The Importance of Hearing God

Hearing God – Part 3
Perry Duggar

June 25, 2023

Introduction: Continue message series, Hearing God.

A. Today, we will focus on the Importance of Hearing God (Title of this message.)

1. Theme verse: Psalm 27:8 (NLT)—My heart has heard You say, “Come and talk with Me.”
2. We are examining whether God speaks directly to us, and if He does, in what ways?
3. I reviewed diverse ways God communicates to different people in distinct situations.
4. I don’t think God uses every means of conveying His message to every person.
5. I think He uses whatever method will be most effective to capture a particular person’s attention so that person will receive, understand, and respond to the message.
6. For many years after coming to faith, even after years in ministry, I thought God spoke only through the Bible; but in a time of great struggle, God spoke to me individually and personally.
7. I do think His primary means of communication is the Bible, but not merely the printed book, no, the word of God inspired and applied to each person’s situation by the Spirit.
8. Why is it important to hear God personally?

B. Hearing from God…

1. Personalizes my faith. (Psalm 27:8; John 5:39-40; 8:47; 10:27; Galatians 4:6-7)

1. John 5:39-40 (NLT)—³⁹ “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to Me! ⁴⁰ Yet you refuse to come to Me to receive this life.”
2. Jesus was speaking to Jews who studied the Scriptures diligently and dutifully tried to obey the commandments it contained, but they did not receive eternal life.
3. They did not think a personal relationship with God was possible; in fact, they considered familiarity with God as disrespectful, even blasphemous.
4. It is not sufficient for us to know the Bible or master theology; we cannot have a personal relationship with biblical principles—though they are true—we must know Jesus.
5. We are not saved through facts, though the Gospel includes doctrinal information.
6. We are born again through personal interaction with the Holy Spirit giving us new spiritual life and initiating a relationship with God.
7. When the Holy Spirit regenerates us, He remains within, facilitating a vibrant, living, intimate relationship with God.
8. Psalm 27:8 (NLT)—My heart has heard You say, “Come and talk with Me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.”
9. God invites us into intimate conversation; it is His continual presence in our minds and hearts that deepens our faith and sets us apart from people practicing religion.
10. Complacency in our faith often results from having no direct, personal, contact with God —not hearing what He thinks or feels, including what He thinks and feels about you.

11. We need to know that we matter to God, He knows us; we belong to Him.
12. Galatians 4:6–7 (NLT)—⁶ And because we are His children, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” ⁷ Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are His child, God has made you His heir. [That is our identity.] [also, Romans 8:14-16]
13. Nicole writes: When I was a little girl, I was raised in the church. Growing up, I always knew God and would have conversations with him like he was right next to me in person. When I was 17 years old my dad passed away. I was angry at God, I asked Him why him, “Why my dad?” I cried and shouted. I felt so lost I didn't know what to do. In His response, I heard a still small voice clear as day say "Just as I protected you in foster care and provided for you then, I will still do so, just trust Me and be still. You are My child and I will never leave you." Ever since then, even now, no matter what, I will always trust God to take care of what I can't. [Nicole Harris]

14. When we don’t know our Heavenly Father—and aren’t known by Him—we will be confused about our identity, won’t know who we are, will doubt our significance, be driven for acceptance, and become controlled by the approval of people.
15. Hearing the voice of God telling us who we are—this means who we are to Him—secures our identity, our value, our worth, our meaning and purpose.
16. [A woman wrote] Q: Have you heard God speak? Yes! I heard Him in my spirit. He said to me " I am your true Father, you can forgive and let go of the pain" My earthly dad hurt me as a young girl. I thought I had worked through it, but I still had a heaviness... This happened here at Brookwood as Perry asked us to close our eyes and ask God to speak to us and, to give all of us to Him. It was so unexpected! I heard God and could not believe it. I cried tears of Joy. The result was literally instant! The pain, the heaviness, lifted from me. I forgave wholeheartedly, even when an “I'm sorry,” never came. It was life changing to me because I KNEW I meant so much to my Beautiful Heavenly Father, that He took His precious time and attention to speak to me. I know I am loved and I want to live to honor Him! If you could see me now... tears of Joy in my eyes again :) B

17. APP.: Is your relationship with God personal, intimate, affirming? Would you like for it to be?
18. APP.: Ask God what you mean to Him, if you matter to Him; I think He’ll tell you.

Hearing from God…

2. Provides direction. (Psalm 32:8; Proverbs 3:5-6; Isaiah 30:21; Galatians 5:25)

1. The Bible is fully true, but it doesn’t, by itself, provide specific direction for all of our particular situations, the Spirit was given to us to illuminate and apply it precisely to us.
2. The Spirit speaks to our individual circumstances and in response to our unique needs. (EX.: Which spouse, which job, which house, which candidate?)
3. Psalm 32:8 (NLT)—The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.”
4. We need God’s perspective and opinion on every decision of our lives.
5. We honor and please Him when we ask for instruction about how to best live our lives.
6. Because He loves us and we belong to Him, He wants us to have lives that provide us with peace, security, satisfaction, and joy.
7. If we want His advice, we must decide we will obey as soon as we understand what He is saying; otherwise, why should He answer? [James1:6-7 tells He won’t if we are wavering.]
8. ILL.: [A woman writes] I was sitting in my living room and clearly heard a still, small voice inside me say that I needed to contact my sister-in-law and ask for forgiveness for the way I have mistreated her over the years. It came out of nowhere and I was compelled immediately to obey. I knew it was the Lord because it wasn't something I was thinking about, but the Holy Spirit illuminated my sin in the area in that moment. I was brought to my knees before the Lord in an instant. I was afraid of her reaction as we didn't have a very good relationship and there had been ill feelings toward each other for over 15 years. To my surprise and joy, she responded with immediate forgiveness and it has completely changed the dynamic with my husband's family. That simple act of obedience, even though I was afraid, has reconciled my husband with his brother and our extended family. She was so touched she told others in the family that I apologized and asked for her forgiveness. The Lord was greatly glorified in this situation. From now on when I hear that gentle voice inside I immediately reply, "Lord, I will do what you say."
9. God cares about everything that concerns you, He will readily offer guidance.
10. We misunderstand God’s nature and His attitude toward us if we think He enjoys confronting and correcting His children.
11. He prefers to enjoy us and for us to enjoy Him!
12. God is not cruel; He doesn’t want us to suffer for our mistakes to teach us lessons.
13. God would rather we respond to His direction, but He loves us too much to let us waste our lives, damaging ourselves and others.
14. Isaiah 30:21 (NLT)—Your own ears will hear Him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left.
15. Sometimes when a person is running away from God, He will block their path.
16. ILL.: [A mother writes] My 17-year-old daughter was deeply under the spell of drugs, had run away, and was involved in criminal activities. Therapy, friends, family interventions and self-education could not interrupt this deadly cycle. I heard through her friends she was leaving in a few days for California. Knowing she would be lost forever to me if she made it to the west coast, I got on my knees that night and begged for God’s help, explaining to Him I had exhausted all human efforts to find and save her. I prayed for Him to take this problem and tell me what to do. At 4 am, I was awakened by the knowledge of where she was at that precise moment. This is difficult to explain but I just knew where she was, how to drive there, and who she was with. It was all planned out for me and I knew exactly each step to take, this voice telling me what to do. A very long, complicated legal battle has resulted in a mature, successful health professional today, a productive member of society raising a family. Today I cannot look at my daughter without seeing God, as He most assuredly saved her.
17. APP.: Has God rescued you or someone you love with His words of direction?

Hearing God speak…

3. Produces Growth. (John 8:43,47; Romans 12:2; Ephesians 1:16-18; Colossians 1:9-10)

1. Colossians 1:9–10 (NLT)—⁹ …We ask God to give you complete knowledge of His will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. ¹⁰ Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.
2. Grow [Greek auxanō, ŏwx-an´-o] means “to enlarge or increase.” [Refers to our faith.]
3. God speaks, not merely to inform, but to change lives; His voice alters our nature!
4. The knowledge of God is the means by which a Christian grows.
5. Knowing God does not mean gathering information, it refers to an experience of revelation occurring—this is given to us by the Holy Spirit!
6. When God speaks to us by the Spirit—either directly or from His Word, He exposes and corrects false beliefs we hold about Him, ourselves, and this world. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
7. The Spirit’s truth exposes lies we believe about ourselves which lead us into self-destruction; it uncovers lies about God which deceive us, causing us to mistrust Him.
8. ILL.: [A young woman writes] I had been dealing with a self-harm addiction for 7 years and wasn’t sure I would ever be able to walk away from it. I felt like I needed to physically feel pain to have a sense of control when life felt very much out of control. During a summer camp in high school, I dropped my head and told the Lord I knew I couldn’t keep doing what I was. I sat in silence and felt the Lord whisper “Trust Me.” After being reminded that I needed to trust the Lord in all areas of my life, including the areas that I was most afraid to trust Him with, I walked away from self-harm. I was able to stop leaning on myself for a sense of control and start trusting the One that was actually in control. Jesus bled for me so I didn’t have to. There’s been such a sense of peace, freedom, and sense of security since I laid my addiction at the feet of Jesus.
9. Growth comes when we truly know Jesus, so we know we can trust Him with our lives.
10. We don’t have to try to control our lives (and fail miserably); we can rely on Him.
11. When I know God personally, experientially, He becomes true to me, so I will trust Him; when I trust Him, I will receive what He says—and it will change me—that’s growth!
12. Romans 12:2 (NLT)—Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
13. If you will listen for and follow His voice so that your life is led by His truth, not the world’s lies, you will become the person He created you to be.
14. APP.: Are you ready to grow into the person God knows you can be?

Questions for message series Hearing God:

• Have you ever heard God speak?
• What did He say?
• What resulted?

Submit responses to brookwoodchurch.org/hearingGod.

• I would like to publish responses with only initials.
• Contact Lora at [email protected] if you want yours removed. Give a bit of description.
• Care volunteers will be at the front and in the Care Connection room.
• Memory verse: Galatians 5:25 (NLT)—Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.