We begin to hear the voice of the Shepherd when we know that he speaks the Word of God.  Let’s consider how this happened to the prophet Samuel.

And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no open vision. And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was lying down in his place, and his eyes had begun to grow dim, that he could not see; And before the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was lying down to sleep; That the LORD called, Samuel: and he answered, Here am I. And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for you called me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down. And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for you did call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again. Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him. And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for you did call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child. Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he calls you, that you shall say, Speak, LORD; for your servant hears. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for your servant hears. (1 Samuel 3:1-10 KJ2000)

To fully understand this passage we need to know some prophetic symbolism.  Stephen Jones very ably identifies Eli as a type of the Christian Church in his book The Wheat and Asses of Pentecost.  Stephen teaches that the Church of Pentecost (from the time of Christ until now) is doomed to fail because they only receive the “earnest of the Spirit,” a deposit or down-payment.  They never go on with God to receive their full inheritance of the fulness of the Holy Spirit.  He reminds us that a donkey, or ass, in Scripture represents an unclean animal, like a man, that must be atoned for by a lamb (Christ).  If one does not redeem it, then its neck must be broken.  Such was the fate of Eli, an unclean man who became blind to his sin and the sins of his sons.  Because he refused to be cleansed by the lamb, he fell over backward at age 98 and broke his neck.

Samuel grew up with Eli, but even so, at this time of his life he still did not know the LORD!  This describes many, many Christians who sit for years under their own Eli’s in their own churches around the world.  They know about the LORD, but they do not know the LORD because the Word of the LORD has not yet been revealed to them!”  They have not yet begun to hear God for themselves.  Instead they rely upon the opinions of man to form their own opinions.  Thus their doctrine never changes and they remain unteachable.  The things, for example, that I teach on this website or Stephen teaches on his could never be true because their pastor, their Eli, never says any of this stuff!  They are, unfortunately, like Samuel in his youth.  They do not yet know the LORD because the Word of the LORD has not yet been revealed to them.

Christians, do not fear to doubt your doctrines.  Such fear shows that you really fear God in an unhealthy way.  You fear that he will not lead you on into all truth.  Understand that your pastor is subject to his own fears, faith, and education.  Dare to doubt your pastor!  Dare to find the truth for yourself.  When you do then you will find that God indeed speaks to even you and yes, even you will begin to hear his voice.  Then, and only then, will you truly begin to know the LORD.  When you can hear God’s voice for yourself, then you will have no fear of ever being led astray.  Christ is able to keep his flock safe.