Hearing From God

Weds Night Bible Study 5-5-10

Practice:  "I'm abiding!" (means being vitally united to)

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

• Last week was very exciting as we explore how sometimes God supernaturally speaks to us--revelation.
• We talked about logos and rhema, wisdom and prophecy.
• We got a Word!

Study Goal:  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 "Nature and natural things."

God Speaks and Reveals Himself:  READ:  Romans 1:19-21; Psalm 19:1-4
o No Excuses:  Nature reveals and speaks of the Creator
We can gain an understanding of the power of God by looking at nature; how do people miss God?
God speaks and reveals His love for us through nature.
God created the world for us as a gift to steward and nurture.
Just listen to nature; e.g. close your eyes and sit quietly--you can hear the presence of God--sense great power/sovereignty
o Seasons:  There are seasons in our lives, too.
Michigan seasons; trees look dead in winter/spring new life

READ: John 15:1-4
Jesus used the analogy of a Vine when talking about our need to grow. 
Just like creation, we are to bear fruit--be productive followers of Christ.
In love God created; in love we are to live as the created.
You will go through seasons in your relationship with God.
You must abide--dwell vitally united to Christ--the Word
Please do not go off and try to do stuff for Christ on your own; it will produce very little fruit.  If the Spirit doesn't send you; REST.

Lessons from nature:
David wrote a song about how God is on our side and nature--His creation--follows His words. 

READ:  Psalm 124:2-8
David used the example of birds to give a picture of God's provision.
God used birds to teach me something valuable, too.
• Mary LIFE Lesson

   In 1999, I was sensing that God was placing it upon my heart to start a new ministry.  That sensing was affirmed by the senior pastor of a church to which I had been a 10 year member when he invited me to create a contemporary worship opportunity for our Body.  I needed a Word from the Lord as I was struggling with the "assignment."  I had no knowledge of how to create such a service and I just didn't have the confidence to step out.  One day while sitting outside praying, I asked God to reveal His will to me with a rhema Word.  I felt compelled to look up into the sky.  As I did, I noticed the sky above me was filled with pelicans.  I began thanking God for his creation and the beauty of the birds I was seeing.  In that moment, I felt nudged by the Spirit as if asking, "Mary, look carefully.  What do you see?"  My prayer continued, "Lord, I see three levels of birds.  On the first level, the birds are flapping all the time.  On the second level, the birds alternate between flapping and resting on the wind.  On the third level, the birds never flap; they soar on the currents of the power of the wind."  The spiritual revelation set in as I looked at how I was thinking and behaving and realized God was inviting me to leave the place of flapping and rise to ride the Wind of the Spirit.  If you find yourself flapping, please stop.  Bow your heart before a Holy God Who has the power to sustain anything He sends you to do.  In Christ, you and I can soar above the frantic flapping.  It is a picture of rest; it is an invitation that God makes to all of us.  Let's respond by embracing the love God extends to rest in His provision and way.

Natural abilities:  1 Cor. 12:4-7 Gifts God gives that flow so easily; release energy
Gifted in music:  God speaks to me all the time through the praise team.  When I watch and listen to Pete play the piano; I see and experience God.  He has a passion for God that is released through his music.
Gifted to lead in Church:  Teams of people in their right places; the body runs well.  People have to have a God-given passion to serve; otherwise it is works and it isn't going very far. 
Gifted by God:  God speaks through the anointing of grace--figurative for divine appointment.  God anointed and spoke to David long before Israel made him king.
Your gift should minister life to you and to others.  When people try to share gifts that are not anointed by God they struggle in works of the flesh--no power!
Look at what you enjoy; what you are good at. God is speaking to you through your gift.  Allow that gift to be used; get in agreement with God.
• God speaks through people:
Gift:  Word of Knowledge--through others

Homeschooling: the boys taught me a great deal about the Word of God flowing through others.  They would routinely offer such insight that could have only come through the Spirit.  Never discount the Word someone else might have for you no matter the age.  God is not limited; let's not limit God.

Word to myself; spoken word from my spirit rather than my thoughts

In the Bible, there are many lessons of how God spoke to people.  When he couldn't get his/her attention, he would keep trying to speak in other ways.  In one story, God tried to communicate to a person, but ended up speaking through a donkey/ass because this person did not listen. 
READ:  Numbers 22: 26-33   Balaam (stubborn) and the ass/donkey (obedient) 

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