1 Samuel 3:9-11
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. The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” And the Lord said to Samuel: “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle.
INSIGHT
-In the course of our lives we hear many sounds but the voice that we need to hear first is the voice of God. All scripture is inspired by God and this is one of the major sources of His voice (2 Tim 3:16), God also speaks to us through a small still voice as he spoke to Elijah (1 Kin 19:11-14) and Samuel (1 Sam 3:5-11 ), and most often when our conscience bears us witness in the Holy Spirit (Rom 9:1). The Holy Spirit also leads us in prophecy, visions and dreams (Acts 2:17-18). The voice of God is also evidenced in creation (Gen 1), His direction as Moses was called (Acts 7:30-32), obedience to His commandments (Deu 15:5-6; Heb 3:7-8), declaration of Christ as the Son of God (Luke 3:22; 9:34-35), voice of God like the sound of many waters (Rev 1:15) etc.
-When Eli the priest had grown old and his eyes could no longer see, God called Samuel from his sleep. Samuel but he could not perceive it and thought Eli was the one calling. When the Lord came and stood there as Samuel lay and waited, he was called the last time and he responded as Eli instructed him. In the same manner, God calls us in different ways for various purposes and we are reminded to respond like Samuel and do according to His will.
PRAYER
God You are good and Your mercies endures forever. You have enabled us to see this new day in good health; we glorify Your name. It is not by our power nor by might but by Your Spirit Lord. Heal all the sick and suffering merciful Father and deliver us all from our troubles. You have loved us Lord from generation to generation with an everlasting kind of love; we will forever give You praise. We humbly ask You Jehovah to guide us in our gifts, talents and purpose, and direct us always in the way we should go; for Your love for us endures forever. Shepherd us Jesus throughout the week and impart us with fresh wisdom, ideas, opportunities and grant us good success according to Your will. Be with all our children during this holiday that You may protect them and guide them in all that they do. You are the same yesterday, today and forever Jesus, all glory and honor belongs You now and forever. Amen
Hebrews 3:7-8
So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness.
INSIGHT
-The Israelites were tested in the wilderness for forty years but expressed rebellion to God through disobedience and God swore that they will not enter rest (Ps 95:7-11). Their hearts were evil and unbelieving despite the signs that God showed them. God commands us to love Him with all our hearts, souls and minds and our neighbours as ourselves. We are told to govern our hearts with all diligence and from it comes the issues of life (Pro 4:23). From the heart and not externally do evil thoughts and words originate, and when they become mature then sin comes forth. We are also called to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all other things will be added unto us. It is through seeking first the secondary needs that sometimes our hearts desire align us to idolatry and we miss the rest of God. Like the Israelites, occasionally we display a kind of insensitivity to the voice of God and complain. The Holy Spirit guides our conscience that we may always believe in Christ Jesus and do according to His word (Rom 9:1).
PRAYER
You are holy Lord; the fountain of all holiness look at us with kindness and bestow upon us Your mercy. For the many times we have hardened our hearts in rebellion to Your voice; have mercy on us Lord. For that numerous times we have complained and not offered our thanksgiving to You Jesus, forgive us. For the many times we have gone astray either knowingly or unknowingly Father; cleanse us by Your precious blood. Help us Jesus to pursue first Your Kingdom and Your righteousness and You will satisfy our hearts. Create in us clean hearts Lord and renew a steadfast spirit within us. Bestow upon us Your love that we may always love You and our neighbours as ourselves. Guide us Holy Spirit to believe in Your purpose for our lives because You always have the best interests for our lives. May Your peace that surpasses all understanding dwell in our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Amen
Psalms 29:1-4
Give unto the Lord, O you mighty ones, Give unto the Lord glory and strength. Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. The voice of the Lord is over the waters; The God of glory thunders; The Lord is over many waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; The voice of the Lord is full of majesty.
INSIGHT
-Creation was birth through the voice of God and as He spoke; all things were made. God created everything; even as every house is built by someone, God built all things (Heb 3:4). The voice of the Lord is full of majesty and honour and we have been created to worship Him. The Lord is over many waters and His voice like the sound of many waters (Rev 1:15). The voice of God is powerful and full of majesty, His glory thunders over all the earth.
PRAYER
We thank You Jesus for creating us and for the air that we breathe. Free You have given us and freely we have received. Your voice is powerful and full of majesty; holy is Your mighty name. All creation is in awe of You Father; we give You all our praises and thanksgiving. Your glory thunders over all the earth and Your voice like the sound of many waters, all power and strength belongs to You Jesus. Our Father who at in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptations but deliver us from all evil. For thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen
Acts 2:17
‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams.
INSIGHT
-Having received the gift of the Holy Spirit from the Father; many gifts and fruit have been bestowed into our hearts according to His will. Apart from the physical manifestation of His voice; He has revealed His purpose to us through dreams, visions and prophecy. Often times the Holy Spirit speaks to us from deep within us and calls us to listen to His voice in obedience.
PRAYER
You have revealed Your secrets to us through dreams, visions and prophecy; we thank You Holy Spirit. You have made known to us the ways of life; we give You praise. By Your grace You will always make us full of joy in Your presence for You are good and Your mercies endures forever. Remember Lord all the street children, those who are homeless, hopeless, childless, jobless, orphaned, unmarried and facing different challenges in life. Bless us indeed Lord and enlarge our territories. May Your hand be with us and keep us from harm so that we may be free from pain. Amen
John 5:25
Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.
INSIGHT
-The voice of God transcends from everlasting to everlasting. Jesus says; My sheep hear My voice and follow Me, and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand (Jn 10:27-28). All of us are called to listen to His voice and follow Him for He is our Salvation and Life. Christ has given us eternal life through faith in Him and even if we die we will live.
SUMMARY
-The voice of God always communicates messages with key importance to us as evidenced through Biblical passages. Key being the design of communication, the purpose and impact of the message. Gods’ voice has been revealed through the entire Bible, dreams, vision and prophecy, by the Holy Spirit through our conscience and His voice from within us. The voice of God was heard during occasions of regime change especially when Eli was old and could no longer see. God called Samuel to take over priesthood from Eli. Another instance was when God told Elijah to appoint prophet Elisha in his place (1 Kin 19:13-16). God’s voice thundered powerfully when He spoke and creation was birthed. His voice is majestic like the sound of many waters and we have been created to worship Him. The Holy Spirit tells us that if we listen to His voice we should not harden our hearts like the Israelites in the wilderness; but to submit to His will in obedience. Like the temple stones were cut to fit accurately in their place, we are the living stones and our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit Who lives in us. We are therefore called to live holy lives founded on the Corner Stone Who is Christ through faith.
PRAYER
Holy holy holy are You Lord God Almighty Who was Who is and Who is to come. All glory, honour, grace and salvation belongs to You. We thank You Jesus for Your love and mercy upon us, our families, friends, leaders, churches, society and nation. Cleanse us from all our sins and renew our minds according to Your Kingdom purposes. Thank You Lord for giving us the gift of salvation and assuring us eternal life with You. Remember all those who do know You Jesus that they may hear Your voice and come to faith in You. Guide us Holy Spirit and direct our paths in everything we do and purpose to undertake. Help us to hear Your voice Lord before our own voice and always do according to Your will. We have seen Your glorious hand in all things and sing of Your praises everyday. May Your name be praise Father; now and forever. Amen