Mentoring Men for the Master

THE THRILL OF HEARING GOD SPEAK TO YOU!

THE THRILL OF HEARING GOD SPEAK TO YOU!

“The Voice of the Divine rules out a multitude of human opinions.”  (Thomas A Kempis)

God is a Person and He relates to His children personally by speaking to them.  Seven Questions:

  1. What Are The Requirements for Hearing His Voice?
    1. A Personal Relationship with God through the Lord Jesus Christ.  Avoid 2 dangers:
      1. Religion.
      2. Common Grace Experiences.
    2. Confession of all known sins – Psalm 66:18; Isaiah 59:1-2.
    3. Keep an open ear to the voice of God.
      1. Hindrances.
      2. Pray Samuel’s Prayer – 1 Samuel 3:10.
    4. Internalize God’s Word and obey it – John 14:21.
    5. Allocate time in advance to pray and listen.
      1. Schedule time.
      2. Slow down – be quiet  – Psalm 46:10.
    6. Eliminate Distractions:  TV, Sports, Telephone, The Mall, Work, Door Bell, Cell (the foremost stronghold – 2 Cor. 10:4),  Hurry, Worry.
    7. Mean business with God above everything else.
  1. What Are Specific Ways God Talks to Us? 
    1. The Bible is God talking to us personally.
      1. The Logos consisting of 66 books, 1189 chapters, 31,103 verses, 774,474 words
      2. The Rema (Ephesians 6:17).
      3. 2 Timothy 3:16, 17 – “The whole Bible was God-breathed and is useful to teach us what is true and makes us realize what is wrong in our lives.  This is why it is so important that you have a daily quiet time to talk to God and listen for Him to talk back.”
    2. The Holy Spirit – John 16:13; Acts 8:29; Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22.
      1. John 14:26, “The Holy Spirit will be your teacher and will bring to your mind all that I have said to you.”  This means He whispers God’s Word.  He gives us impressions.  He touches our “gut” until we know He is speaking to us.
    3. The Still Small Voice -Impressions in the soul – (1 Kings 19:12).
    4. Gifted Teachers – Ex.:  Dr. R. G. Lee, Dr. James Kennedy, Dr. Leo Eddleman, Spurgeon, Murray McCheyne, John Stott, Ray Stedman.
    5. Gifted Preachers –  Adrian Rogers, Billy Graham, Spurgeon.
    6. Fervent Prayer and Fasting
      1. Acts 13:1-5 – The Holy Spirit speaks one message to five different men to launch world missions through Paul and Barnabas.
    7. Pain and Suffering
      1. David – Psalm 119:67, 71.
      2. C. S. Lewis, “Pain is God’s megaphone to get our attention.”
      3. Suffering is God’s gift – Phil. 1:29.
    8. The Unlearned and Lowly –  (1 Cor. 1:21-26).
    9. Your Enemies
    10. Dreams –  Only once in my life – (Jeremiah 23:32)
  2. What Does It Mean When God Is Silent?
    1. God is silent but He is never absent.  Illus:  400 years of silence from Malachi (BC 400 – John the Baptist).  God was preparing  the world for the coming of Jesus (Gal. 4:4).
    2. Job 23:3  – “If I knew where to find Him, if only I could go to Him…”
    3. Isaiah 57:11
  3. What Are The Benefits in Hearing God Speak?
    1. It assures that you are a member of God’s family.
    2. It reveals to you the right way to go and the right word to speak.  Illus:  preaching and teaching.
    3. It keeps you from making mistakes.
    4. It excites and sets you on fire – “God has spoken and I must speak.” (Jer. 23:29; Amos 3:8).
    5. Illus:  I have spoken to 3 Presidents of the USA and that pales in insignificance compared to hearing the voice of God.
  1. What Is The Danger of Not Obeying God When God Speaks?
    1. Hebrews 3:7, 8, 15; 4:7.
  2. How Did God Punish Israel When They Refused to Listen to His Word?
    1. Amos 8:11
  3. Is America Approaching This Famine?  

Final Word:  

“Light for Dark Nights of the Soul” – What God wants us to know about Him above ALL: just how much He loves us, no matter what (John 3:16; Romans 8:31-32).

Illus:  “Hold to God’s Unchanging Hand.”

Lunch and Laugh: 

  1. What does God both give away and keep at the same time?
  2. Which animal on the Ark was the rudest?  Matthew and Mark have something that is not found in Luke and John.  What is it?
  3. Where in the Bible does it suggest that Men should wash the dishes?  In 2 Kings 21:13- “And I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipeth a dish, wiping it, and turning it upside down.”
  4. Where did Noah strike the first nail in the Ark?
  5. Was there any money on Noah’s Ark?  Yes, the duck took a bill, the frog took a greenback and the skunk took a scent.
  6. How were Adam and Eve prevented from gambling?  Their pair – o-dice was taken away from them.
  7. Who was the first man to say, “I have sinned” in the Bible.
  8. How do we know the media kept people from Jesus?  Mk. 2:4

Questions and Answer:

  1. “The ban on Same-Sex Marriages in Virginia  declared unconstitutional by the Court clears the way for Gay Marriage in North Carolina.” (Attorney General of NC, Ray Cooper)
    1. Will pastors in NC have to perform Same-Sex Marriages or be arrested?
  2. Identify the Enola Gay and “Dutch” Van Kirk?
  3. What is unusual about the word Facetious?
  4. What Old Testament Prophet could not hear God speak because he did not know the Lord but got saved and prayed, “Lord speak for thy servant heareth”? (1 Samuel 3:10)
  5. Why does mankind today need to hear God as never before?
  6. What is the one thing above all that God wants every individual to know about Him?
  7. If one never hears God speak, do you believe that is a sign that he has never been saved?
  8. Some preach because he must say something, some preach because he has something to say.  The difference?
  9. What two prophets said they had to speak because God had spoken to them?
  10. Do you believe  hearing God speak continually and hardening your heart and not obeying Him is the unpardonable sin?  (J. Harold Smith)
  11. Can you cite a Scripture that declares this a possibility?
  12. Do you believe that God speaks continually to you about matters to get your attention?
  13. If one constantly says, “The Lord spoke to me,” Is that undeniable evidence that God has spoken?
  14. Does God permit us time to be sure He has spoken to us?
  15. Is there a relationship between one hearing God and His memory of Scripture?
  16. Is there a relationship between hearing God and being filled with the Holy Spirit?
  17. “The preacher who is rushing the calendar to retire never heard God’s call to preach in the first place.” (Jerry Falwell)   Your reaction.
  18. What is the major way God speaks to you?
  19. Has God ever spoken to you through suffering?
    1. What notable Old Testament character was greatly enlightened by his suffering?
  20. Can you name a person through whom God has spoken to you?
    1. An enemy?
  21. What is the greatest distraction you have in hearing God speak?
  22. Do you believe our cell phones are our greatest distraction today?
  23. Has this lesson helped you hear God better?
  24. Has this lesson convicted you of some sin or failure which keeps you from hearing God?
  25. How does the voice of the Divine rule out a multitude of human opinions?
  26. What are some situations where God must speak or disaster will follow?
    1. Name some situations where you don’t obey the voice, you face disaster?
  27. Why did Jesus speak of one ear seven times (Rev. 2-3) rather than ears concerning our hearing?