R268 The Voice of God

God has an encouraging word for you and me today. The Bible-based preaching of Dr. Don Wilton and a message on the voice of God at different times in all of our lives we find it somewhat hard to hear the voice of God know about you, but given time for I felt my prayers were just bouncing off the ceiling today working to go to the book of John, beginning in chapter 12 and talk about how God speaks to us in many many different ways. We also want to know there were here to pray you through what might seem to be locked between you and the Lord to pray down an opening literally just just intercede for one another are phone numbers 866-899-WORD like to call and pray with someone now. That's 866-899-9673 or keyboard keyboard@twonline.org now Dr. Don Wilton God speaks in many different ways does he not some people feel that if I have not heard a voice but God is not spoken to them. God can speak without speaking. God can speak without uttering a sound. God can speak and we can hear subject this morning from John's gospel chapter 12 is the voice of God. The voice of God. I want to invite you to turn there with me in your Bibles to John chapter 12 and I'm going to begin reading at verse 27 John's gospel chapter 12 and I'm going to begin reading at verse 27 the voice of God. Jesus said now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say father, save me from this no it was for this very reason that I came to this father, glorify your name.

Then a voice came from heaven. I have glorified it, and will glorify it again, the crowd that was there heard it said, and heard that it had funded others said an angel had spoken under him. Jesus said, this voice was for your benefit not for mine. Now the time is come for judgment on this world.

Now the prince of this world will be driven out but I when I am lifted up from the earth. I will draw all men to myself. Jesus said this to show the kind of death he was going to die. The crowd spoke up. We have heard from the Lord that the Christ will remain forever. So how can you say the Son of Man must be lifted up, is the Son of Man, then Jesus told them you are going to have the life just a little while longer walk while you have the life before darkness overtakes you the man who walks in the dock does not know where he is going put your trust in the light while you have it so that you may become sons of life when he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them, not even off the Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence.

They still would not believe him. This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet Lord has believed our message to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed. For this reason they could not believe because as Isaiah said elsewhere.

He has blinded their eyes and deaden their hearts so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn and I would heal them. Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus glory and spoke about them yet at the same time. Many, even among the leaders believed in him, but because of the Pharisees, they would not gonna face their faith for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue, for they love praise from man more than praise from God. Then Jesus cried out when a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent him who sent me. When he looks at me.

He sees the one who sent me. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge them for I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. There is a judge for the one who rejects me, and does not accept my words that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the lost day for I did not speak of my own accord, but the father who sink me compounded me what to say and how to say it. I know that his Kaman leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the father has told me to say, isn't that a remarkable passage of Scripture. May the Lord will add to his word draw hearts this morning. The voice of God. It seems rather interesting to me and I'm sure too many of you that God speaks at this moment in time in the life of our Lord Jesus Christ. If we were to backtrack a little into verse 27 we noticed they had the Jesus made a statement. He said father, save me from this very and then he goes on and he says no it was for this very reason that I came to this moment in time. You see, we dealing with probably the most momentous moments of all time in all of history. And it seems that at every step that the Lord Jesus Christ took that God was there with them all the time. Consider the facts with me.

If we take a closer look at the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Keep your finger in John chapter 12 for a moment and turn back to Matthew chapter 3 the first of the Gospels, Matthew chapter 3 in verse 17 has what the Bible tells us the Bible says in verse 16 of Matthew chapter 3 as soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water at the moment. At that moment, heaven was opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him and a voice from heaven say, this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. Turn on a few pages to Matthew chapter 17 Matthew chapter 17 we going to see how this happened again at the Mount of Transfiguration, Matthew chapter 17 in verse five. While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud. See this is my beloved son, whom I love with him I am well pleased.

Listen to him if he would go on throughout Scripture we find again in John chapter 12 and here in verse 29 we going to find again in the count of the fact that God seemed to be audibly and visibly arrived at critical moments in the life of our Lord Jesus Christ.

They remarkable. His baptism was the commencement of Jesus ministry God spoke at the Mount of Transfiguration yeah Jesus, God spoke again. Not this time.

At the commencement of his ministry, but rather at the climax of these ministry and in hearing John chapter 12 and verse 29). At the midst of the crisis of these ministry God speaks again and that incredible God spoke at the commencement of Jesus ministry God spoke at the climax of Jesus ministry and God spoke at the crisis point of Jesus ministry. I couldn't help thinking about myself. I couldn't help thinking about you and about me. I couldn't help thinking about Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday and Friday and Saturday. I couldn't help thinking about the numerous times at the commencement of our lives at the crisis of our lives at the climactic experiences of our lives. When you and I most desperately need to hear the voice of God.

God speaks and he speaks within the annals of our own hearts and lives. Garrity's baptism, Jesus went down into the waters of Jordan and God spoke to him. Garrett, the Mount of Transfiguration. Jesus was about to come down from the mountaintop and God spoke to him ^ the book highway down the road to the cross, Jesus was preparing himself to go down into the depths and the due of death itself, and God spoke to him at the commencement of these ministry at the climactic experience of these ministry and right here in the midst of this crisis experience as Jesus began to march down the highway to the cross, God spoke so as we begin to analyze all the details of what God is saying to us. It seems to me, my friends. In this context that there are five things that happened here when God spoke, when God speaks five things happen) John chapter 12, number one, when God speaks man benefits we going to look at that in just a moment number two, when God speaks judgment is carried out number three when God speaks here in the context of this crisis point of the Lord Jesus Christ. Satan himself is crossed out from the presence of Almighty God.

Number four when God speaks we going to discover that the Lord Jesus Christ himself is lifted up, and number five. When God speaks we going to discover in verse 50 choir we going to discover that when God speaks eternal life is a trying for absolutely certain. Well let's have a look at that together number one when God speaks man benefits. Did you notice day. In verse 29 and following how the Bible tells us clearly about this.

We don't have to guess about it. It's in verse 30 Jesus said, this voice was for your benefit not for mine but you know there is a sense, my friends, in which every time Jesus finds his presence in any circumstance in any situation, the Lord Jesus Christ looks around about him, and he looks way beyond the nosebleed section of the football stadiums of America and he sees the people who are observing the plays from a distance and he says the poorest of Almighty God in the midst of this crisis is intended not just for those who are rubbing shoulders with me, but it's intended for even those who don't even think I can see what is going on. Seems remarkable when Jesus said that the benefit of his voice was for their benefit rather than for his benefit. Jesus Christ was reminding his disciples that as Jesus Christ. He bars and he is the son of God and that the voice of God is the voice of the son because he and the father are one, and it is no surprise that in verse 50. He says so what ever the father tells me to do I do because I and the father are one. I don't need a voice but you do this voice. The Bible tells us was as a fund.

I looked at that and I wondered why correspond you know there are several things that Sandra does for us.

Number one. Sunday gets our attention doesn't reassert gets our attention is no question about it.

You watch people, we could be out of the screen couple that comes a fundamental everybody begins to take note about what's going on.

Maybe God spoke with the voice of fungal because he needed more desperately than any time to get people's attention. There is a second thing, the thunder does it causes people to look up.

We all rushed out on the main street this morning and there was a clap of thunder. I want you to know we would all immediately look up and maybe what Jesus Christ was trying to say to these people who gathered around him on this march down the highway to the cross is number one, you need to pay attention to the voice of God, and number two, you need to look up because he is the only one who can tell you what you need to hear, but there's 1/3 quality about thunder causes you to run for cover that I know all about Lee Trevino getting struck by lightning while playing golf game of golf. I can just see myself. I guarantee out there.

Carolina country club Spartanburg country club wherever it is in God and play a game of golf. I tell you I can be standing there, folks with big Bertha about to take the swing of my life and I can see the crowds standing around saying Don Don, I can see Britt there were these camera just waiting to take a shot of me driving all the way.

500 yards down the fairway. But I tell you if there's lightning folks big Bertha will not I'm gone, I'm out of the augmenter run for thunder.

You know why because it brings me to 1/4 commodity of thunder causes it closes. Listen carefully it causes people to take note of an impending warning sign. There is something that's going to follow.

Something's going to happen and maybe what this is carried verse 28 and 29 is that God by his grace began to speak from the heavens itself was a voices sounded like thunder and as the people began to scuttle and come and run for cover and looked up to find out what was going on. Jesus turned to them and he said to them, when God speaks you will been you're listening to Dr. Don Wilton our teacher here on The Encouraging Word.

Please don't go away will be back with the rest of today's message the voice of God with Dr. Don in just a moment, but Dr. Wilton insists I remind you that we are connecting together not just during the broadcast to present this gospel to you this good news but also to have a conversation about it and how it applies to our life in this particular case, how we can hear the voice of God and understand a socket I mentioned a while ago that when God speaks it's for our benefit to respond when if you'd like to talk with someone or pray with someone right now you can call us at 866-899-WORD. That's 866-899-9673 rep to better connect with us on our website. So many are finding that to be a great tool. It's TW online.org that's TE W-4 The Encouraging Word online.org love to connect with you today else I back this great teaching the book of John 12 voice of God Dr. Don Wilton this second dynamic care when God speaks judgment is carried out Bible tells us that Jesus stated himself in verse 31 now is the time for judgment on the school now is the time for judgment on this will why did this signal, the judgment of Almighty God, perhaps because it was judgment by them on him. Jesus was saying that Jesus was by God's voice letting people know that the judgment of the world was coming upon the Lord Jesus Christ that they now were bringing to fruition their judgment upon him.

Why, because he represented a national danger. That's why he was a decisive threat to these people, but in terms of judgment and represented his judgment on them.

This perhaps was the great irony. This perhaps was the thing that they would never understand in their lifetime. This perhaps was symbolical of the lostness of mankind. That judgment was being carried out by the voice of God in the cross of Christ Jesus judgment by them on him, but more importantly judgment by him on them. But there's 1/3 judgment. That's about to take place. That is the judgment of the Lord Jesus Christ.

On Satan's kingdom on earth was put on notice.

It was here at this decisive moment that the word of God tells us that when God spoke, Satan was given due morning when God spoke, Satan began to scuttle for shelter when God spoke, Satan was advised that he's time is really up on earth had come to an end when God speaks man benefits. There's no doubt in God speaks judgment is carried out, but noting the third place that when God speaks Satan's car start. It seems rather ironic don't you think that the cross is God's chosen instrument to sound the eternal death know of Satan himself.

He's kingdom and of his power. It is ironic that Satan himself by instigating the Jews to possible sanctions on the Lord Jesus Christ was himself sitting in the motion the flow and the guarantee of the events that would lead to his own destruction and it seems to me rather significant again that the word that is used during John's gospel for the word cost is the word expulsion. Look at that with me right in verse 30 now is the time for judgment on this world. Now the prince of this world will be driven out. That word means car start. It means throwing away from the presence of God it means to be asked though it means to be terminated. It means to be alienated, it means to be cut completely.

It means to be finally dismembered everything that you hold yourself. We have precedent in John chapter 9 verse 34 and 35 offer the blind man was healed by the Lord Jesus.

The religious rulers came and took him and they ask him on the synagogue. That was the price that he played the Lord Jesus Christ had done in his life. In Matthew chapter 21. This 38 and 39, we find the same word expelled will cost out in acts chapter 7 versus 57 and 58 Stephen the first Christian martyr, the acts of the apostles tell us that because of his faith that the leaders of the people. The angry mob. They came and they took Stephen and they expelled him they cost him outside of the city wall and there it was that they stoned him today. You see the word expulsion here or to be cost out is the same word that is used right throughout Scripture to mean a savoring of membership a termination of one's rights and in all one's inheritance. It means the signaling of the beginning of the end it meant surfing an impending death by stoning and what God is saying here is his voice thundered from the heavens is that Satan would be cost that he was finished he was over he was defeated once and for all at the cross of Christ Jesus. What happens when God speaks we my DOS today. The voice of God. When God speaks man benefits when God speaks judgment is carried out when God speaks Satan's cost out from the presence of God.

But I want you to notice in the fourth place that when God speaks Jesus Christ is lifted up. He is lifted up to write that in verse 32 but I know I am lifted up from the earth.

I will draw all men unto myself. Did you know that the word lifted up is used at least 20 times in the Gospel of John.

You see what God's word is trying to teach us. My friends is that when Jesus Christ is lifted up by the voice of God, he becomes the great divide of humanity. On the one side, there is the dying unrepentant feet who dies and goes to an eternal separation from Almighty God. On the other side is the dying repentant thief who Jesus turns to her and says, today thou shalt be with me in paradise. You see when Jesus was lifted up, he became the great divide of humanity.

Everyone has to decide on which side they are going to stand on the one side, they were the howls of the masses who were calling for the blood of the King of Kings and Lord of lords, and on the other side there was a hosannas of the archangels and the choirs saying in prize and in glory of the King of Kings and Lord of lords. And what Jesus said when he said I will be lifted up. He was saying because of the cross.

You either belong to the howling mob or to the hosannas singing choirs who are going to worship the king with all their heart and with all their soul and with all their mind. But when God speaks my friend.

There is 1/5 and final point out of this passage, God speaks eternal life is a train that there is no doubt look at verse 50. I know that he is Kaman leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the father is told me this, despite the fact that they were those who love the praise of man rather than praise from God.

This despite the fact that the unbelievers, this despite the fact that they were those who would have nothing to do with him. What an incredible thing to think about the voice of God. You see, when God speaks eternal life is a time and you can know that today I times: teaching from Dr. as he was talking about that reality of God speaking.

I pray that you would hear not just Dr. Wilton today as you would know God is using Dr. Don Wilton to let you know that God loves you no matter what you've done, no matter how far you run matter how you even turned your back on God is pursuing this broadcast because he loves and he has a plan to take you to a brand-new beginning even if you've known the Lord before and run from him were turned your back on today's the day for a new beginning for you to open your heart, not just what you've heard from Dr. Wilton's teaching, but now we come to the studio and cheers. The really big part of his heart. Are you ready to give your heart of life to the Lord Jesus Christ. I'm so happy to hear that wanted to pray this prayer with me today. Dear God, I know you love me very, very, and I know that the Lord Jesus Christ came God on the cross so that I might be forgiven today. I repainted my I confess my sins and I invite you Jesus if you prayed that pray for me. The first one welcome to the family.

This is one I hope that you know how much I'm going to be praying how very important this is so we can talk to Nick Weiss, you can begin this wonderful June welcome the family convinced that somebody is Dr. Thomas. Opening your heart to Christ. Welcome. We are excited about what God can do in your life. Next and and would be thrilled to be a part of.

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We would love to put some resources in your hands if you just gave your life to Jesus Christ or maybe rededicate your life that will help you grow. Dr. Don is prepared for you. Once you have it for free but you need to call and let us know at 866-899-WORD at 866-899-9673 or email us at online@tewonline.org that's TEW online.org why are there many friends are asking about the ministry history the ministry are wonderful association with Dr. Billy Graham and Dr. Don with Dr. Graham's pastor for the last 25 years and perhaps the Lord may be leaving you to get involved either prayerfully or financially to support and to do that we exit call friends like that encourages Liz with the details on how you become the spring brings the promise of hope weirdly fine. Find hope in Jesus's great hope for this many people as possible. Will you join us to learn encourages color 89966899973 information on how you can support the work and The Encouraging Word The Encouraging Word is a listener supported ministry.

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