Samuel was afraid to tell Eli
the vision. —1 Samuel 3:15
{CHAMBERS} “God never speaks to us in dramatic ways, but in ways
that are easy to misunderstand. Then we say, “I wonder if that is God’s voice?”
Isaiah said that the Lord spoke to him “with a strong hand,” that is, by the
pressure of his circumstances (Isaiah 8:11). Without the sovereign hand of God
Himself, nothing touches our lives. Do we discern His hand at work, or do we
see things as mere occurrences? Get into the habit of saying, “Speak, Lord,”
and life will become a romance (1 Samuel 3:9). Every time circumstances press
in on you, say, “Speak, Lord,” and make time to listen. Chastening is more than
a means of discipline— it is meant to bring me to the point of saying, “Speak,
Lord.” […] As we listen, our ears become
more sensitive, and like Jesus, we will hear God all the time. Should I tell my “Eli” what God has shown to
me? This is where the dilemma of obedience hits us. […] Never ask another
person’s advice about anything God makes you decide before Him. If you ask
advice, you will almost always side with Satan. “…I did not immediately confer
with flesh and blood…” (Galatians 1:16).”
{ELGIN} Do you think that the idea of hearing God speak is a little
too mystical for you? Hearing God speak
is not hearing an audible voice .. something that can be recorded. God speaks to the heart which is realized in
the mind and always challenges the will.
It may be an impression … it may be
a crisis in your life … it will always be consistent with the nature and
character and purposes of God. Don’t
ever become content with where you are in your spiritual growth. Don’t ever say to God, I have come this far
but I will go no farther. I don’t want
to change any more than I have. I don’t
want to give up any more of the world than I have. I am fine right where I am. I was talking with a young man the other day
who told me that he just didn’t feel like praying. We don’t do the right thing because we feel
like it .. we do the right thing because it is the right thing to do. If your faith and practice is based on
feelings, you are in trouble form the start.
Listen. If I did or did not do things because of how I felt at
the time, my life would very likely be very different. If you say, I don’t feel like going to work
.. and then don’t … well, it’s a free country.
You can make that choice. And
your employer can make the choice of firing you. My point … there are consequences to not doing
what you should. If and when God speaks
to you .. you have a choice … but think about this. The God of the universe has spoken … why on
earth or in heaven would you ignore Him? That was a rhetorical question,
actually. You ignore Him because your
flesh .. your old nature .. your carnal mind is ruling the day. You are living in submission to the flesh and
not by the Spirit.
Here are a few verses to consider
this morning
Ephesians 5:8
“for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as
children of Light”
Galatians 5:25
“If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”
Colossians 1:10-11 “so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him
in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the
knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might,
for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience;”
1 John 2:6 “the
one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He
walked.”
Romans 8:5-14
“For those who live according to the
flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according
to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but
to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is
hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those
who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh but
in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not
have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is
dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the
dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give
life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
Heirs with Christ So then,
brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For
if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put
to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the
Spirit of God are sons of God.”
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