Hearing the Voice of the Good Shepherd
Summary
The sermon begins with the pastor emphasizing the importance of preparing oneself to hear from God. He encourages the congregation to listen to the voice of the Shepherd, who will lead them to green pastures and still waters. The pastor urges the congregation to grow, revive, refocus, and repent in order to prepare their hearts for God's guidance. He acknowledges that there may be things that need repentance and encourages the congregation to do so, promising that God will revive their souls like never before. The pastor invites those who are seeking to hear from God to raise their hands, and leads a prayer for self-reflection and growth.
The pastor then introduces the current series, "The Voice of the Shepherd," emphasizing that God still speaks today. He highlights the importance of knowing that God desires a personal relationship with His people and that He speaks to them. The pastor acknowledges the difficulty of hearing God's voice at times and the confusion it can bring, but reassures the congregation that as born-again believers, they are part of God's flock and can hear His voice. The pastor concludes by mentioning that before delving into how God speaks through His Spirit and His word, he will address potential hindrances to hearing from God.
The pastor discusses the importance of making wise decisions and choices in life. He refers to the parable of the sower, where different results are obtained based on the condition of the soil the seed is planted in. The pastor suggests that this parable represents the heart of humanity and how the word of God is deposited in different types of hearts. He emphasizes that the condition of one's heart can hinder them from hearing God's voice, and it is important to address and deal with any issues in the heart.
The pastor then shifts the focus to the relationship between shepherds and sheep. He explains that sheep have the ability to hear and recognize the voice of their shepherd. This unique relationship allows the shepherd to call and the sheep to respond, distinguishing them from other sheep. The pastor highlights the significance of being able to hear the voice of Jesus, as mentioned in John 10. He emphasizes that by hearing and following the voice of Jesus, believers can experience the guidance and leadership of the Good Shepherd in their lives.
The pastor concludes by emphasizing the importance of spiritual maturity and growth in our relationship with the Lord. He explains that moving from "milk" to "meat" in our faith is not about how much Bible knowledge we have, but rather about how we live out the teachings of the Bible in our daily lives. The pastor challenges the congregation to take steps of growth, such as joining a small group or being baptized, even if it requires sacrificing certain comforts or overcoming excuses.
Key Takeaways:
- The pastor emphasizes the importance of preparing oneself to hear from God. He encourages the congregation to grow, revive, refocus, and repent in order to prepare their hearts for God's guidance. This is a call to self-reflection and growth, and a reminder that God is always ready to guide those who are willing to listen. [49:33]
- The pastor highlights the importance of knowing that God desires a personal relationship with His people and that He speaks to them. This is a reassurance that as born-again believers, we are part of God's flock and can hear His voice. It is a reminder that God is not distant, but actively involved in our lives. [52:45]
- The pastor suggests that the parable of the sower represents the heart of humanity and how the word of God is deposited in different types of hearts. This is a call to examine our hearts and address any issues that may hinder us from hearing God's voice. It is a reminder that the condition of our hearts can affect our ability to receive God's word. [56:12]
- The pastor highlights the significance of being able to hear the voice of Jesus, as mentioned in John 10. This is a reminder that by hearing and following the voice of Jesus, believers can experience the guidance and leadership of the Good Shepherd in their lives. It is a call to listen for the voice of Jesus in our daily lives and follow His guidance. [59:30]
- The pastor emphasizes the importance of spiritual maturity and growth in our relationship with the Lord. This is a challenge to take steps of growth, such as joining a small group or being baptized, even if it requires sacrificing certain comforts or overcoming excuses. It is a reminder that spiritual growth is not about how much Bible knowledge we have, but rather about how we live out the teachings of the Bible in our daily lives. [1:02:45]
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. John 10:27: "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me."
2. Mark 4:3-9: "Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.”
3. Matthew 24:12: "Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold."
Observation Questions:
1. What are the different types of soil mentioned in Mark 4:3-9 and what happens to the seed in each type?
2. In John 10:27, what are the characteristics of the sheep that belong to Jesus?
3. What does Matthew 24:12 suggest about the state of the world and its impact on love?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the parable of the sower in Mark 4:3-9 relate to the condition of human hearts and their receptivity to God's word?
2. What does it mean to listen to and follow the voice of Jesus as described in John 10:27?
3. How might the increase of wickedness, as mentioned in Matthew 24:12, affect one's ability to love?
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on the condition of your heart. Which type of soil in the parable of the sower does it most resemble and why?
2. Can you recall a time when you distinctly heard God's voice? How did you respond and what was the outcome?
3. Considering Matthew 24:12, can you identify any areas in your life where love has grown cold due to the influence of wickedness? What steps can you take to rekindle that love?
4. What is one specific action you can take this week to better prepare your heart to hear from God?
5. Think of a person or situation that challenges your ability to love. What is a short prayer you can say before the next time you interact with that person or face that situation?
Quotes
1. "I think God's wanting to have a conversation with us and I don't think you that you really Chase evil things but I do think that you can be distracted with good things and it will cost you the best things that God has for you in your life." [22:37]
2. "If you're not intentional about being intentional with your time with the Lord can I tell you that this world is buying and grabbing for your attention and you've got to set some time aside you got to lean in you got to find your secret place put him first and allow the spirit of God to one deal with your heart because he will." [24:15]
3. "Your heart can grow callous and cold, it can grow bitter with unforgiveness and all this stuff in our heart. God is constantly speaking, but all we can think about is the wrong that was done, all we can think about is the bitterness that we have." [16:15]
4. "Maturity comes when we stop making excuses and start making changes." [30:26]
5. "He who has an ear to hear, let him hear. And could it be one of the greatest things that hinders us from hearing the voice of God is the condition of your heart." [07:03]
6. "You serve a God that still speaks today. It's important that you know that he speaks because it would be an injustice for me to stand up here as a pastor and say God desires a personal relationship with you but he won't speak to you." [01:08]
7. "The sheep have the ability, this innate ability, a trained ear to hear and to recognize the shepherd's voice." This quote emphasizes the importance of cultivating a listening ear to hear God's voice amidst the noise and distractions of the world. When we tune in to His voice, we can experience His guidance and direction in our lives. [04:42]
8. "As we prepare to hear the voice of the Shepherd, he'll lead you to Green Pastures, help you navigate beside Still Waters. We need to grow, revive, refocus, and repent. There might be some things you need to repent from, but when you do that and refocus, watch God revive your soul like never before." [35:39]
9. "If you're here today and you want to examine your heart and hear from God like never before, raise your hand. There are some serious decisions being made, and you need to hear the voice of the Lord on this. Let us do a self-reflection, a self-audit of the things in our heart, and have the courage to take a step in growth." [36:15]
10. "The gospel is not about making bad people good, it's about making dead people alive." [11:51]
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