How do you know when you've received a word from God?

[uhdum]

As a young preacher, this could help me tremendously. How do you know when you get a sermon idea...how do you know when you've received that "word from God" and when something's just popped in your head that is just your idea. How do you come up with sermon ideas? Heh, that's several questions all thrown at you at once

 

[Rev. Joshua]

UhDum...you might want to look at this thread first.

Since most of us (liberal or conservative) are expository preachers; I think it's safe to say that we all start with prayerful consideration of the text.

Personally, if I start following a road that doesn't say what the text says or try to acomplish what the text acomplishes; then I realize that the ideas are coming from me and not from God.

Personally, I think the real miracle is not how God speaks to us as we prepare our sermons, but the way God can use even our worst sermons to speak to someone's heart.

Joshua

 

[rsr]

Jesse, is that you?
Where have you been?

 

[rsr]

I think it was John Wesley who told the story about the lay preacher who preached on the text "For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow" and expounded on the fact that the man was "an oyster man" and explained the symbolism of the oyster man who every day dealt with sharp oyster shells that cut his hands; but he was a type of Christ for inviting suffering for the good of others. Story goes that Wesley couldn't bear to correct the preacher because of the impact it had on the congregation.

Then again, there's the case of a lay preacher I once heard who talked at length of Jesus' eating with "Republicans and sinners," explaining the degredation it must have been to be seen talking with the hated "Republicans."

 

[LP]

When God speaks, truly, how can you NOT know? That is my criteria.

 

[tyndale1946]

I'm not a preacher but have observed many over the years many. I heard one old sister tell a minister one time I didn't get a thing out of your sermon this morning. The minister said well maybe you didn't bring anything to get it with.

Men are selected by God to bring out those wonderful Gospel truths but unless the sheep have hearing ears, and seeing eyes, and God has prepared their hearts for the message, you might as well be preaching in the cemetary.

I read a lot of sermons over the years and most of the sermons are from those that are dead. When I read these sermons I think to myself what was the attitude of the congregation at that time. What miricles was the Lord working in the hearts of his children then. Who was brought to the realization of his salvation at that time and what was the change in their individual lives.

I think of the sermon spoken by I believe it was George Whitefield "Children In The Hands Of An Angry God" if you never had a chance to read that sermon and the effects of it by all means read it and you will see what I mean. God empowers men in his time not according to when they want it but how he will use them to instruct his children. The ministers I've known have always felt unworthy to even speak in his name and thats the exact type he uses to fill with his Holy Spirit. God makes sure its all of God and none of man! Peter lovest thou me... Feed my lambs and feed my sheep!... Brother Glen

[ March 11, 2002, 12:13 AM: Message edited by: tyndale1946 ]

 

[Paul of Eugene]

When preparing a lesson or a sermon - sometimes I used to find myself just paralyzed, waiting for "guidance" as to what scripture, what words to say and use. On the other hand, when preparing a lesson from a scripture already chosen, the ideas and insights will just flow, and as I work to get them together, there will come a calm assurance of the Lord's participation in the result. Sure, the Lord has given me explicit direction in advance a time or two but those occasions are rare - rather, its normal to prepare in a workmanlike fashion and find that the Lord is blessing me as I put things together.

And then there are those precious moments when He just surprises us all with His giving of an insight and a revelation.

By way of example, once I was teach a passage on prayer and we were talking about why God wants us to pray for others. After all, He already loves them, and He already knows we love them also .. what's the purpose of suggesting we pray? So in my human wisdom (as it seemed when I started the thought) I speculated out loud for the class, well, perhaps its because He wants us to have a share in the giving of blessings, so He reserves some blessings to be released by our prayers for others. And as I just mentioned this by way of speculation, there came an overwhelming sense of the presence of God assuring me, YES, THAT'S IT! and I had to pause, I couldn't even continue for a couple of seconds, it was such an overpowering moment . . .

That's the way it goes, as far as I know. So I quit worrying about selection of the text and main points. Just pick something reasonable and trust the Lord to infuse His word with His Spirit.

 

[TomVols]

How do you know when you've received a word from the Lord? When you open the Bible The best way to preach is to preach in an expository fashion, and the best way to do that is to preach through sections or books of the Bible

 

[Chris Temple]

Originally posted by TomVols:
How do you know when you've received a word from the Lord? When you open the Bible The best way to preach is to preach in an expository fashion, and the best way to do that is to preach through sections or books of the Bible

I agree Tom, when one is preaching in their home pulpit. But there are times when one guest preaches or fills in, and you can't be in the middle of a series. At those times I have found that a certain passage was accentuated for me a week or two ahead fo time, and when the preaching day came, it was the perfect passage for the occassion.

God is good!

 

[TYCATES]

I've been preaching since I was 13 so for 10 years now I've had 4 years of Bible college at Hyles-Anderson and I've picked up a few pointers along the way.
I was eating dinner with a great man of God Dr. Roberson and he said "in all of his life the greatest thing he's ever known was that Jesus Christ died on the cross and came out of that tomb for our sins he said so always take them to the cross."
Don't show them what you know as you stand and preach God's word. I used to prepare a long outline on what I was going to preach and I still do my last one was 5 typed pages but I've learned to leave them at my seat before I get up. The first few times was scary for me I still get nervous even after ten years but I've seen him work before and that's how you develop Faith and Trust that it's God and not you up there.
Don't be worried about being afraid I get worried when I'm not afraid but that's why God said he chose the meek and foolish things of this world to confound the wise.(that's you and me)
Be yourself everybody has their own style of preaching you'll find yours just stick with it

 

[Baptist Believer]

Originally posted by tyndale1946:
I think of the sermon spoken by I believe it was George Whitefield "Children In The Hands Of An Angry God" if you never had a chance to read that sermon and the effects of it by all means read it and you will see what I mean.

Brother Glen, I believe that was Jonathan Edwards.

[ June 22, 2002, 01:33 PM: Message edited by: Baptist Believer ]

 

[TomVols]

Originally posted by Chris Temple:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by TomVols:
How do you know when you've received a word from the Lord? When you open the Bible The best way to preach is to preach in an expository fashion, and the best way to do that is to preach through sections or books of the Bible

I agree Tom, when one is preaching in their home pulpit. But there are times when one guest preaches or fills in, and you can't be in the middle of a series. At those times I have found that a certain passage was accentuated for me a week or two ahead fo time, and when the preaching day came, it was the perfect passage for the occassion.

God is good! </font>[/QUOTE]Oh, I do agree. Don't misunderstand me. God does lead to passages as surely as He leads to books of the Bible.

 

[Johnv]

Actually, it's "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" and it's by Johnathan Edwards (no, not the psychic guy!!). Rev Edwards was not known for sermon topic of "God loves you". In fact, Rev Edwards' sermon was written from a point of view that God hates us.

The sermon is very fiery and foreboding. It was reported that many people who heard it ran out of the church screaming.

 

[Baptist Believer]

Originally posted by Johnv:
Actually, it's "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" and it's by Johnathan Edwards (no, not the psychic guy!!). Rev Edwards was not known for sermon topic of "God loves you". In fact, Rev Edwards' sermon was written from a point of view that God hates us.

The sermon is very fiery and foreboding. It was reported that many people who heard it ran out of the church screaming.

I heard in college that Edwards read his sermons from a manuscript, barely above a whisper, and it terrified his congregation.

"Brothers and sister, God will kill you now... Amen!"

 

[go2church]

How do you know when you've received a word from God?

Ask Him!

 

[TomVols]

Two points: John Piper notes that "Sinners..." was somewhat atypical of Edwards in that he was a very pastoral preacher. Second, I believe Ellsworth has documented that Edwards also did not rely as much on a mss for preaching as is commonly thought.

 

[Baptist Believer]

Originally posted by TomVols:
Two points: John Piper notes that "Sinners..." was somewhat atypical of Edwards in that he was a very pastoral preacher. Second, I believe Ellsworth has documented that Edwards also did not rely as much on a mss for preaching as is commonly thought.

Very interesting... I suspected my source (an American Lit Professor) was simply quoting what she heard when she was in college.

No matter what you think of his sermon style, God greatly used Edwards and others like him to transform North America.

 

[blackbird]

If there is gonna be "trouble"--I want to be in TomVols corner! You hear from God everytime you get into the word. You get a "word from the Word!" Amen?!!

 

[uhdum]

I must say I've matured quite a bit since I started this thread...

I must admit, I have a hard time of just sitting and letting God speak to me. But you all are right...you do KNOW when He has spoken.

 

[post-it]

You can't know, it is by faith only. This should put some at ease that it was ok that you have sometimes "blew it" in the past and will again in the future.