How To Hear From God!

How to hear from God

1 Samuel 3:1-11

The LORD Calls Samuel

1 The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions.

2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple [a] of the LORD, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the LORD called Samuel.

Samuel answered, "Here I am." 5 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.

6 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."

7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD : The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.

8 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. 9 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.

10 The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!"

Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."

11 And the LORD said to Samuel: "See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears of it tingle.

Intro: Did you know that every believer can hear from God? Not only can we hear from God but we should hear and recognize his voice speaking to us regularly. I have heard people say, “I pray but God doesn’t speak to me.” I have known many who have been frustrated because they didn’t think God was speaking to them.

It is important for a believer to hear from God. In any relationship, I think all of us would agree that communication is a must if that relationship is to be successful. Can you imagine a marriage in which you never heard anything from your spouse? Now I know some of you may be thinking, “I think I would like to try that!” While it is true we say things when we should keep our mouths shut, a relationship with out communication will be destroyed. To feel like you are not hearing from God will put an unnecessary strain on your walk with God.

Today I will share with you a very important message, “How to Hear from God”

I. We need a revelation to hear from God

Revelation: Something revealed, especially a dramatic disclosure of something not previously known or realized

a. Verse 7 The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to Samuel.

i. This simply means that Samuel did not know how to recognize the word of the Lord.

ii. In order for us to hear from the Lord, we need a revelation of how to hear his voice.

iii. I believe that for some here today this message will give you a revelation that will help you to hear from God.

b. Many times in the word of God you will read, “He who has ears, let him hear." Matthew 11:13,13:9

i. This is not talking about your natural ears. If you think we are talking about natural ears it doesn’t seem to make sense, he who has ears… well that’s true about almost everyone. However this is talking about spiritual ears. Look at

Matthew 13:15 NIV

For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ [Isaiah 6:9, 10]

ii. So how do I know if I have ears to hear? Well I believe every believer has ears to hear.

1. This verse is talking about the lost, those whose heart has become calloused.

2. Every believer can hear the word of God. Why? Because when we are saved the Holy Spirit comes to live inside of us. When God speaks to us he speaks to our spirit.

3. Every believer can hear from God.

iii. This verse shows us how important it his that our heart is right with God. Sin always separates us from God.

II. It is possible that God is speaking to us and we do not know it.