Listening to God: A Lifelong Commitment
Summary
Hearing God is not a mere episode in our lives; it is a continuous journey and a way of living. Many struggle with hearing God because they fail to recognize that it requires a life devoted to seeking and interacting with Him. God does not impose Himself upon us; instead, He invites us to seek Him earnestly. The Bible emphasizes the importance of seeking God with all our hearts, not half-heartedly. This pursuit of God is not a side activity but a central focus of our lives.
To live a life of hearing God, we must be committed to this pursuit. It is a mistake to think we can live our lives independently and only turn to God when we need help. God desires a deeper relationship with us, one that is built on consistent seeking and devotion. While God has the power to make His voice unmistakably clear, such instances are rare and often misunderstood. For example, when God spoke to Jesus, some people thought it was thunder. This illustrates that recognizing God's voice is not automatic; it requires a life aligned with His will and purpose.
The scriptures teach us that hearing God comes to those who live a certain kind of life—a life dedicated to seeking Him and understanding His ways. It is through this devoted life that we become attuned to His voice and guidance. This journey of hearing God is not about occasional encounters but about cultivating a relationship where His voice becomes a natural part of our daily lives.
Key Takeaways:
1. Hearing God as a Lifestyle: Hearing God is not a one-time event but a lifestyle. It requires a continuous commitment to seeking and interacting with Him. This lifestyle is marked by a heart fully devoted to God, not just seeking Him when convenient. [00:27]
2. The Importance of Seeking: The Bible repeatedly calls us to seek God with all our hearts. This earnest seeking is essential for hearing His voice. Half-hearted efforts will not suffice; a genuine pursuit is necessary to cultivate a relationship with God. [01:01]
3. God's Gentle Invitation: God does not force His way into our lives. He invites us to seek Him and promises to be found by those who earnestly pursue Him. This gentle invitation requires us to prioritize our relationship with Him above all else. [00:44]
4. Misunderstanding God's Voice: Recognizing God's voice is not automatic. Even when God speaks clearly, it can be misunderstood, as seen when people mistook God's voice for thunder. This highlights the need for a life attuned to His presence. [02:06]
5. A Life Aligned with God: Hearing God comes to those who live a life aligned with His will. This alignment involves a deep commitment to understanding His ways and making His voice a natural part of our daily lives. [02:25]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:27] - Hearing God as a Lifestyle
[00:44] - The Importance of Seeking
[01:01] - Wholehearted Pursuit
[01:14] - Commitment to Hearing God
[01:32] - God's Gentle Invitation
[01:49] - Misunderstanding God's Voice
[02:06] - Recognizing God's Voice
[02:25] - A Life Aligned with God
[02:42] - Conclusion
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Hearing God as a Lifestyle
Bible Reading:
1. Jeremiah 29:13 - "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
2. Matthew 6:33 - "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
3. John 12:28-29 - "Father, glorify your name!" Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again." The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.
Observation Questions:
1. According to the sermon, why do many people struggle with hearing God? [00:27]
2. What does the sermon suggest is necessary for living a life of hearing God? [01:14]
3. How does the sermon illustrate the misunderstanding of God's voice using the example of Jesus? [01:49]
4. What does the sermon say about God's approach to making His voice known to us? [01:32]
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Jeremiah 29:13 relate to the idea of seeking God with all our hearts as discussed in the sermon? [00:44]
2. In what ways does Matthew 6:33 support the sermon’s emphasis on prioritizing our relationship with God? [01:01]
3. How does the example from John 12:28-29 illustrate the challenges of recognizing God's voice, as mentioned in the sermon? [02:06]
4. What does the sermon imply about the relationship between living a life aligned with God and hearing His voice? [02:25]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current lifestyle. How can you make seeking God a more central focus in your daily routine? [00:27]
2. What are some practical steps you can take to seek God with all your heart, as encouraged in the sermon? [01:01]
3. Have you ever experienced a moment where you misunderstood or missed God's voice? What can you learn from that experience? [01:49]
4. How can you ensure that your pursuit of God is not just a side activity but a primary commitment in your life? [01:14]
5. Think of a time when you felt God was inviting you to seek Him more earnestly. How did you respond, and what was the outcome? [01:32]
6. In what ways can you align your life more closely with God's will to better hear His voice? [02:25]
7. Identify one area in your life where you can prioritize God's gentle invitation to seek Him. What changes will you make this week to respond to that invitation? [01:32]
Devotional
Day 1: Hearing God as a Continuous Journey
Hearing God is not a one-time event but a lifestyle. It requires a continuous commitment to seeking and interacting with Him. This lifestyle is marked by a heart fully devoted to God, not just seeking Him when convenient. [00:27]
"For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel: 'Seek me and live; but do not seek Bethel, and do not enter into Gilgal or cross over to Beersheba; for Gilgal shall surely go into exile, and Bethel shall come to nothing.'" (Amos 5:4-5, ESV)
Reflection: What daily habits can you establish to ensure that seeking God becomes a natural and continuous part of your life, rather than something you turn to only in times of need?
Day 2: The Necessity of Earnest Seeking
The Bible repeatedly calls us to seek God with all our hearts. This earnest seeking is essential for hearing His voice. Half-hearted efforts will not suffice; a genuine pursuit is necessary to cultivate a relationship with God. [01:01]
"And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever." (1 Chronicles 28:9, ESV)
Reflection: Consider a time when you sought God half-heartedly. What steps can you take today to seek Him with your whole heart and mind?
Day 3: Responding to God's Gentle Invitation
God does not force His way into our lives. He invites us to seek Him and promises to be found by those who earnestly pursue Him. This gentle invitation requires us to prioritize our relationship with Him above all else. [00:44]
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me." (Revelation 3:20, ESV)
Reflection: How can you respond to God's gentle invitation today? What practical steps can you take to prioritize your relationship with Him?
Day 4: Recognizing God's Voice Amidst Noise
Recognizing God's voice is not automatic. Even when God speaks clearly, it can be misunderstood, as seen when people mistook God's voice for thunder. This highlights the need for a life attuned to His presence. [02:06]
"And the Lord said to Elijah, 'Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.' And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper." (1 Kings 19:11-12, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you quiet the noise in your life to better recognize and understand God's voice?
Day 5: Aligning Your Life with God's Will
Hearing God comes to those who live a life aligned with His will. This alignment involves a deep commitment to understanding His ways and making His voice a natural part of our daily lives. [02:25]
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV)
Reflection: What areas of your life need realignment with God's will? How can you begin to make His voice a more integral part of your daily decision-making?
Quotes
but right now what i want to emphasize to you is that hearing god is not just an episode it's a life many people have trouble with hearing god because they don't understand that it is a part of a life of hearing god a life that is devoted to god and to learning how to interact with him [00:14:47]
god normally will not run over you that's why there's so much in the bible about seeking seek the lord seek his face seek first the kingdom of god if with all your heart you truly seek me now that didn't say if you half-heartedly seek me and one of the things that we have to understand is [00:44:23]
if you want to live a life of hearing god you have to be devoted to that it isn't a little something on the side see many people make the mistake of thinking that they can sort of live their life and if they need a little help ask god for it but god does not cooperate with that [01:12:56]
now he can do anything he wants to and if he wants to he can holler at you loud enough that you cannot possibly avoid but if that happens you probably won't know what happened you remember the case where god spoke to jesus and said i approve of you and the people standing there said it thundered [01:38:16]
see you don't automatically understand what god is saying or that he is saying just because he said it some people make the mistake of thinking that if god ever spoke to them they would automatically recognize it but the picture that you get from the scriptures is no it comes to a person who is living a certain kind of life [02:10:00]
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