God Is Speaking to You . . . Are You Listening?
Pastor: Shannon Ford Scripture: Psalm 19
God Is Speaking to You...
Are You Listening?
Psalm 19
In these days of anger and fear, danger and division, turmoil and terrorism, what would happen if everyone hit life’s pause button and made time to listen to what God has to say? (Anne Graham Lotz)
- The Glory of God in the Sky – God Speaks in Creation (Psalm 19:1-6)
1 The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
2 Day to day pours out speech,
and night to night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words,
whose voice is not heard.
4 Their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In them he has set a tent for the sun,
5 which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his
chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its
course with joy.
6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them,
and there is nothing hidden from its heat.
- Declared by the stars (19:1-4a)
- Declared by the sun (19:4b-6)
- God so loves us and wants us to know Him that He put evidence of Himself everywhere we look.
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. (Romans 1:20, NIV 1984)
→ To hear God speak to you…Look up.
- The Guidance of God in the Scriptures – God Speaks in His Word (Psalm 19:7-11)
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
8 the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;
9 the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true,
and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
- Rewards of God’s Word (19:7-9)
- Converts the soul
- Communicates wisdom
- Cheers the heart
- Cleanses the eyes
- Consists forever
- Champions righteousness
- Riches of God’s Word (19:10-11)
- Desirable and Valuable
- Sweet and Satisfying
- When you open your Bible, ask the Author to open your heart.
→ To hear God speak to you…Look down.
- The Goodness of God in the Soul – God Speaks to our Heart (Psalm 19:12-14)
12 Who can discern his errors?
Declare me innocent from hidden faults.
13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins;
let them not have dominion over me!
Then I shall be blameless,
and innocent of great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
- The Inspection of God’s Word (19:12)
- The Intervention of God’s Word (19:13)
- The Inspiration of God’s Word (19:14)
- The Bible is a mirror that lets us see ourselves as God sees us.
→ To hear God speak to you…Look in.
Closing Thought
Our God is infinite. He’s limited by no boundaries in time, space, or character. His qualities are bottomless; His attributes are endless; His power is matchless. There’s much about Him we don't know, will not discover, and can never fathom. After all, if He were small enough to be comprehended, He wouldn’t be large enough to be worshipped. He is infinite and eternal in all the dimensions of His reality.
Our God is intimate. He encompasses us behind and before, beneath and above. He counts each footstep we take and every hair on our heads. From top to toe, we're fully known, loved, and cared for by Him, today and tomorrow, both now and forever.
If He were infinite but not intimate, He’d be too vast to be known. If He were intimate but not infinite, He’d be too weak to be helpful. He who counts the stars also knows our names and lifts our hearts. (David Jeremiah)