Greetings again my Brethren. Well Happy New Year. With each passing year I think this world cannot get crazier, but with each coming year I say to myself, “I cannot believe what happened last year.” I am glad our life is not found in the world or in those who are in the world, but hidden in Christ Jesus. Peter tells us, “But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” (1 Peter 3:4) The older I get the more I see there are so many things in God “hidden” a mystery to man. The things I would die for now well . . . . I am not so sure I understand all of the truth moving in them and it shuts my mouth to what I would think and say. Indeed spiritual growth (even painful) is a “great price.”
Let us get back to the LORD’s Call. This month we will continue to look at principles contained in Revelation 3:20-21. Here are these verses, “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.21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” (Revelation 3:20-21) What we would like to focus on this month is “my voice”and look at the spiritual principle of recognition. It is critical we respond to God when He speaks to us even if we are wrong in our approach our response is a recognition of God speaking to us. We always want to be right, well this too is God’s intention for us, but for the truth to be known seldom are we right even when God speaks. Being right is not as important as recognizing God speaking. I know this will ruffle some feathers, but if we are always right then who needs God? It is when we recognize God we then can grow spiritually by receiving revelation and having an opportunity to move in obedience to God and not when we are right. So many times we hear voices and question is that God, but we learn God’s voice when we recognize it. Now at first this may be trial and error as with Samuel when God spoke to him as a child, but as Samuel learned to discern or recognize the voice of the LORD as he matured and once he put the experience of God speaking. By way of reinforcement let us look at this story in 1 Samuel 3:1-8. “And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision. 2 And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see; 3And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep; 4 That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I. 5 And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down. 6 And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again. 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him. 8 And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child. 9 Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth. (1 Samuel 3:1-10) In verses 1 and 2 we see some things moving, “no open vision” and “his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;” Please notice the reference to sight here. I am not sure if it was a loss of spiritual sight on Eli’s part or his physical sight. In verse 3 “the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD” loss of light, loss of vision, loss of sight. Then in verse 4 God speaks. This is typical when there is loss of vision and light God speaks. In verse 5 Samuel hears a voice (recognition), but runs to and responds to Eli. Eli says, “I called not; lie down again.” Twice more this happens. Now most people who see this as Samuel missing it in God, but not so. Here God was teaching Samuel to hear His voice. Funny how we learn things that are repeated again and again. Eli finally caught on and told Samuel, “Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth.” So God speaks a fourth time to Samuel and now He has got it for his life time. He now knows the voice of the LORD, he has recognized it and now can move in obedience. Unless we can hear the LORD’s voice (that still small voice in our spirit) we will never be able to be obedient.
Next month we will continue on with more spiritual principles contained in verses found in the Book of Revelation as we look at our response. Do you hear Him calling? Please know God is calling. Walter Beuttler said if you build God a temple He will inhabit it. Have you built God a temple? If you do He will abide and wait for you.
Written by David Stahl
