Can you hear me now - Journaling

Can You Hear Me Now?

INTRODUCTION:  Verizon Commercial:  He is traveling all over the world and putting himself in every situation imaginable to test to see if the signal is still strong?   We need to see the importance of this test in our walk with God.  You and I will face everything imaginable.  We will face:

• Career Pressures
• Family challenges
• Difficult Faith decisions
• Uncontrollable circumstances that bring heartache and pain:

And we need to be asking something similar, “CAN WE HEAR HIM NOW?”  Are we hearing God in the mist of our every situation in life.   Is signal strong and can we hear God clearly?

DIRECTION: Everyone is looking for direction of so sort in life.  We all need to know what in major areas of life.  At work, at home, with your family, with you spouse, with your kids, how to manage our time, and spend our money.  Direction in the way we should live and what goal we need to set.  At the same time we need direction we all here directions being screamed at us.

When Life is screaming at me from every direction, I need to hear God’s voice over all other noise. 

ILL: Ambulance Driver here God’s voice speak to him

Look at what the Bible points about what is the most important voice:

Luke 10:38-42 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. (39) And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. (40) But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me." (41) But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, (42) but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her." And it is so much more important during the difficult times, the stretching time. 

Ex: Switching Price tags.  After we read this passage, we’ve seen how God has just switched the price tags of our lives around.  We have all put different values on the things we do.   What we saw as important has just become less important.  And what we have see as not as important has risen in value to point of pricelessness.

EX: When I am waiting for someone important who is going to give me some very important news, I become concerned of my signal.  Is it strong enough where I will hear with clarity?  Or is so staticy that I won’t be able here what I need to here. 

·         We want to have the strongest signal when we are listening with God. If our signal is weak then we will miss out on what God is saying.

I. WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE OUR SIGNAL STRONGER

Bring these things when you spend time with Jesus:

1. A BIBLE

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NLT) All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. (17) It is God's way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do. – TO EMPOWER US WITH HIS PURPOSE.

• Timeless Truth

“The Bible is our personal manual written by God by our creator to govern our lives.”

2. READING PLAN

Why do most of us need a reading plan?   VIDEO: “Week in the life of neglected Bible”

A reading plan reminds us to:

• Read it regularly
• How often do you need to hear from God?  
• I know I need to hear from God - Daily
• Read all of it. “All  Scripture is inspirited by God”  Even “Leviticus!”
• Ex: If we only read Matthew, Mark, Luke and John- then the other guys in the Bible get jealous

(Book Mark)

3. A PEN

• Listen to the spirit with a pen “Holy Spirit teach me today”
• Become a metal detector (treasures among the sand)

4. A JOURNAL:  (Write what God is saying to you)

• $8
• Different Life Journals to choose from
• Children’s, Youth and Adults

II. WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE HEARING GOD EASIER?

·         ILL: broken cell phone – Amy (get a new phone) – try a new method

·         Challenge: I am sensing that some of you that are facing a dry season in your relationship with God.

I suggest journaling the Word:   Why a journal?   Journaling helps us to meditate on the Word.  God tells Joshua why this is so important.  Joshua 1:8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Why journal?    If you do what I am showing your today I guarantee your relationship with God will be deepened.  IT WORKS FOR ME

It’s in the word that you can find direction for every area of your life:  

I HAVE!  So I am going to show you how I journal: 

After I read my Bible I journal ONE THOUGHT that I read, using the acrostic: SOAP 

Challenge: Journal something – it doesn’t have to be the one year bible.

S - SCRIPTURE - WRITE IT: 

O - OBSERVATION - LEARN IT: 

A - APPLICATION - APPLY IT: 

Ø  (Connect the timeless truth to today)

Why is it important to apply it?

-Transformation power of the Word of God (MEANT TO TRANSFORM)

P – PRAYER   LIVE IT:

Ø  Commitment to live it.

Ø  MOST IMPORTANT:  Take it from the paper and live it out

How often do I journal?    

CORE VALUE: WE VALUE LIVING GOD’S WORD - We value listening to God through His Word and putting what we hear in action.  We’re not to be just hears of the Word but doers.  Jesus asks everyone of us, “Follow me?”  Our response to the question is not just in the yes, but in the way we live our life in response as a disciple of Word (John 1:43; 10:27; 2 Tim 3:16-17) 

Note about Journaling.   Just Journal something!

III. WHAT SHOULD WE DO TO MAKE HEARING GOD A DAILY HABIT?

1.      Start slow  - READ THE NEW TESTAMENT only

·         Book mark No guilt  - It starts tomorrow!

2.      Mix Devotions with something you enjoy

3.    Read with someone  20/20/20 (One Hour Commitment)

CONCLUSION: 

ILL: SHOE MATE – I was so busy looking for what I wanted that I missed the sign above me that explained the whole process.  You and I live such busy lives that we have learn to slow down and see look for the simple instructions that God is giving.

There is a mate for the direction your and seeking and it is devotions.