When God Speaks

Intro

Have you ever said to someone, “I wish you would have told me!”

- God speaks to us in different ways, but the reality is that many people in this world, and even in the church, do not listen to his voice.

- While God’s magnificent creation points to his greatness and power, it is his Word that reveals divine truth, salvation in Christ, and the path to right living.

- Read Psalm 19:1-6

All of Creation Shouts the Majesty of Our God

A. Creation points to God

1. These verses are full of references to speech

a. Literally “to gush forth”

Illustration of Landon who can’t stop talking

2. “Night reveals knowledge”- we glimpse the vastness of the universe beyond our world

3. We are without excuse- no one can stand there and say, “I wish someone would have told me there was a God!”

a. Rom. 1:18-23, 25

b. Many people see creation, enjoy creation (especially here in California), they see it but fail to recognize God’s hand in it all

c. Instead they worship the creation rather than the creator

(1) The Sun- 4b-6

(2) We may not know anyone who bows down to the sun, but they worship nature in their own way

B. Despite how much it communicates about God, Creation cannot actually speak (3)

1. Seeming paradox- it declares, proclaims, pours out speech, yet it does not speak

2. Creation clearly and universally tells us that there is a God

3. Different aspects of creation communicate different truths about God and our world- the sunset over the Ocean vs. the human body vs. the destructive path of a hurricane

4. Creation can tell us many things, But it cannot tell us who God is. It cannot answer the fundamental questions of this life (where did I come from, why am I here, what happens to me when I die)

5. So if we just had creation, it would be enough to condemn us, but not enough save us

6. So God in his mercy gave us more- he spoke to us

- Transition- communicating through pictures or actions vs words- heads up game- art can be very open to interpretation- so God has gone further in his communication to us

God’s Word Speaks: Reveals Truth and Guides Us in Right Living

A. God gives us his true, living, and concrete word to instruct us in truth

1. His word is the only foundation for our faith- without it we have nothing to stand on

2. That is why it is our authority in life and in the church

B. God’s Word is…

1. Perfect (Rom. 12:2), sure (confirmed, verified), right (morally right, straight), pure and clean (refined like silver Ps. 12:6), true (dependable)

2. This is all that we want human interaction to be, but it never measures up

C. The effects of his word

1. Revives the soul- gives life

2. Makes wise the simple

3. Bring lasting joy

4. Opens our eyes to truth

D. Understanding these truths should lead us to desire God’s word more than anything in the world

1. Gold- the most valuable item at that time

2. Honey- the sweetest thing known

The truth of God’s Word has the power to completely change our lives

A. When We Apply His Truth to our Lives, We Can Experience True Freedom

1. The instructions of the Lord serve as a warning

a. Illustration- warning on packaging

b. A warning against dangers we should avoid, a warning of the cost of discipleship (what we are called to), a warning of what we should expect in the days ahead

2. Following them brings great reward

a. Earthly blessings

(1) Deut. 5:33- You shall walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess.

b. Eternal blessings

(1) Gal. 6:9- And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

(2) Phil. 3:14- I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

3. The Psalmist prays for protection against falling into sin (12-13)

a. The law reveals our sinfulness

(1) Rom. 3:20 “For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.”

(2) Rom. 5:20 “Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,”

(3) Rom. 7- outlines this battle between the law of God and the law of sin.

(a) 18- “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.”

b. As God’s law reveals sin in our lives, we should cry out to God as the psalmist does for forgiveness and cleansing

(1) We see his passion- Show me the things I am blind to

(a) “Hidden”- not that they are small or insignificant, but that they are too characteristic of us to register in our minds

(2) How often do we let sin go unconfessed in our lives

c. We should also pray that God would give us the strength so that our sin does not control us

B. God’s Word outlines the pathway to true and lasting freedom

1. Here’s the point- as sinful human beings, we can never be blameless. We can never be innocent of great transgression- God’s revealed Law makes that clear to us

2. Our standing before God is only because of his grace and mercy toward us

a. The law has revealed how far short we fall, but it also reveals the only way that we can be made right with God- the only way that we can be made truly righteous

b. Christ fulfilled the law on our behalf and paid the penalty for our sinfulness

3. Remember in vs 1 when it talks about God’s handiwork or finger work in creation

a. We are amazed by the beauty and magnificence that his hands created, but lets look at Isaiah 52:10

b. “The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.”

c. He rolled up his sleeves- it shows the power, the magnitude, and the beauty of God’s gift of salvation

d. If we stand in awe of creation, how much more should we be amazed by the salvation that God has secured for us?

C. Because of what God has done for us, in giving us his Word, in providing eternal salvation through Jesus, What is our response?

1. V 14- we want our words and our lives to be an acceptable offering to him

Conclusion

- All throughout this psalm we see the theme of speech- creation speaks, God’s speaks through his word, our lives and our speech should be acceptable to God

- God has blessed us with the beauty of creation, but even more so he has blessed us with his written word

So What?

- God is speaking. The question is… are you listening?

o Illustration of kids not listening

- How do you view God’s Word?

o Is it present in your life?

o Is it authoritative in your life?

- Have you accepted God’s free gift of eternal life?

- Are you sharing God’s Word with others?

o If we know that creation reveals God, but that people cannot know God without his Word, that should motivate us to share the gospel with urgency

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