ESTABLISHED: Hearing God
Notes
Transcript
Have you ever considered how many voices are speaking to you every day? Of course, we interact regularly with friends and family, classmates and coworkers, but this is barely the beginning. Every day, we are listening to the voices of television, books, podcasts, music or talk radio, movies, newspapers, Twitter feeds and Facebook streams, and on and on.
As Christians, one of the most important questions we can ask is, “Am I hearing God’s voice?”
Are we hearing God’s voice in the Bible as just another sliver of noise in the echo chamber of our minds? Or do we give God’s word the undistracted audience it deserves? Think through the habits of your life, the voices you listen to — does God’s voice shape and color, amplify or silence the other voices you hear? What we hear and what we listen to every day is the material that will make up our faith (Romans 10:17).
17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Are you letting God’s word feed your faith?
God communicates on a daily bases through various means.
15 As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.
16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.
Handfuls on Purpose for Christian Workers and Bible Students, Series I–XIII The Good Shepherd (John 10:11–18)
His Sheep Hear His Voice. “They shall hear My voice” (v. 16). Every soul who would follow Christ must individually hear His voice. That voice may be heard through the written Word, or in the preaching of the Gospel, but it will be recognised as His voice and His call to a new and separate life. Christ’s first message was to the Jewish flock, but He had other sheep—multitudes of them—which were not of that flock, but which belonged to every kindred and tongue, and people, and nation, “them also,” He said, “I must bring,” for the death that He was about to die was to be “the propitiation, not only for our sins (Jews), but also for the whole world” (1 John 2:2). This present dispensation is the time of the bringing in of the “other sheep” which He has, as the gift of the Father, and they are hearing His voice, through the preaching of the Word, and following Him. To Him is the gathering of the people to be.
How are some ways we hear God speaking to us?
God Speaks to Us through His Word
God Speaks to Us through His Word
Most people want to hear God’s voice when they are facing a decision. If only God would speak to them and tell them which choice to make or which direction to embark upon. Many people will claim to have heard God’s voice, saying, “God led me to do this,” when in fact it was simply their own thoughts and desires that led them in a particular direction.
The primary way that God speaks to us today is through His revealed, written Word. When we want to hear God’s voice, the Bible is where we should look.
Gods Word - The Bible - is the source of all we know about God. His characteristics, attributes etc… To know God and to hear Him is to know what the Bible says about Him and His Words of guidance and promise.
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
God’s Words are to be written our hearts...
“Write them on the tablet of your heart” (Prov 3:3, 7:3 ESV). And of course “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you.
And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.” (Ezek 36:26-27
God Speaks to Us through Godly Council
God Speaks to Us through Godly Council
20 He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed.
We can also hear God’s voice as God speaks through other people. “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed” (Proverbs 15:22).
Good counselors or advisers can help us see a situation with new eyes.
Again, the Bible is key.
Biblical preaching and biblically sound Christian material can be put in the “advisers” category.
The Word of God is the control.
If a bunch of counselors advise a you to do something contrary to Scripture, then they are all wrong, no matter what their credentials; however, if the advisers help you to understand and apply Scripture, then they can be helpful.
God Speaks to Us through a Still Small Voice
God Speaks to Us through a Still Small Voice
Be Aware - We need to be aware that God still speaks today. We read in 1 Samuel 3 that “the word was rare in those days” and when God called Samuel’s name, neither he nor Eli the priest knew it was God. But God was persistent until he made a connection with Samuel. It is within that connection that God communicated with him, but Samuel first had to respond to the voice of God. It is the same with us: we must be aware of God’s invitation for connection, so we can respond to it.
Just like Samuel, we can respond in faith and ask: “God, Is that You? If so I am listening.”
9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 Now the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.”
2. Be Discerning - We need to be aware that not all things we hear or receive are from God. There are many voices vying for our attention at any given time, but the three big ones are: God, Satan and ourselves. However, don’t let this intimidate you. Remember John 10:27 above and know we can learn to discern whose voice is speaking to us. We must patiently and quietly listen for the still small voice of God.
1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
3. Be in the Word - When God speaks to you, it will never be contrary to the Word of God nor contradict His character or nature. In order to know these things about God, we need to know what the Bible says about who He is and what His character is. If we are in the Word and know what it says about God, then we can confidentially discern we are hearing from God.
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.