Hearing Gods Voice Part 3… THE STILL SMALL VOICE..THE VOICE OF PEACE

1 Kings 19:11-12 (NKJV) Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces 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; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

Elijah was waiting to hear God but God showed up in a way he didn’t expect. He pictures God in a large wind or a shaking earthquake or a raging fire but he spoke in a gentle whisper. God often speaks to me in this way. If I waited for God to speak in an audible voice I would still be waiting. That’s not to say he doesn’t but it’s the exception to the rule and the rule. The Contemporary English Version of Philippians 4:7 says “God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel.” I need to the still small voice, that voice that brings peace for me to know that God is in a thing. Even when a decision is hard and the step I have to take is difficult if God is in it I feel peace. The easy way is hard without peace and the hard way is easy WITH Gods gentle whisper of peace. Starting a church, or getting and advanced degree, or starting a business…ALL HARD. BUT, if God is in it he will give you peace that confirms that you are on track and your path, as difficult as it is at times is being ordered of God. And this is another way that you can hear Gods voice

GENERATION CHURCH SERMON…GOLIATHS SWORD

1 Samuel 17:50-54 (NV) So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him. 51 David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine’s sword and drew it from the scabbard. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran. 52 Then the men of Israel and Judah surged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines to the entrance of Gath and to the gates of Ekron. Their dead were strewn along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron. 53 When the Israelites returned from chasing the Philistines, they plundered their camp. 54 David took the Philistine’s head and brought it to Jerusalem, and he put the Philistine’s weapons in his own tent.

-God wants to take your small stones and give you big victories
If you’re faithful in little God will make you a master of much. But don’t think that’s it’s your skill or anything of your own doing that caused you to prevail but the lord

1. Small victories lead to big victories
-what trophies of faith are in your arsenal
1 Samuel 17:54 David took the Philistine’s head and brought it to Jerusalem, and he put the Philistine’s weapons in his own tent.
-David was upgraded from sling and stone to sword through consistent obedience

2. God is more interested in the WHY than the WHAT
-look at what happens to David between the time he kills Goliath and 1 Samuel 21(read the whole chapter)
-He goes from only needing the Lord and simple tools to “needing” Goliaths sword… He forgot how he got the sword in the first place
-God is concerned about our motivation
Deuteronomy 8:18-20 (NLT) Remember the Lord your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful, in order to fulfill the covenant he confirmed to your ancestors with an oath. 19 “But I assure you of this: If you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods, worshiping and bowing down to them, you will certainly be destroyed. 20 Just as the Lord has destroyed other nations in your path, you also will be destroyed if you refuse to obey the Lord your God.
-What trophies of faith have you won lately?
“Our successes aren’t meant to be worshiped but to remind us”
-God/Christianity/Church isn’t meant to be a place to get a quick fix
-He runs into church to get a sword and a quick bite to eat. Is NOT honest with his spiritual leader and leaves without getting the very thing he needed FAITH

3. Faith is the weapon that brings victory
1 John 5:4-5 (KJV) For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.5Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
-We walk by faith not by site….or feelings
-DOES THIS SOUND LIKE A MAN OF FAITH
1 Samuel 21:10-15 (NLT) So David escaped from Saul and went to King Achish of Gath. 11 But the officers of Achish were unhappy about his being there. “Isn’t this David, the king of the land?” they asked. “Isn’t he the one the people honor with dances, singing, ‘Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands’?”12 David heard these comments and was very afraid of what King Achish of Gath might do to him. 13 So he pretended to be insane, scratching on doors and drooling down his beard. 14 Finally, King Achish said to his men, “Must you bring me a madman? 15 We already have enough of them around here! Why should I let someone like this be my guest?”
-But this was the Psalm attributed to david during that time;
Psalm 56 (NLT) O God, have mercy on me, for people are hounding me. My foes attack me all day long. 2 I am constantly hounded by those who slander me, and many are boldly attacking me. 3 But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. 4 I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?…. 11 I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me? 12 I will fulfill my vows to you, O God, and will offer a sacrifice of thanks for your help. 13 For you have rescued me from death; you have kept my feet from slipping. So now I can walk in your presence, O God, in your life-giving light
-But David realized that FAITH isn’t always unanimous sometimes it’s a decision, a declaration and the deciding vote in our walk with God
AT THE END OF THE DAY I WILL PUT MY TRUST IN THE LORD AND IT WILL BE HIM THAT WILL LEAD ME INTO VICTORY!