How can I know for sure that something is from you and not my flesh or the devil? Adam & Eve o Gen. 3:1-13 Even though the serpent said something different from what the LORD God said, Eve still listened. They knew the sound of God walking in the garden, and they knew the sound of his voice (evidenced here), so why was Eve deceived? Abraham & Sarah o Gen. 15:1-5; 17:15-17; 18:1-15 Regarding promise of Isaac and having a great nation born to Abraham by Sarah. Abraham seems to discern God’s voice, but Sarah laughs at it. o Gen. 22 The Akedat - Sacrifice of Isaac. Abraham discerned God’s voice even though God was saying something pretty much unbelievable Gideon o Judges 6:11-39 Some of this doesn’t seem to be totally related, but it may be important context (like Joash defending his son Gideon). God performs 3 miracles for Gideon in the course of this chapter (not counting sending an angel in the first place) to show that God would do as he said. First there was the sacrifice, and fire came from the rock to consume it. Then there were the 2 fleece incidents Samuel o 1 Samuel 1:21-28; 1 Samuel 3:1-21 The LORD speaks to Samuel, but at first neither Eli nor Samuel recognized the voice as the LORD’s because the LORD didn’t speak to people much in that time – they weren’t used to it So God will at times remain silent – if people aren’t listening, he may not speak What was it about this time that made God not speak much? What can we say about our time and how we hear God? Balaam o Numbers 22 Balaam hears God, but goes the other way. He doesn’t stop until his donkey talks. God will reach us somehow, but if we don’t hear when he first speaks to us, he will send another way, which may be humiliating. Jonah o Book of Jonah Jonah discerned God’s voice well enough, just chose to ignore it. He did not well enough discern God’s heart. Jesus being tempted in wilderness o Matt. 4:1-11 Satan tries to use Scripture to convince/tempt Jesus, but Jesus has an answer for every one. Satan takes the Scripture out of context - but Jesus knows the truth. Pride - Satan hit Jesus with prideful temptations
Advent related stories Zechariah: Luke 1:5-20 Joseph: Matt Simeon: Luke
Group 1: o Read Gen. 3:1-13 & Matt. 4:1-11 o How does Satan try to test each person? o What is each person’s response and the result?
Group 2: o Read Ephesians 6:10-18 o What does this passage say about how to prepare for discernment?
Group 3: o Read Numbers 22 o How was God communicating with Balaam? What did it take for him to actually pay attention? o To what lengths will God go to get someone’s attention? (might consider Jonah as well) And what does this mean for us if we aren’t hearing/listening?
Group 4: o Read Judges 6:11-39 o What did God ask Gideon to do? o What was Gideon’s response? o Why do you think God allowed Gideon to question as he did? o Read Luke 1:5-20 Compare/contrast Zechariah’s story with Gideon’s What do you think?
John 10:5 - trust that God hears you