"KNOWING THE VOICE OF GOD"
Intro: Vs. 1 & 6 - typical of Jeremiah as we read these phrases throughout whole book.
I. HOW DID THE WORD OF THE LORD COME?
A. "God, who at sundry times and in diverse ways spoke to our fathers by the prophets."
1. What are some of the diverse ways?
a. Through the written word.
1. Psalm 1.
2. Dan. 9, "Understood by the words of the book..."
b. God still speaks through His word today.
1. This is God's primary vehicle.
2. Any other method must be tested by the written word.
a. "Let one prophesy and the others judge."
b. "If I or an angel of heaven..."
3. This is an excellent place to train your spiritual ear.
a. Exciting when the Spirit makes the word come
alive.
b. Gives you insight.
c. God spoke through dreams.
1. Joseph.
2. Nebuchadnezzar.
3. Not all dreams significant.
4. I do not possess gift of interpretation.
5. A method by which God promised to speak again in the last
days - "Your old men shall dream dreams..."
d. Visions.
1. Like a dream, only awake.
2. The ability to see the spirit world.
a. Elisha's prayer for Gahaizi.
b. The spirit world is timeless.
3. Way God spoke to Ezekiel often in visions - Daniel also.
4. N.T. - Peter led by angel out of prison.
5. Paul had vision of a man of Macedonia.
e. Through angels.
1. Word "angel" means "messenger".
2. Angels sent to Sodom.
3. Angel announced to Samson's parents.
4. Angel Gabriel spoke to Daniel.
a. 500 years later to Zechariah then Mary.
5. Angel spoke to Paul during storm.
6. Book of Revelation given to John.
f. Through an audible voice.
1. To Adam in garden.
2. To Moses.
3. To Samuel as a child.
4. To Paul on the Damascus road.
g. Through a still small voice.
1. Elijah.
2. A thought - impulse - inspiration.
B. This must be how He mainly spoke to Jeremiah.
1. The thought came in vs. 6, 7.
2. When in vs. 8 his cousin comes the next day with request from uncle -
"Then I knew..."
3. There are times when God speaks to my heart and I have no doubts.
4. There are many times I am not sure.
a. I wonder, "is that just me?"
1. Many times it is.
2. Often it is the Lord - as the circumstances later prove.
b. What should I do if I don't know?
1. Go to the written word.
2. Ask for confirmation.
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Chuck Smith (1927 - 2013)
Pastor Chuck was used in the Jesus People revival where he was used along with others to minister to the hippy young people. They saw a work of the Spirit where many were added to the church and discipled. He has raised up many pastors who are a part of the Calvary Chapel movement now and where he pastors the large Costa Mesa church in California.The Calvary Chapel movement is based of simple principles that Chuck Smith taught over the years such as: The priority of agape love, Simple fellowship amongst the saints, the breaking of bread, the teaching of God's word chapter by chapter and verse by verse. And lastly and most importantly the principle not by might nor by power but by my spirit saith the Lord.