LIVING WORD – SUNDAY NIGHT 25TH AUGUST 2013.
GOD SPEAKS – WHO’S LISTENING?
Can you say if you have ever heard God speaking? Or have you known the supernatural way God leads you?
God is speaking all the time – is anyone listening?
Psa 19:1 To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. THE HEAVENS declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows and proclaims His handiwork. [Rom. 1:20, 21.]
Psa 19:2 Day after day pours forth speech, and night after night shows forth knowledge.
Psa 19:3 There is no speech nor spoken word [from the stars]; their voice is not heard.
Psa 19:4 Yet their voice [in evidence] goes out through all the earth, their sayings to the end of the world. Of the heavens has God made a tent for the sun, [Rom. 10:18.]
Psa 19:5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber; and it rejoices as a strong man to run his course.
Psa 19:6 Its going forth is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the ends of it; and nothing [yes, no one] is hidden from the heat of it.
God speaks through the creation. Just look around at this world in all its beauty!
And yet many don’t recognise God’s handiwork, or refuse to acknowledge His reality and power. It may seem like it’s all about your cognitive reasonable thought process, but no, the fact is, that what is in your heart can prevent you or enable you to hear spiritual truth. Like the emperors new cloths you may be convinced you know that God is not real while all the while the evidence all around you is complete.
What you hear is affected by what’s in your heart.
Rom 1:20 For ever since the creation of the world His invisible nature and attributes, that is, His eternal power and divinity, have been made intelligible and clearly discernible in and through the things that have been made (His handiworks). So [men] are without excuse [altogether without any defense or justification], [Ps. 19: 1-4.]
Rom 1:21 Because when they knew and recognized Him as God, they did not honor and glorify Him as God or give Him thanks. But instead they became futile and godless in their thinking [with vain imaginings, foolish reasoning, and stupid speculations] and their senseless minds were darkened. (AMP)
Also God also speaks to us through His word.
Psa 19:7 The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the [whole] person; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
Psa 19:8 The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure and bright, enlightening the eyes.
Again what you hear is affected by what’s in your heart.
Mar 4:9 “Are you listening to this? Really listening?”
Mar 4:10 When they were off by themselves, those who were close to him, along with the Twelve, asked about the stories.
Mar 4:11 He told them, “You’ve been given insight into God’s kingdom–you know how it works. But to those who can’t see it yet, everything comes in stories, creating readiness, nudging them toward receptive insight.
Mar 4:12 These are people– Whose eyes are open but don’t see a thing, Whose ears are open but don’t understand a word, Who avoid making an about-face and getting forgiven.” (MESS)
Psa 19:7 The law of the Lord is perfect
God’s word is perfect. No errors. No translation difficulties – listen to the Ahmanson Lectures. http://pvc.podomatic.com/entry/2012-03-03T13_07_53-08_00
If you have any doubts about the trustworthiness of the bible at all, then I ask you, what are you doing about that? If you doubt the truth of the bible, you may feel that you can ignore it; but what if you’re wrong? Will you place your eternal destiny in a feeling? Have you thoroughly studied the subject? Do you know absolutely that it’s only a book? If your eternal destiny depends on what you believe about its contents, why wouldn’t you investigate?
When we read God’s word – it rejoices the heart. The person who has an open heart and desires truth experiences an internal sense of agreement when they hear or read God’s word. Listen to this scary verse…
2Th 2:9 The Wicked One will come with the power of Satan and perform all kinds of false miracles and wonders,
2Th 2:10 and use every kind of wicked deceit on those who will perish. They will perish because they did not welcome and love the truth so as to be saved.
2Th 2:11 And so God sends the power of error to work in them so that they believe what is false.
2Th 2:12 The result is that all who have not believed the truth, but have taken pleasure in sin, will be condemned. (GNB)
God’s word is highly valuable.
Psa 19:9 The [reverent] fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
Psa 19:10 More to be desired are they than gold, even than much fine gold; they are sweeter also than honey and drippings from the honeycomb.
The taste of the word is sweet. If you’re hungry for God, the word is food and nourishment.
Pro 27:7 He who is satiated [with sensual pleasures] loathes and treads underfoot a honeycomb, but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet. (AMP)
Do you seek great reward?
Psa 19:11 Moreover, by them is Your servant warned (reminded, illuminated, and instructed); and in keeping them there is great reward.
His word keeps us from error
Psa 19:12 Who can discern his lapses and errors? Clear me from hidden [and unconscious] faults.
Psa 19:13 Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then shall I be blameless, and I shall be innocent and clear of great transgression.
Psa 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my [firm, impenetrable] Rock and my Redeemer. (AMP)
DO YOU VALUE GOD’S WORD AS TRUTH AND LONG FOR IT TO CHANGE YOU?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Can you share a time when the word of God has deeply impacted your life?
2. What was the reason the Children of Israel couldn’t hear the word of God? (Mark 4:9-12)
3. How can you prepare your heart to be able to hear from God?
4. If someone is really hungry for the word of God how will they act? What will they do?
5. Is there a way to increase your hunger for God’s word?
craigmanderson 