Listening to God: Embracing Our Spiritual Assignments

God’s love is deeply personal—He is truly the lover of our souls, and His desire is to speak life into us and through us. When we open ourselves to receive and share words of encouragement, we participate in God’s ongoing work of building up His people. This is not just a feel-good exercise; it’s a spiritual discipline that creates space for God’s voice to be heard in our midst. Whether through a spouse, a friend, or even a stranger, God often chooses to speak through others, reminding us that we are not alone and that His love is active and present.

The heart of our journey is to live “Life on a Mission,” and today, the focus is on the mission of listening. Listening is not passive; it is the doorway to a Spirit-led life. God is always speaking, but the question is: are we truly listening? The story of Samuel and Eli in 1 Samuel 3 illustrates this beautifully. In a time when the word of the Lord was rare, not because God was silent, but because people’s hearts had grown dull, Samuel’s readiness to listen set him apart. His response, “Here I am,” or “hineni,” was not just a casual reply—it was a declaration of readiness for whatever God would assign.

Samuel’s journey teaches us that God desires our “yes” before He reveals the assignment. This is a radical trust, a willingness to obey even before knowing the cost or the details. Sometimes, the assignment is difficult or uncomfortable, as it was for Samuel, who had to deliver a hard word to his mentor. Yet, it is in saying “yes” and stepping out in obedience that our spiritual maturity accelerates. We move from secondhand faith to firsthand encounters with God, and our lives become fertile ground for His purposes.

God is calling us to be a people who listen actively and respond eagerly. He has chosen each of us for specific assignments—some large, some small—but all significant in His kingdom. When we cultivate a posture of readiness and give God our “yes” in advance, we can trust that none of His words or purposes for us will fall to the ground. This is the invitation: to be a listening church, a people who bring God’s solutions to our families, our city, and our world.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s love is expressed through the words we speak over one another, and sometimes the most life-giving words come from unexpected sources. When we courageously share encouragement, we become vessels for God’s voice, breaking cycles of negativity and reminding each other of our true identity in Christ. This practice is not just for our benefit but is a ministry to those who may be desperate for a word from the Lord. [57:41]
• 2. Listening is the gateway to receiving God’s assignments. It is not about our qualifications, background, or experience, but about the posture of our hearts. When we are attentive and expectant, God entrusts us with His purposes, both great and small, and invites us into a life of Spirit-led mission. [66:04]
• 3. The readiness to say “yes” to God before knowing the assignment is a mark of mature faith. This preemptive surrender is challenging because it requires trust in God’s character rather than in our own understanding or comfort. True spiritual growth happens when we give God our unconditional “yes,” allowing Him to shape us through obedience, even when the assignment is difficult or costly. [85:53]
• 4. God desires that each of us have our own fresh encounters with Him, not just live off the experiences of others. While mentors and spiritual leaders are important, there comes a time when we must hear God’s voice for ourselves and respond personally. This direct relationship with God is what transforms us and accelerates our maturity, making our faith vibrant and alive in the present, not just in the past. [91:10]
• 5. When we listen and obey, God ensures that our efforts are fruitful—none of His words or assignments for us will fail. The outcome is not our responsibility; our part is to be willing and responsive. As we cultivate a lifestyle of active listening and eager obedience, we become agents of God’s purposes, bringing His solutions to the world around us and experiencing the joy of walking in step with Him. [102:46]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [56:17] - Declaring God as the Lover of Our Souls
• [57:03] - Speaking Words of Life Over One Another
• [59:03] - Practicing Encouragement in Marriage
• [63:50] - Introduction to Life on a Mission: The Mission of Listening
• [65:01] - The Inspiration Behind the Book and Today’s Focus
• [66:04] - Everyone Has an Assignment: Are You Listening?
• [67:10] - Setting the Scene: Samuel, Eli, and God
• [69:31] - The Dullness of Hearing in the Era of the Judges
• [72:12] - The Importance of Finishing Well
• [73:53] - When We Default to Our Own Understanding
• [76:37] - Eli and Samuel: The Call and the Response
• [78:14] - Readiness and the “Hineni” Heart
• [80:53] - Learning to Discern God’s Voice
• [85:53] - Giving God Your Yes Before the Assignment
• [91:10] - Firsthand Encounters with God
• [98:27] - Samuel’s Obedience and Accelerated Maturity
• [102:46] - The Fruit of Listening and Obeying
• [103:39] - A Call to Be a Listening Church
• [105:53] - Prayer of Commitment and Sending Forth
• [108:19] - Invitation for Prayer and Response

Bible Reading

1 Samuel 3:1–19 (ESV) —
> 1 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.
> 2 At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place.
> 3 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.
> 4 Then the Lord called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am!”
> 5 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.
> 6 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.”
> 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.
> 8 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.
> 9 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.
> 10 And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.”
> 11 Then the Lord said to Samuel, “Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which the two ears of everyone who hears it will tingle.
> 12 On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end.
> 13 And I declare to him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them.
> 14 Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.”
> 15 Samuel lay until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the Lord. And Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli.
> 16 But Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son.” And he said, “Here I am.”
> 17 And Eli said, “What was it that he told you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also if you hide anything from me of all that he told you.”
> 18 So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. And he said, “It is the Lord. Let him do what seems good to him.”
> 19 And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.

Observation Questions

1. In 1 Samuel 3, what was the spiritual condition of Israel during the time Samuel was a boy? What does the text say about the frequency of God’s word and revelation? ([01:08:13])
2. How did Samuel respond each time he heard his name being called? What word did the sermon highlight as Samuel’s response, and what does it mean? ([01:16:37])
3. What role did Eli play in helping Samuel recognize God’s voice? How did Eli instruct Samuel to respond the next time God called? ([01:24:51])
4. After Samuel received God’s message, how did he feel about sharing it with Eli? What does the passage say about Samuel’s emotional state? ([01:38:27])

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says that “listening is the doorway to our spirit-led mission.” Why might it be significant that God’s word was rare, not because God was silent, but because people’s hearts had grown dull? ([01:10:22])
2. Samuel’s response, “Here I am” (hineni), was described as a declaration of readiness. Why is it important to give God our “yes” before knowing the assignment? What does this reveal about trust and obedience? ([01:25:53])
3. The sermon mentions that God often speaks through others, including mentors, friends, or even strangers. How does this shape our understanding of community and spiritual growth? ([01:23:08])
4. Samuel’s willingness to deliver a difficult message to Eli accelerated his spiritual maturity. What does this suggest about the relationship between obedience and growth in faith? ([01:38:27])

Application Questions

1. The sermon encouraged us to speak words of life and encouragement over one another, even to people we don’t know well. When was the last time you received or gave a word of encouragement that felt like it was from God? How did it impact you or the other person? ([57:41])
2. Samuel was ready to say “yes” to God before knowing what God would ask. Is there an area in your life where you sense God might be asking for your “yes” in advance? What holds you back from giving it? ([01:25:53])
3. The story shows that God sometimes gives us assignments that are uncomfortable or difficult. Can you think of a time when you felt God nudging you to do something hard? How did you respond, and what was the result? ([01:38:27])
4. The sermon talked about moving from secondhand faith (living off others’ experiences) to firsthand encounters with God. What steps can you take this week to seek a fresh, personal encounter with God? ([01:31:10])
5. Eli helped Samuel discern God’s voice. Who in your life helps you recognize God’s leading? How can you be that person for someone else, especially someone younger in faith? ([01:24:51])
6. The sermon said that when we listen and obey, God ensures our efforts are fruitful and that “none of His words or assignments for us will fail.” How does this truth affect your willingness to step out in obedience, even when you don’t see immediate results? ([01:42:46])
7. The pastor challenged the church to be a “listening church” that brings God’s solutions to families, the city, and the world. What is one practical way you can cultivate a posture of active listening to God this week—in your family, workplace, or community? ([01:43:39])