'HOW GOD TALKS TO YOU



HOW GOD TALKS TO YOU?

2 Timothy 3:16

Prayer Message Series

January 22, 2017

Pastor Nathan J. Thompson

We’re continuing the series “Prayer! Messiah's Power For 2017.” This morning the focus is on how God talks to us? When we talk about people listening to (talking with) God some individuals think that this must be something very mystical; yet God does it all the time.

A number of years ago there was a Time magazine headline that said, “God Is Dead!” The next day the reporters lined up at Billy Graham’s home and said, “Is God dead Dr. Graham?” He replied “Are you kidding? I just talked to him.” Any one of us can talk to God—and believe me God wants to talk with you.

How then does God talk with us? The great thing is that God is not limited to a single way. The Bible tells us that God once spoke through a burning bush; he spoke one time through a cloud; he often spoke through angels. One time God even spoke to Balaam through a donkey.

Therefore the four most common ways God talks with us is first of all—God speaks through the Bible. This is the number one way God speaks. 2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.”

Notice here that the Bible is not (as so many say) just a good collection of wonderful thoughts and ideas of people. It is “inspired.” This word literally means in the Greek, “God breathed.” This means that the Bible is absolutely reliable.

There is no other book in the whole world that is reliable like this book; it can be counted on. It will guide you; correct you; comfort you; help you. However if you fail to get into it (read; study; reflect) how can God talk to you?

This is why it is so important to have a time every day where you sit down for 5, 10, 15, 20 minutes—you read a passage from the Bible; you talk to God in prayer; you let God speak to you through his word.

If I told you that tomorrow Martin Luther King, Jr. (if he were alive) wanted to meet with you you’d go. When somebody that important wants to meet with you you make sure you go. Yet even more important God wants to meet with you.

The creator of the universe wants to converse with you on a regular basis; he wants to listen to you and have you listen to him. That means you need to get into God’s word because that is the number one way God speaks to you.

Then how do you get started in this book? If you’re pretty new to this you may need a new translation; there are many of them. I’d suggest you get the The New International Version or the New Living Translation. You might want to get a study Bible like the Life Application Bible which helps explain some of those customs and things you might not understand.

The second way God speaks to us is through gifted teachers. Have you ever sat in a worship service and felt like God was speaking directly to you; he was. At that very moment God was speaking through a gifted teacher to tell you some important things he wants to say to you.

God speaks through teachers; preachers; pastors. I remember one time at a national conference I attended Pastor Bill Hybels from Willow Creek Church near Chicago was one of the major speakers; he was addressing nearly 2000 pastors and church leaders from all over the country.

As I attended that conference I was feeling quite troubled by some of the challenging times we were going through in my previous congregation: launching a new vision for mission; leading a $2 million building process; facing other challenges that normally happen with such major change.

I distinctly remember Bill Hybels honestly sharing about some major challenges he had faced in his ministry at Willow Creek. Then he told us with tears welling up in his eyes; with his voice breaking in emotion that we pastors need to hang in there when days are tough; we need to be willing to give our whole life to move forward Christ’s mission to lost people. He emphasized that if we give up Satan has won.

Through his passionate words that day I heard God speak. Tears ran down my cheek as I let some of my bottled up sadness and feelings out. I recommitted myself then and there to go back to my congregation with renewed passion and leadership.

I rededicated myself to keep on preaching the Gospel with boldness; to keep my center and focus each day firmly on God’s mission. This is just one of multiple times God has spoken to me through a gifted speaker like Bill Hybels.

The Bible tells us that God gives gifted pastors and teachers in order to communicate his word. I’ve had people tell me following services, “How did you know what was going on in my life today? It felt like you were speaking right to me.”

I even had a person leave my previous church because they said I was talking about and picking on them each week; however I hardly knew them. Believe me I can’t touch a heart; but God can. That is why my prayer each week is that God would touch someone here in a personal way.

The third way God speaks is through impressions; God puts ideas or inspirations in your mind. When a really creative idea comes to you it often comes from the creator of creativity. When God through his Holy Spirit puts an idea in your mind we call it inspiration. When the devil puts an idea in your mind we call that a temptation.

John 14:26 says, “But the advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.” He will “remind you,” or “bring to your mind.” God gives us ideas; he gives us those gut feelings. Some of your most brilliant ideas were actually God’s inspirations he planted in you.

A brilliant business idea; family idea; relational idea; financial idea. Where do you think you got many of those ideas? They come from God who loves you; cares about you; who is infinitely interested in all the details of your life. You were created to receive ideas from God. We need to admit that many times we just aren’t that smart—God inspires in us ideas.

Warning; always test an impression. Never make a decision on an impression alone. If you ever get an impression that is opposite to what God said in the Bible I guarantee that it’s not from God. That’s why the Bible tells us to always test the spirits. If someone says God told them to have an affair (be dishonest in business; judge and berate another person) it is not from God. However always be open because God does speak through impressions; dreams; visions.

The fourth way God often speaks to us is through pain. Truth is that we as people often will not change unless we feel the heat. None of us really likes to change; yet once the pain is greater than the fear we change. The pain you face in life is often God’s way of getting your attention.

Now that doesn’t mean God intentionally sends pain into your life; he doesn’t need to. Truth is that in our sinful lives (with our many bad choices) often brings lots of pain to each of us all by ourselves. We work 12 hour days; barely take any time off for our marriage/family; and the pain comes in physical burn out; in problems in our marriage/family; in discouragement.

Hopefully this pain gets our attention. God himself shouts to us in our pain. When you’re hurting God is saying, “Hey! There’s somebody here who wants to help you!” You can depend on me; I’ll help you through that tough time if you’ll just let me. Pain can be God’s way of getting your attention—of speaking to you.

Perhaps there are some of you here today who are in deep pain in your heart/life; perhaps that is why God led you here this morning; perhaps you are looking for God to touch your pain. You need to be assured that God is speaking to you this morning; he is asking you to trust in him. God truly cares; he wants to help you with whatever you are going through.

Why then is it so important to hear God speak? Truth is that you may know some things about God yet you don’t really know him. You may have religion; not a relationship. God wants to talk with you today; are you open to listening to him? God wants to assure you (no matter who you are) that you are an important part of his family.

It is also important to hear God speak because it often protects you from mistakes. If you faithfully listen to God and his Word of truth it will help; will guide and direct you to hopefully avoid certain mistakes in life.

I can’t tell you how many times me individually (and the congregations I have served) have been saved from some major mistakes; that is because we have listened to God through his Word.

Finally it is important to hear God speak because he is the secret of a productive life. The more I depend on God’s guidance the more effective my life will be. God created you to not just take up space on this earth. Without a relationship with him you’re missing your real purpose for living. God wants you to be very productive; to make a positive impact in everything you do.

Now some of you this morning may have sensed God speaking personally to you. What does God have to say to you? Remember God loves each one of you; he wants to have a personal relationship with you. Commit your life to him today; listen to his voice; you will never be the same again.

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