Skip to main content

Hearing God’s Voice

Itarsi: October 17, 2004
Dr. Matthew K. Thomas
(Senior Pastor, Pentecostal Church, Itarsi)

Introduction

-          Gen.3: 8a – the voice of God.
-          In our age, we are bombarded with different voices all the time.
-          We need to choose what to hear and whom to hear.
-          Our God is not a distant deity; we need to recognize God’s voice.
-          God is speaking, but our minds are cluttered and clouded with trendy voices.

I. How God Speaks. - Through
A.    His Word
B.     Holy Spirit
C.     Church
D.    Circumstances
E.     People

II. Six Reasons Why God Speaks
A.    Because He loves us. Love always communicates.
B.     To have intimate relationship with us.
C.     To give us guidance and direction.
D.    To give us comfort.
E.     To give us assurance so that we’ll be strong.
F.      So that we can know Him.

III. How To Recognize God’s Voice
A.    Be in range. A radio needs to be placed in range of the waves, moving it from one corner of the room to another till it comes into range. The range is God’s presence.
B.     Tune to the right channel. Even if we fast and pray for God to get Vishwani beam on 85 MHz it won’t. We need to be in tune with God’s will.
C.     Make a minor adjustment. When the needle comes near the right channel and still there seems to be an overlapping of stations, a minor adjustment is needed. If we don’t make the minor adjustments to stay close to His love all the time, we will be hearing two stations.

If you spend time with your Father, you’ll recognize His voice.

IV. What Happens If We Fail To Listen To God’s Voice?
            Genesis 3
A.    We end up listening to wrong and unfamiliar voice (v1).
B.     We are easily deceived (v4).
C.     Pride and independence enters our lives and we become rebellious.
D.    We make decisions that please our flesh, desire, and appetite. Appetite, Beauty, and Knowledge and a life controlled by lust (v6).
E.     We excuse ourselves and blame others (v12).
F.      We’ll suffer. (Vv. 14-19).
G.    We miss the best.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Is Water Baptism Necessary Before Partaking in Lord's Supper

"Last Supper" by Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo (1750) Yes, it is. Water baptism identifies one with the redemption work of Jesus Christ, with His death, burial, and resurrection. It is anticipated of visible identification with Christ and His Church. Every person has the personal responsibility to examine him/herself before deciding to partake in the Lord's Table. The Bible makes it clear that those who chose not to be baptized were rejecting the counsel of God (Lk.7:30). In a mixed congregation, it is not possible to always know who is worthy to partake of the Table; however, the minister must encourage only those who have been baptized for remission of sins (not just as a ritual but by faith in Jesus Christ) to partake of the Table. Before Jesus sat down to dip bread in the cup, He washed His disciples' feet. He makes the statement that they are already "washed" and only need feet to be washed. Of course, this may not explicitly/only refer to their baptism, fo
Post a Comment
Read more

Matthew 6:31-33

"Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." (Mat 6:31-33) The original sense of nakedness was from that deep insecurity of autonomy that sprung from man's first alienation from God due to sin-- spiritual death. Seeking God marks man's refusal to stay alienated by turning towards His Maker in whom alone is Covering and true Security and no reason to be ashamed anymore.
Post a Comment
Read more

Is it not cruel for God to kill His Son in place of us?

The doctrine of atonement is a stumbling block for some who feel that it not only exemplifies cruelty but also does away with human responsibility. The issue abounds with various questions and attempts to solution. Questions: 1. If God knew that man would sin and fall, why did He create man? 2. Why doesn't God, if He exists, intervene and stop evil; why just be Judge but not be Governor with proper police security system that minimises the possibility of transgression? 3. How can the death of one particular man atone for the sins of many particular men? 4. Isn't it not cruel to punish an innocent man for the sins of others so that they go free? Answers that challenge the Christian doctrine: 1. God does not require sacrifice in order to forgive, He can forgive by sovereign authority. 2. Every man must bear his own guilt so that he has a sense of responsibility and possess a genuine reason to pursue good and turn from evil. Biblical Responses: 1. God's knowledge of human Fall
Post a Comment
Read more