Listening With Your Heart 1

Listening With Your Heart 1

Jer. 17:9; Ps 119:18 and Rom. 10:17

SUBJECT: Evangelism and Personal Work

THEME: It is vital we maintain a correct attitude toward God and His work. We must keep our hearts respectful, clean, compliant, and obedient towards the duties, tasks, and responsibilities of evangelism.

INTRODUCTION:

Even though the Word of God is incredibly clear on the Great Commission and personal evangelism, there is still a great deal of reluctance among believers to invest, involve themselves, and share their faith. They also are hesitant concerning any aggressive Christian activity. This perspective did not come from God…. 

Jeremiah 17:9, says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” You see our human nature is so fallible, broken, and deceptive…it cannot be trusted to respond to God or His priorities appropriately! We need to maintain or obtain the correct ‘heart’ posture to become responsive to the Lord.

Passages like these help us understand we need to experience a special form of ‘heart’ surgery rendering us more obedient to God.

Ps 119:18, Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.

Rom 10:17, So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

God frequently refers to “heart surgery” as influential imagery pointing to spiritual rejuvenation, where He cleans our sin and replaces our stubborn, unenthusiastic, and sinful ‘hearts’ with spiritually compliant ‘hearts.’ As a result, we become far more spiritually minded than carnal minded.

MESSAGE:

As God’s Servant, Use His Word to Examine Your Heart

We are susceptible to contracting various unhealthy heart conditions, but God’s word can be trusted to help us sort out our real condition.

A.  THE WEIGHTED DOWN HEART (Worried)

Luke 21:34, And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

Our Lord Jesus warns us to remain spiritually alert. He cautions against letting worldly distractions, overindulgence, or everyday anxieties dull our spiritual senses. He wants to ensure we are not caught off guard by the sudden, unexpected arrival of “that day” (the return of Christ).

1.     “Overcharged with surfeiting” portrays the ‘heart’ as being weighed down or dulled by overindulgence, specifically gluttony or excessive eating.

2.    “Cares of this life” refer to the distracting, consuming anxieties and worries about day-to-day survival and earthly pursuits.

If we are not careful, we will end up ‘overcharged’ and weighed down with the many concerns of life.

·       Too disturbed with making ends meet financially

·       Too anxious about our professional pursuits and the work-related environment

·       Too worried about family or home related crisis or matters

·       Too concerned with friends, relatives and other matters of that nature

·       Too troubled with our health, eating habits/diet, and health insurance

3.    Remember, worry is an ineffective strategy for the future! God tells us not to worry as a matter of policy, emphasizing that life is more than material needs and reminding us of our immense value to Him. Instead of stressing, He invites us to pray and cast our burdens on Him, promising to replace our anxieties with a supernatural peace that guards our hearts and minds.

4.    Take these Bible thoughts very seriously because they afford wisdom and comfort to alleviate the weighted down heart condition:

·        Remember Your Value to God. In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus reminds us to look at the birds and flowers; if God cares for nature, He will certainly provide for us. He assures us, we do not need to worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself.

·        Change your Anxieties into Prayers. Philippians 4:6-7 commands to refuse to be anxious about anything, instructing us to present our prayer requests to God with a heart of thanksgiving so He can grant us His brand of peace.

·        Release Your Burdens to the Lord. 1 Peter 5:6-7 encourages us to throw all our anxiety on the Lord because He deeply cares for us.

·        Take Comfort in and Trust God as a Habit. Psalm 23 reminds us that even when walking through the darkest valleys, we do not need to fear because God is with us, providing rest, restoring, assurance, and comfort to our souls.

Worries and more ‘bothers!’ God say, “No”! Avoid this condition making some godly priorities instead and sticking with them. Put God first, your family next, and then work it out from there with the rest of your priorities.  Place a precedence on the most important things first.

 

Cultivating Listening Abilities

 

Cultivating Listening Abilities

 

Romans 12:15, Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

The Lord gave us precisely what we needed to build his churches and kingdom in ways that deeply pleases him. To embrace this idea of listening from God’s perspective, we must consider what this passage entails.

·  Rejoicing with those who “rejoice” allows us to share in their joys…to celebrate with them…reveling in their blessings while keeping them at the center of focus. Break out the confetti!

·  Weeping with those who “weep”, enables us to show empathy and compassion for another’s very real challenges and circumstances. We may find it difficult to relate at times, but we all are well acquainted with pain and grief…that sense of helplessness, regret, lose…. Have another tissue, please.

·  Fostering a sense of belonging and community by being present in both favorable and miserable instants are a worthwhile aim we can afford others as a function of identification, recognition, and association. The Lord can use such instances to knit our hearts with another group or individuals through these deeply meaningful experiences.

·  Overcoming self-centered thoughts, motives, and behaviors choosing empathy, harmony, compassion, and understanding instead is now more likely. All envying, greed, coveting, selfishness, and jealousy are smothered from the outset.

It is always valuable to us as disciples to know what our Lord would do and to investigate the Word with these thoughts in mind. The Lord Jesus certainly exemplified good listening and empathy in several ways that help and inform this kind of activity.

·  Our Lord’s Compassion on Many People (Matthew 9:36): Jesus is moved with real compassion therefore he helped the crowd because they were stressed and deserted, much like sheep without a shepherd would be. Our Lord shows the kind of compassion that involves itself in another’s very real needs.

·  His Weeping with Mary Even though He would perform Lazarus’ Resurrection (John 11:35): Jesus weeps with Mary and Martha over the death of Lazarus, showing that empathy involves entering another's sorrow and pain with them. Our Lord was fully cognizant of the miracle He would perform, yet He demonstrated that empathy is always relevant regardless of the situation.

·  Jesus’ Controversial Story of the ‘Good’ Samaritan (Luke 10:33–34): A Samaritan sees a beaten man, feels deep compassion, and acts to take care of him, embodying active compassion and empathy disregarding gross mischaracterizations, unfounded prejudices, embedded misconceptions and deeply seated cultural biases.

The Lord Jesus helps us in tremendous ways with his example and teachings. We all could use an upgrade in the areas of listening, empathy and compassion! Yes, to be selfless like this will require the power of the Holy Ghost in our lives!

So, then the ability to listen well is a skill each of us can learn and perfect at home, church, and at work. Certainly, we need the power of God to live like this…to value people in this way. The best place to start is to personally acknowledge this as an area of growth. Who doesn't want to be a better listener, a well-rounded team player, give meaningful feedback, deliver accurate non-verbal communication, be profoundly understood, and thoroughly motivate others to trust us? This is the potential impact of listening well!

Like yourselves, I know compassion is the key to paying attention to others in a healthy manner. If someone is conveying joy, then I want to be able to rejoice and celebrate with them. Perhaps my counterpart is conveying fear then I want reservations and timidity to register through my body language. Eventually, I’ll share with them how faith helps us overcome fears. Whatever energy they are expressing I want to reflect that same vigor, strength, fire, intensity, and animation from a place of deep understanding and helpful facilitation. This is God’s command to us and our obedience helps us build community and partnerships in meaningful ways. I know we all have jobs to do, and I subscribe to the notion that we are individuals, but that does not stop us from being very human also. It is a component of Christlikeness to develop this ability. To actively engage with the emotions of others. To be there to assist others with their struggles. To spring into action with compassion rather than mere judgment fostering community through understanding. Beloved, we must cultivate the ability to listen well. 

Many passages echo this same or similar ideas like the following verses: Ephesians 3:19; Ephesians 4:32; 1 Peter 3:8; Galatians 6:2; Colossians 3:12; Hebrews 4:15.

These verses convey various practices of active listening to grasp others' feelings more completely. Such practices place us in a position to offer support and encouragement during difficult times. We become usable servants of the Lord in such cases. Certainly, mastering these abilities helps us cultivate a spirit of unity and love within our relationships at home, church, and work.

Prayer is Relational

 

“Talking with God”

DAN. 9:1-23

  THEME: Regularly Engage in Two-Way Communication With the Lord in order to Build an Ever Deepening Fellowship With Him.

RELEVANCE:

The Christian life is NOT a set of religious rituals, nor merely a list of beliefs.  God is a Divine Person and we must never forget he offers us a personal relationship to enjoy and maintain.  Intimate associations grow, prosper, and are strengthened through wholesome self-disclosing communication—prayer.  Victory or defeat is decided in your Christian life on the battleground of your daily walk with the Lord. 

INTRODUCTION:

True Communication with God Is Not Talking to God, but Talking with God. We do not communicate if we voice a petition to God, but do not wait for His answer. We do not communicate if we express our desires to God, but do not hear what His desires are for us. We do not communicate if we vent our anger, frustration, doubts, fears, or joys to God, but do not listen intently for His response.  Prayer is speaking to and listening to God. It is an active process involving two communicators: God and you.

Daniel’s prayers illustrate and model two-way communication with God.   

MESSAGE:  

I.               PRAYER IS TO BE RELATIONAL (The Key to Relationship) (Dan. 9:7, 14, 16-19)

Having prayed for the removal of God’s wrath (vv. 15-16), Daniel now prayed for God’s favor, mercy, and forgiveness (vv. 17-19).  Because God is merciful and forgiving, he prayed, “O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive.” Concerned for God’s reputation, Daniel wanted the Lord to act quickly (defer not) on behalf of the city and people that bore His name. All this would bring glory to God for it was for His sake (v. 17).

Like Moses (Ex 32:10-14; Ezk 14:14, 20), Daniel as intercessor carried on arguments with the Almighty, on several grounds: (1) God’s people were a reproach among the heathen (Dan 9:16). (2) God was known to be merciful (v. 18). (3) God’s reputation was at stake (v. 19).  Daniel’s concern for God’s name reflects the care of relationship and unselfish love toward another.

1. INTENTIONAL COMMUNICATION WITH GOD ULTIMATELY STRENGTHENS AND DEEPENS OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM. 

1.     By relationship I am simply referring to our fellowship and harmony with the Almighty.  I am emphasizing the daily Christian walk.  One purpose of prayer is that we might know God better, experience more of His love, and have an abiding awareness of His work in our lives. Talking to God doesn’t build relationship. Communicating with God does.

2.     Prayer can restore relationship with God. And Samson called unto the Lord, and said, O Lord God, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes. (Judg 16:28).  In spite of Samson’s past, God still answered his prayer and destroyed the pagan temple and worshipers. God still loved him. He was willing to hear Samson’s prayer of confession and repentance and use him this final time. One of the effects of sin in our life is to keep us from feeling like praying. But perfect moral behavior is not a condition for prayer. Don’t let guilty feelings over sin keep you from your only means of restoration. No matter how long you have been away from God, he is ready to hear from you and restore you to a right relationship. Every situation can be salvaged if you are willing to turn again to him. If God could still work in Samson’s situation, he can certainly make something worthwhile out of yours. 

2. A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IS VERY PERSONAL.

1.     In fact, it is the most intimate relationship you can ever know. Nobody knows you as God knows you. Nobody loves you as God loves you. Nobody desires good for your life more than God does.

2.     In prayer—in genuine communication with God—you will soon discover not only more about God, but more about yourself as God’s beloved child. There is no more exciting or enriching experience!

3.     Biblical prayer is personal. The phrase “Our Father which art in heaven” (Matt 6:9-13) indicates that God is not only majestic and holy, but also personal and loving. The first line of this model prayer is a statement of praise and a commitment to honor God’s holy name. We can honor God’s name by being careful to use it respectfully. If we use God’s name lightly, we aren’t remembering God’s holiness.

3. YOUR INDIVIDUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IS UNIQUE.

1.     This is true for every relationship you have with another person, and it is no less true in your relationship with God.

2.     Your prayers must be your prayers. Your communication with God is your communication. While written or formalized prayers have their place in certain group settings, your times of communication with God should be marked by your own original speech.

3.     Prayer is talking with God as you would talk to your dearest friend, your most eager supporter, your most loving mentor.

CONCLUSION:

In our study, we will give you some general principles that are basic to any believer’s prayer life. The specifics of your prayer relationship with God are as distinctive as any other aspect of your life and your ability to communicate.

As we approach this study in prayer, I encourage you to open yourself to the grand possibility that God has something to say to you that you will delight in hearing. He is eager to spend time with you and to develop a deep, intimate relationship with you that is marked by great joy and well-being.

Ultimately, prayer is to be experienced, not studied. In study we simply learn how to better communicate with God—and to that end, how to have a better relationship with our Creator. It is an experience to be pursued and a relationship to be valued beyond all others.

ILLUSTRATION: “A dear friend of mine who was quite a lover of the chase, told me the following story: ‘Rising early one morning,’ he said, ‘I heard the baying of a score of deerhounds in pursuit of their quarry. Looking away to a broad, open field in front of me, I saw a young fawn making its way across, and giving signs, moreover, that its race was well-nigh run. Reaching the rails of the enclosure, it leaped over and crouched within ten feet from where I stood. A moment later two of the hounds came over, when the fawn ran in my direction and pushed its head between my legs. I lifted the little thing to my breast, and, swinging round and round, fought off the dogs. I felt, just then, that all the dogs in the West could not, and should not capture that fawn after its weakness had appealed to my strength.’ So is it, when human helplessness appeals to Almighty God. Well do I remember when the hounds of sin were after my soul, until, at last, I ran into the arms of Almighty God.” — A. C. DIXON.  

The Inspiration of Storm-Walkers

MATT. 14:27-29

Subject: Trials/Testing

Theme: Dynamic and triumphant living recognizes the presence and power of Christ, even in the storms.

Matt. 14:27-29,
 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. 28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 

Introduction:  

Fears: intimidation fears, fear of pain or of being hurt, fear of the unknown, and general timidity can lead to serious frustration and a mediocre lifestyle of simply playing it safe. Life has become a quest to find the "comfort zone" or stay with the familiar even though they are bored to tears with life. The incredible thing is so many expect extraordinary things for their lives or their loved ones.... Yet, they refuse to really take on legitimate challenges or opportunities.

Fear is a thief and it has effectively stolen many believers desire to live the impossible life. Sometimes a series of hard experiences can leave us broken and afraid.... Believers are even afraid of the plan of God for them because it may require sacrifices or challenges, or difficulties. Hardness has resigned them to the dull ‘boat life’—just surviving. Though they are storm-tossed, thrashed, and often overwhelmed, they have come to believe the "safe life" is normal. They have lost their sense of adventure and their dreams of winning over life’s challenges have faded into oblivion. They do not realize that acknowledging Christ’s Presence in the Storm is the difference between discouragement and dynamic living. In fact, the presence and power of the Lord Jesus is the source of our inspiration. What do you fear? Is it yourself...failure…success…sacrifice…the unknown…making mistakes…what people may say or think?

Actually dynamic faith is what we all need. That is, we need confidence in God's love, wisdom, grace, and power to become people who dream of executing His will for us in a big way. This is Faith that overcomes fears, obeys Christ’s commands, attempts the impossible, and experiences Christ great enabling power to triumph is God’s desire for every believer. If you are saved then this includes you. In the incident of Peter, the disciple, it is the presence of Jesus that moved him from fear to faith.  Are you relying on the Presence of Jesus in your storms?  How can we be transformed by recognizing the presence of Christ during life’s challenges? How can we become “Storm-Walking Christians?”

Relevance: Recognizing the Lord’s Presence in the Storm will inspire faith, generate security, embolden the timid to attempt the impossible, and avail Christ’s power to triumph over the storms of life.

Thesis: To become “Storm-Walking Christians” we must Hear Christ’s Command, Attempt the Impossible, and Experience His Power.

Message:

                 Attempt the Impossible in the Storm (Matt. 14:29)

Now our center of interest shifts to Peter. Before we criticize Peter for sinking, let’s honor him for his magnificent demonstration of faith. He walked not only on water, but He walked on a raging storm at sea! Though he was a normal human being, he actually believed he could do the impossible. It was in fact his idea to walk on the storm to go to the Lord Jesus. Peter was inspired by the realization that Jesus was actually with them in the storm. On many occasions he had witnessed the power of the Lord Jesus in his own life and the lives of many others. Peter knew in his soul that Jesus could enable him to walk on the storm. He dared to be different and refused to be mediocre. Beloved, anybody can sit in the boat and watch. But it takes a person of real faith to leave the boat and walk on water...to walk on an incredible storm at sea. God really does expect us to live for Him even through the Storms! But, how can we attempt the impossible? What will motivate us to become storm-walking believers? 

Consider the following observations...

1. Respond to Christ’s Command During the Storm!

Matthew 14:29, And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

1.      Leave the Boat of the Status Quo.  You will never walk on the waters of your trials unless you get out the boats of status quo, and complacency.  This requires obedience, responsiveness, willingness to risk, and faith!  Only Christians who respond to Christ’s commands walk on the waters of their storms! This is clearly our part during the stormy times, we must do the following:

1. Turn to God, putting your eyes squarely on Him and not on the storm, nor yourself.
2. Ask God, “What do You want me to do?” Ask, “Am I to use my faith against this storm? Am I to grow in trust by riding out this storm?”
3. Do what God tells you to do. The acid test of faith is always obedience. It is not enough to hear God’s command in the storm. We must obey His command.

2.      Trust God to guide as you look to him in the midst of the storm. Psalm 32:8, I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Purpose to act upon his directives in your life. 

2. Don’t Listen to People, Listen to God in the Storm!

            Often we receive conflicting messages in the storm adding more confusion and horror to our experience. Unfortunately many of these conflicting ‘words of wisdom’ come from God’s “Boat People.”  These have learned to ‘survive’ and ‘play it safe’ in the storms, but they know nothing about “water walking faith.” Consider briefly three things about these folk.

1.      The Condition of Boat People.

a.       First of all they are still is the storm tossed boat! Because their fears are greater, their faith is weaker. Because they fix their attention on the storms, they seem unable to remain focused on the Lord. They ignore Christ presence or devalue it.

b.      His commands seem ‘unreasonable’ and ‘too extreme’ to them. Their experience is a mundane and mediocre storm tossed life—they know nothing of spiritual empowerment and inspiration. Their Christian experience is totally boring.

2.      The “Commonsense” of the Boat People.

a.       They have their ‘logical reasons’ for remaining in the boat:

                                                                                       i.      Some are in the boat of bitterness from past hurts and storms of unfair mistreatment; they feel they have a right to be in the boat of bitterness.

                                                                                     ii.      Some are in the boat of disappointment; they have been frustrated so many times they refuse to hope again for fear of another letdown. Instead of trusting, they are suspicious of anyone who attempts to inspire hope.

                                                                                    iii.      Some are in the boat of quitters; they are weary from the storms and have been worn out by the never-ending challenges. The stress and anxiety of trying to walk on water has finally overwhelmed them and they have decided to retire in the boat.

                                                                                   iv.      Some are in the boat of mediocrity; they have been there most of their Christian lives. While they are glad heaven is their future, they hesitate at any ministry opportunities or responsibilities. They don’t like the word ‘commitment!’ They seem content with weak faith like everybody else and are unwilling to change.

b.      The common factor with all of them is a failure to recognize the presence of Christ and the power of his Word in their lives.  They are skilled in offering their common sense rationale as an excuse, but they will never know the joy of walking with Christ and leading the impossible life with Him.

3.      The Counsel of the Boat People

a.       Since they are held captive by their circumstances in spiritual defeat and monotony they resent those who perceive a different outcome for themselves. They will discourage others from getting out of the boat.

                                                                                       i.      They may say, “Oh, I know you are excited about spiritual things, but it will wear off soon.”   With a rather condescending tone.

                                                                                     ii.      They will ask, “What’s wrong with being a boat people? I mean look at me, I’ve been a boat member for 99 years.”  And they are proud of this????

                                                                                    iii.      They will tell you, “Sit down, you are rocking the boat!” or perhaps they’ll say, “I love God too, but don’t go overboard.”

                                                                                   iv.      They will say, “You can’t walk on the water yet because you have not taken “Water Walking 101.”

                                                                                     v.      They might reason, “Have you ever walked on the water before?” “Well, have you ever seen anyone else walk on the water before?” “Then what makes you think you’re so special that you can walk on water?”

b.      The mistake of many believers is that they listen to the boat people instead of listening to the Lord who said “come.”  Don’t listen to boat people, listen to God!

3. Discern His Voice in the Storm

1.      How Do We Recognize the Voice of the Lord Over all the Storm Related Noise?

a.       It will always be consistent with the Bible’s teachings.

b.      His Commands will contradict worldly wisdom and conventional rationale.

c.      Christ's voice will not accommodate the carnal fleshly desires.

d.      He Will Challenge You to Grow in Faith

                                                                                       i.      Jesus said to Peter after Peter walked on the water and then started to sink, “O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” (Matt. 14:31). Jesus clearly expected His followers to have faith, to use it, and to grow in their faith.

                                                                                     ii.      We grow in faith when we hear from God, obey what He says to do, and then recognize and acknowledge God's faithfulness to His word in our lives. If we are not hearing from God, it is virtually impossible for us to grow in faith.  

e.      Jesus will Call You to Have Courage

                                                                                       i.      If you are being asked to move against the tide of conventional human wisdom and act in contradiction to your fleshly nature, and if you are challenged in your faith, you are going to feel as though you are taking a risk in obeying God.

                                                                                     ii.      Any time you take a risk for God’s purposes, you are going to need courage. Such 'risks' have the quality of a real step of faith. 

2.      Remind yourself daily of what God said to you, stay close to Him, and refuse to allow yourself to give in to fear or discouragement (Ps. 27:14; 31:24; Phil. 1:27–28; 2 Tim. 1:7.).

Conclusion: Christ designs our storms to give us opportunity to face our fears with confidence in Him. He is able to handle and storm and He will never forsake us in the storms. His power and His presence inspires us to become storm-walking believers.

Yes, God will help us grow through such storms. We can grow in our experiences with the Lord Jesus, grow to overcome the challenges that have historically intimidated us, and grow in our understanding of God plan. This was the whole purpose of the storm, to help the disciples grow in their faith. God desires the same for us. He deserves faithful, fearless, bold servants who daily advertise His grace in their lives to a watching world. We must learn to trust Him implicitly.

Jesus came with unexpected help and encouragement during the disciples’ time of desperate need. Their need was real; their fears were real. But in the presence of Jesus, fear must give way to faith. 

When Jesus arrived, he made a huge difference! Because of Jesus—all he taught, all he did—your life is different now! You're not alone. You have a heavenly Father, a living Savior, and a Comforter. All the problems that beset you are now theirs as well. In the face of every problem, every heartbreak, every troubling diagnosis . . . Here Christ’s Command, Attempt the Impossible, and Experience His Power!

The first result of walking with God is great joy, abounding joy, and secondly, a great sense of security, of abiding peace.—R. A. Torrey 

Consider Why God Speaks

Psalm 81:8–16

Theme: God speaks to us for our benefit and for His delight to advance a relationship with us.

Introduction:

God speaks to us for reasons that are purely His own; He loves us, and He desires to have a relationship with us. Psalm 81 is a deeply moving plea from God to His people to listen to his words, counsel, and instructions (vs. 8, 11, & 13).

Harold Willmington characterized this Psalm in the following way:

Sin spoils the celebration. During one of Israel's regular festivals, Asaph exhorted the people to praise God for his acts of national deliverance (81:1-7). He lamented, however, the people's constant sin, reminding them of the blessings that could have been had they only obeyed (81:8-16; see Matt 23:37; Luke 19:41-42).

Can you hear the sorrow in God's voice as He pleads with His people to listen to Him? And for what purpose?  So that He might bless them! God desires only good for His people.

We can sense what God wants for each of us. Very specifically, He desires that we comprehend His truth about who He is, who we are, and the relationship He wants to have with us. He designs for us to be conformed to His truth applying it to our lives in ways that increasingly transform us into the image of Christ Jesus. Now let us consider each of these individually….

Message:

God Wants Us to Comprehend the Truth

Psalm 25:8-9, Good and upright is the Lord: therefore will he teach sinners in the way. [9] The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.   

God Will Teach Us the Truth

God has given to all believers a divine person. The Holy Spirit—who lives within us to help us receive and understand the truth. The Holy Spirit knows perfectly the mind of God, and the Holy Spirit communicates to our spirits the truth God wants us to hear (John 14:26; 1Cor. 2:9-10, 12).

God desires that we know the mind of God. We can never know the mind of God fully because we are finite creatures and He is infinite. But we can grow in our understanding about who God is, how He operates in our world, and why He does the things He does.

For many reasons, we may be limited in our understanding of God's motives and methods. We may not have read all the Bible. To understand the true and full context of any passage of God's Word, we need to understand the true and full context of all God's Word. Also, we may have cultural differences that keep us from understanding fully what certain things in the Bible mean. We may not have the maturity in Christ Jesus that we need to understand deeper layers of meaning. We may be trying to understand the Bible solely with our minds, which is always futile. The Bible is a spiritual book. It speaks to and is applied to the spirit.

None of these reasons, however, are a fixed wall for us. We can grow in our understanding by reading more of God's Word, studying the cultural background of the Bible, gaining more maturity in Christ Jesus, and learning how to read the Bible with spiritual understanding.

Psalm 25:4-5, Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths. [5] Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.

God Will Teach Us The Truth About Himself

The Lord desires that we know the truth about Him.

Psalm 81:10, I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.

    

First, He is our Creator (Genesis 1:27-28, 31). God fashioned us as unique creatures. He made all of the natural world for us to rule and enjoy. He has provided all that we need.

Secondly, He is our life (Genesis 2:7). God breathed into us His breath. We are spirit because God imparted His Spirit to us. We cannot exist apart from God.

Thirdly, He loves us (1 John 4:19). He is continually reaching out to us with affection, calling to us individually by name (Ps. 81:8-10).

God Will Teach Us The Truth About Ourselves

The truth about each of us is twofold:

First, the Holy Spirit convicts us that we are sinners (John 3:16-17). We are born apart from God. The primary message of the Holy Spirit to us as long as we are apart from God is that we need God.

Second, once we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior, the Holy Spirit becomes our Comforter and Counselor (1 John 4:15; 2Cor. 5:17).

He speaks hope to us in times of turmoil. He strengthens our faith to trust God for our total sustenance. He gives us the assurance not only of our salvation but also of God's faithfulness and total provision toward us. He reveals to us our nature as God's saints on the earth and challenges us to grow more like Jesus.

As we discover more about ourselves, we usually begin to see others in a new light.

We see our fellow believers as people whom God is also fashioning, forming, and transforming. We see that all people are loved by God, are in need of God, and can have access to God. We become much more inclined to love others unconditionally.

God's truth to us is that we are to love one another (John 15:17; 1 John 4:7, 20).

Sometimes The Lord Will Teach Us Specific Lessons

A Highly Personal Word of Instruction. God not only speaks in general and absolute terms to all people, but He speaks to each one of us personally. We can hardly comprehend that possibility with our finite minds. God is an infinite God, and He is capable of communicating with each one of us, right where we are—in the midst of our current circumstances or crises—in very personal, direct, and explicit terms.

This may be the most important concept you can ever grasp in learning how to listen to God. When God speaks, He is speaking to you. Everything in the Bible can be applied to your life in some way. Every message or communication that is based on the Word of God has truth embedded within it that is for you. There is no such thing as a chapter in the Bible, a sermon based on God's Word, or a book that expounds and explains God's Word that is not for you (2Tim. 3:16, 17). Each of us must take God's Word personally!

Personal Does Not Mean Exclusive.

This is not to say that God has an exclusive word for a person. God doesn't deal in secrets. He won't reveal truth to one person and deny it to another.

Be on guard if you hear somebody say, “God told me something, but He told me I can't tell anybody else,” or “God had a word that's just for me and not for you.” God doesn't play favorites, but He does have intimates. He doesn't speak to one child and totally ignore His other children.

His word of correction to you may be so personal that you don't want to share it with other people, but ultimately, God's word of correction is an absolute that applies to all people. The same goes for God's promises, provisions, and insights.

God Wants Us to Conform to the Truth

It is not enough that we comprehend the truth. We must be conformed to the truth.

The Living Sacrifice

Romans 12:2, And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

God calls us to present ourselves to Him as if we are a “living sacrifice.” In the Old Testament days, God consumed sacrifices with His holy fire as a sign of His presence among the people.

In our time, God burns out of us with His holy presence everything that is not like Jesus, and then He causes us to burn and to shine brightly with a zeal for living the life Jesus would live if He was walking in our shoes.

Conformity to Jesus

As we read and hear God's Word, we come face-to-face with ourselves, our deficiencies, sins, our errors, our faults. We say again and again, “I'm not like Jesus. But I want to be like Him.” At these times we know that God is truly speaking to us because God always calls us to become more and more like Jesus.

Romans 8:29, For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

How do you do this? You say to the Father, “Help me to change. Help me to be more like Jesus.” God has promised that He will show you how to be like Jesus, and He will help you become more like Him.

Being Doers of the Word

Every time you realize that your life doesn't line up perfectly with the truth of God's Word, you have a choice to make—to accept or reject God's way. When you accept God's way and openly say to the Lord, “I'm not like that, but I want to be like that,” He begins to do something inside you. You may find that your tastes are changing. You may become uncomfortable in situations in which you used to feel comfortable. You may have new desires for things that are good, healthful, and wholesome. That's the transforming power of God at work!

James 1:23-25, For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: [24] For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. [25] But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

   

Transformation is Always Important

God doesn't speak frivolously. He doesn't joke around. God means what He says. He will do what He says. God is serious about His relationship with you. He doesn't speak to you in idle terms. He expects you to respond to His voice, heed His Word, and act on it.

Can you remember last Sunday's sermon? Can you recall what you read in God's Word yesterday? You'll be able to remember if you were listening for what God had to say to you and if you take seriously the idea that God intends for you to do something in response to His Word.

God speaks for your benefit. He desires for you to listen to Him and then respond to His words. Sometimes He will challenge you to change your thinking or to release certain feelings and opinions that you have been harboring. Sometimes He will command you to change certain aspects of your behavior. Sometimes He desires to encourage you so that you might live your life with greater joy and strength.  

Always, however, God's Word is for your transformation. It is intended to change you in some way.

Psalm 119:9, Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

Joshua 1:7-8, Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. [8] This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

   

Approach God's Word seriously. Listening to God is not a casual pastime or a let's-try-it-and-see-if-you-like-it activity. Listening to God is the most important thing you can do in your life for your eternal sake.

Conclusion:

God has something to say to you! One of the most important lessons in life that you and I can learn is how to listen to God. In our complex and hectic lives, nothing is more urgent, nothing more necessary, and nothing more rewarding than hearing what God has to say to us—both as a body of believers and as individual people.

If you are going to develop a relationship with another person, you have to converse with that person in some manner. That means both talking and listening. Also remember that God does not speak frivolously. God means what He says. He will do what He says. God is serious about His relationship with you. He expects you to respond to His voice, heed His Word, and act on it.