fromthepreacherspc

THE CLARION VOICES OF GOD

INTRODUCTION
A. Sometimes people may wonder, if there is God…
1. Why hasn’t He made Himself more clearly known?
2. Why has He spoken only through what many view as an antiquated book (the Bible)?
B. I would contend that God has made Himself known…
1. He has spoken in various ways (in addition to a book that is far from antiquated)
2. He has spoken quite loudly (for those willing to listen)
C. In what I like to call “The Clarion Voices of God”, note that…

DISCUSSION
A. GOD SPEAKS LOUDLY THROUGH HIS CREATION
1. God’s Voice in His Creation…
a. Reveals His glory and His handiwork … Psalm 19:1-4
b. Reveals His eternal power and divine nature … Romans 1:19-20
c. Through the intelligent design of the universe God says, “I exist!”
2. How Well Do We Listen?
a. Do we take the time to consider the wonders of the creation?
b. The Psalmist took time to contemplate them …
1) Psalm 8:3
2) Psalm 104:24-25
3) Psalm 139:14
c. It prompted Einstein to believe in “an Intelligence that produced the integrative complexity of creation.”
d. The intelligent design of the universe prompted even a prominent atheist to become a deist (Anthony Flew)
e. If we open our eyes to the world around us, we will say “I believe!”
3. Through His Creation We Can Know That God Exists.
a. But what does this Supreme Being desire of us?
b. What does He want us to know or do?
c. For that…
B. GOD SPEAKS LOUDLY THROUGH HIS WORD
1. God’s Voice In His Word…
a. Is designed to produce faith (trust, conviction) … Romans 10:17
b. Fulfilled prophecy is designed to produce faith in God
1) Isaiah 42:8-9
2) Isaiah 44:6-8
3) Isaiah 45:18-21
4) Isaiah 46:9-11
c. Eyewitness testimony offers evidence to believe in Jesus
1) Acts 10:39-42
2) 1 John 1:1-4
3) 2 Peter 1:15-16
d. Through His Providence, God’s Word has spread to every nation and translated into virtually every language – cf. Romans 10:17-18
e. The manuscript evidence which attests to its authenticity as a historical document far surpasses any other ancient document (such as those by Socrates, Plato, Homer, etc.)
f. Through His Word God says of Jesus, “This is My Beloved Son, Hear Him!”
2. How Well Do We Listen?
a. Do we take the time to read the Word of God?
b. David did, and praised it highly
1) Psalm 19:7-11
2) Psalm 119:97-105
c. We have so much more of God’s Word than did David, shall we not read it?
d. It was written to produce faith in Jesus … John 20:30-31
e. If we open our ears to the Word of God, we will say “I believe in Jesus!”
3. Note that God not only revealed His Word, but sent Jesus to this world.
4. In this way…
C. GOD SPEAKS LOUDLY THROUGH HIS SON
1. God’s Voice In His Son…
a. God now speaks through His Son Jesus … Hebrews 1:1-2
b. Through Jesus God has manifested Himself most fully
1) Hebrews 1:3
2) John 1:14-18
c. The life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus have changed history
d. Countless lives and entire nations have been affected by the sending of His Son
e. Through His Son, God says “This is who I Am, this is what I desire of you”
2. How Well Do We Listen?
a. Do we listen to what Jesus reveals about God? … John 14:6-9
b. Do we heed His warnings regarding eternal life? … Matthew 7:13-14, 21-23
c. As Jesus said so often, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” … Mark 4:9
d. If we will but listen to Jesus, we will say “You have the words of eternal life!”
3. God not only sent Jesus into the world, but has sent His disciples throughout the world…
D. GOD SPEAKS LOUDLY THROUGH HIS PEOPLE
1. God’s Voice In His People…
a. The disciples of Jesus were given a great commission
1) Matthew 28:19
2) Mark 16:15-16
b. Their duty as the people of God is to proclaim His praises … 1 Peter 2:9-10
c. They are to proclaim His message in word and deed, proving what is the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God… Romans 12:1-2
d. Their love and unity are to speak powerful messages to the world
1) Through love for one another, that they are Christ’s disciples … John 13:34-35
2) Through unity, that God loves us and sent His Son into the world … John 17:20-23
e. Through His people, God says “I love you, and sent My Son to save you!”
2. How Well Do We Listen?
a. Their message has gone out into the world, today everyone has the opportunity to hear God through the lives and words of His people
1) Romans 10:18
2) Colossians 1:23
b. Do we notice the transformation in the lives of true disciples? … 1 Peter 2:12
c. Are we willing to listen to the good news they are willing to share? … Acts 17:11
d. If we will but give them our attention, we will say “What shall we do?”
CONCLUSION
A. My contention is that God has spoken loudly…
1. Through His Creation
2. Through His Word
3. Through His Son
4. Through His People
5. Through such “voices” God has spoken loud and clear
B. Who are they that fail to hear “The Clarion Voices Of God”? Only those…
1. Who have shut their eyes
2. Who have closed their ears
3. Who have hardened their hearts
4. Sadly, many have refused to hear the voices of God (Mt 13:15)
C. As the Psalmist wrote, fools say there is no God (Psa. 14:1), and it is the wicked who do not seek Him (Psa. 10:4).
D. Yet the prophet Isaiah calls upon all mankind to: “Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.” (Isa 55:6-7)
E. Are you willing to seek Him, and to heed “The Clarion Voices Of God?”

IDOLS IN THE HEART

INTRODUCTION
A. Ezekiel 14:3-4, 7
1. These God’s people had committed a great evil – they had set up idols in their heart
2. The picture on the screen is suggestive of the golden calf worshipped by Israel.
3. Just as they worshipped an idol, so we can establish many kinds of idols that draw us away from serving God.
4. One does not need to be bowed down before some image to be worshiping an idol in his heart.

B. We understand that the Bible heart is not that which pumps blood, but the part of man which believes and reasons.
1. Proverbs 4:23
2. Proverbs 23:7
3. Romans 10:10

C. What is an idol?
1. An idol is an image or a representative of a deity, which is made and used as an object of worship.
2. An idol may also be any object of passion, anything that we place above God in worth.
3. Almost anything can become an idol to us if we are not careful!

DISCUSSION
A. FOR MANY POSSESSIONS BECOMES AN IDOL
1. We need to understand that we do not have to have a lot of possessions to make an idol of them.
a. Many who do not have much seem to be willing to do what it takes to acquire possessions
b. It is all they think about
c. Owning a little or a lot is not the key, but thoughts toward possessions are
2. Luke 12:15
a. Life is not measured by what we possess
b. Neither is our faithfulness to the Lord
3. Mark 10:17-23
a. Possessions can keep us out of heaven
b. We may do excellent in many areas, and yet if we have the idol of possession in our heart, we will miss heaven
4. Notice what Paul says about true wealth:
a. 2 Corinthians 6:10
b. True wealth is not in what we possess physically

B. FOR MANY POPULARITY BECOMES AN IDOL
1. Many have sold their souls for popularity
a. Many parents have sold their children’s souls for popularity
b. Popularity, for many, costs too great of a price
2. John 12:42-43
a. These are two of the saddest verses in all of the Bible
b. The want of popularity can keep one from obeying God
3. John 16:1-4
a. Serving God can cause us to be unpopular
b. But remember, the Lord is with us
4. Never be ashamed of the Gospel … Romans 1:16

C. FOR MANY POSITION BECOMES AN IDOL
1. Some think that position is more important than God
2. Galatians 2:11-13
a. Even an apostle can fall into this temptation
b. 1 Corinthians 10:12
3. Again … John 12:42
a. These Jewish leaders loved position more than truth
b. There are many in the church like that today

D. FOR MANY RECREATION BECOMES AN IDOL
1. This seems to be the new religion of many today
a. Serve me first and God second is the attitude of many
b. “Let’s make it a party” – is also the attitude of many
2. Exodus 32:1-6
a. All some want to do is “rise and play” (v. 6).
b. Many care more for fun and games that the Lord
c. Other try to bring fun and games into the church
3. Luke 15:13
a. The prodigal son carried fun and games to the extreme
b. This will happen to many when recreation becomes an idol to them

E. FOR MANY THEIR CAREER BECOMES AN IDOL
1. Sure, our careers are important and should be taken seriously, but there is something beyond this
2. Luke 14:16-19
a. There are some thing that are more important than business
b. There are some things more important than our careers
3. Matthew 6:25-34
a. The kingdom must be first in our lives
b. To put our careers above the kingdom is to cause our careers to become our idol

F. FOR MANY FITNESS BECOMES AN IDOL
1. Physical fitness is a God-approved attribute, but there is something that is even more important.
2. 1 Timothy 4:7-8
a. We must exercise ourselves unto godliness
b. It is true that physical exercise is profitable, but it is not as profitable as godliness
3. Matthew 4:4
a. We cannot live by bread alone, neither can we live by exercise alone
b. There is something that is more needful – the word of God

G. FOR MANY DESIRES BECOMES AN IDOL
1. Man never ceases to desire the things he sees
2. Galatians 5:19-21
a. The lusts of the flesh fulfill desires
b. These fleshly desires are idols to many
3. 2 Timothy 4:3
4. 2 Timothy 4:10
5. Because of personal lusts men then and now look for teachers to approve their action.
a. They will always find someone who will
b. Too many care for their own desires for than the desires of God.

CONCLUSION
A. Setting up an idol in the heart is just as serious as setting up a physical idol of wood, stone or precious metal.
B. Idolatry is still one of the things that God despises!
C. When tempted, we have a great weapon to fight Satan with.
1. It is tried and true, and used by the Lord Himself to combat temptation.
2. Matthew 4:10
3. Try it! It still works!!!

Tom Moore
Park Heights church of Christ
P. O. Box 107
1300 East Boynton Street
Hamilton, Texas 76531
http://www.parkheightscoc.com

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