Our name | Mission | Vision | Leaders Ministries | Schedule | Directions | Contact Home   Gateway Church gathers for worship Sundays at 10:30 a.m. Location: 6425 Jefferson Rd. (Hwy. 129) in Athens, Georgia. For directions, click here. Ministry of the Word: Recent sermons Our quarterly e-magazine Gateway Today For the Gateway family Pastor Jerry's Weekly E-Mail A GATEWAY SERMON SUMMARY AUDIO Movin' on, part 2: Growing in the prophetic Jerry Varnado, pastor Gateway Church, Athens GA May 29, 2005 Main Scripture text: Matthew 4:1-4. As a church, we're facing not only the physical challenge of moving to a new location, but also the spiritual challenge of "moving on," so we can grow in our faith and spiritual power. We must grow in these things so we can be effective co-laborers with God in fulfilling His purposes in the earth. I want to talk with you today about growing in one specific area. As a church, we need to increase in the area of "the prophetic." Here's what that means: speaking the truth and the insight of God into specific situations. To speak God's word into a situation requires that we first be able to hear when God speaks to us. In reviewing past sermons I've done on this topic, I realize now that I overwhelmed you with information. I gave you four precepts about this, five prerequisites for that, ten ways such and such happens, and so on. Frankly, I made it more difficult than it needs to be. Let me illustrate this. You can hear me right now -- and you can hear me despite the fact that you're not thinking about the nature of sound and the process by which is travels. In the same way, you and I can learn to hear from God without focusing on the all the precepts and prerequisites, even though that's all solid, biblical information. When it comes right down to it, there are only three essentials to hearing God's voice: 1) You need to ask God to speak to you. 2) You need to expect Him to answer. 3) You need to pay attention so that you hear Him when He speaks. One other thing: When God speaks, He probably won't give you anything akin to a long declaration from an Old Testament prophet. He may just give you a simple word or two. But that small bit may be the key to something that could change someone's life. The late John Wimber was the longtime pastor of the Anaheim Vineyard church in California. He was on a 747 airplane one day and God gave him a word -- literally. He looked up saw something like a neon sign over the head of a man across the aisle. On the sign was a woman's name. Finally John leaned over a whispered to the man: "Does the name Mary mean anything to you?" It turned out that this man had been in long-term affair with Mary. And, to make a long story short, the man came under conviction and John led him to the Lord. Right here in our own fellowship, two words were spoken to Matt Pearson at this altar -- words that meant something to him and that played a significant role in his decision to come to Christ several days later. Here's an assignment for you: every morning and evening this week, pray this prayer: "Lord please speak to me, I want to hear your voice." Then pay attention, expecting God to speak to you about a situation -- or about a divine appointment he wants to set up for you. Next Sunday, I want to find out what you've heard from God and what God you did with what word. Friends, if we are going to "move on" with God, we must increase in our ability to hear from Him. A mp3 audio file of this sermon is here (30:00). (Download to a PC by right clicking on the link and choosing "Save Target As." Mac users: click, hold, and choose "Download Link to Disk." Depending on your connection speed, the file may take several minutes to download.) An audio tape of the sermon summarized above is available free of charge (U.S. requests only). Request a tape by calling or writing the Gateway Church office. Please specify tape number 050529a: Movin' On, part 2: Growing in the Prophetic. © 2005 Gerald R. Varnado To the Gateway Church home page How to contact us