9 July 2023 - The difference between hearing and listening to God

1 Samuel 3:9-10(NLT) So he said to Samuel, “Go and lie down again, and if someone calls again, say, ‘Speak, LORD, your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went back to bed. And the LORD came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.”

From this passage, Samuel took the advice and waits with expectation for God to speak to him. The moment God spoke to Samuel, he answered God, “Speak for your servant is listening.” First, for someone to speak with you, you must be in a relationship. Secondly, you must have a servant-like attitude. Thirdly, have an open ear to hear what God is saying to you as you listen to Him. Lastly, act on what you hear from God.

Merriam-Webster defines hearing as: the process, function, or power of perceiving sound; specifically: the special sense by which noises and tones are received as stimuli.

Listening, on the other hand, means: to pay attention to sound; to hear something with thoughtful attention; and to give consideration.

The definition of listening revolves around actively paying attention to the words and sounds you hear to absorb their meaning and develop an emotional response. It is defined as: to hear something with thoughtful attention.

Mark 4:24(NLT) Then he added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more.

James 1:22-24(MSG) Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don’t act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like.

Listening requires the following elements:

• Attentiveness, Nehemiah 8:1-3(AMP) Then all the people gathered together as one man at the open square in front of the Water Gate; and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses which the LORD had given to Israel. So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men, women and all who could listen with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month. Then he read from it, in front of the open square which was in front of the Water Gate, from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and women, those who could understand; and all the people listened carefully to the Book of the Law.

• Teachable heart, Luke 8:18(AMP) So be careful how you listen; for whoever has , to him more will be given; and whoever does not have , even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.”

• Conviction, Acts 2:37-39(MSG) Cut to the quick, those who were there listening asked Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers! Brothers! So now what do we do?” Peter said, “Change your life. Turn to God and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, so your sins are forgiven. Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is targeted to you and your children, but also to all who are far away—whomever, in fact, our Master God invites.”

• Believe the word, Romans 10:14(Voice) How can people invoke His name when they do not believe? How can they believe in Him when they have not heard? How can they hear if there is no one proclaiming Him?

I conclude with: “The word 'listen' contains the same letters as the word 'silent'.” - Alfred Brendel