2. I long to hear your voice O GodI long to hear your voice O God
3. How can I have a closer more personalHow can I have a closer more personal
relationship with Jesus?relationship with Jesus?
4. How can I more clearly know GodHow can I more clearly know God’’s will?s will?
5. Revelation 3:14-16
14
"To the angel of the church in Laodicea
write:
These are the words of the Amen, the
faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's
creation. 15
I know your deeds, that you are
neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either
one or the other! 16
So, because you are
lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about
to spit you out of my mouth.
6. Revelation 3:17-18
17
You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and
do not need a thing.' But you do not realize
that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and
naked. 18
I counsel you to buy from me gold
refined in the fire, so you can become rich;
and white clothes to wear, so you can cover
your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on
your eyes, so you can see.
7. Why is success suchWhy is success such
a disappointment?a disappointment?
8. Why does happiness still eludeWhy does happiness still elude
us even when we haveus even when we have
what we want?what we want?
9. Revelation 3:14-16
14
"To the angel of the church in Laodicea
write:
These are the words of the Amen, the
faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's
creation. 15
I know your deeds, that you are
neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either
one or the other! 16
So, because you are
lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about
to spit you out of my mouth.
10. Revelation 3:17-18
17
You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and
do not need a thing.' But you do not realize
that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and
naked. 18
I counsel you to buy from me gold
refined in the fire, so you can become rich;
and white clothes to wear, so you can cover
your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on
your eyes, so you can see.
11. How do you begin to look at lifeHow do you begin to look at life
from a heavenly perspective?from a heavenly perspective?
12. Revelation 3:19-22
19
Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.
So be earnest, and repent. 20
Here I am! I stand
at the door and knock. If anyone hears my
voice and opens the door, I will come in and
eat with him, and he with me. 21
To him who
overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me
on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down
with my Father on his throne. 22
He who has an
ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the
churches."
13. It is not too late to get this
straightened out:
Here we see a church whose members are
respected, rich, envied by many, and think
their frustration will disappear when they
accumulate a little more power and money.
They have no idea their emotional distress
comes because their spirit desperately seeks
God.
14. It is not too late to get this
straightened out:
All external measures tell them they are doing
well, but rather than gratitude to God, they
assume just a little more and life will be
perfect. Jesus reveals reality! They are in
desperate condition! And, unless they need
fellowship with Jesus to squelch their
emptiness rather than more worldly goods,
they will miss God’s blessings.
15. It is not too late to get this
straightened out:
By turning to Christ, inviting him into their
heart and establishing that fellowship they can
receive a new desire to follow the Lord’s
leadership, listen to the Holy Spirit rather than
the world, then the Lord will bless them
beyond measure.
16. Questions for discussion:
How did this story impact you? Did it give
you a hunger to know God in this way? Or did
it just raise more questions for you?
What if God spoke to you the way that He
spoke to Corey, would you go and do what the
Lord said to do if He spoke to you?
17. Questions for discussion:
Is repentance a regular part of your life, or do
you find yourself resisting the thought of
repenting before God?
Is the idea that your situation is desperate and
that you need God more than you can possibly
comprehend offensive, challenging, or a
relief?
18. Heart barriers that this passage
addresses:
How could God ever speak to me the way that
he spoke to Corey?
When people talk about repentance it sounds
judgmental to me.
Trusting someone you can’t see with the very
real important decisions of life seems suspect
to me.
19. Listen To Jesus And Invite Him Into Your Life
Behold, I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears my voice
and opens the door, I will come In and eat with him and he
with Me. – Rev. 3:20
20. Listen To Jesus And Do What He Says
He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear what the
Spirit is saying to the churches. – Revelation 3:22
Therefore everyone who hears these words of mineTherefore everyone who hears these words of mine
and puts them into practice is like a wise man whoand puts them into practice is like a wise man who
built his house on the rock. - Matthew 7:24built his house on the rock. - Matthew 7:24
21. Prayer Time:
Tell the Lord that if He wants to use you the way He
used Corey, you are willing for Him to do this in your
life.
Apologize for the lack of desperation in the way that
you seek Him.
Ask the Lord to convict you through the power of the
Holy Spirit so that you will know what you need to
repent of before Him.
Spend time sitting quietly before Him with a listening
heart.
23. Are you intrigued by the possibilityAre you intrigued by the possibility
of knowing Godof knowing God’’s will ands will and
plan for your life?plan for your life?
24. ““My sheep listen to my voice,My sheep listen to my voice,
I know them, and they follow me.I know them, and they follow me.””
John 10:27John 10:27
25. When you are by yourself and you are aloneWhen you are by yourself and you are alone
with your thoughts, do you know thatwith your thoughts, do you know that
You are accepted by God?You are accepted by God?
26. ““I give them eternal life and they shall neverI give them eternal life and they shall never
perish, no one can snatch themperish, no one can snatch them
out of my hand.out of my hand.””
John 10:28John 10:28
27. What would have to change in your lifeWhat would have to change in your life
so that you could yield your heartso that you could yield your heart
to the Lordto the Lord’’s leadership?s leadership?
28. What if God tells me to do somethingWhat if God tells me to do something
that I donthat I don’’t want to do?t want to do?
29. But I like beingBut I like being
In charge.In charge.
31. But what if I miss out on things thatBut what if I miss out on things that
I really want?I really want?
32. But I am more afraid of what otherBut I am more afraid of what other
People think than whatPeople think than what
God thinks.God thinks.
33. IsnIsn’’t it possible to go reallyt it possible to go really
overboard about God?overboard about God?
34. Have you ever considered the possibility thatHave you ever considered the possibility that
surrendering to Jesussurrendering to Jesus’’ leadership mightleadership might
actually be fun or like going onactually be fun or like going on
an adventure?an adventure?
35. ““I have come that they mightI have come that they might
have life and that it mighthave life and that it might
be full and meaningful.be full and meaningful.””
John 10:10John 10:10
36. Heart Barriers to hearing the
Lord’s Voice:
I don’t want to lose control of my life.
What if God tells me to do something that I
don’t want to do?
Can God really be trusted to lead my life?
What if I mishear from God and mess up not
only my life but the lives of my family?
37. Prayer Time:
Share honestly with the Lord where you are
with the challenge to surrender to His
leadership.
If you are fearful of making this kind of
surrender, ask the Lord to bring to your mind
anything that might be causing you to be afraid.
Surrender to the Lord, and tell Him that where
He leads you, you will follow.
44. Our Father, Who Art In HeavenOur Father, Who Art In Heaven
Lord, I want a close personal relationship with you.Lord, I want a close personal relationship with you.
45. Heart Barrier to listening to God:
Our natural tendency is to retreat from God
rather than to seek God.
10
As it is written:
"There is no one righteous, not even one;
11
there is no one who understands,
no one who seeks God.”
Romans 3:10-11
46. Hallowed Be Thy NameHallowed Be Thy Name
Lord, I want to give you the respectLord, I want to give you the respect
And honor that you deserve.And honor that you deserve.
47. Heart Barrier to Listening Prayer:
We are more concerned about what people
think rather than what God thinks.
"And when you pray, do not be like the
hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in
the synagogues and on the street corners to be
seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have
received their reward in full. But when you
pray, go into your room, close the door and
pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your
Father, who sees what is done in secret, will
reward you.” Matthew 6:5-6
48. Thy Kingdom ComeThy Kingdom Come
ItIt’’s not about me Lord, but its not about me Lord, but it’’ss
about youabout you..
49. Heart Barrier to Listening to God:
We pursue what the world has to offer rather than
pursuing God’s will and plan for our lives.
15
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If
anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not
in him. 16
For everything in the world—the cravings of
sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of
what he has and does—comes not from the Father
but from the world. 17
The world and its desires pass
away, but the man who does the will of God lives
forever. - I John 2:15-17
50. Thy Will Be Done, On Earth As It Is In Heaven.Thy Will Be Done, On Earth As It Is In Heaven.
Lord, I donLord, I don’’t want what I want, I want whatt want what I want, I want what
you want.you want.
51. Heart Barrier to Listening to God:
We are afraid of what it will cost us to follow
Jesus.
23Then Jesus said to them all: "If anyone
would come after me, he must deny himself
and take up his cross daily and follow me.
Luke 9:23
52. Give Us This Day Our Daily BreadGive Us This Day Our Daily Bread
Lord, I trust you.Lord, I trust you.
53. Heart Barrier to Listening to God:
We are afraid of what will happen if we really
trust God.
33
But seek first his kingdom and his
righteousness, and all these things will be given
to you as well.
Mathew 6:33
54. And Forgive Us Our TrespassesAnd Forgive Us Our Trespasses
Lord, there is a problem between you and me,Lord, there is a problem between you and me,
and Iand I’’m the problem.m the problem.
55. Heart Barrier to Listening to God:
We want to make up our own rules rather than
to follow the Lord’s rules for living.
6
We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah 53:6
56. As We Forgive Those Who Trespass Against UsAs We Forgive Those Who Trespass Against Us
Lord, who do I need to forgive?Lord, who do I need to forgive?
57. Heart Barrier to Listening to God:
We want people to have to pay for what they
have done to us, and our bitterness toward
them is part of what they have to pay.
14
For if you forgive men when they sin against
you, your heavenly Father will also forgive
you. 15
But if you do not forgive men their sins,
your Father will not forgive your sins.
Matthew 6:14-15
58. And Lead Us Not Into TemptationAnd Lead Us Not Into Temptation
Lord, lead me away from anything that wouldLord, lead me away from anything that would
entice me to fall away from you.entice me to fall away from you.
59. Heart Barrier to Listening to God:
We don’t want to give up our addictions to
sin.
19
This is the verdict: Light has come into the
world, but people loved darkness instead of
light because their deeds were evil. 20
Everyone
who does evil hates the light, and will not
come into the light for fear that his deeds will
be exposed. - John 3:19-20
60. But Deliver Us From The Evil One.But Deliver Us From The Evil One.
Lord, thank you for victory that is oursLord, thank you for victory that is ours
in Jesusin Jesus’’ name.name.
61. Heart Barrier to Listening to God:
We don’t want to really believe that Satan is
real, and that he can impact our lives by
deceiving us about God’s truth.
44
You belong to your father, the devil, and you
want to carry out your father's desire. He was
a murderer from the beginning, not holding to
the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he
lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a
liar and the father of lies. - John 8:44
62. For Thine Is The Kingdom, And The Power,For Thine Is The Kingdom, And The Power,
And The Glory Forever. AmenAnd The Glory Forever. Amen
Lord, I want to worship and honor youLord, I want to worship and honor you
with all of my heart.with all of my heart.
63. Heart Barrier to Listening to God:
We think it is safer to worship by just going through
the motions with a disengaged heart rather than truly
surrendering our hearts to the Lord.
7
You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied
about you:
8
" 'These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
9
They worship me in vain;
their teachings are but rules taught by men."
Matthew 15:7-9
64. Prayer time
Dear Lord,
This is very humbling Lord to realize that I
am so resistant to really getting close to
you. I confess Lord that it is difficult for
me to really trust you enough to surrender
to your leadership.
65. Prayer Time
It’s like I always want to hold something back
in reserve so that I can be secure in case
you don’t come through for me in the way
that I would like you to. Thank you for
your patience Lord as I continue to make
these discoveries about myself. Help me
Lord. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen
