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Location: 6425 Jefferson Rd.
(Hwy. 129) in Athens, Georgia.

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A GATEWAY SERMON SUMMARY


AUDIO


Hearing from God
(first in the series, 'Experiencing God')

Jerry Varnado, pastor
Gateway Church, Athens GA

February 6, 2005
  • The mission of Gateway Church is this: "Helping People Experience God."
  • We borrowed the term "Experiencing God" from a Bible study by Henry Blackaby and Claude King. That study is subtitled, "Knowing and Doing the Will of God."

  • To know and do God's will, we must hear God when speaks to us.

  • There are at least four prerequisites to hearing God. We must:

1) Believe we can hear from God.

I'm talking about hearing directly from God with regard to specific directions for living our lives.

Throughout Scripture, we read stories of God leading people in specific ways to accomplish His will. There is no reason to believe it is different now.


2) Get our priorities in proper order.

If our hearts and minds are fixed first on God, we are better able -- and more apt -- to hear Him.


3) Have clean hands and a pure heart.

Unconfessed sin is an obstacle to hearing from God, because sin separates us from God.

A pure heart describes a humble spirit that desires knowing God above all else, combined with a willingness to obey whatever God says.

Most of the time we'll never know God's will unless we are willing to do God's will.


4) A conducive environment.

One of our retired Methodist bishops, Woodie White, said this at a meeting I attended last week:

"Hearing is most likely to occur in an environment in which competing voices are significantly reduced or eliminated."

To hear from God, you and I must find or create a quiet space. We have to shut out the competing noise -- both external and internal.

  • How do we know it when we hear it? Let me give you four characteristics of God's voice.

1) It never contradicts Scripture.

God does not change. He is never confused or surprised by anything. Therefore His voice will never contradict what He has revealed or instructed in His Word.

2) It is leading, and usually quiet.

With rare exception, God doesn't force or drive Himself into our lives. He comes by invitation and surrender.

3) God's voice is usually practical.

We should not discount anything we felt led of God to do just because it seems mundane, it may be extremely important to someone else.

4) God's voice is usually personal.

If you have a burden for someone, God probably wants you to do something about it. Don't ask me or someone else to do it. God is most likely calling you.

  • How then does God speak to us? What sources does He use?

1) The Bible.

It is the "Word of God." We encounter God when we read it.

Not only is it a way we hear from God but it is the standard against we weigh everything else.

2) The life of Jesus.

Hebrews 1 says clearly that God "has spoken to us by His Son." To know God, look at Jesus. To see what God wants you and me to be like, look at Jesus.

3) The church's ministry offices.

Ephesians 4 says that God has called certain people to proclaim, teach and speak His word, into particular situations.

But remember, we are cautioned to weigh and discern all teaching.

4) Spiritual gifts.

Scripture says that God speaks through prophecy, words of knowledge, words of wisdom, the gift of discerning of spirits, and through tongues and interpretation of tongues.

5) People -- especially those close to us.

God often speaks to us most clearly through close Christian friends, as well as through our wives, husbands, and even our children.

6) Life experiences

The Bible says, "God works all things together for our good." He teaches us through life's experiences -- good and bad.

7) Nature

The creation tells us about the Creator. This is why Jesus often used natural things -- the birds of the air, the lilies of the field - to express God's nature and truth to us.

8) Our natural thoughts and ideas.

When we have prayed for guidance, God can sanctify our thoughts and ideas and cause to arrive an understanding of His will.

9) Dreams and visions.

We must be careful how we interpret these, but Scripture and church history have many examples how God guided through dreams and visions.

10) Discernment.

Sometimes we just have a feeling that something isn't right. Red flags go up.

I think this is a spiritual enablement available to every Christian who will seek to develop and use it.

  • Right now, we are facing something of a crisis. The cost of our new building, already under construction, is far exceeding our initial estimates.

  • Our Church Council will have to make decisions next Sunday night about our course of action. We desperately need to hear from God.

  • I'm asking you to fast and pray this week, so we can attune ourselves to hear God's voice -- and find the path of His provision.


Supporting texts: Acts 16:6-10 | Matthew 6:33 | Mark 12:30 | Psalm 24:3-6 | Hebrews 1:1-2 | Ephesians 4:11-13 | 1 Corinthians 12:1-31 | Romans 8:28 | Romans 1:20 | Hebrews 5:14

A mp3 audio file of this sermon is here (38:00).
(Download to a PC by right clicking on the link and choosing "Save Target As." Mac users: click, hold, and choose "Download Link to Disk." Depending on your connection speed, the file may take several minutes to download.)


An audio tape of this sermon is available
free of charge (U.S. requests only).
Request a tape by calling or writing the Gateway Church office.
Please specify tape number 050206a: Hearing From God.


© 2005 Gerald R. Varnado

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