Don’t Miss Your Moment

Don’t Miss Your Moment

My Bible, My Help, My Hope.

Introduction

1 Samuel 3:1–10 ESV

1 Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision. 2 At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the Lord called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am!” 5 and ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down. 6 And the Lord called again, “Samuel!” and Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. 8 And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.”

Today, we will look at three main points from this passage: Recognizing Divine Opportunities, Recognizing His Voice, and Rejoicing in Faithful Responses.

Now, let's look at our first point: Recognizing Divine Opportunities.

Recognizing Divine Opportunities

In the passage we read, we see a young boy named Samuel.

He was serving in the temple under the guidance of Eli, the priest.

Samuel was not familiar with the voice of God.

He had not yet had that divine encounter where he could distinguish God's voice from the voices of those around him.

This is a situation many of us find ourselves in.

We live in a world filled with noise.

There are so many voices vying for our attention, so many distractions pulling us in different directions.

It becomes challenging to discern the voice of God amidst all the chaos.

Yet, in the midst of this noise, God was calling Samuel.

He was reaching out to him, trying to get his attention.

Samuel, however, did not recognize it was God.

He thought it was Eli calling him.

This happened not once, not twice, but three times.

Each time, Samuel ran to Eli, thinking it was him who was calling.

This brings us to our first point.

Often, God is trying to get our attention.

He is calling us, reaching out to us, but we fail to recognize His voice.

We mistake it for something else.

We attribute it to other people or circumstances.

We miss out on the divine opportunities God is presenting to us because we fail to recognize His voice.

In our lives, God often presents us with divine opportunities.

These are moments where He is trying to guide us, teach us, or use us for His glory.

However, just like Samuel, we often fail to recognize these opportunities.

We mistake them for something else.

We attribute them to luck or coincidence.

We fail to see the divine hand at work in our lives.

The story of Samuel teaches us the importance of being attuned to the voice of God.

It teaches us to be vigilant, to be attentive, to be discerning.

It reminds us that God is constantly speaking to us, constantly presenting us with divine opportunities.

We just need to learn to recognize His voice.

The second point we can draw from this passage is the importance of guidance.

Samuel was fortunate to have Eli by his side.

Eli was a priest.

He was familiar with the ways of God. He was able to guide Samuel and help him recognize the voice of God.

In our lives, we too need guidance.

We need people who can help us discern the voice of God.

We need mentors, leaders, and spiritual guides who can help us navigate the spiritual journey.

They can help us recognize the divine opportunities God is presenting to us.

The third point we can draw from this passage is the importance of persistence.

God did not give up on Samuel.

He kept calling him, kept reaching out to him.

Even when Samuel failed to recognize His voice, God did not give up.

He persisted until Samuel finally recognized His voice.

In our lives, God is persistent. He does not give up on us.

Even when we fail to recognize His voice, even when we miss out on the divine opportunities He presents to us, He does not give up.

He keeps calling us, keeps reaching out to us.

He is patient and persistent.

The final point we can draw from this passage is the importance of responsiveness.

Once Samuel recognized the voice of God, he responded.

He said, "Speak, for your servant is listening." He was ready to hear what God had to say.

He was ready to act on God's instructions.

In our lives, we need to be responsive to God.

Once we recognize His voice, once we see the divine opportunities He is presenting to us, we need to respond.

We need to be ready to hear what He has to say.

We need to be ready to act on His instructions.

In conclusion, the story of Samuel teaches us the importance of recognizing divine opportunities.

It teaches us to be attuned to the voice of God, to seek guidance, to appreciate God's persistence, and to be responsive to His call.

It reminds us that God is constantly speaking to us, constantly presenting us with divine opportunities.

We just need to learn to recognize His voice.

Responding To His Voice?

In the quiet of the temple, Samuel hears a voice.

It's a voice he doesn't recognize, but it's a voice that knows him.

It's a voice that calls him by name.

It's a voice that will change his life forever.

This voice is the voice of God.

And it's a voice that we, too, can hear if we're willing to listen.

The voice of God is not like any other voice.

It's not loud or demanding. It's not harsh or judgmental.

It's a voice of love, a voice of compassion, a voice of wisdom.

It's a voice that speaks to our deepest needs, our deepest desires, our deepest fears.

It's a voice that offers comfort in our pain, strength in our weakness, hope in our despair.

It's a voice that calls us to a life of purpose, a life of service, a life of love.

But hearing the voice of God is not enough.

We must also respond to it.

We must say, like Samuel, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening."

We must be willing to do what God asks of us, to go where He leads us, to be who He wants us to be.

We must be willing to put aside our own plans, our own desires, our own ambitions, and follow Him.

We must be willing to trust Him, to obey Him, to love Him with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind, with all our strength.

This is what it means to revere our relationship with Jesus.

It's not about rituals or rules.

It's about a relationship.

It's about a deep, personal, intimate relationship with the living God.

It's about knowing Him, loving Him, serving Him.

It's about walking with Him, talking with Him, being with Him.

It's about being His child, His friend, His disciple.

In the original Hebrew, the word used for "listening" implies a readiness to act on what is heard, a willingness to obey.

It's used in other passages such as Deuteronomy 6:4, "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one," and Isaiah 6:8, "Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?' And I said, 'Here am I. Send me!'"

Listening to Jesus challenges us to not only hear His voice but to respond to it with obedience and action.

Hearing His voice is not just about receiving but also about giving.

It's not just about being blessed but also about being a blessing.

When we revere our relationship with Jesus, we don't just hear His voice, we listen to it.

We don't just know His words, we live them.

We don't just believe in Him, we follow Him.

We don't just love Him, we serve Him.

We don't just pray to Him, we spend time with Him.

Responding to the voice of God is a lifelong journey.

It's a journey of faith, a journey of hope, a journey of love.

It's a journey that takes us closer to Him, closer to His heart, closer to His will.

It's a journey that transforms us, that changes us, that makes us more like Him.

Let us listen to His voice.

Let us follow His lead.

Let us live His love.

Let us be His hands, His feet, His heart in this world.

Let us be His disciples, His witnesses, His ambassadors. Let us be His.

And as we do, let us remember the words of Jesus Himself: "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand." (John 10:27-28)

What a promise!

What a privilege!

What a joy!

To be known by Jesus, to be loved by Him, to be held by Him.

To hear His voice, to follow His lead, to share in His life.

To be His, now and forever.

This is what it means to revere our relationship with Jesus.

This is what it means to be a child of God.

This is what it means to be a disciple of Christ.

This is what it means to be a follower of Jesus.

Recognizing God’s voice leads us to Responding to His voice and when we respond to His voice, we have a right to rejoice!

Rejoicing in the Responses

Rejoicing in Faithful Responses is about the joy that comes from answering God's call, from saying "yes" to His divine opportunities.

It's about the exhilaration of stepping out in faith, trusting in His guidance, and seeing His promises come to fruition in our lives.

Firstly, let's consider the importance of recognizing God's voice.

This is a skill that requires practice, patience, and a deep familiarity with God's word.

Samuel, in our scripture passage, didn't recognize God's voice at first.

It took him three times to realize that it was God calling him.

But once he did, he was ready to listen and respond.

He didn't hesitate or make excuses.

He simply said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."

In the same vein, we too must cultivate a readiness to hear and respond to God's voice.

This readiness comes from a place of humility, from acknowledging that God's wisdom is greater than our own.

It comes from a place of faith, from trusting that God's plans for us are good.

And it comes from a place of obedience, from choosing to follow God's commands even when it's difficult.

God is constantly speaking to us, in both the highs and lows of life.

It's up to us to tune in, to listen, and to respond.

Secondly, we must remember that our response to God's voice is a reflection of our faith.

When we respond in obedience, we demonstrate our trust in God.

We show that we believe in His promises, that we are willing to follow His lead, and that we are committed to His purposes.

Our response is a testament to our faith, and it's a cause for rejoicing.

Thirdly, it's important to note that our response to God's voice is not a solitary act.

It's part of a larger narrative, a grand tapestry of faith that spans generations.

When we respond to God's call, we join a long line of faithful men and women who have answered God's call throughout history.

We become part of God's story, and our lives become a testament to His faithfulness.

Lastly, our response to God's voice has eternal implications.

Every time we say "yes" to God, we make a difference in the world.

We become agents of God's love, instruments of His peace, and ambassadors of His kingdom.

Our faithful responses have the power to transform lives, to bring hope to the hopeless, to bring light to the darkness.

So, let us be people who rejoice in faithful responses.

Let us be people who are quick to listen and eager to respond.

Let us be people who say "yes" to God's divine opportunities with joy and anticipation.

Let us be people who make a difference in the world for the glory of God.

Conclusion

As we close today, let's remember that God's call isn't always in the loud, earth-shaking moments of our lives.

Sometimes, it's in the quiet whispers, in the stillness of the night, like it was for Samuel.

But no matter how God chooses to speak to us, it's crucial that we're ready and willing to respond, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening."

God's love for us is so immense, so profound, that He seeks a relationship with us.

He calls us by name, just as He called Samuel.

And just as Eli guided Samuel, we have the Holy Spirit to guide us, to help us discern

God's voice from the noise of the world.

We're not alone in this journey, friends.

God is with us every step of the way.

So, let's leave here today with hearts full of hope and ears ready to listen.

Let's seek God in every moment, in every circumstance, and in every opportunity.

Let's be ready to say, "Here I am, Lord. Speak, for your servant is listening."

Let’s pray!