This sermon explores discerning God's voice, delivering His message to others, and developing discernment in discipleship, emphasizing the importance of divine dialogue in our lives.
Good morning, dear family of faith. It is indeed a blessing to gather together, to share in the fellowship of believers, and to delve into the richness of God's Word. I am thrilled to stand before you today, not as one who knows all the answers, but as a fellow traveler on this road of faith, seeking to understand the mysteries and the majesty of our Creator.
Today, we'll be turning to the words of the prophet Isaiah, specifically Isaiah 50:4. Allow these words to wash over you as I read:
"The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed."
What a profound passage! Here we see the prophet Isaiah acknowledging the divine wisdom that God imparts to him. He is not merely a passive receiver of this wisdom, but an active participant in a divine dialogue. He listens, he learns, he speaks. This is not a monologue, but a dialogue, a conversation between the Creator and His creation.
When we think about our relationship with God, it's easy to fall into a pattern of one-sided communication. We pray, we ask, we seek, but do we listen? Listening is a crucial part of any conversation, and our relationship with God is no different. We must learn to listen, to hear His voice, to discern His will. This is not always easy. God's voice is often a whisper, a still small voice amidst the noise of the world. But with practice, with patience, and with a heart open to His presence, we can learn to discern this divine dialogue.
The prophet Isaiah provides us with a beautiful example of this. He speaks of a "well-instructed tongue" and the "word that sustains the weary." These are not his own words, but the words of God, spoken through him. Isaiah was a vessel, a conduit for God's message. But in order to deliver this message, he first had to receive it. He had to listen, to discern, to understand. This is the first step in discerning the divine dialogue: listening.
Listening, however, requires intentionality, focus, and openness. It's not enough to simply hear the words; we must also understand their meaning. This is where the idea of a "well-instructed tongue" comes into play. Isaiah was not merely a mouthpiece for God's words; he was a student, a learner. He sought to understand the message, to grasp its meaning, to internalize its truth. This is the second step in discerning the divine dialogue: understanding.
Understanding, in turn, leads to action. Once we have heard and understood God's message, we are called to act on it. This action may take many forms. It may involve speaking words of comfort and encouragement to others, as Isaiah did. It may involve serving others, showing God's love through our actions. It may involve standing up for justice, fighting against oppression and inequality. Whatever form it takes, action is a crucial part of the divine dialogue. This is the third step in discerning the divine dialogue: action.
Action, however, is not the end of the dialogue. It is merely the beginning. Once we have acted, we must then return to listening. We must seek God's guidance, His feedback, His direction. We must be open to His correction, His instruction, His wisdom. This is a continuous process, a cycle of listening, understanding, acting, and listening again.
In the light of Isaiah's experience, we find ourselves asking how we can deliver this divine dialogue to others ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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