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HOW TO HEAR THE VOICE OF GOD: PROMPTINGS
- Promptings are like nudges from God (Ecclesiastes 3:1-4,6; Jeremiah 29:13-14; Isaiah 30:21)
- Some are unusual (Numbers 22:21-31; Esther 6:1-2; What are the chances? Nehemiah 2:1-2,4; Matthew 26:74-75; Acts 8:29-31; Acts 9:1,13-18a; Crazy Promptings; Acts 9:18b; Acts 8:36)
- All lead to action (Esther 4:14; Haggai 1:13-14a; Haggai 1:14b; Inside the Nudge Unit Pic; All Lead to Action)
Ecclesiastes 3:1-4,6
1 For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. 2 A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. 3 A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up. 4 A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance. 6 A time to search and a time to quit searching.
Jeremiah 29:13-14
13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.14 I will be found by you, says the LORD.
Isaiah 30:21
21 Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, "This is the way you should go," whether to the right or to the left.
Numbers 22:21-31
21 So the next morning Balaam got up, saddled his donkey, and started off with the Moabite officials. 22 But God was angry that Balaam was going, so he sent the angel of the LORD to stand in the road to block his way. As Balaam and two servants were riding along, 23 Balaam's donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand. The donkey bolted off the road into a field, but Balaam beat it and turned it back onto the road. 24 Then the angel of the LORD stood at a place where the road narrowed between two vineyard walls. 25 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, it tried to squeeze by and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall. So Balaam beat the donkey again. 26 Then the angel of the LORD moved farther down the road and stood in a place too narrow for the donkey to get by at all. 27 This time when the donkey saw the angel, it lay down under Balaam. In a fit of rage Balaam beat the animal again with his staff. 28 Then the LORD gave the donkey the ability to speak. "What have I done to you that deserves your beating me three times?" it asked Balaam. 29 "You have made me look like a fool!" Balaam shouted. "If I had a sword with me, I would kill you!" 30 "But I am the same donkey you have ridden all your life," the donkey answered. "Have I ever done anything like this before?" "No," Balaam admitted. 31 Then the LORD opened Balaam's eyes.
Esther 6:1-2
1 That night the king had trouble sleeping, so he ordered an attendant to bring the book of the history of his reign so it could be read to him. 2 In those records he discovered an account of how Mordecai had exposed the plot of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the eunuchs who guarded the door to the king's private quarters. They had plotted to assassinate King Xerxes.
What Are the Chances?
1 in 365
1 in 30,943
1 in 1,000
1 in 11,294,195,000
- Mark Batterson, Whisper, p.156
Nehemiah 2:1-2,4
1 Early the following spring, in the month of Nisan, during the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes' reign, I was serving the king his wine. I had never before appeared sad in his presence. 2 So the king asked me, "Why are you looking so sad? You don't look sick to me. You must be deeply troubled." 4 The king asked, "Well, how can I help you?"
Matthew 26:74-75
74 Peter swore, "A curse on me if I'm lying—I don't know the man!" And immediately the rooster crowed. 75 Suddenly, Jesus' words flashed through Peter's mind: "Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me." And he went away, weeping bitterly.
Acts 8:29-31
29 The Holy Spirit said to Philip, "Go over and walk along beside the carriage." 30 Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?" 31 The man replied, "How can I, unless someone instructs me?" And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him.
Acts 9:1,13-18a
1 Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord's followers. 13 "But Lord," exclaimed Ananias, "I've heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem! 14 And he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest everyone who calls upon your name." 15 But the Lord said, "Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. 16 And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name's sake." 17 So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18 Instantly something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized.
Crazy Promptings
From a talking donkey? (Numbers 22:21-31)
From a king with insomnia? (Esther 6:1-2)
From a sad cup bearer? (Nehemiah 2:1-2,4)
From a crowing rooster? (Matthew 26:74-75)
To carriage karaoke? (Acts 8:29-31)
To pray for terrorist? (Acts 9:1,13-18a)
To be baptized? (Acts 9:18b; Acts 8:36,38)
Acts 9:18b
Then he [Saul] got up and was baptized.
Acts 8:36,38
36 As they rode along, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "Look! There's some water! Why can't I be baptized?" 38 He ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.
Esther 4:14
14 If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?
Haggai 1:13-14a
13 Then Haggai, the LORD's messenger, gave the people this message from the LORD: "I am with you, says the LORD!" 14 So the LORD sparked the enthusiasm of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the enthusiasm of Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest...
Haggai 1:14b
...and the enthusiasm of the whole remnant of God's people (NLT)
...and the spirit of all the remnant of the people (NKJV)
Inside the Nudge Unit Pic
All Lead to Action
Are you listening? (Numbers 22:21-31)
Why can't you sleep? (Esther 6:1-2)
What thing in ruins makes you sad? (Nehemiah 2:1-2,4)
How have you betrayed Jesus? (Matthew 26:74-75)
Will you go nearer those far from God? (Acts 8-29-31)
Do you pray for your enemies? (Acts 9:13-18)
Is God nudging you to be baptized? (Acts 9:18b; Acts 8:36,38)
Is God nudging you to speak up? (Esther 4:14)
Have you ever asked God to nudge you? (Haggai 1:13-14a)
Have you ever asked God to nudge our church (Haggai 1:14b)