Session 3 - Ways to know you are hearing from God
Once baptized, we obtain life. Without encountering the One to whom Scriptures point, we are a people to be pitied. As Jesus told the Pharisees, "You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life" (Mark 16:16, 1 Peter 3:21, John 5:39-40, Romans 6:3-6). Nearly every leader wants revival in one way or another. But it's hard to have the same fruit as the early church when we get bound up with the legalism of a book they didn't have above the Holy Spirit they did have. We make that statement not intending to put less value on scripture. That would be a great mistake. We simply point to the fact that without the Holy Spirit, the Bible is a closed book. The Bible was written in such a way that only those in relationship with God have ongoing access to its 'mysteries'. The Holy Spirit opens our eyes, our ears, our entire bodies to see, hear, taste, feel, and experience truth. Jesus is the truth we long to understand. Jesus Christ is perfect theology. Through the 'mystery' we have access to Him, once our name is written in the book of life. Many people expect to hear the booming, sound-breaking volume of God’s voice. That is Hollywood. I’ve never found a single instance in the Bible when God screamed, yelled, or shouted at His people. As Lord over all, His words, His voice, have more power than the strength of nature’s violent winds. Even His whispers declare authority. Raising our voices is not necessary to communicate authority when squabbling with anyone of any age, or position is a good reminder for us. “Not by might, or by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord…” (Zechariah 4:6) Remember this: God’s voice in quiet and intimate. We only speak one language: English. Many around the world are bilingual or multilingual. Imagine the multiplicity of languages God speaks—He thought of every dialect of every language from every civilization and tribe who ever populated this earth! His eternal words contain the secrets to knowing, pleasing, and living rightly before God have never changed. The Bible is the Spirit-inspired vocabulary God uses to speak to us. “All Scripture is inspired by God…” (2 Timothy 3:16) and written by “men [who] spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21). Become fluent in His Word by seeking it as often as possible and you will more easily recognize His Spirit’s voice. Learning a new language takes time. Ask our Father to allow the Holy Spirit translator for you as you continue growing in fluency. Remember this: You will know God’s voice when you take time to build a relationship with Him. You may want to measure what we hear against the Ten Commandments. Any suggestion by another person, or any thought in your own mind, about cheating, stealing, lying, jealousy, adultery, gossip, or harming someone else is clearly not from the Holy Spirit. Having the thought, ‘I could pick up that ink pen and drop it in my pocket. No one would know’, is not the Holy Spirit’s idea. The idea itself is not a sin or disobedience. It could be a test or a temptation. Actually taking the pen is stealing, stealing is a sin, and not following the Holy Spirit’s guidance clearly lined out in God’s Word. The Holy Spirit’s whisperings, words of others, images, and sounds and will always match the unchanging truth of God’s Word. Remember this: The Holy Spirit will never contradict God’s Word. Jesus knows our every weakness. In His great love and kindness, He teaches us to stay close to Him for our safety and protection. “I am the good Shepherd…I came that they might have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10-11). There is a very real thief who knows our weaknesses and who intends to steal, kill, and destroy the sheep Jesus came to save. The safety Jesus longs to give us is found in following His voice: “My sheep hear My voice and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27). I heard a story of a lady missionary and her endless tales recounting how she was hearing God speak specifically and clearly. She said she was certain that it was God’s voice and not anyone else’s because, “My sheep hear My voice. I know the voice of my Savior.” She had studied God’s Word all her life and knew it well. She was used to hearing God’s voice. Therefore, she easily recognized it. She had cracked the mystery for herself. You can tune your ear to recognize the sound of His voice. Recognizing the sound of someone’s voice only comes with regular time together and conversation. Ask the our Father to have the Holy Spirit sharpen your hearing, so you recognize His voice and His words more clearly. Remember this: Learn to recognize the sound of His voice. How do you know if the voice you’re hearing is yours, someone else’s, or the Holy Spirit’s? We all hear many voices every day proclaiming messages from three influences: the devil, the world, and the flesh (the id). Jesus told us the devil is the Father of Lies. So every suggestion, every single word, from him will be contrary to God. Anything from his voice is obviously wrong, even if it might feel comfortable, inviting, or convenient. But there’s hope! Paul, the apostle, teaches us how to live set free from the always-with-us desire to sin. He explained, “Walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh. The flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit, against the flesh” (Galatians 5:16-18). Remember this: Learn to verify the Holy Spirit’s voice. Exercise 3 – Memorize the tips to remember.
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Michael & Judy Peck Archives
February 2020
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