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INTRODUCTION
P REPARING TO H EAR FROM G OD
God spoke to His prophets in Old Testament times, giving them specific messages for themselves and for His people as a whole. Many Christians in modern times, however, believe that God no longer speaks to His people as He once did. But this is not the case! God is still speaking to His peopleto all His people, not just those who are specially selected as His spokespersons. He speaks through our times of prayer, through counsel from wise Christians, and most importantly, through His Word, the Bible.
The Bible is Gods foremost method of communication with us today. It is the wellspring from which new insights and eternal wisdom come to us. It is the reference to which we must return continually to check out messages that we believe are from God.
This book can be used by you alone or by several people in a small-group study. At various times, you will be asked to relate to the material in one of the following four ways.
First, what new insights have you gained? Make notes about the insights you have. You may want to record them in your Bible or in a separate journal. As you reflect on your insights, you are likely to see how God has moved in your life.
Second, have you ever had a similar experience? You approach the Bible from your own unique background... your own particular set of understandings about the world that you bring with you when you open Gods Word. For this reason, it is important to consider how your experiences are shaping your understanding and allow yourself to be open to the truth that God reveals.
Third, how do you feel about the material? While you should not depend solely on your emotions as a gauge for your faith, it is important for you to be aware of your feelings as you study a passage of Scripture and have the freedom to express your emotions to God. Sometimes, the Holy Spirit will use your emotions to compel you to look at your life in a different or challenging way.
Fourth, in what way do you feel challenged to respond or to act? Gods Word may inspire you or challenge you to take a particular action. Take this challenge seriously and find ways to move into it. If God reveals a particular need that He wants you to address, take that as His marching orders. God will empower you to do something with the challenge that He has just given you.
Start your Bible study sessions in prayer. Ask God to give you spiritual eyes to see and spiritual ears to hear. As you conclude your study, ask the Lord to seal what you have learned so you will not forget it. Ask Him to help you grow into the fullness of the nature and character of Christ Jesus. Again, keep the Bible at the center of your study. A genuine Bible study stays focused on Gods Word and promotes a growing faith and a closer walk with the Holy Spirit in each person who participates.
Again, I caution you to keep the Bible at the center of your study. A genuine Bible study stays focused on Gods Word and promotes a growing faith and a closer walk with the Holy Spirit in each person who participates.
LESSON 1
G OD H AS S OMETHING TO S AY TO U S
IN THIS LESSON
Learning: Does God still speak to people today?
Growing: What is the purpose of prayer and reading the Bible?
One of the most important lessons we can learn is how to listen to God. In this complex, nothing is more urgent, necessary, or more rewarding than hearing what God has to say, both as individuals and as members of the body of Christ. After all, if we want to develop a relationship with another person, we have to converse with that person in some manner. This means both talking and listening.
Most of us do better with the talking part. In my own life, I remember a time when I was too occupied doing the Lords work to pay close attention to Gods voice. I was preaching six times a week, taping two television programs, traveling across the nation, writing a book, pastoring the church, and administrating a large church staff and broadcast ministry, among other daily duties. In the midst of it all, I spent time talking to Godoften about the needs I was facing in my personal life and ministrybut not much time listening to God. I ended up in the hospital for a week and out of circulation for three months. The net result for each of us, if we dont learn how to listen to God, is that we will make unwise and costly mistakes.
You may ask, Does God really speak to us today? The Bible assures us that He does. The book of Hebrews opens this way God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds (Hebrews 1:12).
Our God is not a speechless God. He is alive and active in our world today. He speaks! The primary goal of any communicator is not to speak well but to be heard. God speaks in a way we can hear Him, receive His message, and understand what He wants us to do.
The author of Hebrews states that in these last days, God has spoken to us by His Son (Hebrews 1:2). What does the author mean by these statements?
[Your Response Here]
How does God speak to people today? How has He spoken to you in the past?
[Your Response Here]
G ODS P ERSONAL W ORD
God speaks in both general and absolute terms to all people, and He speaks to each one of us personally. We can hardly comprehend that possibility with our finite minds. God is an infinite God, and He is capable of communicating with each one of us, right where we are. He can speak to us in the midst of our circumstances or crisesin personal, direct, and explicit terms.
This may be the most important concept that we can ever grasp when it comes to learning how to listen to God. When God speaks, He is speaking directly to us. Everything in the Bible applies to our lives in some way. Every message based on the Word of God has truth embedded within it that is for our lives. There is no such thing as a chapter in the Bible, a sermon based on Gods Word, or a book that expounds and explains Gods Word that is not for us.