Jul 2009
Hearing From God Through Others
Jul 20, 2009
But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him.
-1 Kings 12:8
As the Israelites assembled to crown Rehoboam king, they pleaded with him to lighten the load that his father had put on them during his reign as king. Rehoboam had a decision to make. To help him hear from God and make the decision, he turned to two sets of people. One, a group of peers that he had grown up with and the other, a group of elders that served with his father. Who do you think Rehoboam would trust? How would his decision affect the kingdom? Go to 1 Kings chapter 12 to find the answer.
Here are five principles on how to hear from God through other people
1. You need to choose someone who has nothing to lose by telling you the truth. When it comes to hearing from God, you need to choose someone that isn’t in danger by telling you the truth. Rehoboams friends had a lot to loose. We all have friends that are more concerned about the friendship than the truth.
2. Choose someone that is where you want to be in life. You want to choose someone that is at the place in life where you want to be spiritually, where you want to be in your marriage, where you want to be in your finances, where you want to be in your relationships. Find someone that is where you want to be so you will want to listen to their advice.
3. Don't just settle with one person, but be willing to seek out more than one person if possible.
4. Choose someone you know and someone you don’t. Get advice from these two perspectives.
5. Most importantly, you need to go into these conversations sensitive that God may be wanting to speak to you. Go in looking for God to speak to you in the midst of the conversations.
We are each faced with decisions. Some decisions that are easy and we feel confident in making and some others that we sense the need to seek advice. God loves to communicate with His children. It isn't that He is unwilling to communicate but oftentimes our unwillingness to listen and obey.
-1 Kings 12:8
As the Israelites assembled to crown Rehoboam king, they pleaded with him to lighten the load that his father had put on them during his reign as king. Rehoboam had a decision to make. To help him hear from God and make the decision, he turned to two sets of people. One, a group of peers that he had grown up with and the other, a group of elders that served with his father. Who do you think Rehoboam would trust? How would his decision affect the kingdom? Go to 1 Kings chapter 12 to find the answer.
Here are five principles on how to hear from God through other people
1. You need to choose someone who has nothing to lose by telling you the truth. When it comes to hearing from God, you need to choose someone that isn’t in danger by telling you the truth. Rehoboams friends had a lot to loose. We all have friends that are more concerned about the friendship than the truth.
2. Choose someone that is where you want to be in life. You want to choose someone that is at the place in life where you want to be spiritually, where you want to be in your marriage, where you want to be in your finances, where you want to be in your relationships. Find someone that is where you want to be so you will want to listen to their advice.
3. Don't just settle with one person, but be willing to seek out more than one person if possible.
4. Choose someone you know and someone you don’t. Get advice from these two perspectives.
5. Most importantly, you need to go into these conversations sensitive that God may be wanting to speak to you. Go in looking for God to speak to you in the midst of the conversations.
We are each faced with decisions. Some decisions that are easy and we feel confident in making and some others that we sense the need to seek advice. God loves to communicate with His children. It isn't that He is unwilling to communicate but oftentimes our unwillingness to listen and obey.
Comments from Mike's Message
Jul 13, 2009
It was so encouraging to hear Mike share yesterday and recount the story of his terrible accident four years ago. Mike did an awesome job of helping us remember several truths:
1. God is always present
2. He allows and sometimes causes events in life but with the purpose of helping us learn to trust the Father more
3. The value of living life in community with others and the comfort we can bring to each other as we walk through difficult times
4. The need for sharing life, not just doing life
Each one of us has a story, and no one is exempt from difficult times. Mike reminded me of the need for sensitivity within the body even when things seem to be going good on the outside. With the growth we have experienced as a body of believers, we are at a place of exploring some new avenues for ministering to one another, as well as growing spiritually. We are looking forward to Sunday August 16th and a discussion that we will have as we share our hearts for the future of Heritage.
Who will you serve this week?
We love you,
-Sidney
1. God is always present
2. He allows and sometimes causes events in life but with the purpose of helping us learn to trust the Father more
3. The value of living life in community with others and the comfort we can bring to each other as we walk through difficult times
4. The need for sharing life, not just doing life
Each one of us has a story, and no one is exempt from difficult times. Mike reminded me of the need for sensitivity within the body even when things seem to be going good on the outside. With the growth we have experienced as a body of believers, we are at a place of exploring some new avenues for ministering to one another, as well as growing spiritually. We are looking forward to Sunday August 16th and a discussion that we will have as we share our hearts for the future of Heritage.
Who will you serve this week?
We love you,
-Sidney
Be Still and Know...
Jul 07, 2009
“Be still, and know that I am God”
-Psalms 46:10
With the family out of town this week, I have planned to take somewhat of a week sabbatical before joining them after church next Sunday. During the next 168 hours, my desire is to spend a majority of this time, reading His Word, listening to His voice and seeking direction for the days ahead.
In the fast paced life that we live, I often find myself overwhelmed by the constant abundance of secondary responsibilities such as phone calls, emails, meetings, and visits that I find myself failing to spend enough time on primary responsibilities. In church Sunday, Brian sang a new song. The words were: "Be still and know He is Holy, Be still and know He is Merciful, Be still and know He is Beautiful, Be still and know He is God."
What an awesome reminder of our need for space in our schedules to reflect, revisit, refresh, renew and refocus our lives on our Heavenly Father. He desires our attention.
-Sidney
-Psalms 46:10
With the family out of town this week, I have planned to take somewhat of a week sabbatical before joining them after church next Sunday. During the next 168 hours, my desire is to spend a majority of this time, reading His Word, listening to His voice and seeking direction for the days ahead.
In the fast paced life that we live, I often find myself overwhelmed by the constant abundance of secondary responsibilities such as phone calls, emails, meetings, and visits that I find myself failing to spend enough time on primary responsibilities. In church Sunday, Brian sang a new song. The words were: "Be still and know He is Holy, Be still and know He is Merciful, Be still and know He is Beautiful, Be still and know He is God."
What an awesome reminder of our need for space in our schedules to reflect, revisit, refresh, renew and refocus our lives on our Heavenly Father. He desires our attention.
-Sidney
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