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July
13-14, 2002 NOW, A WORD FROM GOD Selected GOD’S VOICE MAIL! *** Exodus 34:14 “You must worship no other
gods, but only the Lord, for he is a God who is passionate about his
relationship with you.” [New Living
Translation] U THERE IS NO RELATIONSHIP WITHOUT COMMUNICATION! *** Job 33:14 “God does speak—sometimes one
way and sometimes another—even though people may not understand it.” [New Century Version] U HOW
DOES GOD SPEAK TO US TODAY? 1. GOD
SPEAKS THOUGH HIS WORD! *** 2 Tim. 3:15-17 “You have been taught the
holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive
the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired
by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is
wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right.
It is God's way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good
thing God wants us to do.” [New Living Translation] 2. Now I know that there are a lot of people who
say that the Bible is just a collection of teachings, morals and stories…good
literature…MORE…! U PAUL WRITES THAT THE BIBLE WILL: l TEACH US! l CORRECT US! l CONVICT US! l PREPARE US! *** 2 Peter 1:21 “For no prophetic message
ever came just from the human will, but people were under the control of the
Holy Spirit as they spoke the message that came from God.” [Today’s English
Version] *** Psalm 19:10 “God's Word is better than a
diamond, better than a diamond set between emeralds. You'll like it better than strawberries in spring….” [The Message] *** Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp that
gives light wherever I walk.” [Contemporary English Version] *** Psalm 119:9 “How can a young person live a
pure life? By obeying your word.” [NCV] U HOW
CAN I GET STARTED LISTENING THOUGH MY BIBLE? o
Get a
translation you can understand! o
Get a helper
book! o
7 MINUTES WITH
GOD! o
Start with the
Gospel of John, then: Acts, James, and Philippians! 2. GOD
SPEAKS THROUGH GIFTED TEACHERS! *** 1 Thes. 2:13 “And we will never stop
thanking God for this: that when we preached to you, you didn't think of the
words we spoke as being just our own, but you accepted what we said as the very
Word of God--which, of course, it was--and it changed your lives when you
believed it.” [Living Bible] U THE CREATER IS THE COMMUNICATOR, I’M JUST THE
CONDUIT! *** 1 Cor. 2:13 “Every word we speak was
taught to us by God's Spirit, not by human wisdom. And this same Spirit helps
us teach spiritual things to spiritual people.” [Contemporary English Version] *** Luke 10:41-42 “But the Lord answered her,
"Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things. Only one
thing is important. Mary has chosen the better thing, and it will never
be taken away from her." [New Century Version] 3. GOD
SPEAKS THROUGH IMPRESSIONS! *** John 14:26 “The Holy Spirit…will be your
teacher and will bring to your mind all I have said to you.” [J.B. Phillips
Version] *** Job 33:14-15 “For God speaks again and
again, in dreams, in visions of the night when deep sleep falls on men as they
lie on their beds. He opens their ears in times like that and gives them wisdom
and instruction.” [LB] o
WHEN GOD PUTS
IDEAS INYOUR MIND IT’S CALLED INSPIRATION! o
WHEN THE DEVIL
PUTS IDEAS IN YOUR MIND IT’S CALLED TEMPTATION! o
WHEN THE PIZZA
PUTS IDEAS IN YOUR MIND IT’S CALLED INDIGESTION! U WARNING:
ALWAYS TEST AN IMPRESSION! RULE: AN IMPRESSION
FROM GOD WILL NEVER CONTRADICT
THE WORD FROM GOD! 4. GOD
SPEAKS THROUGH PAINFUL EXPERIENCES! U “WE DON’T CHANGE WHEN WE SEE THE LIGHT, WE CHANGE WHEN WE FEEL
THE HEAT!” *** Proverbs 20:30 “Sometimes it takes a
painful experience to make us change our ways.” [TEV] *** Psalm 119:67, 71-72 “I used to wander off
until you punished me; now I closely follow all you say. The punishment you gave me was the best
thing that could have happened to me, for it taught me to pay attention to your
laws.” [LB] WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO HEAR GOD’S VOICE? 1. IT
ASSURES ME THAT I’M PART OF GOD’S FAMILY! *** John 10:27-28 “My sheep listen to my
voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they
shall never die. No one can snatch them away from me.” [TEV] 2. IT
PROTECTS ME FROM MAKING MISTAKES! *** Job 33:17 “God speaks…causing them to
change their minds, and keeping them from pride, and warning them of the
penalties of sin, and keeping them from falling into some trap.” [LB] 3. IT
IS THE KEY TO LIFE’S BLESSINGS! *** Jeremiah 7:23 "If you listen to me
and do what I tell you, I will be your God, you will be my people, and all will
go well for you." [CEV] Psalm 81:13 “But oh, that my people would listen to me!” [Living] |