Hearing God When He Speaks

Another, but no less critical activity that places you "in the same room, is prayer. I’m not just talking arrow prayers or emergency prayers… but a "sit down and spend time with God" type prayers.

So, the first thing we need to work on is "being in the same room" with God.

2ndly, we need to work on our priorities.

There will be times when listening to God will be inconvenient. Reread vss. 8 & 9.

"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."

ILLUS: Those who know me best know that there are 2 things you don’t mess with. You don’t mess with the food on my plate, and you don’t mess with my sleep. Had I been Samuel and heard my name being called (act it out… progressively getting more frustrated and angry “Whaaat!”)

For me to continually be woken from sleep is inconvenient - I don’t like it. Those who are wise don’t do it. But I suppose God could if He really wanted to.

God often calls us to things that

1. don’t fit our schedule

2. don’t fit our agenda

3. don’t fit our ideas of what should be done

ILLUS: We have a neighbor boy. He’s a brat. He’s insolent, arrogant, disrespectful, a troublemaker. There have been times that I have thought of what I might do if met this kid in a dark alley when no one could witness my response to his rude behavior. But you know what the word of God tells me to do???

In Luke 6:27-36 Jesus tells me: "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic.

Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.

Do to others as you would have them do to you.

"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ lend to ‘sinners,’ expecting to be repaid in full.

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."

I don’t like to think about doing that… it’s "inconvenient." But, if I’m going to grow up to be like my Father in heaven - I better learn to be inconvenienced.

Lastly, in order to hear God, I have to give God permission to speak to me.

In I Samuel 3:9 & 10 we’re told Eli’s advise to Samuel. His advise? Give God permission to speak.

That’s great advice, but it’s odd Eli should give it. Eli hadn’t listened to for years.