Healed and Whole

We are beginning a new series of messages ​about living “healed and whole”

Living Healed and Whole means ​walking in the fullness of God

John 10:10 says that God has given us life “to ​the fullest” or “more abundantly.”

John 10:27-28

(NKJV - New King James Version)

27My sheep hear My voice, and I know ​them, and they follow Me.

28And I give them eternal life, and they ​shall never perish; neither shall anyone ​snatch them out of My hand.

Learning to Listen

Life is full of noise, distractions, and voices vying for ​our attention. But in the midst of all that chaos, God ​still speaks.

The real question is: Are we listening?

One of the foundational teachings of Pentecostal faith ​is that God is a speaking God. Smith Wigglesworth, once ​said, “God has more for you in a moment than the ​world can give you in a lifetime.”

But to receive what God has for us, we need to be ​tuned in to His voice.

So how do we LEARN TO LISTEN to God's voice?

This morning I'm going to address 2 questions we often ​ask ourselves to help unpack how we can Learn to ​Listen.

Question #1

HOw do I hear from ​Go​d​?​

I hear his voice through his word

This question focuses on the methodolgy of hearing ​from God. What are the ways that God speaks to us. We ​often convince ourselves that "hearing from God" is ​this emorphous, fluid process that changes based on ​the person and the situation.

While God does speak in different ways in order to ​reach different people, there are concrete ways we ​can hear His voice.

Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV - New King James Version)

12For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than ​any two-­edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and ​spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the ​thoughts and intents of the heart.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NKJV - New King James Version)

16All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable ​for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in ​righteousness,

17that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for ​every good work.

I hear his voice in times of stillness.

Psalms 46:10 (NKJV - New King James Version)

10Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted ​among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

Our prayers often read like a Christmas list of things ​we want god to do, and not to do.

how often do we take time to stop and listen for god’s ​voice?

• If God spoke to you today, would you be able to ​recognize his voice?
  

I hear his voice Through godly counsel.

2 Kings tells of king rehoboam

• He rejects the advice from his father’s counsel
  
• he, instead, listens to his friends from school

Rehoboam’s decisions cause an uprising in Israel and he ​loses the kingdom.

Not all counsel is good...and not all good counsel is ​godly.

Godly counsel is willing to:

• confront
  
• correct
• comfort

make sure you have people in your life who are willing ​to do all three!

I hear his voice Through common sense.

Acts 15:28 tells of the apostles writing a letter to all ​of the churches, detailing a very important decision

• A decision that could change the course of human ​history
  

Here’s the reasons they gave behind their important ​decision

• it seemed good to the Holy Spirit
  
• It seemed good to us

They relied on the Holy Spirit’s leading and good old-​fashioned common sense.

Question #2

How do I know i’m ​hearing God?

His voice confirms his word.

2 Timothy 3:16 (ESV - English Standard Version)

16All Scripture is breathed out by God

1) God’s voice confirms his word because his word is his ​voice

2) God will never call you to disobey nor deny his ​word

3) to know his word is to know his voice

His voice leads to humility

James 4:6 (NKJV - New King James Version)

6But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God ​resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”

1) To be filled with pride is to actively oppose god

2) To be filled with pride is to be an enemy of God

3) humility precedes grace

• we often want grace to precede humility
  

4) To hear God is to be led toward humility

His voice leads to justice and mercy

Micah 6:8 (NIV - New International Version)

8He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the ​Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk ​humbly with your God.

1) God’s voice will lead you to stand on truth

2) God’s voice will lead you to walk in mercy

God’s voice leads us to operate in truth and mercy ​simultaneously

His voice leads to Honor

1 Samuel 15

1 Samuel 15 tells of David requesting permission to fight goliath. ​He doesn’t storm the field, subverting authority. David appeals to ​authority and receives Saul’s blessing. David does this to honor ​the authority placed over him.

God’s voice will lead you to bless those in authority ​over you

The Gospels

In the gospels, jesus tells the story of a shepherd who leaves 99 ​sheep and sets out to find the one sheep who’s gone astray. he ​doesn’t call the sheep back , and expect the lost sheep to find its ​way back home. he leaves the comfort and safety of the flock ​and seeks out the 1.

God’s voice will lead you to honor the last, the least, ​and the Lost