The VoiceThe Voice

DirectionDirection

I wish I knew God's willI wish I knew God's will

...you call yourself a Jew and rely on ...you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God the law and boast in God and know and know

his willhis will and approve what is and approve what is excellent, excellent, because you are because you are

instructed from the lawinstructed from the law- Romans 2:17-18- Romans 2:17-18

Last week's challenge…Last week's challenge…

God wants to be knownGod wants to be known

Projection vs. DiscoveryProjection vs. Discovery

God wants to be knownGod wants to be known

And as he is knownAnd as he is knownHe is positioned to leadHe is positioned to lead

You will seek You will seek meme and find and find me,me, when you seek me when you seek me with with

all your heartall your heart- Jeremiah 29:13- Jeremiah 29:13

God is more interestedGod is more interestedIn relationship with youIn relationship with you

Than direction for youThan direction for you

Millenia= law and prophetsMillenia= law and prophets

Culminating in…Culminating in…The Cross= RelationshipThe Cross= Relationship

If you seek God's willIf you seek God's willOutside of seeking JesusOutside of seeking Jesus

You'll find neitherYou'll find neither

If you seek JesusIf you seek JesusYou'll find GodYou'll find God

And his will for youAnd his will for you

3 Things: 3 Things:

HeartHeartHandsHandsFeetFeet

Heart: Pledged to the KingHeart: Pledged to the King

My affections, desires=My affections, desires=God firstGod first

Heart: Pledged to the KingHeart: Pledged to the King

Why?Why?

Heart: Pledged to the KingHeart: Pledged to the King

Only King in History…Only King in History…

God wants more for us God wants more for us Than we want Than we want

For ourselvesFor ourselves

God knows us better than God knows us better than

We know ourselvesWe know ourselves

Before a word is on my tongue,Before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you behold, O Lord, you

know it altogetherknow it altogether- Psalm 139:4- Psalm 139:4

God knows more aboutGod knows more aboutHow we should live How we should live

Than we doThan we do

Took him homeTook him homeFormed a relationshipFormed a relationship

"Why did you do this to me, "Why did you do this to me, God?"God?"

Maybe God Maybe God Had a better way?Had a better way?

Every good and perfect gift…Every good and perfect gift…

All sin springsAll sin springsFor unwillingnessFor unwillingness

Or inability to believe thisOr inability to believe this

Words in anger…?Words in anger…?

Words in anger…?Words in anger…?

My heart is pledged to my KingMy heart is pledged to my KingBecause his ways are betterBecause his ways are better

Your eyes saw my Your eyes saw my unformed substance…unformed substance…

……in your book were written, in your book were written, every one of them, every one of them, the days the days

that were formed for me,that were formed for me, when as yet there was when as yet there was

none of themnone of them- Psalm 139:16- Psalm 139:16

God knows more aboutGod knows more aboutHow we should live How we should live

Than we doThan we do

……we are God’s we are God’s workmanship, createdworkmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared works, which God prepared in in advanceadvance for us to dofor us to do- Eph. 2:8-9- Eph. 2:8-9

God "remembers" the futureGod "remembers" the future

We have at least 3 choices:We have at least 3 choices:

- Go right- Go right- Go left- Go left

We have at least 3 choices:We have at least 3 choices:

- Go right- Go right- Go left- Go left

- Seek God for which way to go- Seek God for which way to go

Most decisions:Most decisions:

EmotionEmotionDesireDesireIntellectIntellect

People make decisions People make decisions based on emotions:based on emotions:

Hurt feelings, AngerHurt feelings, AngerReact rather than React rather than being ledbeing led

They move jobsThey move jobsEnter relationshipsEnter relationships

Make major purchases Make major purchases

Because they feel excitedBecause they feel excitedor want something newor want something new

They pray, "If this is OK, GodThey pray, "If this is OK, God...I want it" ...I want it"

And refuse to listenAnd refuse to listenif he says differentif he says different

Then claim God led themThen claim God led them

Or:Or:

Plot it outPlot it outOn graph paperOn graph paper

With pluses and minusesWith pluses and minuses

God wants moreGod wants more

"All who are "All who are led by the Spiritled by the SpiritAre the children of God"Are the children of God"- Romans 8:14- Romans 8:14

God loves you moreGod loves you moreKnows you betterKnows you better

And wants to lead youAnd wants to lead you

One of the ways One of the ways You know you belong to GodYou know you belong to God

Is that you are ledIs that you are ledBy GodBy God

To hear God's voiceTo hear God's voiceHeart= Pledged to the KingHeart= Pledged to the King

- Because I believe - Because I believe he knows it allhe knows it all- Because I trust that - Because I trust that he is goodhe is good- Because I know - Because I know his ways are his ways are greatergreater

I seek GodI seek GodFor major decisionsFor major decisions

Easy to do in theoryEasy to do in theory

Easy to do in theoryEasy to do in theory

200k job?200k job?

God wants more for us thanGod wants more for us than

We want for ourselvesWe want for ourselves

God knows us better than God knows us better than

We know ourselvesWe know ourselves

God knows more aboutGod knows more about

How we should live than we doHow we should live than we do

Heart= Pledged to the KingHeart= Pledged to the King

Means I trust God even when Means I trust God even when I want something differentI want something differentAnd it doesn't make senseAnd it doesn't make sense

Here's why I need aHere's why I need aHeart= Pledged to the King…Heart= Pledged to the King…

If I believe my ways are bestIf I believe my ways are best

I'll take what God saysI'll take what God saysAnd weigh it against how bad I wantAnd weigh it against how bad I want

What I wantWhat I want

And I'll pray with my desires And I'll pray with my desires coloring my ability coloring my ability

to hear from my Godto hear from my God

If you believe God wants moreIf you believe God wants moreThat he knows betterThat he knows better

It'll be seen in how It'll be seen in how you make decisionsyou make decisions

Seek first the Kingdom of GodSeek first the Kingdom of GodAnd his righteousnessAnd his righteousness

And all these thingsAnd all these thingsWill be added to youWill be added to you- Jesus, Matthew 6- Jesus, Matthew 6

Ask God with no agendaAsk God with no agendaTrust as he leadsTrust as he leads

Believe his ways are betterBelieve his ways are better