Get in the Game

Listen to the Coach https://youtu.be/2P_-UN-tSmc

(video of people making fun of coach O)

If only God’s voice was as clearly distinguished at coach O’s This is the hardest thing, to really understand what God is saying. How do we determine what is or isn’t the voice of the Lord? How do we know what his voice is saying to us?

John 10:1-6

10 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

--The Sheep Hear His Voice

How Does God Speak?

1. His Word

First, and always first His Word. His voice is in His word.

Jesus himself always used the Word to define and confirm God’s voice

You will not hear the voice of the Lord if you are not reading the Word of God.

We are not looking for profound life changing moments every day.

We are looking for daily guidance, direction, comfort, correction, words, and such.

Daily bread for this Day.

That comes from His word.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. - Psalm 119:105

I won’t talk to much more about it cause, this is Pastor Ted’s message next week.

2. Holy Spirit

A sensing in your Spirit that aligns with the Word of God.

The Holy Spirit’s voice ALWAYS aligns with the word of God.

Always.

Example Guy:

I have been hurt in church, so I am gonna do church on my own.

Hebrews 10:25 “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”

Not to count the totality of scripture which includes us in community.

Example Guy:

I just think tithing and giving were and an Old Testament thing, so I am not. Beside I pay taxes to the government and they do good things.

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God LOVES a cheerful giver.

Not to count Jesus says give to Caesar what is Caesar and to the Lord what is the Lords.

Example Guy:

I feel like God is calling me, telling me, wanting me too….

1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from ever form of evil.

Somethings are BIG. Where am I to go to school. Whom am I to get married to? What house am I gonna purchase? Should I lead this bible study? Am I to move my family?

These questions might not be verbatim in the Bible, but we can sense God’s heart.

Where is he leading you?

Ask Him to open and shut doors.

Ask Godly people and leaders in your life their opinion and listen to what they say.

Hold fast to the good.

Test it.

I always like to have it confirmed three time for big decisions.

The word, holy spirit leading, godly people that I trust, and such.

3. Situations and Circumstances

Things will just happen, sometimes good and sometime bad, but as believers we believe that God orchestrates or allows these situations so that He can speak to us.

THIS IS NOT THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING BECAUSE OF YOUR POOR DECISIONS. THOSE ARE CALLED CONSEQUENSES. THESE ARE THINGS THAT HAPPEN BECAUSE YOU (AND OTHER PEOPLE) DID NOT FOLLOW GOD’S PLAN FOR THEIR LIVES.

He screens our trials that come to each of us—allowing only those that accomplish his good plan, because he takes no joy in human agony.

If God is the Lord of all, He is all the Lord of situations and circumstances.

Oh how our bareness was used for his glory.

Oh how 32 years of singleness was really designed by him.

Oh how when we were broken into more time than I can count God had a plan.

Oh how each situation and circumstance has lead us closer.

Oh how situations and circumstances help us here the voice of the Lord.

You can trust his voice during these times.

4. His People

Pastors. Preachers. Teachers. Prophets. Donkeys.

Godly friends correcting you and encouraging you and leading you.

People pulling you forward toward Christ giving you accountability knowing that one day you will stand before Him and give an account.

Find people that have been serving the Lord longer than you have. Lean on them. Learn from them. Be humble. Be correctable.

Learning to Hear his voice….

This doesn’t happen overnight. You get saved, you are playing for the right team, but to know the voice of the coach takes practice. It takes the Holy Spirit. It takes messing up a few times.

But then…

When you have heard His voice

And you are sure

--The Sheep Know (Follow) His Voice

This verse doesn’t repeat itself. This verse is growing from knowing to following.

God does not pick favorites, but He does pick people who listen to his Voice.

I have a son who plays football, and to be honest he is not particularly built to play for it, his genetics don’t line up for what a typical football player looks like, and he is younger than the other guys, and is new to the team, and he has all kinds of things stacked against him.

But one thing he does well is listen to His coach.

The first one out there, the last one in, sitting on the sidelines waiting for the coach to put him in.

Put me in coach.

I’ll listen to what you say.

I wont only listen, I’ll follow.

And other boys have been falling out, the practices are too hard, don’t listen to what the coach says and they are dropping like flies and the other day we got a personal message from the coach noticing the hard work and the listening heart that he has.

The coach is gonna pick someone that will listen to his voice.

God is the same.

And maybe you would say “but has God has quit speaking.”

And I would say God has not quit speaking

You have quit following him.

If God has spoken a word to you, and you HAVE NOT LISTENED, why would he continue to speak?

Go back to the last word God has spoken in your life…

Through the word, holy spirit, circumstances and situations, people….

Are you following it?

And you wonder why you are stagnate, and not productive, and not in the Game.

Follow his voice.

Create ways to listen.

Then

Follow

Follow

Follow