GROW UP Session 5
HEARING GOD - Part 1
INTRO Have you ever struggled
to know what God wanted you to do in a given situation? We all have at one time
or another. Would you be interested in listening to me this morning if I
promised that, at the end of this message, you would be able to hear God’s
voice and always know what God wanted you to do? I believe you can know the will of God in
every decision if you seek Him.
Two of
the greatest prayers you can pray are: "Help!" and "God, what do you want me to do?"
God wants to walk with us like He walked with Adam in the Garden. He wants to be our friend just like He was
called Abraham a friend. Moses talked
with God face to face as a man speaks to a friend. Jesus called His disciples friends because servants
don't know what the Master is doing.
I am
talking about hearing and knowing the voice of God in every circumstance. If
you asked me, “What is the one absolute essential to growing up and becoming a
mature believer?” I would answer, “Hearing God!”
In the
past month, we have looked at several things that develop our spiritual ears:
having a quiet time, meditating on the Word, reading and understanding the
Bible, prayer. Now let’s look in detail how God speaks to us
My text
today is from the book of John...
John 10:1-4 (NKJV) Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does
not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is
a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the
sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear
his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name
and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before
them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.”
1. Let me set the table…
a.
God has
always spoken to His children.
i. Adam, Abraham,
Moses, Samuel, the Judges, the Prophets, the Kings…
ii. Scripture
1.
Isaiah 30:21 (NKJV) Your ears shall hear a word behind you,
saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever
you turn to the left.
2.
John 10:27 (NKJV) My sheep hear My voice, and I know them,
and they follow Me.
b.
God is
still speaking today.
i. He
didn’t just write a book and quit talking!
ii. Scripture
1.
Matthew 16:17–18 (NKJV) Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed
are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but
My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on
this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail
against it.
2. Revelation
3:22 (NKJV) He who
has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (Says
it seven times!)
c.
God
spoke and is speaking through Jesus Christ.
i. Hebrews
1:1–2 (NASB95) God,
after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in
many ways, 2in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed
heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.
d.
God
speaks to us through our primary learning style.
i. Visual
1. Visions
ii. Auditory
1. Words
iii. Kinesthetic
1. Experiences
- Road to Emmaus
2. Dreams
2. So the question today is, “How
do I hear God?”
a.
The
first way God talks to me is through His Word.
i. Reading
the Word - visual
1. A verse
comes alive and God communicates to me.
2. God has
always given direction to me through His Word.
3. Illustrations
ii. Listening
to the Word - auditory
1. Digital
recorded versions
2. Sermons
3. Illustrations
iii. Experiencing
the Word - kinesthetic
1. Group
discussions
2. Real
life situations
3. Illustrations
INVITATION Who
needs a Word from God today?
Next
week: Part 2
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