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 78:1-4
My people, hear my instruction; listen to the words from my mouth.
2 I will declare wise sayings; I will speak mysteries from the past—
3 things we have heard and known and that our ancestors have passed down to us.
4 We will not hide them from their children, but will tell a future generation
the praiseworthy acts of the Lord, his might, and the wondrous works he has performed.
Read the Entire Psalm
This is a Psalm of Asaph not David. Asaph was a temple musician. He speaks in this Psalm about receiving wisdom and instruction from his parents and he declares that he and others with him will tell a future generation of the praiseworthy acts of the Lord. Praise God for the generation that came before you and those who told you of God. Thank Him for the opportunity to declare His acts to a future generation. Pray that you would be faithful to declare the wonders He has performed.
SCRIPTURE READING:
1 John 2:18-27 – New Living Translation
18 Dear children, the last hour is here. You have heard that the Antichrist is coming, and already many such antichrists have appeared. From this we know that the last hour has come. 19 These people left our churches, but they never really belonged with us; otherwise they would have stayed with us. When they left, it proved that they did not belong with us.
20 But you are not like that, for the Holy One has given you his Spirit, and all of you know the truth. 21 So I am writing to you not because you don’t know the truth but because you know the difference between truth and lies. 22 And who is a liar? Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ. Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist. 23 Anyone who denies the Son doesn’t have the Father, either. But anyone who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.
24 So you must remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning. If you do, you will remain in fellowship with the Son and with the Father. 25 And in this fellowship we enjoy the eternal life he promised us.
26 I am writing these things to warn you about those who want to lead you astray. 27 But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.
Having God’s Ear through Prayer
- Express thanksgiving to God.
- 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 those who do not know God. Ask God to help you see the lost people around you and have compassion for them. Ask God for opportunities to build trust. Ask God to give you opportunity to have gospel conversations.
Living as God’s People by applying the Bible
Scripture Reflection from the Sermon
Go back to the verse you chose yesterday and spend some time meditating on it today. One way you can meditate on a verse is to say it repeatedly, each time emphasizing a different word in the verse. Start by saying the verse aloud and emphasizing the first word. Then, say the verse a second time and this time emphasize the second word. Continue on in this way until you have emphasized every word in the verse.
Let the truth abide in you.