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July
20-21, 2002 NOW, A WORD FROM GOD 1 John 4:1, Selected CALLER ID – Who Is This Really?! *** Psalm 62:11 “God has said this, and I have
heard it over and over….” [NCV] ( SOMETIMES WHAT I THINK IS AN IMPRESSION FROM GOD
IS REALLY: o
FROM MYSELF! - Proverbs 14:12 “Some people think they are
doing right, but in the end it leads to death.” [New Century Version] o
FROM SATAN! - 2 Cor. 11:14 “Even Satan can disguise himself as an angel of
light.” [New Living Translation] o
FROM GOD! - Job 33:14 “God speaks in different ways, and we don't always
recognize his voice.” [Contemporary
English Version] *** 1 John 4:1 “Don't always believe
everything you hear just because someone says it is a message from God: test it
first to see if it really is.”
[Living Bible] HOW TO TEST AN IMPRESSION! 1.
DOES IT AGREE WITH SCRIPTURE! *** Luke 21:33 “Heaven and earth will pass away,
but my words will never pass away.” [New International Version] ( WANTING CONFIRMATION FROM THE WORD CAN LEAD TO MANIPULATION
OF THE WORD! *** 2 Cor. 4:2 “We don't twist God's Word to
suit ourselves.” [The Message] 2.
DOES IT MAKE ME MORE LIKE CHRIST? *** Philip. 2:5 “In your lives you must think
and act like Christ Jesus.” [NCV] *** 1 Peter 2:21 “Christ…is your example. Follow
in his steps.” [NLT] *** James 3:14-17 “But if you harbor bitter
envy and selfish ambition in your hearts…. Such "wisdom" does not
come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. But the wisdom
that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate,
submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” [NIV] 3.
DOES MY CHURCH FAMILY CONFIRM
IT? *** Proverbs 11:14 “Without good direction,
people lose their way; the more wise counsel you follow, the better your
chances.” [Msg] *** Pr. 12:15 “Fools think they are doing
right, but the wise listen to advice.”
[NCV] ( WHEN IN DOUBT, CHECK IT OUT! *** Pr.27:9 “The heartfelt counsel of a friend
is as sweet as perfume and incense.” ( YOU NEED A FRIEND WHO LOVES YOU ENOUGH TO LEVEL WITH YOU! *** Proverbs 11:9 “The wisdom of the righteous
can save you.” [Today’s
English Version] ( IF OTHER MATURE CHRISTIANS QUESTION YOUR
IMPRESSION, YOU SHOULD TOO! 4.
DOES IT MATCH HOW GOD SHAPED ME? *** Ephes. 2:10 “For we are God's workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us
to do.” [NIV] ( YOU WERE: Ø PREPARED FOR A PURPOSE! Ø CREATED FOR A CAUSE! Ø MADE FOR A MISSION! Ø DESIGNED FOR A DUTY! *** Rom 12:6 “God has given each of us the
ability to do certain things well.” [NLT] 5.
DOES IT CONCERN MY RESPONSIBILITY? *** John 21:22 “Jesus answered, "If I
want him to live until I come back, that is not your business." [NCV] ( WHEN GOD TALKS TO YOU, HE’S GOING TO TALK ABOUT YOU! *** Romans 14:4,10, 12-13 “Who are you to judge someone else's
servant? To his own master he stands or falls. You, then, why do you judge your
brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before
God's judgment seat. So then, each of us will give an account of himself to
God. Therefore let us stop passing
judgment on one another.” [NIV] TWO RULES FOR GOD
SPEAKING TO YOU ABOUT ANOTHER: o
GOD WILL USE YOU
TO CONFIRM WHAT HE’S ALREADY
SAID TO THEM! o
GOD WILL USUALLY
SPEAK THROUGH YOU WITH OUT YOU KNOWING IT! 6.
DOES IT CONVICT RATHER THAN CONDEMN? *** John 16:8 “When he [Holy Spirit] comes, he
will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and
judgment….” [NIV] *** Rev. 12:10 “Then I heard a voice from
heaven shout…."Satan accused our people in the presence of God day and
night.” [CEV] ( THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN… CONVICTION vs. CONDEMNATION: ( GOD MOTIVATES US BY THE BLESSINGS OF FORGIVENESS
NOT THE BURDEN OF GUILT! *** 1 John 1:9 “But if we confess our sins to
him, he can be depended on to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong.” [Living] 7.
DOES IT LEAD TO A GOD-GIVEN PEACE? *** Philip. 4:6-7 “Don't worry about anything;
instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don't forget to thank
him for his answers. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is
far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your
thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.” [Living] *** Col. 3:15 “Let the peace that Christ gives
control your thinking….” [NCV] ( GOD’S WORD WILL LEAD TO CALMING CONFIDIENCE NOT CHAOTIC CONFUSION! “He
who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you
do not belong to God." John 8:47 [NIV] |