SF728 - WHICH WAY DO I GO - 4 THE BASICS OF LIFE (John 16 13)
John 16:13
Introduction
Uncharted Territory
Ø If you were suddenly transported to an uncharted jungle and you were given a choice of three tools, a compass, a map of Knoxville, or a personal guide, which would you choose?
Ø If you are wise you would take a personal guide
The rest of your life, is uncharted territory.
Ø God has said, I want to give you a guide, a personal guidance counselor.
Background
We have looked at the Owner's Manual God gives us,
The support group God gives us - the church
How God uses problems.
God did not just give us a compass or a map He also gives us a personal guide.
When you become a believer God puts His spirit in your life.
Ø He does all kinds of different things
Ø Our focus this morning is that He guides us.
Ø He wants to give us direction for the rest of our life.
(Psalms 32:8 NIV) "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you."
The Key is Communication! - Understanding what God is saying…
1A. How God Delivers His Message
God speaks by the Holy Spirit…
(John 10:27 NIV) "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me."
1B. Through the Bible - to inform us
Read God’s Word
Ø Listen for the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth to us.
Ø Adjust our life to the truth of God and obey Him
2B. Through Prayer - to inspire us
Prayer is a relationship with the Truth (John 14:6)
3B. Through circumstances - to prove us
(John 5:19 NIV) "… the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does."
Seek to gain God’s perspective
Wait for God to speak - do not determine the truth of a situation by looking at the circumstances
Pay attention to what God has done in the past and what He is doing now.
4B. Through the Church - to encourage us
You cannot fully know and do God’s will outside the Church!
(Ephesians 4:15-16 NIV) "… speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. {16} From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work."
2A. How We Decipher God’s Message
1B. Reflect on God and His Word
Josh 1:8 (NIV) “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night…”
2B. Review the past
What God has done for His people?
What God has done for you?
3B. Remember God’s promises
(2 Samuel 7:28 NIV) "O Sovereign LORD, you are God! Your words are trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant."
God cannot lie
God will always bring to completion what He has begun
Phil 1:6 (NIV) “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
4B. Relate what happens to what you have prayed
Expect God to answer
Watch to see what happens next
Ø Be ready to adjust to what God does.
Ø God will let you know what He is doing in your life when and if you need to know.
Do not panic during apparent silence
Ø May be because of sin in your life
Ø May be that He is preparing you for a greater revelation of Himself
3A. How We Discern God’s Message
How do we know the message is from God?
1B. Does it agree with the Bible?
(Romans 3:4 NIV) “… Let God be true, and every man a liar.”
God will never contradict His written word.
(1 Peter 1:25 NIV) “… The word of the Lord stands forever.”
2B. Does it make me more like Christ?
(Ephesians 4:13 NIV) "Until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."
3B. Does my church family confirm it?
4B. Does it concern my area of responsibility?
Ø If you are not responsible for something why would God talk to you about it?
5B. Do I sense God's peace about it?
(1 Corinthians 14:33 NCV) "God is not a God of confusion but a God of peace. As is true in all the churches of God's people,"
No where in the Bible does God ever say to rush into a decision.
(Romans 8:14 NCV) "The true children of God are those who let God's Spirit lead them."
Application
If God never directs me then I have no reason to assume that I am a Christian.
(John 10:27 NIV) "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me."
(John 8:47 NIV) "He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.""
Have you ever place your faith and trust in Christ alone?
Ø I am not talking about a religion,
Ø I am talking about a relationship to Christ.
If you have never done that would you trust Christ now.
WHICH WAY DO I GO?
The Basics of Life - Part 4
Sunday, November 23, 1997 - John 16:13
1A. How God _________________ His Message
God speaks by the Holy Spirit…
(John 10:27 NIV) "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me."
1B. Through the _____________ - to inform us
2B. Through _______________ - to inspire us
3B. Through _______________ - to prove us
(John 5:19 NIV) "… the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does."
4B. Through the _________________ - to encourage us (Ephesians 4:15-16)
2A. How We __________________ God’s Message
1B. _________________ on God and His Word
Josh 1:8 (NIV) “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night…”
2B. __________________ the past
3B. ____________________ God’s promises
(2 Samuel 7:28 NIV) "O Sovereign LORD, you are God! Your words are trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant."
Phil 1:6 (NIV) “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
4B. _____________ what happens to what you have prayed
3A. How We _______________ God’s Message
1B. Does it ____________ with the Bible?
(Romans 3:4 NIV) "Not at all! Let God be true, and every man a liar.”
2B. Does it make me more like ______________?
(Ephesians 4:13 NIV) "Until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."
3B. Does my church family _______________ it?
4B. Does it concern my area of __________________?
5. Do I sense God's _______________ about it?
(1 Corinthians 14:33 NCV) "God is not a God of confusion but a God of peace…"
No where in the Bible does God ever say to rush into a decision.