God Has Spoken

Text: He. 1:1-4

Introduction:

v Commercial: E. F. Hutton. When E. F. Hutton speaks, people listen. When God speaks, how many people listen?

v Communication Theory

v Sermon needs an attention getter

Ø Illus.

Ø Dilemma

Ø Story

Ø Question

v Have you ever tried to get someone's attention

Ø Yelled

Ø Touched them

Ø Sent a Letter

v God Wants Our Attention

v Speaks to us several ways

Ø In the OT He used various means to speak to man

Ø Today, He has two primary means that are inextricably linked

I. Ways God Spoke to Man in the OT

A. Theophany

1. Christophany

2. Angel of the Lord

3. Garden of Eden

4. Lot

B. Dreams & Visions

C. Providence

D. Angels

1. Two angels who visited Lot

2.

E. Word Via Prophets

F. Miracles

G. Directly

II. Ways God Spoke At the Incarnation

A. Theophany

B. Dream

1. Joseph (Mt. 1:20)

2. Wisemen (Mt. 2:12-13)

C. Angel

1. Mary (Lu. 1:26f)

2. Shepherds (Lu. 2:9f)

D. Providence

1. Census (Lu. 2:1-5)

2.

E. Miracle

1. Star (Mt. 2:2, 9-10)

2. Virgin birth

F. Directly

G. People

1. Shepherds (Lu. 2:17)

2. In the multitude of counselors there is safety

H. Word

1. Joseph via Isaiah 7 with Matthew 1:23

2. Herod (Mt. 2:5)

3. Wisemen

III. How God Speaks Today (He. 1:1-4)

A. Word

B. Son

IV. Response

A. Antagonism: Herod

B. Antipathy: Scribes

C. Anticipation: Simeon

D. Artificial (Luke 2:18)

E. Adoration

1. Shepherds

2. Wisemen

Conclusion:

v At the birth of Christ, God did everything to get man's attention. He spoke in every conceivable way. In fact, He became one of us so that we could see Him. How do you react when God speaks?

v Today, God uses various means to get our attention

Ø Word

Ø Son

Ø Providence

Ø People

v When He gets it, then you must make a choice.

Ø “He that hardeneth his heart shall suddenly be destroyed…”

Ø My story of when I started listening to God

§ Got my attention as a teen

§ Broke my arm