Listening to God's Voice: Faith, Obedience, and Rest
Summary
The sermon begins with the pastor emphasizing the importance of discerning our thoughts and intentions towards Jesus Christ. The pastor explains that God's word convicts us to lead us to the truth found in Jesus. The rest that God promised his people Israel is symbolic of finding rest in Jesus. The pastor urges the congregation to listen to God's voice and enter into that rest, highlighting the consequences of disobedience and the urgency of obedience to Jesus Christ. Faith and obedience are presented as interconnected, with obedience being an expression of true faith. The pastor also explains the significance of the word of God as a sword, capable of cutting through our pretensions and revealing the truth in our hearts.
The pastor then reflects on their experience of studying the Bible both academically and spiritually. They recall how studying the Bible at the university level provided an academic perspective, but it was not until they attended Regent College that they truly appreciated the difference between studying the Bible as a religious document and as God's speech and revelation to humanity. The pastor emphasizes the need to recapture the understanding that the Bible is not just a mundane and familiar document, but a holy and special one through which God speaks to us.
The pastor then discusses the power of the Word of God, specifically referencing Hebrews 4:12. The pastor acknowledges that this passage is often quoted to emphasize the power of Scripture in convicting and piercing the hearts of believers. However, the pastor encourages the congregation to consider the broader context of Hebrews to gain a deeper understanding of the text. The pastor explains that God had invited His people, Israel, into a restful and peaceful state, but their constant disobedience and lack of trust prevented them from entering into that rest. The pastor then explains that the author of Hebrews shifts the focus to Jesus, who becomes the rest that God invites believers into through faith in Him.
The pastor emphasizes the importance of obedience to Jesus in order to hear His voice. The pastor acknowledges that God's voice is not always audible or loud, referencing the story of Elijah in First Kings when God spoke to him in a still small voice. The pastor encourages the congregation to train themselves to listen to God each day, trusting and obeying Him. They highlight the distractions that our culture offers and challenge the listeners to strip them away and focus on what God is saying.
The pastor concludes the sermon by emphasizing the conviction that God continues to speak to His people today, just as He did in the Old Testament scriptures. The pastor urges the congregation to heed God's voice and not harden their hearts. The pastor then explores the question of when God speaks to us today, starting with the negative aspect of when He is silent. The pastor refers to biblical passages, such as 1 Samuel and Amos, which describe times when the word of the Lord was rare and infrequent. These instances of God's silence were a result of the disobedience of His people.
Key Takeaways:
- The pastor emphasizes that God's word convicts us to lead us to the truth found in Jesus. The rest that God promised his people Israel is symbolic of finding rest in Jesus. The pastor urges the congregation to listen to God's voice and enter into that rest, highlighting the consequences of disobedience and the urgency of obedience to Jesus Christ. ([12:45])
- The pastor reflects on their experience of studying the Bible both academically and spiritually. They recall how studying the Bible at the university level provided an academic perspective, but it was not until they attended Regent College that they truly appreciated the difference between studying the Bible as a religious document and as God's speech and revelation to humanity. ([24:30])
- The pastor discusses the power of the Word of God, specifically referencing Hebrews 4:12. The pastor acknowledges that this passage is often quoted to emphasize the power of Scripture in convicting and piercing the hearts of believers. However, the pastor encourages the congregation to consider the broader context of Hebrews to gain a deeper understanding of the text. ([36:15])
- The pastor emphasizes the importance of obedience to Jesus in order to hear His voice. The pastor acknowledges that God's voice is not always audible or loud, referencing the story of Elijah in First Kings when God spoke to him in a still small voice. The pastor encourages the congregation to train themselves to listen to God each day, trusting and obeying Him. ([48:00])
- The pastor concludes the sermon by emphasizing the conviction that God continues to speak to His people today, just as He did in the Old Testament scriptures. The pastor urges the congregation to heed God's voice and not harden their hearts. The pastor then explores the question of when God speaks to us today, starting with the negative aspect of when He is silent. ([59:30])
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Hebrews 4:12: "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."
2. Amos 7:2: "When they had stripped the land clean, I said, 'Sovereign Lord, forgive! How can Jacob survive? He is so small!'"
3. 1 Samuel 3:1: "The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions."
Observation Questions:
1. What does Hebrews 4:12 reveal about the nature and power of God's word?
2. In Amos 7:2, what does the plea for forgiveness suggest about the state of the land and the people?
3. What does 1 Samuel 3:1 tell us about the frequency of God's word and visions during Samuel's time?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the description of God's word in Hebrews 4:12 relate to the concept of discerning our thoughts and intentions?
2. How might the situation described in Amos 7:2 reflect the consequences of disobedience to God's word?
3. In the context of 1 Samuel 3:1, what might be the implications of the rarity of God's word and visions?
Application Questions:
1. Reflecting on Hebrews 4:12, how can you allow God's word to penetrate your heart and judge your thoughts and attitudes this week?
2. Considering Amos 7:2, can you identify any areas in your life where disobedience has led to spiritual barrenness? What steps can you take to seek God's forgiveness and restoration?
3. In light of 1 Samuel 3:1, are there times when you feel God's word is rare in your life? How can you cultivate a more attentive and receptive heart to hear God's voice amidst the noise of daily life?
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing the Conviction of God's Word
God's word is a powerful tool that convicts us, leading us to the truth found in Jesus ([12:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8Wt21h6zqA&t=750s)). It is through this conviction that we are urged to listen to God's voice and enter into the rest that God promised his people Israel, a rest that is symbolic of finding rest in Jesus.
Hebrews 4:1 - "Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it."
Reflection: How can you better listen to God's voice today? What steps can you take to enter into the rest that God has promised?
Day 2: The Bible as God's Revelation
The Bible is not just an academic or religious document, but a holy and special one through which God speaks to us ([24:33](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8Wt21h6zqA&t=1458s)). It is important to recapture this understanding and appreciate the Bible as God's speech and revelation to humanity.
2 Timothy 3:16 - "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness."
Reflection: How can you approach the Bible as God's revelation to you? What changes can you make in your Bible study habits to better hear God's voice?
Day 3: Jesus as Our Ultimate Rest
The focus of Hebrews is not solely on the rest promised in the Old Testament, but rather on Jesus Christ, who becomes the ultimate rest for believers through faith in Him ([36:12](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8Wt21h6zqA&t=2157s)).
Matthew 11:28 - "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
Reflection: How can you strive to enter into the rest that is found in Jesus Christ? What does it mean for you to find rest in Him?
Day 4: The Importance of Obedience and Listening
Obedience to Jesus is crucial in order to hear His voice ([48:27](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8Wt21h6zqA&t=2892s)). It is important to train ourselves to listen to God each day, trusting and obeying Him, and to strip away the distractions that our culture offers.
1 Samuel 15:22 - "Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice."
Reflection: What distractions can you eliminate today to better hear God's voice? How can you practice obedience to Jesus in your daily life?
Day 5: Heeding God's Voice Today
God continues to speak to His people today, just as He did in the Old Testament scriptures ([59:33](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8Wt21h6zqA&t=3558s)). It is crucial to heed God's voice and not harden our hearts.
Psalm 95:7-8 - "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, as you did that day at Massah in the wilderness."
Reflection: How can you soften your heart to better hear God's voice today? What steps can you take to heed His voice in your daily life?
Quotes
"We train ourselves as we listen to him each day, going to him in trust and obedience, looking to his word in scripture but also remembering that his word speaks to us today." [26:03]
"The Bible claims that it is the speech of God, the actual written testimony of God. It is not just something that is our internal perception or experience, but there is this external objective word of God, a speech of God which comes to us." [07:57]
"We believe that the Bible is actually a written account of what God has spoken to us. It is not just another religious document, it is something special and something holy." [08:45]
"Now that rest is in who is in Jesus is in Jesus Christ so the focus this movement is from the rest of the Old Testament that God had promised his people now is focusing on Jesus he becomes the rest that he God is inviting us into through what through faith in Jesus through faith in the Son of God who now becomes our rest." [15:16]
"The word of God is pointing somewhere, the word of God is pointing is moving towards fulfillment in Jesus Christ." [15:59]
"God's word convicts us about discerning our thoughts and intentions towards this person Jesus Christ. That is where truth really lies, and that is where you will receive the rest that God had promised his people Israel. This rest is symbolic of Jesus." [16:40]
"The rest that comes with faith in Jesus Christ also requires obedience. The author of Hebrews urges us not to make the same mistakes as the Israelites who missed out on that rest due to their disobedience. So, if you hear God's voice, listen and do not harden your hearts." [18:00]
"When is it that God begins to speak to his people? If God is silent when we disobey, I believe the opposite is also true. God loves to speak to his people. God's character is to communicate with us constantly, and when we align ourselves with Jesus, this fulfillment of what God has done, when we align our lives with what Jesus wants for us, that is when God is able to speak to us. That is when his affirmation, his love, his presence, his power, all these things that he wants to speak to us, that's when we obey what Jesus wants us to do in our lives. That's when he is able to just commune freely with us."
"Today if you hear his voice, do not Harden your hearts."
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