We must hear the voice of God
Victory AM 1/3/2004
John 10:1-5
At this time of the year you may be expecting the usual sermon about the vision of the church or the future and what lays a head. You may have been looking forward to revisiting purpose statements or even looking at mission statements even though all these things vision and where the church is heading what are purpose is and what our mission statement is are all good ideas in fact the bible warns us that a people with out a vision will perish die will no longer exist so these are vital to a growing and healthy church the one thing that all of these statements should be founded on and crafted after is the fact that the people of God have heard from God you see it is imperative that we all hear the voice of God in our lives weather it be a still small voice just like Elijah heard in the wilderness when it seemed trouble was all around and he felt that he had none to stand with him or it may be through the scriptures just as Daniel did when he read of the deliverance of the lord for the people of Israel and prayed and fasted before God to perform his word or whether it could be through the holy spirit moving on you as you have a word and an interpretation it could be through a dream or a vision how ever the lord chooses to speak to you the one thing that needs to happen is you need to be listening.
John 10: 1-5.
Do you have a daily time where you remove all the distractions and you listen to the Lord Jesus?
The ability to listen to the voice of God needs to be strengthened in our lives as we go in to 2004 as a church and as individuals there are with out a doubt going to be circumstances and situations that come up that will require that you have heard and understood the directive of the Lord all mighty in your situations The writer of Hebrews 3:7-8 Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion
Tells us that the lord wants to speak to us today but we need to hear his voice and not harden our hearts God wants to talk to you and I daily about every aspect of our lives to give us direction protection and correction concerning your business your family making a phone call and fulfilling someone need.
But what keeps us from listening from God what keeps us from hearing his voice hardness of heart that comes about by selfishness pride and thinking we know it all we get distracted by the stranger’s voice because we haven’t tuned ourselves in to the Shepard’s voice we can get in to confusion over what we should do as the world tells us to do this and that and people tell us to do this and that that all the while the still small voice comes along and we miss it.
when hardness of heart comes along we don’t obey it quickly as we should God is speaking are we listening if we have not done what he has told you to do the first time why should he tell you to do anything different remember Jonah had to repent and still do the job he had told him to do.
why does this matter well recently heard a sermon by pastor Billy Joe Daugherty in it he gave and interesting story about some young men who were going to board a value jet in Miami his bags where already on the plane he is about to hand his ticket to the girl at the gate to go down the jet way and the holy spirit said don’t get on that plane they stepped back they had to delay to retrieve there bags while they were there two other people came and took there places these guys went over got on a different plane they were delayed getting where they were going but nine minutes after take off that value jet went like a dart in to the everglades.
Didn’t God love all those other people friends you have got to be listening to Gods voice God loves every body he is broadcasting to every one hearing must be strengthened I have felt this whole week that God had a word for us to day that this needs to be a year of prayer and the word and focusing on him and tuning our antennas in to his signal in the middle of your busy activities and schedules can Jesus get your attention so you will stop and listen to what he has to say or do you put him of to a later time?
Luke 10:38-42
You know Jesus often went to this home Martha was probably a great hosts she probably was the sort that made you feel welcome in her home and served well but she had a problem at the time when Jesus wanted to talk with her she could not stop her busy activity we have to remember that there is a time for both there ids a time for work and getting busy and there is a time to be still and know that he is God to sit and listen to the lord Jesus with out radio TV no distractions but a time to listen. Martha didn’t let Jesus interrupt her schedule she wanted to get all these things done then I will do this but Jesus schedule was I want to talk now see she let something Good replace something that was best and Jesus scolded her for it V41-42
There comes a choice that we all have to make because not only will there be things that need to be done but there will be people pulling on you just as sister Martha was pulling on Mary to come into the kitchen and help me giving her a hard time and there are going to be some that may insult you and say stuff to intimidate you when it your time that you need to hear from Jesus.
Look understand me here this morning we do not lose anything and especially time when we hear from Jesus we gain time you do not lose being productive you become more productive as he fills you with his wisdom and supernatural guidance.
Now some of you hear may not even understand what I am talking about you talk to some people about hearing from God and they laugh a you say things like you r one of those are you that hear from God yes I do you don’t it should be unusual that a saved blood bought holy ghost filled believer doesn’t hear from God shouldn’t it the word said today that means every day we should hear him speak to us some way shape or form after all the sheep should know there Shepard’s voice so he can lead them in to green pastures and beside the still waters.
Mary chose the best part to sit at Jesus feet and listen and he commended her for doing that. Now understand me you are the temple of the holy spirit he dwells in you and so the location doesn’t matter you could be under the hood of a car or driving it in an office or at you home the location does not matter what matters is that you let every thing a round you in the natural hold still until you hear what God is saying when your praying meditating an his word being quiet with him are all times he will speak to you and it will not be taken from you just as some braved the weather to day to hear the word which you can store up in to your heart because it is eternal in every area of our lives God has a plan and a purpose but we have to ask and seek and knock and you will find the door will be opened and you will receive according to his will when you humble your heart and say lord I trust you lord what are you saying.
What does it take to hear? Trust
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
Sometimes the word of the lord is a word of direction but at other times it might be a word of correction.
(Sermon based on a sermon by Pastor Billy Joe Daugherty Victory Christian Center Tulsa.)
