Know God’s Voice

Prayer Matters: Praying with Power and Purpose

Part 1 – Know God’s Voice

1 Samuel 3

(Guest Speaker: Dan Roseman)

Prayer is most effective when we recognize God’s voice.

1) Prayer is our , not our .

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. John 10:3

God’s calling on Samuel’s life shows us a little bit about how God interacts with people.

3 The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions. 1 Samuel 3:1

2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, 1 Samuel 3:2-3a

3…and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was. 

1 Samuel 3:3b

4 Then the Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am.” 5 And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down. 1 Samuel 3:4-5

6 Again the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” “My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.”

7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. 1 Samuel 3:6-7

2) We serve a God who .

8 A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” 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. 1 Samuel 3:8

Samuel never understands that God is talking to him without Eli being a part of the story.

9 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. 1 Samuel 3:9

3) A helps hear the voice of God.

10 The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” 11 And the Lord said to Samuel: “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle. 1 Samuel 3:10-11

Just because God is speaking does not mean you will want to hear it, but the call to follow is the same.