Listening to God Today (Psalm 81)
This sermon delves into the profound question of whether God still speaks to people in our contemporary world. It offers practical insights into recognizing His voice amidst life's many distractions and understanding His motivations for continued communication.
God continues to speak to people today because He loves us and desires fellowship and to offer clear direction. He primarily communicates through His written Word and the indwelling Holy Spirit, but also through other people and circumstances.
Overview
The sermon begins by emphasizing the crucial lesson of learning to listen to God, using Psalm 81 as a foundational text where God expresses His desire for Israel to listen to Him. The preacher establishes that God is still actively speaking today, just as He did in biblical times, though it's vital to discern His voice from others. He stresses that God's communication will never contradict His written Word.
The speaker outlines several reasons why God continues to speak to us. These include His unwavering love and desire for fellowship, our ongoing need for definite direction in decision-making, and our human need for comfort and assurance, especially during difficult times. Ultimately, God speaks because He wants us to know Him intimately through His Son, Jesus Christ.
The sermon then explores the diverse ways God communicated in biblical times, such as through direct revelation, dreams, visions, His law, prophets, circumstances, angels, the Holy Spirit, and even audibly. It then transitions to how God primarily speaks today, highlighting His Word as the most assured way, followed by the Holy Spirit who indwells believers and provides moment-by-moment guidance.
Additionally, God speaks through other people, particularly those filled with His Spirit, and through various life circumstances—be it success, failure, disappointment, or tragedy. The preacher cautions against seeking God's mind through dreams or visions as primary methods, emphasizing the dependability of His Word and the Holy Spirit. The sermon concludes by urging listeners to consider if God has been speaking to them and whether they have been truly listening with an obedient spirit.
Key points
- Learning to listen to God is a valuable lesson in the Christian life.
- God is still speaking today, but His voice will never contradict His inspired Word (the Bible).
- God speaks because He loves us, desires fellowship, provides direction, offers comfort, and wants us to know Him.
- In biblical times, God spoke through direct revelation, dreams, visions, His Word, prophets, circumstances, angels, the Holy Spirit, and audibly.
- Today, God's primary ways of speaking are through His written Word and the indwelling Holy Spirit.
- God also communicates through other Spirit-filled people and through the circumstances of our lives.
- Discerning God's voice requires listening with a spirit of obedience rather than seeking less reliable methods like dreams or visions.
In Charles Stanley's words
“I believe one of the most valuable lessons you and I ever learn in this Christian life is how to listen to God.”
“God would never say anything that would contradict a single verse in this book.”
“The Lord's primary way of speaking to us is through his word.”
Outline
- I. Introduction: The Importance of Listening to God (Psalm 81:8-13)
- II. Is God Still Talking Today?
- A. God is still speaking, but not all voices are His.
- B. God will never contradict His Word.
- III. Why Does God Still Want to Talk?
- A. Because He loves us and desires fellowship.
- B. We need definite and deliberate direction.
- C. We need comfort and assurance.
- D. God wants us to know Him.
- IV. How Does God Speak Today?
- A. How God spoke in Old and New Testament days (e.g., direct revelation, dreams, visions, His Word, prophets, circumstances, angels, Holy Spirit, audibly).
- B. How God primarily speaks to us today:
- 1. Through His Word (the complete revelation of God).
- 2. Through the Holy Spirit (Christ living within us, providing direction).
- 3. Through Other People (especially those filled with the Spirit).
- 4. Through Circumstances (God engineering situations to get our attention).
- C. Caution regarding dreams and visions as primary means.
- V. Are You Listening? (God's message for salvation, re-evaluation, and life decisions, with obedience)
Scripture references
8 Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me;
9 There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god.
10 I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.
11 But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.
1 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand;
2 A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.
Insights
God's desire for communication with humanity is rooted in His deep love.
His consistent voice is always aligned with His revealed truth in Scripture.
Clear direction for life's choices often comes through a receptive spirit.
Questions & answers
Is God still speaking to people today?
Yes, the sermon argues that God is still speaking today as surely as He did in biblical times. However, it is crucial to discern His voice, as not all voices heard are from God.
How can I tell if a voice I hear is truly God's?
The sermon emphasizes that God will never say anything that contradicts a single verse in the Bible. If a message contradicts Scripture, it cannot be God's voice.
What are God's primary ways of speaking to us today?
The sermon identifies God's written Word (the Bible) as His primary and most assured way of speaking. The Holy Spirit, who indwells believers, is the second primary way, offering moment-by-moment guidance.
Does God speak through dreams and visions today?
While God has used dreams and visions in the past, the sermon cautions against seeking them to find the mind of God today. It stresses that the Word of God and the Holy Spirit are the most dependable ways.
Why is listening to other people important for hearing God?
The sermon explains that God speaks through other people, especially those who are filled with and walking in the Spirit. We should learn to listen to them, not as from the person, but as from God.
What does it mean to listen to God with a spirit of obedience?
Listening with a spirit of obedience means not only hearing what God is saying but being willing to follow through with His direction for our lives, whether it concerns salvation, relationships, or re-evaluating our path.
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Source
Unofficial AI summary for study purposes. Watch the full sermon on In Touch Ministries. Sermon Insights is not affiliated with or endorsed by the pastor or church.