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.
Paul shares this truth with us in his letter to the Believers gathered in Rome: BIBLE "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God." END (Romans 10:17)
In this passage ... the Greek term translated Word ... is not logos, ... but rhema.
Faith specifically comes ... by hearing the rhema of God.
Logos has been defined as "the written or said word of God," and Rhema as ... "the saying, the action word of God."
That is ... God giving, ... a specific word ... to a specific person ... for a specific situation.
Faith comes by hearing ... by hearing ... the rehma of God.
And the writer of Hebrews shares this eternal truth BIBLE "... Without faith ... it is impossible to please Him." END (Hebrews 11:6)
Faith comes by hearing ...... and hearing by the word, ...... the rehma of God.
And without rehma ... it is impossible to please Him.
Peter never walked on the water ... because of logos, ... because of a general knowledge of God.
Peter ... required that Jesus give him ... a specific word:
Peter asked, ... "Lord if you are the Lord, command me to come." And Jesus replied ... "Come." (Matthew 14:29)
The word Christ gave to Peter ... was rhema.
The word Christ gave to Peter...brought forth faith ... ...Action Faith.
Peter walked on the water ... because he had received rhema.
Beloved ... through the Scriptures you can, ... and you will ... grow in your knowledge of God.
The Scriptures are powerful... They are food for our soul.
In Fact: ... Paul shares with Timothy ... the truth of the Scriptures:
BIBLE "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness" END (2 Timothy 3:16)
The Scriptures are paramount ... in our walk.
We are called to read, ... mark, ... learn ... and inwardly digest the Scriptures.
You may listen to the word of God ... and you may study the Scriptures, ... but only when the Holy Spirit comes and quickens, ... stirs the Scriptures to your heart ... will logos ... become rhema.
Have you ever found yourself reading the Scriptures ... and clarity ... or a new revelation comes ... to you?
Beloved... when that happens ... the scriptures are alive ... you received Rhema.
If you are not meditating ... on God's word.
If you seldom make time ... to wait upon the Lord.
Then how can the Lord come and quicken ... His Word to your heart?
Jesus is the Word ... made Flesh.
Jesus encompasses the fullness of both ... Logos and Rhema.
He is the Word ... He is the perfect all-encompassing Word.
The words you hear, ... and all your desires ... should be carefully screened ... and weighed ... in the light of the Scriptures.
God's Rhema ... the Rhema from the Holy Spirit ...will never contradict ... the Holy Word of God.
Rhema from God ... will never contradict ... the Scriptures. (Pause)
Remember our Lord's promise ........ BIBLE Behold I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. END (Revelation 3:20)
Beloved ... Jesus is knocking on the door of your heart ... He is calling out to you ... do you hear his voice?
This is truly ... a busy age.
Many, ... far too many of those that call themselves followers of the Christ ... do not set aside time ... to listen to Him... To listen ... for His voice.
And if we are honest... we often do not take time to ...listen to ... each other.
To truly listen ... to those ... that God has placed ... in our lives.
Beloved ... We must take time ... to Listen!!! (Pause)
There is a story ... that has been passed down concerning ... President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Apparently, ... President Roosevelt was so tired of smiling the expected presidential smile ... and saying the usual expected words ... at the myriad of White House receptions......
That, one evening ... he decided to find out whether anybody was really listening ... to what ... he was saying.
As each person came up to him ... with an extended hand, ... he flashed that big smile of his and said, ..."I murdered my grandmother this morning."
People would automatically respond with comments like ... "How lovely!" ... or "It is nice to meet you mister President!"
Nobody listened ... to what he was actually saying... except for one foreign diplomat.
When the president said, ... "I murdered my grandmother this morning," the diplomat responded softly, ... (Slow) ... "I'm sure she had it coming." (Pause)
Beloved ... It is time to slow down, ... to calm yourself ... and listen ... to the one you call Lord.
Listen prayerfully, ... when you read the Scriptures.
Listen prayerfully... when you hear a teaching or a Sunday Message ...... Then wait!
Wait upon the Lord ... to receive rhema.
So ... Why do some ... not hear the voice of God?
Our Gospel text today speaks to that:... Hear God's Word ... BIBLE "You do not believe because you do not belong to my sheep." "My sheep hear my voice." I give them eternal life and they will never parish." END (John 10:25-30)
Beloved ... in order to hear his voice ... you must be one of his sheep.
We must accept the gift of eternal life ... that is found only ... in Christ Jesus.
How do you become part of the family of God... The Scriptures are not confusing. Hear God's Word... BIBLE "Confess with your mouth, Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead. You shall be saved." END (Romans 10:9)
Far too many ... never become one of the fold.
Far too many ... never hear the voice of the Good Shepard ... because they are willing to accept him as Savior ... but not ... as their Lord.
"Confess with your mouth, Jesus as Lord,... and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead. You shall be saved." (Romans 10:9)
If Jesus is truly your Lord, ... then why wouldn't you ...spend time with him?
He wants to have an intimate relationship ... with you.
He yearns to restore your relationship ... if it has become distant.
He wants to reveal his will... for you.
He is a God of... Restoration and Revelation.
He is ... El Shadi!
We must redeem ... our time.
Find time ... make time ... to sit quietly before the Lord... put your life in neutral gear... and calm your heart.
Wait upon the Lord,... say silently or aloud "Lord I'm here.
Lord...I want to hear your voice.
I yearn to know your will."
When I sit quietly ... and calm myself in his presence ...I often begin with the words ... "I love you" or I thank him for what he has done for me.
Then wait peacefully ... and listen for his words to me. (Pause)
Fasting ... is another spiritual instrument that God gives us ... in order ... to be drawn deeper ... into his presence.
Fasting ... seems to bring me closer to God ... and heighten ... our time together.
With each hunger pain ... I pray and seek ... his will.
Whether in Fasting ... or in prayer, ... you need to set aside a time, ... a quiet time, ... when you can calm yourself ... and listen ... listen to the one ... you call ... Savior and ... Lord. (Pause)
There is a story about a man who was having difficulty communicating with his wife ... and concluded ... that she was becoming hard of hearing.
So, he decided to conduct a test... without her knowing about it.
One evening ... he sat in a chair ... on the far side of the room.
Her back was to him ... so ... she could not see him.
Very quietly he whispered, ... "Can you hear me?" ...There was no response.
Moving a little closer, ... he asked again, ... "Can you hear me now?"
Still no reply; ... quietly he edged closer ... and whispered the same words, ... yet still no answer.
Finally, ... he moved right in behind her chair and said, ... "Can you hear me now?"
To his surprise and chagrin, ... she responded with irritation in her voice, ... (Slow) "For the fourth time, ... yes!" (Pause)
Beloved ... The hearing problem ... is not with God. ... It is with us!
(Slow) It is time to move forward in the Faith ...to submit every aspect of our lives ...to the one we call ... Lord..
The Scriptures not only tell us ... but command us as followers ... to go your room close the door and pray.
(Matthew 6:6)
Beloved ... it is not that complicated.
Go your room ...close the door ... and pray.
Talk to him ... yet remember... to also listen.
And if you do ... I promise ... you will hear his voice.
Maybe not in the first few days ... maybe not even in the first few weeks.
(Slow) We hear ... what we listen for.
Slow down, ... calm your heart.
Wait upon the Lord.
Beloved ... if you do ...... you will hear his voice.
And His Rhema ... will bring forth faith ... and will take you ... from Glory to Glory!
Amen and Amen!
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