CRCF\u201d\u201d9-27-09<\/p>\n
Listening to God in Trials
\nJames 1:19-21<\/p>\n
ME<\/p>\n
I loved the early seasons of \u201cER\u201d. Scenes like this one would have me all tensed up and on the edge of my seat. It was one of the first times TV graphically brought the emergency room into our living room. When the paramedics would bring in the patients, the question from the doctors was always, \u201cWhat do you got?\u201d And then they would listen as the paramedics told them the details of the patient\u201d\u2122s condition. Then the doctors would start firing off orders to the nurses and other doctors about what to do for the patient.<\/p>\n
Listening is important in emergencies!<\/p>\n
One time a few years ago, Robin had an allergic reaction to some medication and her neck and jaw were drawn and she couldn\u201d\u2122t control it. We called the doctor and she said to take her to the Kennestone ER. Well, I listened and we drove about 90 mph down 575 to Kennestone, with Robin in the front seat getting worse all the while, and my mother in the back seat scared to death of the high speed travel.<\/p>\n
Sometimes we face spiritual emergencies. It may be a financial crisis, or an accident in the family, or struggles with your kids (or parents), or ongoing health problems.
\nWE<\/p>\n
It\u201d\u2122s in these \u201cspiritual emergencies\u201d that we need to be listening to God most.<\/p>\n
*Listening to God is hard, but crucial, in tough times.<\/p>\n
We need God to be our guide through tough times. And we can hear God\u201d\u2122s voice through His Word.<\/p>\n
GOD<\/p>\n
*Listening to God is hard, but crucial, in tough times.<\/p>\n
James 1:19-21 (NLT)<\/p>\n
19 Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. 20 Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. 21 So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.<\/p>\n
HCSB<\/p>\n
\u201cfor man’s anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.\u201d (20)<\/p>\n
CEV<\/p>\n
\u201cInstead be humble and accept the message that is planted in you to save you.\u201d (21b)<\/p>\n
YOU<\/p>\n
So, what do you need to do?<\/p>\n
You need to slow down, speed up, clean out and take in!<\/p>\n
We need to slow down our mouths and anger, and speed up our listening by cleaning out the wax of sin from our spiritual ears so that we can take in God\u201d\u2122s Word with our hearts and truly hear God!<\/p>\n
Speed Up Your Ears<\/p>\n
\u201cbe quick to listen\u201d<\/p>\n
Proverbs 18:13\u201d\u201d\u201cHe who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him.\u201d (NKJV)<\/p>\n
Slow Down Your Mouth<\/p>\n
\u201cslow to speak\u201d<\/p>\n
Proverbs 10:19\u201d\u201d\u201cIn the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise.\u201d (NKJV)<\/p>\n
James 1:26\u201d\u201d\u201cIf you claim to be religious but don\u201d\u2122t control your tongue, you are just fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.\u201d (NLT)<\/p>\n
Slow Down Your Anger<\/p>\n
\u201cslow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.\u201d<\/p>\n
Proverbs 16:32\u201d\u201d\u201cHe who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.\u201d (NKJV)<\/p>\n
Ecclesiastes 7:9\u201d\u201d\u201cDon\u201d\u2122t be quick-tempered, for anger is the friend of fools.\u201d (NLT)<\/p>\n
Clean Out Your Spiritual Ears<\/p>\n
\u201cSo get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives\u201d<\/p>\n
The word for \u201cfilth\u201d here was used of literal \u201cear wax.\u201d<\/p>\n
Take in God\u201d\u2122s Word<\/p>\n
\u201chumbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.\u201d<\/p>\n
Deuteronomy 32:47\u201d\u201d\u201cThese instructions are not mere words\u201d\u201dthey are your life!\u201d (NLT)<\/p>\n
*Listening to God is hard, but crucial, in tough times.<\/p>\n
John 17:17\u201d\u201d\u201cMake them pure and holy by teaching them your words of truth.\u201d (NLT)<\/p>\n
Luke 8:13\u201d\u201d\u201cThe rocky soil represents those who hear the message with joy. But like young plants in such soil, their roots don\u201d\u2122t go very deep. They believe for a while, but they wilt when the hot winds of testing blow.\u201d (NLT)<\/p>\n
*Listening to God is hard, but crucial, in tough times.<\/p>\n
Why is listening to God so crucial in tough times?<\/p>\n
Because we need for God to transform our lives, through His Word, especially in tough times.<\/p>\n
Romans 12:2\u201d\u201d\u201cDon\u201d\u2122t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.\u201d (NLT)<\/p>\n
2 Timothy 3:16-17\u201d\u201d\u201cAll Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God\u201d\u2122s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.\u201d (NLT)<\/p>\n
WE<\/p>\n
Can you imagine how our lives might look if we regularly listened to God through His Word, especially in our trials? Can you imagine how much differently we would think and act and speak? Try it\u201d\u201dthink about the last trial you faced and what could have been different.<\/p>\n
This morning as we come to the Lord\u201d\u2122s Supper, we can also make this celebration a time of commitment\u201d\u201dcommitment to more regularly listen to God through His Word, so that those around us see Jesus more in and through our lives.<\/p>\n
As Lauren comes to sing, ask God to make this real in your life. Think about the Cross and what Jesus has done so that you and I can listen to God through His Word and be changed, even in our trials.<\/p>\n
Lauren\u201d\u2122s Song<\/p>\n
Lord\u201d\u2122s Supper
\n–Examination Time\/Prayer<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
CRCF\u201d\u201d9-27-09 Listening to God in Trials James 1:19-21 ME I loved the early seasons of \u201cER\u201d. Scenes like this one would have me all tensed up and on the edge of my seat. It was one of the first times … Continue reading