When God Speaks

and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven 

when we were with Him on the holy mountain.

2 Peter 1:18

When God speaks, we cannot stay where we are.

When we realize that it is God speaking, we realize that we have to make some adjustments in our life.

God wants to reveal Himself to us and those around us.  God has to make Himself known to us in ever increasing dimensions in order to make Himself real to us – it is in that way we will come to know Him.

Realignment:  

Make major adjustments to join God in what He is doing

Reality Check:  

You come to know God by experience as you obey Him

We have to believe to some measure what we are doing.  When God begins a work in you; old things must be set aside so that we are completely prepared for the new.

And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old.  And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.  But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.  Luke 5:36-38

God transitions us from one place in our life to another in order for His will to be accomplished.  Note the pattern:  

• David transitions from shepherd to king, 
• Peter – fisherman to apostle, 
• Moses – backside of the wilderness to God’s servant, and 
• Paul – Christian slayer to apostle.

In order to begin the transition, repentance; a change of heart and action must occur in order to turn from what we are doing to what God is doing.

The moment God speaks He is telling us immediately to do something.

Adjustments include your family.  God says don’t move; make the adjustments.  During your adjustment, God is still at work with you. 

And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?  And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.  And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.  Acts 9:4-6

Adjustments are costly but the reward and experience of knowing God outweighs it all.

You have to obey God in order to experience Him.  Obedience is key! 

And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?   Luke 6:46

Following obedience:

Ö     Come to Jesus

Ö     Hear Jesus’ words

Ö     Put Jesus’ words into practice

The moment of deep experience with God comes at the time of obedience.  Obedience is crucial.

Disobedience causes the invitation of God to move on, but we can repent and turn back to God; forgiveness is possible but the assignment may not come again.

There are consequences to disobedience:  Moses was denied entrance into the promised land and, David lost his son; both results of their disobedience. 

Be prepared that there is a price to pay for disobedience.  God lets us know ahead of time what He wants us to do.  

Hear ye, and testify in the house of Jacob, saith the Lord God, the God of hosts, That in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him I will also visit the altars of Bethel: and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground. And I will smite the winter house with the summer house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end, saith the Lord.  Amos 3:13-15

God will affirm what He is doing.

Obedience is costly to those around us.  Consider  Jesus’ death  and its the effect on Mary and the disciples’ life.  However, the rewards are worth it.

The enemy will send you distractions but does not tell you what it will cost you not to obey God.  

There are times when God’s will allows for second chances:  as with Peter who denied Christ 3 times and Thomas who doubted Christ.

The second chance is saying:  I don’t want you to miss what I am doing because I love you too much.

Learn obedience the way that Jesus did.  Jesus became the source of eternal salvation.

Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;  And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;  Hebrews 5:8-9

Let God re-arrange your life in such a way that He can use you.

Ö     No matter what it cost

Ö     Reverent submission and obedience

Let God bring you to the deepest experience you have ever known!

(Biblical Studies)

11/19/19

05/13/21