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 27:5-6 For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.
6 Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord.
Read the Entire Psalm
Look at God’s responsibility and the writer’s responsibility. God’s responsibility – keep the writer safe in the day of trouble. God’s responsibility is not to keep the writer from all trouble, but to keep the writer ultimately safe. The writer is safe when he draws near to God, dwelling with God. The writer also says that he will sacrifice with joyful shouts and he will make music. The writer is saying that he is responsible to praise God. If you are in a time of trouble go to Him. Praise God that He ultimately keeps you safe.
Scripture Reading
John 10:1-21 – English Standard Version
I Am the Good Shepherd
10 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
19 There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. 20 Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?” 21 Others said, “These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
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 help Donnovan Karber as he seek.
Living as God’s People by applying the Bible
Scripture Reflection from the Sermon
Jesus calls his sheep, and they follow him because they know his voice. How do we learn to know the voice of Jesus? First, he is never going to speak in ways that are contrary to his written word. The more we know the Bible, the more we are positioned to know when and how he is speaking to us. In addition to his written Word, we are able to hear his voice as he speaks comfort and courage to our hearts through the Holy Spirit. Be careful here. It is very easy to take what we hope or need to happen and make that into the voice of God. Many people have gone down bad paths or have become disillusioned by hearing their own needs or desires and thinking they are hearing from God. In addition to looking first to the written Word of God to discern whether we are actually hearing from God, we should look to the trusted input from others around us. God speaks clearly, but we do not always hear clearly. Finally, after God’s word, God’s Spirit and God’s people there remains one more key element in hearing clearly from God. That is the status of our own hearts. Are we surrendered to the will of God? Are we practicing death to self? We must have hearts that are mostly free of self-will in order to be positioned to hear clearly from God. I know this sounds complex, but it really isn’t. Read his Word, humbly listen to others, seek to hear his voice, and have a heart that says “yes.”