Post Sunday December 7 2008

“On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side." Mark 4:35

In the second point of the lifessage yesterday the point was made that Jesus gives us peace in our day to day lives. This point was accentuated by the passage that is found in Mark 4:35-41. We can have peace and confidence during those storms of life due to the fact that we have chosen to follow Jesus and if we are moving in a direction in which Jesus has called us to cross over to the other side there is nothing to fear. A good question to ask is how do we know it was Jesus who called us to go to the other side?

Jesus has made it clear that the sheep (His followers) know his voice (John 10:4) and that everyone who is of the truth will hear His voice (John 18:37). It was easy for the disciples to follow because Jesus was standing right in front of them when He spoke. What about us? He isn’t physically standing right before me so how can I really know that it is His voice that is speaking to me? How do I know that the direction I have chosen to walk in is the direction in which He wanted me to go and cross over?

Those are excellent and valid questions. The answer is going to involve much more than I’m able to type in one short Post Sunday devotional, but I pray this will help you get started in your ability to begin to discern the voice of God and His leading.

If the storm that is currently battering your life at the moment is a storm that has been brought about by your sin then the lake you have chosen to cross over is not the lake that God has called you to cross. God would not have you cross over a lake for the purpose of you committing sin (Read James 1:12-18). If you are obeying a voice to sin then it is not God’s voice. The voice that is calling you to resist that sin is God’s voice. It is certainly true that God may later on in your life use your experience with sin to help others, but that is if you are fortunate enough to have survived your bout with sin. James 1:15 “Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” If you know God and are allowing that voice from within calling you to sin then you will never win, so don’t begin to allow sin an in. Thank you Dr. Seuss.

It is not always the obvious sins that will hinder our hearing of the voice of God: James 4:17 “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” We know how God wants us to honor Him with our finances (Malachi 3:8-12) We know that Jesus stated that we are to serve others instead of seeking to be served (Mark 10:41-45). We know we are to respect the authority that has been established in our lives (Romans 13:1, Jude 8). We know that we are to not withhold forgiveness (Colossians 3:13). Of course there are many other examples of what we know to be good and when we choose not to do the good then we will essentially eliminate the voice of God and most likely head into the wrong direction and the storm we endure on that road is not one in which is bringing God glory rather it is a storm beating you up and removing you from being the vital part of God’s Kingdom. The voice that is calling you to do the right thing, the good thing, even when you may disagree, that is God’s voice. If you know God has said it is good and you are not allowing it to be lived out in your neighborhood even when you could that would not be good. Thank you again Dr. Seuss.

The degree of difficulty of your trek across the lake may or may not be the voice of God. It is clear that God calls us to do things that are way beyond our own strength and capabilities. If we only set out to cross the lakes in which we know we have the power to cross we are probably not following God’s voice (for examples of those called to cross seemingly impossible lakes, read the Bible, you’ll find a story on just about every page!) if we are crossing a lake to do something we feel strongly lead of God to do and we get out there and the storm begins to beat on us and we realize our talent level or capabilities prohibit us from getting all the way across we need to latch on to one of those other little boats (Mark 4:36 “Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him.”) and let them take the lead and we take a backseat and play in the support role. Just because we are called out to cross doesn’t mean we are in charge for the entire trip God may be calling us first because He knows others will follow, but once we get out there, we need to listen to Him once again and step back if we aren’t talented enough to have it continue. If we try to repel others away from a God given mission to cross to the other side then we are probably no longer listening to God’s voice. If we are willing to take the ride do not place pride along your side for by pride many have died. Thank you again Dr. Seuss.

So why Dr. Seuss so much? His rhymes created a rhythm that made his writing, his voice very recognizable. You are I must design our lives around the rhymes and rhythms of God so that we too will better recognize His voice.

Pray Daily – Spend time with God daily in prayer laying all before Him and specifically asking Him for His wisdom and guidance. (Read the book of James for help in this area knowing what to ask and why to ask). The more time in prayer you spend the greater your sensitivity to God’s Voice will be.

Read the Bible and Take Notes – Countless verses speak of our need to know the Word of God, to know the power of the Word of God and the benefits of those who actually live the Word of God. Read slowly there is no need to race through it, take notes about what it is saying. Take notes when you listen to the Word of God taught. Wednesday Night Adrenaline and Small Group offer a slower paced and deeper potential depth opportunities for the Word of God to take hold of you, thus increasing your sensitivity to God’s Voice.

Serve Others – Jesus told us He came not to be served, but rather to serve. Who told Him this? The very voice of God. How do you know in what areas to serve? Where are your spiritual gifts? Once you determine what your spiritual gifts are those gifts should be edifying and building up the body of Christ (the church) (Ephesians 4:12). If your gifts are not doing this then you must ask yourself questions about how you are serving and whose voice exactly are you following. If you are unsure of where to serve then read and meditate upon Philippians 4:8-9 and let those verses assist you, these verse are much better than taking a spiritual gift test. More often than naught a spiritual gift test is simply yet another stall tactic keeping you from actually serving. God provided you the gift don’t you think He’ll put you in the right place to use that gift if you’ll simply serve as He called you to? (What did Christians do prior to the days of spiritual gift tests?)

Journal on a Regular Basis – I know, I know especially the guys right now are saying, “I ain’t writing in no journal, it sounds like a diary.” Here is what you’ll find if you will journal on a regular basis….you’ll begin to see just whose voice you have been listening to. I’ve found in journaling that my own voice of negativity has done severe damage to my ability to listen to God’s voice. From this I’ve taken steps to correct my stinkin’ thinkin’. I’ve found that often times the voices of those around me that encourage me to do this or that to help me in my spiritual walk are the same voices that add incredible weights and burdens to my life and thus severely hinder my ability to hear God’s voice. From this I’ve learned when to let certain voices pass right through and pay greater attention to other ones. I also have found within my journal the clear moments in which God is guiding my writing and expounding upon my journey across the lake in these moments I immediately assess my position and take action.

Lastly, ask yourself what is it on the other side that this voice is calling me toward. The reason Jesus had them all get into the boat and cross to the other side was because they found a man that had been left for dead by the remainder of society and was in dire need of the gospel (Mark 5:1-20). Will your journey across the lake lead you to share or display the gospel or is it simply a journey to further self? That question only you can answer, but the voice of God calls us to Love Him and to Love Others.

Know this….His arrival in your life means that you will cross to the other side if it is indeed His voice that you listen to. His is the voice of peace, His is the voice of confidence in chaos. His is the voice of faith during times of doubt. His is the voice of strength during times of weakness. His is the voice of reconciliation during the times of separation. His is the voice of love during times of hate. His voice will not contradict the truth.

As you can see this could go on for even a greater depth and length of discussion, but don’t listen anymore to me, listen for God’s voice in your life.

Questions to Ask Yourself:

1. Would you define our life as being rhythmic and in harmony with God’s voice? Why or why not?

2. What steps do you feel you have to take or continue in order to remain in rhythm or to find your rhythm.

3. Take time to define your storm and whether or not it is a God designed storm or a self-inflicted storm. When this is done you’ll better know to keep on rowing to the other side or to quickly get back to the beginning so you can start over and find the right path to cross.

Pastor e