Welcome to the Intouch Podcast with Charles Stanley for Wednesday, August 2.

First Samuel, chapter 3, shed light on how to develop the skill of hearing the voice of the Lord.

Let's listen to the final message in Dr. Stanley's series on Listening to God.

We should turn to first Samuel, chapter 3.

And if you recall in this passage that Samuel had been entrusted to Eli, and he was asleep one evening,

and you recall that the Lord spoke to Samuel.

And verse 4, it says that the Lord called Samuel and said to him, here I am.

Then he ran to Eli and said, here I am, for you call me, but he said, I did not call.

The Lord called yet again Samuel, so Samuel rose and went to Eli and said, here I am, for you call me, but he answered, I did not call my son, lie down again.

Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, nor had the word of the Lord yet been revealed to him.

So the Lord called Samuel again the third time, and he rose and went to Eli and said, here I am, for you called me.

And you can imagine he was getting a little disturbed by now.

Then Eli discerned that the Lord was calling the boy, and Eli said to Samuel, go lie down.

And it shall be if he calls you that you shall say, speak Lord, for thy servant is listening.

So Samuel went and lay down in this place.

Then the Lord came and stood and called as it other times, Samuel, Samuel.

And Samuel said, speak, for thy servant is listening.

He is not a beautiful way to answer God.

Speak, for thy servant is listening.

He was listening to God.

Eli taught him how to listen to God.

If you are going to listen to God, remember this, that listening is not a passive experience.

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