INTRODUCTION
Last we ended off with some false teachers that were trying to bring a different a gospel to the gentile believers
The one thing that they mentioned was that the gentiles needed to be baptised in order to be saved
The one thing that came out of our message was that, we are saved by grace alone
There is absolutely nothing that we can add to the salvation that God freely offers us through His Son Jesus
No law adding or abiding grants us salvation, it is by the finished work of Jesus on the cross
That provides such hope for us today, knowing that we don’t have to try and follow certain principles and laws in order to be accepted by Christ
We are accepted already
We find that after the council had met in Jerusalem a decision was taken that the gentiles don’t need to be circumcised
All they had to do was abstain from a few things, which were not laws put on them, but merely for them to respect their Jewish brothers
1Cor 8:9-13 reads, 9Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols? 11So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. 12When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.13Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.
The word tells us that Paul and his companions went all over delivering this message and many were saved and added to the local church
This morning i want to speak on: HEARING THE VOICE OF THE LORD
• RESPONDING TO HIS VOICE
• GODS WORDS HAVE PURPOSE
1. RESPONDING TO HIS VOICE
Throughout scripture we see how God constantly communicated with His people:
• Burning bushes
• Donkeys
• Dreams
• Visions
• Audible voices etc
Now in this setting we find Paul and his companions on mission – to spread the gospel
We see them moving from Derbe then to Lystra, where they add Timothy to the team
Then on they went to Phrygia and Galatia but something happens
They are prevented by the HS from entering Asia and spreading the gospel
Then they tried to enter Bithynia and the HS again stopped them from going there
So two areas, the HS had prevented them from going into
But how did the HS speak to them? Scripture doesn’t tell us but probably:
• Inner prompting
• Lack of peace
Did Paul and his companions brush off the promptings or the voice? NO
The thing we need to understand about these guys, is that they are men of prayer
When you’re in prayer and stay in fellowship with the Lord He will speak to you
God often speaks in those quiet times we spend with him
That’s why individual and corporate prayer is so important
God wants to speak to us and lead us according to His will for our lives
Another thing that’s amazing in this scene is that they made decisions in union
I don’t think Paul just said, we must go here or there
I believe he consulted with his friends, but God had the final authority
Proverbs 16:9, “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps”.
APPLICATION
We need to be people of prayer, as this is one aspect of our walk with Christ we should value
Prayer changes things and in prayer God speaks
Illustration: our first call to harding, God said No
When God speaks we need to be obedient and follow what His telling us to do
We need to consult with others and seek advise from others, but let God have the final authority over your decision
Don’t make big decisions in isolation
How is God speaking to you today? Are you being obedient to His voice?
2. GODS WORDS HAVE PURPOSE
So the HS prevented them from entering Asia and Bithynia
As they seeked the Lord, Paul is given a vision to go to Macedonia
An interesting thing to see is that when God spoke they responded immediately
They didn’t linger or have long discussions around this, they knew that this was what God wanted, so they moved
As they come to Phillipi, the leading city of Macedonia, the 1st thing they look for is the place of prayer
At this meeting a wealthy lady is converted and her household thereafter gets saved and baptised
As they move around in this area, Paul delivers a slave girl from a demonic spirit
Immediately they are arrested, beaten and thrown into prison
Now i really wonder at this point what could have going on in their minds
Were they now thinking, DID WE HEAR GOD PROPERLY, eish, MAYBE WE MADE A MISTAKE
I doubt that, because especially Paul, he knew that he would suffer much for Christ
This didn’t allow them to let doubt sink in
No, even through the pain and being locked up as criminals, they continued to worship God
In prison where everything seemed dark and hopeless, they continued worshipping God
They didn’t allow their circumstance to dictate the will of God
They are worshippers
Because of that, the jail keeper is converted together with his entire household
Paul and his companions did hear correctly from the Lord
God performed wonders and brought many to salvation
APPLICATION
The will of God will never take you where His grace will not sustain you
Illustration: when we came to harding, the enemy tried to plant doubt in our minds, and we often asked the question did we hear right? YES WE DID
What has the Lord called you too?
It may be tough and challenging, but is always there for you
He will never leave you nor forsake you, even if He needs to send an earthquake He will do it for you
CONCLUSION
God is always talking to us, are we a people who are listening
Don’t allow yourself to get accustomed to only a certain way in which God speaks
He speaks through everything and anything
Lets make prayer a priority in our lives
And when God speaks lets be quick to respond
Don’t let your circumstances make you think that you made a mistake, God is with you, He will lead you
