In our last BB-127 we looked at how the young Samuel connected with the voice of God (1 Samuel 3). This came about because, as a servant-hearted young man, he responded to the voice (which he thought was that of Eli). Three times he mistook the voice of God as being the voice of Eli. And each time he responded in a practical way. He got up out of his bed, walked through the temple to where Eli was, woke him up, and asked what he wanted of him. That took some courage, especially when he had been told to “go back to bed” previously. As a result of his responses, Samuel discovered the voice of God. He learned as a result of his responding to the voice. He did not lie in bed “praying” about it. He knew he heard a voice and he knew he needed to respond in a practical way.

WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING!

The question has to be asked: “How will we ever know it is the voice of God speaking to us if we do not make a practical response to it?” I have learned over the years that each time that God speaks to me, I have to do something in response. I have to demonstrate to God that I believe it is Him talking to me. If I do nothing, the voice comes to nothing. But if I respond in a practical way, I soon discover that it is, indeed, the voice of God speaking, and my obedience to His voice “releases” Him to fulfil what He is saying to me. Sometimes that has resulted in my being able to touch thousands of lives in a short period of time, as the voice of God has given me strategies about what He wants me to do ~ strategies that I had not been thinking about before, and I doubt whether I would have thought of it the way He revealed it. The Barnabas Bulletin Ministry started that way. I had no concept of it until after God spoke and gave me the purpose and name! Through Barnabas Bulletin alone we touch thousands of people each month in over 100 nations!

I am not “down playing” the place of prayer in our lives, but far too often ~ when it comes to God speaking to us ~ we only “commit it to prayer” and nothing comes about as a result. Why? Because we only pray until the “conviction to do what He said” goes away. We must learn this important principle: It is our obedience (active response) to the voice of God that releases the purpose of the voice to happen in our lives. No response ~ no fulfilment of the word from the voice of God. You might ask, “What shall I do to respond?” That all depends on what the voice of God is saying to you. If it is a simple: “Make contact with Bill or Mary and encourage them,” then you step out, make the contact and encourage them. You will soon discover that you made the contact at a very timely moment that makes Bill or Mary know that God is caring for them, etc. When we are faithful to God in our obedience to the smaller things He can then trust us with bigger things.

ONE EVENT THAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE!

A few years back God spoke to me these words: “In the Bible every great man and woman of God all started out as an unknown nobody; until one event happened in the life of them all. They all heard the voice of God and obeyed.” That really impacted me. As we grow in our Christian life and faith, we are all called to a life of obedience to God. It is our obedience that demonstrates to God our LOVE for Him. If we don’t love Him enough to do what He speaks to us, then our relationship and love for Him is not very strong. In these days it is vital that every Christian knows the voice of God in a real and personal way, so we can be found living in the very centre of His will. If we do not know His voice then we will “stumble” along through life simply hoping we’re doing what is right, etc. Know afresh that Jesus is alive today and, because He is alive, He speaks to His people. Make very sure you listen, hear and obey. God Bless YOU! ~ Rodney W. Francis.

Scripture Readings:   1 Samuel 3; Acts 9:10-19; Hebrews 1; Hebrews 2.

Please pray this prayer:

“Dear God, I come to You in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, and I ask You to help me to be connected to Your voice in such a way that I will joyfully respond. Help me to be humble enough to listen to You, and to be servant-hearted enough to respond to You and obey what ever You say to me. I really do want to do Your will, and to be an effective and fruitful minister of Your Supernatural Gospel in my day and generation. I desire to fulfil Your vision for my life! Thank You, Lord. Please speak to me today. In Jesus' name, I pray these things. Amen."