Knowing GodOUTLINE

John 10:4,5,14; John 1:10,11

Jn 1 Sad scriptureGod's people, he came, didn't recognize him...Because of

preconceived ideasHow many times have I done the same thing?

Church service, prayer time.

Jn 10:4,5,14 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

Importance of cultural context (SHEEP)GRANDFATHER in Israel

JESUS said “MY sheep know MY voice” if we are his sheep we will know his voice.

False prophets – not my shepherd's voice.NOT saying we can pick and choose what preaching we

accept. God chose our Pastor.

Matt 21:9 – triumphal entry. Crowds cried messiah

Mt 27:20-22 – 5 days later before Pilate.Why the change?Religious Leaders.

WE MUST KNOW GOD AND HIS VOICE!

Matt 7:21-23

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Sounds a lot like us. IN JESUS NAME

Jesus didn't say “depart, ye who were not baptized in Jesus name.” “holiness”

drives me crazy when preacher's tell me to do something but don't give me any clue how to do it.

Special time special placeif no specific time, doesn't happen.Firm Appointment.

Special place. Jesus said go into your closet.

Not literal closet.List places

woods, literal closet, starbucks, a specific chair.

If we are going to hear God's voice we need to know how he speaks.

Ps 19:1 – naturespeaks to every language.Dreamsangelssongs

2 ways I want to focus on.

1st WORD OF GOD only objective voice of God. 100% certain.

Dreams, “angels”, = weird religions “we need to learn the language of the Holy Spirit. He speaks

Bible”. You are likely thinking. I've tried

SECRET: ASK GOD FOR HELPJeremiah says “call unto me, and I will answer”knock and it will be opened unto you.Have not because ye ask not.

2nd 1 Ki 19:11-12

And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:

And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

Pentecostals = no shout, no dance means no move of God. Notice God wasn't in the wind, earthquake, fire.

Don't misunderstand: we know he was in each of these other timesGod speaks in different ways at different times.

Most often for me it is the still small voice.Fav memories: sitting on pew after church.

I wonder what God thinks of our prayer. YELLING

SOBBING I'm all for passionate prayer when it is spirit led.

To hear a small still voice can be a challenge. Listen for it. Tune in to it.

Indian in NYC hears grasshoper.You have to tune in.music and pictures bouncing around this very room. But we aren't tuned in to that channel.My wife's voice

shut out the background noisehollywoodmediaeven social media

Everything I've said today is worthless if you don't actually pray. “the secret to prayer, is prayer in secret”

Preacher once said“You are exactly as close to Jesus today as we have chosen.”

James 4:8if you draw nigh to him he will draw nigh to you.

LET'S STAND

John 1:45-48-49 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.

Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!

Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.

Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.

Nathaniel's question“How do you know me?”

Jesus “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw

you.”

Rabbis tell us this was a common figurative phrase describing the practice of meditating on the scripture.

Where does Jesus know me from?

In closing I would like to read a story I came across a few years ago on the internet,

A well renowned Shakespearean actor was once the guest of honor at a social gathering where he received many requests to recite favorite excerpts from various literary works. An elderly preacher who happened to be there asked the actor to recite the Twenty-third Psalm. The actor agreed on the condition that the preacher would also recite it. The actor's recitation was beautifully intoned with great dramatic emphasis, perfect enunciation, and masterful use of dramatic pauses for which he received a lengthy standing ovation. Then the preacher began... The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want...The preacher's voice was rough and broken from many years of passionate preaching, and his diction was anything but polished. When he finished there was no applause, not a single sound, and not a dry eye in the room. The actor then stood and said “The difference is I know the Psalm, but he knows the Shepherd."

Do you know the Shepherd tonight? I want to know my shepherd. I want to know my shepherd's voice. How about you?

Just walking down this aisle and kneeling at the altar in prayeror saying you want to be closer to God

Will not necessarily make you closer.

BUT IT IS A GOOD BEGINNING.

Won’t you come today and spend a little time with our God. Come and rededicate yourself to having an intimate relationship with our Savior. If you feel him tugging at your heart come and talk to him. Would you come.