THE CALL FROM GOD

Introduction:

Listen…

Listen to the sounds you hear in this room.

Listen to the voice of a parent (mom, dad, grandparent)

Listen to the voice of a teacher/coach

Listen to the voice of a friend

Listen to my voice

Listen to God’s voice

Did you hear God? Sometimes we can’t. In fact, I have never “audibly heard” the voice of God.

How do you know when God is talking to you? Have you ever just sat in prayer waiting to hear from God but get nothing?

Don’t you wish that sometimes God would be clear with you? That he would just tell you, “_____ this is my plan for you. This is what I am calling you to do today, this week, this year.”

Many believers struggle to hear from God their calling… their purpose, what God wants them to do. Yet, how do we hear God’s voice and How should we respond when we do?

In 1 Samuel 3 we will see how there were many who struggled to hear God’s voice but only one who actually did. Samuel, (the son of Hannah) has been living a Godly life for a while, but is struggling to know God’s voice. We will see what we can learn from his situation that can apply to our life. the first two points will show us HOW to Hear God’s Voice, and the second Two Points will show us How to Respond to God’s Voice.

HOW DO WE HEAR GOD’S VOICE?

Repent of Sins, to Hear God

1 Samuel 3:1–4 CSB

The boy Samuel served the Lord in Eli’s presence. In those days the word of the Lord was rare and prophetic visions were not widespread. One day Eli, whose eyesight was failing, was lying in his usual place. Before the lamp of God had gone out, Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was located. Then the Lord called Samuel, and he answered, “Here I am.”

Explanation:

In verse 1, we notice that God’s voice was not being heard by the priests or religious leaders in Samuel’s day. WHY?

Chapters Before: Priests were not obeying God’s instructions in Scripture and refused to turn from their disobedience. So Eli and all his sons were no longer hearing because they refused to turn away from their sin.

Isaiah 59:2 CSB

But your iniquities are separating you from your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not listen.

Illustration:

Let’s say you tell a friend a secret (such as you have a crush on _____), and then they tell another person. You find out they told someone, and you confront your friend, “HEY! Don’t share that secret.” But they say, “I can do whatever I want” and then share it with more people. Would you continue to share secrets with them? NO!

How come? They broke your trust. That person desires to not obey you and do whatever they want.

But what if that same friend said, “Oh my gosh I am so sorry it just slipped out. I won’t do it again.”

How would you respond? You might not tell them a BIG secret for a while to see if they are trustworthy but eventually you might trust them with smaller secrets to see if they mean what they say. You would continue to talk to this friend but not the other friend who didn’t care to listen to you.

What’s the difference between the friend who was sorry and the one who wasn’t sorry? One friend does what they want, and the other friend seeks forgiveness.

In Samuel’s day, the priests refused to obey God and wanted to do things their way. Therefore, God stopped talking to them.

But Samuel is someone who wants to do things God’s way and not his way. God saw that in Samuel’s heart. Therefore, God speaks to him.

Argument:

So what point am I trying to make? If you don’t hear from God, your first problem could be that you refuse to do things God’s way and only desire your way. (Sin)

Application:

Now, if you are not follower of Jesus you have this problem of not hearing God. BUT even followers of Jesus can have this problem.

So how do I fix this?

Non Follower

Scripture teaches that if you desire to go to heaven to hear from God, and be saved from hell (separation from God), there are 2 things you need to know and 1 thing you need to do.

2 Things to Know:

Every human (even you) is separated from a relationship with God because of sin

Jesus God in flesh came to earth, lived a sinless life, died on the cross, and rose from the dead so you don’t have to go to hell and can hear from Him.

1 Thing to Do:

Surrender your life to him: Tell God you are going to stop doing things your own way and commit to give God control of every part of your life. You Trust Him with your past, present, and future.

Follower

In order to hear from God we too must turn from the sins or anything getting in the way of our relationship with Jesus and surrender our lives back to him. Scripture teaches that we must deny ourselves daily and pick up our cross.

Whether you decided to follow Jesus for the first time or if you are already a follower, in order to hear from God, you must repent of sins and surrender your Life to Him.

He is Persistent, So You Be Persistent

1 Samuel 3:5–10 CSB

He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” “I didn’t call,” Eli replied. “Go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down. Once again the Lord called, “Samuel!” Samuel got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am; you called me.” “I didn’t call, my son,” he replied. “Go back and lie down.” Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, because the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. Once again, for the third time, the Lord called Samuel. He got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then Eli understood that the Lord was calling the boy. He told Samuel, “Go and lie down. If he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. The Lord came, stood there, and called as before, “Samuel, Samuel!” Samuel responded, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

Explanation:

God continually spoke to Samuel even when Samuel was unsure or confused about who was talking to him. God was persistent.

So how is God persistent in communicating with us today?

He gives us…

The Scriptures (Bible)

Preachers who preach to you the word of God.

Teachers who teach you the word of God or how to pray in small groups.

Friends at school who point you to Jesus

For those who are Followers of Jesus… the Holy Spirit

Songs relating to God

Social media which points us to God

Never say, God isn’t trying to communicate to me… because He always is! Rather it may be that you have sin keeping you from hearing him, and/or you aren’t being persistent in seeking commutation with Him.

Notice this… While God was persistent in communicating with Samuel, Samuel is persistent in communicating with God. Think about it… Samuel could have ignored the call right? But He didn’t. So what about you? If you don’t have sin to deal with,

How are you being persistent in communicating with God?

Do you seek God by …

Reading the scriptures hoping to hear from God?

Listening to Preachers who preach the word of God?

Going to teachers who teach you the word of God or how to pray

Spending time with friends who point you to Jesus

Listening for the Holy Spirit’s guidance (for those who are followers)

Listening to worship songs

Searching for God on social media?

Application:

God is persistent in wanting to speak to you, but you have to be willing to listen and persistent in seeking Him.

Read scripture expecting to hear from God,

Go to preaching expecting to hear from God,

Go to Sunday school expecting to hear from God,

Hang out with friends expecting to hear from God,

Sit in silence alone expecting to hear from God through the Holy Spirit,

Listen to worship songs expecting to hear from God,

And scroll through social media expecting to hear from God.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO GOD’S CALLING?

Say “Yes” to the Challenge He Gives You

1 Samuel 3:11–18 CSB

The Lord said to Samuel, “I am about to do something in Israel that will cause everyone who hears about it to shudder. On that day I will carry out against Eli everything I said about his family, from beginning to end. I told him that I am going to judge his family forever because of the iniquity he knows about: his sons are cursing God, and he has not stopped them. Therefore, I have sworn to Eli’s family: The iniquity of Eli’s family will never be wiped out by either sacrifice or offering.” Samuel lay down until the morning; then he opened the doors of the Lord’s house. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision, but Eli called him and said, “Samuel, my son.” “Here I am,” answered Samuel. “What was the message he gave you?” Eli asked. “Don’t hide it from me. May God punish you and do so severely if you hide anything from me that he told you.” So Samuel told him everything and did not hide anything from him…”

Explanation:

Samuel was told be God something very harsh. The person who raised him, took care of him, was going to be punished by God for their sins and it was Samuel’s job to tell him.

Illustration:

Do you like confrontation? Do you like having to have hard conversations with people? Would you or do you like having to break up with someone face to face? These is a hard conversations. In fact, I know some of you don’t even like talking to new people.

Well God was telling Samuel to have a hard conversation. He was afraid. BUT Samuel did it.

Anytime God is calling you to do something he is going to be challenging you. You may be afraid. But simply say “yes” and do it.

Application:

He may be calling you to follow Jesus for the first time. But you are scared of what others think, simply say yes and do it.

He may be calling you to let go of that friendship or relationship, but you’re scared of being lonely. Simply just say yes and do it.

He may be calling you to Worship and praise God through song, but you’re scares of what others will think. Just say yes and do it.

He may be calling you to fix a broken friendship with someone but you’re afraid to talk to them about that problem, just say yes and do it.

Find Comfort & Joy Knowing God’s Way Is Powerful and Perfect

1 Samuel 3:18–21 CSB

Eli responded, “He is the Lord. Let him do what he thinks is good.” Samuel grew. The Lord was with him, and he fulfilled everything Samuel prophesied. All Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was a confirmed prophet of the Lord. The Lord continued to appear in Shiloh, because there he revealed himself to Samuel by his word.

Explanation:

Eli Responded with God is Good even in the midst of Bad news. Because of Samuel’s willingness to say yes, Eli accepted God’s plan. And eventually, you will see in the rest of 1 Samuel How God uses him in a perfect and powerful way.

Application:

When you say yes to God, take comfort and Joy in knowing God’s way is the best way. It is perfect and powerful.