LISTENING TO GOD
KEY PASSAGE: Mark 4:1-3, 23-24, 7:14 | SUPPORTING SCRIPTURES: Psalm 32:8 | Proverbs 3:5-6 | John 3:3
SUMMARY Mark 7:14. At another time, Jesus called out, “Listen
to Me, all of you, and understand.” His goal is that we
It’s very comforting to know that God loves us comprehend what He says.
enough to make a plan for each of our lives. John 3:3. When Jesus spoke to Nicodemus, He said,
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born again
In fact, He designed it before we were ever born. Nothing he cannot see the kingdom of God.” The phrase, “Truly,
about our lives is an accident. Although God’s plan is the truly, I say to you” is used 25 times by Christ in the book
best possible path, it’s not always the easiest. We may of John. It was His way of emphasizing that what He
have to climb a few mountains and walk through some was saying was authoritative truth that deserved full
dark valleys, but if we follow His instructions, we’ll discover attention.
the rewards of living according to His will. That’s why it’s
important to ask the Lord to reveal His plan to us and be How does God speak to us today?
ready and willing to listen for His directions.
We know that the Lord spoke to people in the Bible, but
SERMON POINTS He also wants to speak personally to each of His children
today. This means we must be attentive because no one
Since God has a plan, we can be certain that else can listen for us.
He wants to guide us into it (Ps. 32:8).
God’s primary way of speaking to us is through
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart His Word. The Bible is not just an old book, but the
and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your inerrant, authoritative Word of God and the ultimate
ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths source of truth. When we read it, we’re hearing directly
straight.” To acknowledge the Lord means we consider from the Lord. All other methods of listening to God
what He says, recognize His great power, trust His must be checked and compared with the Scriptures to
guidance, and follow His instructions. He’s continually determine if we are accurately hearing Him.
seeking to guide us, but if we’re not listening, we’ll miss He also speaks to us through prayer. Prayer is our way
His instructions and go the wrong way. of communicating with God by talking to Him, but it’s
also a time to be still and listen for His guidance. Instead
When Jesus speaks, He wants us to listen. of simply running through our list of requests and
moving on to the day’s duties and activities, we need to
Mark 4:1-3. As He taught a large crowd, Jesus called for learn to be still for a while to see if He has anything to
their attention by saying, “Listen to this!” say to our hearts.
Mark 4:23-24. Christ also announced, “If anyone has The Lord may speak through our circumstances.
ears to hear, let him hear,” and cautioned them saying, When a situation is painful, we must remember that
“Take care what you listen to.” It’s not only important to hearing from God is more important than our comfort
hear, but it’s critical to be discerning in our listening. and pleasure. He uses difficulties and suffering to grab
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our attention. In every event, God has something to But those who tune in to Him every day realize that He
teach us. Instead of focusing on why the situation has speaks personally to our spirits if we’re listening.
happened, our first question should be, “Lord, what do We might be afraid of what He will say. What if God
you want to say to me?” asks of us something we don’t want to do? This attitude
Sometimes God speaks to us through other people. displays a lack of trust and a failure to understand that
It may come in the form of affirmation, confirmation, His plan for our lives is always the best option.
encouragement, or even reproof or warning. And We could be angry with the Lord. If we’ve blamed Him
the Lord may use anyone He chooses to deliver His for something that happened in the past, we may not be
message—even someone we may not like. No matter interested in hearing anything He has to say.
the source, we should thoughtfully and prayerfully We could have a rebellious spirit. If we’re refusing to
consider whatever is said. give up a particular sin in our lives, we won’t want to
hear the Spirit’s convicting voice.
How can we identify God’s voice?
What are the consequences of not listening
When we are seeking to hear from the Lord, we must to God?
make sure that it’s His voice we are hearing and not our
own thoughts or someone else’s ideas. It is important to ask, “Have I given someone else’s
counsel a higher priority than that of my heavenly
God’s voice is always consistent with His Word. Any
Father?” Others may claim to have your best interests at
message must agree with what the Lord has already
heart, but heeding their advice instead of God’s is costly
said in Scripture.
in several ways.
His voice is quiet. God speaks to our hearts through
His Holy Spirit in an inaudible but compelling way.
We won’t receive His guidance and will miss out on His
The Lord speaks clearly. If we’ll tune our hearts to Him
plan for our lives.
by setting aside time to read His Word and listen for His
We’ll listen to the wrong voices, be deceived, make
Spirit to speak, He will give us clear guidance.
costly decisions, and forfeit God’s best.
Others will suffer. An unwillingness to listen to the Lord
How does the Lord get our attention?
affects not only us but our loved ones and associates.
Sometimes He gives us a sense of restlessness.
Perhaps we have already planned a course of action
RESPONSE
but then develop an uneasy feeling about it. If we’ll pray
Have you ever felt a conviction regarding a particular
and ask God for specific guidance, He might lead us in
sin? If so, you have heard God’s voice. How else have
an unexpected direction.
you sensed Him communicating with you?
At other times God may get our attention with
As you’ve read the Bible, has a passage ever spoken
a gentle whisper. Although His voice is soft and
to a situation you were facing? What did the Lord say
inaudible, it rings so loud and clear in our spirit that we
to you through His Word? How has Scripture given you
know we’re hearing from Him.
guidance, comfort, or insight regarding a circumstance
Why don’t we listen to God? in your life?
What do you need to do to increase your sensitivity to
We may not believe that the Lord speaks today. God’s voice?
If that’s the case, we won’t be listening for His voice.
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