the Lord said to Samuel: “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle He’s about to bring destruction on the house of Eli for Eli’s sons the bible tells us are scoundrels. They’re mishandling their duties as priest in their proceedings and customs of meat that is sacrificed to the Lord, they’re also sleeping around with the women who are attending the tabernacle. And Eli’s not off the hook, Eli’s the priest, he knows what his sons are doing, yet he allows it to continue. So, Eli is just as guilty.

And so, this is the first instance that we see in scripture, where God will use Samuel as a prophet. But listen, the message given isn’t always good news.

You see Eli wasn’t perfect, but he realized you had to start with the truth. You had to be honest.

You see if we go back to vs 10 for a moment the bible tells us 10 The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” I want us to catch what the word speak dāḇar דָּבַר

And it means to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing. So, unlike the English, we’re asking God to speak into a situation. In the Hebrew there are many meanings to the word speak…

And here’s the point… Samuel is asking God to Speak… into the situation. God speak… declare… converse… command… promise, warn, threaten, sing. God whatever you have God, give it to me.

Paul would put it this way in 1 Cor 15:9-10 9 For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

Here’s the point… I am what I am. but by the grace of God Go I.

Friends, we start with the truth. We look to the Lord. We don’t hide what’s going on. You see, wherever you are this morning. God is in the business of keeping things real. That’s where he starts.

1 Samuel 3:19-21 19 The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the Lord. 21 The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word.

He’s not afraid of your mess. He’s not interested in you concealing your sin. Father speak, for your servant is listening… and then would we trust and obey.

I’m going to call the worship team back up at this time… And as they come forward:

1. Are you spending time with God?

2. Are you listening?

Pray