The Voice
- fccreative
- Mar 14
- 10 min read
Hearing God's Voice: Discerning the Divine Amidst Life's Noise
In today's message, we explored the profound theme of "Hearing God's Voice," drawing from the story of Samuel in 1 Samuel 3. The narrative of Samuel's first encounter with God's voice serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of tuning into the divine amidst the noise of life. Samuel, a young boy serving under Eli, learns to discern God's voice, a skill that would define his prophetic ministry. This story teaches us that God's voice is not just another sound in the cacophony of life but the most powerful and transformative voice we can ever hear.
We began by acknowledging that God is always speaking, and our ability to hear Him is often hindered by our expectations and spiritual condition. Just as Samuel was called in a time when the word of the Lord was rare, we too must expect God to speak, even in our barren and spiritually dry seasons. God's voice often comes when we least expect it, in our night seasons, and when hope seems to be flickering. It is in these moments that His voice becomes the anchor of our hope, guiding us through life's challenges.
Furthermore, our history and experiences shape our ability to hear God. Samuel's life, rooted in his mother Hannah's fervent prayers and dedication, uniquely prepared him to hear God's voice in a spiritually barren time. Similarly, our past, with all its trials and triumphs, equips us to discern God's voice in ways others might not.
We also discussed the danger of allowing God to become ordinary in our lives. When the sacred becomes common, our spiritual hearing becomes dull. Eli's inability to see and hear God was a result of treating the holy things of God as ordinary. In contrast, Samuel's love for God's house and presence positioned him to hear God's voice clearly.
Finally, we emphasized the importance of positioning ourselves to hear God. This involves creating space for stillness, obedience, and submission to God's authority. It requires us to wait on God, to be patient, and to listen more than we speak. In doing so, we open ourselves to the life-changing power of a single word from God.
Key Takeaways:
1. Expect God to Speak: God is always speaking, and our ability to hear Him begins with the expectation that He will communicate with us. Just as Samuel learned to recognize God's voice, we must train our ears to listen for His guidance, even in the midst of life's noise.
2. God Speaks in Unexpected Times: Often, God speaks to us when we least expect it, in our night seasons and moments of despair. His voice becomes the anchor of hope, guiding us through the darkest times and reminding us of His presence and promises.
3. Our History Prepares Us to Hear God: Our past experiences, both good and bad, shape our ability to discern God's voice. Like Samuel, who was born out of Hannah's barrenness, our history uniquely qualifies us to hear God in ways others might not.
4. Avoid Treating God as Ordinary: When the sacred becomes common, our spiritual hearing becomes dull. Eli's inability to hear God was a result of treating the holy things of God as ordinary. We must guard against this by maintaining reverence for God's presence and His house.
5. Position Yourself to Hear God: Hearing God's voice requires intentionality. We must create space for stillness, obedience, and submission to God's authority. By waiting on God and listening more than we speak, we open ourselves to the transformative power of His word.
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Hearing God's Voice
Observation Questions:
1. What was the spiritual condition of Israel during the time of Samuel's first encounter with God's voice, and how did it affect the frequency of God's communication?
2. How did Eli's response to Samuel's repeated visits help Samuel recognize God's voice?
3. What role did Samuel's upbringing and his mother's dedication play in his ability to hear God's voice?
4. How did the physical and spiritual condition of Eli reflect his ability to hear God's voice?
Interpretation Questions:
1. In what ways does the sermon suggest that our past experiences shape our ability to hear God's voice? How does this relate to Samuel's story?
2. How does the sermon describe the danger of treating God as ordinary, and what impact does this have on our spiritual hearing?
3. What does the sermon imply about the importance of positioning ourselves to hear God, and how can this be practically applied in our daily lives?
4. How does the sermon illustrate the concept of God speaking in unexpected times, and what significance does this have for our spiritual journey?
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt God was speaking to you in an unexpected moment. How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience?
2. Consider your current spiritual practices. How can you create more space for stillness and listening to God's voice in your daily routine?
3. Have you ever found yourself treating the sacred aspects of your faith as ordinary? What steps can you take to restore reverence and attentiveness in your spiritual life?
4. Think about your personal history and experiences. How might God be using them to prepare you to hear His voice in unique ways?
5. Identify a specific area in your life where you need to expect God to speak. How can you cultivate a mindset of expectation and readiness to hear from Him?
6. Reflect on your relationship with the church and God's presence. How does your love for God's house influence your ability to hear His voice?
7. In what ways can you seek guidance from mentors or spiritual leaders to help discern God's voice in your life? How can you apply their wisdom to your current situation?
Devotional
Day 1: Expectation as a Gateway to Divine Communication
God is always speaking, but often, our ability to hear Him is hindered by our own expectations and spiritual condition. Just as Samuel learned to recognize God's voice, we must train our ears to listen for His guidance, even amidst life's noise. Expecting God to speak is the first step in tuning into His divine communication. When we anticipate His voice, we open ourselves to the possibility of hearing Him in new and profound ways. This expectation is not passive but requires active engagement and readiness to receive His word.
"For God speaks in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, while they slumber on their beds, then he opens the ears of men and terrifies them with warnings." (Job 33:14-16, ESV)
Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to cultivate an expectation that God will speak to you? How can you prepare your heart and mind to be more receptive to His voice?
Day 2: The Unexpected Timing of God's Voice
God often speaks to us when we least expect it, in our night seasons and moments of despair. His voice becomes the anchor of hope, guiding us through the darkest times and reminding us of His presence and promises. These unexpected moments of divine communication can transform our perspective and provide clarity and direction when we need it most. By remaining open to hearing God at any time, we allow His voice to become a source of strength and encouragement in our lives.
"At night my soul longs for you; indeed, my spirit within me seeks you diligently. For when the earth experiences your judgments, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness." (Isaiah 26:9, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a time when you felt distant from God. How can you remain open to hearing His voice during unexpected moments of your day today?
Day 3: The Role of Personal History in Hearing God
Our past experiences, both good and bad, shape our ability to discern God's voice. Like Samuel, who was born out of Hannah's barrenness, our history uniquely qualifies us to hear God in ways others might not. Our personal stories, filled with trials and triumphs, become the lens through which we perceive and understand God's communication. Embracing our history allows us to see how God has been speaking to us all along, preparing us for the moments when His voice will guide us into new seasons.
"Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations; ask your father, and he will show you, your elders, and they will tell you." (Deuteronomy 32:7, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on a significant event in your past. How might this experience have prepared you to hear God's voice in your current circumstances?
Day 4: Reverence for the Sacred
When the sacred becomes common, our spiritual hearing becomes dull. Eli's inability to hear God was a result of treating the holy things of God as ordinary. We must guard against this by maintaining reverence for God's presence and His house. By valuing the sacred, we keep our spiritual senses sharp and attuned to His voice. This reverence is cultivated through intentional practices of worship, prayer, and reflection, which remind us of the holiness of God and His desire to communicate with us.
"Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire." (Hebrews 12:28-29, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways have you allowed the sacred to become ordinary in your life? How can you restore a sense of reverence for God's presence today?
Day 5: Intentional Positioning to Hear God
Hearing God's voice requires intentionality. We must create space for stillness, obedience, and submission to God's authority. By waiting on God and listening more than we speak, we open ourselves to the transformative power of His word. This intentional positioning involves setting aside time to be in His presence, seeking His guidance, and being willing to act on what He reveals. As we cultivate this posture of listening, we become more attuned to His voice and the direction He provides for our lives.
"But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him." (Habakkuk 2:20, ESV)
Reflection: What practical steps can you take today to create space for stillness and listening in your life? How can you prioritize hearing God's voice amidst your daily activities?
Quotes
God is always talking right from the beginning of the book of Genesis we are introduced to a god that speaks for the worlds were created not by the hands of God but by the words of God God spoke the worlds into existence he spoke to the darkness and the Darkness gave forth light.
God will speak to you when you least expect it 1st Samuel 3:1 says the boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli and in though those days the word of the Lord was word of the Lord was rare there were not many Visions the reason why the word of the Lord was rare in those days is because Israel was in a backslidden and spiritually Barren condition.
God will speak to you in your Barren places in your places of disobedience in your places of wandering to the Jonas he speaks to us when we are in the belly of a whale to the prodical he speaks to us when we are in the pig pens to The Davids he speaks to us when we have lost our way in lust to the Peters he speaks to us when we have denied His holy name.
God will speak to you in your night Seasons the literal time of day that the voice of God came to Samuel was in the night time but this too is a type of God speaking to us when we least expect it in our night seasons I'm not sure we realize it or not but I want to tell you that God works the night shift.
God will use your history to help you hear some of you you want to put your history behind you I get it but can I tell you something that God will use it God may not have caused it God may not have even ordained it but God will use it to help you to hear for us to talk about Samuel without really talking about Hannah is a disservice.
Samuel was born out of Hannah's night season you might remember the story she's married to a man by the name of ala who loves her very very much but but Hannah can't have kidss she's Barren and culturally when you couldn't have kids and you were Barren your husband was allowed to go get another child I mean another another wife so he can get a child from the other wife.
When God becomes ordinary hearing becomes ineffective 1st Samuel chapter 3 verse number two one night Eli whose eyes were becoming so weak he could barely see was lying down in his usual place even though these details surely speak of the physical condition of Eli the high priest they also speak of his spiritual condition the high priest could barely see in other words the minister of the Lord in God's house lost his ability to see and to discern the things of God.
God help us when his house and the holy things of the Lord become common to us God help us when the house of God no longer has the power of God no longer has the anointing of God no no longer has the miracles of god no longer has the presence of God God help us when the house of God becomes ordinary God help us when we lose our spiritual eyesight that we cannot discern what is happening and where we stand when God's house becomes ordinary we cannot hear what we need to hear.
Hearing God's voice is tied to our love for God's house and God's presence hearing God's voice is tied to our love for God's house and God's presence God's house and God's presence becomes despised by Eli and his sons and as a result he couldn't hear the voice of God but notice the boy Samuel still childlike in his faith still too young to notice the contempt around him still sheltered the scripture says in verse three and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord where the Ark of God was.
Your ability to hear is connected to your love for and your service too the house of God Samuel the boy the one who David would anoint to be king in our text is doing the same thing David was Desiring he's dwelling in the house of the Lord he's laying in the presence of God listen to me you have not experienced life until you've laid in the presence of God.
If you're going to hear the voice of God you must position yourself to hear it 1st Samuel chapter 3 verse number n last scripture and verse number 10 so Eli told Samuel go and lie down and if he calls you say Speak Lord for your servant is listen so Samuel went and laid down in his place and the Lord came and stood there calling as the other time Samuel Samuel then Samuel said speak for your servant is listening.
You will not hear the voice of God regularly if you do not make time for the voice of God regularly that's why we need a prayer closet and that's why Jesus said when you go into the prayer closet shut the door get everything out you need to position yourself for the voice of God then he says to Samuel go lie down and the Bible says Samuel goes to lie down in his place in his place the word place is symbolic of obedience the voice of God and the things of God are always tied to places of obedience.
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