May 18, 2009
Acknowledgement Is The Key
Therefore Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you,
that you must say, ‘Speak, LORD, for
Your servant hears.'" 1 Samuel 3:9
Samuel was still a young boy, and the Lord was beginning to speak to him.
Remember in 1 Samuel chapter three when the Lord calls out to Samuel, Samuel
quickly runs to Eli in the middle of the night thinking it is Eli calling him?
We are told in verse 7, “(Now Samuel did not yet
know the LORD, nor was the word of the LORD yet revealed to him.)” Samuel
hears the voice, but he thinks it is Eli. This happens three times before Eli
discerns that the Lord is trying to talk to Samuel. It is then that he instructs
Samuel as in our verse today: “…you must say,
‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant hears.’”
I am asked many times in ministry, how do you hear God’s voice or know when God
is speaking? You will hear many answers to this question and all are true.
Sometimes you will hear God speaking as you read the word. You might be reading
the word and all the sudden a scripture seems to jump off the page. Sometimes
God speaks through other people. I heard it said by a wise man I once knew that
God’s voice often sounds just like your wife. (Incidentally, it could also sound
just like your husband.) Sometimes a devotion your reading seems to answer a
question you have or confirms a prayer you were praying.
Many times we have a sudden thought and wonder where it came from or ask
was that me?
Truthfully, I believe that this scripture is the key to knowing God’s voice.
Acknowledgement. God was talking, and Samuel was hearing His voice. Samuel just
didn’t acknowledge it was God. It wasn’t until Eli told Samuel to acknowledge
the Lord and to listen. When Samuel followed his mentor’s instructions, God
began to speak in abundance.
We have an analogy in our ministry to
help others understand how this works. We say, God is always talking; we just
have to tune into the right channel. Just like radio waves are always moving
through the air, God is constantly speaking to us. Sometimes we may have to
change the channel to get a good signal and to get rid of the static. God talks
in many different ways and often changes His method, so we don’t get stuck in
one way or quit seeking Him. It is kind of a fun hide and seek game. He hides so
we can find Him--not to remain hidden. Remember the thrill and laughter of a
child when his parent jumps out from a hidden spot? I never get tired of being
amazed how my heavenly father suddenly reveals Himself to me either!
Instead of thinking things are coincidence (we say there is no such thing as a
coincidence) or thinking an occurrence was odd, acknowledge the Lord’s voice.
Begin to say, Lord, what are you showing me? Lord, I know you are speaking to
me, please tell me more. Ask Him questions and wait for an answer. The more we
give the Lord credit, the more He will say to us. As a personal example, one
time within a 10 minute period, I saw three different people moving forward by
foot or bicycle while looking backwards. Each one almost ran into something or
someone. I asked the Lord what He was trying to tell me. Over a week’s period I
discerned the Lord was warning me that I could not move forward if I was looking
back and not to go back.
The closer we get to the Lord, I have found that the more subtle He speaks. His
goal is to get us to the place of intimacy with Him where He can speak to us
with His eyes. Psalms 32:8 says, “I will instruct
you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.”
Do you remember your mother or father ever looking at you at certain way,
and you knew with no words spoken what they were saying?! Of course you do.
As you begin to acknowledge the Lord and give Him credit for the so called
coincidences in life and the things you often say are strange or odd, many will
tell you that you are over spiritualizing everything. They may say you are
crazy.
Festus said this very thing to Paul in Acts 26:24,
"Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!" Paul’s
response in verse 25 and 29 were, "I am not mad,
most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason…I would to God that
not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and
altogether such as I am, except for these chains."
I’d rather walk in the light I have now than the darkness the enemy wanted to
keep me in.
God won’t give us more light, if we don’t do anything with the light we have
now.
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. John 10:27
Acknowledgement is the key! To Him be the glory forever!
Janet Fairbrother
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