War Of The Worlds - Part 1 Series

The War of the Worlds

January 18, 2004 AM

Romans 7:14-25

[s1]

One of the buzz words we hear a lot of today in religious circles is "God told me"

I sort of cringe when I hear those words --

Not because I don’t believe God speaks to people today --

but because I am wary of both the perception of people and people’s perception.

Outside of church circles, people who hear God talking to them are considered nut cases,

And in the church we have become skeptical because God has been blamed for some pretty crazy stuff.

What I want to do this morning is for us to look at whether or not God speaks to people today,

[s2]

If so, what does He say, and How can we know it’s really him?

I think you’ll find that I seldom use the phrase "God told me" --

Do I believe God speaks to me? yes, most definetly.

But --- The lesson I’m going to teach this morning was a life lesson to me.

The things I will share today are the frame work, the infrastructure on which my spirit life is based.

Can I convey to you the seriousness of saying "God told me" by emphazing that when you use that phrase to say or do something which is not of God --

[s3]

You are taking God’s name in vain.

And I will assure you -- saying "God said" when "God didn’t say" is much worse than any cuss words you could ever verbalize.

[s4]

So the first question We need to settle is "does God still speak to people today"

[s5]

1 Cor. 2:9-10 (NKJV) But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him."

[s6]

[10] But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.

So here Paul does teach that the Spirit of God does reveal things to us --

Acts chapter 9 -- we see Barnabus sharing Pauls testimony as he introduces him to the other apostles --

[s7]

And he says -- Acts 9:27 (NKJV) Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road,

[s8]

and that He ( thats Jesus) had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

As we read through the new testament we do find where people say "Says the Lord", or "God says" or the "word of the Lord is"

[s9]

However -- what you will find most often is that these times are quotes --

And people will quote what God has written in the old testament.

Does God still speak to people today?

[s10]

Yes -- a strong and powerful yes.

The Bible shows us that every generation has had people who hear from God.

From the prophetic to the routine --

We do not see a point in Bible history where God simply stopped communicating with His people.

In fact -- with the out pouring of the Holy Spirit at pentecost we see that at least the ability to hear from God actually increased.

[s11]

The second question then becomes -- "what does He say, "

That question depends on what is needed to be said.

For instance --

When you first train a child, you repeat the basic training over and over --

[s12]

Like -- every morning you say "brush your teeth"

And the kid goes and at least pretends to brush his teeth.

But after a routine is established -- you don’t say that every day.

You may on occasion remind the kid -- "did you brush your teeth?"

But the basic training has established the obedience routine.

Now when you first commmitt your life to Christ -- you may sense a prompting inside --

And that’s what God speaking is -- seldom does he boom out "Ric this is God"

But there is a promting that I have learned is the holy spirit -

[s13]

And that prompting may say "read your Bible"

And so, you read a few chapters.

Well after a few days or weeks, that prompting may stop --

does that mean God doesn’ want you to read the Bible anymore?

No -- He expects you have been trained to brush your spiritual teeth.

So he doesn’t remind you every day the rest of your life.

So what God says -- depends on where you are in your walk with Him.

But if we can learn to recognize that small prompting -- we will save ourselves a lot trouble,

We’ll know God’s will in certain situations,