Weds Night Bible Study 4-28-10

Practice:  "I've got a Word!"

Prayer:  God open our ears to hear, eyes to see and a heart that is hungry for you.

• Last week we acknowledged our attitude plays a huge part in our hearing from God.  We must get into agreement with the Spirit. 
• Deception is always awaiting us.  It hides as the voice of Truth; and many people mistake it for God.  Discern the voice carefully.
o You see, the voice of Deception uses piece of Truth to lure you in and then traps you.  It happens all the time to God's kids.  The Bible tells us Satan is the Accuser, the Deceiver of the brethren.  It is Satan's desire to destroy your faith in God and get you to act on your own.  He uses fear as his lure--fear is found in your weaknesses.   FEAR HAS A VOICE!  Satan whispers, "You are being mistreated.  So and so is out to get you.  You had better take action or you'll be robbed."  Truth is you will be robbed, when you champion self-love.  Fear is the root of insecurity.  Insecure people will bite at Satan's bate!  We hear what we want to hear.

 We will be learning more about how to hear from God and be lead by the Holy Spirit!
• Position Yourself to listen...

LIFE (Living In Fellowship Everyday):  We are on a relational Journey--Greater connection with God and people.

Tonight we are going to investigate and study how to hear from God through "Supernatural Revelation."

• Word of God:  READ:  I Thess 2:13 (#1); John 8:31-32 (#2)
Logos:  Written Word--the Bible; the Living Word--Jesus
 Tells/models God's love and interaction w/humanity
 Reveals character; God's and humanity's
 Truth of God's love revealed; Jesus--Truth--is a person and we learn about God through the life of Christ
 Must put the logos into our spirits in order to receive a Rhema
• Lectio Divina--sacred reading
• Matt 14:22-33

Rhema:  READ:  Ephesians 6:17 (#3) John 3:34-35 (#4)

Spoken Word--Voice of the Spirit; this is a place of revelation.  God speaks to the individual.  The Rhema word will reveal where you find yourself in the gospel narrative.
 e.g. the logos is read by a number of people; each one of those people gather something different from the text based upon their spiritual maturity.  It is highlighted by the Spirit to bring truth to that person.  It is a rhema word. 
 A rhema word never contradicts the logos; that's why we must know the written Word so we can avoid deception.

• Wisdom and Common Sense:  READ: Col 1:8-10 (#5)(God may choose to guide you this way) 
o Wisdom:  gift from God that comes through humanity
 I have heard wisdom described as applied Truth
• Choosing to do today that which will bring the right result later
• Wisdom should keep us out of most trouble
o Common Sense:  this practical knowledge.  Some folks have it and some do not.
 Common sense associated with the Word says, "I do not have the money to go on vacation; therefore, I will not go and spend money that I don't have.  I will wait.

• Dreams and Visions:  READ: Prov 29:18 (#6) Acts 2:17-18 (#7)
o Prophetic dreams and visions
 Vision--not asleep
 e.g. Purse/joy
 Dreams

• Prophecy: READ 1 Cor. 14:1-4 (#8)
o God appoints prophets--spiritual guides--in the body of Christ
o Opposition is one of the greatest signs that the message was truly from God --enemy comes to rob, steal, and destroy the Word

SO LISTEN, GOD JUST MIGHT BE TRYING TO GET YOUR ATTENTION!