Tune In
Pt. 5 - Fine Tuning
I. Introduction
?We have talked about tuning in to hear God this year. We have dealt with the feeling of facing dead air or silence, the static or interference we sometimes experience, the fact that God broadcasts, and the need for an amplifier to push the signal.
There are a lot of technical aspects of radio that I don't understand. I just know when I can't hear what I want to hear. Another experience I don't really care for is when you are trying to listen to something and other stations bleed through and instead of hearing one show or song you are hearing multiple voices. Did you know there is a technical term for that? I didn't. It is called signal intrusion or co-channel interference and it is the result of an overly crowded radio spectrum. In other words . . . there are too many voices trying to get through.
Because I know that spiritually speaking one of the issues we certainly face is co-channel interference or signal intrusion I want to spend this last message in this series doing a little fine tuning just to make sure you hear clearly this year.
TEXT: Genesis 2:16-17
(Message) God commanded the Man, “You can eat from any tree in the garden, except from the Tree-of-Knowledge-of-Good-and-Evil. Don’t eat from it. The moment you eat from that tree, you’re dead.”
Genesis 3:1-6
The serpent was clever, more clever than any wild animal God had made. He spoke to the Woman: “Do I understand that God told you not to eat from any tree in the garden?” The Woman said to the serpent, “Not at all. We can eat from the trees in the garden. It’s only about the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, ‘Don’t eat from it; don’t even touch it or you’ll die.’” The serpent told the Woman, “You won’t die. God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you’ll see what’s really going on. You’ll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil.” When the Woman saw that the tree looked like good eating and realized what she would get out of it—she’d know everything!—she took and ate the fruit and then gave some to her husband, and he ate.
I have just read to you the first and perfect example of signal intrusion. Co-channel interference. The enemy of our soul, as I have mentioned, is the prince of the power of the air and works to interrupt the signal. One of his preferred methods of bringing confusion, which then brings destruction, is signal intrusion. He bleeds over into what God has said. He speaks partial truth and mixes it with deception. He casts doubt on God and convinces Eve that what God had said was untrue or incomplete. Sound familiar?
So, one of the most important tools in being able to tune in this year is . . .
1. Know what God is saying by knowing what He won't say.
I think one of the greatest tools in being able to hear God clearly is by knowing what He won't say. The enemy tries to confuse us and convince us that God will say things that God won't say and unless we know what He won't say we can be deceived. I don't have time to go over everything that God won't say but I have a short list that I believe will help most of us this year. In other words, what I am saying is if you "hear God" say any of these this year then you are experiencing signal intrusion because He will not say these things. Sometimes the battle is won by recognizing what He isn't saying. If Eve would have stopped and realized that God wouldn't say what the enemy said He was saying, then she would have not been destroyed!
2. God will never say anything that contradicts His written Word.
You would think that for Christians this would be a no brainer but you would be shocked how many people claim God is blessing, condoning, blinking at, overlooking, OK with things that He clearly states in Scripture are unacceptable. I mean you name it . . . lying, cheating, lust, adultery, promiscuity, gluttony, bad attitudes, self promotion and the list goes on and on. Somehow we allow the enemy to intrude into the signal and even though in black and white and sometimes red we see a direct statement regarding what we want to do or are doing and we will still claim God is OK with going against what He said. It is like we think we are the exception! Listen you don't even have to pray about a lot of stuff. Because the truth is your prayers are nothing more than you trying to talk God into your way of thinking and His mind is and will always be made up! He will not say something to you that violates, contradicts, makes exceptions for His written Word . . . period!
That is the basis for the rest of the list. I just want to hit several real quick. These are the ones I have heard the most over the last few years.
3. You won't hear God tell you to distance yourself from the Body.
We are told to assemble! In fact, we are told not to forsake assembly. We are stronger together. If you hear God telling you to drop out of church, walk away from other believers then I am telling without a doubt that isn't God. I will hang out with the body outside of a structured church. Fine . . . the problem is if you can't be even faithful to something that is structured, then how in the world are you going to stay faithful to something that you have to intentionally set up? I will say something that I have said and seen to be true over the last few years . . . the first step away from God is the first step away from the Body. You know there is signal intrusion when the enemy tries to get you to treat something as optional that Jesus made clear was essential to survival! Separation is not the same as isolation.
4. You won't hear God say it is OK to hold a grudge.
In fact, Peter says lay aside all malice. Timothy says to Lift up holy hands without wrath. Paul says on our part we are supposed to live at peace with everyone! And of course, according to Matthew 5 & 18, if you are holding a grudge you won't hear God say anything because that grudge becomes a barrier that blocks your ability to hear God. But you don't know what they did! This isn't about them . . . it is about you. You won't hear God say hold a grudge not because what they did was right but because He cares too much about you to see you bound by offense. You also won't hear God say it is OK to hold a grudge because you won't hear God say you can stop loving. Love covers a multitude of sins. I can tell you with this too you won't hear God say be stupid either. Love keeps us from holding grudges but it doesn't keep us from being wise. Love doesn't mean access!
5. You won't hear God say to live life the way you want or the way it feels good to you.
Our world is trying to convince us this is the way. Live like you want. Be whatever gender you want. Love whoever you want. God won't say that. What He says is beat your body into subjection. He says there are rules, standards, and baselines that everyone must live by and there are consequences if we don't. That is why we are told . . . Here is the way walk in it. Because He knows there is a way that seems right to man and that it leads to destruction!
6. You won't hear God say grow comfortable or satisfied spiritually.
The enemy will try to convince you that you have read, attended, fasted, prayed, worshipped, and served enough. However, God will call you to desperation. He will challenge you to grow. Deep calls to deep. Growth is a mandate that we all have until we are called home.
7. You won't hear God say that He has given up on you or that He is through with you!
That is a lie from the enemy. Too many walking around like damaged goods. I have been married too many times. I have messed up too many times. I have looked too many times. I have fallen too many times. I have broken vows, promises, and covenants too many times. I have resisted too many times. God's mercy endures forever. If you ever think you hear God say He doesn't have a place, a plan, role, a promise, a future then you are experiencing signal intrusion and you need to fine tune!
We need to remind the enemy that even though the righteous fall 7 times they rise again.
We need to remind the enemy that God's plan is to prosper me and not to harm me.
Remind him that God, according to Isaiah 41, uphold us, help us, and strengthen us.
Remind him that according to Isaiah 43, we can pass through waters but won't be swept away and pass through fires but we won't be burned.
Remind him that we will never be forsaken and we will never be alone.
Remind him that according to Psalm 34 when the righteous cry out God hears us and delivers us out of all our trouble!
We fine tune by knowing what He has said and refusing to believe anything else. We can't let the enemy cause us to doubt or to try to rewrite Scripture to fit our preferences! The enemy knows if he can convince us to do that the end result is pain, bondage, and destruction.
So, this year I want you to hear God but I also want you to wrestle through what He won't say to you!
