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Listening to the Holy Spirit
Watch the PowerPoint Slides along with the Sermon Video
THE POINT: God truly speaks to people, but we need to learn to discern His voice from others.
Jeremiah 33:3
'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.' [NIV]
John 10:27-30 (NIV)
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one."
WHY GOD SPEAKS
· It’s NOT because we deserve it or are specially favored.
· It’s NOT because we necessarily are destined to have a famous ministry.
· He speaks to us because we are His children and He loves us.
· He speaks to us to direct us in His purposes.
SOME WAYS GOD SPEAKS
· The Bible
· “Still, Small Voice”
· Your Conscience
· Other Believers
o Regular Teaching
o Prophetic Words
o Healthy Relationships
· Nature and Creation
· Dreams and Visions
· Supernatural Occurrences
THERE ARE OTHER VOICES
Your own voice
· Hunger and fatigue
· Unhealthy desires
· False humility and unworthiness
· Overly negative / overly positive
Voices of the world
· Attitudes from childhood
· Curses and labels
· Fear and ignorance
Voices of spiritual darkness
· Violence and self-destruction
· Ignorance
· Anti-Christ
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IT TAKES TRAINING
Hebrews 5:14
But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. [NIV]
1 Samuel 3:6-9
Again the Lord called, "Samuel!" And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me."
"My son," Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down." Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.
The Lord called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me."
Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, 'Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.' " So Samuel went and lay down in his place. [NIV]
1 Corinthians 13:9-12
For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. [NIV]
WHERE TO GET TRAINING
- Being in worship services
- Being part of a small group
- Reading the Bible to learn His character and ways
- Hanging out with people who are passionately devoted to Him
WHEN GOD SPEAKS
Sometimes it’s a life-changing revelation
Sometimes it’s a peanut butter sandwich
WHAT THEN SHALL WE DO?
- Apply yourself to learning to recognize the voice of the Father/Jesus/Holy Spirit.
- During your prayer times this week, focus on listening.
- Oh, by “your prayer times” I mean every waking (and even sleeping) moment.
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