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JEREMIAH 32:6-8

"HOW GOD SPEAKS"

I. "THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME UNTO ME SAYING..."
        A. How do you suppose the Word of the Lord came?
                1. Oft repeated phrase through Jeremiah. 
                2. Do you think it was an audible voice?
        B. Purpose of communication - revelation.
        C. There are many ways God communicates to man - Heb. 1:1 "God who at sundry times and 
           in divers manners..."
                1. God can communicate in an audible voice.
                        a. Moses and burning bush.
                        b. During Jesus ministry baptism, transfiguration.
                        c. Paul on the Damascus Road.
                2. God spoke through prophets.
                        a. Inquired of the Lord.
                        b. Urim and Thummin.
                3. God spoke through prophets.
                        a. N.T. Agabus.
                        b. Acts 13  "And the Holy Spirit said separate unto me Paul and
                           Barnabus."
                4. God sometimes communicated through angels.
                        a. Abraham - Lot.
                        b. Peter in prison - Paul in storm.
                        c. Rev. 14.
                        d. "Be careful to entertain strangers."
                5. Through dreams and visions.
                        a. Vision is capacity to tune in on spirit world - time and space
                                relative.
                                1. Peter on rooftop.
                                2. Paul refers to heavenly vision.
                                3. John "In the spirit unto the day of the Lord."
                6. God has spoken through His Word. 
                7. Through His Son.
                8. God speaks through still, small inner voice.
                        a. Elijah.
                        b. "For the Spirit bears witness with our spirit."
                                1. Thought - impression - desire.
                                2. My spirit then communicates to my psyche.
                                3. Here is where problem arises.

II. HOW CAN I TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MY OWN THOUGHTS AND THOSE OF SPIRIT?
        A. Peter's problem - Matt. 16.
        B. No simple answer.
                1. Jeremiah a man to whom God spoke so often.
                2. In our text, "then I knew that this was the Word of the Lord."
        C. We are told to judge the gift of prophesy, how?
                1. See if it comes to pass.
                2. Measure it with the written Word.
        D. What should you do if you have a question.
                1. Ask God for confirmation and wait.
                        a. Might be confirmed through scriptures. 
                        b. Might be confirmed through Christian friend.
                        c. Might be confirmed through circumstances.

III. HOW TO HEAR THE VOICE OF GOD.
        A. I am certain that God has spoken to each of you.
                1. You may not have recognized or understood.
                2. He may be speaking to some of you now.
        B. The best place to begin is the Bible. 
                1. As you read, clear understanding will come on a particular passage.
                2. If you come to difficult scripture, pause and ask for wisdom.
        C. So often He will speak while we are in prayer.
                1. Do not look on prayer as a Monday.
                        a. Ask questions.
                        b. Listen for answers.
        D. Lets open our hearts right now.