PART III: Understanding HOW and WHY God spoke in the past

Hearing the voice of God: exploring the various ways God speaks/communicates with us and how we can discern and hear His voice

PART III: Understanding HOW and WHY God spoke in the past.

** Kimmy’s testimony of how God recently spoke to her! **
We were blessed especially to hear from Kimmy Barker.
Click here for audio of her testimony
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Scripture study:
Let’s go back to the beginning— literally!
Genesis 1:1-20
HOW did God speak? (directly or indirectly) DIRECTLY
WHY did God speak? God spoke TO CREATE the world.

Genesis 1:26-27
God spoke TO CREATE man.
Q. What was different about how God created man?
Vs 26 God created man/us IN HIS LIKENESS
Vs 27 God created us in His IMAGE
Man was created in a very special way to reflect the very image and attributes of God!

Genesis 1:28
God spoke TO BLESS man. [means: to cause to prosper]
Q. What special role did God give mankind that reflects something of God?
A. Man was to have DOMINION over all the stuff of earth.
God spoke TO INSTRUCT man on what his purpose and mission was.

Genesis 2:8-9, 15
God created a special PLACE for man, His special creation.

Genesis 2:16-17
God spoke TO COMMAND and TO INSTRUCT.
God spoke TO WARN.

Genesis 3:8 God spoke TO REVEAL Himself.
Q. Do you see relationship yet, in the way God speaks with man?

Genesis 3:11 God spoke TO CONFRONT sin.
3:14 God spoke TO JUDGE and TO CURSE the serpent.
3:15 God spoke TO FORETELL important future events.
The “Protoevangelion” — the Gospel before the Gospel: this speaks of God’s loving concern for mankind in his deepest need.

---------------- (we got this far on 12/7/08)--------------

Q. Can you find a place in Scripture where God has a (two-way) conversation with any other creature or part of creation other than man? NO

Q. Why do you think that is? WE HAVE A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. WE TALK TO EACH OTHER!

Class discussion:
Q. Think of a relationship you have or have had in your life — like your child or younger sibling — do you find common ways you have spoken with them as God has spoken to man?

Q. What does that reveal about that relationship? Concern? Indifference? Love? Hate?

We are beginning to discover some of the reasons why God speaks to man.

Core lesson: God speaks to man because He desires and pursues a LOVE RELATIONSHIP with us. He CREATED us to have that kind of relationship.

Because of SIN, this precious relationship was severely crippled — and sin would effect how God would COMMUNICATE with man after this — and man’s ability to HEAR God.