Title: Let God Speak
Bible Book: Luke 1 : 1-4
Author: Doran Womack
Subject: Listening to God; God's Voice
Objective:
Introduction
“Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3 With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.”
If there is any one thing I have learned it is that one of the most disastrous weapons in the hands of Satan is that of a tongue that won’t quit waging.
Solomon had much to say about the importance of knowledge. He said that there was a time when its observance is right. In Ecclesiastes 3:7 he writes “a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak…” It is to our advantage that we listen carefully to God and trust the fact that our wisdom apart from God’s is of no value.
I think that Moses could have spared himself and the cause of God many hours of grief and needless effort, if he had observed this truth. Wrapped up in all his questions and excuses, as he stood before God in Exodus 2 – 4, were the lingering doubts, not only of his abilities, but that of God’s to make him capable to complete the task.
In the New Testament, Zacharias in a very real sense made the same error when the Angle of the Lord spoke to him in the temple, telling him that he and his wife would have a son. Though he was a man of unusual virtue, a man of constant prayer, and one who labored in the temple – he wondered how God could take an old man and an old woman such as his wife, Elizabeth, and cause them to bear a child.
In Luke 1:18-25 God dealt with Zacharias in a special way. He shut his mouth until the child was born.
I. Let God Speak
In the religious world today, there is a constant and ever increasing voice that fills every corner of our existence, but when all has been said, very little of it was worth being said.
God spoke to the Church of Laodicea about the need for them to lay aside whatever they were doing and listen to Him. But they did not listen.
In Deuteronomy 31:12-13 God spoke to Moses about the necessity of the children of Israel hearing his voice as they made their way toward the land of promise. The psalmist wrote in Psalm 85:8 “I will listen to what God the LORD says; he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants— but let them not turn to folly.”
II. About Sin and Its Cost
God was more than gracious to Adam and Eve, but there was a law to keep and God’s warning concerning the breaking of this law was clear. However, they allowed Satan to entice them into breaking God’s law. Mankind then was born under the sentence of sin and death. Because of the sentence, Romans 6:23 says “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
The media is filled with experts who diagnose the world’s condition and each has their own remedy for a cure. Day after day we hear of children killing children, or other disturbing things to take away our peace as a civilization.
The sole purpose of many is to render as much pain and suffering as they can on those around them – for fun. Literally thousands of young people end up in juvenile institutions or adult prisons. King David rang out loud and clear, “Is there any cause?”
The answer is “Yes, there is a cause.”
* We have a generation of young people who were born in sin yet no one has taken the trouble or made the time available to teach them about this deadly disease of sin.
* Long before the child learns of “Little Red Riding Hood” it should be told about this thing called sin that destroys, unless they open their hearts to Jesus.
* It is one thing for a young person to learn the dangers of spending time in prison, but another to learn the dangers of spending an eternity without God and being doomed forever.
Is there an answer? Again, the answer is, “YES!”
III. The Simplicity of the Answer
We can teach our kids about many things, but when the topic gets too deep, we have a tendency to pass the buck.
The story of a loving Savior who died for the sins of all men is simple enough for the child to comprehend. John 3:16 says “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
IV. The Dire Need of a Decision
The most frightening thing in the world is for a parent to gamble the lives of their children on the thought that tomorrow will be soon enough to talk to them about Jesus! Listen, every time I hear of a child who has lost their life to some violent act
or accident, my heart beats faster, and I wonder if the words of God had gotten to them before their time came.
My father told the story of going to a juvenile institution and preaching about the love of God and how He provides and would be with them, even now. A young boy stood and said, “Sir, if there is a God like you say and if He gave His Son to save our
souls, and if He shelters and provides like you say, then tell me preacher, why hasn’t someone told us about Him before?”
Listen to the News, hear the cry of fear that grips the nation, and ask yourself, “Have I let God speak His word as I should?”
I am afraid you and I may have to admit that we have failed too many times and at least part of the confusion today is due to our not obeying God.
V. God Persistently Calls
Man still hears the voice in the Garden of Eden when God called to Adam and Eve, “…where are you?” God called to Saul, who later was called Paul, as he traveled the road to Damascus, “Why do you persecute Me?”
God has been faithful, not only to provide for man’s salvation, but continuously calls to man for his repentance and faith in Him as atonement for his sins. It is a dangerous sin to close one’s eyes to God and his ears to the truth that declares the constant calling of God.
One of the paramount duties that God gives His church is to take the message of salvation to the world. In Matthew 28:19 the Great Commission tells us to “Go.”
Listen, give us a revival among the so called “street people” and we will see an immediate change in the news. Get Jesus in the hearts of more of the nations’ leaders and greater peace will be the reward. Not only do we need to print more Bibles but we need to carry them to those in need.
The church of Ephesus had many good things that could be cited by the Lord, but in the most important part of her duty she had erred and was in danger.
Revelation 2:4-5 “Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. 5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.”
Let God Speak.
