Engaging in Dynamic Conversations with God

Devotional

Day 1: Financial Stewardship Reflects Divine Blessing

Our church's financial health is a testament to God's provision. We manage our finances not just to keep the church operational but to fulfill God's work effectively. This stewardship is an act of worship and a practical aspect of our faith in action. As stewards, we are entrusted with not only the financial resources but also the responsibility to use them wisely to expand the Kingdom of God. This involves making strategic decisions that align with God's will and ensuring that every dollar spent is a seed sown into the fertile ground of ministry and community service. [01:36]

"Whoever is faithful in very little is also faithful in much, and whoever is dishonest in very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?" (Luke 16:10-11 ESV)

Reflection: How can you improve your personal financial stewardship to better reflect your faith in God's provision?

Day 2: Dynamic Nature of Conversations with God

Engaging in conversations with God involves both speaking and listening. It's crucial to recognize that these communications are not always direct or clear-cut but require discernment and responsiveness to God's guidance. By sharing personal experiences, we learn that God often speaks through circumstances, the counsel of others, and the quiet nudges within our own spirits. These conversations are foundational to a vibrant faith, encouraging us to remain open and attentive to the subtle ways in which God leads us. [05:13]

"For God speaks in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive it." (Job 33:14 ESV)

Reflection: Recall a recent situation where you sensed God might be speaking to you. What steps can you take to cultivate a more attentive posture toward God's communications?

Day 3: Discerning God's Voice Among Many

Recognizing God's voice can be challenging. It often requires us to distinguish between our thoughts and His promptings. The process involves testing and confirmation through scripture and the counsel of wise, godly people. This discernment is crucial as it guides our decisions and actions, ensuring they align with God's will. By actively seeking God's voice, we open ourselves to divine direction and deeper intimacy with Him. [07:50]

"But test everything; hold fast what is good." (1 Thessalonians 5:21 ESV)

Reflection: What are some practical ways you can test and confirm that you are hearing God's voice and not just your own thoughts?

Day 4: Empowered to Make Decisions as God's Workers

As God's fellow workers, we are empowered to make decisions. This autonomy is a reflection of the trust God places in us, equipped by the Holy Spirit and guided by the mind of Christ. Like the Apostle Paul, we are called to use our judgment in ministry and life decisions, balancing divine guidance with practical wisdom. This empowerment fosters a sense of responsibility and encourages active participation in God's work. [17:13]

"And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee." (2 Corinthians 1:21-22 ESV)

Reflection: Consider a recent decision you made in your life. How did you incorporate both divine guidance and personal judgment in that decision-making process?

Day 5: Continuous Engagement in Our Spiritual Journey

Our relationship with God is akin to a race that requires continual effort and engagement. Just like the Hoyt family's teamwork in races, our spiritual journey involves active participation and reliance on God's strength. This ongoing engagement deepens our connection with God and enhances our understanding of His will for us. It's a dynamic process that challenges us to grow and adapt as we move forward in faith. [22:01]

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us." (Hebrews 12:1 ESV)

Reflection: What are some weights or sins you need to lay aside to run more effectively in the spiritual race set before you?

Sermon Summary

In today's sermon, we explored the profound nature of our relationship with God, emphasizing the dual aspects of being both His friends and fellow workers. This relationship is not merely a passive one; it involves active communication and collaboration with God, who is not just a distant figure but the omnipotent Creator who desires a personal relationship with each of us.

We began by discussing the financial stewardship within our church, highlighting how God's blessings have enabled us to manage our resources effectively, never having to experience a deficit. This segues into the broader theme of God's provision and the responsibilities that come with it, such as the upcoming ordination and consequent financial adjustment for our minister, Dan, reflecting the biblical principle that "the worker deserves his wages."

The core of the sermon delved into the concept of "God conversations." These are not one-sided; instead, they are dynamic interactions where we not only speak to God but also listen to Him. I shared personal anecdotes to illustrate this, including my experience of being led to distribute Bibles in a local estate, which resulted in new church members. This story underscored the importance of discerning God's voice, which can often come as a persistent thought rather than an audible voice, and the necessity of acting on it.

We also examined the biblical basis for our ability to make decisions as God's fellow workers. The Apostle Paul's life served as a prime example of this balance between divine guidance and human judgment. Paul made many strategic decisions in his ministry, guided by the Holy Spirit but also using his own judgment, as seen in his missionary journeys where he was divinely prevented from preaching in Asia but encouraged to go to Macedonia.

The sermon concluded with a powerful illustration of the Hoyt family, where a father and son with cerebral palsy participate in marathons together. This story paralleled our relationship with God, where He empowers us, and we share His heart, moving together in the race set before us.

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Key Takeaways

1. cut but require discernment and responsiveness to God's guidance, as demonstrated through personal experiences shared. [05:13]
3. Discernment in Hearing God
Recognizing God's voice can be challenging. It often requires us to distinguish between our thoughts and His promptings. The process involves testing and confirmation through scripture and the counsel of wise, godly people.

4. The Role of Personal Judgment in Divine Fellowship
As God's fellow workers, we are empowered to make decisions. This autonomy is a reflection of the trust God places in us, equipped by the Holy Spirit and guided by the mind of Christ, as Paul exemplified in his ministry decisions.

5. Continuous Engagement in Our Spiritual Journey
Our relationship with God is akin to a race that requires continual effort and engagement. Just like the Hoyt family's teamwork in races, our spiritual journey involves active participation and reliance on God's strength, fostering a deeper connection and understanding of His will for us.

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Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:21] - Discussing Church Finances and God's Blessings
[02:32] - Introduction to God Conversations
[04:58] - Personal Testimony on Distributing Bibles
[07:35] - The Importance of Discerning God's Voice
[09:47] - How God Speaks to Us in Various Ways
[16:58] - Using Our Judgment as God's Fellow Workers
[19:43] - Illustration of the Hoyt Family's Teamwork
[21:46] - Conclusion and Call to Reflect on Our Relationship with God

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does Jesus mean when He calls us His friends in John 15:15?
How did Paul discern and follow the Holy Spirit's guidance during his missionary journeys as described in Acts 16:6-10?
According to the sermon, what are some ways God communicates with us? [08:56]
What role does financial stewardship play in reflecting God's blessings in our church? [01:36]

Interpretation Questions

How does the concept of being both friends and fellow workers with God shape our understanding of our relationship with Him? [02:47]
In what ways can we discern God's voice amidst our own thoughts and external influences? [07:50]
How does Paul's example in Acts 16 illustrate the balance between divine guidance and human judgment in decision-making? [15:02]
What does Isaiah 55:2 suggest about the importance of listening to God and the benefits it brings to our spiritual lives?

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you felt God was speaking to you. How did you discern His voice, and what steps did you take to confirm it? [07:50]
How can you actively engage in financial stewardship within the church as an act of worship and faith? [01:36]
Think about a persistent thought or feeling you have had recently. How might you test and confirm if it is a prompting from God? [06:38]
In what ways can you balance seeking divine guidance and using your own judgment in your daily decisions? [17:13]
How can you foster a deeper, two-way relationship with God through both speaking and listening in your prayer life? [04:06]
Consider the story of the Hoyt family. How can you rely on God's strength and guidance in your spiritual journey, similar to how the father and son relied on each other in their races? [22:01]
Identify one area in your life where you need to act on something God has already spoken to you about. What steps will you take this week to follow through? [12:57]

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "Good morning. Dan mentioned a little bit about finance and that's something we don't actually talk about very much. I think actually Dan gets a bit embarrassed when we talk about money. But you know actually for our church we punch amazingly well above our weight with the things that we do, the things that we give because God has blessed us amazingly and has always done that." [01:36]( | | )

2. "So this week we're continuing our discussion on God's conversations. I was thinking this morning Tracy will, that's my Tracy, will probably think there's a bit of an irony that I'm standing up here talking about conversations. Dorothy probably thinks the same. I'm not a great conversationalist if you know me well. There might be quite a lot of silent times. If you were with me." [02:47]( | | )

3. "And the father would, when he swam, he would tow his son in a boat. When they cycled, he would push his son on the bike. When he ran, he'd push his son as well. A father and a son were working together. And they used to say that if you watched one of the races, you'd know when they were coming because you'd hear the roar of the crowd before they got there." [21:19]( | | )

### Quotes for Members

1. "You know Jesus told us that he calls us friends. John 15, John chapter 15 verse 15, Jesus said this. I have called you friends for everything that I learned from my father I have made known to you. So this morning if you're here and you're a Christian, Jesus calls you his friend. But Paul, the apostle Paul, tells us this. He says we are God's fellow workers." [02:47]( | | )

2. "Let me give you a couple of examples so you know what I mean. When I was at university in London and I used to walk past the scripture gift mission. Scripture gift mission. I don't know if the scripture gift mission is still going. I don't know if it's known as something else. But what they did was it was their aim to see the Bible distributed at low cost around the world." [04:06]( | | )

3. "Because we're allowed to use our own judgement. The Bible says that we have the mind of Christ. Isn't that an amazing thing? The Bible says we have the mind of Christ. I think Jesus was quite a wise person, don't you? On the category of wise, he was there. On the category of people who understood God, he was there, wasn't he?" [17:13]( | | )

4. "So a quick recap. God wants a relationship with us. We are his friends. God speaks. We do what God instructs us to do because we are fellow workers, but we can also use our own judgment. If you ask yourself, why are we doing this study? What's the purpose? Why are we doing this? Why did Dan think it was a good idea for the church to talk about God conversations?" [18:16]( | | )

5. "We had an elders meeting on a Monday and he left by the Tuesday. So the church was then left rudderless. So Peter and I had a conversation and we thought the right thing here is to carry on running the church. We didn't hear God say to us, go and run this church. But we were fellow workers with God. And that was the right thing to do at that time." [06:38]( | | )

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Transcript

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