I Hear You, God
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· 2 viewsHere is a short summary of the sermon outline: The sermon focuses on cultivating the ability to hear and respond to God's voice through grateful praise. The key points are: 1. God's voice is distinct and recognizable to those who belong to Him. We must seek clarity in discerning His voice through Scripture, prayer, and quiet reflection. 2. Biblical figures like Moses, Elijah, and Daniel heard God's voice and guidance in various seasons and circumstances of life. We too can recognize His presence across all situations. 3. Hearing God's voice should naturally lead to joyful, exuberant praise, as modeled in Psalm 100. Grateful praise is a powerful expression of faith in God's sovereignty. 4. The sermon calls the congregation to embrace the declaration "I Hear You, God" as an affirmation of attentiveness to the Lord's leading in their daily lives. Personal stories and examples illustrate how praise realigns our perspective, renews our faith, and ushers in God's power amid difficulties. The conclusion invites prayerful listening and a heartfelt response of "I Hear You, God" to deepen the congregation's relationship with the sovereign, loving God.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction:
Greet the congregation warmly, inviting them into a moment of reflection on God's presence.Share a compelling biblical story or personal testimony about recognizing and responding to God's voice.State the main theme: As we cultivate the ability to hear God's voice, our hearts overflow with grateful praise.
Point I: The Clarity of God’s Voice
Scriptural foundation: John 10:27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
Discuss how God's voice is distinct and recognizable to those who belong to Him.Emphasize the importance of distinguishing God’s voice from others in our lives.Challenge the congregation to seek clarity in hearing God’s voice through scripture, prayer, and quiet reflection.
"I Hear You, God" with John 10:27:
"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." The words of John 10:27 took on profound meaning for Sarah during a very difficult season. Her husband had lost his job, and financial stress was weighing heavily. Anxiety grew like thick vines, choking out her peace and joy.
One morning as she cried out to the Lord in desperation, a gentle reassurance came over her spirit. It was as if she could hear the Good Shepherd's tender voice cutting through the fearful noise - "I am with you. Do not be afraid." An inexplicable calm settled into her soul.
From that day forward, Sarah made a practice of quieting her mind and heart, straining to attune her ears to hear her Savior's comforting guidance. When worries threatened, she would speak out "I hear You, God" as a declaration of faith that He was sovereignly leading through the turbulence.
Those three simple words became a lifeline of hope. They re-centered Sarah's focus back on the Shepherd's loving care rather than her circumstances. No matter how daunting the crisis appeared, the reminder that she could discern and follow His voice brought her peace.
Whether it was a gentle prompting to have courageous conversations, wisdom in making tough financial decisions, or simply the reassurance of His nearness - speaking "I hear You, God" realigned Sarah's heart to reverently listen and obey her Master's voice above all else. It was a humble cry of surrender and statement of trust in the Good Shepherd's provisions and leadership for His sheep.
Point II: Recognizing God in Every Season
Biblical examples: Moses (Exodus 3)
Moses at the Burning Bush
3:1 Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.
2 And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed.
3 Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.”
4 So when the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!”
And he said, “Here I am.”
5 Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.”
6 Moreover He said, “I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God.
7 And the LORD said: “I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows.
8 So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites.
9 Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them.
10 Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”
11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”
12 So He said, “I will certainly be with you. And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”
13 Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?”
14 And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”
15 Moreover God said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.’
16 Go and gather the elders of Israel together, and say to them, ‘The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared to me, saying, “I have surely visited you and seen what is done to you in Egypt;
17 and I have said I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, to a land flowing with milk and honey.” ’
18 Then they will heed your voice; and you shall come, you and the elders of Israel, to the king of Egypt; and you shall say to him, ‘The LORD God of the Hebrews has met with us; and now, please, let us go three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.’
19 But I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not even by a mighty hand.
20 So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My wonders which I will do in its midst; and after that he will let you go.
21 And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and it shall be, when you go, that you shall not go empty-handed.
22 But every woman shall ask of her neighbor, namely, of her who dwells near her house, articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing; and you shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians.
Here are some key points about the biblical account of Moses and the burning bush from Exodus 3:
Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law Jethro in the desert near Mount Horeb (Sinai) when he saw a bush burning but not consumed by the fire.God called out to Moses from the bush, telling him to remove his sandals as he was on holy ground.God revealed himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He saw the affliction of the Israelites in Egypt and wanted to deliver them to a land flowing with milk and honey.God commissioned Moses to go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt, despite Moses' protests that he was inadequate for the task.God displayed miraculous signs to Moses, such as his staff turning into a snake and his hand becoming leprous, to convince him.God revealed his personal name YHWH ("I AM WHO I AM") to Moses at the burning bush.God appointed Moses' brother Aaron as his spokesman/prophet since Moses was not an eloquent speaker.
The burning bush encounter established Moses as the deliverer called by God to free the Israelites from Egyptian bondage and lead them to the Promised Land. It marked the beginning of Moses' prophetic ministry.
Elijah (1 Kings 19:11-13),
God’s Revelation to Elijah
11 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.
13 So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
The passage in 1 Kings 19:11-13 describes Elijah's encounter with God on Mount Horeb (Sinai):
Elijah had fled to Horeb after his confrontation with the prophets of Baal. God asked him what he was doing there.The Lord told Elijah to go out and stand on the mountain, for He was about to pass by.A great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart, but the Lord was not in the wind.After the wind, there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.After the earthquake, there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire.After the fire, there was a gentle whisper or still small voice.When Elijah heard the gentle whisper, he pulled his cloak over his face in reverence, for he knew it was the presence of the Lord.
The key point is that God did not reveal himself in the dramatic wind, earthquake or fire, but in the "still small voice" or gentle whisper. This taught Elijah that God often works in subtle, quiet ways rather than through cataclysmic events.
Their is A song I Like, that says Be Still And Let GOD Move!
It foreshadows the coming of God's presence and revelation not through thunderous demonstrations of power, but through the humble, gentle life and teachings of Jesus Christ. It encourages trusting in God's quiet, unseen workings.
Daniel (Daniel 6)
Daniel in the Lions’ Den
10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.
11 Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
12 And they went before the king, and spoke concerning the king’s decree: “Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?”
The king answered and said, “The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.”
13 So they answered and said before the king, “That Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.”
14 And the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him.
15 Then these men approached the king, and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed.”
16 So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.”
17 Then a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signets of his lords, that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed.
Daniel Saved from the Lions
18 Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no musicians were brought before him. Also his sleep went from him.
19 Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions.
20 And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?”
21 Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever!
22 My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.”
23 Now the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God.
Daniel Saved from the Lions
Show how these figures heard God's voice in various circumstances and how it guided and sustained them.Encourage the congregation to listen for God's voice in every season of life, affirming His constant presence and guidance.
The account of Daniel in the lions' den in Daniel 6 includes these key details:
King Darius the Mede had appointed Daniel as one of his top administrators over the kingdom. The other administrators became jealous of Daniel's favor with the king.They tricked Darius into issuing a decree that anyone who prayed to any god or man except Darius for 30 days would be thrown into a lions' den.Despite knowing about the decree, Daniel continued kneeling in prayer to God three times a day as was his custom.Daniel was caught praying and accused before the king, who was deeply distressed but had to enforce his own decree.Daniel was thrown into the lions' den. The king fasted overnight, troubled about Daniel's fate.The next morning, the king hurried to the den and cried out in anguish for Daniel's God to have kept him safe.To the king's relief, Daniel responded that his God had sent an angel to shut the lions' mouths, as Daniel was innocent before God.Daniel was lifted out unharmed. The king then had Daniel's accusers thrown into the lions' den, where they were instantly killed.Darius issued a new decree that all people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel throughout the kingdom.
The story demonstrates Daniel's steadfast faith and obedience to God despite threats, and God's power to protect and vindicate those who remain faithful to Him.
Point III: The Joy of Grateful Praise
Scriptural reference:
Psalm 100 –
A Song of Praise for the LORD’s Faithfulness to His People
100:title A Psalm of Thanksgiving.
1 Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!
2 Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
3 Know that the LORD, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
5 For the LORD is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations
Discuss how recognizing God’s voice leads to joyful praise and worship.Illustrate how grateful praise is a powerful expression of our faith and trust in God’s sovereignty.Exhort the congregation to embrace praise as a natural response to hearing God, enhancing their spiritual walk.
Here is an overview of Psalm 100:
Psalm 100 is a joyful psalm of thanksgiving and praise to God. It calls all people and lands to worship the Lord with gladness.
Verses 1-2: "Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing."
It gives the reasons to praise God:
Verse 3: "Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture."
The psalmist exhorts worshipers on how to praise:
Verses 4-5: "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations."
Key Themes:
Joyful, exuberant praise to God Recognizing God as Creator and Sustainer Thankfulness for God's goodness, mercy, and eternal truth Entering God's presence with singing, thanksgiving and blessing
Psalm 100 is a call for all people and lands to worship the one true God with joy, reverence and gratitude for His everlasting attributes and blessings.
Grateful praise is a powerful expression of our faith and trust in God's sovereignty for several reasons:
It acknowledges God's supremacy and control over all things. When we offer praise to God, we are recognizing that He alone is worthy of our highest adoration and reverence. We are humbling ourselves before His majesty and might, submitting to His ultimate authority. This is an act of faith, believing He truly is the sovereign Lord over all creation.It declares our dependence on God as our Provider and Sustainer. Expressions of gratefulness highlight that everything we have comes from God's gracious hand. We rely on His faithful mercies each day. Praising God despite circumstances demonstrates our trust that He will continue to meet all our needs according to His perfect wisdom and timing.It reinforces God's unchanging character and promises. As we recall and extol God's enduring love, justice, power, and truth through grateful praise, our confidence is renewed that the Sovereign One will firmly uphold His covenant pledges to us. Our faith is strengthened by meditating on His reliably excellent nature.It displays a humble, yielded spirit that fears God rightly. When we choose to praise God rather than grumbling, we display godly fear that trusts His sovereign purposes even when they are difficult to understand. This glorifies God and can open doors for greater intimacy with Him.It ushers God's presence, power and peace into our circumstances. As we magnify the Lord through praise, we experience His comforting, transcendent reality in our situations. Grateful worship realigns our perspective with God's supremacy over anything we face.
In all these ways, grateful praise arising from faith in God's sovereignty becomes a lifeline of hope and a means of accessing God's sufficient resources for us as His trusted children and subjects. It is a powerful expression of reliance on our Sovereign King.
Exhort the congregation to embrace praise as a natural response to hearing God, enhancing their spiritual walk
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, let us embrace praise as the natural and worthy response to hearing from our great and sovereign God. For when we open our hearts to the voice of the Lord, our souls cannot help but erupt in adoration and thanksgiving!
Consider how the psalmists modeled this for us, their lyrics brimming with exuberant worship after encountering the power and majesty of our Creator. When David pondered the heavens, the work of God's fingers, he declared "O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth!" (Psalm 8:1-9)
1 O LORD, our Lord,
How excellent is Your name in all the earth,
Who have set Your glory above the heavens!
2 Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants
You have ordained strength,
Because of Your enemies,
That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.
3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
4 What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit him?
5 For You have made him a little lower than the angels,
And You have crowned him with glory and honor.
6 You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet,
7 All sheep and oxen—
Even the beasts of the field,
8 The birds of the air,
And the fish of the sea
That pass through the paths of the seas.
9 O LORD, our Lord,
How excellent is Your name in all the earth!
After recounting God's mighty deliverance, Moses sang praises saying "Who is like You among the gods, O Lord? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, awesome in praises, working wonders?" (Exodus 15:11) “Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods?
Who is like You, glorious in holiness,
Fearful in praises, doing wonders?
When we truly hear the voice of the Almighty speaking into our circumstances through His infallible Word, our response should be one of unrestrained praise! For in that moment, we are reminded that our God reigns sovereign over every situation. His purposes will stand, His truth will prevail. What other response befits such a realization than to exalt our magnificent Lord with our whole hearts, voices, minds and strength?
More than that, such praise becomes the fuel for our spiritual vitality and growth. As we magnify the Lord, we are reminded of His limitless power and boundless love for us. Our faith is emboldened, our perspective renewed. We trade in our burdens for the garment of praise, allowing the peace of Christ to rule in our hearts (Colossians 3:15). Our troubles grow strangely dim in the blazing light of His glorious presence unleashed through our worship.
So I urge you, Seek the face of God through His Word and in prayer. Train your ears to discern His still, small voice instructing, comforting, convicting. Then let the natural response be to erupt in profuse praise and adoration of our sovereign, loving Father! For when we honor Him with our grateful worship, we position ourselves to experience profound communion with the God who deserves our highest praise. May our lives then become a sweet fragrance to His name!
Point IV: Embracing the Call - "I Hear You, God"
Introduce "I Hear You, God" as a personal and corporate declaration of faith and acknowledgment of God’s guidance.Discuss the importance of this affirmation in the believer's life, fostering a deeper relationship with God.Call the congregation to adopt this phrase in their daily lives as a testament to their faith and attentiveness to God’s voice.
I want to share a personal experience that taught me the power of praise in a profound way. A few years ago, I was going through an extremely difficult season of anxiety and doubt. The challenges I faced seemed insurmountable, and steadily my joy was fading into a heaviness that was consuming me. Until one Sunday morning, when worship began, something sparked within my soul. As I lifted my eyes, and then my voice, to sing out the praises of our great God, it was like the spiritual fog began to lift. With each lyric about God's sovereignty, faithfulness, and limitless might, my perspective started to realign.
By the end, tears were streaming down my face - not from sadness but from sheer awe of who my Lord is! In that moment of adoration, all my troubles shrank in the blazing light of His glorious presence. The grip of fear and despair over my circumstances loosened as the truth of God's supremacy overtook my heart. I left that day's worship with joy overflowing and perfect peace that truly did transcend all understanding. All because I chose to exalt and magnify my Sovereign King.
Perhaps you can relate to needing that uplifting sense of God's power and love. Praising God through song was utterly transformative during her battle with cancer. As she intentionally turned her heart and mind to worship, declaring scripture-saturated lyrics about God's healing mercy and steadfast promises, her anxiety would subside. The grueling effects of chemo became far more bearable as God's strengthening presence flooded her being through those times of praise.
Or think of the story of Paul and Silas, beaten and thrown into the inner prison. Scripture tells us that around midnight they were praying and SINGING HYMNS of praise to God! And suddenly there was an earthquake that opened the prison doors. Their praises ushered in the very power and deliverance of the Almighty! What a profound testimony to God's reality and might being most palpable in the midst of exuberant, faith-filled praise.
Stories like these pierce our hearts because they illustrate how potent and life-giving the act of praise truly is. Not just an airy religious discipline - but a direct conduit into the manifested presence and transformative power of our sovereign, loving God. So let us become a people who naturally erupt in exuberant, authentic worship whenever we hear the voice of our Lord. Whether prompting from scripture, a fresh work in our circumstances, or the whisper of the Holy Spirit to our souls - let our response be to magnify and glorify our magnificent, supreme God! For in doing so, we awaken to the spiritual reality of His active reign that can shift our perspective and revolutionize our lives.
Conclusion:
Recap the key points, emphasizing the transformative power of hearing and responding to God’s voice with grateful praise.Invite the congregation to a time of silent prayer, encouraging them to listen for God’s voice and respond with "I Hear You, God."
God whispers to us in health and prosperity, but, being hard of hearing, we fail to hear God’s voice in both. Whereupon God turns up the amplifier by means of suffering. Then his voice booms.
We ought not to ask who is speaking, but mark what is said. Men pass away, but the truth of the Lord remains forever. God speaks to us in many ways without regard for persons.
What we need is faith in the speaking God, faith in God that is firmly grounded in what this speaking God has said. God wrote The Bible we only need to listen.
Closing Prayer:
Lead a prayer asking God to open the ears and hearts of the congregation to His voice.Pray for the courage and discernment to respond to Him with grateful praise.