DAY:  TWENTY.

DATE:  MARCH 28, 2019.

TOPIC: MAKE ME HEAR FROM YOU, O LORD.

TEXT:    LUKE 3:2.

INTRODUCTION: One of the greatest disasters that can befall any true child of God is to fail to hear the voice of God or hear from God.  God speaks.  He spoke and He is still speaking.  King Saul  heard from God; however, when he disobeyed God using his discretion rather than following divine instruction to the letter, the Lord stopped speaking to him.  His life became miserable afterwards.

Unfortunately for him, he resorted to consulting mediums and speaking to the spirit of the dead which ultimately culminated in his tragic and untimely death.  Some people today find it extremely difficult to come to terms with the ability and reality of God speaking to us.  Hearing men and women say ‘God spoke to me’ should be a daily experience and a pattern to be coveted, encouraged and sustained.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR HEARING FROM GOD

1. You must be born again to hear Him.
2. There must be an intimate relationship.
3. You must run away from sin .
4. You must trust Him.
5. You must be attentive.
6. You must beware of being too crowded or getting distracted.
7. You must provide a conducive atmosphere for divine conversation and instruction through quiet time, study of God’s word, enhanced prayer life and fasting, as prompted by the Holy Spirit.

HOW DOES GOD SPEAK?

1. In audible voice; 2.  Through dreams;
2. Through His prophets; 4.  Through revelations/visions;
3. Through the Bible – His Word – Rhema;                               6.  Through preachers;
4. Through stickers, billboards, write-ups inspired by Him; and
5. Through many other mysterious ways that cannot be pin down specifically, e.g. winds,

circumstances.

OBSTACLES TO HEARING FROM GOD

The major obstacle to hearing from God is sin, as evident in the story of King Saul.  Whenever God chooses to speak to a sinner however, it is to warn him or re-commission him for His divine purpose, as seen in the case of Saul on the way to Damascus.

CONCLUSION: Hearing God is a habit that is worthwhile.  We must cultivate this godly habit and be receptive to it; and when we hear Him, we must not harden our hearts.