Intro: This passage comes from a promise to the people of Judah (The southern kingdom of the nation of Israel) they are told that when they were comfortable they would not hear God’s word or the voices of their teachers.
God knew the tendency of the heart of the Children of Israel. He knows the tendency of our hearts. In both there is a leaning toward wandering away from Him. In this very passage Judah is looking for help from Egypt and their armies and horses.
Even when we are prone to wander God has grace for us. He says whenever you turn to the right or the left. It’s like He says listen; I know you are going to be tempted, fooled, or frustrated into going the wrong way. But even in that instance I have grace for you. You ear will hear. God will speak.
I. A precise instruction – This is the way
You notice that the text says “This is the way.” It doesn’t say this is a way. There is a way. There is one way to God not many.
Conversation about Muslims believing in the same God we do.
1 Timothy 2:5 “For there is one God and one mediator between God and humanity, Christ Jesus, Himself human”
John 14:6 “Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
Acts 4:12 “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people, and we must be saved by it.”
Daniel knew how to follow His guide Jesus. In Daniel 1 we see the King of Babylon trying to change everything about Daniel including their devotion to their God.
A) The way of faith
The way that God is saying walk in is trust. When we are faced with decisions that seek to make us go right or left we must trust what God has said. The name change was fine with Daniel, the teaching of wisdom etc were fine. But where God had specifically spoken Daniel said whoa!!! God’s precise instructions call us to trust Him even when it’s tough. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego trusted God! In Daniel 3 they were commanded by Nebuchadnezzar to bow down to a golden idol. Their answer, “Our God could save us from your fire Neb but even if He chooses not to we will not bow down to your idol.”
What faith. They trusted God no matter the result. He wasn’t only God if he gave them good stuff.
B) The way of love
When our heart begins to beat in rhythm with the commands of God we run after them. It is no longer a burden to love our enemies, be our brother’s keepers, forgive those that hate you.
We can serve with a passion and energy that can’t be extinguished if we are walking in this way.
C) The way of prayer
When we turn toward our guide and listen we are walking in the way of prayer. We must learn to listen to the voice behind us. A person that never responds to the voice that says this is the way will never find the straight and narrow. Prayer was never meant to be only us talking! Jeremiah 33:3 Call unto me and I will show you great and marvelous things which you don’t know. God wants to guide us into the unknown where Jesus is. But it is up to us to call to Him.
II. A personal invitation
This is the way, you walk in it! There is a call that echoes still from the lips of Jesus Christ, I am the way! You follow me.
You must choose to receive the salvation He offers. How do I know if I have received Him? You will know when you being to respond to the personal invitation, Walk in it.
This church has a personal invitation from God to begin healing. He has spoken to several of us and invited us to make some things right. We must choose. Will we hear the voice behind us and follow our guide to healing?
This invitation is not for another church or other Christians. It is specifically given to us. There are things that are unknown to us that He is desperately trying to show us.
Will we accept the invitation and walk in it?
A) The choice may lead to difficulty – Daniel in the Lion’s den, S, M A in the furnace
B) The choice may lead to pain
C) The choice will lead to freedom and fullness
Don’t forget there are always other options. To the right or to the left. The right might lead to no confrontation, no conflict and no uncomfortable situations. However it leads to compromise and losing the still small voice and the compelling voice of God
To the left is pleasure, power, and prominence.
This is an invitation to a very practical response to the voice of God!
Conclusion: Have you heard the voice of God. Saying this is the way!
Have you heard Him saying walk in it!
