Today is different, because after this sermon you as the congregation will give some feedback about what the pastoral search committee and the elders have given you feedback about their recommendation for me to be the next senior pastor. With that being said, I plan today to continue my sermon series I have been covering, because I believe this is perfect timing from God, because today we will talk mostly about how we hear God through internal sources, which pretty much means hearing from the Holy Spirit.
We have been learning about how God talks to us and guides us over these last few weeks. There has been a lot that has happened, so I am not going to summarize all of them, but we know God talks to us, He communicates to us through prayer, the Bible, a few weeks ago we explore how God use other external sources like people, situations, and miracles to communicate to us and guide us, now we will talk about how God communicates to us through internal sources. What does that mean?
Open with funny examples of know that voice that we can’t deny who’s it is like your mom’s voice nagging you
Joe take out the trash
50’s and up- It’s not my turn
30’s- 40’s- But mom I am watching my show, can’t it wait until a commercial?
20’s- But mom, I am playing video games, can I take it out in 15 minutes, 15 minutes equals 3 hours
Teenager- text response about streaming
Asa and Elenor when they are old enough- text nothing but emoji and abbreviations, nrn, not right now, GM30, give me 30 minutes
When we accept Christ, and the Holy Spirit is in us, leads us, speaks to us, we know that voice. It is as clear to us as our mother saying take out the trash. How He speaks to us does vary, and that is what we will discuss today.
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. —John 16:13
We know the Holy Spirit guides us in truth, and in God’s leading. Today, we will talking about the variety of ways He the Holy Spirit speaks to us. Now to be clear, we are talking about multiple methods, not avenues. Only the Holy Spirit speaks to us and guides us in truth.
God guides us with the Holy Spirit who lives in us
The Holy Spirit lives in us all the time. He guides and advises us on what to do and what not to do. The Holy Spirit leads us in truth, and therefor if it is true, then it has to be God for God is truth. The Holy Spirit does not lie to us, nor leads in any other way than through the truth. Practically speaking, what does the Holy Spirit leading us look like? Here are some ways God speaks to us and why.
Holy Spirit Tells Us What to Do
The Holy Spirit will guide us, and that sometimes affirms the direction we are heading, and sometimes that is directing us in a direction we don’t want to go.
In our flesh, we don’t want to do things, things that are good or a benefit to ourselves or others, but in our sinful nature we sometimes just want to rebel against God. This is my favorite way, because I know that this was not me thinking about it, this has to be supernatural. For example,
27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. —Luke 6:27-28
Story of Jonah/Moses/ Gideon/Annanias
Sometimes God leads us in ways we don’t want to go. Those are the clearest for me, because I know that this always glorifies God, and it is easy for me to know this is His leading. He does speak to us and affirm things in our lives, and that sometimes is what we want to do.
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” —Acts 13:2
We see that the Holy Spirit was leading the disciples to set apart Barnabas and Saul to go where God was calling them. We see both had a desire to travel and serve God, it didn’t matter where. Sometimes our desires line up with where God is leading us.
For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. —2 Peter 1:21
Dino Rib story
The Holy Spirit Convicts Us
And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: —John 16:8
Story of Bethany correcting me in the way I spoke about myself
The Holy Spirit Can Use Our Thoughts and Feelings
10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. —1 Corinthians 2:10-13
Feelings are untrustworthy, but God does use them
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”
God still uses our thoughts and feelings. We still get good and true ideas, our feelings can guide us to His way as well. —Jeremiah 17:9-10
The Holy Spirit Uses Dreams & Visions
Pontous Pilate’s Wife, Joseph, Peter
3rd world mostly but still active today
The Holy Spirit Gives Us Peace
Jesus provides us the peace that we feel, but often we experience this peace through the Holy Spirit today.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
We have experienced that peace which passes all understanding, and we know those storms in our lives where God settled us, and assured us. It is a supernatural experience, because with all logic the situation is bleak, unfavorable, hopeless, but we know God speaks to us in that time, and He assures us He is with us, and that He won’t leave us. That peace then helps affirm the direction we are going. —John 14:27
I feel like this is appropriate for today, because you have been asked to pray all week about affirming what the pastoral search committee has done over the past year, and affirm the Elders in this decision for the next chapter in this church’s history. I know that God has been speaking to each of you during this week, and maybe even right now. I want to encourage you to follow His leading, because no matter what you think, or how you feel, or what you see or believe, the only thing we are desiring is for us as a church to follow God in His leading. I encourage you to do that now. I will invite Rick and Jorge up and I will go take a nap.