There have been a lot of questions as regards this and we try to answer then bit by bit but today we will talk about it fully
*Have you heard God speak before?
*Have you felt it that God is asking you to do something before?
*You hearing from God personally and God using others to speak to you, which happens more often?
*Do you sometimes find it difficult to know if it's God speaking?
One thing I've come to see about most Christians is this, we talk to God always (more like talk at) cos we usually don't expect a reply or wait for any.
Even if He gives one, we are not certain if it's God speaking or it's just our mind.
I think every Christian has been here at a point In their life and so many of us are still there
I'm reminded of the altar erected by the Greeks in Acts 17, with the inscription "TO AN UNKNOWN GOD"
A lot of us still relate with God this way
As if He were unknown
One of the greatest benefits of the coming of Christ Is a relationship with God, one where we get to rub minds together. Both parties sharing themselves with one another
That image of the strict father that wants to send you to hell the minute you mess up, first of all cancel it.
That's not what Christ came for.
He is the loving father that wants to gist with us, wants us to know Him and even though He already knows us, He still allows us to tell Him things about Him
He carefully pays attention while we talk with so much love and adoration.
And He expects same from us.
What Christ brought is Intimacy.
But what is Intimacy when it's just one person talking every time?
For all our questions about hearing God, it's never a case of God not speaking. It is usually us not hearing (more like not listening)
Game of thrones is showing every Monday from tomorrow.
If I fail to tune in to watch, does it mean the show is not going on?
If I fail to tune in to Bond Fm's daily morning show, does it mean the speaker did not come or did not speak?
No
God transmits, He speaks.
The problem usually lies with the receiver.
Sometimes, we go to God, ask and ask and ask. Then we end.
Praying without listening is like switching off your phone after calling for help.
The people you called for help, how do they reach you?
Like AW Tozer will say: It is God's Nature to speak
In hearing God, We need to check the following things. If we do not understand them, we might have a challenge hearing
- Know that God speaks and that you can hear
The first step is knowing and accepting that you can hear from God. If you do not believe that He can speak to you, you will most likely not hear whatever He has to say to you.
John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
The Holy Spirit, the seal of our relationship with the father, our engagement ring, When He comes (He is here already), His job will be to guide us into all truth. He will tell all we need to know
All that the Father is saying.
It did not say The Spirit of God will speak to a select people
Everyone of us can hear
My own sheep will hear my voice and I know each one, and they will follow me.*
John 10:27 TPT
So first, know and accept that you can hear God speak. Don't doubt it.
Don't think it's just for some certain people or leaders in church.
- Understanding that hearing from God is not a luxury.
Now we know we can hear (from) God but we also should know that we NEED to hear God.
Because, the Shepherd will always speak to guide the sheep, it is very important for the sheep to hear
We don't just wait to stumble upon hearing God.
Hearing God is a must for as many of us that call ourselves sons.
When you meet your partner or your friend and you talk to them, do you think in your mind, "maybe he will talk. Maybe he will not talk?"
No, you don't.
If you say something while you are talking on phone and the person on the other end says nothing, you will be worried
Are they okay?
Is this person ignoring me?
Is something wrong with the connection?
The same way we know we have to hear our friend's voice when we are gisting, is the same way we know that we need to hear God.
Let's Read Romans 8:14
Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
It says, For as many as are led.
If we say we are children, then there has to be a leading.
To lead is to direct, to guide, to show.
"Follow this path"
"We might not be able to follow that path again o, the road is bad. we stop at that junction and turn left"
"Let's wait for the car to pass before we cross"
I don't know if we've had encounter with a tour guide before.
They are always speaking
"You can't climb this part of the Olumo rock at so and so time"
"If you take that route, you will get lost"
And sometimes, the tour guides even gist with us outside the instructions on what to do and what not to do
The tour guides are not just there for decoration or so you have someone to gist with.
Usually, it is to avoid mishaps
This is another reason why we NEED to hear God. To avoid certain things happening to us.
To help us walk through this journey of life smoothly.
To tell us stop, move, wait, hold on
It is very important we know what God is saying about every situation in our lives.
Now you know that you can hear Him and you need to hear Him
Next is:
- Listen to God and expect to hear him.
If you are expecting someone to speak, you wait for a minute and just listen to hear what they have to say
Even when they don't speak immediately. As long as there's an expectation, you wait
Let's read Ecc 8:3a
Do not be in a hurry to leave the king's presence/sight
God gave me a book late last year for 2019 (unpublished yet) but I will be sharing from the book in this part.
One thing most Christians are yet to understand is sitting and waiting in prayer.
Prayer is communication, a 2 way street
We are having a conversation.
Expecting the other to day something and listening to what they have to say is just as important as the part where we talk.
For most people, prayer is just talking. God is not dumb, He speaks (in so many ways). Imagine meeting with a friend and they go on and on about themselves, every time you try to say something they are still speaking. You wait for them to finish so you can speak but they pack their bags and leave the date as soon as they are done. If anyone does this to me, I won’t meet with them again. Sadly, we do this to God always. Always in a hurry to leave His presence.
Then the Lord said to Elijah, “Go, stand in front of me on the mountain. I, the Lord, will pass by you.” Then a very strong wind blew. The wind caused the mountains to break apart. It broke large rocks in front of the Lord. But that wind was not the Lord. After that wind, there was an earthquake. But that earthquake was not the Lord. After the earthquake, there was a fire. But that fire was not the Lord. After the fire, there was a quiet, gentle voice.*
1 Kings 19:11-12 ERV
God told Elijah, go to so so so place, I will speak with you.
The same way God is telling us, I want to speak with you. I want you to listen
Elijah gets there, wind blew, No God.
Earthquake, No God.
Fire, No God.
Before the still voice of God
This brings us to one thing.
*Waiting to listen*
Don't be in a hurry to leave.
Elijah could have left after the wind blew and nothing.
"Ah! God I went there o, but no show"
A lot of us do not wait long enough to hear God most times.
We should never forget communication is both ways. Be open to listening to Him speak. Cultivate the habit of listening (total silence in your mind, no activity whatsoever) and you will surely hear God. He could respond with a hug, a word of knowledge, scripture, peace, an assuring conviction or you could even hear Him loud and clear like He is sitting right in front of you.
Till you do, sit quietly, no matter how long it takes.
Also, in our expectations to hear from God, it shouldn't be for when we are in difficulty only
Does the tour guide speak only when you are in danger? No.
He speaks even before you get there (of which, he is the only one aware of where Danger lies, that's why he is guiding you in the first place(
We should be willing to hear God on any and every thing.
Not just when there is trouble, we are desperate or need something
God craves relationship
He wants to walk with us.
And we benefit so much from hearing God.
It is not Him benefiting
We are saving ourselves from a whole lot of suffering, troubled minds, tribulations etc
And we are also building intimacy with Him.
Sometimes, He is not telling us turn left or turn right. He is just there reminding us we look beautiful today
Same way, the tour guide can randomly tell you your hair is nice or you have a lovely smile
Sometimes, He is reminding us of His love.
Of our identity in Him.
Or He is asking us to help someone else (probably by praying for them)
He also reveals Himself to us in the place of hearing Him.
They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them.
Romans 1:19 NLT
Now that we know why we need to hear and the things to have in mind
Let's move to the big question.
HOW DO WE HEAR FROM GOD?
I once tweeted years ago that God is a speaking God and someone replied that He is not. He already said all He has to say in the Scripture.
Truly, the Scripture is very complete, it is God breathed and our number one source of all we need to know. It is also a check for whatever we hear from God.
But there is a danger in assuming that God doesn't speak other than Scriptures.
We will not be paying attention to other ways He is using to speak with us
Imagine that I assume the only way I can communicate with my partner is written letters 😓
What we do is limit ourselves and our hearing Him
I remember hearing a testimony.
God told a certain pastor to go back and change his clothes, to a blue shirt and a suit.
Someone in church asked this as a sign from God
The pastor didn't know why but He obeyed.
That someone in church has a very large ministry today. Gave their life to Christ
Let's imagine the only way God can speak is the Scripture, please where did they wear blue shirt and suit in the Bible,😂
So first, God speaks in so many ways and we will be learning about them tonight
1. THROUGH HIS WORD
The word of God is God. To hear from God, we have to understand and know Him, His character, perspective, how He does His things.
All these is made available in Scriptures.
Sometimes, you are going through something and you pick your Bible. You are reading John 3:16.
You've known this verse all your life o but somehow you get a new revelation in relation to what God wants you to know at that point
And you are wondering if this is the same verse you've been reading all along
And you are wondering if this is the same verse you've been reading all along
Don't know if we've experienced this
Are you sick? God has a word for you in His word
Are you happy? Same
The word of God is the most powerful book ever because it is God Himself
You want to hear God speak? Then hear what the word (which is God) is saying.
This is the easiest and most common, everyday means of hearing God.
It is a must
You can't say you hear God and never through His word.
That's a big problem
2. THROUGH OUR THOUGHTS
This is the part where people get confused.
"I'm not really sure which spirit is speaking o"
"Maybe it's my mind or the Holy Spirit"
"Or I'm just over thinking things"
This is where the place of our *inner witness* comes in.
The reason we tag it thoughts is because we are not so sure it's the Holy Spirit talking.
Listening to our thoughts, inner witness or conscience can be very tricky. I miss it sometimes too.
It takes a lot to be able to able to recognize this
Let the peace that Christ gives control your thinking.*
Colossians 3:15 aERV
Let Christ's peace control your thoughts.
If there is no peace in what you think you are hearing, then safe to say you cancel
Another way to check is the written word.
If you are not sure it's God saying this through your thoughts, take your Bible and check what God has already said
If you are still not sure, ask God to speak more clearly.
I do this and it works
If I'm not certain about what I'm hearing God say.
I go back to Him and ask Him to speak more clearly in a way He cannot be misunderstood
If your teacher says something and you don't get it, a simple "Excuse me ma, please can you come again and probably break it down" does the magic
Whenever you are in doubt, ask God
3. CONVICTIONS
Some people call this Sanctified desires.
Like you just know in your heart that you have to do xyz. You just have that strong desire towards this.
We need to understand that there is only one spirit in us, the Holy Spirit.
You can't have evil spirit and Holy Spirit at the same time
So we need to learn to trust that He is leading.
But the Helper will teach you everything and cause you to remember all that I told you. This Helper is the Holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name.
John 14:26 ERV
He will cause you to remember. That knowledge will just come.
You just know it
But how do you know it's the Holy spirit that is talking?
The sinful self wants what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit wants what is against the sinful self. They are always fighting against each other, so that you don’t do what you really want to do.*
Galatians 5:17 ERV
The Spirit will never lead in the direction of the flesh
So trust it whenever you get that leading or conviction.
4. THROUGH THE SMALL INNER VOICE
And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.
Isaiah 30:21 KJV
Sometimes, you hear a voice inside your head.
Like someone is speaking to you inside your head and only you can hear.
A lot of us should have experienced this?
That's the Holy Spirit.
5. THROUGH THE AUDIBLE VOICE
Very few people hear God this way.
You hear a voice in real life but you can't see this person and you know it is God. You are the only one hearing also
Some Pastors I know of got their call this way.
It's okay if you don't hear this one.
Remember God speaks in diverse ways, as long as you are hearing.
Other ways God speaks to us
- Through Others
- Dreams, Visions, Prophecy and trance
- Nature, surroundings
- Circumstances
You can add ways you've heard God speak to you also
To end the teaching.
The place of Obedience in hearing God
Obedience happens one step at a time.
I wanted to tell you everything I knew and give you all my knowledge, but you didn’t listen to my advice and teaching.
Proverbs 1:23 ERV
It doesn't stop at us listening. Obeying opens us to hearing more and trusting more.
We show that we are His intimate friends when we obey him
You show that you are my intimate friends when you obey all that I command you.*
John 15:14 TPT
And this brings more intimacy, more ability to hear clearly.
If I talk to you and you never do what I say to you, I will most likely lock up.
Continual Disobedience is us out rightly saying we don't rate God or whatever He has to say
Staying in this phase affects our hearing
Now that you know that you can hear God, please take out time to (in the place of prayer also) and obey all that He tells you.
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