We Know His Voice

Introduction

Good evening, brothers and sisters in Christ. It’s an honor to stand before so many faithful servants —

pastors,

leaders,

and representatives from churches across our Association —

Each of you serving the Lord in your own field, your own flock, your own community.

This year’s theme is “We Know His Voice” — taken from

John 10:3–4 NKJV

3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

What a beautiful truth, isn’t it?

The God of Heaven speaks, and His sheep know His voice.

But friends, in a noisy world —

A world full of chaos, crisis, and countless competing voices —

It’s one thing to know about His voice, and another thing to hear and follow it.

That’s where the story of the young prophet Samuel speaks so powerfully to us today.

Let’s read together from

1 Samuel 3:1–10 NKJV

1 Now the boy Samuel ministered to the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation. 2 And it came to pass at that time, while Eli was lying down in his place, and when his eyes had begun to grow so dim that he could not see, 3 and before the lamp of God went out in the tabernacle of the Lord where the ark of God was, and while Samuel was lying down, 4 that the Lord called Samuel. And he answered, “Here I am!” 5 So he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” And he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” And he went and lay down. 6 Then the Lord called yet again, “Samuel!” So Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” He answered, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” 7 (Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, nor was the word of the Lord yet revealed to him.) 8 And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. So he arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you did call me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord had called the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 Now the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.”

I. A Time When the Word Was Rare

Verse 1 tells us, “The word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation.”

Does that sound familiar?

Because, we’re living in a day when everyone’s talking, but few are listening.

We have more access to information, than we ever did before, but less time for revelation.

Eli, the priest of Israel, represents much of what the Church struggles with today — busy in religious activity, but spiritually half-asleep.

He was in the temple, surrounded by the things of God — but not hearing from God.

Meanwhile, his house was in disorder. His sons, also priests, were living in rebellion.

It’s a sobering reminder, to all of us leaders — you can be neck deep in ministry and still miss His voice.

You can be serving in the temple yet sleeping through the call of God.

II. The Problem is: We’re Not Listening

When I was a kid, my dad would call us from another room.

If we ever just yelled back, “What?” — oh boy, we were in trouble.

Dad would come unglued!

He’d say, “When I call, you come.

“You stop what you’re doing and listen.”

“Because you might miss something — and that’s on you.”

Now that I’m a father, I do the same thing.

But when I call my kids, they’ve got their earbuds in, and they’ll take one out — just one — and say,

“Yeah, I’m listening, Dad.”

But to no surprise, they’ve only heard half of what I said.

So they do half the job, and then argue with me saying, “You didn’t say that.”

And I say, “Yes, I did — you weren’t listening!”

Church, could it be that we in ministry leadership have been guilty of the same thing with God?

Could it be that we’ve got one ear in His Word and the other tuned to the world.

Might there be times when we’ve done only half of what He’s asked, or followed half of His call?—

Then wonder why we’re

frustrated,

fruitless,

and frazzled.

The issue isn’t that God has stopped speaking.

It’s that His people have stopped listening.

III. God Speaks to the Willing Heart

Back to the story of Young Samuel.

In the temple that night, there were two people:

Eli — the old priest who used to hear from God,

and Samuel — the boy who wanted to hear from God.

Guess who God spoke to?

Not the seasoned priest — but the willing servant.

Verse 10 says,

1 Samuel 3:1–10 NKJV

10 Now the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.”

That verse right there is one of the most powerful statements in all of Scripture.

It’s also the posture

every believer —

every pastor,

every church leader — must have today:

“Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.”

Friends, our problem is not that God is silent — it’s that we’re not still.

We’ve confused busyness for faithfulness, activity for intimacy.

But God speaks to the heart that’s quiet enough to hear Him.

IV. Recognizing His Voice

Verse 7 says,

1 Samuel 3:1–10 NKJV

(Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, nor was the word of the Lord yet revealed to him.)

At first, Samuel didn’t recognize God’s voice.

It sounded familiar to him — it sounded like Eli.

So he ran to Eli three times before Eli finally realized what was happening.

Sometimes God’s call sounds a lot like the voice of someone He’s already placed in your life.

This is why we need to spend time listening for Him, and seeking spiritual mentors and other mature believers who can help us discern His call.

Eli finally understood and said,

1 Samuel 3:1–10 NKJV

9 …“Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

Notice the posture again:

Samuel didn’t run around the temple trying to do something for God or create a program or whatever,—

He quieted himself, laid down, and listened.

V. Elijah and the Still Small Voice

Samuel isn’t the only one who had to learn to listen.

In 1 Kings 19, the prophet Elijah had just called down fire from heaven.

He defeated the prophets of Baal — a mountaintop victory!

But moments later, he’s running scared from Queen Jezebel, depressed, hiding in a cave.

And in that cave, God asked him a question:

“What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Then came a mighty wind — but the Lord was not in the wind.

Then an earthquake — but the Lord was not in the earthquake.

Then a fire — but the Lord was not in the fire.

And after the fire came a still small voice.

And that’s where Elijah heard the Lord speak again.

Brothers and Sister of the Clear Creek Baptist Association, sometimes we expect God to speak through the spectacular —

the fire,

the earthquake,

the thunder.

But often, He speaks through a whisper.

He speaks in the stillness — when we finally

stop running,

stop worrying,

and simply listen.

C.S. Lewis once said,

“God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain; it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”

But even then — when the pain shouts, or when life gets loud — are we still listening?

VI. The Shepherd’s Voice

That brings us back to our theme passage — John 10:3–4

John 10:3–4 NKJV

3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”

It’s not enough to be in the fold — we must follow the Shepherd.

It’s not enough to know of His voice — we must obey His voice.

And here’s the good news:

Our Shepherd doesn’t just call us collectively;

He calls us by name.

It’s purposeful,

Its Personal!

He knows

every pastor here tonight,

every church represented,

every weary heart and struggling ministry.

And He’s saying again tonight:

“I’m still speaking.

I’m still calling.

Just listen for My voice.”

VII. Application – Leaders Who Listen

Leaders, if our churches are going to hear the voice of God, it has to start with us.

Our people will follow the sound of our voice — but only because and IF we are first, following His.

Eli’s generation showed what happens when leaders stop listening.

Samuel’s story shows what God can do when even one person says,

“Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.”

If we want revival in our churches,

If we want unity in our association,

If we want power in our preaching and purpose in our ministry —

It starts with a listening heart.

We cannot lead God’s people unless we are following God’s voice.

VIII. Conclusion – Learning to Listen Again

Let me leave you with this:

In the noise of this world’s —

rampant and toxic political shouting,

media chaos,

church busyness —

God’s still whispering.

And He’s looking for men and women like Samuel who will say,

“Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.”

He’s looking for pastors and leaders who won’t settle for routine religion —

But who will quiet their souls,— lean in, — and listen for the Shepherd’s voice.

So tonight, maybe God is calling your name again —

Not with thunder,

not with wind,

not with fire —

But with that still small voice that says:

“Come closer, I want to speak to you again.”

Let’s be a people who not only know His voice —

but

recognize it,

respond to it,

and rejoice in it.

Because when the Shepherd speaks, the sheep follow —

and when the sheep follow, the world sees the glory of God.

Closing Prayer

“Lord, tonight we pause before You.

Like young Samuel, we lay down every distraction, every burden, and every noise that drowns out Your presence.

Speak, Lord — for Your servants are listening.

Teach us again to know Your voice, to follow Your lead, and to walk in obedience.

May this Association — every pastor, every church —

be known not for our programs or platforms, but for our sensitivity to Your Spirit.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.”