Matt Beaney
- Apr 27, 2020
- 3 min read

PART 5 – GOD IS STILL SPEAKING (27/4/20)

If you missed Sunday's broadcast, please catch up by following the link below. (For the foreseeable future, we be running our Sunday morning services digitally. Please go to our website on Sundays at 10:30 to join in)

I don’t know if you’ve ever had that realisation that you are maybe living or working or seeing people regularly but you are not really connecting with them. Maybe, you talk about functional things: “what time shall we do…? have you done…? Shall we buy…?… I like those shoes…” Too often, relationships do not touch on what’s in our hearts, what is causing us pain, what we are hoping for… Our relationship with God can also get like this. Maybe we read the bible and pray, but there’s very little sense of connection - hearing and being heard. Jesus promises us,

“I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.” (John 16:12-13)

This week’s message was ‘God is still speaking, are we still dreaming?’ Last week, we looked at the three basic practices that will help us to hear and live in the good of what the Father saying; these key practices are:

1. Read His word prayerfully

2. Keep a journal -write down what you think God is speaking to you about .

3. Share ‘dreams’ and pray with others

This week, we want to continue to practice these.

RESPONSE

1. Let’s open the bible

Begin with prayer. Ask the Father to speak to you through His word.
If you don’t know what to read, you might want to start with Jesus’ teaching in The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-7:29)
The ‘YouVersion’ Bible App has lots of very good bible-reading plans.
As you read, expect the Spirit to highlight aspects of what you are reading. Three good questions that you might use to help you are:
1. UP – “What are you saying to me me about yourself?”
2. IN – “What are you saying about me or your church?”
3. OUT – “What are you saying about serving those outside the church?”
When you feel the Spirit’s inspiration, pause and pray.

2. Write down what God is saying to you

As you write, be open to the Spirit giving you other texts of scripture and what He wants you to do as a response.

3. Who will you share and pray with?

Oftentimes, it’s good to keep what the Father is speaking to us personal. But, on occasion, it’s good to share with a friend. Sharing provides accountability and encouragement when obedience will be hard.

COMMUNITY GROUP STUDY – GOD IS STILL SPEAKING, ARE WE STILL DREAMING?

Opener/Ice-breaker

What has been the funniest/strangest dream that you've had?

Introduction - please read in your group

Please read Read Genesis 37:5-11.

God spoke to Joseph in two dreams. These dreams were not received well by his family who became hateful and defensive. Jacob, Joseph's father, and his family should have known better; they had a history of God speaking to them in dreams. However, even their poor response is used by God to actually fulfil His promises!

God has promised to speak to his people, but we can fail to listen. Jesus has said,

“I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.” (John 16:12-13)

We can stop hearing because we are too busy, discouraged or have not been teachable so have not learned to listen. Many struggle to think that God loves them and would want to speak to them.

During last week's devotionals, we looked at 3 basic practices that will help all of us to hear and do what God says. These were: