IPODS and the Voice of God

7/20/2009

Gordon Douglas - CCA Chaplain

I love my IPOD.  My kids have loaded my favorite praise and worship music on it, and yes, there are a few of my OLD Albums they converted to CD’s and loaded on it.  So if I want to hear Englebert I get to hear Englebert, or enjoy the harmony’s of the Letterman, or raise the roof with Sandi Patty, or shake a leg with Bill Haley and the Comets, I can do it. (I actually did my first night club show for Rudy Pompilli the saxophone player for Bill Haley.)  There is also about 200 old time radio shows that I can click on and laugh along with as I drive to my next program.  I love it. I can hear what I want, when I want.  No commercial breaks, no annoying DJ’s - I just put on my earphones and shut out the world and hear what I want to hear!
 
Then I read my devotional this morning.  Hebrews 1:1 says “God, Who, in various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last day spoken to us by His Son.”  God speaks to us… wow… in various ways! double wow!!
 
The first miracle is that God would speak to us at all - but He does. That is Grace. 
 
At the CCA conference, some wanted to rub shoulders with Ken Davis, or pick Brad Steins brain, or bounce ideas off of John Branyan or Tim Hawkins.  And as great and knowledgeable as they are, there is someone else you need to hear from.  God wants to speak to you.
 
The second thing is how God speaks is not limited to one or two ways like my IPOD.  It could be a pastor in church or on the radio,  or prophet in the world who God uses to  communicate to us.  It could be a dream, or an angel, it might be a friend or worse yet, an enemy!  Why He could even be speaking to us through circumstances.   Blackabee wrote, “Don’t limit yourself to a method, expecting only to hear from your Father in predictable ways.  Rather, open yourself up to the other means by which God wants to commune with you.  Ask the Holy Spirit to sensitize you to God’s message at all times –in every location, under any circumstance.  Then , you will experience God in entirely new dimensions as you are receptive to His voice.” 
 
That God speaks, is the first  miracle – be grateful, be humbled.
Second, know HOW God speaks… and be listening.  Jesus said something about “Let him who has an ear, let him hear!” 
 
And when you know WHAT God is saying?  We need to respond.
 
Most of us sang this chorus as kids…”The wise man built his house upon the rocks…3x…  ( go ahead, do the motions) and the rain came down and the flood came up... and the house on the rock stood firm!
 
But the first line of Jesus’ parable was “ Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like the wise man who builds his house upon the rock!”  Math 6: 24  Are you doing what God says?
 
God’s message is so much more then the game Red Light/Green light.  Most of us would be thrilled to have a clear GO! or STOP! or even WAIT!  But there is so much more- it is a relationship that begins and ends with communicating His love for us.  My son was heading back to college recently, he was leaving early, (I’d like to say it was to study but there is a girl in the picture now.)   We were still eating dinner.  He grabbed is book bag and clean laundry and said his usual, “I’m outta here!” as he walked to the door.  My wife had her mouth full.  But she never lets a child leave the house without a “Be Good, Be Careful, and I LOVE YOU!”  To which he usually yells back over his shoulder, “Love you too!”   But, since she was chewing and trying to say what we have heard 1000’s of times, I mimicked her soft sweet voice, “Be Good, Be Careful, I love you!”  He stopped in the hall, looked back- no yelling over the shoulder, and said, “I LOVE YOU, TOO!”

We all need to hear about God’s love, everyday. And God says it everyday - sometimes a whisper, sometimes a shout, sometimes a song, sometimes a provision, sometimes by saying NO, sometimes as hard as it is to believe, we hear it in His discipline of us.
 
When we don’t’ get the answer we want to our prayers, when the timing is not as fast as we want (especially in getting more bookings and going “full time”) we think God doesn’t know, or worse yet, God doesn’t care. Nothing could be further from the truth.
 
He knows, He cares, and He is not limited in ways to answer your prayer.
 
My advice to all who have an ear, is to check out your reception.  My wife has said, I only hear what I want to hear.  This could explain my love of my IPOD.  As one of the CCA chaplains, I know things are going tough for many of you.  Finances, marriage, health issues, and many many feeling their comedy career has stalled or failed.
 
Biblically, we are to give thanks in all things.  So take a step of Faith and thank Him for this time.  Go ahead say it. “Lord, I don’t like this, I don’t understand this, but in faith I am saying thanks and believing you will use this for good!”
 
Don’t waste this time!  If God seems silent, make sure there is nothing in your life that may have hindered the connection.  Ask God to show you if there is some sin that needs to be dealt with.  Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me Oh God and know my heart, try me and know my anxious thoughts, See if there be any hurtful way and lead me in the everlasting way.”
 
But know this…. Silence doesn’t always mean there is a sin issue.
 
Delays of love?  Delays come sometimes, cause we are not ready, professionally or in maturity.  Remember the movie line shouted by Jack Nicholson.. “You can’t handle the truth!”  The truth is, some are in sin and want to be blessed, some are not ready comedy wise for a bigger career, and some would not be able to handle success, fame, or the temptations on the road we learned about the last CCA convention from Pastor Sam.  Sometimes there are delays because of God’s bigger picture.  THEY may not be ready.  So use the time wisely.
 
Confirm your calling. To me, this Christian comedy thing is not about who is the funniest.  Though we do need to work on our “act” and do what we do to the best of our ability. But more then the funny stuff, it is about ministry.  There are so many factors on why folks are wanting to get into Christian comedy.  Two reasons are nicer audiences, and bigger pay then most clubs!  But the calling to minister is different.  It should be to meet a need or to convey a truth that our lives demonstrate.  And let me say as a pastor, why should I hire a comedian?  The church is the Bride of Christ, not a booking agency or a comedy club.  As a shepherd I want something that will help my sheep, or add to my sheepfold.  What do you have to offer the church besides laughter?  Has God called you to this?
 
To hear God’s voice- make sure there is a good connection.  Be Listening and looking for answers.  But first make sure you are asking the right questions.?
 
Is your life right with God?  Have you ever asked God "what do you want me to do?"  “Commit your way to the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart !” (Note:  this verse does not say He will give you what you desire, but He will help you want what He wants.  He will give you the desire after you commit you life to Him!)
 
Have you ever asked God to make you into the person He wants you to be?  (That often explains the difficulties many are in.  He is, in fact, refining you, purging you, and conforming you into the image of His Son)   If everything is going wrong, it may be sin.  It could be the Devil, but it just might be God getting you ready for even better blessings.  A good tip is to pray, “Lord, use this tough time for your glory!”  If there is sin, deal with it.   If it is the Devil, it will stop when God is being glorified and if it is the Lord’s loving chastening, it will end when you are ready for what God wants you to do next. 

So stop fighting, doubting, complaining, whining and cooperate with HIM and it will end quicker.  Oh, how I wish someone would have told me this 20 years ago!

Life is not like my IPOD.  We don’t always get to pick the songs we want.  God has a plan and it is perfect. Earphones can shut out part of the world, but I believe it was Phillip Yancey’s book on suffering that said something like “Pain (tough times), is God’s Megaphone!”   (actually the quote is much better then that, but that is what I remember.  Maybe someone can E-mail me the entire quote.) 
 
So are you going through tough times?  Remember God knows, God cares, and He really does love you.

Now,  What else is God saying to you ?  Take off the earphones, and listen.