Everything That Responds to God’s Voice Changes

Everything that responds to God’s voice changes! Genesis 1:6-13

And God said, Let there be a firmament [the expanse of the sky] in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters [below] from the waters [above].

7 And God made the firmament [the expanse] and separated the waters which were under the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse. And it was so.

8 And God called the firmament Heavens. And there was evening and there was morning, a second day.

9 And God said, Let the waters under the heavens be collected into one place [of standing], and let the dry land appear. And it was so.

10 God called the dry land Earth, and the accumulated waters He called Seas. And God saw that this was good (fitting, admirable) and He approved it.

11 And God said, Let the earth put forth [tender] vegetation: plants yielding seed and fruit trees yielding fruit whose seed is in itself, each according to its kind, upon the earth. And it was so.

12 The earth brought forth vegetation: plants yielding seed according to their own kinds and trees bearing fruit in which was their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good (suitable, admirable) and He approved it.

13 And there was evening and there was morning, a third day.

• From earlier verse, we see the Spirit of God was moving even in the formless, dark and empty earth
• And where He moves, everything that respond to His voice, changes – Same as today, 

• It’s exactly what the Word of God says in Isaiah 55:11 (NLT)– It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.”

• It seems that there was water everywhere, and God says – let there be a space (stretched-out space) in between the waters 
• He separated waters from below and waters above 
• And He called the expanse sky 
• Wait a minute, you mean we are in dome of water? – This has been debated and given many different meaning – most people believe that the water above is still water but inform of vapor
• Even though it doesn’t really matter because there are still some really big things that I am still trying to figure out how they works  
• Those things that makes me go- How does He knows the numbers of my hair even though I grow and lose hair every day (8 Billion people) , how He tells the water in the sea to stop…. Definitely, His ways are higher than my ways – says the Lord 
• Who here has heard of Pineapple Express – is a well-known type of atmospheric river that brings moisture from around Hawaii to the U.S. West Coast
• These atmospheric rivers in the in the sky are typically 250–375 miles wide and can stretch for thousands of miles
• A strong atmospheric river can carry more water than the Mississippi River—up to 15 times as much moisture
• When He said that there be a space in between- well there you have it! 
• God called the expanse above heaven 
• And there was evening and there was morning, the second day – I love that statement – That, what God had created and said it was good, still was good the following day 
• Then God told the waters under the heaven to gather in one place and the ocean, river, seas were made – and dry land appears 
• And God saw that it was good!
• Then God goes on to make the world more beautiful and productive- Vegetation, plants yielding seeds, fruit trees bearing fruits, each according to its kind 
• And there was evening and there was morning 

1. God brings order in everything

• Genesis 1:1-3 (Nlt) The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.

• In this place nothing existed, however there was movement – The Spirit of God was there
• This reminds me of Psalm 139:7–10(NLT) I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence!8 If I go up to heaven, you are there;  if I go down to the grave,[a] you are there.9 If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, 10 even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.
• This shows us inescapable presence of God — no matter where we go, His presence remains
• I love that unlike us humans, all that it takes is a Word/command/ one instant -from God and chaos turn into order!
  • Come and follow me – the disciples followed Him – Lives changed instantly 
  • One touch from the fridge of His robe – and the woman with a chronic sickness is instantly healed 

• • Mark 4:39 (NLT)- When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm

• • Luke 4:33-35 (NLT) – 33 Once when he was in the synagogue, a man possessed by a demon—an evil[a] spirit—cried out, shouting, 34 “Go away! Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” 35 But Jesus reprimanded him. “Be quiet! Come out of the man,” he ordered. At that, the demon threw the man to the floor as the crowd watched; then it came out of him without hurting him further.
• I give you multiple examples, so that you can know that – Jesus is in the business of bringing order where there is chaos
• It doesn’t matter how bad the situation, the place, person, thing, mistake – He is able!
• I love that in life, in order for you to clean a mess, you have to be willing to step in the mess 
• And here we see the Spirit of God moving over the dark, formless, and empty space  
• God doesn’t just speak from far, but the Bible says “The spirit of God was Moving “hovering, brooding (amp) over the face of the earth 
• This speaks so much of the character of God – that He is not scared to get into your mess and bring order 
• Him sending His only son – Jesus to come live with people, deal with them daily and die on the cross – shows how much God is not willing for you to go at it alone 
• Psalm 56:8 (NLT) You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.
• God is not removed from the situations you are going through
• No matter how messy you think your situation is – He is ok with being over it – Not to condemn you but to set you free from it 
• I love that He spoke and the chaos (disorder, confusion, turmoil, disruption) came to obedience – because when God speaks, everything that responds to Gods voice changes!  
• John 4:1–42 (Homework) – 
  • Jesus encounters a Samaritan woman at the well 
  • She is surprised that Jesus a man, and a Jew is even talking to her
  • They have a conversation that leads to Jesus asking her to go get her husband 

• John 4: 17-18 (NLT) “I don’t have a husband,” the woman replied. Jesus said, “You’re right! You don’t have a husband— 18 for you have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!”

• Here we uncover the chaos in this woman’s life, she has had 5 husbands – She is probably the talk of the town, she is labelled, she feels alone – hence she kept getting married
• Doesn’t sound like there is a lot of order in her life – if any 
• Her response, its complicated – my life is complicated – I don’t need to share this because no one is going to understand and if they hear it, they will reject me 
• At times we are like this woman, we summarize – How are you doing – I am doing fine! 
• We take the same approach in our speaking to God a.k.a Praying – I am doing all alright – while there are 4 other things going on that have had an effect on your life- thing that still controls you, things that make you fearful of commitment, things that stops you from being who God has called you 
• Everything that respond to God’s voice changes! – Let God speak to those things today and watch them change! 

• All it took was to respond to Jesus words and we have John 1:29 “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?” 30 So the people came streaming from the village to see him.

• What do you need to give up to God today – I am speaking to those things that seem dead in your life 
• John 11:43-44 – Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!”

• Luke 7:14-15 (NLT) – Then he walked over to the coffin and touched it, and the bearers stopped. “Young man,” he said, “I tell you, get up.” 15 Then the dead boy sat up and began to talk! And Jesus gave him back to his mother.

• Everything that responds to God’s voice changes!

• This evening God want to bring order in your situation 
• He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow –Everything that responds to His voice changes!

2. God creates good things 

• My family and I took a few days and went to Northern most part of Washington – Cape flattery 
• This is the second time we have been there and if you have not been, you should take that drive and go see it 
• The world is a beautiful place – and sometimes we forget that our Creator made it so 

• 10 God called the dry land Earth, and the accumulated waters He called Seas. And God saw that this was good (fitting, admirable) and He approved it.

• God said it was admirable – approved it – I love that 
• And this is just the plants – How about you – Made in the image of God!!

• Psalm 139:14 (NLT) I will give thanks and praise to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.

• Someone here today needs to let their soul know this and know it well!

• Matthew 6:28–30 (NLT) – 28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

• The world has become so loud that we forget some really basic things 

• 12 The earth brought forth vegetation: plants yielding seed according to their own kinds and trees bearing fruit in which was their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good (suitable, admirable) and He approved it.

• That the water, plants and vegetation was approved and admired by God, Yet He says that YOU – are more precious than all these and that he will certainly care for you!
• This is the foundational truth – and unfortunately some of you, your starting point is what the world has told you and hence you can’t comprehend the love that God has for you!
• All those negative things that your family, world, work, friends, spouses, parent have told you contrary to what God has said about you are the dark world, void and with no life – You need to let God in and let Him speak into your heart and respond to Him because  – Everything that responds to God’s voice changes!

3. God designed creation to be fruitful

11 And God said, Let the earth put forth [tender] vegetation: plants yielding seed and fruit trees yielding fruit whose seed is in itself, each according to its kind, upon the earth. And it was so.

12 The earth brought forth vegetation: plants yielding seed according to their own kinds and trees bearing fruit in which was their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good (suitable, admirable) and He approved it.

• I love that God is a God of order- He doesn’t require that the plant to produce fruits before the foundation is put in place 
• The same applies to us, God offers us an opportunity for Him to come in our lives, bring order, install how precious we are in His eyes (change how we see ourselves), creates a strong foundation, plants seeds and then He requires us to produce fruits 
• Psalm 139:12-16 (NLT) You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb 14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. 15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
• Psalm 139:16 (AMP) -Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were appointed for me, When as yet there was not one of them [even taking shape].
• You have a daily appointment set for you – whether you make the appointment or not its up to you!
• I see some of you trying to produce as commanded, however, you have not let God heal you first, nurse your wounds and lay a strong foundation that can be used – You can’t skip the steps – Otherwise you are bleeding and everyone you touch, you are just bleeding over them 
• Here is the solution, commit your life to Christ, remember Him alone is able to bring order in everything 
• Matthew 6:33 (NLT) –  Seek the Kingdom of God[a] above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
• Accept that He and only He can restore you to the “Good thing that He created) 
• And then, you will fulfil your command to produce fruit 
• ‘A fruit tree never eats its own fruit. The fruit is for others.’ This reminds me that the gifts, talents, and blessings we carry aren’t just for our own benefit, they’re meant to nourish those around us. 
• Just like a tree provides shade, fruit, and life to others, we’re called to live in a way that serves, blesses, and uplifts the body of Christ. 
• True purpose is found not in what we keep, but in what we give.” Hence the Bible says in Acts 20:35 – It’s better to give than to receive!
• 13 And there was evening and there was morning, a third day. – Life goes on 
• Remember – Everything that responds to God’s voice changes!
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