Pentecostal Church of God, Bland Mo. 65066

Full Gospel Ministry in Song and Word
Pastor Rev. Steven Wagner Telephone: 573-437-5190

Rt 3, Owensville MO. 65066

ate: October 5, 1997

HEARING THE VOICE OF GOD

Scripture: 1 Samuel 3

Introduction: We see God calling his children into service in todays text. Much like Samuel, many of God's children do not recognize God's voice at first. This leads to the missing of Gods blessings that come from the center of Gods will.

I believe hearing the voice of God is critical in the day and time we live, because God is trying to reach His church for the last day. God is trying to warn the church of its coldness and indifference, and sinfulness but many can't hear and as the Bible says in the last days they will be marrying, and having a party and caring on as usual and the Lord will return.

(Mat 24:38 KJV) For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

(Mat 24:39 KJV) And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

a. It is imperative and critical the we hear His voice today, because if we can't we will be part of the great falling away that is coming to the earth.

(2 Th 2:3 KJV) Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

I. Ways that God has Spoken to Man Through the Ages.

A. In innocence-Face to Face Gen. 1-3

B. After the Fall-Audible Voice With His Glory Veiled. Ex 33:18-23

(Exo 33:18 KJV) And he said, I beseech thee, show me thy glory.

(Exo 33:19 KJV) And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.

(Exo 33:20 KJV) And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.

(Exo 33:21 KJV) And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock:

(Exo 33:22 KJV) And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by:

(Exo 33:23 KJV) And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.

C. During the Age of The Law-Through His Prophets and Priests. II Kings 17:13

(2 Ki 17:13 KJV) Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets.

D. During the Incarnation-He became flesh and dwelt among us Jn. 1:14

(John 1:14 KJV) And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

E. In the Early Church-Through outward manifestations of His Holy Spirit. Acts 10:44

(Acts 10:44 KJV) While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

(Acts 5:11 KJV) And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

(Acts 5:12 KJV) And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.

F. In the Church Age-Through the manifestations of His Holy Spirit and His completed revelation, the written Word of God. II Tim. 3:15-17

(2 Tim 3:15 KJV) And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

(2 Tim 3:16 KJV) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

(2 Tim 3:17 KJV) That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

1. So we are living in the time when

a. The written manifestation of the Living Word, Jesus Christ.

b. Revealing the will of God the Father to man.

c. Illuminated by the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

II. What Is God Saying to His People Today?

A. The Call to Salvation

a. He is sending forth the call to those for whom He died, Come unto me all ye who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Matt. 11:28

b. He is knocking on your heart's door and asking to come in

(Rev 3:20 KJV) Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

c. And the call to the luke warm Church of today to repent and go back to where you once were

(Rev 2:4 KJV) Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

(Rev 2:5 KJV) Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

d. And the call for the Church to repent and clean herself up.

(1 Pet 4:17 KJV) For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

B. The Call to Sanctification

a. His ultimate will is that you be conformed to the image of Christ.

(Rom 8:29 KJV) For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

b. He calls His children to walk in His ways.

c. He call for purity and holiness and provides the power and the path for them to be accomplished in our lives.

(2 Pet 1:3 KJV) According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

d. We become more like Christ as we learn of Him through His Word and are totally baptized in the Holy Spirit.

C. The Call to Service

(1 Cor 12:18 KJV) But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

a. He has equipped you and called you to serve others in His name.

b. There is no Christian that God has not called to serve.

c. There is no Christian to whom God has not given the spiritual gifts and abilities needed to accomplish God's will for their lives. Whom God calls he equips.

d. His call can be general or specific.

e. The key is surrender of our will to His will.

f. The question is, Who is Lord of your life?

g. God expects us to do something with what he has given us, he views what he has given you as a treasure beyond measure, eternal life. You should view it the same way and give it to others as in the parable of the talents, and the parable of feeding, and giving water to those in prison and sick.

D. The Call to Sacrifice

a. God calls all who follow Him to be willing to give of their best to the Master. Not whatever is left over.

b. This always demands sacrifice.

(2 Tim 3:12 KJV) Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

(Rom 12:1 KJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

c. But God has given us the finest example in the sacrifice of His Son.

d. Trouble with a lot of Christians today is they are selfish, selfish with there time, money, talents, and abilities. But they get what they want in this world, why they will work themselves to death to get the houses, cars, boats, clothes, jewelry, position etc.

e. We sacrifice all right, but it is not for God it is for ourselves.

E. The Call to Soul winning Acts 1:8.

(Acts 1:8 KJV) But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

a. The Great Commission was given to the local Church, but you are the local church.

b. Every Christian has been called by God to be a missionary either home missions or foreign missions.

(Mat 9:37 KJV) Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;

(Mat 9:38 KJV) Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

Parable of God looking for workers: (Mat 20:1 KJV) For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.

(Mat 20:2 KJV) And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

(Mat 20:3 KJV) And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,

(Mat 20:4 KJV) And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.

(Mat 20:5 KJV) Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.

(Mat 20:6 KJV) And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?

1. God has called us to soul winning but we are just standing around idle not doing anything for the kingdom of God.

2. I teach my Sunday School class, big deal you study a lesson already prepared for you and probably you haven't even spent much time on it, then you get up in front of your class and talk about current events, and what Mable had for breakfast this week, and tell jokes but people need to hear the word of God , that has been prepared by study and sacrifice and that is anointed because you have spent time in prayer before God for your class. Satan is serious about soul winning are you?

3. But Jesus said we were to go out to the lost as well, to be involve not only within ourselves in the Church but to go out and compel them to come in.

c. God wants you to put yourself in the offering plate. He wants your willingness to go anywhere that he leads. When He has that, He will show you where to go.

1. Why hasn't God showed me what he wants me to do? Because He knows your not willing to do his will your still selfish and want your own life.

d. Whether its across the street or around the world, our mission is still the same, to live and spread the truth in Jesus' name.

Conclusion: The voice of God is not silent. He speaks to the heart of His people and calls them to follow in His steps. As Eli advised Samuel so long ago, I beg you to respond to His voice with, "Speak, Lord, thy servant heareth.