E-pistle for September 28, 2007
Posted by: info <info@...>
E-pistle
Dr. Curt Scarborough, President FreeWay Foundation September 28, 2007
Speak to Me, Lord . . . I'm Listening
(II Kings 6:6 & I Samuel 3)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
It was noon, August 8, 1991. I was stretched out on my bed in a room at
Windermere Baptist Assembly. I was meditating on my devotional reading for the
day, while wrestling with the possibility of moving to pastor a church on the campus
of one of the world's premier universities located in New England. I desired to return
to local church ministry and to serve as senior pastor of that great church with so
much potential for impacting the lives of America's future movers and shakers.
The verse the Holy Spirit quickened to me that day was II Kings 6:6, "Elisha
cut a stick and threw it there, and made the iron (axhead), float."
As I pondered God's will for me , I began to sense in my spirit that He was
speaking to me personally. Now, I had received "words" and "impressions" from
the Holy Spirit before, but this was different. The words were vividly clear to me:
"Son, you are My stick . . . My purpose for you is to bring axheads to the
surface . . . your shape and function in My kingdom is unique; be content in the
role I have given you to play."
The boy, Samuel, had a similar experience of hearing God's voice, recorded
in I Samuel, chapter three.
Samuel's mother had dedicated him for service unto the Lord. He began
to serve God in a limited capacity because of his immaturity. His mentor, Eli, could
take Samuel only so far as he, himself, had gone with God.
Samuel had been dedicated to God; had been serving God; had been growing
as a servant; . . . yet, did not know the Lord intimately.
Many of us, spiritually speaking, are mere boys like Samuel. We've been
dedicated to service; we've served for some time; we've been growing . . . yet,
we've not had an up-close-and-personal encounter with God. Perhaps we've
understood the truths of God's Word, but it has yet to blaze off the page, branding
our hearts with a personal word from God.
It may be that the Lord has spoken our name before. Perhaps we mistook
the source, or misunderstood the purpose, or misread the circumstances . . . therefore,
we missed God. If this describes your life, please hear these words of wise counsel:
A. Get alone; in your closed (Matthew 6:6)
B. Disengage from your normal workload.
C. Rest in the Lord; schedule a "quiet time."
D. Expect to hear from the Lord.
E. Choose in advance to obey what He says.
F. Be teachable; open to His instruction.
G. Listen with faith, believing that He will speak.
What will happen? Note I Samuel 3:10:
1. The Lord will come . . . a personal visitation.
2. The Lord will stand . . . He'll abide near you.
3. The Lord will speak to you personally . . . by name.
4. The Lord will give you a vision of His purpose . . .
the destiny He's planned for you.
Usually, such up-close-and-personal encounters are very private and we are wise
not to share details with others . . . unless the Lord instructs us to pass along a prophetic
word as in the case of Samuel and Eli. Even then, we should be sensitive to his timing.
Such an up-close-and-personal encounter with the Lord seems typical of many
spiritual leaders throughout Christian history. It may be as simple as Samuel's encounter
or as dramatic as Paul's. But in every case, the encounter is life changing and continuous.
This up-close-and-personal encounter of "hearing God's voice" is not a sign of
spiritual maturity. Indeed, it is rather a starting place for a new perspective, a growing
communion with God. Look at the results of "hearing God's voice" recorded in
I Samuel 3:19-4:1.
1. Samuel continued to grow . . . so will we.
2. The Lord continued to be with Samuel . . . He
promises to abide with us as well.
3. None of His words fell to the ground, God spoke
to Samuel . . . He will speak to us.
4. God's people recognized Samuel as a God-called
leader . . . may it be so with us.
5. The Lord reappeared again, after many years of
spiritual darkness . . . perhaps through us God will
bring renewal, revival, refreshing.
6. The Lord revealed Himself to Samuel not only through
direct revelation, but also through His written Word
(A word of caution: Personal "words" are secondary
in authority to the Bible, and are totally invalid if they
contradict the teaching or principles of the Bible.)
7. The entire nation was affected by one man who heard
God . . . who will be the one God chooses to impact
lives in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, the uttermost
parts of the earth?
As a stick in God's hand I have already seen a portion of God's divine purpose
fulfilled in my life. The Pillsbury Institute of Applied Christianity (Pillsbury College &
Seminary) is a direct result of my personal encounter with God at Windermere in 1991.
"Speak properly, and in as few words as you can, but always plainly;
for the end of speech is not ostentation, but to be understood.
- William Penn
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