A Compelling Testimony: Maintaining a Disciplined Walk, Christlike Character, and Godly Relationships as God's Servant

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A Compe l l i ng Tes t imony

3. We must discipline ourselves simply not to talk for the sake of quickening our ability to listen and learn before the Lord about him, Ps. 46.10.

4. Solitude allows us to cut off ourselves temporarily from the clamor of crowds, noise, media, radios, PDAs, cell phones and every other kind of “static” in our lives to rediscover the voice of the Lord.

a. Hearing the voice of God with a soft and pliable heart, Heb. 3.12-15 – Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. [13] But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitful ness of sin. [14] For we share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. [15] As it is said,"Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion." b. The need for us to hear a word of direction regarding our lives, Isa. 30.21-22 – And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. [22] Then you will defile your carved idols overlaid with silver and your gold-plated metal images. You will scatter them as unclean things. You will say to them, “Be gone!”

c. God has a commitment to inform us of his will, and direct us as we begin the journey towards it, Ps. 32.8 – I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

d. God assures us he will teach us his way, with his eye upon us.