Continuing the discussion on the various ways that God speaks to us today.
[Video Coming Soon]
Scriptures:
- Exodus 3:1-6
- Ezekiel 8:15-17 (NASB)
- 1 Timothy 4:16
- Philippians 1:15-18
- Acts 16:16-18
- 1 Corinthians 14:27-28
Stories:
- How God has spoken to you
Outline
- Introduction
- Moses Meets God
- 40 means Preparation
- Facing the East
- How God Speaks to Us
- Conclusion
Introduction
The reasons it’s important to hear from God is to
- Strengthen our faith
- Develop a relationship
- Ascertain God’s will
Scriptural Context
Moses had 3 significant 40 year segments
- Birth to killing the Egyptian
- Tending to sheep and burning bush
- Leading Israel through the desert and getting to the doorsteps of the promised land
Moses Meets God
Key Scripture
Exodus 3:1-6
Now Moses was pasturing the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian; and he led the flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed. 3 So Moses said, “I must turn aside now and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burned up.” 4 When the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 5 Then He said, “Do not come near here; remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” 6 He said also, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Then Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.
- God gave Moses his new identity
- God revealed Himself to Moses
- The Angel of the Lord is pre-incarnate Jesus
40 is the Number of Preparation
The number 40 generally symbolizes a period of testing, trial or probation.
During Moses' life he lived forty years in Egypt and forty years in the desert before God selected him to lead his people out of slavery.
What did Moses do to prepare?
- He had 40 years of learning how to live in prosperity
- He had 40 years of learning how to live in humility
- Moses had 40 years in the king's house
- Moses in 40 years in the priests house
- Moses was also on Mount Sinai for 40 days and nights, on two separate occasions (Exodus 24:18, 34:1 - 28), receiving God's laws.
- The book of Exodus has 40 chapters
- He also sent spies, for forty days, to investigate the land God promised the Israelites as an inheritance (Numbers 13:25, 14:34).
It rained on Noah 40 days and 40 nights causing the great flood
- Preparing the earth for a new people of God
The prophet Jonah warned ancient Nineveh, for forty days, that its destruction would come because of its many sins.
- He prepared their hearts to repent
The prophet Ezekiel laid on His right side for 40 days to symbolize Judah's sins (Ezekiel 4:6).
Elijah went 40 days without food or water at Mount Horeb.
Judges who served 40 years include Othniel, Deborah and Barak, Eli and Gideon.
The first three kings over the children of Israel, Saul, David and Solomon, each ruled for forty years (1050 to 930 B.C.).
Jesus spent 40 days and nights in the wilderness fasting just before his ministry began.
- He also appeared to his disciples and others for 40 days after his resurrection from the dead.
- 40 days of preparation for His public ministry
Facing the East
- The mountain was on the west side of the wilderness
- Facing the west signified facing (our) God
If the mountain on the westside of the desert and you want to pray to God which direction would you face?
Ezekiel 8:15-17 (NASB)
15 He said to me, "Do you see this, son of man? Yet you will see still greater abominations than these."
16 Then He brought me into the inner court of the LORD'S house. And behold, at the entrance to the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men with their backs to the temple of the LORD and their faces toward the east; and they were prostrating themselves eastward toward the sun.
17 He said to me, "Do you see this, son of man? Is it too light a thing for the house of Judah to commit the abominations which they have committed here, that they have filled the land with violence and provoked Me repeatedly? For behold, they are putting the twig to their nose.
- Putting the twig to their nose is a practice of sun worship
God said that facing East was an abomination
- Facing the east is to worship the sun god
- Adrammelech, Amon, Tammuz, Baal, Osiris
- If your God is to the East it is not the same God
Note: Modern Jews believe: they should face toward the Holy Land when praying, those in Israel should face toward Jerusalem, those in Jerusalem should face toward the Temple Mount, and those on the Mount should turn toward the Holy of Holies.
How God Speaks to Us
What are some ways God speaks to us today?
- Bible
- Unusual circumstances / coincidences
- Fleece
- Prayer
- Pastors / teachers
- Prophetic words
- Tongues / Interpretations
- Dreams / Visions
- Peace
- Closing doors
- Bringing things to your memory
- Voice
- Inspired thoughts
- Prompting of the Holy Spirit
- Draw your Attention to something
- Nature
- Worship / music
- Emotions
- Writing
- Angels
Pastors / Teachers
Story:
- sermon matching what I taught
- marriage advice
Regardless of Motives
Philippians 1:15-18
15Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will; 16the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; 17the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment. 18What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice.
- We should rejoice
- But not necessarily follow them
Correct Doctrine
1 Timothy 4:16
16 Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.
Your salvation can be influenced by who is teaching you are listening to
Story: Super Bowl trade
- Tennessee Titans to the New England Patriots
- Right team
Spit out the Bones
- If you have studied doctrines and the bible you can eat the meat and spit out the bones
Prophecy
Prophecy is God speaking through a person
- God actually gave them the words to say
Stories:
- submit to God
- give me money for a prophecy
Testing prophecy
- Prophecy always lines up with God’s word
- The problem is that we have many self-made prophets
- Some people try to use it as manipulation
How can you tell a false prophet?
- If any of their prophecies don’t come true
If their prophecies come true does that mean it was from the Holy Spirit?
- Not necessarily
Acts 16:16-18
It happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, a slave-girl having a spirit of divination met us, who was bringing her masters much profit by fortune-telling.
17 Following after Paul and us, she kept crying out, saying, "These men are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation."
18 She continued doing this for many days. But Paul was greatly annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!" And it came out at that very moment.
- Just because it is Supernatural doesn’t mean that it is from God
- Just because a psychic is accurate doesn’t mean that you should solicit them
Is prophecy always a confirmation of what God already told you?
- No
- Samuel told Saul he’d be king
- Jonah
- Hezekiah's death
Tongues and interpretations
The gift of tongues is the Holy Spirit speaking
- If it is an unknown tongue God is not speaking to the listener
1 Corinthians 14:27-28
27If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must interpret; 28but if there is no interpreter, he must keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God.
If someone is speaking in tongues and you don’t understand what they are saying then God is not speaking to you through them unless there is an interpreter
Dreams / Visions
Dream is when you were asleep a vision is when you are awake
Dreams can be hard to interpret
- There is a gift of interpretation of dreams
All dreams aren’t from God
God speaks to believers and unbelievers through dreams
- The Magi, Nebuchadnezzar, Abimelech, Pharaoh (Joseph)
Stories:
- Niece having daughter named "faith"
- Coming to the USA
Peace
Sometimes His presence is His voice
- He speaks through His peace
- When you get a supernatural peace
Closing Doors
- Sometimes God will close a door to an option that you weren’t meant to take
- “anti-miracle”
Sometimes it was from God
- Layoff
- Breakup
Stories:
- Cancelled flight to London
- Seth McFarland 911 flight
- Moving to Bay Area to take job after breakup
“At some point, we must recognize that the circumstances we ask God to change are often the very circumstances God is using to change us.”
- Mark Batterson
Discussion
- What brings people close to God?
Bringing things to your memory
- God may bring a scriptures to your mind
Stories:
- girlfriend motives
(Still Small) Voice
Stories:
- mom's voice
Inspired thoughts
Thoughts God puts in our heads
Clarity
Clarity
Angels
Conclusion
The point of hearing God is to
- Strengthen our faith
- Develop a relationship
- Ascertain God’s will
Once we hear from God, We’ll need faith to do what God told you to do
- when it doesn't make sense
- When you don't understand
- When it seems to take us further than the goal we’ve set ourselves
References
Meaning of Numbers in the Bible The Number 40
Lessons from the Burning Bush - Christopher C. Moore
How God Speaks to Us - Jumoke
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