Can You Hear Me Now? | The Way of Jesus, Week 3

Devotional

Day 1: Recognizing God’s Voice in Familiar Places

God’s voice often sounds ordinary, like a parent recognizing their child’s cry. Samuel mistook God’s call for Eli’s because divine communication isn’t always dramatic. Hearing God requires positioning ourselves near His presence, just as Samuel slept near the ark. The Holy Spirit speaks through gentle promptings, persistent thoughts, or peace that aligns with Scripture. To discern His voice, we need both proximity to God and guidance from mature believers. Start by creating quiet spaces to listen. [49:00]

“Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision. At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own 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, and he said, ‘Here I am!’ and ran to Eli and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ But he said, ‘I did not call; lie down again.’ So he went and lay down. And the Lord called again, ‘Samuel!’ and Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ But he said, ‘I did not call, my son; lie down again.’ Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, ‘Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.”’”
(1 Samuel 3:1-9, ESV)

Reflection: Where have you positioned yourself to hear God’s voice this week? What ordinary moments might He use to speak if you slow down?

Day 2: The Unedited Message of the King

God’s words are not ours to tweak or soften. Like a king’s messenger, we receive His commands without adding our opinions. Scripture isn’t a suggestion—it’s a royal decree meant to transform, not just inform. When God redirects our steps, obedience requires surrendering our plans. His voice cuts through noise when we stop demanding comfort and embrace correction. [38:37]

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”
(Deuteronomy 6:4-5, ESV)

Reflection: Is there a command in Scripture you’ve been editing to fit your life? How might full surrender reshape your next decision?

Day 3: Ten Minutes Face-to-Face with Abba

Prayer isn’t a monologue but a conversation with a Father who sees beyond time. Set a timer: ten minutes to speak without requests, ten minutes to listen. Like Samuel’s “Speak, Lord,” posture matters more than eloquence. God isn’t a vending machine—He’s a parent waiting for undistracted face time. His vantage point redefines what you think you need. [01:02:32]

“Pray then like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’”
(Matthew 6:9-13, ESV)

Reflection: What distractions drown out your ability to sit quietly with God? What might He say if you gave Him the first ten minutes of your day?

Day 4: Sparks Flying in the Sharpening Circle

Iron sharpens iron—a process that’s loud, messy, and essential. God uses community to sand down our rough edges, even when it sparks friction. Small groups and honest friends act like Eli, helping us discern God’s voice. But test every word against Scripture; not every opinion is divine. [01:10:23]

“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.”
(Proverbs 27:17, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life has permission to challenge your blind spots? When did a hard truth from a friend align with God’s Word?

Day 5: When Silence Teaches Us to Walk

God’s quietness isn’t absence—it’s an invitation to trust without crutches. Job’s suffering and David’s psalms show that silence cultivates faith muscles. Return to the last thing God clearly said. Obedience in the small things often cracks open the next word. [01:12:19]

“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.”
(Romans 8:16, ESV)

Reflection: What step of obedience have you delayed? How might acting on what God already said prepare you to hear what’s next?

Sermon Summary

Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice,” and that promise rests on relationship, not on spiritual guesswork. A sheep recognizes the shepherd because the shepherd’s voice has become familiar, just as a parent knows the cry of a child. The question is not whether God is speaking, but whether His people are actually listening with the intent to obey. Shema means more than hearing a sound. It means hearing in a way that moves the feet.

The noise of life makes that hard. Notifications, streaming, news, podcasts, and endless distraction can make life feel like trying to hold a conversation at a heavy metal concert with noise-canceling headphones on. Sin also makes people hide. Adam and Eve hid after they sinned, yet God still came looking and still asked, “Why are you hiding?” God speaks, people respond in obedience or disobedience, and God speaks again.

God is not distant, silent, or stuck on somebody else’s timetable. God spoke creation into existence, then walked in the garden with Adam and Eve. His word is powerful, but He is also personal. The movement of Scripture shows God drawing nearer: from heaven, to tabernacle, to temple, and finally to Jesus, the Word made flesh. Jesus is not merely God’s messenger. Jesus is God’s ultimate Word, full of grace and truth.

Samuel’s story shows that even when the word of the Lord seems rare, God is still speaking to someone positioned to hear. Samuel lay near the ark, and Eli helped him discern the voice. God’s people need both proximity to God and mature believers who can help expose blind spots. Samuel’s answer, “Speak, Lord, for your servant hears,” is the posture of a willing bondservant who belongs to a good Master.

God speaks first and primarily through Scripture, the very breath of God. Scripture keeps feelings, circumstances, opinions, and impressions from becoming spiritual confusion. God also speaks through face-to-face prayer, through the Holy Spirit’s conviction and guidance, and through providence and community. None of those voices can contradict what God has already said in His Word.

Obedience matters. God’s people may not receive clarity about the next step because they ignored the last clear instruction. Small, faithful habits create room to hear: read the Bible, sit quietly with God, write down what He is doing, find a mentor, test everything by Scripture, obey, and create margin. Jesus still says His sheep hear His voice. The real question remains: are they listening?

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Key Takeaways

1. Hearing God means obeying His voice Shema is not passive listening or collecting spiritual information. God speaks to redirect steps, conform lives to Jesus, and bring His people into action. A heart that only wants affirmation will struggle to receive correction, challenge, or transformation. [35:30]
2. God is personal, powerful, and near God spoke galaxies into existence, yet He also walked with Adam and Eve in the garden. His greatness does not make Him remote; His holiness does not keep Him from pursuing relationship. Jesus reveals the fullness of God’s heart as the Word made flesh. [42:06]
3. Scripture is God’s primary voice The Bible is not ancient moral advice or material for religious trivia. Every word of Scripture is breathed out by God, and familiarity with it trains believers to recognize His voice everywhere else. Every impression, feeling, circumstance, and opinion must stay under the authority of God’s written Word. [55:32]
4. Prayer positions hearts face to face Prayer is not a spiritual vending machine or a shouted wish list toward an ivory tower. Prayer brings God’s children face to face with Abba Father, who is intimate, present, and seated above every circumstance. Quiet attention before God creates space for His Spirit to bring truth and direction. [60:06]
5. Obedience opens room for clearer direction God’s silence may sometimes grow from ignored instruction rather than divine absence. The last clear thing God asked for deserves attention before demanding another word. Faithful obedience turns hearing from a religious idea into a life that actually follows Jesus.

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Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[25:34] - Recognizing Familiar Voices
[34:30] - My Sheep Hear My Voice
[35:30] - Hearing That Leads to Obedience
[36:52] - The Noise That Drowns God Out
[38:01] - Receiving the King’s Word
[40:26] - God Speaks on His Timing
[41:26] - The God Who Speaks Creation
[43:25] - Hiding From God’s Voice
[45:55] - Samuel Learns to Hear God
[49:00] - Positioning for God’s Voice
[52:39] - Jesus, God’s Ultimate Word
[55:32] - God Speaks Through Scripture
[59:33] - Prayer as Face-to-Face Relationship
[64:16] - The Holy Spirit’s Inner Witness
[67:42] - Providence, Community, and Discernment
[72:19] - Practical Steps to Hear God

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

John 10:27
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” [34:30]

1 Samuel 3:1-10
“Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision. At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own 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, and he said, 'Here I am!' and ran to Eli and said, 'Here I am, for you called me.' But he said, 'I did not call; lie down again.' So he went and lay down. And the Lord called again, 'Samuel!' and Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, 'Here I am, for you called me.' But he said, 'I did not call, my son; lie down again.' Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, 'Here I am, for you called me.' Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, 'Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, "Speak, Lord, for your servant hears."' So Samuel went and lay down in his place.” [45:55]

Deuteronomy 6:4
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” [35:48]

Observation questions

In John 10:27, what three actions describe the relationship between Jesus and His sheep? [34:30]
In 1 Samuel 3:1–10, what clues show that Samuel did not immediately recognize who was calling him?
Where was Samuel positioned when God called him, and what part did Eli play in helping Samuel respond? [50:01]
What does shema add to the idea of hearing God beyond simply receiving sound or information? [35:30]

Interpretation questions

Jesus connects hearing His voice with following Him. Why is obedience an important part of recognizing the voice of Jesus rather than an optional next step? [36:13]
Samuel lived in a time when God’s word seemed rare, yet God still called him. What does this suggest for believers who feel spiritually dry or wonder whether God is speaking? [49:50]
Why is Scripture the primary test for impressions, emotions, advice from others, and circumstances? What kinds of confusion can result when those things are allowed to overrule Scripture? [58:22]
Eli helped Samuel discern God’s voice, but not every opinion from another person carries equal spiritual weight. What makes someone a wise and trustworthy guide in spiritual decisions? [01:11:06]

Application questions

What kinds of noise most often compete for attention in daily life—notifications, entertainment, work, news, worry, or something else? What specific margin could be created this week to listen to God more intentionally? [37:11]
Is there an area where God may be bringing correction or change, but the heart would rather receive affirmation and comfort? What would an honest response to God look like? [38:01]
Think about the last clear instruction from Scripture that has been difficult to obey—forgiving someone, telling the truth, pursuing purity, serving, reconciling, or another step. What is one faithful action that could be taken this week? [01:15:33]
How regular is personal time in Scripture right now? What simple and realistic plan could help make Bible reading a place of listening for God rather than merely checking off a task? [56:25]
Prayer is face-to-face relationship with Abba Father, not simply bringing a list of requests. What might change by setting aside a few minutes to thank God, be still before Him, and ask, “What would You have me do today?” [01:02:24]
Who is a mature believer that could help identify blind spots and test a sense of direction against Scripture? What would it take to invite that person into a more honest conversation? [01:14:05]

Sermon Clips

41s

“The Holy Spirit never contradicts the word of God. Look in John sixteen thirteen. Jesus says, when that same spirit, the spirit of truth comes, what's he gonna do? He'll guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears, he will speak And he will declare to you the things that are to come. So the same spirit, check this out, that inspired the writing of scripture is never going to lead you astray from scripture. If what you think the spirit is telling you contradicts what God already said in his word, it's not the Holy Spirit.”

36s

“Sometimes we don't get the next word from God because we didn't listen the last time he spoke. Some of you this whole time, you're like, pastor Brett, want God to speak to me. And why would he keep talking if the last time he asked you to do something, you didn't do it? In fact, if you feel like God is silent, go back to the last thing that God asked you to do. Camp out, abide there for a moment. Do obey it and see if the floodgates of heaven don't open in your life.”

29s

“God's voice is always consistent with his word. God will never tell you something that contradicts his word. The circumstances and the feelings and the emotions and the friends should never trump what God already said clearly in his word. So when you're reading the Bible and a verse seems to jump off the page at you, would you please pay attention? It's the word of God that's alive.”

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