God Talks when Man Listens – The Cycle

Ever wonder if God hears you? 

Think about the vicious cycle man has put God through and yet God has always been patient with man.

The Bible is the recorded evidence of man keeping this cycle going and of God being faithful.

God created the Garden of Eden and walked in it talking with man.  Genesis 1-3

Man quits talking to God and begins listening to other voices.  The results: getting kicked out of the garden.

God is in regular communication with the offspring Cain and Abel.  Cain decides God is not worthy of his best. Genesis 4

Man quits talking to God and decides to take things into his own hands.  The results: further separation from God.

There are only two recorded cases of men communicating with God BEFORE the flood.  In Genesis 4:26 when Enos the grandson of Adam is born it states that “then began men to call upon the name of the Lord”.  Genesis 5:24 Enoch walked with God

By the time Noah comes along; in Genesis 6:9 and is recorded as having walked with God, the world is so corrupt and evil; God has to destroy it

Noah’s sons repopulate earth, but forget to keep talking to God.

God has attempted to communicate with the entire race, but now plans to work thru one man!

He chooses a select group and sets up a chosen nation. It works Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph all talked with God.

But then, their descendents over the next 400 years forget to talk to God.  Until they “decide they need his help again”.

When they cry out, he raises men who will talk to Him again.

Out of the pages we see great men by the name of Moses and Joshua.

Then right on cue, as expected, they quit talking to God. Then come all the Judges.

When a Judge is around they call on God. Once the Judge is gone back they go to forgetting the deliverance.

Then the Reign of Kings begins.  People demand a king, since they had already proven they did not want to listen to God.

God talks to Saul, the First king; he eventually forgets who gave him the throne and the throne is removed.

God gives the throne to David; a man after God’s own heart.  What does David do with that High Praise?  One word: Bathsheba.

God puts a son of David on the throne.  Solomon: A man so “in tune” with God.  So much so, that God gives him whatever he wants. Solomon asks for “wisdom”.    He has so much wisdom that he is not smart enough to realize how much idolatry and evil his hundreds of wives bring in!

Generations of evil men rule a kingdom that ends up divided in two.

Prophets talk with God but the two nations do not.  The results:  the two nations scattered

400 years of silence……Was God silent? He had been trying to talk for thousands of years and no one would be quiet and listen!

 

So, the NEW plan….

Then the ultimate attempt to talk with man; sending His Son to be born in a stable in Bethlehem.  God talks DIRECTLY with man. In person this time, down at man’s level, walking among them.

Many believe and listen.  Many sadly do not. Christ is crucified on Calvary.  The ultimate refusal man can make to say that he will not talk with God.

Those that believe go into the entire world with the power of the Holy Spirit.  Man kills the believers and gets silent once again.

What a surprise………

From the seeds planted by the early church, coordinated religion is birthed.  In order to talk to God, one now is expected to perform ritualistically and a God will answer.

In response men who walk with God begin to speak out concerning the reality of worship to the true God. The results: Revivals throughout the world.

Man goes silent again. He has EVERYTHING he needs. What is God?

Israel becomes a NATION once again and steps onto the stage. The end of the Book has now begun!

 

WHERE ARE WE NOW TODAY?

Man has gone silent…………….

God is talking……………..

DOES ANYONE HEAR HIM?  WHEN HE HAS TO SHOUT THIS TIME…… EVERYONE WILL LISTEN TO THE END OF THE SCRIPT