Lesson 1: Why Is God Silent?

Pastors Bible Class Thomas Road Baptist Church

Series: When God Is Silent

Lesson 1: Why Is God Silent?

A. WHY ARE PEOPLE SILENT TO US?

1. Angry. Learn to interpret the sounds of silence.

2. They want you to learn (seeing what you will do).

3. They have already told you.

4. They disagree with what you previously said.

5. They are taking time to think before answering.

6. Talking is inappropriate.

7. You are not close enough to hear them.

B. KNOW HOW GOD SPEAKS

1. Through nature. “The heavens tell of the glory of God. The skies display His marvelous craftsmanship . . . they speak without a sound or a word; their voice is silent in the skies” (Ps. 19:1-3, NLT).

2. Through the Word of God.

a. The words were inspired (breathed out) by God. “All scripture is inspired by God” (2 Tim. 3:16).

b. Contains truth. “You heard the word of truth” (Col. 1:5).

3. Through miracles. “God verifying the message by signs and wonders, and miracles” (Heb. 2:4, NLT).

4. Through conviction of sin. The word convict means “to cause to see.” The Holy Spirit causes people to recognize in their life:

a. Sin,

b. Righteousness, what is right

c. Judgment, punishment.

5. Through audible voice. “When the people heard . . . they said to Moses, ‘You tell us what God says, and we will listen’” (Ex. 20:18-19).

6. God speaks directly to the heart. “They were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia . . . but the Holy Spirit did not permit them” (Acts 16:6-7).

7. Through circumstances. “God turned into good what you meant for evil” (Gen. 50:20, NLT). Providence means God works His will through the laws of nature and people.

8. Ultimate message is Jesus Christ. “Long ago, God spoke many times and in many ways . . . through the prophet.” But now in these final days, He has spoken to us through His Son” (Heb. 1:1-2, NLT).

C. WHEN GOD IS QUIET

1. He is not ready to speak.

2. He has already spoken and told you what He wants.

Why should God speak a second time,

If you haven’t obeyed the first time!

3. He knows you won’t obey.

4. Something is hindering your ability to hear and understand.

a. Known sin.

b. Ignorant sin.

c. Your ignorance of the Word.

d. Laziness, you haven’t studied and learned.

5. Circumstances are not ready yet. God anointed David as the next king, yet Saul spent 13 years trying to kill him. Why does God wait?

a. For sin to run its course.

b. Create a desire in followers for David.

c. To mature David, i.e., a young hot head.

6. God has something better. Elijah was discouraged and “requested for himself that he might die” (1 Kings 19:4). God had a chariot and whirlwind to take him to heaven.

7. The radio is playing, but we’re tuned to the wrong station. Our concern is with pleasure, entertainment, addiction, etc.

8. The radio is blaring, but we’re:

a. Too busy to listen,

b. Talking to others,

c. Not in the house, distance.

d. Ears plugged up with wax, i.e., obvious sin.

9. We’ve got our minds made up.

a. We think we know better.

b. Others have distorted what God will do or say

c. Wrong thinking about God’s Word.

10. We don’t want to hear what He is saying. “God reveals His anger from heaven against all wicked evil people who rebel against His truth. For the truth of God is known instinctively in their conscience, and they can see in the earth and sky all that He made” (Rom. 1:18-19, ELT).

D. WHAT KIND OF GOD DO WE SERVE?

1. A patient God, He waits for us to listen to Him.

2. A secret-hiding God. “There are secret things that belong to the Lord or God, but the revealed things belong to us . . . that we may obey them” (Deut. 29:29).

3. A revealing God. “God is . . . a revealer” (Dan. 2:47).

4. A wise God. He only reveals what is good and holds back what we shouldn’t and couldn’t know. “To the only wise God” (Rom. 16:27; 1 Tim. 1:17; Jude 25).

5. An understanding God. “By His understanding” (Job 26:12).

6. A teaching God. “God is all powerful, who is a teacher like Him” (Job 36:22).

7. A findable God. “You shall seek Me and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart” (Jer. 29:13).

8. A planning God. “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future, and a hope’” (Jer. 29:11, NLT).