Listening to God's Voice: Faith and Obedience
Summary
In today's gathering, we delve into the profound truth that God is actively speaking to us, calling us by name, and desiring a personal relationship with each one of us. The voice of the Savior is not a distant echo but a present and persistent knock at the door of our hearts, as depicted in Revelation 3:20. This passage illustrates the intimacy of Jesus' pursuit, inviting us to open the door to fellowship with Him. However, we must be vigilant, for there are counterfeit voices—thieves and robbers—seeking to lead us astray. Our Good Shepherd's voice is distinct, and He beckons us to follow Him into the fullness of life He has prepared for us.
To experience the breakthroughs God has for us, we must exercise faith. Faith is not a passive state but an active stance that comes by hearing the Word of the Lord. It is essential to immerse ourselves in Scripture, for the Holy Spirit uses the Word to remind us of Jesus' teachings and to renew our minds. When we align our thoughts with the truth of God's Word, we dismantle the strongholds the enemy has attempted to establish in our minds.
Staying close to the Shepherd is crucial. We must prioritize our relationship with God not only on Sundays but throughout the week, transforming our daily environments into sanctuaries where we can hear His voice. Responding to His voice often requires us to choose truth over facts, as God's ways transcend our natural understanding. We see this in the biblical accounts of David and Goliath and Joshua commanding the sun to stand still—instances where faith in God's truth overrode the apparent facts.
I shared a personal testimony from my childhood, where I took a risk to hear God's voice by asking the Holy Spirit to wake me up at a specific time. This experience laid a foundation for discerning God's voice in more significant decisions later in life. Obedience to God's general will primes us for obedience to His specific will for our lives.
Lastly, we must actively reject the lies of the enemy. Spiritual warfare is a daily reality, and we exercise authority over our minds by choosing what to think, aligning our thoughts with the truth of God's Word. This practice of taking every thought captive is essential for living in the freedom Christ has won for us.
Key Takeaways:
- The voice of Jesus is not reserved for a select few; it is a promise to all who follow Him. Just as sheep recognize their shepherd's voice, we too can discern the voice of our Savior amidst the noise of life. This recognition comes from a place of intimacy and requires us to stay close to Him, making every moment an opportunity to listen and respond. [51:04]
- Faith is not merely belief; it is action grounded in the truth of God's Word. When we face situations where facts seem to contradict God's promises, we must remember that we serve a supernatural God who is not limited by our understanding. Our maturity in Christ is measured by our obedience to His voice, not by the length of our spiritual journey. [55:14]
- God's patience and kindness are evident in His willingness to confirm His word to us. Like Gideon, we can ask God for confirmation without fear of reproach. Our relationship with God is a dialogue, and He understands our need for assurance as we learn to trust His voice. [59:28]
- Obedience to God's voice is a muscle that strengthens with use. The more we respond to the general will of God, the more attuned we become to His specific guidance in our lives. Each act of obedience paves the way for the next step in our divine journey. [58:05]
- Spiritual warfare requires us to be proactive in rejecting the enemy's lies. By exercising authority over our thoughts and aligning them with Scripture, we maintain the victory that Christ has secured for us. This daily discipline ensures that we live in the abundance Jesus came to give us. [01:00:09]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Revelation 3:20
2. 1 Samuel 17:45
3. John 14:26
#### Observation Questions
1. According to Revelation 3:20, what is Jesus doing at the door of our hearts, and what is His promise if we open the door to Him?
2. In 1 Samuel 17:45, how does David contrast his approach to Goliath with Goliath's approach to him? What does this reveal about David's faith?
3. What role does the Holy Spirit play in helping us remember Jesus' teachings according to John 14:26?
4. The sermon mentioned the importance of staying close to the Shepherd. What are some practical ways mentioned to stay close to Jesus throughout the week? [51:44]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the imagery of Jesus knocking at the door in Revelation 3:20 illustrate the nature of our relationship with Him? What does this say about His desire for intimacy with us?
2. David's declaration in 1 Samuel 17:45 shows a reliance on God's power over physical weapons. How can this perspective change the way we face our own "giants" or challenges in life? [54:28]
3. The sermon emphasized the importance of faith over facts. How can we discern when to rely on faith rather than the apparent facts of a situation? [53:43]
4. The Holy Spirit's role in reminding us of Jesus' teachings is crucial. How can we ensure that we are giving the Holy Spirit "something to work with" in our daily lives? [01:03:38]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt Jesus knocking at the door of your heart. How did you respond, and what was the outcome? How can you be more attentive to His knock in your daily life? [01:06:57]
2. David faced Goliath with faith in God's power rather than fear of the giant. Identify a current challenge in your life. How can you approach it with the same faith David had? [54:28]
3. The sermon mentioned the importance of making our daily environments sanctuaries where we can hear God's voice. What specific changes can you make in your home or routine to create such an environment? [51:44]
4. The speaker shared a personal testimony about learning to hear God's voice as a child. Have you ever taken a similar risk to hear God's voice? What was the result, and how did it impact your faith journey? [55:57]
5. Spiritual warfare is a daily reality. What are some lies of the enemy that you need to actively reject? How can you use Scripture to combat these lies and align your thoughts with God's truth? [01:00:09]
6. The sermon highlighted the importance of obedience to God's general will as a foundation for discerning His specific will. What are some general commands of God that you need to be more obedient to? How can this obedience prepare you for more specific guidance? [58:05]
7. The speaker mentioned the need for confirmation from God, as seen in the story of Gideon. Have you ever asked God for confirmation? How did He respond, and how did it affect your trust in His guidance? [59:28]
Devotional
Day 1: Discerning the Savior's Voice
God's desire for intimacy with His children is evident in His persistent call to each of us. The voice of Jesus is a personal invitation to fellowship, not a distant or impersonal sound. It is crucial to recognize that amidst the cacophony of life's distractions, the voice of the Good Shepherd is calling. This voice is not reserved for a select few but is a promise to all who follow Him. To discern this voice, one must cultivate a close relationship with Jesus, spending time in His presence and learning to recognize His gentle whispers. Intimacy with God is not a sporadic event but a continuous journey, where every moment is an opportunity to listen and respond to His call.
"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 create quiet moments in your daily routine to listen for God's voice and what practical steps will you take to ensure you are attentive to His presence? [51:04]
Day 2: Faith Beyond Facts
Faith is an active stance, not merely a passive belief. It requires one to stand on the truth of God's Word, even when circumstances seem to contradict His promises. The essence of faith is action grounded in the conviction that God's ways are higher than our ways. As believers mature in Christ, their obedience to His voice becomes the true measure of spiritual growth, not the length of their journey. This maturity is often displayed in moments where one must choose God's truth over apparent facts, trusting in the supernatural over the natural.
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord." (Isaiah 55:8 ESV)
Reflection: Can you identify a situation in your life where you need to choose faith over sight, and what is one step you can take today to demonstrate that faith? [55:14]
Day 3: Dialogue with the Divine
God's patience and kindness are manifest in His willingness to engage with us in a dialogue, confirming His word to us as we grow in trust. The relationship with God is not a monologue but a two-way conversation, where He understands our need for assurance. Like Gideon, who asked for a sign from God, believers are encouraged to seek confirmation from the Lord without fear of reproach, knowing that He is compassionate and faithful to respond.
"And Gideon said to God, 'If you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said, behold, I am laying a fleece of wool on the threshing floor.'" (Judges 6:36-37a ESV)
Reflection: What specific assurance are you seeking from God today, and how can you open your heart to receive His confirmation? [59:28]
Day 4: Strengthening Obedience Muscles
Obedience to God's voice is like a muscle that grows stronger with use. The more one responds to the general will of God, the more attuned they become to His specific guidance. Each act of obedience, no matter how small, is a step forward in the divine journey, paving the way for greater discernment and deeper trust in God's plan for one's life.
"And Samuel said, 'Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.'" (1 Samuel 15:22 ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on a recent time when you obeyed God's general will. How did that experience prepare you for more specific guidance, and what is the next step He is asking you to take? [58:05]
Day 5: Victory in Spiritual Warfare
Spiritual warfare is an ongoing battle that requires believers to be proactive in rejecting the enemy's lies. By exercising authority over our thoughts and aligning them with Scripture, we maintain the victory that Christ has secured for us. This daily discipline of taking every thought captive ensures that we live in the abundance Jesus came to give, free from the strongholds that the enemy attempts to establish.
"For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds." (2 Corinthians 10:3-4 ESV)
Reflection: What lie of the enemy do you need to reject today, and how can you actively replace it with the truth of God's Word? [01:00:09]
Quotes
1) "When fear tries to come in and tell me that I am going to have lack, I arrest it and say, 'Inflation is at 6%, but the word of the Lord says He rebukes the Devourer for my sake.'" [01:02:58] (Download)
2) "Maturity is not marked by how many years you've been saved; it's marked by how obedient you are to your Savior." [55:14] (Download)
3) "The more obedient you are to the general will of God, the more obedient you will be to the specific will of God. It's a habit, it's a muscle; the more you use it, the stronger it will get." [58:05] (Download)
4) "The voice of the father is speaking to you, and three practical things that you and I can do to recognize his voice: stay close to the shepherd, exercise your faith, and reject the lies of the enemy." [51:04] (Download)
5) "You can't eat once a week and think that you're going to have the strength to hear the voice of the Lord the other six days. So stay close to the Holy Spirit." [52:20] (Download)
6) "The Holy Spirit's Ministry to you, Jesus told us in John 14, is to bring all things to your remembrance and to remind you of the things Jesus has taught." [01:03:38] (Download)
7) "You are going to have to exercise The Authority he has given you so that he doesn't lie to you and convince you that you're actually under his Dominion through strongholds in your mind." [01:05:42] (Download)
8) "You were created to live on the words that proceed from the mouth of God. This morning, so let me pray for you, father in the name of Jesus, I thank you for every single man and woman in this place." [01:09:46] (Download)
9) "The Lord knows your walk better than you know your walk; he knows the places you've been hurt, and he will confirm his word for you if you ask him to." [59:28] (Download)
10) "Spiritual warfare is real and it is every day, so we have to reject the lies of the enemy with the truth of God's word." [01:00:09] (Download)
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