TheAvenues.Church
Part 1 of He Talks With Me
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◾️ Long before “Alexa,” “Siri,” “Hey Google” - or for Trekkies, “Computer,” there was a Listener who heard our cries and worries and fears and inquiries and hopes and dreams and all that our hearts speak. The Listener is The Lord God Almighty. It isn’t so amazing that we call to God. What’s amazing is that He calls to us. He speaks to you. The question is, “Are you listening to Him?” In this series we’ll see what the Bible says about how to listen for God’s voice. Together we’ll discover “how to hear God talk,” “how God talks to us” and “how to recognize that it's God talking.”
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HOW TO HEAR GOD SPEAK
How To Live So I Can Hear The Voice Of God:
1. I must PLOW OPEN my mind and SOFTEN UP my heart.
JESUS telling the story: 5 “A farmer went out to plant his seed. As he scattered it across his field, some seed fell on a footpath, where it was stepped on, and the birds ate it.” Luke 8:5 (NLT)
JESUS explaining the meaning: 12 “The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved.” Luke 8:12 (NLT)
If you have a closed mind you won’t hear God’s voice.
What causes a closed mind?
- Pride.
- Fear.
- Bitterness.
How do I cultivate an open mind and softened heart toward God? Start with this:
21 So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the Word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. James 1:21 (NLT).
NEXT STEPS I CAN TAKE:
- Let God love me.
- Drop my defenses.
- Plow open my mind.
- Soften my heart.
2. I must SLOW DOWN to receive and MAKE TIME to hear.
JESUS telling the story: 6 “Other seed fell among rocks. It began to grow, but the plant soon wilted and died for lack of moisture.” Luke 8:6 (NLT)
JESUS explaining the meaning: 13 “The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they believe for a while, then fall away when they face temptation.” Luke 8:13 (NLT)
If you don’t make time you won’t hear God speak.
How do I allocate time to hear God’s voice? Start with this:
21 I rise early, before the sun is up; I cry out for help and to put my hope in Your words. Psalm 119:147 (NLT)
97 O, how I love Your instructions, I think about them all day long. Psalm 119:97 (NLT)
NEXT STEPS I CAN TAKE:
- Create a dedicated time on your daily schedule to meet with God.
- Let someone know. (This is accountability.)
3. I must CLEAR OUT disturbances and GET RID of distractions.
JESUS telling the story: 7 “Other seed fell among thorns that grew up with it and choked out the tender plants.” Luke 8:7 (NLT)
JESUS explaining the meaning: 14 “The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grew into maturity.” Luke 8:14 (NLT)
If you don’t clear out and get rid of the weeds you won’t hear the voice of God.
Jesus says that distractions are like weeds. He gives us 3 examples.
- CARES (worries)
- RICHES
- PLEASURES
A weed is anything that distracts me from making time to be with God and to hear Him talk with me.
How do I eliminate disturbances and distractions that keep me from hearing God’s voice?
25 And let us not neglect the meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near. Hebrews 10:25 (NLT)
NEXT STEP I CAN TAKE:
- Commit to being in a small group (TAC Group).
4. I must DECIDE IN ADVANCE to obey and to GROW a cooperative spirit.
JESUS telling the story: 8 “Still other seed fell on fertile soil. This seed grew and produced a crop that was a hundred times as much as had been planted…” Luke 8:8a (NLT)
JESUS explaining the meaning: 15 “And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s Word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.” Luke 8:15 (NLT)
If you decide in advance to obey what God says, you’ll hear His voice and live a productive life.
How do I cooperate with what God says?
22 But don’t just listen to God’s Word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. James 1:22 (NLT)
What are the NEXT STEPS you’re going to take as a result of today's talk?
- It may be join a Bible study small group (TAC Group).
- Start memorizing a Bible verse a week.
- Schedule an appointment with God every day.
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