Can God Speak Specifically to you?
Charting the Course • Sermon • Submitted
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In the Bible we see the Lord speaking to people throughout history in a number of way: Yahweh stands before Samuel 1 Samuel 3:10; He speaks from a cloud at Jesus Baptism; He sends a prophetic promise and sign through Isaiah 7:14; and He will give strong direction as in Isaiah 30:21
21 And your ears shall hear a word from behind you, saying, “this is the way; walk in it,” when you go to your right and when you go to your left.
Now, while its not an every day occurence, it is not an unfamiliar occurence that God speaks to you are me. But the more you are aware and willing to approach Him, the more you will know His voice.
Story of Laura, Ray and kids.
Prayed earnestly for Ray to believe.
About 6 months into this earnest prayer, Laura had a strong sense and so did I.
He told his wife, i am going to follow Jim and hear all of his messages today.
4 Services, no decision.
Laura was bummed because Ray said they had plans for lunch.
I was confused. I was so confident that God had spoken.
Then in the parking lot, Ray said hey Jim you want to go to the park and barbeque.
Well he had a lot of thoughts. He had come to believe a lot about God.
The hot dogs took an hour to cook. I asked if I could share the gospel.
several canned approaches.
Ray said, hey, I’ve got things to work out before I decide. God prompted me. Can we look at just one verse. Phil 1:6
6 convinced of this same thing, that the one who began a good work in you will finish it until the day of Christ Jesus,
Who begins the work? Who completes it? Ray, God. Is there anything you need to do for God that He hasn’t already taken care of?
No. Do you want to receive Christ. Yes...
God said
6 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.
1 This boasting will do no good, but I must go on. I will reluctantly tell about visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether I was in my body or out of my body, I don’t know—only God knows. 3 Yes, only God knows whether I was in my body or outside my body. But I do know
6 For if I want to boast, I will not be foolish, because I will be telling the truth, but I am refraining, so that no one can credit to me more than what he sees in me or hears anything from me, 7 even because of the extraordinary degree of the revelations. Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan, in order that it would torment me so that I would not exalt myself. 8 Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would depart from me. 9 And he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, because the power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore rather I will boast most gladly in my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may reside in me. 10 Therefore I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in calamities, in persecutions and difficulties for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.
I. When the Lord speaks personally , you will be humbled and grateful. (v. 7, I would not exalt myself)
a. Be wary of those who use it to gain prestige.
24 But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things. I, the Lord, have spoken!
b. The Holy Spirit PUTS emphasis on Jesus and His mission, not a leader or a church.
26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.
c. His revelation tends to come after earnest prayer. (v. 8)
Emma and ms. Peggy. I know dad she came to Christ.
III. In the Bible, God speaks when a person seeks His wisdom and will.
a. God speaks to problems you face. (v. 9)
b. Possibilities before you. (Our memory verse).
c. Prophetically many times to encourage faithfulness or discourage evil. 2Chr18:25-26
26 and say, ‘Thus says the king: “Put this one into the prison house, and let him eat a meager ration of bread and water until I return in peace.” ’ ” 27 And Micaiah said, “If you surely return in peace Yahweh has not spoken with me.” Then he said, “Hear, peoples, all of them!”
d. He will speak about people.
10 Now there was a certain disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!” And he said, “Behold, here I am, Lord!” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Get up, go to the street called ‘Straight’ and in the house of Judas look for a man named Saul from Tarsus. For behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in and placing hands on him so that he may regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias replied, “Lord, I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem, 14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to tie up all who call upon your name!” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, because this man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel.
Story of Gary .
Another time, I had been praying for an witnessing to a guy. He shared his testimony in the baptismal pool. so it’s not a secret.
I had been trying to talk with him. He knew what I did for a living and politely kept me at a distance. I couldn’t get to God talk with him. Never.
God had this guy on my heart. Sarah had plans one night with her friends. Somehow she sensed I wanted to visit him. She said, you have 3 kids in tow, they don’t need that. You need to go some other time.
She drove off and God said, you need to go now. Now, I felt conflict in my heart. Sarah doesn’t like disturbing people.
But, I truly heard God say go and talk to the guy. So, I went with the kids. I don’t know if the kids had all their shoes on or if I had a diaper bag. I just knew I needed to go. I knocked on his door. I thought I might say hi and he’d give me a polite thanks for coming by, but it’s time to go. Instead, he opened the door and asked me to come in and sit.
He wanted to hear the gospel. After listening intently, he prayed and thanked me. That’s not how things go typically. Shortly after he asked to be baptized. During his testimony he shared that had some surgery. He struggled with pain medication. The night I stopped by, he had prayed saying God if You’re real take this from me. He then dumped the prescription in the toilet. Right after he walked out of the bathroom, there I was at his door with my 3 kids.