Can You Hear God Speaking

I Samuel 3:10 – And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.

In this passage of scripture, the Lord called Samuel and Samuel answered. But this was not always the case. If you start reading at verse one, you will see that the Lord called Samuel three times. Samuel heard the voice calling him, but thought it was Eli. Eli finally told Samuel, the next time the voice calls to  answer, “Speak Lord; for thy servant heareth.”

Many years ago there was a commercial on television about EF Hutton. EF Hutton was this big wig stock broker and the selling point of the commercial was, “when EF Hutton speaks, people listen”. Today’s question is, can you hear God?

One important thing for us to know is that God is always speaking. The problem is that many of us are not in the right condition or position to hear him.

I Corinthians 2:14 says, “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

In our carnal, fleshly and sinful state, it is next to impossible to hear the Spirit of God speak. You could make the argument that, this is the very reason some people can’t understand or grasp a lick of understanding from the bible before they are born again. Without the Holy Spirit, to some people the bible is just an ordinary book with words on a page. As we just read, the carnal mind can’t even begin to know the things of God because they are spiritually discerned. Have you ever been in a church service and the preacher seemed to make the Word of God so alive and understanding…but, later when you read it, it just wasn’t the same.

Do you want to understand the word of God? Do you want to hear God speak to you? It is God’s desire to have many sons and many daughters. Once you become a child of God, born again, you will be in the right condition to hear God speak. While we are in our unsaved state, we can’t hear God. And even if we did hear God speak, we wouldn’t have the Spirit of God to reveal to us that it is indeed God speaking. Remember Samuel? God called him three times and he thought it was Eli. Verse 7 tells us that Samuel did not yet know the Lord and that the word of the Lord had not been revealed to him yet. It wasn’t until Eli revealed to him that it was God and told him exactly how to respond. If Samuel wasn’t humble and submitted to Eli, he would have missed the opportunity to speak with God. This is interesting because it shows that we all also need a man or woman of God in our lives to help keep us in the right position. Even as born again believers, we sometimes lose our way and fall out of position. When this happens, we need someone to help guide us and even help us respond to God when he speaks.

So, if you are not born again and want to hear God speak…you must make a decision. You must admit that you are a sinner and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. The bible teaches us (Romans 10:9-10) that if we confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and believe in our hearts that God raised him from the dead, then we shall be saved.

Once you’re in the right condition to hear God speak, you must then get in the right position to hear God speak. The right position is a humble and submitted one. Once we are born again, we must be taught by the Spirit of God to hear and know the things of God…as well as his voice. Furthermore, those spiritual leaders that God has placed over us are also crucial and serve as mouth pieces for God too. Being in the right position also included prayer, reading and studying the Word of God. If there is one place that God speaks clearly and loudly, it is in his Word.

What to do…when you don’t know what to do!

There is an old saying that says, “there are only two things that are certain in this world…death and taxes”. Actually, the bible does make mention of these two things.

Hebrews 9:27 says, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement”.  Yes, death is inevitable. Although we are eternal beings whose spirit will live forever, we all will face death one day…unless the rapture comes beforehand. As far as taxes are concerned, in Matthew 17:24-27 Jesus tells his disciple, Peter, to go down to the sea and get a fish. Inside the fish mouth, Peter was to find some money for Peter to pay taxes for both him (Peter) and also Jesus.

Although death and taxes are both problems for us in and of themselves, life in general seems to pack a punch that keeps us against the ropes. Have you been there? Does this sound familiar…bills are due, just got paid but there isn’t enough money to pay the bills and live off of too! In addition, as soon as you see a little light at the end of the tunnel, in the form of a little extra money every now and then, something breaks down or comes up to where that little piece of money is gone. What about gas prices? Let’s face it, you have to get to work, right.  As a result, regardless of what the gas prices are, you are stuck with paying them. On top of this, your relationship and/or marriage is failing, the kids do not want to listen, and there is so much mess on your job that you hardly feel like going anymore. Finally, the one place that you would think you could go and find solace, the church, is full of members just like you. As a result, there is bickering, complaining, back-biting, low faith and carnality running ramp-id.

So what do you do? Do you give up…no! Do you give in…no! The only solution is to look towards the only one who can give help in our time of need….Jesus! I know, I know…even getting with Him seems to be a problem….can’t pray, can’t read your bible, can’t praise in the midst of trials and circumstances….WHAT DO YOU DO?

The first thing we must understand is that we are constantly in war. No, not in Iraq or Afghanistan, but in the spiritual realm. Regardless of if you are thinking about it or not, the devil is constantly planning, scheming and attacking. One of the most obvious signs that the devil is at work is the confusion. Whenever there is confusion in your life, you must know that the enemy is at work.

Second, we must understand and know that obedience is the key. Obedience to who or what you may ask…the Lord Jesus Chris, His Word, and those he place over us. As we remain totally committed to Him, we must know that He will fight our battles. If we are in a fight, there must be something that God is trying to develop and bring out of me. Also, if something is touching me, God must know about it and is allowing it.

Thirdly, as we yield to Him, we must get into the word of God to see and know what His will is in the given situation.

Lastly, we must remain accountable and teachable to those who labor for us spiritually…your Pastor, spiritual leader, teacher, etc. We must trust that the guidance and instruction they give is for our good and is approved by God.

So, what do you do when you don’t know what to do….love on the Lord Jesus Christ and seek his face, read and study His word, and seek (and listen to) the spiritual counsel of those over you.

God Bless!