We’ve talked about various ways that God uses to get our
attention, and we’ve seen specific examples in the Bible to support our
understanding. Yet, when we listen, we can sometimes wonder if God is really
going to talk to us personally. How do we know the voice we hear is God’s
and not a figment of our imagination – or our way of justifying whatever it is
that we’ve asked God about? Unsurprisingly, the Bible has something to say
about that, too.
My sheep hear my voice,
and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I
give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man
pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all;
and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. 30 I and my Father are
one. John 10:27-30 (KJV)
(I love the phrase “pluck them out”. The English Standard
Version says “snatch”, but I really like “pluck” because it implies that we are
somehow buried in God’s hand, one with Him.)
Jesus says that we will know His voice. Knowing isn’t an immediate gift at salvation – we need to study and
pray to really know His voice. As a
guideline, when you’re asking whether you’re hearing from God, think of these
things:
1.
Is what you’re hearing consistent with the teachings
of the Bible? If ANY part of what you hear is not consistent with the Bible, you
are not hearing God. God can never change His mind, and He won’t give you
instruction that goes against the Reference Manual that He left for us.
2.
Does what you hear generally clash with your
earthly desire and go against what society says is right and wrong? Since we
are sinful creatures, we want to hear stuff that will satisfy our sin nature. God’s
instruction will have us turn from the things of this earth.
3.
Will you be challenged to rise to a new level in
spiritual understanding or faith? God will always call us to improve our walk
with Him.
4.
Does the message call for personal courage to
change your path and do what He says?
For
my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. 9
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your
ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10
“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but
water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and
bread to the eater, 11 so shall my word be that goes
out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish
that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:8-11 (ESV)
God will give us instructions and then equip us to do the
job He expects us to do. Nothing is impossible for God – and nothing He wants
us to do is impossible for us, either. One of the hardest commands for me
personally is this one:
But I say to you, Love your
enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
45 so
that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise
on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on
the just and on the unjust. Matt 5:44-45 (ESV)
Why does Jesus want us to do something that’s so
inconsistent with the world’s values? These are the kinds of instructions that
can only come from a loving God. Loving my enemies goes against my human nature
and it certainly defies the logic of our society.
We’ll go over some of the points I’ve outlined on Wednesday and
Friday as we seek to make sure that the words we hear are from God and not from
our own nature. In the interim, I challenge you to think of one person in your
life to apply Matthew 5:44-45 to. Pray for him or her this week. Ask God to
change your attitude toward that person. It will be difficult at first,
but take God at His word. Bless that person and pray for them. See what God can
do with your prayer.
See you Wednesday.
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