Hearing God's Voice Amidst Life's Distractions

Devotional

Day 1: Finding Solitude in the Noise

In a world filled with distractions, finding a quiet place to hear God's voice is crucial. Jesus often retreated to solitary places to pray and connect with God. We must do the same to combat the enemy's noise and align ourselves with God's will. The constant barrage of material desires, social status, and other distractions can drown out the still, small voice of God. By intentionally seeking solitude, we create space to hear Him more clearly and align our lives with His purpose. [02:54]

"And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed." — Mark 1:35 (ESV)

Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to carve out a quiet time and place to connect with God amidst your daily distractions?

Day 2: The Power of Surrender

Surrendering to God allows the Holy Spirit to work through us. Jesus' humility in being baptized by John the Baptist, despite being the Son of God, shows us the importance of surrender. When we humble ourselves, God can fill us with His Spirit and guide us through life's challenges. Surrender is not a sign of weakness but a powerful act of faith that invites God's transformative power into our lives. By letting go of our own agendas and trusting in God's plan, we open ourselves to His divine guidance and strength. [09:49]

"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you." — James 4:10 (ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?

Day 3: Using Scripture to Combat Temptation

Jesus used scripture to counter the devil's temptations in the wilderness. We must immerse ourselves in God's word daily to equip ourselves with the spiritual armor needed to resist the enemy's attacks. The word of God is our most powerful weapon. By knowing and internalizing scripture, we can stand firm against the lies and temptations that come our way. This daily practice of engaging with God's word strengthens our faith and fortifies our spirit. [12:31]

"Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." — Ephesians 6:17 (ESV)

Reflection: What specific Bible verses can you memorize this week to help you combat the temptations and challenges you face?

Day 4: The Importance of Rest and the Sabbath

God designed us to need rest, and the Sabbath is a gift meant to rejuvenate us. By honoring the Sabbath and taking time to rest, we align ourselves with God's design and allow our minds and spirits to catch up with our bodies. Rest is not just a physical necessity but a spiritual discipline that helps us reconnect with God and gain a renewed perspective on life. Embracing the Sabbath as a time of rest and worship can lead to greater spiritual and emotional well-being. [18:57]

"Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the Lord." — Exodus 31:15a (ESV)

Reflection: How can you intentionally set aside time this week to rest and honor the Sabbath, allowing yourself to be rejuvenated both physically and spiritually?

Day 5: Unity in the Body of Christ

Unity, death to self, and praise bring heaven down to earth. When we unite as believers, die to our fleshly desires, and praise God with undignified joy, we create an environment where God's miracles can manifest. Unity in the body of Christ is essential for spiritual growth and transformation. By fostering a spirit of unity and selflessness, we can experience the fullness of God's presence and power in our midst. This unity not only strengthens our faith but also serves as a powerful witness to the world. [27:50]

"May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." — Romans 15:5-6 (ESV)

Reflection: What steps can you take to promote unity and selflessness within your church community, and how can you contribute to creating an environment where God's miracles can manifest?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we explored the theme of "Life in the Noise" and how to hear God's voice amidst the constant distractions and pressures of modern life. We began by acknowledging the increasing noise in our lives, from material desires to social status, and how these distractions are tools of the enemy. The key to overcoming this noise is to find a quiet place where we can hear God's voice. I shared my personal journey, from struggling with identity and performance in baseball to finding solace and purpose in God's word. This transformation began when I surrendered my life to Jesus and started leading Bible studies, which grew significantly in number and impact.

We then turned to the example of Jesus, who, despite being filled with the Holy Spirit, was led into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. This wilderness, or "eromos" in Greek, is not a place of harm but a place of solitude where we can connect deeply with God. Jesus' time in the wilderness teaches us the importance of solitude and reliance on God's word to combat the enemy's temptations. We discussed how Jesus used scripture to counter the devil's attacks and how we must do the same by immersing ourselves in God's word daily.

The sermon emphasized the importance of humility and surrender. Jesus' baptism by John the Baptist, despite being the Son of God, exemplifies the humility we must adopt. Surrendering to God allows the Holy Spirit to work through us, transforming our lives and enabling us to resist worldly temptations. We also touched on the significance of rest and the Sabbath, as God designed us to need rest to function optimally.

Finally, we discussed the power of unity and community in the body of Christ. Unity, death to self, and praise bring heaven down to earth, creating an environment where God's miracles can manifest. We are called to live joy-filled, spirit-filled lives that attract others to Jesus. By sharing our testimonies and living out our faith boldly, we can transform the noise of the world into praise for God.

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Key Takeaways

1. Finding Solitude in the Noise: In a world filled with distractions, finding a quiet place to hear God's voice is crucial. Jesus often retreated to solitary places to pray and connect with God. We must do the same to combat the enemy's noise and align ourselves with God's will. [02:54]
2. The Power of Surrender: Surrendering to God allows the Holy Spirit to work through us. Jesus' humility in being baptized by John the Baptist, despite being the Son of God, shows us the importance of surrender. When we humble ourselves, God can fill us with His Spirit and guide us through life's challenges. [09:49]
3. Using Scripture to Combat Temptation: Jesus used scripture to counter the devil's temptations in the wilderness. We must immerse ourselves in God's word daily to equip ourselves with the spiritual armor needed to resist the enemy's attacks. The word of God is our most powerful weapon. [12:31]
4. The Importance of Rest and the Sabbath: God designed us to need rest, and the Sabbath is a gift meant to rejuvenate us. By honoring the Sabbath and taking time to rest, we align ourselves with God's design and allow our minds and spirits to catch up with our bodies. [18:57]
5. Unity in the Body of Christ: Unity, death to self, and praise bring heaven down to earth. When we unite as believers, die to our fleshly desires, and praise God with undignified joy, we create an environment where God's miracles can manifest. Unity in the body of Christ is essential for spiritual growth and transformation. [27:50]
### [27:50]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:54] - Life in the Noise
[04:11] - Personal Journey: College of San Mateo
[05:31] - Finding Identity in Christ
[06:52] - Leading Bible Studies
[08:11] - Surrendering to God
[09:49] - Jesus' Baptism and Humility
[11:13] - The Wilderness Experience
[12:31] - Using Scripture Against Temptation
[13:52] - The Power of God's Word
[15:00] - The Importance of Fasting
[17:43] - The Power of Surrender
[18:57] - The Gift of Rest
[20:18] - The Challenge of Solitude
[22:46] - Humility and Surrender
[24:02] - Knowing God's Voice
[25:18] - Being Sent Out
[26:38] - Sharing Your Testimony
[27:50] - Unity in the Body of Christ
[29:19] - Joy-Filled Life
[30:27] - Living Differently
[31:18] - Dancing to My Own Beat
[32:02] - David's Undignified Praise
[33:33] - Returning to Solitude
[34:07] - Walking in Freedom
[34:58] - Unity and Miracles
[35:46] - Life as Worship
[36:26] - The Gift of Knowing Jesus
[37:09] - Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Luke 3:21-22 (NIV) — > "When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: 'You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.'"

2. Luke 4:1-13 (NIV)
> "Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. The devil said to him, 'If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.' Jesus answered, 'It is written: "Man shall not live on bread alone."' The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, 'I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours.' Jesus answered, 'It is written: "Worship the Lord your God and serve him only."' The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 'If you are the Son of God,' he said, 'throw yourself down from here. For it is written: "He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone."' Jesus answered, 'It is said: "Do not put the Lord your God to the test."' When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time."

3. Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)
> "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

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Observation Questions

What significant event happened to Jesus in Luke 3:21-22, and how did it prepare Him for His ministry?
In Luke 4:1-13, how did Jesus respond to the devil's temptations, and what does this reveal about the importance of Scripture? [12:31]
According to Romans 12:1-2, what are believers urged to do, and what is the result of this action?

Interpretation Questions

Why is it significant that Jesus, the Son of God, was baptized by John the Baptist, and what does this teach us about humility and surrender? [09:49]
How does Jesus' time in the wilderness illustrate the importance of solitude and reliance on God's word in combating the enemy's temptations? [11:13]
What does it mean to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, and how does this concept challenge the way we live our daily lives according to Romans 12:1-2?

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you felt overwhelmed by the "noise" of life. How did you find a quiet place to hear God's voice, and what steps can you take to create more opportunities for solitude in your daily routine? [02:54]
Jesus used Scripture to counter the devil's temptations. How can you incorporate more of God's word into your daily life to equip yourself against spiritual attacks? [12:31]
Surrendering to God allows the Holy Spirit to work through us. What areas of your life do you need to surrender to God, and how can you practice humility in your daily interactions? [09:49]
The sermon emphasized the importance of rest and the Sabbath. How can you better honor the Sabbath and incorporate rest into your weekly schedule to align with God's design? [18:57]
Unity in the body of Christ is essential for spiritual growth. How can you foster unity within your small group or church community, and what practical steps can you take to support and encourage one another? [27:50]
The sermon mentioned the power of sharing testimonies. Think of a recent experience where you saw God's hand at work. How can you share this testimony with others to encourage and build their faith? [26:38]
Living a joy-filled, spirit-filled life attracts others to Jesus. What specific actions can you take this week to live out your faith boldly and joyfully, and how can you be a light to those around you? [30:27]

Sermon Clips

1. "I'm just here at a level with you guys. I am a broken individual. I'm a broken human being transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ so I'm not I'm not here today trying to elevate myself to any of you guys I'm here just preaching what God what God taught me what God has been teaching me and what God is gonna continue to teach me because this message about life in the noise it just seems as though it's getting noise noisier and noisier and noisier each and every day, and it's as if, what is next?" [02:54] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "It's about getting to the quiet place. It's about getting into silence where we actually can begin to hear God's voice. I want to share a little bit of my story because I think it goes well with the life of the nation. It begins my senior year of high school. I come out of my senior year, no scholarships, and I go to a junior college, College of San Mateo. And one of my teammates is right here, Connor. Thank you, Connor, for being here." [04:11] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "I was so caught up in what others thought about me, so caught up in what my coach said about me, or what even my teammates thought about me during this time, that I lost sight of who my identity should have been in this whole entire time. And the very next day, this guy comes up to me on my college. And this college, in my mind, in my eyes, it was just grayness. It was just gray, and just dark, and just no, no hint of Jesus there." [05:31] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "A disciple is an apprentice. It's someone who sits under Jesus, and practices the way of God each and every day of life. Someone who denies his flesh, takes up his cross, and follows him day in and day out. And I was not doing that. I was not living that way. I was living far from God, and I was wrecked. I called my mom, and I said, mom, I now understand it. I need to be a disciple for Jesus." [06:52] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "I decided to just give my life fully over to Jesus Christ. I just gave it all to Him. That next year, I transferred to Gavilan College and continued leading Bible studies and surrendered the season over to Him. I said, God, if I bat 200 or I bat 400, I do not care. I want to give this season over to You because Your will be done. And what He did with that season was something that I could not even imagine." [08:11] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "But when we deny ourselves and actually die to our flesh, we're actually to live and walk in the Holy Spirit. And that's what we're trying to do. And that's the Holy Spirit's fullness in it, fullness of power. And then we're not going to be able to conform to the ways of this world, because we're going to be turned in, we're going to be transformed into Jesus. And if we're transformed into Jesus, then the ways of this world will look so less appealing to us." [12:31] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "We need this word to fight against the battles of this world. We need the word. But so many of us, we wake up, we turn to our phone, and the noise is right there before us. We scroll through Instagram, we scroll through TikTok, we get text messages, and we're so, we get so anxious. And we wonder why we get so anxious, because there's so many things that get done. But God is saying, come to me, all who are weary, and I will give you rest." [13:52] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "We need to cherish the Eremos. We need to cherish the wilderness, and that is so difficult. We need to cherish the times where we can get alone with God. They'll, they fill us, it fills us up, it gives us life, and, and that is the place where we be transformed, because it is, it is in the, the, the wilderness where then we're able to equip, and the stretching happens of faith, that we're able to respond, and, and say no to the enemy, and yes to God, and then we'll be able to move forward." [22:46] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "We need to have a joy-filled life. We need to have a spirit-filled life. And if you don't, go back to the secret place. If you don't, go back to the secret place. That is the place where you have the most joy because that is in the place where you're in oneness with nobody else, not where your mom, your dad, your sister, your brother, your aunt, your uncle can say anything, but you and God. What does God have for me today? Go to the secret place." [30:27] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "We need to know that when we walk into the noise, the battle is already won. We are walking from freedom. We already have freedom. It's the story's been written. The story has been written. The story's been written. Jesus wins. I don't know if you guys knew that. Jesus wins at the end of time. So, if we have this knowledge, if we have this confidence, we can go out into the noise, no matter what everybody's saying. I want to be different because I know that there's a hope in heaven." [34:07] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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