Learn to Listen - 2

Learn to Listen - 2

Subject – Learning the Value of a Whisper

By Rick Welborne

1 Samuel 3:9-10 (NIV)
⁹  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.
¹⁰  The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening." 

--I believe all of us would be in agreement that we live in a hurry scurry noisy chaotic world. There has never been so many voices with so little to say.

--Everyone has their viewpoints, their politics, and their opinions. If you don’t believe it, just ask them. Be careful because their voices will probably be loud and disturbing.

--We all say we want to hear from God or receive a word from God but there is no indication that God has ever stopped speaking to us individually.

--Just a word from someone who loves you and cares about what happens in your life, if you can get still and be quiet long enough you just might hear the voice of God.

--I have preached multiple times about Elijah and his powerful ministry. God used him to call fire down from Heaven and to kill hundreds of false prophets. 

--He is then threatened by the woman Jezebel and he runs for his life into the wilderness. He sits under a broom tree and is so depressed that he prays that he would die.

--God feeds him by food brought to him by a bird (Uber Eats) and a jar of water. He tells him to sleep. Never underestimate the power of food and a nap. He sends him to Horeb.

--When he arrives at Horeb (the Mountain of God) God gets his attention and then He speaks:

1 Kings 19:11-12 (NKJV)
¹¹  Then He said, "Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD." And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake;
¹²  and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

--A still small voice…ESV says a low whisper. NASB says a gentle blowing. NIV says a gentle whisper. So often we dismiss the wind, the earthquake, and the fire because God was not in them.

--The truth is they got Elijah’s attention. Maybe, just maybe your life is in such upheaval and such chaos because God is trying to get your attention.

--Have you ever thought about this; God has an outside voice and He is not afraid of using it to wake us up!

--But when God really wants to be heard, when what he has to say is too important to miss, He often speaks in a whisper just barely above the threshold of hearing. The question is why?

1. The Sound of a Whisper

--The Hebrew word for “Whisper” demamah can be translated as silence, stillness, or calmness. Interesting that this is the same Hebrew word that is used when God delivers us from our distress. 

Mark 4:38-39 (NKJV)
³⁸  But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?"
³⁹  Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.

Mark 4:39 (NIV) ³⁹ He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 

--Because it is still the same Hebrew word, you can literally say that Jesus calmed the storm with a whisper. Do you just suppose Jesus can stop the storms in your life with just a whisper?

--His whisper is gentle but nothing is more powerful. The dictionary says a whisper is speaking very softly using one’s breath instead of vocal cords.

--Jesus using His breath instead of vocal cords is significant because isn’t that how God created Adam. He whispered into the dust and called it Adam.

Genesis 2:7 (NKJV) ⁷ And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. 

--Adam was once a whisper. So were you and everything else that God created. How amazing is that?

--Whispering is typically used for secrecy. No form of communication is more intimate. It seems it is God’s preferred method to communicate with us. But the question is why?

--When someone whispers in a whisper you have to get very close to hear. In fact, you have to be so close that your ear has to be close to the person’s mouth.

--We lean in toward a whisper and that is what God wants. The goal of hearing the Father’s voice is not just wanting to hear Him; it’s intimacy with Him.

--That is why God speaks in a whisper. He wants to be as close to us as is divinely possible. He loves us that much so He draws us in with His gentle voice. Biblical example:

Psalm 40:1-3 (NKJV) ¹ I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry.
²  He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps.
³  He has put a new song in my mouth-- Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the LORD. 

--The phrase “He inclined to me” has such a beautiful word picture. Imagine you are in a pit (a pit of death) and your cry is barely a whisper. God bends down close to hear your prayer. Intimacy.

Oswald Chamber – The voice of the Spirit is as gentle as a zephyr. So gentle that unless you are living in perfect communion with God, you never hear it. 

--How many of you are grateful for a gentle God? Our Almighty God could intimidate us with His outside voice but He draws us close with a whisper. And His whisper is the very breath of life. 

2. God’s Whisper Can Change Your Life

--I had only been a Christian for a little while and God had just recently baptized me with Holy Spirit. I was working at the Bastrop Paper Mill. Paper Mills are known for being very loud.

 --This one was extremely loud because it was the oldest in the SE United States. Between the machines and winders, you couldn’t hear anything. You had to yell or use hand signals.

--I was still so excited about my new found life in Christ. In all the noise, I was worshiping God. I remember vividly walking up the steps toward the water fountain.

--I felt a gentle touch on my shoulder. No one there. Hmmm. Again, as I walked, I felt a gentle touch on my shoulder. No one there. Three times and then I remembered Samuel. I prayed.

1 Samuel 3:10 (NIV) ¹⁰ "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening." 

--And then a voice. A sweet gentle voice in all the noise and chaos around me I heard the Lord speak to me words from the Apostle Paul…Woe, is me if I preach not the gospel.

1 Corinthians 9:16 (NKJV) ¹⁶ For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!

--Very important to understand this…God’s voice is a whisper but it is also so powerful that it can be heard in all the noise around us. Whatever is going on, you can hear Him.

3. Listen to Holy Spirit.

John 16:7&13 (NIV)
⁷  But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
¹³  But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 

--This is so powerful. Jesus said it is good for you that I am going away. Why? Because Holy Spirit is coming. And when He comes He is going to guide you and speak to you.

--Pastor, can we really hear God’s voice? Jesus said we could and that He would only tell us what He hears from the Father. Do we want to hear from Him and are we willing to take time to listen?

--I had been the YP here for almost two years. The lead pastor is ready to resign and go to the district office. Voices and more voices were telling me what to do.

--The district called and said resign from there and find another church. We will help you. Everyone had an opinion and were not afraid to use it. The Board asked me to submit a resume. What?

--My head was spinning and my heart was confused. I told the Board I had to get away and hear from God. We went to La. and then Ala. I tried praying. Still confused.

--Finally, in Ala. I said I am going walking in the woods and staying until I hear from God. Only thing warm was my LSU sweat suit. Looked like Big Bird. I prayed for two hours. Cold!

--Finally, came to two giant oak trees and there it was. There He was with His still small voice. So gentle.

‘’Rick, I have anointed you to pastor Leesburg First Assembly of God. Just allow Holy Spirit to do whatever He wants to do, whenever He wants to do it.” I said, “Yes, Lord.”

--We came back and I told the Board I wanted to pastor the church. They voted us in and that will be 33 years in January. Thank God for His sweet gentle voice!

"Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening."