Experiencing God Unit 2

Study Notes

Understanding what God wants to do should be a priority. Planning without God’s guidance is pointless.
God often gives a two-part message: First, calling people to return to Him, followed by a warning if they don't.
The prophet is to convey God’s message: “This is what I have done, this is what I am doing right now, this is what I am about to do”.
Knowing what God is about to do is crucial, especially when judgment is coming.
When God called the prophets, He often had a twofold message. God’s first desire was "Call the people to return to Me." If the people failed to respond, they needed to hear God's second message: "Let them know that they are closer to judgment than they have ever been."
God’s word to the prophet was “Tell the people: this is what I have done. This is what I am doing right now. This is what I am about to do. Then call them to respond.”

God delivered Israel from Egypt with miraculous signs and wonders.
Despite all this, the Israelites didn’t trust God to conquer the Promised Land, spending 40 years wandering in the wilderness.
God had already conquered Egypt, but Israel didn’t allow Him to conquer their enemies in the Promised Land.
God wants to redeem the world. He wants to do things through people who are willing to adjust their lives to His will.
God wants to work through people, not the other way around.

George Müller was concerned that Christians had grown discouraged and had stopped expecting God to do anything unusual.
He discovered Psalm 81:10, “Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it,” and walked by faith, being a testament to God’s faithfulness.
Müller prayed for God’s guidance and provision, relying on God’s promises, not on his own ability or plans.
He built four orphan houses that cared for over 2,000 children, distributing millions of dollars given to him in answer to prayer.
Despite his wealth, his personal possessions remained minimal, a testament to his trust in God’s provision.

Character development is important in God’s work.
We need to adjust our schedules and lives to God's will.
We can’t bypass character development and expect God to use us.
We should be alert to what God wants to do in and through our lives.
God’s will is clear when prayer, Scripture, and circumstances all align.
God’s will is not always easy or convenient, but if we trust Him, we will see His work on our behalf.
When God speaks, we need to respond, even if it means waiting for God to develop our character.
When God calls someone, He develops their character to meet the demands of the assignment.

Self-centeredness can be a trap. We may confuse selfish desires with God’s will.
Self-centeredness focuses on what we can do for ourselves, not on what God wants to do for others through us.
Self-centeredness makes us believe that we are more important than God’s plan.
Our obedience should be focused on God, not on what we want out of a relationship with God.
We are to adjust our lives to God’s will, not God's plan to ours.