Hearing God’s Voice from His Word
James 4:8 says, “Come near to God and he will come near to you.”
Take a moment and turn your attention to God. Tell God that you desire to trust and obey Him. Ask God to speak to you from His word.
Psalm of the Day
Psalm 77
1 I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me.
2 I sought the Lord in my day of trouble. My hands were continually lifted up all night long;
I refused to be comforted. 3 I think of God; I groan; I meditate; my spirit becomes weak.Selah
4 You have kept me from closing my eyes; I am troubled and cannot speak.
5 I consider days of old, years long past. 6 At night I remember my music; I meditate in my heart, and my spirit ponders.
7 “Will the Lord reject forever and never again show favor? 8 Has his faithful love ceased forever? Is his promise at an end for all generations? 9 Has God forgotten to be gracious?
Has he in anger withheld his compassion?” Selah
10 So I say, “I am grieved that the right hand of the Most High has changed.” 11 I will remember the Lord’s works; yes, I will remember your ancient wonders. 12 I will reflect on all you have done
and meditate on your actions.
13 God, your way is holy. What god is great like God?
14 You are the God who works wonders; you revealed your strength among the peoples.
15 With power you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.Selah
16 The water saw you, God. The water saw you; it trembled. Even the depths shook.
17 The clouds poured down water. The storm clouds thundered; your arrows flashed back and forth. 18 The sound of your thunder was in the whirlwind; lightning lit up the world. The earth shook and quaked. 19 Your way went through the sea and your path through the vast water, but your footprints were unseen. 20 You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
Has God forgotten to be gracious? The writer of this Psalm feels like God has ceased to act. But He reminds himself of God’s faithful acts and grows confident as he remembers what God has done. God has acted in salvation history. He has acted in your history as well. Remember that He is good and faithful regardless of how you feel. Remember that He is great. Cry aloud to Him, but also remember His acts of goodness.
Scripture Reading
1 John 2:18-27 – English Standard Version
18 Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. 20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. 21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. 24 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.
26 I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. 27 But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.
Having God’s Ear through Prayer
- Give thanks to God for His gifts and His goodness.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal sin to you.
- Confess your sin to Him and receive forgiveness.
(1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sin He is faithful and just and will forgive our sins.”) - Bring your personal requests to God.
(Psalm 62:8 “Pour out your heart before God”) - Pray for someone in your small group.
- Join with others from River and pray for CAYM. Ask God to use their ministry to help establish and grow mentoring programs so that children at-risk might come to faith in Christ.
Living as God’s People by applying the Bible
Scripture Reflection from the Sermon
The lust of the flesh
John commands the church: “Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you.” And he promises: “If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.” John’s reference to “what you heard from the beginning” is likely a reference to his Gospel account, which the church had received from him either in oral or written form.
The Greek word translated “abide” is one of John’s favorites; it means to remain, to stay, to continue, to endure. In the face of these new teachings, John calls his flock to “stay put” in the truth of his old Gospel message. Over and above the cultural depictions of Jesus, we must be rooted in and trust the inspired, authoritative truth of God’s Word.
Scripture memory is one great tool for letting the Word of God abide in us. Choose one verse from this week’s passage and spend time throughout this week memorizing it.