Title: When God Speaks
Text: John 10:27
Intro: Everyone remembers that famous commercial from E.F. Hutton, “When E.F. Hutton speaks everyone listens. I am here today to tell you that we serve a God that is alive, He is not dead and he is still speaking to this world, and when God speaks everyone had better listen.
ILL. I had a shop teacher in the 7th grade that if he caught you not paying attention he would take a plastic apple off his desk and through it at you. It would frighten the person but it would get their attention and most likely keep them from day dreaming in his class again.
The things that God says are important and it would be beneficial to us to pay attention and when He speaks listen.
I. The Voice Of The Father
A. With a Voice of Authority
1. When Mom speaks she speaks with authority
- When Mom calls you, you hear her voice and respond to it
- When mom calls you, and uses all of your name there is authority that goes forth and says you had better respond if you want to survive what it is I am calling you for
- But there is still that feeling of; “It’s only Mom”
- I am not saying there is no penalty for not responding to mom; but how many remember those spankings from mom that you would get around 8 years of age, and you would cry to make mom feel as though she had gotten through to you even though it no longer hurt.
- After about the age of 6 or 7 moms spankings just did not hurt but she had other things in her arsenal like
· Crying
· Grounding
- Praying, out loud
" Oh God I know that your word say’s to honor your parents, that your days may be long upon this earth, please don’t cut my son’s days short"
- The worst of all is "just wait until I tell your father"
2. Because when Dad speaks it is with an unmistakable since of authority.
ILL. I remember a time when I was 16 and had a wreck. Dad came to pick me up and take me home. He never said a word to me beyond, “Get in the car.” When we got home I told mom and she said that he was probably afraid that he would kill you if he said anything.”
- When dad speaks it is with an authority that says I have no doubt I had better respond AND it had better be the correct response.
- When we do not respond the way dad thinks we should there is always an unwanted result
ILL. Me sliding on the altar, I was 5. Dad said “Greg, get off!” There was no doubt in my mind that I was to get off the altar, but I had to finish my slide. At the end of the altar I learned a lesson of immediate obedience, as dad escorted me to the back room of the church.
3. When God speaks it is with an authority from the throne of heaven that carries more power than Mom or Dad.
- It is with the same authority of the voice that spoke and worlds were formed
- It is with the same authority that spoke from a burning bush that said; “Take off you shoes for you are on holy ground.”
- It is with the same authority that spoke and a dead man came out of a tomb
- It is with that same authority that he speaks into our live today.
B. With A Voice Of Love
1. Mom & Dad may have spoken with a voice of authority but it came forth dripped in love
2. God speaks into our lives word of:
· Compassion
· Direction
· Correction
· Understanding
- Because He Loves us
John 3:16 For God So Loved The World…
II. When God Speaks There is Always Reaction
A. There are those that act with Rejection.
Jonah 1:1 Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,
Jonah 1:2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.
Jonah 1:3 But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD,
- Many would refuse to hear what God has to say
ILL. They are asking God to speak to them but run around like the child with his finger in his ears saying, “I can’t hear you.” It is as if I refuse to hear then what God has to say will not effect me.
1. Many don’t want to be bothered with what God has to say. Their life is comfortable, and hearing from God could cause them to move from:
· Apathy about things of God to caring about the things of God
· Apathy about pray life to caring about pray life
· Apathy about souls to caring about souls
2. Many don’t want to hear from God because they know that they are in store for a voice of rebuke because of a sinful lifestyle.
· The wood shed is not a place of excitement and praise.
· But it is a place of discipline and correction.
B. There are those that act with Reception
John 6:67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
John 6:68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
- The words of God may be hard from time to time, but in His words we can find Life Eternal
- Many that were there that day had heard Jesus speak and had seen Him perform miricales but when what he had to say became costly to them and difficult for them to receive:
· The crowds left Him
· But the twelve remained
- They were there because they understood that it was going to be hard and they were ready to accept what ever Jesus had to say
III. What Does God Have To Say
A. Many want an audible voice from God to knock them on the ground, pick them up, & tell them each step to take
B. Why would God speak audibly to someone that is not willing to search the scripture daily to grow in the word that He has already given you.
C. God does speak today:
- TO THE LONELY HE SPEAKS
Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Psalms 139:7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
Psalms 139:8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
- TO THE HURTING HE SPEAKS
Matthew 10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
Matthew 10:30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Matthew 10:31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
- TO THE WEARY
Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Matthew 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
- TO THE SINGLE PERSON
2 Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
- TO THE MARRIED PERSON
WIVES:
Ephesians 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
HUSBANDS:
Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Submitting: To relinquish all areas of your life through complete and total trust
· Many wives would be ready to submit if they felt as though they had a reason to trust their husbands
· To many husbands never show their Love and Devotion beyond an occasional dinner out.
· To love your wives means to build on your relationship
· To honor them more than your own self
- TO THE BITTER/ANGRY
Hebrews 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
Hebrews 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
- TO THE GOAL /PURPOSE DRIVEN PERSON
Matthew 6:31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
Matthew 6:32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
- TO THE SPIRITUALLY DRY
John 4:10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
IV. How Can I Hear From God
A. Make certain that your life is free from sin
- Sin blocks the spirit and power of God from your life
- The only message that is heard is “Repent”
B. Be spiritually alert
- This is what Eli was explaining to Samuel
- There are times that God speaks and we never realize it is God
C. Look for Him to speak through His written word
- His word is alive
- Alive means at work making a difference.
D. Be ready to accept what He has to say to you
Conclusion: What is it that needs to take place in your life; God is speaking today to your heart. “Be still and know that I am God”
