Above & Beyond: The Voice of the Shepherd 1 Kings 18-19 | Pastor Jason Polk

In this final sermon of the Above and Beyond on Prayer series, Pastor Jason Polk dives deep into 1 Kings 18-19 and the art of listening for God's voice—the still small whisper that often goes unnoticed. He explains that while we might expect dramatic signs, God often speaks in a gentle, subtle way. Many times, we miss His voice because we aren't prepared to hear it, or we're distracted by the noise of everyday life. Pastor Jason highlights several reasons why we might not think God is speaking. He notes that we often fail to expect God to communicate, having been conditioned by past experiences or traditions that don't emphasize an active, listening relationship with Him. Additionally, our own busy lives and constant distractions drown out that quiet whisper, leaving us wondering whether what we hear is truly from God or just our own thoughts and emotions. To help us discern God's voice, Pastor Jason offers practical tips: first, test what you hear against Scripture—if it doesn't align with biblical truth (or the "Jesus test"), it's not from Him. Second, seek confirmation from your community of faith, as shared wisdom can validate what you perceive. Lastly, take time to reflect in silence, turning down the volume of the world to fully embrace that quiet, transformative moment when God speaks.    Show Chapters:    00:31 Listening to God: Understanding His Voice   06:32 How God Speaks: Biblical Examples   09:28 Elijah's Encounter with God   11:42 Understanding How God Speaks   16:09 Barriers to Hearing God's Voice   23:53 Testing the Voice of God   33:02 Learning to Listen to God   42:15 Closing Reflections and Prayer