HEARING THE VOICE OF GOD

TEXT: I Samuel 3: 10 (1-15)

INTRODUCTION: In today’s text we see an illustration of God calling his children into service. Much like Samuel, many of God’s children do not recognize God’s voice at first. This often leads to the circumstance of missing the blessings that come from being in the center of God’s will.

Today, I want us to look at the Scriptures and determine how to recognize the voice of God as He calls you to follow Him.

I.          Ways that God has Spoken to Man Through the Ages.

A.        In Innocence - Face To Face Genesis 1-3

B.        After the Fall-Audible Voice With His Glory Veiled

Exodus 33:18-23 And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. 19 And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. 20 And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. 21 And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: 22 And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: 23 And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.

C.        During the Age of The Law - Through His Prophets and Priests.

2 Kings 17:13a “Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets ... " ,

D.        During the Incarnation - He became flesh & dwelt among us.

John 1:14 “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

E.        In the Early Church - Through outward manifestations of His Holy Spirit.

Acts 10:44 “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.”

F.         Now - Through His completed Revelation, the written Word of God.

2 Timothy 3:15-17 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

1.      The written manifestation of the Living Word, Jesus Christ.

2.      Revealing the will of God the Father to man.

3.      Illuminated by the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

II.       What Is God Saying to People Today?

A.        The Call to Salvation

1.      He is sending forth the call to those for whom He died.

Matthew 11:28 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

2.      He is knocking on your heart’s door and asking to come in.

Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”

B.        The Call To Sanctification

1.      His ultimate will is that we be conformed to the image of Christ.

Romans 8:29 “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

2.      He calls His children to walk in His ways.

3.      He calls for purity and holiness and provides the power and the path for them to be accomplished in our lives.

2 Peter 1:3 “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:”

4.      We become more like Christ as we learn of Him through His Word.

C.        The Call To Service

1 Corinthians 12:18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

1.      He has equipped us and called us to serve others in His name.

2.      There is no Christian that God has not called to serve.

3.      There is no Christian to whom God has not given the spiritual gifts and abilities needed to accomplish God’s will for their lives.

4.      His call can be general or specific.

5.      The key is surrender of our will to His will.

6.      The question is, “Who is Lord of our life?”

D.        The Call to Sacrifice

1.      God calls all who follow Him to be willing to give of their best to the Master.

2.      This always demands sacrifice.

2 Timothy 3:12 “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”

3.      But God has given us the finest example in the sacrifice of His Son.

E.        The Call to Reach the World.

Acts 1:8 “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

1.      The Great Commission was given to the local Church, but we are the local church!

2.      Every Christian has been called by God to be a missionary.

Matthew 13:38 “The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;”

3.      We need to be honest with Him as to whether He is calling us to foreign missions and respond in surrender.

4.      If not, it is certain that He has called us to world outreach.

5.      God wants us to put ourselves in the offering plate.

a)      He wants our willingness to go anywhere that He leads.

b)      When He has that, He will show us where to go.

6.      Across the street or around the world, our mission is still the same, to live and spread the truth in Jesus’ name.

CONCLUSION: The voice of God is not silent. He speaks to the heart of His people and calls them to follow in His steps. As Eli advised Samuel so long ago, I encourage you to respond to His voice tonight with, "Speak, Lord, thy servant heareth.”