Hearing God Chp. 14

Chapter 14

"The Dangers in Meditation"

“Hearing God”

Peter Lord

I. The tremendous positive possibilities of life resulting from a continuing encounter with our living Lord can be threatened by the great negative possibilities of deception.

A. 2 Corinthians 11:13 "For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ."

B. 1 John 4:1-3, 6 "1Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; 3and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; and this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.

6"We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error."

II. The Danger of Seeking "To Use" God

A. The primary function of meditation is to have fellowship with God.

B. The plan of the enemy and the tendency of unregenerative flesh is to "use" God.

1. For ego exaltation

2. For successful ministry

3. For personal gain

4. For one's own ends

C. Signs that indicate falling prey to this danger of using God for our ends

1. When we find ourselves no longer just enjoying the Presence of God

2. When we find our prayers are limited to asking for things for ourselves

3. Whey we are in a hurry to get answers for our needs

4. When Christian ministry becomes the all-important thing in our life

III. The Danger of Anything Outside the Boundary of Biblical Revelation

A. The Holy Spirit will never guide us to do things that are outside the boundary lines of biblical revelation:

1. Things inconsistent with the character of God

2. Things divergent to His ordained ways

3. Things inconsistent with His explicit command

B. How to avoid this danger

1. Have an ever-increasing knowledge of God Himself He never does anything contrary to His word or His nature.

2. When in doubt, don't. Check our judgment with other believers, especially those that God has given us for our fulfillment and watch care.

a. Our partner

b. Our pastor

c. Our under shepherd

IV. The Danger of Knowledge Without Application

A. Often we substitute knowledge.

1. For love: 1 Corinthians 8:1b "Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies."

2. For obedience: James 4:17 "Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin."

B. We can avoid this danger by being more concerned about personal obedience than about knowledge.

V. The Danger of Hearing God for Others

A. Great damage has been done when one "hears from God" in these areas:

1. Physical illness and getting well

2. God's will for others:

a. For their lives

b. For their business

c. For their personal life

3. How others ought to act and things they "ought to" give up

4. The sins of other people

B. How to avoid this danger

1. Remember that God can and wants to tell people personally what His will is for them.

2. Remember that when God speaks to you about or for others, it is usually a confirming word concerning something He has already told them.

3. Remember to check carefully if we have a word (other than encouragement!) for someone and be cautious when we give it.

4. Thoughts that come to us from God about others are usually for the purpose of intercession.

VI. The Danger of Hearing God in Big Things

A. "Big things" are those things that involve other people.

1. Their resources of time

2. Their talents

3. Their money

B. How to avoid this danger

1. When others are going to be affected by our decision, give them an opportunity to hear from God.

2. When there is not unity among the leaders (church or family), it must be regarded as a caution signal to wait and seek God further until a basic unity surfaces.

3. Respect what God says through others who are involved, for each of us is vulnerable in making mistakes.

VII. The Danger of Seeking to Put Our Guidance onto Others

A. When God leads an individual into some pattern of behavior, prohibition, or call of ministry, it is unwise (and wrong) for him or her to assume that God wants everyone around to do exactly the same thing.

B. There are factors in God's revelation that are dependent on an individual's…:

1. Maturity

2. Spiritual gifting

3. God's special calling

4. God's testings

C. How to avoid this danger

1. Remember that what God says to you is for you.

2. Be cautious when testifying about it, until God releases us to do so.

3. When we do testify about our victory, avoid putting anyone else under condemnation.

VIII. The Danger of Letting What God Says to Us Be Eternal

A. God will sometimes speak to us about patterns of behavior, types of ministry, or modes of operation that are peculiarly fitted to our circumstances at that

particular moment.

B. God's blessings come because of obedience and not because of a particular procedure or behavior.

C. God, and not our behavior, is the source of all blessings.

D. How to avoid this danger

1. Remember each new level of maturity will demand new levels of behavior.

2. Remember that the Lord wants to keep us attached to Him, not to His ways; so His guidance will often involve change.

3. When the pattern we follow seems to be monotonous and dry, check to see if the Lord is leading us to a new device.

IX. The Danger of Neglecting God's Ordained Channels of Authority

A. Channels of authority

1. Home--the parents

2. Society--the government officials

3. Work--the boss

4. Church--the leaders

B. Our old nature wants to do its own thing

1. Deuteronomy 12:8 "You shall not do at all what we are doing here today, every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes."

2. Isaiah 53:6 "All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him."

C. How to avoid this danger

1. Recognize God-given authorities as God given.

a. Seek their advice.

b. Listen to their instruction and counsel.

2. Recognize our tendency to want to do our own thing.

3. Recognize that God holds us responsible to hear and obey our authorities.

4. Recognize that God uses authorities to conform us to His image; that all authorities are under His authority and He can change them or change their hearts at will.

X. The Danger of Being Too Dogmatic

A. Sometimes assurance pushes us to the place of dogmatism.

1. Expressed in what we say

2. Expressed in how we say it

B. When we need to share what God has told us, it should be done…

1. With humility

2. With caution

C. How to avoid this danger

1. Recognize that Satan is an angel of light.

2. Recognize the possibility that we might be mistaken.

3. Move cautiously and allow the Lord time to correct our mistakes.