Listening For God

Sermon Title: Listening for God

Text: 1 Samuel 3:1-10

Introduction: The following are actual bloopers found in church bulletins.

· The scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items for recycling. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.

· Next Sunday’s Message – WHAT IS HELL, come early and hear our choir

· Weight watchers meeting Tuesday; please use large double doors at the side entrance.

· Ushers will eat newcomers

· Remember to pray for the many people who are sick of our church and the community.

· Our minister is on vacation; massages can be given to the secretary.

· This being Easter Sunday, Mrs. Johnson will lay an egg on the piano.

· The flowers on the altar are provided by Jason Edwards, the sin of Pastor and Mrs. Edwards.

Miscommunication it is all around us, we speak of it as a get out of jail free card” in our society – If we have a mishap, we call it miscommunication.

· Failure to Listen

· Out of the Loop

· Dad I did not hear you

· Mom, you want to clean the WHOLE room.

MISCOMMUNICATION

Through out the Bible God communicated with his creation in a number of ways.

· Dreams

· A Burning Bush

· Prophets

· Animals

· Miraculous signs

Through this God teaches us he is not limited to one way of communication.

Heb 1:1-2

In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.

LESSON – When God communicates with his creation, he does it in such a way as that one is assured God is speaking.

In 1 Sam. 3, we discover a young man who hears God voice and yet does not recognize him to be God. Yet after some prompting he soon learns to be a great listener for God.

COULD WE BE LIKE SAMUEL?

· Would we fail to recognize God’s voice?

· Do we need someone prompting us so that we might be able to listen?

· A better question today, What qualities in Samuel’s life made him able to hear the voice of God?

IN 1 SAMUEL 3 WE DISCOVER 4 QUALITIES IN SAMUEL’S LIFE WORTH EMULATING TODAY.

READ TEXT 1 SAMUEL 3:1-10

1. Samuel had a servant’s heart

a. His role, Ministering before the Lord

b. Jewish historian, Josephus states Samuel was 12 years old at the time of his calling.

c. His tasks were to light the candles, tend to the furnishings and general housekeeping in the Tabernacle.

d. These were not the “glory jobs” of the Tabernacle, but none the less they had to be done.

e. Compare this to Eli’s sons – They grew up in the Tabernacle, saw their father administer the worship – But in 1 Sam. 2:12 Eli’s sons were wicked men; they had no regard for the LORD.

f. WHAT A CONTRAST Growing up in the same house, watching the same man (Eli), observing the same sacred items – yet two different outcomes.

g. HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHY CHILDREN GROWING UP IN THE CHURCH REJECT THE CHURCH LATER ON IN LIFE? After all we have a promise Prov 22:6, Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

- PARENTS ROLE, Hannah prayed for her son (2:20) Hannah monitored her Son’s grow (2:19) Hannah and her husband were faithful in worship (1:21)

- Eli, knew his son’s sin (2:22) He was willing to confront their sins (2:23-25)

- THE CHILD’S ROLE – The attitude of the sons – Eli’s, No regard, Samuel, Servant hood

- There comes a time when children must take responsibility for their actions, Now if we will keep this two step approach of a Parent’s active role and a child’s submissive attitude, we will be able to claim the promise of Prov. 22.

2. Samuel had a good reputation

1 Sam 2:26

And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the LORD and with men.

These are the same words used to describe Jesus in Luke 2:52

a. Why is our reputation so important? Simply put how people see us is how they see God. – Our actions reflect our leader.

b. That is why Jesus had such trouble with the Pharisees, they were representatives of God and yet their reputation for ritual and rules had become a departure of God’s grace.

c. Reputations must be formed, a reputation is not formed in one day, but it can be destroyed in one minute. A reputation cannot be passed on from one generation to the next but it can be destroyed in a relatively short time. A reputation is formed by living a consistent life before God