Listening to God Pastor Nathan Weller August 27, 2017 Series: Face Time

"We may ignore, but we can nowhere evade, the presence of God. The world is crowded with him." -C.S. Lewis-

After calling on God, we need to make sure we listen for his answer.

Isaiah 55.1-3a (ESV) 1 “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread... (cont’d) Isaiah 55.1-3a (ESV)

...and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. 3 Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live... Isaiah 55.1-3a (ESV)

Then he said, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” Mark 4.9 (NLT)

9 And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, 10 he said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’ 11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. (cont’d) Luke 8.9-15 (NLT)

13 And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. 14 And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. 15 As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience. Luke 8.9-15 (NLT)

Listening involves the heart

Proverbs 2.1-2 (ESV) 1 My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, 2 making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding Proverbs 2.1-2 (ESV)

9 There he came to a cave and lodged in it 9 There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” 11 And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold... (cont’d) 1st Kings 19.9-13 (ESV)

...the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. 13 And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. 1st Kings 19.9-13 (ESV)

we listen first and foremost to the word of God When we listen to God, we listen first and foremost to the word of God

his best today rather than on his past glories. “I’ll never “What’s the point?” I asked Steve, who was once an Olympian U.S. record holder, but focuses on coaching his best today rather than on his past glories. “I’ll never be buff. I’m not going around trying to catch a guy. All this work isn’t even particularly making me look any different. Why bother?” Steve smiled and shrugged and said, “You work out now so when you’re old and fall out of your wheelchair, you’ll have the upper body strength to... (cont’d)

...drag yourself to the telephone to call for help.” Oh, great. I wanted sleekness now, not self-sufficiency in my old age. But that’s what this painful accumulation of instructions about when to pray what amounts to: predictability. Perseverance.” -Carol Bonomo, The Abbey Up the Hill-

Waiting on God is a key part of listening to God

9 There he came to a cave and lodged in it 9 There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” 11 And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” 1st Kings 19.9-11a (ESV)

Listening takes effort--eliminate distractions

11 And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. 13 And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. 1st Kings 19.11-13 (ESV)

left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.” (cont’d) 9 There he came to a cave, where he spent the night. But the Lord said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 Elijah replied, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.” (cont’d) 1st Kings 19.9-13 (NLT)

11 “Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the... (cont’d) 1st Kings 19.9-13 (NLT)

...earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 1st Kings 19.9-13 (NLT)

Did anything stand out to you? What was that?

left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.” (cont’d) 9 There he came to a cave, where he spent the night. But the Lord said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 Elijah replied, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.” (cont’d) 1st Kings 19.9-13 (NLT)

11 “Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the... (cont’d) 1st Kings 19.9-13 (NLT)

...earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 1st Kings 19.9-13 (NLT)

Did anything challenge you? What and why?

left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.” (cont’d) 9 There he came to a cave, where he spent the night. But the Lord said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 Elijah replied, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.” (cont’d) 1st Kings 19.9-13 (NLT)

11 “Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the... (cont’d) 1st Kings 19.9-13 (NLT)

...earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 1st Kings 19.9-13 (NLT)

or moves your heart. Slowly repeat it. Find a word or phrase that catches your eye or moves your heart. Slowly repeat it.

Listening to God Pastor Nathan Weller August 27, 2017 Series: Face Time