Speak Lord—What happens when He whispers?
1 Samuel 3:1-10AMP
Two Texans went to Minnesota one winter to do some ice fishing. After setting up their tent, they pulled the cord on their chainsaw to cut a hole in the ice. Then they heard a mysterious voice from above saying, “there are no fish under the ice.”
Is that you, God? They asked in awe. No, came the reply, “but I know that there are no fish under the ice. I am the owner of this ice-skating rink.”
People who don’t know God’s voice, or His whispers, resemble fisherman fishing in a skating rink.
If your life is off key, maybe it's because you've been deafened by the negative self-talk that doesn't let God get a word in edgewise!
Maybe you've listened to the voice of criticism so long you can't believe anything else about yourself. Or maybe it's the enemies voice of condemnation that speaks lies about who you really are.
This I know—If you don't silence those competing voices, they'll eventually deafen you. Before long you won't be able to sing God songs, because you won't be able to hear His voice.
Would you be willing to pray a bold prayer with me? It's a prayer that can change the trajectory of your life, just as it did for the prophet Samuel.
Before you pray it, let me issue a warning. If you want to hear His comforting voice, you have to listen to his convicting voice also.
Remember this, It’s often what we hear least that we need to hear most.
I want to read the entire text, and then proceed to give you some—God points! (Ready, I’ll read).
1 Samuel 3:1-10AMP Now the boy Samuel was attending to the service of the Lord under the supervision of Eli. The word of the Lord was rare and precious in those days; visions [that is, new revelations of divine truth] were not widespread.
2 Yet it happened at that time, as Eli was lying down in his own place (now his eyesight had begun to grow dim and he could not see well). 3 and the [oil] 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, 4 that the Lord called Samuel, and he answered, “Here I am.” 5 He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But Eli said, “I did not call you; lie down again.” So he went and lay down. 6 Then the Lord called yet again, “Samuel!” So Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But Eli answered, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” 7 Now Samuel did not yet know [or personally experience] the Lord, and the word of the Lord was not yet revealed [directly] to him. 8 So the Lord called Samuel a third time. And he stood and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you did call me.” Then Eli understood that it was the Lord [who was] calling the boy. 9 So Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and it shall be that if He calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 Then the Lord came and stood and called as at the previous times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”
The question remains, “Are you ready to pray a bold prayer?” The next time you go to Him, tell Him, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”
Several things I would like to point out from the text:
God called Samuel, but Samuel still had to decide, and follow the call of God.
Jesus stated in, John 15:16ESV “You didn’t choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won’t spoil. As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to me, he gives you.
I think it’s safe to say, “God was calling— Samuel.” First, to trust Him as His God. Second, to become His spokesperson. Namely, A— prophet of God.
2. Samuel’s first order of business was to speak hard, painful words to His adopted family.
1 Timothy 3:5ESV for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?
Think about it, what the Lord showed young Samuel was about his own relatives. Samuel didn’t realize until now, that God was about to judge Eli, the prophet— Samuel’s mentor. The priest who raised Samuel. Also Eli’s sons. They would undergo severe judgement, even death.
Can you imagine, Giving this type of news to your own family? (Are you sure you want to be a—prophet of God?)
3. Samuel was called to turn spiritual tides.
1 Samuel 3:11AMP The Lord said to Samuel, “Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will ring.
This prophet of God—Samuel, would be faithful in carrying out God’s word. Moreover, Samuel, would eventually anoint young David, and prepare him one day, as King of Israel.
4. Samuel held nothing back! He continued to grow in the spirit.
1 Samuel 3:19-21AMP Now Samuel grew; and the Lord was with him and He let none of his words fail [to be fulfilled]. 20 And all Israel from Dan [in the north] to Beersheba [in the south] knew that Samuel was appointed as a prophet of the Lord. 21 And the Lord continued to appear in Shiloh, for the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord.
I think we should take note that the word Shiloh in Hebrew means, “His gift.”
According to the Hebrew Bible, Shiloh was the central sanctuary of the Israelites before the First Temple in Jerusalem was built. After the Israelite conquest of Canaan, the Tabernacle was moved to Shiloh, and remained during the period of the biblical judges.
Are you ready to move in and live at Shiloh? Are ready to become God’s gift?
“Never discount the still small voice of God. He takes full liberty to whisper, if He wants to.” P.H
5. The word of God was rare. Samuel’s voice would bring refreshing and rebuke to— multitudes.
Notice in this day and time, Verse 1, tells us that the word of the Lord was rare, and precious, and that there weren’t widespread revelation of God.
Q&A: Is God's voice the loudest voice in your life? That's the question. If the answer is no, that's the problem.
What voice is louder? Insecurity has a voice, anxiety/worry has a voice, Man’s approval and opinions have voice, Addiction has voice, Gluttony has voice, Pride and ego have voice. Passing judgement has voice etc.
Learning how to hear the voice of God is the solution to 1000 problems! It's also the key in discovering our destiny and fulfilling our potential.
His voice is love.
His voice is power.
His voice is healing.
His voice is wisdom.
His voice is Joy.
6. Samuel tarried in—God’s presence.
Looking back at the text, 1 Samuel 3:3bTM…It was well before dawn; the sanctuary lamp was still burning. Samuel was still in bed in the Temple of God, where the Chest of God rested.
“O the joy in having your children grow-up in the house of God.”
Samuel grew up in the house of God, living next to the Ark of God. He was young and inquisitive. He became spiritually zealous to learn of the things of God. Therefore his earthly father, Eli, would mentor him pertaining to the house of God.
Colossians 1:27TPT Living within you is the Christ who floods you with the expectation of glory! This mystery of Christ, embedded within us, becomes a heavenly treasure chest of hope filled with the riches of glory for his people, and God wants everyone to know it!
Jesus Christ is embedded within us, He— becomes the hope…our hope…the world’s hope…
Samuel was embedded; He was surrounded by the whisper of God.
7. Samuel was no exception, he had to learn the voice of God.
1 Samuel 3:5-6, I think it’s very interesting that Samuel ran to Eli on three separate occasions after hearing God’s voice. —Samuel ask Eli did you call me?
Verse 7b… Now Samuel did not yet know [or personally experience] the Lord…
> Samuel had not yet experienced the Lord. > Samuel knew about the God of his father, Eli. > However, Samuel needed to personally experience God First-hand.
8. Samuel heeded to the voice of God.
Verses 9&10, Eli, the man responsible for raising Samuel tells, “When you hear this voice, Know it’s the voice of God.’ Tell Him to speak because His servant is listening.”
David wrote, Psalm 32:7AMP You are my hiding place; You, Lord, protect me from trouble; You surround me with songs and shouts of deliverance. Selah.
Did you know that God is singing songs of deliverance all around you all the time? Quit hiding from God; Hide yourself in Him.
One more whisperer I want to mention—The prophet Elijah was exhausted; therefore, it didn't take much to weary the prophet and cause him to go in a tailspin spiritually.
Elijah the prophet was weary, Jezebel told Elijah, “By this time tomorrow I will kill you!"
1 Kings 19:11-12ESV And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.
Again, God’s in the whisper. My dictionary defines whisper as speaking very softly using one's breath without one's vocal cords.
The use of breath instead of vocal cords is significant. That’s how God created Adam, He whispered into the dust and named it, Adam.
Adam was once a whisper. So were you. So was everything else. Without the whisper, Samuel doesn’t know who he is; Without the whisper, Elijah becomes a washed up prophet.
Without the whisper mankind has no hope— “The whisper changed everything.”
When you hear His whisper stop listen.
Benediction.
