the voice: god speaks to us
TRANSCRIPT
The VoiceGod Communicates With Us
The Voice• John 10:27,28 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I
know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.
• John 10:3,4 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.
God Speaks To Christians• God reveals Himself and His promises 1 Corinthians 2:9-16
• God imparts wisdom freely James 1:5-8
God imparts gifts of revelation, faith, wisdom, knowledge and prophecy. I Corinthians 12:7-10
• The Holy Spirit instructs us in all things: 1 John 2:20,27
God Is More Than Just A GPS!
• God doesn’t just tell us “what to do” God also:- tells us who He is (1 Corinthians 2:10-12)- who Jesus is (John 6:44,45; 14:26)- who we are (Romans 8:14-17)- how to love each other (1 Thessalonians 4:9)- how and what to believe (Ephesians 3:14-21)- what the Bible says (1 Corinthians 2:13,14)- how to be ethical and honest (Isaiah 30:20,21)- how to carry out our work wisely (Isaiah 28:23-29)
What Is God’s Voice Like?• The voice of God in nature. “The heavens declare
the glory of God”. God speaks to us through ants, birds, lilies etc.
• The voice of reason, Wisdom, Logos, calls us to learn, observe, prosper and repent, to live life well as in Proverbs.
• The voice of morality, law and conscience. Keeps us on track, convicts of sin, righteousness and judgment. Speaks to us of uprightness and integrity. Sermon On The Mount.
What Is God’s Voice Like - 2
• The voice of God in and through apostles and prophets as seen in Jesus Christ, and in Scripture. Ideas, doctrines, Truth.
• The voice of repentance and holiness, love, peace, stillness, maturity, the call to live and not die, often an inner voice, still small voice calling us, restoring us.
• The voice of ministry direction, revelation of applied truth for today, the rhema word, helps us to make life decisions.
Not Hearing God• 43Why do you not understand what I am saying? It
is because you cannot hear My word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me.46 Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me? 47 He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God.” John 10:43-47
Why We Don’t Hear God - ANot Born-Again (Nicodemus, 1 Corinthians 2:13,14)
Defiance of God, Don't Want To Hear What God Will Say (Stiff-necked, stubborn and rebellious, resist the Spirit Acts 7:51-53)
Legalism / Lack of Spiritual Sensitivity / Cannot Admit To Being Bad (Pharisees, Matthew 23:)
Over-Identification of God With A Punitive Authority Figure (The Lazy, Wicked Servant, Luke 19:20-23)
Why We Don’t Hear God - B
Idolatry (worshipping Baal, statues etc)
Gross Sin, Corruption & Injustice (Eli and his sons)
Spiritual Laziness (“sluggish” Hebrews 5:11-14, 6:12)
Too Busy (“I just bought a field..”)
Too Busy For God
• Matthew 22:2-5 "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, (3) and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. (4) Again he sent other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast."' (5) But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business,
Hatred Blocks Our Ears
• 1 John 2:10-11 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. (11) But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
Why We Don’t Hear God - C
Unbelief (Israel refusing to cross the Jordan)
Fear/ Anxiety / Aversion to the Risks of Faith (Disciples)
Love of the World ( 1 Timothy 6:10, 1 John 2:16-18)
Hatred, Harshness, Strife, Disunity and Unforgiveness (Matthew 6:14, Galatians 5:19-21)
Why We Don’t Hear God - D
Spiritual warfare holding the answer back in the Heavenly realms (Daniel 10)
Believing or receiving false doctrine that makes it difficult to hear the true voice of God. (Jude, 2 Peter)
Superstition, divination, lying spirits, false prophecy, occult, Tarot cards etc. (Deuteronomy 18:9-14, Saul)
Pride, resisting a change in self-concept (King Uzziah)
Be Careful How You Hear!
• We hear God when we obediently enter into His Kingdom and into His family and household by faith. We need to be careful how we listen - and record it, obey it, and value it. (Matthew 13:10-17, Luke 8:17,19)
Multiple Channels of Communication
• God speaks through the Holy Spirit, the Bible, angels, other Christians, dreams, visions, words of wisdom, circumstances, nature, spiritual logic and common sense.
• God often speaks in quiet places and holy places which is why Jesus and the prophets would often go into the wilderness or to the Temple.
False Voices
• God's voice is never intimidating, hurried or manipulative, God often tells us to wait after He has spoken.
• God will never contradict the clear teachings of Scripture or lead you into sin.
• Also God will never puff you up with pride e.g. by saying you are unique, have a special new doctrine, are the only one who knows the Truth etc.
Obedience First…
• John 7:17 If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.
Listening To God - 1• Repent and be humble before God
• Believe in God
• Deny yourself
• Take up your Cross daily
• Follow Jesus, putting His commandments into practice
Listening To God - 2
• Confess your sins as soon as you realize them
• Accept teaching, rebuke and instruction
• Thirst for the Word of God
• Listen carefully and deeply, observe, think, reflect
• Seek the counsel of godly Christians and wise people
Listening to God - 3
• Be filled with the Holy Spirit
• Pray, rejoice, be thankful, enter the courts of praise, see life as abundant, expect God to do wonderful things and to teach you wonderful things. When God speaks, write it down.
• Walk in faith, revelation comes to those who live by faith and step out for God.
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Prayer
Lord Jesus, purify us, and help us to hear Your Voice, and to listen and to obey.