|
|
|
July
27-28, 2002 NOW,
A WORD FROM GOD Habakkuk 2:1-2, Selected CONNECTING – How to Not Drop a Call! *** 1 Samuel 3:7-10 “The Lord had not spoken
to Samuel before, and Samuel did not recognize the voice. When the Lord called
out his name for the third time, Samuel went to Eli again and said, "Here
I am. What do you want?" Eli
finally realized that it was the Lord who was speaking to Samuel. So he said,
"Go back and lie down! If someone speaks to you again, answer, 'I'm
listening, Lord. What do you want me to do?' " Once again Samuel went back and lay down. The Lord then stood beside Samuel and called
out as he had done before, "Samuel! Samuel!" "I'm
listening," Samuel answered. "What do you want me to do?" [Contemporary English Version] GOD SPEAKS TO US IN
FOUR WAYS: U THROUGH HIS WORD! U THROUGH IMPRESSIONS! U THROUGH GIFTED TEACHERS! U THROUGH PAINFUL EXPERIENCES! WE RECEIVE GUIDANCE FROM GOD: 1. BY
BEING READY FOR GUIDANCE FROM GOD! WE PREPARE FOR GOD’S
GUIDANCE: 1. BY REPENTING
OF KNOWN SIN! *** Isaiah 59:2 “But there is a problem—your
sins have cut you off from God. Because of your sin, he has turned away and
will not listen anymore.” [NLT] 2. BY
HELPING THE HURTING! *** Proverbs 21:13 “If a man shuts his ears to
the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered.” [New International Version] A HARD HEART
WON’T ACKNOWLEDGE GOD! 3. BY CORRECTING
OUR BEHAVIOR! *** Proverbs 28:9 “If you refuse to obey what
you have been taught, your prayers will not be heard.” [New Century
Version] 4. BY
CHECKING OUR MOTIVES! *** James 4:3 “And even when you do ask, you
don't get it because your whole motive is wrong….” [New Living Translation] THAT’S THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN A PURE MOTIVE & MANIPULATION! 5. BY
REPAIRING OUR RELATIONSHIPS! *** 1 Peter 3:7 “In the same way, you husbands
must give honor to your wives. Treat her with understanding as you live
together. If you don't treat her as you should, your prayers will not be
heard.” [NLT] 2. BY REQUESTING
GUIDANCE FROM GOD! 1. ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
GOD CARES ABOUT THE DETAILS OF MY LIFE! *** Matthew 6:31-32 “So do not worry, saying,
'What shall we eat?' or '…drink…’or 'wear?'
For …your heavenly Father knows that you need them.” [NIV] HE CARES ABOUT
EVERYTHING BECAUSE HE CARES ABOUT YOU! 2. SEEK FOR SPECIFIC
GUIDANCE! *** James 1:5 “If you want to know what God
wants you to do, ask him, and he will gladly tell you….” [Living Bible] 3. KNOW THAT HE
WANTS TO ANSWER! *** James 1:5b-6
“[God] is always ready to give a bountiful supply of wisdom to all
who ask him; he will not resent it. But when you ask him, be sure that you
really expect him to tell you, for a doubtful mind will be as unsettled as a
wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind….” [LB] YOU HAVE TO ASK! *** James 4:2 “You want something but don't
get it…You do not have, because you do not ask God.” [NIV] *** Matthew 7:7 "Ask and it will be given
to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” [NIV] 3. BY RECEIVING
GUIDANCE FROM GOD! A. WITHDRAW:
Get Alone In A Quiet Place! *** Habakkuk 2:1 “I will climb up into my
watchtower….” [NLT] *** Luke 5:16 “But Jesus often withdrew to
lonely places and prayed.” [NIV] B. WAIT:
Calm Our Thoughts And Emotions! *** Habakkuk 2:1 “I will climb up into my
watchtower now and wait….” [NLT] GOD SPEAKS TO THE
PERSON WHO TAKES THE TIME TO LISTEN! *** Psalm 46:10 “Our
God says, "Calm down, and learn that I am God!” [CEV] INNER CALM IS
THE INTERCOM TO GOD! C. WATCH:
Let God Give A Vision/Mental Picture! *** Habakkuk 2:1 “I will climb up into my
watchtower now and wait to see what the Lord will say to me….” [NLT] *** Acts 2:17 “In the last days, God says, I
will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.” D. WRITE:
Make A Spiritual Journal Of God’s Communication! *** Habakkuk 2:2 “The Lord gave me this
answer: "Write down clearly on tablets what I reveal to you, so that it
can be read at a glance.” [Today’s English Version] E. WORSHIP:
Thank God For His Communication! *** Habakkuk 3:1-2 “This is the prayer of
triumph that Habakkuk sang before the Lord: O Lord, now I have heard your
report, and I worship you in awe….”
[Living] “Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and
I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all
your heart.” Jeremiah 29:12-13 [NIV] |