Knowing The Voice of God has produced many sermons and Bible teachings to try and bring clarity and insight to a well document fact in the scriptures that indeed God does speak to us individually. My goal today is to see and share Gods word about this subject. Thank you for joining me on this journey today.
I. Lets begin with an account in I Sam 3. Some background information is needed about the people involved in this account about a young man called and used of God as a mighty prophet to Israel.
Husband named Elkanah who had 2 wives. Peninnah was very fertile and gave her husband several children. Hannah was the other wife and she was barren. Each year the family went up to the House of the Lord and Peninnah “provoked” Hannah because of her baroness. Hannah was grieved in her heart because she desperately wanted a child.
1Sa 1:10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the LORD and wept in anguish.
1Sa 1:11 Then she made a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.” NKJV
Eli was the Priest in the temple. He saw Hannah praying. She was travailing in her soul before God and only her lips moved. Eli accused her of being drunk. No Lord. I am a woman of sorrowful of spirit. God heard her cry and gave her a son named Samuel (Because I have asked for him from the Lord).
Note: I Sam 2 is a beautiful prayer of Thanksgiving where God turned Hannahs mourning into joy. I encourage you to read that great prayer. Side note: Hannah bore 3 sons and 2 daughters.
A. Samuel has been brought to the temple to serve in ministry before Eli.
1. Condition of the Church: And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation. (Dead Church)
B. God comes calling but Samuel is not sure about who is talking. They are resting in the evening and Samuel was lying down. 1Sa 3:4 that the LORD called Samuel. And he answered, “Here I am!” He runs to Eli and says “Here I am, for you called me”. Eli says I did not call, go lie down.
1. Second call- Third time- Eli gives counsel. Go lie down and when He calls you say, Speak Lord for your servant hears.
1Sa 3:11 Then the LORD said to Samuel: “Behold, I will do something in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle.
1Sa 3:12 In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end.
1Sa 3:13 For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knows, because his sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them.
1Sa 3:14 And therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.”
1Sa 3:19 So Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.
II. Some would say yes but Samuel was a prophet in the OT. Consider Sauls conversion on the Damascus road Acts 9 Saul Saul why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads. (unruly mule)
Act 9:10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”
Act 9:11 So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying.
Act 9:12 And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.”
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Act 10:3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!”
Act 10:4 And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?” So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God.
Act 10:5 Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter.
Act 10:6 He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do.”
III. How does God speak to us?
A. Primarily through His Word. Every voice that you hear must be judged by the Word.
B. OT Prophets, Priests and Kings
C. Circumstances: (HS speaking to you about this matter)
D. His peace: overwhelmed about some financial difficulties in a Church I was Pastoring: God spoke “I’ve got this”. Went from feeling like the weight of the world was on me to great peace. To confirm that it was Gods voice, God worked out every detail of the financial difficulty.
E. Dreams: Joseph, Jacob while sleeping on a rock Gen 28:12, Wise men in Matt 2:12, Joseph warned in a dream. Matt 2:19
F. Gifts of the HS in I Cor 12
G Preaching: the word:
IV. Conclusion: truth to share with you. The closer you are to God the easier it is to hear His voice. There are many voices clamoring for your attention as a believer. Flesh, satan, culture, emotions, Heb 5:14 …”our senses are sharpened by reason of exercise”.
A. Dont be afraid of listening for Gods voice. Jesus said in John 10 … and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
B. How can I know? I Cor 13:1 In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
He that hath an ear let him hear what the spirit is saying. Multiple times in Revelation we see this phrase. Ask God to give you and ear to hear.