Matt 13:13 Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.
15 for the heart of this people has become dull, with their ears they scarcely hear, and they have closed their eyes, otherwise they would see with their eyes, hear with their ears, and understand with their heart and return, and I would heal them.’
HEARING IS NOT BASED ON INTELLIGENCE.
ONE OF THE QUICKEST WAYS TO HEAR GOD’S VOICE IS BEST ACHIEVED BY WORSHIP.
Ps 95:6 Come, let us worship and bow down, Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. 7 For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand. Today, if you would hear His voice, 8 Do not harden your hearts,
YOU CAN’T MAKE GOD SPEAK TO YOU BUT YOU CAN MAKE YOURSELF AVAILABLE.
EXAMPLES OF MEN OF GOD WHO HEARD HIS VOICE...
MOSES – SOLITUDE –
NOTICE, THERE WAS A PLACE WHERE GOD SPOKE TO MOSES.
ELIJAH – Persistent in prayer –
1 Kings 19:11 So He said, “Go forth and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD was passing by! And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking 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 After the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing.
KJV “a still small voice.” MSG “a gentle and quiet whisper.”
STRENGHT AND NEW DIRECTION COME FROM HEARING HIS VOICE.
JEREMIAH – Location, location, location
Jer 18:1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD saying,
2 “Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will announce My words to you.”
THERE ARE TIMES YOU HAVE TO BE IN THE RIGHT PLACE TO HEAR HIM
SAMUEL – Trained in the temple/a mouthpiece for God
1 Samuel 3:1 Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD before Eli. And word from the LORD was rare in those days, visions were infrequent.
3 Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD where the ark of God was, 4 that the LORD called Samuel; and he said, “Here I am.” 5 Then he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, lie down again.” So he went and lay down. 6 The LORD called yet again, “Samuel!” So Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he answered, “I did not call, my son, lie down again.”
7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, nor had the word of the LORD yet been revealed to him.
KNOWING THE LORD IS IN CONNECTION WITH HIS VOICE.
8 So the LORD called Samuel again for the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli discerned that the LORD was calling the boy. 9 And Eli said to Samuel, “Go lie down, and it shall be if He calls you, that you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 Then the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”
PEOPLE WHO KNOW GOD HEAR HIS WORD/VOICE.
HOW TO CONFIRM / KNOW IT’S GOD SPEAKING TO YOU
1) ALWAYS ASK, DOES IT LINE UP WITH THE SCRIPTURES? (TRUTH)
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE AUTHOR OF ALL SCRIPTURE.
2 Tim 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
TO WALK IN THE SCRIPTURE IS TO WALK IN THE LIGHT (Ps 119:105)
2) GOD’S VOICE WILL ALWAYS PRODUCE PEACE.
Col 3:15 Let the peace of Christ RULE in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be THANKFUL. 16 Let the WORD of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with THANKFULNESS in your hearts to God.
WE HAVE AN INWARD UMPIRE.
3) THROUGH OUR FELLOW BELIEVERS
Acts 13:1 Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers: Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
PAUL MENTIONS IN SEVERAL LETTERS THAT HIS APOSTLESHIP WAS NOT OF MAN BUT FROM GOD (Gal 1:1)
GOD CONFIRMED IT THROUGH MEN.
WHY WOULD GOD DO THAT?
1) IT STRENGTHENED PAULS FAITH.
2) IT ALSO VALIDATED PAULS CALL TO THE PREACH
3) IT ALSO EMPHASISED THE INTERDEPENDENCE OF THE MEMBERS OF CHRISTS BODY
THE CONFIRMATION PAUL AND BARNABAS GOT CAME THROUGH FELLOW BELIEVERS OF PROVEN INTEGRITY AND MATURITY.
SPIRITUAL MEN DO NOT GO AHEAD AND MOVE WITHOUT THE CONFIRMATION OF FELLOW BELIEVERS.
OUR ABILITY TO HEAR GOD THROUGH OTHERS DEPENDS TO LARGE EXTENT ON THE NATURE OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM.
THERE ARE 3 SPECIAL RELATIONSHIPS THE NEW TESTAMENT ATTACHES SPECIAL IMPORTANCE TO IN THIS AREA.
1) PASTORS AND THEIR PEOPLE
2) HUSBANDS AND WIVES
3) PARENTS AND CHILDREN
PASTORS AND THEIR PEOPLE
Heb 13:7 Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.
IT’S NORMAL AND RIGHT FOR GOD’S PEOPLE TO HEAR THROUGH THEIR LEADERS
HUSBANDS AND WIVES.
Eph 5:22-24 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.
GOD HAS MADE THE HUSBAND RESPONSIBLE FOR CARING FOR THE WIFE AS WELL AS HER SPIRITUAL CONDITION
PARENTS AND CHILDREN
Eph 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
GOD CAN CONFIRM THINGS THROUGH THE PARENTS.
WE SHOULD EXPECT TO HEAR THE VOICE OF GOD THROUGH THESE RELATIONSHIPS
Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.
Eyes & Ears
Part 10 - Hearing and Confirming God's Voice
December 5, 2021 • Pastor Bracken Christian
Our House
April 24, 2024
1. John 17:16 They are not of this world even as I am not of this world. 2. We live in an environment of expected microwave results to rotisserie circumstances, but some things just take time. 3. Matt 6:6 NASB https://www.bible.com/bible/compare/mat.6.6 4. Eph 6:10 https://www.bible.com/bible/compare/eph.6.10 5. John 8:12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; the one who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” 6. John 1:4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 7. John 4:14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” 8. Isaiah 61:10 I will rejoice greatly in the Lord , My soul will exult in my God; For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 9. Matt 4:4 “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God ” 10. PHIL 4:19 https://www.bible.com/bible/compare/php.4.19 11. James 4: 7-10 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord and He will exalt you. 12. Matt 6:10 Your Kingdom come Your will be done on earth as it is in Heavan. 13. Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Searching For God
Pastor Bracken Christian
Hosea 6:3 So let us know, let us press on to know the Lord. His going forth is as certain as the dawn; And He will come to us like the rain, Like the spring rain watering the earth.” THE RAPTURE IS ONE THE LORD’S MOST PRECIOUS PROMISES TO THE CHURCH 1 Thess 1:10 Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come. Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. 35 Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. 37 For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay. But My righteous one shall live by faith; 38 And if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him. THERE IS A 7 YEAR TIME PERIOD RAPIDLY APPROACHING Jeremiah 30:7 “The time of Jacobs trouble” Daniel 12:1 “A time of distress such as has never occurred” Revelation 3:10 “The hour of testing” Matthew 24:21 “A time of great tribulation” Revelation 7:14 “The great tribulation” Rev 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, 2 who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. 3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near. Rev 4:1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.” 2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne. THE CHURCH IS PICTURED HERE IN CHAPTERS 4 & 5 5:9 And they *sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. 10 “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.” THE CHURCH IS NOT SEEN AGAIN UNTIL Rev 19 WHERE WE THE CHURCH WILL RETURN WITH JESUS TO THE EARTH AT HIS 2ND COMING. Rev 19:7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” 8 It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. 11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. 13 He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. 1 Cor 10:32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God (SAINTS): Rom 11:25 for I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery, lest you be wise in your own estimation, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fulness of the gentiles has come in; 26 and thus all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “the deliverer will come from Zion, he will remove ungodliness from Jacob.” 27 “and this is my covenant with them, when I take away their sins.” IN SCRIPTURE YOU HAVE THE CHURCH AS WELL AS JEWS WHO HAVE YET TO BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST. Luke 21:29 Then He told them a parable: “Behold the fig tree and all the trees; 30 as soon as they put forth leaves, you see it and know for yourselves that summer is now near. 31 So you also, when you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near. ANOTHER MYSTERY PAUL TALKS ABOUT “EPH 5” THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHRIST AND THE CHURCH IS LIKE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A HUSBAND AND WIFE A MYSTERY – “IT WAS NOT UNDERSTOOD IN THE OLD COVENANT” ANOTHER MYSTERY “1 Cor 15” 1 Cor 15:51 “BEHOLD, I TELL YOU A MYSTERY” THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH “CATCHING AWAY OF THE SAINTS” THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH IS SOMETHING THAT PAUL GOT BY REVELATION (GAL 1:12, 2:2) 1 Cor 15:51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “death is swallowed up in victory. 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the lord. THERE ARE TYPES OF IT HAPPENING IN THE OLD TESTAMENT GENISIS – A MAN BY THE NAME OF ENOCH. HE WALKED WITH GOD BY FAITH AND GOD TOOK HIM ANOTHER PICTURE IS THAT OF ELIJAH THE PROPHET… HE WENT TO HEAVEN IN A CHARIOT SOME OTHER TYPES AND SHADOWS ARE IN THE LIVES OF NOAH AND LOT. THEY DIED BUT THEY WERE BOTH DELIEVERD FROM JUDGMENT. WHEN THE WORLD WAS JUDGED AROUND THEM, THEY WERE SPARED AND SEPERATED. GO TO 1 Thess 4 AND LOOK AT WHAT PAUL SAY’S ABOUT THIS EVENT WHERE THE RIGHTEOUS ARE SEIZED UP OFF THE EARTH 1Thess 4:13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep (dead in Christ), that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have no hope.14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so god will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, and remain until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 for the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words. WE WILL HAVE A BORN-AGAIN GLORIFIED BODY Matt 24:36 But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left. 1 Thess 5:1 Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. PAUL WAS PREVIOUSLY TALKING ABOUT THE CATCHING AWAY OF THE CHURCH NOW HE TALKS ABOUT SOMETHING THEY ALREADY KNOW ABOUT. EVERYTHING YOU KNOW ABOUT THE DAY OF THE LORD SAY’S, “JUDGMENT”, “DOOM AND GLOOM – TROUBLE”, DESTRUCTION NOW WE HAVE’NT READ ANYTHING IN 1 Cor 15 OR 1Thess 4 THAT PERTAINS TO THE BELIEVER THAT SOUNDS LIKE DOOM AND GLOOM PAUL IS TALKING ABOUT TWO DIFFERENT THINGS HERE 2 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. 3 while they are saying, “peace and safety!” Then destruction will come upon them suddenly like birth pangs upon a woman with child; And they shall not escape. 4 but you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief; 5 For you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; 6 So then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. 7 For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. 8 But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 for God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ WHEN THE DAY OF THE LORD COMES ON PLANET EARTH IT IS A DAY OF WRATH ON HIS ENEMIES Today there are 8 billion people in the world. If 2 billion were taken in the rapture. That would leave 6 billion behind. The seal judgements (Rev 6:8) are going to kill one fourth of those people (1.5 billion), leaving a total of 4.5 billion. The trumpet judgments will kill one-third of those remaining (another 1.5 billion), making a total of 3 billion gentileswho will die during the first half of the tribulation; Half of the world’s population. Percentage wise, more Jews will die in the tribulation. Zec 13:8 “Two-thirds of them will be killed by the antichrist. There are approximately, 15.3 million Jews in the world today. So the total number of Jews destined to be killed is about 10 million – one third more than those killed in the holocaust. THE WORLD/GENTILES ARE GOING TO EXPERIENCE A MASS SLAUGHTER THAT IS UNPARALLELED IN ALL OF HISTORY. THE TRIBULATION PERIOD IS A TIME FOR MEN TO MAKE THEIR FINAL CHOICE. THERE’S A LOT OF SIFTING THAT TAKES PLACE… IF YOU’VE ALREADY MADE YOUR CHOICE THEN THERE’S NO NEED FOR YOU TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE SIFTING HERE WE SEE THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN APPOINTED TO WRATH 1 Thess 1:10 and to wait for his son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.
Sitting With Jesus
April 17, 2024 • Pastor Brody Christian
FIRST POSTURE YOU SHOULD DO WITH JESUS IS SIT WITH HIM EPHESIANS 1:20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places EPHESIANS 2:6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus 3 THINGS SITTING/RESTING REPRESENTS 1. WE DECLARE "IT'S DONE" 2. GIVES CONTENTMENT 1 TIMOTHY 6:6 But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. 3. GIVES US CONFIDENCE HEBREWS 10:35 Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. YOUR DESTINY - IS TO SIT & KNOW HIM, BE CONTENT & HAVE SO MUCH CONFIDENCE THAT HE IS IN CONTROL