Sermon snippet: Why Do We Struggle to Hear the Voice of God?
INTRODUCTION – Matthew 16:28-17:8 – Last week, we asked and answered the question “Why are there exceptions to death?” It is fine to ask “why?” as long as we are not putting the why into whine. In other words, we are free to ask questions if we are not questioning the character of God. This week we ask the question “Why do we struggle to hear the voice of God?” Perhaps we will answer it.
- WE STRUGGLE TO HEAR THE VOICE OF GOD BECAUSE THE CLAMOR OF THE WORLD IS INCESSANT AND NEARLY DEAFENING.
This secluded mountaintop setting (especially verses 2,3) is a picture of heaven, yet worldly ideas immediately intrude. Peter wrongly suggests that this impressive scene can be improved (see verse 4). Moreover, he does not exalt Jesus, God the Son, above Moses and Elijah and needs to be corrected by God the Father (see verse 5). The loud and insistent voice of the world is nothing new. In the Garden of Eden, Satan (“the prince of this world” – John 12:31) speaks the opposite of God’s clear words (see Genesis 3:4,5: “Ye shall not surely die” and “Ye shall be as gods” especially). The world brazenly (and wrongly) proclaims that sin has no consequences. Jesus teaches us in John 17:14, 15 that we are not to be of this world even though we must be in this world. Practical solutions would be less time on social media and less attention to the news media. Shut off some things, and filter others. Always we must increase our awareness of the influence of the world’s voice.
- WE STRUGGLE TO HEAR THE VOICE OF GOD BECAUSE EVEN BELIEVERS MAY DROWN OUT WHAT WE NEED TO HEAR.
Should we never listen to Peter because he was wrong here? Proverbs 27:17 memorably states that we need good words and good advice from others. Within the church, the pastor is commanded in Titus 2:15 to “rebuke with all authority.” A rule for all Christians is found in I Thessalonians 5:11: “Edify one another.” We know, though, that we do not always speak as we should. However, we can always listen to Jesus (see verse 5) and be certain that we are hearing exactly what we need to hear.
- WE STRUGGLE TO HEAR THE VOICE OF GOD BECAUSE WE CARRY OUR OWN NOISE.
The noise was in Peter, and he could not contain it. Let us consider two Biblical examples at polar opposites. In Exodus 4:1, 10, Moses’ inner voice of self-doubt was louder than the cogent words of God. Luke 12:13-21 presents the parable of a man who had never listened to God and instead always listened to his inner voice of self-satisfaction. We have a broad spectrum of inner noise.
CONCLUSION – We need, like Peter, to be reminded of the primacy of God’s voice (see Matthew 17:5). We need to consciously hear and see “Jesus only.” (Matt. 17:8). The vignette of John 6:66-69 reminds us that only Jesus has “the words of eternal life.” To have eternal life, we must have Jesus as our eternal Savior. If He is our Savior, we should take practical steps to hear him. Certainly, we must worship together. Individually, we each need devotional or quiet times. Along the way, when traveling, working out, working (at certain tasks – be safe!), or falling asleep (perhaps even as the pastor fails to find his conclusion the first time around), let us remember that Jesus is speaking to us and that His words are necessary, valuable, and eternal.