How do I hear God more? August 5, 2018

Ask Listen Obey Renew Your Mind

Ask Ask God to speak to you Matthew 7:7-8 - “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. James 4:2 - You do not have because you do not ask God.

Listen 1 Samuel 3:9 - Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. God often speaks quietly, so we need to quiet our hearts, souls and listen carefully Spend time each day listening after you ask God to speak to you The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. 1 Kings 19:11-13

Obey Amos 8:11 - “The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign Lord, “when I will send a famine through the land— not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord. Zechariah 7:13 - “‘When I called, they did not listen; so when they called, I would not listen,’ says the Lord Almighty.

Ask, Listen, Obey Renew Your Mind

Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Step 1 - Surrender Hebrews 12:1 - Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.  Surrender completely to God

Step 2 - Renew Your Mind Hebrews 12:2 – Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. World pushes, forces it’s ideas, goals, fears Doesn’t say to fight the world We are to change by renewing our mind

How to renew our mind “You are what you eat” “You are what you listen to, see and read” We feed our mind through our eyes and ears Is what you are listening to bringing you closer to God or farther away? Is what you are watching making our mind healthier? Dirty windshield

Reduce, Remove, Replace Reduce the amount of intake – put limits on screen time and secular music Remove those things that are unwholesome – check out the lyrics, movie, video content and don’t be conformed to lying, sexuality, swearing, magic, rebellion, hiding etc. Replace with wholesome – daily Bible reading, prayer, worship

Do I have to? How much do you want to hear God? You have from God as much as you want of him