My Sheep Hear My Voice

I am convinced ... that we are too easily distracted ... in the rush ... of this modern ... in which we live.

There are so many choices ... There are so many distractions ... all ... demanding ... our time ... and ... our attention.

Sadly, ... it seems ... that we only hear ... what we want to hear ... and we often completely tune out ... the voice ... of the one we call ... our Lord.

We do not take time ... to hear ... His voice.

Maybe ... we do not really have ... as Trusting a relationship with Jesus... as we may think we have. (Pause)

How much time do you set aside ... for the one you call ... your Savior?

How much time ... do you spend... with the one ... you call ... Lord?

Do you hear ... his voice?

Are you tuned in ...... so you will hear ... his voice? (Pause)

The following story ... may help explain ... what I am, trying to share:

"Two men ... were walking along a crowded city sidewalk.

Suddenly, ... one of the men remarked: ... "Listen to the lovely sound ... of that cricket."

Yet ... the other man ... could not hear the sound of the cricket ... at all.

He asked his friend: ... "How can you hear the sound of a cricket ... amid the roar of the traffic ... and the sounds of the city."

The first man, ... who was a zoologist, ... had trained himself ... to hear ... the sounds ... of nature.

He didn't explain to his friend ... why he could hear the sound of the cricket, ... instead, ... he reached into his pocket, ... pulled out a half-dollar coin... and dropped it ... onto the concrete sidewalk,

And watched intently ... as a dozen people ... began to look for the coin ... as they heard it clanking amid the sounds of the traffic ... and the sounds ... of the city.

He turned to his friend and said, ... "We hear what we ... listen for."

Beloved... (Slow) We too ... hear ... what we listen for.

Are you tuned in ... to the voice ... of Jesus?

Do you really seek ... His voice?

What are you ... tuned in to ... hear?

We hear ... what we want to hear.

Knowingly ... or unknowingly ... we all make choices ... as to who ... we are listing for.

Our Gospel Text ... has a promise ... to those who call themselves ... followers of the Christ.

This Scriptural truth ... it is a wonderful promise ... and a glorious truth.

(Slow) ... "My sheep hear my voice!" (John 10:27)

It does not say ... we could hear his voice, ... or we should hear his voice, ... or we might hear his voice.

The Scriptures are clear ... Crystal Clear:

My Sheep... My Sheep!

Hear My Voice.

I know this will sound strong ... but maybe it needs to be said:

If you are not hearing the Lord's voice ... then you are probably not ... walking ... in the Lord's will. (Pause)

So...What is God's will ... for each of us?

How can I know ... his will?

What does it mean ... when we say that?

It means ... we want to discern, ... we want to understand, ... we want to know His plan ...for our life.

We want His guidance ... in our decisions ... so we can make ... wise choices. (Pause)

Beloved ... Knowing the voice of God results in ...... finding the will ... of God.

You can be assured ... that God wants you to know ...His will.

Hear God's word: BIBLE Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word ... that proceeds from the mouth of God. END (Matthew 4:4)

The Greek word translated "proceeds" ... as in proceeds from the mouth of God ... speaks of a continuing non-stop action.

It means ... something that proceeded from the mouth of God ... in the past, ... is happening in the present, ... and will continue to take place ... in the future.

Stand on the promise that: ... Our Lord ... is the same yesterday, today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)

So...It is imperative ... that we know ... His voice.

We live by every word ... that proceeds ... from the mouth of God.

There are two Greek terms translated "word" in the Scriptures.

The two Greek words are ... "logos" and "rhema".

Though at times ... they are interchanged.

Generally, ... Logos has been described ... as the general word of God.

Through reading and hearing the Scriptures ... you can receive all the knowledge you need concerning God and his promises; ... but just through reading ... you do not necessarily ... receive faith.