Marriage/ Family Enrichment Lesson 3
                                                         Listen to the voice of God



Review
In lesson 2 we  looked at “walking” in a manor worthy of our calling and “speaking” words of life. But without “listening” to the voice of God our walk and speech is in our own strength and is wasted energy.

How can we clearly hear the voice of God?

Many times Jesus would end His message with “
He who has an ear let him hear”.
What does this statement mean?

Mathew 13:13-17
This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. (14)  Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: "'"You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive." (15)  For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.' (16)  But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. (17)  For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.


1.Everyone heard Jesus when He spoke but He said some did not hear. What did He mean when He said they did not hear?

2.What was it that determined who heard and who did not hear Jesus?

3.How do we hear Jesus today; with our ear, with our minds, or with our hearts?

John 10:1-18
"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. (2)  But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. (3)  To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. (4)  When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. (5)  A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." (6)  This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.  (7)  So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. (8)  All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. (9)  I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. (10)  The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. (11)  I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. (12)  He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. (13)  He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. (14)  I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, (15)  just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. (16)  And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. (17)  For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. (18)  No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father."


Jesus discusses the fact that only His sheep will hear His voice and that His sheep know His voice. There are other shepherds with other voices but His sheep will only listen to His voice.

1.What are the other voices?
Satan, the world, and carnal believers.

2.What are the other voices wanting to do? Distract us to go in a different direction to keep us from hearing God’s voice.

3.Why were the people not able to hear Jesus words when He spoke?


1 Corinthians 2:14-16
The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.  (15)  The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one.  (16)  "For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.


The disciples followed Jesus as we do today who have received Him are able to hear what He has to say to us as He speaks to our hearts through His Holy Spirit.

1.Why is the Holy Spirit so important when we want  to hear God’s voice?


1 Corinthians 2: 9-13
But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him"- (10)  these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.  (11)  For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.  (12)  Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.  (13)  And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.


2.Who sis able to comprehend the thoughts of God?

3.Having received the Holy Spirit what are we able to start to understand?

4.Who is our teacher?

5.Who do we turn to, to understand the things of God?


                                                     How has God spoken to you today?

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