Experiencing God
Lesson 9 Part 2
1. God Speaks Through Circumstances
a. What the Bible Says
i. What is the will of God?
ii. Let’s learn from Jesus.
iii. A cripple man lying beside the Pool of Siloam (Bethesda)
iv. Jesus “sees” the man
v. Jesus heals the lame man.
vi. But he did on the Sabbath
vii. The religious leaders were more worried about the mat and not noticing the man was healed.
viii. Then Jesus says this:
ix. John 5:17 (NLT) — 17 But Jesus replied, “My Father is always working, and so am I.”
x. God is always at work
xi. John 5:19–20 (NLT) — 19 So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing. In fact, the Father will show him how to do even greater works than healing this man. Then you will truly be astonished.
xii. God used circumstances to reveal to Jesus what He should do.
b. Jesus didn’t have to guess what the Father was doing.
i. Jesus watched to see what the Father was doing around His life, and then immediately adjusted His life to His Father’s activity around Him.
ii. This is exactly what Jesus wants us to do through His lordship in our lives.
iii. We see what He is doing; then we adjust our lives, our plans, and our goals to Him.
2. God’s Perspective is Vital
a. What about Bad Circumstances
i. Looking at Jesus example it a positive way God speaks through circumstances.
ii. We all have negative circumstances.
iii. To understand those situations, you need God’s perspective
iv. The problem is that we can get a distorted view of God.
b. What should we do?
i. Go to God and ask Him to show you His perspective on your circumstances.
ii. Look back at your situation and see it from the heart of God.
iii. Then ask the Holy Spirit to direct to the Word of God to help you understand what he is doing.
iv. The result of New Beginnings was Grace Church.
v. I could have remained bitter.
c. When Circumstances Are Confusing
i. Settle in your mind that God has forever demonstrated His unfailing love for you on the cross.
ii. Do not try to understand what God is like from the middle of your circumstances.
iii. Go to God and ask Him to help you see His perspective on your situation.
iv. Wait on the Holy Spirit. He may take God’s Word and help you understand your circumstances.
v. Adjust your life to God and to what you see Him doing in your circumstances.
vi. Do all He tells you to do.
vii. Experience God working in and through you to accomplish His purposes.
3. The Truth of Your Circumstances
a. An Unhappy Moses
i. Exodus 5:22–23 (NLT) — 22 Then Moses went back to the Lord and protested, “Why have you brought all this trouble on your own people, Lord? Why did you send me? 23 Ever since I came to Pharaoh as your spokesman, he has been even more brutal to your people. And you have done nothing to rescue them!”
ii. Exodus 6:12 (NLT) — 12 “But Lord!” Moses objected. “My own people won’t listen to me anymore. How can I expect Pharaoh to listen? I’m such a clumsy speaker!”
iii. I’m glad God is patient with us!
iv. We can learn a lot from Moses interactions with God.
v. Go to God don’t give up on him and wait for His reply.
b. Another level
i. I have been a Christian 57 years.
ii. A minister for 43
iii. I still have a lot to learn.
iv. I want to go to the next level.
v. I want to be totally God-centered
vi. If I am honest my prayers my attitudes my thoughts my actions are mostly self-centered.
vii. I don’t always see things from God’s perspective.
viii. I am working to change that this year. But I don’t want to do it alone.
c. Hearing from Truth
i. Jesus raises a young man from the dead.
ii. To the widow life was harsh and cruel.
iii. Never determine the truth of a situation only by looking at the circumstances.
iv. Don’t try read the tea leaves.
v. Listen for TRUTH
d. Feeding the 5000
i. Philip where can we buy some bread?
ii. Talking about testing your faith
iii. Even when it seems impossible.
iv. God will always be faithful
4. Spiritual Makers.
a. Decision time
i. We have seen positive circumstances.
ii. We have seen negative circumstances.
iii. But what if it’s between good and best.
b. Lay the groundwork.
i. Commit to the Lord that whatever he says is best you will do it.
ii. Regardless.
iii. Yes, Lord is your answer.
c. Israel crossed the Jordon River.
i. They took 12 stones and built a maker as a reminder
ii. This took place in scripture a lot.
iii. They served as a sign of God at work.
d. God works in sequence
i. These markers are designed to remind of God’s divine work.
ii. What God was doing in the past is what He will continue to do in the future.
iii. The purpose of Deuteronomy is as a remind.
iv. Israel needed to see their current undertaking was in line with all God had done previously.
v. When God is ready for you to take a new step or direction in His activity, it will always be in sequence with what He has already been doing in your life.
vi. Look back at your spiritual makers.
vii. The journey from New Beginnings to Grace Church is marked by several spiritual makers.
viii. I feel like I am getting ready for a new direction.
ix. That new direction will be in line with what God is already doing.
e. Do a spiritual inventory
i. It may reveal what direction God is taking you.
