How To Hear God Series

Sunday Morning January 24, 2010

Bel Aire Baptist Church

Series: “Royalty” [#5]

HOW TO HEAR GOD

2 Chronicles 17-20

Introduction:

How do you know when God is speaking to you? Is it God, or you, or what? In the Old Testament God used various ways to speak to people. He used angels, visions, dreams, miraculous signs, etc… What is more important than how God spoke, was that He spoke. When God spoke to a person they knew it was God speaking. They knew what God said. They understood what God said. They had an encounter with God. We too can have an encounter with God. When God speaks to you by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church, you will come to know it is God and you will know what He is saying.

Let’s use King Jehoshaphat’s life this morning to look at these 5 ways God speaks to us.

2 Chronicles 17:3-10

God speaks to believers…

1. Through the Bible.

God reveals to us much about Himself and what we are to do in His Word. He wants us to study it, reflect upon it, and live it. The Word gives us that which we need at that moment. It is applicable.

If you continue to read on, you will find that Jehoshaphat’s life and kingdom were just being blessed more and more by God; but there will always come a time of testing of what He has taught us. In chapter 18 we find that Jehoshaphat married into Ahab and Jezebel’s family. We are told that Ahab wanted Jehoshaphat to attack Ramoth Gilead and Jehoshaphat said he would only if the Lord approved it. Ahab had 400 of his prophets brought in to prophesy about this and they all said go do it, yet Jehoshaphat asked if there were any prophets of the Lord and Ahab replied that there was one but he didn’t like what he had to say in the past.

God speaks to believers…

2. Through ministers of the Word.

Isn’t it interesting that when God tries to tells us something that we don’t like through someone that we don’t want to hear them anymore? Micaiah was called in and at first, he told them what they wanted to hear. What is interesting is that Ahab knew he was lying and asked him to tell the truth. Micaiah began to tell the truth of what was going to happen and when he got done, Ahab’s reply was, “See, he always brings bad news”.

Micaiah continued to explain that God had showed him that a lying spirit was placed into the mouths of the 400 prophets in order to lure them into destruction. We need to see that the prophet was actually giving them warning to not go to war; but Ahab received it differently.

Anytime we are confronted with the truth we must make a decision- We can either follow it or get mad at the messenger and refuse. One of Ahab’s prophets slapped Micaiah and Ahab had Micaiah thrown into prison.

2 Chronicles 18:28-34

God speaks to believers…

3. Through circumstances.

God speaks to us through things that happen in our lives. Sometimes those circumstances happen because God is growing us. Sometimes they happen because of sin in our life and God is correcting us. When you are in the middle of the circumstance it is hard to see God, but just remember that God is still there.

Ahab had set Jehoshaphat up to die, but God protected him. Unfortunately, we seem to have to learn the hard way so often.

2 Chronicles 19:1-3

God speaks to believers…

4. Through other believers.

God speaks to us through other Christians. Sometimes it comes in the form of a good “lining out”. Christians, be careful that when you go to a Christian brother or sister to correct that your motives are of love and that you are doing it so that they might be restored. If your motive is anything else, you will just be being a negative critical person that tears people down.

Even after Jehu told Jehoshaphat that he had made some serious errors, Jehoshaphat chose to strive to do right. He began to appoint judges throughout the land to help make godly rulings. Later on, the Moabites and Ammonites attacked and Jehoshaphat consulted God.

2 Chronicles 20:5-17

God speaks to believers…

5. Through prayer.

Isn’t it amazing what happens when we not only go to God, but listen? I love the answer that God gives them.

2 Chronicles 20:15

Conclusion:

I often have stopped at this point in this passage, but it hit me this week that the passage is not over.

2 Chronicles 20:18-23

God spoke and the people listened. What was the result of answered prayer? The people bowed in reverence, they stood and worshipped, and they sang and praised His Name. God used their worship and praise to defeat the enemy. Have you ever thought about the power of praise and worship?