Are You Still Hearing God’s Voice?

Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” The question for each of us is not simply whether we once heard God’s voice. The question is whether we are listening and following God today.
Are You Still Hearing God’s Voice?

I greet again everyone in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. For today’s meditation, let us turn our attention to Gospel of John chapter 10 verse uh uh 27 and 28. It says that my sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me. Verse 28, I gave them I give them eternal life and they will never perish and no one will snatch them out of my hand. And again it is repeated in verse 29. No one is able to snatch them out of my father’s hand. Amen. This is a certain sure guarantee that if you are a sheep of Jesus Christ, you are not going to perish. Hallelujah. I don’t want to ask and raise hands how many of you believe that you are the sheep of Jesus Christ. So indirectly it want to emphasize that once you are entering into the flock of Jesus Christ you are not going to perish. That means your salvation is eternal. You are not going to the hell. You are not going to the hell. You are if you are accepted Christ as your personal savior and if you have taken the baptism and if you are able to hear the voice of your shepherd and if you are following your shepherd then no one is going to snatch you from the hand of Christ and God. Hallelujah. Bible has given for example Psalms 23 is a poem from the perspective of David as a sheep. Ezekiel again you can find the same parable sheep and shepherd in the book of Ezekiel where God is prophesizing. God using the mouth of Ezekiel is prophesizing on the spiritual condition of Israelites who were led by the false shepherd. And God is prophesying a bright future for the Israel that there is a time coming when God will appoint a person like David that is Jesus Christ as the shepherd of the Israel. And in John chapter 10, Jesus is writing a pros about his relationship with the sheep. David wrote a poem for God describing him as a shepherd. And now Jesus is writing as a written to the believers or to David that I am the shepherd and you are my sheep. And if you are going to be if you are my sheep then you are not going to be perished. So if you believe if you are like for example thinking that if you have like a trust about your security your safety don’t have that don’t entertain that doubt because you are not going to perish. Some people like some of the people they say that it is uh old testament. No uh it’s not it’s not needed to preach from old testament. Why there is always preaching about David and all that things but when I was meditating on this verse suddenly the life of David came in my mind did this verse. So that means what we can learn a lot of things from the old testament. If you want to better understand this particular verse that my sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me. If you want to better understand then it understand that verse then look into the life of David. David was a sheep. He himself says that I am sheep and my God is my shepherd. So did destruction happened in the life of David? Did David perish as God was his shepherd? The question is that no David never perished because he had a wonderful shepherd.
David’s Failure to Hear the Shepherd’s Voice
Last Friday we heard a wonderful message from pastor Manu in that one particular point touch me and this message is connected with that Mark accompanied Paul and Barnabas. In the mid of the missionary journey, Mark left both of them and then there was a lot of fight between quarrel between Paul and Barnabas regarding Mark. Paul in his zeal or lack of maturity didn’t consider Mark as fit for the God work. And finally we can find that God has a different purpose. God never forsake anyone who calls near to him. But there is some responsibility in our life. There was a time. So anyone who’s baptized, anyone who is uh taken who has received Jesus as the personal savior, taken baptism, let us will they be lost or will they be saved? You have to find out the answer at the end of the sermon. But there was a time there was a time when David didn’t hear the voice of his shepherd. David didn’t hear the voice of the shepherd. David used to continuously hear the voice of his shepherd when he was neglected by his family, when he was persecuted by his father-in-law, when he was wandering in the wilderness like a homeless. During all this time, he was able to hear the voice of God. And whenever he used to hear the voice of God, the word of God, he was very happy, very strong and spiritually very powerful. But there was a time when there was power, when there was prosperity. At that time he was not able to hear the voice of God. We can all read that incident that happened in life of David. We can read about that. You can read at home in uh that was we can find in 2 Samuel chapter 11. You can find that incident. What happened with David? David was a wonderful ship. He traveled with he followed his shepherd in the broken family where he used to stay. He was able to follow the shepherd in the wilderness while gracing the sheep and face the lion and bear. He was able to follow the shepherd when he was about to face Golath. He was able to follow the shepherd when Saul was persecuting anytime he’s going to kill David. Following the shepherd everywhere very faithfully, very strongly. He couldn’t bear the insult of God. That’s why that is why he faced Golth. He’s not he wanted to become a king and marry Saul’s daughter. He he didn’t he didn’t have that that that heart to see the god’s name be desecrated. He wanted to protect the Yahweh’s name, my shepherd’s name. Very passionate and that’s why he went not knowing what will happen in the battle. He followed the shepherd everywhere. Now the 2 Samuel chapter 10 sorry chapter 11 the verse one begins like that in the spring of the year the time when the king’s goat go out to battle David sent Joab and his servants with him and all Israel and they ravaged demonites and besieged Rabba but David remained at Jerusalem. In the times of prosperity, in the times of peace, he missed the voice of God. He missed the voice of God. What he what he did? He stayed in Jerusalem. He didn’t go with his army. This is a different David. You can be a true believer if you are able to receive the word of God. If you are able to hear the voice of God. It’s not what I am speaking and you are listening. Not that. And you can be a different believer when you stop to hear the voice of God. Personally, voice of God matters so much. Hallelujah.
David’s Sin and Contentment
What he did afterwards were all mistakes in his life in the evening time. I suppose it may be the prayer time. God calling him, knocking his heart, Holy Spirit in him, prompting him to pray. What he did? He wandered around his terrace and saw a beautiful woman. And then he had an adulterous relationship with Bath Sheba. Greed is always dangerous. It is a good verse. No. In Genesis we read God created Adam and since Adam Adam was lonely that was not good before the eyes. So God give a one partner to him. How many partners? One to remove the loneliness of the man. Now it is not that David was a bachelor. If I want to give some grace, we can give some grace to David if he was a bachelor. But then also can’t give grace. You know that before Bashba, he had like seven wives in his life. M and Biba was the eighth one. It’s not no first first wife not satisfied. The second wife not satisfied. Changing relationship like changing clothes. [snorts] Very bluntly I am telling very bluntly changing relationships like changing clothes like the Samaritan woman you have five this happened because he missed the voice of God. not being contented with the life partners. Contentment is required for everything. Either it be money or it can be a relationship or it can be food. It can be clothes. You have to decide whether are you contented with what the message is simply this he had seven wives but he was not satisfied he want the went towards the eighth. So are we content in whatever we are we have whether it finance or anything the main the message is about that and it’s very difficult to hear the voice of God when you have plenty because you do you don’t need God. You don’t need God. If you want to keep your spiritual life alive, you have to hear the voice of God. It is not that when you get time, you come to the prayer. It’s not that it’s not about I’m not telling about that. It we we need God always. God is more important than the basic needs of human lives. That’s what that’s that’s the passion which God wants.
Nathan Confronts David with a Story
And you know that because of that relationship BBA was pregnant and a son was born. So probably we can find this matter was completely kept in secret. Only the close people of David knew. It was hidden before the eyes of the Israelites. And it went for how many? Like nearly one year. God is very calm. God watches you. He doesn’t react suddenly. How many God how many how many know how many months God waited? David thought that every everything is fine. David is not able to come to the presence of God. A man like David cannot come in the presence of God. Even if he comes in the presence of God, he will not be involved or intentional in the presence of God. But but the Bible is completely silent. What happened in that 9 months or one or or one year? What happened? Did David come to the presence of God? We don’t know anything about that. But I I think that s A a man like David no who has a very very very very clean consignience he cannot come before the god. He may be worried I have done sin and the b and what can happen next some curse will come because he has he had not only did adultery but he had also murdered an innocent person. So you might be very scared what can happen. God can do anything but nothing happened. Ba is very healthy. Whenever she goes to the hospital sit the gyneck baby is fine. Heartbeats are fine in the in in the in the palace. Nutritious food is given to Bsha very superb taken care in palace. No. Now what happened? Let us David was outside the operation theater and pastor by is going to deliver the baby. Oh this this relationship is an adult relationship sinful relationship. How would be baby? I don’t know no anxiety and then David heard a beautiful sound of crying baby. David was very happy, very happy, [laughter] healthy child, healthy bacha, everything very fine. And suddenly God at the right time did a master stroke. Hallelujah. At the right time, God sent Nathan. And in today’s psychological term, it was a therapeutical storytelling by Nathan. He narrated a beautiful story about a rich man and a poor farmer. Poor man. the rich man in order to treat the guest who has arrived at his home. He didn’t took his lamb, but he took the lamb of the poor person. That was the only lamb of the poor person who was like a family member to the poor man and forcefully took the lamb and provided dinner to the guest. And suddenly after hearing the story, David was very angry. Who is that man? Who the to who took away the poor person’s lamb? Who is that man? And Nathan had a guts, had a courage, had a boldness to say that it is you only. Hallelujah. When David thought that every everything is fine, God, he’s not bothered about what he has done. Suddenly God sent Nathan Hallelujah to his home and convicted him of his sin.
God’s Heartbroken Message to David
Then we can find a beautiful passionate appeal of God like a quarreling with David. You know, three times in that p in that you can say that from chapter 12 verse uh from 12 7 to 14. Three times God said you hurted me David. I have given you everything. I made you a king of Israel. I united Israel and Judah for you. I gave you everything. And if you had asked me more, I would have given you. I have given you everything. I was a beautiful shepherd for you. I led you everywhere. I was with you. But you despised me. Three times God said you, you despised me. God was very passive. His heart was broken and he said that you have you have hurted my heart like anything. What I have not done for you I have done for you everything for you. Hallelujah. It says that you turned away. You turned away your face from me. You turned away your face from my voice. Do you know what is the most? Yeah. Adultery is sin. Murdering is sin. The but the greater sin is know what is that? Turning our face from God. How many times we have asked for God for so many things in our life. How many times we have fasted before the God for our material blessings. Every time God has answered and given us everything but the biggest problem is that how much God has been loving us. Are you able to love God accordingly? Oh, that is a big tragedy. When you when we are nothing at that time, we used to cry before God. We should be humble before God. We used to love our fellow believers. Now when we have power and possession and money, we don’t consider the other people. We are not able to hear the voice of God because in our life so many things become important but the shepherd is always there waiting for the sheep to come.
God’s Persistent Love and Waiting Arms
Hallelujah. The God is the hero of this story. Not David is the hero. The God is the sto hero of this story. He could have forsaken David. He would have forsaken David according the sin what he has done but he never forsake God. God sorry God never forsake David. He sent Nathan to him. [clears throat] Hallelujah. That is the God’s love. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. You know my ship hear my voice and I know them and they follow and I give them the eternal life. You know what is the basic thing inside? God loves us so much. Hallelujah. Whatever sin we do, God is always waiting for us to come back. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. But we are so wretched people. We are so ungrateful people that we are never considering or giving importance to the God’s love. Coming on the Sunday is not enough. My dear brother, my dear brothers and sisters, taking the Bible in hand is not the only thing. God demands more from your heart. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. See what happens. Anyone can if instead of God think if there would be a man who has the authority over the world what could be the situation of David. Thank God that God is God and we are man human beings. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. The question is that do you have the same affection love for God when you are nothing? I’m not asking about it is very impossible to love God as God loves me. I cannot do that. I can’t do that. But my question is that when you are zero at that time what how your heart beats for God is your heart beating for God accordingly now whether you’re whether you are loving God or not but God loves you and still waits there with arms. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Very perfect parable Jesus has given to show the relationship between the shepherd and sheep Jesus and the believers.
Lessons on Repentance, Danger, and Salvation
Beware of Danger in Prosperity
Very perfect. Some sheep sheep when when Lord Lord takes the flock, when the shepherd takes the sheep, there are some some sheep who spend so much time near the water and the grass. And you know that all the danger is there near the water and the grass. You know that the predators, the wild animals like cheetah, leopard, lions, bear, fox, wolves, hyas are all lying near the water because they know that where the sheep they can come here for drinking the water. So if you are if you’re not if you are living in prosperity remember that nearby that prosperity the devil is lying there and it’s very easy to catch you there but eat drink and run fast toward the shepherd you will be saved. the shepherd. There are certain sheips who are very lean but they are getting the grass and water but their favorite place is not the grass and the water but the feet of the shepherd where there is 100% security even though they are prosperous. If we had read the Psalms 23 written by David. No, but imagine now if the same Psalms 23 is is written by Paul, how he will write? Let me read let me uh read that. Sorry for time is going up uh but my heart is bubbling up. No.
Psalms 23 from Paul’s Perspective
Psalms 23:1 written by Paul. Okay. Hypothetical. The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. Same verse two. He is my green pasture. Paul says, Paul says, he is my green pasture and living water. Verse three, he lives in me and my soul is always restored. He is my righteousness. Verse four, I turned the valley of the shadow of death into the place of worship, for you are in me. Your holy spirit and your cross comfort me. Your holy spirit and your cross comforts me. Verse five, you give me your grace in the presence of my enemies. You adorn my head with crown of life. Last verse. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all days of my life and I shall dwell in Christ forever. This type of sheep can never lose salvation.
The Judgment of God and David’s True Crime
I skipped so many things in this message. I had I had to skip because time is not there. You know what? How David repented? What he said? Sorry Bashba I killed your husband. He didn’t say like that. He said, “God, my God, if I have any wrong, I have done wrong to you.” In Psalms 51 also he said like that. Handy. Yes. A new believer doesn’t have curse. New testament believers doesn’t have curse. But when God produces judgments, it will be cursed because Nathan said to David, now your family will not have rest any time in your life. Second thing, there will be bloodshed in your life family. And third thing, your wives will be wives will be taken away by your neighbors in front of all Israel. You have done sin secretly, but I will ex I will expose you before the land of Israel. And you know that what happened? Absolum took David’s concubines. In God’s eyes, concubine is also a wife. In the cultural eye, cultural eye, in the eyes of culture, concubine is concubine. But before God, there is only one relationship that exists between man and woman that is husband and wife. So God said this, your wives will be taken away. That means God’s word has to fulfill without any mistakes. And that happened. And David knew what price he has to pay. And David said that against you against you only I have sinned. You know what is that sin? You know what is the biggest sin? The main sin he didn’t give respect to the voice of God. People think that David had a big big big crime big crime but David according to the God’s eyes according to the eyes of David the biggest crime he did was that God I didn’t listen to you that is my biggest crime today the question is to us if you are not able to hear the voice of God and follow the voice of God if God is speaking to you somewhere by the verses with the children speaks here by the psalms exhaltations or when you hear somewhere God’s word and it see that it is for me and if you don’t follow it then the problem starts and if you have turned away from God if you have turned away from God come back to him because he he never forsakes anyone he never forsakes anyone Even if you forsake him, he’s still waiting for you. He’s calling you to come near by him. Come near to my presence. Come near to my feet. Jesus doesn’t want anything more. He wants love from you. You come to Jesus. Hallelujah. Put me is bula. to me. Is Yes. [singing] Yes. Hallelujah.
Closing Sermon Prayer
Let us open our hearts and consider our condition before the God’s eyes. God knows how much love is in our hearts for him. Does our heart beats in us to hear the voice of God? Heavenly Father, we we come before you and thank God that you are not a man but you are a God and no one has patience like you to bear us, to bear our weakness, to bear our sense sins. Lord, there is no measure to measure your love, your kindness. Many often we turn our face from you Lord. We consider other things in our life so much important. We have failed to sometimes we fail to understand your true love. You never want us to we see perished. You always want us to be in your mighty hands to be [music] saved. But sometimes we follow the voices of the world, the voices of the flesh that we turn away from your beautiful, very, very beautiful [music] face and your very gentle and powerful word. Be humble. before you in your presence before the word of God. Lord, help us our congregation. [music] Help us over this little flock to be always to be always follow you wherever you are and to be near your near your feet. Turn our eyes from the water and the pastures and help us to see always you before us because your face that’s the that spring soothing calmness in our mind. We remember Stephen when he was when he was facing the [music] stones the persecution he was able to see you standing up in the heaven for him and that that made him calm so calm so calm Lord your presence is awful Lord [music] help us to help us give us a thirst and passion to experience your presence every time every time Lord thank you God that you have glorified your [music] son Jesus through this message In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.