God Speaks

How to Hear

I wish I knew God's willI wish I knew God's will

God wants to be knownGod wants to be known

You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart

- Jeremiah 29:13

3 Things: 3 Things:

HeartHeartHandsHands

FeetFeet

Heart: SubmissiveHeart: Submissive

God wants more for us thanGod wants more for us than

We want for ourselvesWe want for ourselves

God knows us better than God knows us better than

We know ourselvesWe know ourselves

God knows more aboutGod knows more about

How we should live than we doHow we should live than we do

Before a word is on my tongue,Before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether behold, O Lord, you know it altogether

- Psalm 139:4- Psalm 139:4

Your eyes saw my Your eyes saw my unformed substance;unformed substance;

in your book were written, in your book were written, every one of them,every one of them,

the days that were formed for me,the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them when as yet there was none of them

- Psalm 139:16- Psalm 139:16

……we are God’s workmanship, createdwe are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, in Christ Jesus to do good works,

which God prepared which God prepared in advance in advance for us to dofor us to do- Eph. 2:8-9- Eph. 2:8-9

God "remembers" the futureGod "remembers" the future

We have at least 3 choicesWe have at least 3 choices

- Go right- Go right

- Go left- Go left

- Seek God for - Seek God for which way to gowhich way to go

Most decisions:Most decisions:

EmotionEmotionDesireDesire

People make decisions People make decisions based on emotions:based on emotions:

Hurt feelings, Anger, ReactionsHurt feelings, Anger, Reactions

They move jobsThey move jobsEnter relationshipsEnter relationships

Make major purchases Make major purchases

Because they feel excitedBecause they feel excitedor want something newor want something new

They pray, "If this is OK, GodThey pray, "If this is OK, God...I want it" ...I want it"

And refuse to listenAnd refuse to listenif he says differentif he says different

Then claim God led themThen claim God led them

Most decisions:Most decisions:

EmotionEmotionDesireDesire

God wants moreGod wants more"All who are "All who are led by the Spiritled by the Spirit

Are the children of God"- Rom. 8:14Are the children of God"- Rom. 8:14

To hear God's voiceTo hear God's voice

Heart= Submissive to HimHeart= Submissive to Him

- Because I believe - Because I believe he knows it allhe knows it all- Because I trust that - Because I trust that he is goodhe is good

- Because I know - Because I know his ways are greaterhis ways are greater

To hear God's voiceTo hear God's voiceHeart= Submissive to HimHeart= Submissive to Him

To hear God's voiceTo hear God's voiceHeart= Submissive to HimHeart= Submissive to Him

- Tell God what I want- Tell God what I want

- Put aside all personal desires- Put aside all personal desires

- Check motives and emotions- Check motives and emotions

- Pray for wisdom and leading- Pray for wisdom and leading

Easy to do in theoryEasy to do in theory

200k job?200k job?

God wants more for us thanGod wants more for us than

We want for ourselvesWe want for ourselves

God knows us better than God knows us better than

We know ourselvesWe know ourselves

God knows more aboutGod knows more about

How we should live than we doHow we should live than we do

SunCom…?SunCom…?

Heart= SubmissiveHeart= Submissive

Means I trust God overMeans I trust God overMy own intellect and emotionsMy own intellect and emotions

If I believe my ways are bestIf I believe my ways are best

I'll take what God saysI'll take what God saysAnd weigh it against how bad I wantAnd weigh it against how bad I want

What I wantWhat I want

I'll pray with my desires coloringI'll pray with my desires coloringmy ability to hear from Godmy ability to hear from God

Heart:Heart:

Put aside all personal desiresPut aside all personal desiresAnd ask God with no agendaAnd ask God with no agenda

If you believe God wants moreIf you believe God wants more

That he knows betterThat he knows better

It'll be seen in how It'll be seen in how you make decisionsyou make decisions

Step 1 Step 1

Put aside all personal desires and Put aside all personal desires and Ask God with no agendaAsk God with no agenda

Heart, Heart, Hands,Hands, Feet Feet

To hear God's voiceTo hear God's voice

Hands= Obedient to His leadingHands= Obedient to His leading

- Because I believe - Because I believe he knows it allhe knows it all- Because I trust that - Because I trust that he is goodhe is good

- Because I know - Because I know his ways are greaterhis ways are greater

Spiritual Law:Spiritual Law:Obedience= LoveObedience= Love

IfIf you love me, you love me, you will obey you will obey what I what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he command. And I will ask the Father, and he

will give you another Counselor to be with will give you another Counselor to be with you forever- the Spirit of truthyou forever- the Spirit of truth

- John 14:15- John 14:15

When..the Spirit of truth comes, When..the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide he will guide you into all truthyou into all truth- John 16:13- John 16:13

1- With God, obedience is always 1- With God, obedience is always in advancein advance

If you show my If you show my heartheartI'll act with my I'll act with my handshands

1- With God, obedience is always 1- With God, obedience is always in advancein advance

If you show my If you show my heartheartI'll act with my I'll act with my handshands

To a King: "Tell me what you wantTo a King: "Tell me what you wantAnd I'll decide if I'm willing"And I'll decide if I'm willing"

Do we want to know God's willDo we want to know God's willSo that we can consider it?So that we can consider it?

Or so that we can follow it?Or so that we can follow it?

Do we want to know God's willDo we want to know God's willSo that we can consider it?So that we can consider it?

Or so that we can follow it?Or so that we can follow it?

The answer determines whether or notThe answer determines whether or notwe'll hear from Godwe'll hear from God

2- Obedience to what God 2- Obedience to what God Has already revealed Has already revealed

Opens me to Opens me to greater revelationgreater revelation

Well done, good and faithful Well done, good and faithful servant! servant! You have been faithful You have been faithful

with a few things; with a few things; I will put you in charge I will put you in charge

of many thingsof many things - Matthew 25:23- Matthew 25:23

If someone borrows a helmetIf someone borrows a helmetAnd tears it upAnd tears it up

I might not trust themI might not trust themWith my bikeWith my bike

Obedience yesterdayObedience yesterdayputs me in the position puts me in the position to hear from God todayto hear from God today

If I had cherished sin in my heart, If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listenedthe Lord would not have listened

- Psalm 66:18- Psalm 66:18

Some believers are on the precipice of Some believers are on the precipice of what God has for them- and we've been what God has for them- and we've been

there for months (or longer). Because they there for months (or longer). Because they refuse to obey in smaller thingsrefuse to obey in smaller things

Spiritual Breakthrough is found Spiritual Breakthrough is found in trusting God in trusting God

and taking steps of obedience and taking steps of obedience in the places he has already shown youin the places he has already shown you

Step 1Step 1

Put aside all personal desires and Put aside all personal desires and Ask God with no agendaAsk God with no agenda

Step 2Step 2

--In advanceIn advance obedience obedience--Obey what God has already shownObey what God has already shown

Heart= SubmissiveHeart= SubmissiveHands= ObeyHands= Obey

Feet=Feet= Run to where he speaks Run to where he speaks

Harley with Bad CompanyHarley with Bad Company

Jesus Jesus oftenoften withdrew to lonely places withdrew to lonely places and prayedand prayed- Luke 5:16- Luke 5:16

All night All night before choosing disciplesbefore choosing disciples

All nightAll night after losing John the Baptistafter losing John the Baptist

DailyDaily during the "normal" times during the "normal" times

"I tell you the truth, the Son "I tell you the truth, the Son can do can do nothing by himself; nothing by himself; he can do only what he can do only what

he sees his Father doing, because he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and does. For the Father loves the Son and

shows him shows him (reveals) (reveals) all he does" all he does" - John 5:19-20- John 5:19-20

God speaks by the Holy Spirit through:God speaks by the Holy Spirit through:

BibleBiblePrayerPrayer

CircumstancesCircumstancesChurchChurch

If I want to hear from GodIf I want to hear from God

I need to put myself in the pathI need to put myself in the pathOf God's voiceOf God's voice

Heart= Heart= Submissive because I trustSubmissive because I trust

Hands=Hands= Obedience in advance and Obedience in advance andObedience to what he's shownObedience to what he's shown

Feet=Feet= Put myself in the path of his voice Put myself in the path of his voice

God speaksGod speaks

Can I hear?Can I hear?

How's my heart?How's my heart?

Do I honestly believe God knows moreDo I honestly believe God knows moreabout how I should liveabout how I should live

Than I do?Than I do?

Have I put aside my desires?Have I put aside my desires?My agendas?My agendas?

How are my hands?How are my hands?

Have I decided to obey in advanceHave I decided to obey in advanceWhatever he shows me to do?Whatever he shows me to do?

Am I obeyingAm I obeyingWhat I've already been shown?What I've already been shown?

How are my feet?How are my feet?

Am I in the pathAm I in the pathof God's voice?of God's voice?

God…I give you my desires and agendasGod…I give you my desires and agendas

Show me what I need to do now Show me what I need to do now that I haven't so farthat I haven't so far

I commit to obey in advanceI commit to obey in advanceto whatever you reveal to meto whatever you reveal to me

Remind me to spend timeRemind me to spend timeIn the Scriptures and prayerIn the Scriptures and prayer

And with your peopleAnd with your peopleIn worship and fellowshipIn worship and fellowship

As a churchAs a church

We each need to hear from GodWe each need to hear from God