When God Speaks, How Will You Respond?
Today, we turn our hearts and minds to a profound and ever-present reality: God speaks. He is not a silent, distant deity, but a living, active God who communicates with His creation. The crucial question for each of us is not if God speaks, but When God Speaks, How Will You Respond?
Our suggested base text, 1 Samuel 3:9-10, captures the perfect posture of a responsive heart. Young Samuel, prompted by Eli, learns to say: "Speak, Lord, for your servant hears."
The good news is that today, God continues to speak. He speaks through His written Word, the Bible. He speaks through the Holy Spirit's conviction. He speaks through circumstances and through His church. As 2 Thessalonians 2:14 tells us, He calls us "through our gospel, that you might gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ."
This message seeks to lead us to respond with humility, faith, and obedience, examining both negative and positive biblical examples of responses to God's call.
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I. Many Respond Negatively When God Speaks
Sadly, throughout history, and even in our own lives, there are many examples of people who respond negatively when God speaks. These responses often stem from common human weaknesses and fears.
A. Common Negative Responses:
• “I'm busy,” “later,” “another day” – human excuses (2 Corinthians 6:1-2; James 4:13-16).
◦ Many postpone obedience, thinking there will always be a more convenient time. But Paul warns in 2 Corinthians 6:1-2: "As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says, 'In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.' I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation."
◦ James 4:13-16 reminds us of the folly of presumption: "Now listen, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.' Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow... Instead, you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.'" Procrastination in responding to God is dangerous.
• “I cannot” – lack of trust in God’s power (Philippians 4:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:24).
◦ When God calls us to a task, we often feel inadequate. But this response demonstrates a lack of faith in God's enabling power. We forget that "I can do all this through him who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:13).
◦ God is faithful to empower those He calls: "The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it." (1 Thessalonians 5:24).
• “I will not” – pride or self-sufficiency (Matthew 11:28).
◦ This is outright rebellion, a defiance stemming from pride or a desire to maintain control of one's own life. It's a refusal to lay down our burdens and submit to Christ's gentle yoke. Jesus invites, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." The "I will not" response rejects this invitation.
• “I am afraid” – fear of commitment or change (Deuteronomy 31:8; Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:6).
◦ God’s call often involves stepping out of our comfort zones, which can be frightening. But God promises His presence: "The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." (Deuteronomy 31:8).
◦ Jesus reassures us: "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:20).
◦ Therefore, we can confidently say: "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?" (Hebrews 13:6).
• “I will not listen” – spiritual indifference, like Adam and Eve trying to hide (Genesis 3:8-10; Revelation 6:15-17).
◦ This is perhaps the most dangerous response – a hardened heart that simply refuses to acknowledge God's voice. Like Adam and Eve, who "hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden" (Genesis 3:8-10), people try to hide from God's presence and His call, even if it means ignoring clear warnings.
◦ Ultimately, those who refuse to hear God's voice will face His judgment, longing to hide from Him, as depicted in Revelation 6:15-17.
B. Result of a Negative Response:
• We provoke the Lord to anger (1 Corinthians 10:22). To continually ignore or defy God's voice is to test His patience and invite His righteous anger.
• We reject the opportunity for salvation. Every time God speaks, especially through the gospel, it is an invitation to life. A negative response is a rejection of that life.
• We harden our hearts. Repeated negative responses lead to spiritual insensitivity, making it increasingly difficult to hear God's voice in the future.
II. Examples of Correct Responses When God Speaks
Praise God, the Bible also provides us with glorious examples of individuals who responded with humble, faithful, and obedient hearts when God spoke. These are our models.
A. Samuel – “Speak, for your servant hears” (1 Samuel 3:4, 9-10):
• When God called Samuel by name, the young boy, guided by Eli, learned to respond: "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 hears."'" And Samuel did.
• This is the ideal posture: a willingness to listen with an open heart and a ready spirit to obey. It speaks of humility and availability.
B. Isaiah – “Here am I, send me” (Isaiah 6:8):
• After seeing a profound vision of the Lord's holiness and hearing God's question, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" Isaiah's immediate and selfless response was: "And I said, 'Here am I. Send me!'"
• This demonstrates a profound willingness to serve, a readiness to step into God's mission, whatever it may entail.
C. Abraham – “Here I am” (Genesis 22:1, 11):
• God tested Abraham, commanding him to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac. When God called him, Abraham immediately responded: "Abraham!""Here I am," he replied." And again, when the angel of the Lord called to stop him: "Abraham! Abraham!""Here I am," he replied."
• This is a picture of immediate and total obedience, even in the face of the most difficult and incomprehensible commands. It speaks of absolute trust in God's character and promises.
D. Paul – “Lord, what do you want me to do?” (Acts 9:6):
• Blinded and humbled on the road to Damascus, Saul (who would become Paul) encountered the risen Christ. His first words, after the shock, were: "Trembling and astonished, he asked, 'Lord, what do you want me to do?'"
• This signifies absolute surrender to God's plan, a willingness to abandon his own agenda and embrace whatever God's will was for his life.
E. Jesus Christ – “Not my will, but yours, be done” (Luke 22:42):
• In the Garden of Gethsemane, facing the agonizing reality of the cross, Jesus prayed: "“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”"
• This is the epitome of complete submission to the Father, demonstrating the perfect example of how we should respond to God's call, even when it involves immense suffering or sacrifice.
Application: As we reflect on these examples, we must ask ourselves: Are we willing like Samuel to listen? Are we ready like Isaiah to serve? Do we obey immediately and totally like Abraham? Do we surrender absolutely to God's plan like Paul? Do we submit completely to the Father's will like Jesus? Do we respond with humility and obedience when God speaks?
- Ten examples for a life lived fully for God.
- Can I Sin Just one More Time?
- How to Have Treasure in Heaven? Mark 10:21
Conclusion
God does not want anyone to perish (1 Timothy 2:4: "who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth."). He speaks to invite us into life, into purpose, into relationship with Him. But He expects a response from us.
The privilege of hearing God's voice comes with the responsibility of responding to it. Let us cultivate a heart like Samuel's, quick to say, "Speak, Lord, for your servant hears." Let us be ready to say, "Here am I, send me!" Let us surrender our wills to His.
May we never be found among those who harden their hearts, make excuses, or refuse to listen. Instead, may our lives be marked by immediate, humble, and obedient responses to the voice of our loving God.
