Anesti Ministries

Do you sometimes struggle to hear God?

v1 God desires to speak to us, but we cannot hear Him if our hearts are hardened. The lack of communication from God indicated that Israel was experiencing a time of spiritual decline. The people could not hear God because they were disconnected from Him. Even though the unfaithful priests turned the people’s hearts away from God, Samuel continually sought the Lord in His presence. If you ever feel spiritually dry because you cannot hear God, spend time in His presence. When you start to spend more time in God’s presence, you will hear Him speak.

v2 Eli’s physical blindness was a symbol of his spiritual blindness. As high priest, Eli was supposed to bring spiritual renewal. Instead, he turned a blind eye to the wickedness of His sons.

How do I know if God is speaking to me?

v3-11 One of the ways God speaks is through an audible voice. God is your Heavenly Father who desires to communicate with you. But you must learn to recognise His voice. You will not be aware that God is speaking to you if you do not know what His voice sounds like. Samuel had to learn how to recognise God’s voice. The voice Samuel heard was so real that he mistook it for Eli’s voice. Even though Eli was not a perfect high priest, he taught Samuel how to recognise God’s voice. We need spiritual leaders to teach us how to discern God’s voice. If you want to hear God’s voice, you must open your heart to Him. Learn to pray the same prayer Samuel prayed to God saying “speak for your servant is listening”. Whenever I feel the Holy Spirit’s presence surrounding me, I stop what I am doing and pray this prayer. After praying I wait in silence and God always speaks to me. When you let God know that your heart is open, He will reveal His words to you.

The prophetic ministry.

v12-18 The prophetic ministry is a gift that God has given to build up the church (Ephesians 4:11-12). There are individuals in the church whom God has called to release His Words of prophecy. This passage teaches us key lessons about the prophetic ministry.

1. v11-14 A prophecy is a revelation of what God will do in the future. God often reveals His plan to people before He brings it to pass. At times, you may receive a revelation of your own future. At other times, you may receive a prophetic Word about something God is going to do to others.
2. v15 Those in the prophetic ministry are called to carry a prophetic burden. When Samuel heard God’s Word for the first time, he must have trembled with fear. Again, God highlights Eli’s failure of not stopping his sons as the reason for His judgment.
3. v16-17 You should only reveal a prophecy to someone when you have been given permission by them to share it. Samuel did not dare to share what God revealed until Eli gave him permission. Even after you have received a prophetic Word, you must seek God’s permission to release it at the right time.
4. v18 When you are unsure if what you heard is from the Lord, seek confirmation from spiritual leaders. Eli confirms that Samuel has heard the Lord because what he spoke confirms the prophecy in 1 Samuel 2:27-34. In the New Testament, Paul instructs prophecies to be weighed by others (1 Corinthians 14:29). Very often, the Lord will confirm His word through 2 or more people in the church.
5. v19 The foundation of being called as a prophet is intimacy with God.

v19-21 The prophecy in 1 Samuel 2:35 is fulfilled as God raises Samuel up as a faithful priest. Samuel continues to walk closely with the Lord who establishes him as a mighty prophet.