Soul Shift: Ask to Listen / Message #6

September 16, 2012

Soul Shift:  Ask to Listen / Message #6

1 Samuel 3:1-10

Scott Howard

·         We live in a noisy world--- there is music, TV, iPods, car noise, crowd noise---all this we need to filter through or tune out in order to be able to hear God speaking.

·         What and who you listen to will influence what you do.

Different Ways God Speaks:

·         Nature

·         People

·         Wisdom

·         Conscience

·         Scripture

·         Holy Spirit (urging)

1 Samuel 3:1-10:

“The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli.  In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.  One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place.  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.  Then the Lord called Samuel.  Samuel answered, “Here I am.”  And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”  But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.”  So he went and lay down.  Again the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”  “My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.”  Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.  The lord called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”  Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy.  So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’”  So Samuel went and lay down in his place.  The Lord came and stood there calling as the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.””

·         It’s not getting God to speak, it’s being in a position to listen.  God has no trouble communicating---but we have difficulty hearing and listening. 

·         God was speaking, Samuel didn’t realize it.

·         God is persistent (Thank God!)  He will keep speaking for as long as it takes.

The shift is instead of asking others for advice or what to do (which isn’t always bad) we should wait to hear from God.  If you trust Him and give Him full control, you will be in better position to hear.

“This, then, is how you should pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, YOUR WILL BE DONE on earth as it is in heaven.”  --Matthew 6:9-10

·         People are sometimes right, God is ALWAYS right!

“Speak, for your servant is listening.”