Obedience to God's Voice: Trusting the Unseen

Devotional

Day 1: Obedience Over Personal Plans

Obedience to God is more valuable than any personal sacrifice or plan we might have. In 1 Samuel 15, King Saul's downfall was due to his failure to obey God's command, choosing instead to follow his own reasoning. This story serves as a reminder that true freedom and blessings come when we listen to and follow God's voice, rather than relying on our understanding. When we prioritize obedience, we align ourselves with God's will, opening the door to His transformative power in our lives. [02:40]

"For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king." (1 Samuel 15:23, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area in your life where you are relying on your own understanding instead of seeking God's guidance? How can you begin to prioritize obedience to God in that area today?

Day 2: Faith Requires Action

Faith is not just a belief but requires action, even when the path seems unclear. Hebrews 3 warns against hardening our hearts and encourages us to trust God. This means stepping out in obedience despite uncertainty, knowing that God is faithful to fulfill His promises. When we act on our faith, we demonstrate our trust in God's plan, allowing Him to work in and through us in powerful ways. [03:18]

"Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called 'today,' that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin." (Hebrews 3:12-13, ESV)

Reflection: Is there a step of faith you feel God is calling you to take? What is holding you back, and how can you take that step today?

Day 3: Embrace God's Unexpected Plans

God's plans often defy human logic, and His ways are higher than ours. The experience of preaching to an empty park, only to find that four individuals responded to the message, illustrates how God can work miracles in unexpected ways. When we obey His voice, even in seemingly futile situations, we open ourselves to His divine intervention and the possibility of touching lives in ways we cannot foresee. [06:44]

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8-9, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a situation in your life that seems illogical or hopeless. How can you trust God to work in that situation, even if it doesn't make sense to you right now?

Day 4: The Transformative Power of God's Voice

When God calls us, it's an invitation to experience His love and transformation. By moving towards His voice, we can find freedom from sin, addiction, and despair, embracing a new life filled with hope and purpose. God's voice brings healing and restoration, and when we respond to His call, we allow His transformative power to work in our lives and the lives of those around us. [12:30]

"And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:32, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need God's transformative power? How can you actively seek His voice and allow Him to bring healing and freedom in that area?

Day 5: A Call to Return Home

Just as the prodigal son was welcomed back by his father, God is calling us to return to Him. No matter how far we've strayed, His arms are open wide, ready to restore us and give us a new beginning. This call to return home is an invitation to experience God's grace and forgiveness, allowing us to start anew with a renewed sense of purpose and belonging. [08:12]

"Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity. Take with you words and return to the Lord; say to him, 'Take away all iniquity; accept what is good, and we will pay with bulls the vows of our lips.'" (Hosea 14:1-2, ESV)

Reflection: Is there an area of your life where you feel distant from God? How can you take steps to return to Him and experience His grace and restoration today?

Sermon Summary

In tonight's gathering, I felt led to set aside my prepared message and instead share a simple yet profound thought: the day I preached to nobody. This story serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of obedience to God's voice, even when it seems illogical or when others might doubt us. In 1 Samuel 15, we see King Saul's failure to obey God, which led to his downfall. This narrative underscores the significance of listening to and following God's instructions without letting our reasoning or the opinions of others interfere.

The story I shared from my own life took place during an outreach event in Canada. Despite the rain and an empty park, I felt God urging me to preach as if the field was full. Though it seemed absurd, I obeyed. To my surprise, four individuals, hidden from view, responded to the message and came forward to accept Christ. This experience taught me that God's ways are higher than ours, and His plans often unfold in ways we cannot foresee.

The essence of this message is about the courage to obey God, regardless of circumstances or the skepticism of others. When we choose to follow His voice, we open ourselves to His transformative power, which can bring freedom, healing, and restoration to our lives and those around us. Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your heart. Instead, rise and move towards Him, trusting that He will fulfill His promises.

Key Takeaways

1. Obedience Over Sacrifice: The story of King Saul in 1 Samuel 15 illustrates the importance of obedience to God over our own plans and sacrifices. True freedom and blessings come when we listen to and follow God's voice, rather than relying on our understanding. [02:40]
2. Faith in Action: The call to not harden our hearts, as mentioned in Hebrews 3, is a reminder to trust God even when the path seems unclear. Faith requires action, and sometimes that means stepping out in obedience despite uncertainty. [03:18]
3. God's Unexpected Plans: The day I preached to an empty park taught me that God's plans often defy human logic. When we obey His voice, even in seemingly futile situations, He can work miracles and touch lives in unexpected ways. [06:44]
4. The Power of God's Voice: When God calls us, it's an invitation to experience His love and transformation. By moving towards His voice, we can find freedom from sin, addiction, and despair, and embrace a new life filled with hope and purpose. [12:30]
5. A Call to Return Home: Just as the prodigal son was welcomed back by his father, God is calling us to return to Him. No matter how far we've strayed, His arms are open wide, ready to restore us and give us a new beginning. [08:12]
** [08:12]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:10] - A Change of Plans
[00:32] - The Call to Obedience
[01:02] - Questions of the Heart
[01:49] - Time to Go Home
[02:03] - Saul's Disobedience
[02:40] - Obedience Over Sacrifice
[03:18] - Do Not Harden Your Heart
[04:44] - Preaching to Nobody
[06:22] - The Unexpected Audience
[07:22] - The Prodigal Son
[09:17] - An Unseen Response
[11:37] - The Courage to Obey
[12:30] - A Call to Freedom
[18:35] - Communion and Closing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

1 Samuel 15:22-23
Hebrews 3:7-8
Luke 15:11-24 (The Prodigal Son)

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Observation Questions:

In 1 Samuel 15, what was King Saul's mistake, and how did it affect his future? [02:03]
According to Hebrews 3:7-8, what warning is given to the people of God, and how does it relate to the concept of obedience? [03:18]
How did the pastor describe his experience of preaching to an empty park, and what was the outcome? [06:44]
What is the significance of the prodigal son's return in Luke 15, and how does it relate to the sermon's message of returning to God? [08:12]

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Interpretation Questions:

How does the story of King Saul in 1 Samuel 15 illustrate the consequences of disobedience to God's voice? What can we learn from Saul's failure? [02:40]
In Hebrews 3:7-8, the scripture warns against hardening our hearts. What does it mean to harden one's heart, and how can this affect our relationship with God? [03:18]
The pastor shared a personal story about preaching to nobody. What does this story teach us about faith and obedience, even when the situation seems illogical? [06:44]
The parable of the prodigal son is a powerful illustration of God's grace. How does this story encourage us to return to God, regardless of how far we've strayed? [08:12]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on a time when you felt God was asking you to do something that seemed illogical. How did you respond, and what was the outcome? [06:44]
In what areas of your life might you be relying on your own understanding rather than listening to God's voice? How can you shift towards greater obedience? [02:40]
The pastor mentioned the courage to obey God despite skepticism from others. How can you cultivate this courage in your daily life? [11:37]
Hebrews 3:7-8 warns against hardening our hearts. Are there areas in your life where you might be resisting God's call? How can you open your heart to His guidance? [03:18]
The story of the prodigal son highlights the theme of returning home. Is there a part of your life where you feel distant from God? What steps can you take to return to Him? [08:12]
Consider the unexpected outcomes of the pastor's obedience in preaching to an empty park. How can you remain open to God's unexpected plans in your life? [06:44]
How can you actively listen for God's voice in your daily routine, and what practices can help you discern His guidance more clearly? [12:30]

Sermon Clips

Father i thank you god for, lord over the years i've learned to hear you and obey your voice and god when we obey you it always leads to life it always leads to freedom it leads to wholeness not just for us but for others beginning it with members of our own family. [00:32:52]

And god when we obey you it always leads to life it always leads to freedom it leads to wholeness not just for us but for others beginning it with members of our own family, and so father tonight i just ask you god for the grace to speak the word that you have planted in my heart. [00:40:32]

And again the writer of hebrews in chapter three he says these words now he's he's exhorting the people of god of of his time to again to to believe god to believe that god is who he says he is to believe that god will do what god says he will do. [00:182:64]

Today if you can hear his voice do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion now he talks about the people of god of of the days of israel being released from egypt who came out and just could not believe that god could take them into this place of promise. [00:200:95]

So i have a choice to make do i get up and i go towards the voice of god the creator of all life the one who has the power to create a universe by the words of his mouth or do i draw back into my own reasoning which will always lead me into unbelief. [00:257:60]

And when you when you when you put human reasoning in with the leading of god quite often it leads to this thinking in the heart that what's set before me is impossible it simply can't be done now i just have an illustration that god put in my heart today. [00:271:60]

And the lord spoke to my heart and said nope i want you to preach not just preach just for five minutes i want you to give the whole wagon load as if there was 10 000 people in this field as if this park was packed with people i want you to preach your heart out. [00:376:24]

And i talked about the best role being the blood the shed blood of the son of god on the cross the covering of god the covering that takes away all of our sin the covering that that makes us as clean as god is the covering that brings us home not as a slave. [00:513:27]

Just think of what could happen in your life if you have the courage just to obey god why does it matter what anybody thinks why does it matter what your neighbor thinks or your family thinks or why does it even matter what your own heart thinks if god is speaking to you today. [00:697:36]

Today if you can hear his voice the scripture says don't harden your heart as people before you have once done stand up and move towards the voice of god and say i don't care what other people say i don't care who says there's no hope for me i don't care who tries to tell me there's no future. [00:740:24]

And i hear you speaking and i don't know how this is going to happen and i don't know what kind of life is going to bear but if it's you speaking lord i'm coming and i'm going to do what you say in spite of what anybody around me says or has said or is trying to say. [00:849:83]

Lord jesus christ thank you for loving me thank you for coming to get me and bringing me home to you again i don't know how to figure it all out and i don't have to i just have to move towards you because you died for me you paid the price for my wrong. [00:990:95]

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Obedience to God's Voice: Trusting the Unseen

Devotional

Day 1: Obedience Over Personal Plans

Day 2: Faith Requires Action

Day 3: Embrace God's Unexpected Plans

Day 4: The Transformative Power of God's Voice

Day 5: A Call to Return Home

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Obedience to God's Voice: Trusting the Unseen

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