Is There a Word From the Lord?

Devotional

Day 1: The Foundation of Seeking God's Word

A life built on the solid rock of God's instruction will withstand the inevitable storms. This foundation is not laid by our own wisdom or strength but by a consistent posture of asking for and obeying divine direction. The difference between lasting stability and catastrophic collapse is determined by whether we listen to and follow God's teaching. It is the one ingredient that separates true success from the fleeting illusions of self-reliance. [55:14]

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24-25 NIV)

Reflection: Consider a significant decision you are currently facing or have recently made. In what specific ways did you, or could you, actively seek a word from the Lord to serve as the foundation for that choice?

Day 2: The Danger of Preferring Comfort Over Truth

There is a natural tendency to seek counsel that affirms our existing desires rather than challenges them. We can be tempted to surround ourselves with voices that tell us what we want to hear, placating our conscience while leading us away from God's best. This preference for comfort over truth reveals a heart that, like Ahab's, may already be set on its own path regardless of the consequences. [01:08:55]

For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. (2 Timothy 4:3 NIV)

Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you find yourself avoiding certain biblical truths or godly counsel because they conflict with a personal desire or plan you are unwilling to surrender?

Day 3: God's Purposeful Word for Every Situation

The Lord is not silent; He is a communicator who desires to speak into every facet of our lives. His word is not random but is always given with specific purpose and intention, designed for our ultimate good and His glory. From our finances and relationships to our deepest thoughts and ambitions, God has something to say. He is economical with His words, but He is never absent or indifferent to our circumstances. [01:27:24]

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. (Psalm 119:105 NIV)

Reflection: What is one practical situation—a relationship, a financial choice, a daily habit—where you have not yet paused to sincerely ask, "Lord, is there a word from you for me in this?"

Day 4: Aligning Our Plans with God's Will

A life of faith moves beyond simply asking God to bless our pre-made plans. It involves a humble posture that acknowledges our understanding is limited and that God's ways are higher. This means consciously submitting our intentions to Him, being willing to adjust our course or even abandon our agenda if He directs us to do so. True success is found in cooperation with His will, not in insisting on our own. [52:17]

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV)

Reflection: Where in your life are you currently saying, "If the Lord wills," as a genuine expression of surrender, and where are you still prone to making declarations about the future without consulting Him?

Day 5: The Blessing of Obedience to God's Direction

Hearing a word from the Lord is only the first step; the full blessing is realized in the obedience that follows. While God's direction may not always appear easy or clear in the moment, choosing to trust and obey His word is always for our best. This obedience positions us to experience His provision, protection, and purpose, even when the path leads through unexpected challenges, because He is faithful to His promises. [01:36:12]

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (James 1:22 ESV)

Reflection: When you recall a past time you clearly sensed God's direction, what was the outcome of your obedience or disobedience? How does that experience encourage you to listen and obey in your current situation?

Sermon Summary

A pointed question anchors the teaching: "Is there a word from the Lord?" That question becomes the lens for practical holiness, decision-making, and obedience. Scripture passages from Psalm, Proverbs, James, and the Gospels establish that human plans collapse without divine direction; the parable of two builders illustrates how foundations determine endurance. The narrative of 1 Kings 22 provides the central example: a righteous king, a wicked king, false prophets, and a true prophet collide. Ahab gathers flattering voices to confirm his plan; Jehoshaphat asks for divine counsel; Micaiah refuses to placate the king and reports a vision of heaven where a lying spirit is permitted to deceive Ahab’s prophets. The account reveals how God can allow rebellion to run its course and how stubbornness invites judgment.

Practical exhortations weave through daily church life: generosity functions as worship and reveals the heart; stewardship and faithful giving invite God’s blessing. Missions require persistent support and personal willingness to follow God’s direction. Simple, everyday behaviors — from honoring church property to consulting God before major moves — receive the same spiritual weight as large-life decisions. Three clear theological affirmations emerge: God always has a word for every situation, his word always carries purpose, and his guidance, even when difficult, proves best in the long run. Real obedience may bring hardship, but Scripture demonstrates that hardship under divine guidance serves redemptive ends rather than mere ruin.

An urgent pastoral invitation closes the time: people receive prayer and help to discern God’s leading. The call to ask, wait, and obey functions as both protection and pathway to fruitful living. The whole presentation presses believers to test confirmations, avoid flattering counsel that matches sinful desire, and anchor life choices in revealed truth. Trusting God’s provision of wisdom and obeying his voice determines whether a life stands on rock or collapses on sand.

Key Takeaways

1. Ask, "Is there a word?" Prayerful inquiry invites God’s active counsel before decisions. Regularly asking this question trains the will to prefer divine wisdom over impulse and cultural consensus. The query exposes hidden motives and aligns plans with God’s timeline and purposes, preventing costly detours disguised as convenience. [50:54]
2. God's word directs every decision Scripture and testimony show that God speaks into daily matters as well as big plans. Seeking that direction reframes success from human achievement to faithful obedience and stewardship. When choices submit to divine counsel, outcomes serve lasting good rather than temporary gain. [51:31]
3. Beware of false prophetic confirmations Flattering voices often mirror human desire, not divine will; discernment requires testing words against Scripture and the Spirit. False confirmations can harden hearts and accelerate ruin by assuring what conscience and truth resist. Vigilant comparison with God’s revealed standard protects communities and individuals from spiritual deception. [64:11]
4. Obedience secures God's best outcomes Immediate consequences can look harsh, yet obedience aligns life with God’s redemptive purposes. Moments of suffering under God’s call often open doors for testimony, ministry, and greater fruit. Choosing God’s path, even when costly, yields the long-term good that mere safety cannot produce. [96:12]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[33:50] - Worship and Opening Gratitude
[34:08] - Anniversary and Thanksgiving
[34:43] - Funeral Meal Appreciation
[35:26] - Family Moving Announcement
[36:45] - Practical Notice: Facilities Care
[37:40] - Offering, Giving, and Stewardship
[48:21] - Bible Study Habits and Notes
[49:33] - Central Question Introduced
[51:31] - Biblical Foundations for Guidance
[57:11] - Background to 1 Kings 22
[64:11] - False Prophets vs. Micaiah
[83:15] - Principles: God’s Word and Purpose
[96:12] - God’s Best Often Looks Difficult
[100:07] - Invitation to Receive God’s Word

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading
1 Kings 22:1–28 (ESV)
[For context, read the full account of Ahab, Jehoshaphat, and Micaiah.]

Observation questions

What specific request did Jehoshaphat make before agreeing to join Ahab in battle? (v. 5)
How did the 400 prophets respond to Ahab’s question about going to battle? (v. 6)
What was Micaiah’s initial response to the king, and how did Ahab react? (vv. 15–16)
What vision did Micaiah describe regarding the Lord’s throne room and the lying spirit? (vv. 19–23)

Interpretation questions

Why did Jehoshaphat—a godly king—still insist on seeking a word from the Lord even after already aligning himself with Ahab? [01:03:42]
Ahab said he hated Micaiah “because he never prophesies good concerning me, but evil” (v. 8). Why would a true word from God often feel difficult or unwelcome?
Micaiah described a heavenly scene where God permitted a lying spirit to deceive Ahab’s prophets. What does this reveal about God’s response to persistent rebellion? [01:16:19]
How does the parable of the two builders (Matthew 7:24–27) connect to the story in 1 Kings 22? [54:21]

Application questions

“Is there a word from the Lord?” is a question we’re called to ask in every decision. What’s one upcoming decision—big or small—where you need to pause and sincerely ask God for direction? [50:54]
Have you ever been in a situation where you received “confirmation” from others that aligned with what you wanted to hear, but you sensed it wasn’t from God? How can you cultivate discernment to recognize false confirmations? [01:04:11]
Obedience to God’s word sometimes leads to hardship or doesn’t make sense in the moment. Can you recall a time when you obeyed God even when it was difficult? What was the long-term outcome? [01:36:12]
How do you personally test whether a prompting or sense of direction is truly from God? What role does Scripture, prayer, and godly counsel play?
Are there areas in your life (finances, relationships, habits, etc.) where you’ve been making plans without first seeking God’s word? What would it look like to surrender those to Him this week? [01:27:24]
Have you ever resisted God’s direction because it didn’t match your desires or timing? What helped you eventually submit, or what’s holding you back now?
Who in your life can you trust to speak a difficult word from the Lord to you, even when it’s not what you want to hear? How can you encourage that kind of honesty in your relationships?

Sermon Clips

34s

#BuildOnSolidRock

“God tells you and I ahead of time, you're going to crash and burn unless you build on the solid rock of my teaching. That is how important it is, my friend, that you and I ask the question question on an ongoing basis, is there any word from the Lord? Now this is our text of the day is one of many passages in the Bible that tell us where a word from God was desperately needed.”

35s

#AskBeforeYouAct

“However, Jehoshaphat still has enough compunction about him, enough common sense. He knows, he has to know that he's walking on thin ice, but he has enough sense to ask a question and that is, can we before we jump into this mess, before I lose my kingdom and maybe my life, can we ask of and hear a word from God?”

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Is There a Word From the Lord? - Billy Nickell