Recognizing God’s Voice, Emmanuel God with Us

“Recognizing God’s Voice, Emmanuel God with Us”

by Pastor Kent Munsey

December 13, 2020

This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

• Matthew 1:18-25 (NIV)

This year our faith has been tested, but we have also seen God's faithfulness. God is always with us through every storm. There is no greater time to recognize that God is with us than Christmas when we celebrate Emanuel, which means God with us. God put on flesh and became Emanuel, God with us. 

Last week we talked about Solomon who asked for a God listening heart and Joseph who heard God's voice. It is just as important for us to recognize God’s voice. When God speaks, it changes everything. In 2020 we need to turn up God's voice in our lives. 

Mathew 1:18-25 describes how Joseph had to change his intentions, perspective, and his actions when he listened to God and obeyed. Joseph was told to stay with Mary and give the baby the name Jesus, and he did. 

We need to learn to tune in to God’s voice. God is often more willing to speak than we are to listen. When we are overwhelmed with a big decision, more than ever we need to tune into God's voice. Let others speak to you with what they believe to be God's word, but don't settle until you have a specific word from God to you. 

Here are a few things to consider when we want to recognize God’s voice:

1. Is it consistent with the Bible?

Luke 21:33 talks about the importance of the Bible. Proverbs 12:19 talks about truth. We can rely on the Bible to guide us. God's word is never invented but only rediscovered. The virgin birth was a miracle already recorded in Biblical prophecy and not something Mary came up with on her own. Joseph too was able to go back to prophetic accounts of a virgin birth. He was able to confirm his experience and relate it to scripture.

2. Does my church family affirm this?

Ephesians 3:10 says God’s wisdom is made known to rulers and authorities, including the church. And God had already spoken to many generations before. This pattern is how he works. Joseph did not have a crazy dream. It was embedded in God’s pattern. Luke 2 talks about the word coming through Elizabeth. She helped Mary to understand her role because two are better than one. A cord of three strands is not easily broken when God is in the mix. There is power in agreement, power in the ecclesia, the community of the called-out ones. That is why we should process with each other what we think we are hearing. We must strengthen, encourage, and affirm one another. 

3. Is it consistent with how God has wired me?

Ephesians 2:10 says God has prepared works in advance for us to do. Romans 2:12 sees us being under the law that is submitted to God’s plan. Joseph was the strong silent type. His actions spoke much louder than his words. Joseph was going to do what he thought was right but considered God and Mary and changed his mind. He gave baby Jesus his name, according to prophecy. His silent strength was his obedience. Joseph's quiet disposition and silent strength make him one of the most influential men in all of scripture. God prepared Joseph to do good works. God is never going to ask you to do something that is outside of the way he designed you. 

4. Does it concern me?

We live in a time where we have to comment on everything and where every opinion is equal. If we're not careful we can give ourselves permission to get involved in others' lives and say whatever we think or feel all the time. The truth is that we all judge, but the question is are we judging righteously? There are times when we are supposed to judge, but oftentimes we spend too much time judging. When we believe that God has given us a word for someone else, we have to ask ourselves if God has given us the relationship and the responsibility that allows us to speak into that person’s life. 

5. Is it convicting or condemning?

There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. Satan is the accuser of the believers. The difference between condemnation and conviction is that condemnation causes us to run from God, but conviction causes us to run to God. It is not our job to speak God's word to one another in a condemning way. The truth spoken in love will convict us in a way that is life-giving.

6. Does it produce God’s peace?

1 Corinthians 4:13 tells us that God is not the author of confusion. Peace is not just a fruit of the spirit, but peace is a person whose name is Jesus. One way to rephrase this question is: does it produce more of Jesus in me? 

The greatest quality we can have is the ability to hear God. When we can hear God it changes us from the inside out. 

Reflection/Discussion Questions:

1. How well can you hear God and recognize his voice? What do you believe he is speaking to you now? 

2. Which of these questions helps you the most in discerning what God may be saying to you at this time? 

3. Write down some examples of when you recognized the voice of God, what he said to you, and how you responded.