Learning to Listen to God

Learning to Listen to God Overview • Does God speak to you? • Why should you listen? • How should you listen? Does God Speak to You? • God had you in mind, too (Rom 4:23–24) But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, Romans 4:23–24 Does God Speak to You? • God had you in mind, too (Rom 4:23–24) • God wrote so you’d have hope (Rom 15:4) For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:4 Does God Speak to You? • God had you in mind, too (Rom 4:23–24) • God wrote so you’d have hope (Rom 15:4) • God wrote for your sake (1 Cor 9:10) Does he not certainly speak for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. 1 Corinthians 9:10 Does God Speak to You? • • • • God had you in mind, too (Rom 4:23–24) God wrote so you’d have hope (Rom 15:4) God wrote for your sake (1 Cor 9:10) God had them written for you (1 Cor 10:11) Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. 1 Corinthians 10:11 Why Should You Listen? The Bible reveals God. • The Bible reveals God’s goodness (Ps 119:15) Why Should You Listen? The Bible reveals God. • The Bible reveals God’s goodness (Ps 119:15) • The Bible reveals God’s greatness (Ps 119:27) Why Should You Listen? The Bible reveals God. • The Bible reveals God’s goodness (Ps 119:15) • The Bible reveals God’s greatness (Ps 119:27) • Knowing God brings deep, lasting joy (Ps 16:11) You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11 Why Should You Listen? The Bible reveals God. The Bible changes you. • The Bible makes you spiritually grow (1 Pt 2:2; At 20:32) Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 1 Peter 2:2 Why Should You Listen? The Bible reveals God. The Bible changes you. • The Bible makes you spiritually grow (1 Pt 2:2; At 20:32) • The Bible makes you spiritually mature (Heb 5:11–14) …by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child… Hebrews 5:11–14 Why Should You Listen? The Bible reveals God. The Bible changes you. • The Bible makes you spiritually grow (1 Pt 2:2; At 20:32) • The Bible makes you spiritually mature (Heb 5:11–14) • The Bible makes you spiritually complete (2 Tim 3:16–17) All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16–17 How Should You Listen? Prepare to read the Bible. • Admit your needs (Rom 8:26; Heb 4:16) Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. Romans 8:26 How Should You Listen? Prepare to read the Bible. • Admit your needs (Rom 8:26; Heb 4:16) • Ask for help (Ps 119:18, 36) Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.… Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain! Psalm 119:18, 36 How Should You Listen? Prepare to read the Bible. • Admit your needs (Rom 8:26; Heb 4:16) • Ask for help (Ps 119:18, 36) • Assemble resources (Study Bible, location/time, etc.) How Should You Listen? Prepare to read the Bible. Read the Bible. • Observe: pay attention to the details • Interpret: timeless truths about God, you, and others • Apply: how should I respond? Jesus: the model disciple (Isaiah 50:4ff) Jesus is the disciple (cf. 6) …who listened morning-by-morning (4) …in order to hear God’s words (5a) …and completely obey them to death (5b–6). Jesus: the model helper • Jesus offers his perfect righteousness (Rom 3:22). • Jesus sends his spirit to enable our listening (Jn 14– 16). •