The Danger Of Talking To God

Scripture: 1 Samuel 3:1-11; Psalm 29

Theme: One on One With God

Title: The Danger of Talking to God

This sermon is about having a One on One Conversation with God. It looks at what that means to several people in the Scriptures - Adam, Cain, Abraham, Moses and Samuel in particular. It also reveals how gloriously dangerous and life transformative it will be.

INTRO:

Grace and peace from God our Father, Jesus Our Savior and the Holy Spirit Our Comforter and Guide!

I want to talk to you this morning about having a one on one conversation with God.

When the Holy Spirit first impressed that idea on my heart and mind I was both intrigued and curious. To tell you the truth I was all pumped up and ready to open the Bible and study all the different encounters that involved a one on one conversation between God and us humans. I thought what a great message to bring before a group of people who I dearly love and a group of people who I believe want to live a life of progressive holiness - a life in which they grow each day closer and closer to the our Savior and LORD - Jesus Christ.

I mean who doesn't want to hear from the LORD? Right? Who doesn't want to spend some quality one on one time with God? Who in their right mind doesn't want to spend a day listening to the LORD God Almighty? Who doesn't want to spend time receiving wisdom, insight and knowledge from the most Powerful Being that exists - The I AM That I AM? Who doesn't want to hear what God has to say to them about their life and their future?

Those where the thoughts I had circling around my mind as I started looking at the hundreds of passages in the Bible that shares God's conversation with mankind. But the more I looked the more cautious I became and in the middle of it I actually began to ponder - Why in the world would anyone want God to speak to them? I mean, do you know what happened to so many in the Bible when God spoke to them and what it did to their lives?

I actually got to the point where I thought perhaps I need to share some ways in which we can make sure we do not hear God. Ways that make sure we never have a one on one conversation with the Great I AM. I thought there for a flitting moment to tell everyone - "Just go on with your life as you are and don't worry about God speaking to you. You will be better off if He doesn't."

Oh, I get it. Your making that face. That one that cannot believe what I just said. That face that says that I have lost it and you can't believe that someone just said those words in church, much less behind the pulpit.

What do you mean you thought about telling us how not to hear God? That is the very opposite of what we expect to hear from a minister; especially one in our tribe/tradition. You are suppose to tell us how to hear God better, share with us some ways that we can cut down the noise of our world and help us be able to hear God more clearly than we ever have in our lives.

Well, you are right. I am suppose to help all of us in our spiritual walk with the LORD. I am suppose to deliver to you God's Word - as crystal clear as humanly possible. And I am suppose to help us find ways in which God's Presence is more transparent in our lives.

But I have to tell you, it can be a mine field. We can find ourselves walking right to the very edge of a high cliff. Holding a conversation with God can be a very dangerous thing to do in this life. In fact, I can tell you that the most dangerous thing you will ever do in your life is having a one on one conversation with God. I can tell you that if that (having a conversation with God) is your heart's desire then you better buckle up for the ride of your life.

Why do I say that? Well let me share with you what I experienced as I started looking at passage after passage where God and humans have meaningful one on one conversations:

+Scripture tells us that Adam and Eve loved to walk and talk with God in the Garden. We sense that they had these enjoyable times of conversation and fellowship. But after they rebelled/sinned all of that changed. Genesis 3:8-11 shares that they were terrified to talk to God. All they wanted to do was to go away somewhere and hide.