Hearing God's Voice

Hearing God’s voice is so important!

We are all about talking TO God...but how often do we just pause to LISTEN?

We are so selfish!

I love hearing God’s voice.

It makes me feel important that the creator would direct His words towards me.

1 Kings 19:9-12

How does God not speak?

Boisterous

Boastful

Through Wind, Fire, and Earthquakes

It’s amazing to me that God doesn’t speak that way.

He has all the reason in the word to be a boastful God.

How did God speak to Elijah?

“A low whisper”

We are always looking for some huge display of God.

3 Ways God Speaks To Us:

 Directly

I don’t mean through some audible voice.

God gave you a conscience for a reason and you know right from wrong and you understand what is wise and what is foolish.

Sometimes the decision isn’t between right and wrong...it’s between wise and unwise...good and best.

The problem with this is that Satan is VERY smart.

He is very good at sounding like God

 Through other people

Godly advice from those you trust is very important.

The danger in this is that you may try to find someone who will tell you what you want to hear.

WHAT YOU NEED IS SOMEONE TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH!

 His Word

It’s already been written...it’s already been said.

2 Tim. 3:16 -  ALL SCRIPTURE IS GOD-BREATHED

Why do you have to pray about it?

GOD’S WORD IS THE FINAL AUTHORITY!

The Changes of Seasons

I love the changes of seasons.  I especially love the change from Summer to Fall.  I love the colors, how they change from greens to brown, reds, and yellows, and especially the fresh new cool in the air.  I get excited at first hints of Autumn.  I'll notice a smell in the breeze that signifies fall and it brings nostalgic memories.  I always love the smell of household heaters firing up for the first time in months, the smell of burnt dust.  I've been praying that more than the season will change this year.  I pray that my heart will change.  I don't feel far from God, but I've let my heart be filled with things that aren't close to God.  Being engulfed in an unhappy, sinful lifestyle doesn't happen all at once.  A Godless life is something that creeps in without the person noticing any difference.  I'm not by any means unhappy; there are things happening in my life that I couldn't imagine being any better (good job, nice car, great ministries, great relationships with real friends where real things are talked about).  But having all the things that make you "happy" and not having God, is an unhappy life.  God is definitely present in close to all areas of my life, but is he precedent?  In some, yes.  In others, no.  I want God to lead the pack of all the priorities and people in my life.  This is not a matter of me moving from a Godless life to a Godly life; it's a matter of me moving from a God-present life to a God-consumed life.  My God is a consuming fire.  My God is worthy of my most devout affection.  I'm learning more and more that God is not found in knowledge and all the right words.  God is found in my complete reliance on Him.  I think thats faith, me knowing that I have no idea and relying on God for all the answers.  I long to be dependent on God for all things.  Dependency leads to intimacy, and there's not anything I want more in this life than to know Christ and him crucified.  His blood that makes me pretty in the Father's eyes.  His purity that brings acceptance that, otherwise, I could never deserve.

Walk In The Light As He Is In The Light

Mathew 5:14-16

“You are the light of the world.  A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Where does this light come from?

John 1:1-5

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.  In him was life, and the life was the light of men.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

Jesus is the LIGHT!

1 John 1:5-10

-vs. 5- In God is no darkness at ALL.

-vs. 7- “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light...”

Do you walk in light or darkness?

What keeps you from walking in the light?

-vs. 7- What does it say will happen if we walk in the light?

Jesus’ blood will cleanse us from all sin.

Does that mean that if we walk in darkness our sins will not be cleansed?

No, I don't think so, but it is a scary thought...

-vs. 8-10- The truth is....WE’RE GOING TO SIN!

1 John 2:1-6

-vs. 2- Jesus has paid the price for all the sins of the world

-vs. 3- How do we know that we know Christ?

We keep his commandments

-vs. 5- If you keep his word, GOD’S LOVE WILL BE PERFECTED IN YOU!

-vs. 6- Do you walk like Jesus walked?