“everyone’s ears will tingle” 11 Then the Lord said to Samuel: “Behold, I will do something in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle.
1 Sam 3:1-20
Young Samuel has been ministering in the Temple, but has not yet become a prophet, is sleeping and hears a voice, thinks its Eli, but its not, Samuel hears it again, asks Eli, Eli says no, It happens a third time, and Eli tells Samuel that it must be God talking to him! He tells him to answer back! Samuel hears from God- and God speaks judgment over the house of Eli because his disobedience, and then Samuel is afraid to speak what God spoke to him. Samuel is supposed to tell Eli that his whole family is going to be destroyed. Samuel does it. And then is declared a true prophet of God.
Sometimes God Doesn’t speak
The word of the Lord was rare in those days
V1 ‘now the boy samuel ministered to the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation
This was a period of Israel history where written texts were not the source of revelation.
People depended on Prophets of God to speak to them and tell them what God wanted
God spoke to the prophets- to speak to people. The people did what they said (sometimes)
But now- God wasn’t speaking- or the people weren’t listening. Eli was a judge- not a prophet
The people needed the word of the Lord! They needed direction- They needed his WORD
This was the time in Israel Judges 17:6 In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
So- God sends Samuel to be this prophet- To be the word of God- But it aint gonna be roses.
Sin and disobedience will always result in the judgment of God- a correction.
Romans 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
The judgment of God is getting whatever you want and God stepping back and giving it to you
What does it mean to you?
Do not be a person who rejects the word of God and dies spiritually that God will not speak to
America and Americans no longer hold a biblical worldview- AIG- “One hundred twelve million Americans (46%) say they have a biblical worldview. But according to this study, a mere 24 million American adults actually have a biblical worldview. only 10% of Americans think and act according to the most basic biblical principles. This is a gap of a staggering 88 million people who believe they think biblically, but whose beliefs and actions do not match up with biblical truth.
There are times in scripture where God withholds revelation upon people as judgment- are we living in those days? It may seem so- and its scary.
Amos 8:11 “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord God, “That I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine of bread, Nor a thirst for water, But of hearing the words of the Lord.
Its as true back then as it is today for many people- the only difference is that we have the written word and people flat out reject it.
They proclaim it to be false. They don’t like what it says. They challenge its truth.
They like the Idea of Jesus- a nice bearded man who gives away fish and bread- not the righteous judge returning with fire to cleanse the world from wickedness
But even TODAY the word of God is scarce- People don’t want the Bible. They want to make up God in their own heads- They want him to be what THEY Want him to be instead of WHO HE IS
2 tim 4:3-4 READ
John Francis- didn’t speak 17 years- family mad- listened when spoke- why don’t we listen Gd
Don’t be that person! Read your Bible! In context. The whole thing. See who God REALLY is
God SPEAKS to those who listen
V10 now the Lord came and stood and called as at other times “Samuel Samuel” and Samuel answered “speak for your servant hears”
God spoke to Samuel because Samuel more than likely could be trusted with the word of the Lord.
God saw something in Samuel that he could use for the people of Israel- but Samuel had to be positioned and read to receive that which the Lord was speaking
These are truths that God had for the prophets of the OT- Those who called and listened heard
Jeremiah 33:3 ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’
Psalm 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.
Many prophets of the OT heard from God because they listened and wanted to SERVE GOD not themselves.
Many people of today say they are prophets, but they are not. All they do is going around and tell people what they want to hear so people will be drawn to their ministry
I believe in prophecy- But Biblical prophecy is often corrective. Its not always ‘more money’
What does it mean to you?
IF you would give your life to Jesus- he will speak to you. He will tell you things. He will reveal
John 8:47 He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.”
If you find that you struggle to hear from God- or that you have not heard God- its probably because you don’t know him. If you don’t understand the Bible- its probably because you don’t know him
John 8:43 Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.
I’m not trying to mean here- I’m not the smartest tool in the shed- but the Bible became ALIVE to me when I was 15 years old. ALIVE. I couldn’t understand Shakespeare but I could understand the BIBLE. Read, underlined… cause I was saved… are you saved?
2 John 9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.
Jesus also said-
John 10:27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
God wants you to speak in love.
When God speaks it not just for God to speak. Its for a reason. To direct. To encourage. To correct. To cast vision and connect with his people.
Much of the Bible is recording God speaking to people, their response and the outcome
For Samuel- God spoke to him, and it wasn’t easy for him to process what he was going to do
V15 and Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the Vision
You hear God speak. Its something that people don’t want to hear- so you struggle
But Samuel spoke up! He said what God was telling him- He told him the Truth and spoke up
V 18 then Samuel told him Everything, and hid nothing from Him
It wasn’t good stuff. It was a word of destruction upon Eli house. Not the best news
But God needed Eli to know and he needed Samuel to speak it.
What does it mean to you?
Will you be a person that speaks the truth in love?
In changing room at Northgate- chasing down lady. Not love.
Three areas people don’t speak truth 1. To others when asked (everything is fine) 2. Themselves (I have nothing to work on) 3. When faced with error (better if I stay silent)
Paul spoke to the ephesian church and challenged them and said
Ephesians 4:25 Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.
How can we be the family of God if we lie to each other? If you have a struggle- talk to a fellow Christian about it- Tell them you need help. Be honest about it.
People play these games where they want to come to church and act like there are no problems- marriage, kids, addictions, emotions, whatever negative.
SPEAK UP
And if they can’t handle it- find someone who can!
Ephesians 4:15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—
We will never be the church that God wants us to be if we live in our lies and not speak in love
Do you know how you keep sin out of the church? You talk to people who are falling into it
You speak up IN LOVE- you take them to coffee or pull them aside- ‘bro- this is what I’m seeing’
Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.
BUT YOU HAVE TO BE SPIRITUAL AND GENTLE- pray about it- fast about it- do it GENTLE
Do you want to know what squashes Gossip in a church? You go to people you have an issue with, you don’t talk to someone else about it.
You don’t facebook it, you don’t talk to someone about it, you talk to God about it. You own your piece of it and you seek reconciliation with those you have harmed
Matthew 18:15 “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.
Do you know how you share the Gospel? You be ready to SPEAK UP IN LOVEwhen it happens!
1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
This world needs the truth more than ever. Forgiveness of sins. Peace with God and man.
YOU are the one who is going tell them. YOU know the truth! SPEAK IT
