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 89:1-4 I will sing about the Lord’s faithful love forever; I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations with my mouth. 2 For I will declare, “Faithful love is built up forever; you establish your faithfulness in the heavens.”
3 The Lord said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn an oath to David my servant: 4 ‘I will establish your offspring forever and build up your throne for all generations.’
Read the Entire Psalm
Speak of God’s Faithfulness Speak out loud of God’s faithfulness. Yes, you can read this silently to yourself but follow the instructions of this Psalm and speak out loud. God has faithful love – Thank him. God is always faithful – praise Him.
Scripture Reading
John 3:22-36 – New International Version
John Testifies Again About Jesus
22 After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized. 23 Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized. 24 (This was before John was put in prison.) 25 An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. 26 They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”
27 To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ 29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. 30 He must become greater; I must become less.”
31 The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. 33 Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. 34 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. 35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.
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, guide her, and strengthen her as she serves overseas.
Living as God’s People by applying the Bible
Scripture Reflection from the Sermon
“He must increase, but I must decrease” was much more than merely a slogan for John the Baptist. He didn’t merely utter these words with his mouth; his whole life and actions embodied these words. How do you think John trained so that this was his natural response? Take an honest assessment of your own heart. Does your heart long for recognition, accolades, or respectability in the eyes of your peers? When the time came, John was happy to take the spotlight off of himself and shine it on Christ. What daily practices might help you train to the same end? Think in concrete and specific ways. What can you do today to put the interest of others ahead of your own?