God on Mute - Part 1
Hear some people say, “God spoke to me”
Many have not heard God speak to them
What does it mean when God isn’t saying anything, and when He isn’t responding to your prayers
- Does that mean I’m not important to Him?
- Does that mean I’m not spiritual?
- Does that mean He doesn’t care?
This is a Real Issue
It’s Biblical
· Ps 13:1
How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever?
How long will You hide Your face from me?
· Hab 1:2
Lord, how long shall I cry, and You will not hear?
Even cry out to You, "Violence!" and You will not save.
Where are you God? Don’t you care?
Even when I cry and shout, He shuts out my prayer. Lam 3:8
Even Jesus felt that way
“My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?”
Most of us are not like Job, who did not “charge God” (1:22)
God is big enough to take your questions
Let’s talk about “Why God goes silent”
1. We really don’t know what we’re asking for
We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us
– Rom 8:26
2. God wants you to pursue a Relationship with Him
Most of the time our pursuit is for something – His hand
God may actually withhold his hand
God wants us to seek “His face” – 2 Chron 7:14
3. He’s not going to say anything else until you’ve responded to what He’s already said
Judg 6:12-14
The Angel of the Lord appeared to [Gideon], and said to him, "The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!"
13 Gideon said to Him, "O my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, 'Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?' But now the Lord has forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites."
14 Then the Lord turned to him and said, "Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?"
4. He wants you to learn balance and gain perspective
Ps 73:2
As for me, my feet had almost stumbled;
My steps had nearly slipped.
Life wasn’t fair & God is not answering my questions
16 When I thought how to understand this, it was too painful for me
17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood their end.
A right perspective will help me think right about my experiences
Gen 50:20
As for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good,
in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.
Rom 8:28
We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
5. He is revealing what’s in your heart
2 Chron 32:31
God withdrew from him, in order to test him,
that He might know all that was in his heart.
What do I do in the Mean-Time?
(Waiting can be "mean")
Trust God!
That’s hard to do if He’s not talking to you
Build Memorials
Josh 4:5-7
Joshua said to them: "Cross over before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and each one of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, 6 that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, 'What do these stones mean to you?' 7 Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever."
Ps 143:4-5
My spirit is overwhelmed within me;
My heart within me is distressed.
5 I remember the days of old;
I meditate on all Your works;
I muse on the work of Your hands.
Give attention to what He’s already said – the Bible
Stop looking for verses – read His-story
Get an easy-to-read Bible
You will begin to understand the nature & character of God
This is why the Devil doesn’t want you to read the Bible
His weapon – a Fan
God on Mute: Does He care?
Do you care? Are you on mute towards Him?
You are praying…
Consider this… What if God is praying?
Does God get what He prays for? Yes!
He prays that you’ll be better
My sheep know my voice
The day you hear my voice, don’t harden your heart