TheAvenues.Church
Part 3 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 CAN I RECOGNIZE IF IT'S GOD TALKING?
1 Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world (1 John 4:1 NLT)
7 Tests For Knowing If It’s God Talking:
1. DOES IT AGREE WITH THE BIBLE?
Jesus says, 33 “Heaven and earth will disappear, but My words will never disappear.” (Luke 21:33 NLT).
8 Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a different kind of Good News than the one we preached to you. (Galatians 1:8 NLT)
2. DOES IT MAKE ME MORE LIKE JESUS?
5 In your lives you must think and act like Christ Jesus. (Philippians 2:5 NCV)
14 But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. 15 For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. 16 For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. 17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. (James 3:14-17 NLT)
3. DOES MY CHURCH FAMILY CONFIRM IT?
10 God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display His wisdom in its rich variety… (Ephesians 3:10a NLT)
4. IS IT CONSISTENT WITH HOW GOD DESIGNED AND GIFTED ME?
10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago. (Ephesians 2:10 NLT)
6 In His grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well… (Romans 12:6a NLT)
5. DOES IT CONCERN MY RESPONSIBILITY?
10 We will all be judged one day, not by each other's standards, or even our own, but by the judgment of God… 13 it is to God alone that we shall have to answer for our actions. (Romans 14:10, 13 Ph)
3 Qualifications For Knowing If God’s Leading You To Speak To Someone About His Plans For Them:
- God will use you to confirm what He's already said to them.
- God will use you without you knowing it.
- God will talk to that person before you talk to them.
6. IS IT CONVICTING RATHER THAN CONDEMNING?
9 But if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. (1 John 1:9 NLT)
The difference between CONVICTION & CONDEMNATION:
- Conviction is from God. He says “You’ve sinned.”
- Condemnation is from Satan. He says, "You're worthless."
10 The Accuser of our brothers and sisters… (Revelation 12:10b EXB)
"Satan" in Hebrew is literally "Accuser." So this verse is identifying Satan as the Accuser and his goal is to condemn us not to redeem us.
God convicts (aka, convinces) us that we've sinned. His purpose is to lead us to receive what Jesus offers: redemption.
7. DO I SENSE GOD’S PEACE ABOUT IT?
33 For God is not a God of confusion... (1 Corinthians 14:33a ESV)
15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts… (Colossians 3:15a NLT)
Recognizing God’s Voice:
1. RELIEVES your ills.
JESUS: 12 "Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.”
Matthew 9:12 (NLT)
2. RE-ENFORCES your relationship with God.
JESUS: 27 “My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they
follow Me.” John 10:27 (NLT)
3. Makes us DEPEND on ourselves less.
13 The Lord says, “For I hold you by your right hand—I, the Lord your God.?And I say to you,?‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.’” Isaiah 41:13 (NLT)
4. Is a SIGN that we belong to Him.
47 Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God.
John 8.47 (NLT)
5. Allows God to BLESS us.
JESUS: 28 “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of
God and put it into practice.” Luke 11.28 (NLT)