The Word of the Lord was rare. 1 Samuel 3:1-7

• Prophets were few.
• Visions were rare.
• Without a faithful priest.

You can be in the house of the Lord and not know the Lord. (7)

• Knowing the Lord is to have the truth of Him revealed to you.
• You can know about the Lord yet be a stranger to Him.
• God spoke and his voice was not known.

Getting to know God’s voice begins with an open heart and a humble spirit. 1 Samuel 3:8-18

• Samuel responded with an open heart. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened.
• He was not so quick to spill it out to Eli—discerning for a 12-year-old!

Regular encounters with God allowed for Samuel to speak the words of God. 1 Samuel 3:19-21

• God nurtured the heart of Samuel as he grew up both physically and spiritually. (19a)
• Samuel was proven to be a prophet of the Lord—no word fell to the ground. (19b)

He passed the test of a prophet—publicly. (20)

Truth test: Deuteronomy 18:20-22
Fruit test: Matthew 7:15-20
Christo test: 1 John 4:1-3

• “The Word of the Lord” became regular again. (21)

God is still speaking.

1. Through Jesus - John 14:7 “If you really know me, you will know[b] my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
2. Through His Word - 2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
3. Through the Holy Spirit - 2 Peter 1:3 “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”
4. Through prayer - James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
5. Through others - 2 Timothy 3:14-15 “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”
6. Through visions and dreams - Acts 2:17 “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.”

My sheep know my voice. John 10:4

• We test the voice through His Word.

Jesus will reveal himself to more sheep. Is He calling your name? John 10:14-16