Teaching Notes

Is God Calling You?

1 Samuel 3:1-10

The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions. One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was. Then the LORD called Samuel. Samuel answered, "Here I am." And he ran to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." But Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down." So he went and lay down. Again the LORD called, "Samuel!" And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." "My son," Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down." Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD : The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. The LORD called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, 'Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.' " So Samuel went and lay down in his place. The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."

Image if you would this young boy that is being called by God yet he doesn't understand who is calling him because he had never heard from the Lord before. So when he heard God calling he ran to Eli and asked him what he wanted. He was wrong it wasn't Eli calling him but God. He did this three times before he was directed to listen for God.

How many times have we misunderstood God speaking to us for our own voices or the voices of other people? How many times has God spoken to you but because you did not recognize his voice you thought you were having a good idea? So like Samuel we go running in the wrong direction, when what we need to do is stand still and respond to God's calling.

What should you do when you think you are having a "good thought"? Maybe it is God calling you. Just as Eli told Samuel to go back and if God called again, to say, here I am. This is what you should do. Go back or stop moving in the wrong directions and be still. Stop trying to figure things out or trying to work things out for yourself. Instead, ask God to speak to you and then listen to hear what he has to say.

As soon as he does, then it is your responsibility to take that lesson and move forward. Another question may be, how do I know God is speaking to me? That is a good question and it has more than one answers. In this scripture God spoke out loud to Samuel. Maybe God isn't calling you in this way, but he can be calling you through the Bible, through the messages preached Sunday after Sunday. He can reach you through your time of prayer or through others that encourage you, teach you or direct you through the word of God. None of these methods will be contrary to the word of God. Anything you hear should line up with God's word.

Is God calling you? I would have to say the answer to that is yes! God is calling all to first come to him and be saved and secondly to be used by him for his purpose.
 
Prayer: Lord help me to hear you voice among the many sounds in my world. Help me to hear and understand that I am hearing from you. Lord help me to not only hear you but to move as you direct. Allow me to follow your Spirit so that I can walk in the way you have called me. Help me to hear you in the midst all the areas of my life. Amen!

Teaching Notes

Friend of God

Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to his tent. The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent. Moses said to the LORD, "You have been telling me, 'Lead these people,' but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, 'I know you by name and you have found favor with me.'- Exodus 33:10-12

Moses was called by God to lead the people out of Egypt to a land that God had promises their forefathers. In this scripture God has told Moses that he would no go with the people because they were complainers and stiff-necked. Moses goes into the tent that he put outside of the camp so that the people could go seek the Lord.

Moses went into the tent to speak to God about the people. When he entered, the presence of God met him there. The Lord spoke to Moses as a friend. It was because of this relationship, that God told Moses he would go with the people because he knew Moses and Moses knew his name.

This is so important for us to understand this relationship and the benefits. God calls Moses his friend. That means God share important things with Moses. God took time to listen and speak to Moses. And Moses knew God by name. When someone is your friend, you know their name. You know some of the details about that friend.

We know that God already knows all about us because he created us, but how wonderful to say that we know someting about God. We know God in several ways. We know him through his word and through his spirit. His Holy Spirit helps us to understand God's word. We cannot really understand it without the help of the Lord. God's Spirit also helps us to under God's direction and his will.

As we allow ourselves to seek the presence of God as Moses did, we can find ourselves being blessed with a close relationship with God and benefit from a friendship. Don't you want to be able to talk to God and know that he wants to stand with you, help you and direct you? Don't you want God to think of you as his friend?

Prayer: Lord today we seek to have a face-to-face relationship with you. We want to know you more intimately as you know a true friend. We want to be able to tell you our secrets, those things that are special to us. We want to hear those hidden things about you that are only revealed to those that are your friend, those that walk with you, talk with you and grow to know you more intimately. Help us Lord, we pray. Amen.