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 94:8-11
Pay attention, you stupid people!
Fools, when will you be wise?
9 Can the one who shaped the ear not hear,
the one who formed the eye not see?
10 The one who instructs nations,
the one who teaches mankind knowledge—
does he not discipline?
11 The Lord knows the thoughts of mankind;
they are futile.
Read the Entire Psalm
Can the one who shaped the ear not hear? It is foolish and even stupid to pretend that God does not exist. He hears. He sees. He instructs. He disciplines. It is dangerous to live as though God does not live. Praise Him that He is aware. Even though He may seem like He is standing by, He is not. He is involved. Pray for an awareness of God’s activity all around you.
Scripture Reading
John 20:19-23 – New International Version
19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
Having God’s Ear through Prayer
- Express thanks 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 Amelia. Ask God to encourage her and guide her as she serves overseas.
Living as God’s People by applying the Bible
Scripture Reflection from the Sermon
We find Jesus’ commissioning statement in the Gospel of John in John 20:21: “…As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”
Up to this point in John’s Gospel, it has been noted roughly 40 times that God had “sent” Jesus. Now, John wants the reader to see that this idea of being “sent” is to become a key characteristic of Jesus’ disciples, as well. As the Father sent Jesus, Jesus is now sending His disciples. Thus, carrying on the mission of God is at the very heart of discipleship.
Imagine the places you will go today (work, school, the gym, the grocery store, your family dinner table, etc.). We go to many of these places day by day lacking the perspective that we’ve been sent there by the sovereign direction of God. The busyness and monotony of life tends to lull us into a spiritual sleep. What would it look like to “wake up” to the reality that Christ Jesus is sending you into these places on purpose and with purpose? How might your perspective toward your coworkers, classmates, family members, and “random” strangers your meet throughout the day change? Ask the Holy Spirit to help you “live sent” in each of these situations today. Ask Him to give you opportunities to have spiritual conversations. Commit to having those conversations. Ask Him for boldness.