OPEN: The father of a teenage daughter was concerned with the amount of time she spent on the telephone; not so much for the time she wasted (he had given up on that long ago), but because nobody else could use the phone.
So, as a happy solution, he had a telephone installed for her with her own private number and directory listing.
Two or three days after her telephone had been installed, he came home to find her stretched out on the floor with her feet on the living room couch and chatting away on the family telephone. Her own telephone was resting silently on her dresser.
"Why are you using our telephone," he yelled. "Why aren’t you talking on your own telephone?"
"I can’t," she said, "I’m expecting an important call on MY phone."
APPLY: When it comes to praying, Christians would like to have a direct line to God. They’d love to have a phone where they KNOW that they can expect a important call from Him. But the one thing that frustrates many Christians is that it seems to be something of a one-way street.
We do all the talking
God… listens. But He doesn’t seem to say a whole lot.
Now we do have an advantage. We have a book called the Bible filled with 66 separate revelations from God where we can learn just about everything God wants to have us know. But in the days of Samuel’s youth we’re told: “ … the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions.” 1 Samuel 3:1
Now that was particularly hard on these folks because they didn’t have nearly as much Bible as we do.
They had the first 5 books – Genesis thru Deuteronomy
And they might have had Joshua and Judges (which told the history of Israel up to that time, but many people believe these were composed by Samuel)
Maybe they even the book of Job and Ruth
But that would have been about all they’d have had - 7 or 8 books.
It kind of limited their Bible study options.
Previous to Samuel’s day, God had actively led Moses and Joshua during their lives.
And during the days of the Judges, God had spoken to and guided people like Gideon and Debra.
But now in Samuel’s day… that’s kind of trailed off.
So, they only have a handful of books.
God isn’t talking to much of anyone.
But God’s looking for someone He can pick up the phone and talk to.
That someone is Samuel.
God has always wanted someone who will listen to Him.
All thru scripture you can hear God say: "Listen to me! Listen to me!"
· “Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that you may learn them, and keep, and do them” (Deuteronomy 5:1)
· “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one”. (Deuteronomy 6:4)
· “Hear, O Israel the word which the LORD speaks unto you” (Jeremiah 10:1)
· “Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak… and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth” (Deuteronomy 32:1)
· Jesus Said: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27)
· Jesus Said: “He that has ears, let him hear.” (Matthew 11:15)
And why does God want someone to listen Him?
In the Old Testament He said:
· “Hear, O Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you” (Deuteronomy 6:3)
· “Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, [even] the sure mercies of David” (Isaiah 55:3)
What God’s saying is this: listen to me because…
I want to bless you.
I want to give you what your heart desires
BUT if you’re not going to listen to me - I can’t do that.
Now Eli - the priest - had long ago stopped listening to God because he didn’t like what God was asking him to do.
And Eli’s sons (Hophni & Phineas - who were also priests at the tabernacle as Eli was) those sons had not only ignored God, but they pretended to speak for God telling the people to give them a choice part of their sacrifices that priests weren’t supposed to receive. (I Samuel 2:13-17)
In essence Eli’s sons were saying was “God spoke to me”
They had an agenda.
They wanted to manipulate the other worshippers for their own advantage.
ILLUS: Last week Stan (a member of our congregation) was in a side room with a microphone. He and I did a little skit where I prayed the Lord’s Prayer… and Stan played God, responding to me as I prayed.
This morning Stan told me he had almost ended our skit that Sunday by adding a little “message from God’ for me. He didn’t do it, but he said he was tempted to do it just to see how I’d respond.
Stan had an agenda.
He wanted to have a little fun with me.
It wasn’t malicious.
There are a lot of folks today who will try to tell you “God spoke” to them.
They say they’ve seen visions or heard God’s voice and they want to share it with you.
Everytime I hear that sort of thing, I suspect they have an agenda.
It may not be malicious.
They may actually believe God has spoken to them.
But I’m usually pretty sure the “word” isn’t from God.
ILLUS: I once took part in a prayer meeting that was led by AGLOW - a charismatic ladies group. They had invited preachers from various denominations to pray for specific issues, and they had invited civic leaders from the community to pray for other things.
As prayer meetings go, it was fairly innocent.
The AGLOW women were some the sweetest people I’ve ever met. And I know they meant well. But after a few meetings – I didn’t go back.
I began to notice a pattern with these girls.
During one meeting one of them got up and said God had “spoken” to her and given them a vision for the city. God had told her what He wanted to do something special for our community.
Then, after a few moments, another lady would say pretty much the same thing.
By the time the 3rd and 4th woman had shared their “visions” I was pretty sure I didn’t want any part of this particular prayer meeting.
Now, these were sweet women, and I’m sure they meant well. They may even have actually believed God showed them the visions they shared that morning. But I’m hear to tell you today: God didn’t talk to these folks.
ILLUS: I know of a young man in this city who was approached by an old friend of his. That friend came up to him and told him “I have a message from God for you”. And then, the friend gave him a marvelous revelation of the great plans God had for him. That’s a common thing to have happen in Charismatic circles. But if anyone ever does that to you, don’t believe them.
I mean, it would be nice if God would do that I suppose.
But, let’s face it - if God had a message for me – why wouldn’t He talk directly to me about it?
Even when Samuel received a message from God for Eli God had already been talking to Eli about this. Samuel was given the message because Eli had stopped listening himself.
So, how do I “hear from God”?
I mean – does God ever “talk” to folks verbally anymore?
I think maybe He still does.
I myself had a couple of instances where I really think God has done that with me.
But it was ONLY a couple of times and they came at times when I really needed to have some serious guidance on a problem I was facing.
Even in the Bible, God didn’t talk to a whole lot of people.
Usually He did His talking with just a few folks… who would then share what He’d said with others.
For example: God spoke to Moses… then Moses spoke of God’s will to the people.
And God spoke to Judges like Gideon & Debra & they would tell people what He’d said
And God spoke to the Prophets… and the prophets passed that along to others
God usually did His talking to just a few people – who were expected to share what He’d said with others.
In our day we have the record of what God said to a whole bunch of people down through the ages. God shared His wisdom and His will for our lives with prophets, and apostles and all kinds of folks. And that wisdom has been written down for us in a huge book called “The Bible.”
This (hold up Bible) is where you’re going to get the bulk of what you need to hear from God.
But what if what I need to know isn’t listed the Bible?
What if I want to know if I should marry Susie… and I look all thru the Bible and I can’t find Susie’s name anywhere?
How do I know what God’s will is for me in situations like that?
Well, the story we’ve just read here about Samuel has some basic things that will help us to learn God’s will for our lives.
1st look with me to I Samuel 3:3-4
"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.’"
Where was Samuel when God 1st called his name?
He was lying down in the Tabernacle of the Lord where the Ark was.
Now, I believe that every word of Scripture is there for a reason.
For example, in this passage, God could simply have said: “Samuel was sleeping”
BUT instead, God goes into detail.
It’s as if God is saying: "I want you to know WHERE Samuel was sleeping."
If I’m right - why would God give us these details?
I believe it was because God wanted us to see that, when Samuel heard God’s voice,
he was sleeping NEXT to God.
In Other Words: Proximity was critical.
If you’re gonna hear – you’ve gotta be near. (I made that one up myself)
James 4:8 tells us "Draw near to God and he will draw near to you."
ILLUS: My wife and I will be in the Dining room and she’ll be sharing something she feels is important. I, however, don’t like to just sit around and listen. I’ve got to be doing something – straightening the furniture, straightening the desk. I’ll even drift into the kitchen and begin putting away dishes in the dishwasher, etc. Then it might occur to me that I need to do something in the back room, or in the den - about 4 rooms away - and she’s still talking.
And she gets frustrated (pause) – go figure!
Now, why does my wife get frustrated?
Because she knows - if I’m not in the same room - I’m probably not listening to her anymore.
ILLUS: This last week I was talking with a very nice woman who I’ve been working with and talking to her about coming to church. She said “Jeff can I ask you a question?”
I said “Of course.”
So she said “I’ve been praying and praying to God… but it doesn’t seem answering me.”
I responded “Honey, I can tell you one of your problems right now – you’re not in church”
Jesus said: "Wherever two or more are gathered in my name - there I am in the midst of you."
If you’re going to hear God’s voice - if you’re going to know His will for your life – you’ve got to be in the same room as He is.
Now this includes spending time in prayer and reading the Bible.
You have to “ask, seek and knock”
But asking and seeking and knocking – without going to church won’t do it.
That woman had been praying and reading Scripture for a long time.
And she thought that was enough.
It wasn’t.
Jesus tells us He expects us in Church.
Part of the reason He came and died on the cross was to establish His church.
So He expects us to be an active vibrant part of it.
It’s not a suggestion, it’s not an option…
It’s an invitation to be with Him. To be “in the room” with Him.
He may not give you the answers to all of your prayers while you’re IN church, but I doubt He’s going to share much with people who don’t take church serious. If you already know what His will is with church and you take it lightly… why would He want to share anything else with you?
So, proximity is critical.
If you want to hear from Him … you’ve got to be NEAR to Him.
The 2nd thing I need to do, if I want to hear God’s voice… I have to work on my priorities.
There will be times when listening to God will be inconvenient.
Look with me at 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 it would have gone a little like this:
”Jeff”
I’d get up and go to Eli and say “what do you need Eli?”
“I didn’t call you – go back to sleep’
So I’d go back and lay down and go to sleep.
“Jeff”
And I’d get up and go to Eli and say “what do you need Eli?”
“I didn’t call you – go back to sleep’
So… I’d go back and lay down and go to sleep.
“Jeff”
WHAAATTT???
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: For example: let’s look back at the question of whether I should marry Susie or not.
Her name doesn’t show up in Scripture but God has already told me a lot of things about whether or not I should marry her.
God tells me “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers….”2 Corinthians 6:14
Don’t date or marry a non-Christian.
That’s God’s will for your life
ILLUS: George Faull (a preacher in a nearby congregation) told his boys that if they married a non-Christian, he wouldn’t show up for the wedding.
Well, that seems kind of harsh doesn’t it.
Why would George say that to his boys?
He wanted them to obey God.
He wanted them to receive God’s blessing and walk in His will.
And marrying a non-Christian woman was not God’s will for their lives.
For some people that’s an inconvenience.
For some folks that doesn’t fit their agenda
They don’t want to do it that way.
But hey, that’s ok.
When their marriage fails or things go wrong in their relationship… they can’t blame God
They had refused to listen to Him.
And because they refused to listen God will have a harder time blessing them.
So if you want to know God’s will for your life
1st Proximity is critical - you can’t hear if you’re not near.
2nd Priorities are vital – who’s will are you wanting in your life? Your’s or His?
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.
What was his advise?
Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say,
‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’"… 1 Samuel 3:9
Eli’s advice was: Give God permission to speak.
One man once said “Prayer is an invitation to God to intervene in our lives, to let His will prevail in our affairs” (Abraham Joshua Heschel)
Many people view prayer as a way to petition God.
They ask and they ask and they ask for God to do this, that and the other for them.
ILLUS: Imagine if I called Paul (one of the members in the congregation) and I asked him for $30. He likes me and he might just help me out.
The next week I call and I ask for another $50 or so
Will he help me? Maybe.
But if that’s the only reason I call him week after week… after awhile, Paul’s not going to pick up.
Now, there’s nothing wrong with asking God for things.
He tells us to “ask, seek and knock”
He tells us we don’t have “because we don’t ask”
But if that’s all our prayer life is about, we’ve kind of missed the boat.
ILLUS: Billy Graham once observed
Prayer is not using God; it is more often to get us in a position where God can use us.
I watched deck hands on the great liner United States as they docked ship in New York Harbor. First they threw out a rope to the men on the dock. Then, inside the boat the great motors went to work and pulled on the great cable.
But, oddly enough, the pier wasn’t pulled out to the ship; but the ship was pulled snugly up to the pier.
Prayer is the rope that pulls God and us together. But it doesn’t pull God down to us; it pulls us to God. We must learn to say with Christ, the master of the art of praying: “Not my will; but Thine be done.”
CLOSE: A man said, “Years ago I lived in a small town where I could never buy anything to fit me. I used to send to a store for what I needed, and they would send me printed order forms. At the bottom of the forms were the words, ‘IF WE DO NOT HAVE THE ITEM IN STOCK, MAY WE PLEASE SUBSTITUTE?’
“Once I said, ‘Yes,’ and they wrote back, ‘We are sorry we do not have your item in stock, but we are substituting...’” The man said, “And they sent me something that was worth double the price I paid. As a rule, whenever they substituted, they always sent something of better quality.”
A lot of times people won’t feel comfortable giving God permission to do His will in their lives… because they’re afraid He’ll do something that they don’t want Him to do with their future.
But a lot of times we pray for things that God knows will not be in our best interests.
When we give God permission to do His will in our lives, God will substitute something even better… and of far greater value… because we trusted Him.
