God Speaks Through People Chpt. 8

Hearing the Voice of God • Sermon • Submitted 3 years ago

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God speaks through Believers

Since the Holy Spirit dwells within every believer, it is particularly important that we pay attention to what our fellow Christians say. Jesus said, “I assure you: The one who receives whomever I send receives Me, and the one who receives Me receives him who sent Me” (John 13:20 HCSB). The apostle Paul observed, “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ; certain that God is appealing through us, we plead on Christ's behalf, ‘Be reconciled to God’” (2 Cor. 5:20). People do not have to be Christians for a long time before God will speak through them. There are no educational, age, or gender prerequisites to be a spokesperson for God. Christ can use any person he chooses to be his messenger.

Blackaby, Henry; Blackaby, Richard. Hearing God's Voice (p. 161). B&H Publishing. Kindle Edition.

God uses people to be His messengers. There are several ways that God uses us.

He uses us to communicate the gospel to the lost.

He uses us to encourage the downtrodden.

He uses us to give advice to the confused

He uses us to bring comfort to the hurting.

God Speaks Through the Church

Since Christ's ascension, the church has been God's strategy for uniting people. As Christians commit themselves to their fellow believers, God speaks through the church to benefit every member. Estranged from the church, Christians will not hear all God has to say to them. The early church realized the importance of meeting regularly together. God speaks through the church in numerous ways, so it is important to understand the way God has designed the church to function. The following are several points to consider regarding Christ's work in and through the church.

Blackaby, Henry; Blackaby, Richard. Hearing God's Voice (p. 163). B&H Publishing. Kindle Edition.

Christ Sets the Agenda

Every church has the capacity to hear specifically from God just like the one mentioned above. Christ has a purpose for every body of believers. In order to fulfill God's plans for them, every local church must recognize an important truth about who is in charge. It's not the pastor. It's not the board of elders or the deacons. It's not a bishop or even the pope. Christ alone is the head of the church, and he sets the agenda for the body.

Blackaby, Henry; Blackaby, Richard. Hearing God's Voice (p. 164). B&H Publishing. Kindle Edition.

Christ is the one who determines the direction and scope of the Church. He does this by calling people with different gifts to the church. He strategically places people in the church to accomplish His unique purpose for the church.

As head of the church, Christ intentionally guides it to carry out his Father's purposes on earth. This means Christ has an assignment for you and for your church. You are not free to run your life or your church any way you choose. At any moment under any situation, Christ has the right to exercise his lordship over you and your church. Jesus said: “I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from My Father” (John 15:15 HCSB).

Blackaby, Henry; Blackaby, Richard. Hearing God's Voice (pp. 164-165). B&H Publishing. Kindle Edition.

When Christ calls you to an act of service in the church, you will often be confirmed in your calling by the church. The church will recognize your gifting and ask you to employ it in the capacity that is needed for the church.

This is why the church decides on the pastor, deacons, teachers, other ministers, and other areas of service within the church.

God speaks through others outside your church

When believers relate to one another, more is happening than you may think. The Spirit knows what you need to hear. He may lead someone to say the exact words at the right moment so you get the message. Even casual statements by those around you can be the Holy Spirit's method of dramatically speaking to you.

Blackaby, Henry; Blackaby, Richard. Hearing God's Voice (p. 171). B&H Publishing. Kindle Edition.

Christ Speaks to Strengthen the Body

When God speaks to one member of a church body, it is critical for that person to respond to what God tells him. God's Word usually has an exponential effect on others as individuals share with their church what God told them. When someone is actively involved in a local church, he enjoys the benefit of hearing what God is saying, not only to him personally but also to the entire church body.

Blackaby, Henry; Blackaby, Richard. Hearing God's Voice (p. 173). B&H Publishing. Kindle Edition.

Everyone who is a member of a church has a role to play in the church. God has gifted every believer to serve in some capacity within His church. Obedience to His calling strengthens the church. Failure to obey weakens His church. When someone fails to obey the call, the church is forced to put someone in that has not been called. This leads to frustration and burnout.

Christ Speaks to Help us Conform To His Image

Romans 8:29 says, “For those He foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son” (HCSB). The purpose for Paul's teaching and preaching was to “present everyone mature in Christ” (Col. 1:28). Never dismiss God's ability to use a fellow believer to make you more like Christ. God can use the words of a teenager, the prayer of a senior citizen, or the candid remark of a child to convict you of the need to make changes in your life.

Blackaby, Henry; Blackaby, Richard. Hearing God's Voice (p. 176). B&H Publishing. Kindle Edition.

God uses people in our lives to help change or develop a characteristic that we need to become more Christlike. My wife has a tremendous gift of compassion. I do not. Often times I will consult her on matters that I don’t feel I am showing very much compassion. She is able to explain the situation in such a way that illicits compassion.

Cautions About God Using People to Speak

Stymied By Sin

The Bible says when one member of the body suffers, the entire body suffers (1 Cor. 12:26). When people become disgruntled and decide to withdraw from the body, they are hurting themselves as well as the rest of the body. If an arm decided to detach itself from the body in protest against a perceived slight, the body might survive, but it would suffer. Tragically, there are disabled church bodies everywhere. They struggle to achieve all Christ assigned for them because so many of their members are no longer serving where Christ placed them.

Blackaby, Henry; Blackaby, Richard. Hearing God's Voice (p. 178). B&H Publishing. Kindle Edition.

Disobedience to a call always hurts the church. Disobedience to the call is sin.

Uniqueness of Gods voice

The Lord knows the situation, the temperament, and the talents of each one, as well as the particular services or trials He has appointed for him. Some pass through life more smoothly than others, but everyone is tried at times. But the One “who walketh upon the wings of the wind” (Ps. 104:3) and measures “the waters in the hollow of his hand” (Isa.40:12) will not allow anyone in His charge to perish in the storms, although some might at one time or another be ready to give up hope. We must not make the experiences of others a rule binding us, nor make our experiences a rule for others. My own history has been extraordinary. I do not think I have met a single person who has a testimony like mine. Very few have been retrieved from as wicked a state as I have lived in. Those that have been have come through deep conviction, and the Lord has given them peace and a future more zealous, bright, and inspiring than is commonly the case.7

Blackaby, Henry; Blackaby, Richard. Hearing God's Voice (pp. 183-184). B&H Publishing. Kindle Edition.

We must be careful about equating or experiences to others and giving them advice based on our experience. When we tell people what they have to do in their situation based on what we did, we could give them bad advice. Everyone is different and has their own way of handling their situations. We must be respectful of what they choose, unless it is sinful. We can share what we did in a situation similar to theirs, but to expect them to do the same thing may be unrealistic.

God's Voice: Altered by Well-meaning Friends

There are times when your most dangerous counsel will come from those who care about you the most. Just as Peter misguidedly tried to prevent his friend Jesus from going to the cross, so your friends and family may try to dissuade you from following God's will. Why? Because they don't want you to get hurt. Concern, even when voiced by those who love you, can be the subtle instrument of Satan (Matt. 16:23).

Blackaby, Henry; Blackaby, Richard. Hearing God's Voice (p. 185). B&H Publishing. Kindle Edition.

Often times our closest friends are who we go to when we are in a difficult situation. Our friends do not want us to suffer so they may give you advice to help avoid the suffering. Sometimes God desires us to go through seasons of suffering. To avoid them would be self-defeating.

Questions for Reflection

1. Are you presently involved in a church body to the degree Christ wants you to be? Who decided on the level and the areas of your involvement, you or Christ?

2. Why do you think Christ led you to the church he did? What do you think Christ wants to do through your life in your church that will build up the body?

3. Are you in a close enough relationship with fellow believers that they feel free to share concerns they have with you?

4. What is the Holy Spirit presently trying to say to you through fellow believers?

5. How is the Holy Spirit presently using fellow believers to help you to become more like Christ?

6. Is there any sin in your life right now that might be adversely affecting you and others?

7. Is anyone trying to persuade you to adjust what you know God has said to you? How are you responding?

Blackaby, Henry; Blackaby, Richard. Hearing God's Voice (p. 188). B&H Publishing. Kindle Edition.