Sermon Tone Analysis

As believer’s God wants to talk to us and is talking to us.

While He gives us many very straightforward commands that make certain things clear.

Many times in life we come across specific situations where He will speak to us in what might be impressions.

You have a sense that He wants you to do or say something.

You might even be in the midst of a powerful ministry setting.

But how can you be sure?

Let’s look Peter.

He got this so Right!

It seems no one else could get this.

It couldn’t be deduced.

It had to be revealed by God Himself.

And out of all the people who had answers and were close, only Peter truly heard from the Father.

But how did Peter go from that mountain top accolade, I heard and listened to the Father and made the right declaration to just a few verses?

Jesus tells them of the impending suffering and Peter says, NO! and Jesus says, “Get BEHIND ME SATAN, you speak of the things of men and not of God.”

If that can happen to Peter while he talked directly to Jesus, going from one impression, insight, revelation of God and then stepping into the camp of Satan, how much more do you need to examine and test things that we don’t have a clear Bible verse about.

I’m going to go through 7 tests over the next few weeks that you can use to determine God’s will in a situation.

You will need to utilize all 7, it’s not a buffet where you choose your favorite and then go.

You look at all these principles and if they line up, you can have confidence God is speaking.

Now, you can look up and read about these in books, seminars, and studies by

Dallas Willard, Priscilla Schrier, Rick Warren, JP Mooreland, Tom Holladay, Ken Willard, Don Whitney, Chuck Lawless, Henry Blackaby, Claude Townsend.

I’ve read a number of books, been to seminars, and heard sermons from more than these.

There’s nothing particularly original to Jim in this message.

And, I can say a number these people share a lot of similar points with each other.

But, that is a Biblical reality, concerning discipleship and core doctrines: when it comes to Spiritual reality and how to know God, “If it’s new, it’s not true.”

SO

How do you recognize God’s Voice?

One way God communicates comes through IMPRESSIONS.

But how do we know when it’s God and when it’s from us or the Devil?

If it could happen in a short time for the Apostle Peter, how do we figure it out?

There’s not a verse for every decision you have to make.

In fact the Bible gives us guard rails that put us on the path but, there are detours and opportunities that we need to walk in

Rick Warren, Dallas Willard, Ken Whitley, Priscillia Schier, along with others offer a battery of tests to make sure that it’s not the salad dressing from last night or the Night Quill.

Today we will cover 3 of the tests.

So let’s see where the Bible offers us direction here.

Romans 12:1–2 (HCSB)

1 Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

Over the next few weeks we will be looking at 7 tests that when you follow them, you can know God is speaking to you.

Does it AGREE with the Bible?

We will cover this one quickly.

Since we covered it last time, but we need to remember this is the FUNDAMENTAL ONE.

It’s likely the most objective.

So this is like the Monopoly game.

If it doesn’t line up, you do not PASS GO.

Don’t roll the dice any more.

No need to give any more thought to it.

It’s game over.

God is not the author of CONFUSION.

He will not contradict what He says.

He will be consistent.

Be careful of thinking you can negotiate with God about His commands and nature.

You can have it His way and have His presence with you or you can go your way.

I remember Brian, one of Recreational Alpine Adventure Tour leaders talking with a teen in pre-trial intervention.

They had been in the backcountry miles away from any town or city.

The kid told Brian he didn’t care for this trail.

He didn’t need other people so he would take off that night.

Well as night came and he got his dander up, he asked Brian what’s all that howling?

Brian said it’s the wolves.

Kid said what do they want?

Brian said, “You.”

Now, it was nice knowing you, I don’t expect I’ll be seeing you again.

In fact based on how close the wolves are, I don’t expect anyone will be seeing you again.

The kid decided to say with the group and finish the trek.

2. Does it make me more like Christ?

I can’t go out and by a pair of air Jordan’s and expect to jump like Michael.

No matter how hard I try or work out.

It’s just not in my DNA.

I’ve got Holy Spirit in my now.

God wants to prepare me and perfect me for heaven.

In fact, His main purpose for me is not my happiness, not to increase my intelligence, not to grow my portfolio, but to grow my stature into being like His Son.

So the next test I must make concerns Christ.

Will this path lead me to Christlikeness or not?

If I can’t see Jesus at the end of this trail, I’m going the wrong direction.

If I can see Jesus working on and through me, then I am on the right track.

I’ll stick with Him.

So what does that look like?

a. God wants to develop your Character.

He wants you to resemble His family.

Have you ever wondered why God leaves us here on earth?

Why didn’t He take us right away?

Well, He wants us to grow and long for an existence with Him.

He wants other people to see His family so more will join Him and us.

So He wants us to reflect His Son.

What does that look like?

b.

Ask if it will make you reflect the Fruit of His Spirit.

There’s a song the kids sing Oh the fruit of the spirit is not a watermelon.

If you want to be a watermelon, you might as well admit it, you can’t be the Fruit of the Spirit.

Is what I am about to do Loving others?

It might be good for me, but hurt my family.

Big job opportunity.

You might get paid more, but the move would separate.

Will it bring joy?

Will Jesus be central going forward.

Is He first?

Jesus others self, or is this all about me and my wants regardless of the impact?

See will this bring peace or division?

Gossip, manipulating others, creating conflict in your family or the family of God would never be from God.

If you are committed to the Great Commandment and Commission, and you have people in your church with the same mindset, you have a blessing.

You can look at the plan and the people and say, this will bring greater ministry, greater unity, great peace when we do it.

Is it based in Kindness?