Discipline #1 - Hearing the Voice of God
THE FIRST DISCIPLINE COMMITTING TO HEAR GOD’S VOICE
Notes For Video #2:
The Bible is Complete!
Following Jesus is not first doing things for Jesus; it is first listening to him speak, and then doing what he says. Peter, James, and John were the cream of Jesus’ leadership team. Yet when Jesus was transfigured before them, Peter was unable to resist making plans to maximize this exciting new open door. Fortunately, a voice from heaven shut him up, commanding him to listen to Jesus (Matthew 17:5)! It is easy to lead FOR God without listening TO him. The word listenor here is found more than 1500 times in the Bible. That is why the most important question every one of us must ask throughout our days is: “God, how are you coming to me, what might you want to say?”
And as Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice.” (John 10:27) That’s part of following Him. And you can experience that too. Here are some very practical ways that will help you hear God’s voice more clearly. 1. ASK HIM.
God loves to speak! He invites you to say whatever you want to say to Him. Ask the Why questions. Ask Him to change your circumstances – your relationships, your marriage, your health, your finances, your job, whatever. But most of the time God doesn’t magically change your circumstances. As John Maxwell says, “You don’t want a miracle; you want magic.” And God’s not into magic. Usually, the road forward means you and I need to cooperate with God to see a breakthrough. 2. SUBMIT YOUR EMOTIONS TO GOD” S CONTROL 3. FIND A QUIET PLACE. 4. JOURNAL 5. KEEP DOING THE LAST THING GOD TOLD YOU TO DO!
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17, ESV Jesus answered him, "Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them." - John 14: 23 (NRSV) Obedience Comes from Hearing God: Everything we know about Jesus indicates that he was concerned with only one thing: to do the will of his Father. Nothing in the Gospels is as impressive as Jesus’ single-minded obedience to his Father. From his first recorded words in the Temple, “Did you not know that I must be busy with my Father’s affairs?” (Luke 2:49), to his last words on the cross, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46), Jesus’ only concern was to do the will of his Father. He says, “The Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees the Father doing” (John 5:19) . . . . Henri Nouwen writes,” Jesus is the obedient one. The center of his life is this obedient relationship with the Father. This may be hard for us to understand because the word obedience has so many negative connotations in our society. It makes us think of authority figures who impose their wills against our desires. It makes us remember unhappy childhood events or hard tasks performed under threats of punishment. But none of this applies to Jesus’ obedience. His obedience means a total, fearless listening to his loving Father. Between the Father and the Son there is only love” Creeds Affirm What We Believe But are Not on the Same Revelation as Scripture: THE APOSTLES CREED: This creed is called the Apostles' Creed not because it was produced by the apostles themselves but because it contains a brief summary of their teachings. It sets forth their doctrine "in sublime simplicity, in unsurpassable brevity, in beautiful order, and with liturgical solemnity." In its present form it is dated no later than the fourth century. More than any other Christian creed, it may justly be called an ecumenical symbol of faith. I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic* church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. *that is, the true Christian church of all times and all places … catholic Universal Church • Describe your relationship with God the father: • Describe your relationship with God the Son. • Describe Your relationship with God the Holy Spirit.
This week’s S.O.A.P. … Passage: James 1:21-25