“Why settle for a second-hand revelation? Don’t be a spectator, be a partaker.”
— James Okoli
Put the baby cap on!
Anything important doesn’t necessarily mean it’s complicated
Human fear is different to Godly fear
God makes his ways known
It’s all about intimacy
We are told to yield, but what does that mean?
Yield (verb):
To hand over possession
To give yourself up to a thing/habit
To relinquish power/control
To surrender
To give up your breath/spirit – to die
We are not in control; God is in the driving seat or at least he should be and we should be dead to the world. We must not forget that whatever we yield to most, usually speaks loudest to us.
Sometimes we want to be liked, to be popular – “like me”
Sometimes it’s our intelligence, to be challenged – “intrigue me”
Sometimes it can be sensual desire, alcohol, drugs, sex – “entice me”
Sometimes it can be social status/clout or money – “pursue me”
It’s not bad to want these things, but it shouldn’t be the main thing. This would be idolatry, all of these things should submit to a greater yes which is Jesus.
Having drawn near, are you ready to yield to God?
God’s voice convicts, corrects – He does not condemn
Does it glorify God or me?
Does it draw me closer to God or away from Him?
Bible Time – y’all should totally read the verses
Isaiah 55
This is an invitation to enjoy the benefits of God because the servant (Jesus) has paid the price (Matthew 5:3-6)
Verses 1-3
If we want to hear in our activity, acknowledge God’s proactivity
God’s voice must be actively sought
A lot of active verbs are used in these verses
Verses 6 and 7
If we want to hear, we have to seek and forsake
Environments, what we listen to, things that we partake in, we have to forsake our ways in order to seek the Lord
Look at Hebrews 12:1 too!
Verses 8 and 9
If we want to hear, switch frequency
We might not understand but we should do this, because in a few days/months/years you’ll see why he did what he did
Look at 1 Corinthians 2:14 too!
Summary:
We should submit to God’s Word – it’s another way that we can hear Him
We should surrender to His ways
We should seek His purposes, pray – allow them to lead us, He will then reveal the things that concern our hearts
