08.16.09 The Cosmic Effect Of The Still Small Voice

1_ The Cosmic Effect of the Still, Small Voice Zarahlim_081609

Title: Scripture Text: Main Idea:

The Cosmic Effect of the Still, Small Voice Psalm 29, 33 “For he spoke, and it was done; He commanded and it stood fast.” (Ps33:9)

Because God said so, I can rest assured.

There are a lot of different voices today, telling you what you need to do to become successful, what to believe in, what you need to become to be accepted in society, etc. Listening to all these voices tend to confuse a person. What is the biggest question in your life today? Whose voice are you listening to? Today, I want us all to realize that there is only one voice that matters – and that is the voice of God. And because God said so, we can rest assured. In Psalm 29, the Psalmist described what happens when God lets out his voice. 6

Psalm 29 A psalm of David. 1

2

Ascribe to the LORD, O mighty ones, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his [a] holiness. 3

The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD thunders over the mighty waters. 4

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The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is majestic.

He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, Sirion [b] like a young wild ox. 7

The voice of the LORD strikes with flashes of lightning.

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The voice of the LORD shakes the desert; the LORD shakes the Desert of Kadesh.

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The voice of the LORD twists the oaks [c] and strips the forests bare. And in his temple all cry, "Glory!"

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The LORD sits [d] enthroned over the flood; the LORD is enthroned as King forever. 11

The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.

The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.

Amidst the chaos and turmoil, the voice of God can get through it and give us peace. He “sits enthroned over the flood” (v.10) and will “bless his people with peace” (v.11). If God’s voice is that powerful, then imagine how powerful his words are. Psalm 33:4-9 - For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. - By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth. - For he spoke and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.

2_ The Cosmic Effect of the Still, Small Voice Zarahlim_081609

If by the very word of God the universe was created, then we can rest assured that one word from Him can change my life. What is God telling me regarding that big question in my life right now? AVP:

VOICE OF TRUTH -end of part1-

“I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth,” says the song (Casting Crowns-Voice of Truth). Right after we leave this church, we will once again be faced with our trials. Don’t let it get to you. Remember: “Because God said so, we can rest assured.” I encourage all of us to do 2 things this week: 1.

Win over the voice of my emotion. Offer praise to God (Ps.33:1-3) No matter what I feel, I will choose to rise above it and drown it out by praising God. Take note, you are not denying what you feel; rather, you are choosing not to have you be dictated by it. “I am in pain and distress… I will praise God’s name…” “I have become a portent to many… but as for me, I will praise you more and more.”

Psalm 69:29-31 Psalm 71:7, 14 Psalm 33:1-3





Sing - WHAT - HOW Sing joyfully - WHO Sing joyfully, you righteous - WHY It is fitting for the upright to praise him o V.4 – For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. o The righteous has plenty of reasons to praise God
Ps34:19 – Though he has many troubles, God promises to deliver him from them all.
Ps 37:25-26 – They will be the lender, not the borrower. The call to praise God springs forth from an awed heart because of the intensity of God’s love and the immensity of his goodness and faithfulness.

2. Tune out the noise and tune in to the still, small voice. Incline your heart to the only voice that matters – God’s. QUESTION: Will God answer when I ask Him something? YES! Because God said in His Word that He will answer when I call, then I can rest assured that I will hear from Him.

3_ The Cosmic Effect of the Still, Small Voice Zarahlim_081609

Jeremiah 33:3 “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Psalm 91:15 “He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.”

QUESTION: Why can’t I hear God’s answer? How do I hear God? Learn to H.E.A.R. properly: H – umble yourself before God. E – xpect to hear from God. A – ctively search for the answer. R – espond to the answer. (H) – The first step to getting an answer is to get rid of pride and just start asking. Some people cannot even make it to this first step because they think they can do it on their own. That’s listening to their own voice, not God’s. To hear from God is to be humble enough to ask him for the answer. (E) – After we get over the asking part, we can now expect an answer from God. To expect an answer is to be actively waiting for it. This is important because if you are not expecting an answer, if you’re not actively waiting for it, you will surely miss it. (A)– God’s Word contains all the answers to our problems, all the answers to our questions. If you really want to know what God says regarding a certain matter, then look for it in His Word. (R) – For any communication to be successful, there must be a response to the message. If you ask God and expect an answer from Him, and when He gives you the answer, RESPOND to it. Do what it says. Otherwise, you didn’t really hear him at all. Psalm 33:20-22 (New International Version) 20

We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. 21

In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.

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May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you.

-end of part2-

4_ The Cosmic Effect of the Still, Small Voice Zarahlim_081609

Imagine the cosmic effect it will bring to my life if I learn to tune in to the still, small voice. 1. I have nothing to fear. God Himself will assure me of my safety. I will always be reminded of His promises no matter what trials come my way. - Isaiah 43:1-2 - Psalm 81:13-14

2. My plans will be in line with the plans of God for me. THE PLANS OF GOD VS. THE PLANS OF MAN (Ps 33:10-11) Psalm 33:10-11 (Contemporary English Version) 10

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The LORD destroys the plans and spoils the schemes of the nations.

But what the LORD has planned will stand forever. His thoughts never change.

You can plan as much as you want for the future, but if that plan is not aligned with God’s plan, then you’re just wasting your time. Yes, they may still come to pass, but you won’t be as satisfied as when you planned it alongside the will of God. And because I have learned to sensitive to God’s leading, then I can be confident in making plans, knowing that it is God who directs my every move. - The steps of the righteous are ordered by God. – Psalm 37:23 - Trust in the Lord… and He will make your paths straight. – Prov. 3:5-6

3. My success is definite. (Read Ps 33:16-17) How do you define success? Do you define it according to the size of your bank account? - “Success for me is when I have Php in the bank.” Do you define it according to your achievements? - “A successful person is one who has (a) lots of booming businesses, (b) on top of the corporate ladder, (c) won many titles, (d) published lots of best-selling books, etc. If the Psalmist were living in today’s generation, he probably would have written it like this No person is saved from sleepless nights, loneliness, or depression by the size of his bank account; No person escapes sickness by his great strength nor by his great doctor. A rich/beautiful/popular person is vain hope for deliverance, Despite all his riches/beauty/popularity, it cannot save.

5_ The Cosmic Effect of the Still, Small Voice Zarahlim_081609

How does God’s Word define success? - Ps 33: 12 “Blessed are the nation (people) whose God is the Lord…” - Joshua 1:8 “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth…then you will be successful…” - Prov. 21:21 “He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.” Search the Word and the answer is clear. True success is being in the center of God’s will. Remember: Your definition of success reflects your priority in life. -end of part3-

Whose Word Will You Believe? "While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. 'Your daughter is dead,' he said. 'Dont bother the teacher anymore.' Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, 'Dont be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.'" Luke 8:49-50 Someone told Jairus that his daughter is dead. Jesus told Jairus not to fear and "just believe." Fact: Jairus' daughter is dead. Truth: Jesus can perform a miracle, regardless of what the fact tells us.

The question is: Whom will you believe? --Someone tells you, "Your sickness has no cure." Jesus tells you, "I am your Healer." Someone tells you, "You are laid off from your job." Jesus tells you, "Don't worry. I will provide for you." Someone tells you, "You're worth nothing." Jesus tells you, "You are the apple of my eye; I knit you in your mother's womb; You are fearfully and wonderfully made." --The Truth is greater than the fact.

6_ The Cosmic Effect of the Still, Small Voice Zarahlim_081609

Take Jesus' word for it! * "They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But he took her by the hand and said, "My child, get up!" Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. " Luke 8:53-55 In the end, it all boils down to this:

Do you believe what God is telling you? If yes, only then can you honestly say that:

Because God said so, I can rest assured.