How to recognize the voice of God

The following Post was my message on Sunday, May 22nd, 2011 at Maple Ridge Wesleyan Church.

            I’m going to stick my neck out this morning. I’m going to say a statement that might be somewhat controversial, but I’m going to say it anyway… I believe that God speaks to me.

            While I have never actually heard the audible voice of God, I believe that God still speaks. I believe that He guides my steps and He shows me what I am to do.

            A verse that I have stuck to my office wall is Psalm 32:8: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.” (NIV) I believe that God guards and He guides.

            I think that you believe this as well. Why else would you be here?  You wouldn’t waste your time if you didn’t think that God couldn’t speak to you…

So, what we have in this room right now, are people who believe that God speaks.

            It seems that we are not the only ones who believe that God speaks. ILLUSTRATION- According to a recent publication, “God told me to…” elicited 2.9 million responses from an online search engine.

            Some of the responders claimed, and I quote, “God ordered me to kill

her”; “God told me to beat the kids”; “God told me to skin you alive”; God told me to leave my spouse for my secretary” (Vista, May 1, 2011)

            Many people claim that God has told them to do a lot of things, and most of the time it’s a way to excuse their behaviour.

            I want to try and set the record straight this morning.

I want to give you a few indicators that you can use to see if what you are hearing is actually God speaking; or that bean burrito that you ate for supper the previous night.

            I must say right up front that there is a major condition/qualifier to hearing from God… if you have a pen; you’re going to want to write this down, because this simple truth will solve a lot of problems…

            God Speaks through the Son, by the Power of the Holy Spirit.

            Jesus said: “I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber.

2 The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 3 The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.

5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." (John 10:1-5, NIV)

In verse 7 we read: “Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep.

8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.

9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 7-10, NIV)

Jesus reminds us that those who belong to Him, will hear—and know—His voice.

Jesus leads His sheep; He provides for His sheep. He protects His sheep; and they know His voice. They do not recognize, and will run away from, a voice they do not know.

Sheep recognise their master’s voice and to hear our Master’s voice, you must enter in the right way.

"I am the door.” Jesus said, “If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” (John 10:9 NKJV)

"I am the Way," replied Jesus, "and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6, Weymouth’s NT)

To know and hear the voice of God; you must know Jesus Christ.

The Bible says: “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways,

2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.” (Hebrews 1:1-2 NIV)

While God used a variety of ways to speak to the people of old; if you want to hear God speak to you today, you must know Jesus Christ.

Knowing Jesus personally is the only way to hear God speak; so, if you know Jesus, how can you recognize His voice?

#1- To hear God speak, you must know what He has written!

I firmly believe that God will not give you—or me—some new revelation. God will not ask you to leave your spouse for someone else, God will not tell you that it’s ok to lust, cheat, still, or kill, because these are all things that He has spoken out against.

Satan will twist God’s Word; God will never twist God’s Word. God will never ask you to do something that is contrary to His Written Word.

And if you want to hear God speaking, you must know the Word.

The Bible says: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” (Psalm 119:105, NIV) God’s Word illuminates our way; it shows us the way to God.

David said: “Lead me in the right path, O Lord, or my enemies will conquer me. Make your way plain for me to follow.” (Psalm 5:8 NLT2)

A little bit later, he asked: “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word…. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:9, 11, NIV)

Verse 133 says: “Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.” (Psalm 119:133, NIV)

ILLUTSRATION- There is an unwritten, but often spoken, rule at my house. Beth does all the homework with the kids.

So, the other day, I was working in the basement and I overheard some reciting going on.

I assumed that Beth was helping Emma with her homework, but, as I listened closer, I heard that they were memorizing scripture.

            I immediately stopped what I was doing and came upstairs to assist with the effort. All four of us began to memorize scripture as we were waiting for

supper to finish cooking…

            Dear friends, if we want to hear God speak to us, we must know His Word, for the Word is the primary way that God does His talking.

            So be intentional about your Scripture reading. Don’t jump around, read one book of the Bible at a timeà don’t worry about how long it takes you to read that book, just read it.

God will speak to you IF you are reading His Word.

            #2, The second way to recognize God’s voice is BE QUIET!

            Jesus said in Matthew 6: “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.

⁶ But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:5-6, NIV)

John Ortberg reminds us that: “In Jesus’ day almost no homes had private bedrooms. The ‘room’ He refers to… might be a supply room where they kept feed and tools or a few small animals.

That would be the only place where there might be a door. It would be

the most humble room in a humble home. What is your room?” (the Me I want to be. 172)

ILLUSTRATION- My “room” is my office. I spend time with Jesus each morning when I come to work.

Before I turn on the computer, before I turn on the radio, before I talk on the phone, I spend quiet time in the Word with Jesus.

            The Bible says: “Be still, and know that I am God…” (Ps. 46:10a, NIV)

When God revealed Himself to Elijah, He did so in a “… gentle whisper.” (1 Kings 19:12, NIV)

            If you want to plug into God; you’ll have to unplug from the world around you.

You will have to get away and spend some one-on-one time with Jesus. You’ll actually have to turn off to tune in… It can be difficult, but believe me, it’s worth it!! 

            I believe that God speaks, and He does so as we withdraw from the busy-ness of everyday life.

            So do you take the necessary time—and that’s different for every one of us--- but do you take the time to spend time with Jesus?

If you want to hear God speaking to you, you must be quiet.

            #3 To recognize God’s voice we must slow down.

ILLUSTRATION- How many of us have ever seen an infomercial? Those are the annoying commercials that make you believe that you need the very thing that they are selling.

            To entice you to buy what they are selling, they will often add, as a special gift, another one of those things that you really don’t need, or they will offer the first thing at a discounted price, but only if you call within the next twenty minutes.

            Contrary to popular belief, God is not an infomercial. He will never ask you to do something in a hurry-it-up kind of way. God is not pushy.

            Now, this is not to say that we can hold on to what God might be asking us to give up, for the Bible reminds us that: “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened…” (Ps 66:18a, NIV)

            God calls us to move forward in faith; and if He wants us to give something up it’s because it is harmful to our spiritual health, but God will rarely ask you to make a decision in a hurry-it-up kind of way.

Some of us need to slow down and allow God to guide our steps. If we slow down, we might find that we are able to hear God somewhat better than before.

#4 The fourth way to recognize the voice of God is: Seek Godly Counsel. 

ILLUSTRATION- There are a few people whom I have allowed to speak into my

life. Some of these people are in the ministry, some are not.

            These people help me figure things out. I run my thoughts by them, I share my deepest secrets with them; I share my concerns with them. These individuals help me become a better follower of Jesus Christ.

            I have saved myself a world of hurt because I have asked these Godly people their advice before proceeding.

            The Bible reminds us that: “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: 10 If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!

11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?

12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” (Ecc. 4:9-12, NIV) 

We are not called to be secret followers of Jesus; we need each other and having a few key spiritual leaders to speak into our lives will help us understand what God might be trying to say.

The Bible says: “Timely advice is lovely, like golden apples in a silver basket.” (Proverbs 25:11, NLT2)

Do you have someone who can speak into your life? Do you have someone

who can help you understand what you think God might be telling you?

While He will not tell that person His plans for your life, He will certainly confirm—or deny—those plans with the help of a Godly mentor.

If you don’t have someone like this in your life, seek someone out… you might find that God will speak to you that way.

I believe that God still speaks. He speaks to those who:

~ Belong to Him

~ He speaks to those who know His Word;

~ He speaks to those who pray;

            ~ He speaks to those who go slow;

            ~ He speaks through Godly counsel.

            If you are unable to hear God clearly, chances are pretty good that one, two, or all of these indicators are absent in your life.

            Can I encourage you to do what needs to be done to be in the place where you can, once again, hear the voice of God?

It might mean confessing the sin in your life; it might mean turning off the television for 20 minutes.

Whatever it might be in your life, the truth is that God wants to speak to His children; God wants to guide His children, it’s up to tune in to what He has to

say.

ILLUSTRATION- I have a picture above the door in my office. It’s actually a picture and a Scripture verse. Each time I walk in or out of my office, I am waking under this verse:

“Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me.” (Psalm 31:3, NIV)

God’s name is on the line. It’s up to us—His representatives—to be sure that we are hearing Him properly.

Cling to God

The following Post is a sermon I preached at MRWC in May of 2011.. I enjoyed it, and I wanted to share it with you, here:

The Wesleyan Church declared 2006 to be the Year of the Bible. The purpose of that declaration was to ask each person who attended a Wesleyan Church to read though the Bible in one year.

              To help assist with the effort, special Bibles were made available, and these Bibles were divided into daily readings, with sections from the Old and New Testaments, as well as the Psalms and Proverbs.

              I’m proud to say that I accomplished that feat then, and have been seeking to read the Bible in its entirety ever since.

              I started reading thought the Old Testament in January of 2007 and as of last night; I am in the 32^nd chapter of Ezekiel.

              As you can tell, I’m not enrolled in a “read fast through the Bible competition”, but I am seeking to understand what it is that I am reading.

              It has been an enjoyable, and sometimes difficult, process. To just sit and read with no help from any commentaries is slightly difficult, but I am seeking to let God’s word penetrate into my life. 

During my read-thru-the Bible, I have come across some interesting selections of Scripture, one of them being the one I would like to share with you

this morning. It’s taken from the book of Jeremiah.

              Jeremiah was a “major prophet during the decline and fall of the southern kingdom of Judah. He prophesied during the reigns of the last 5 kings of Judah.” (NIBD)

              The book of Jeremiah is not a particularly happy book. Jeremiah “was destined from the very beginning to be a prophet of doom”

“All of Jeremiah’s life was wrapped up in the knowledge that God was about to bring an end to the holy city and cast off His Covenant people”

The book of Jeremiah is extremely difficult to follow and understand. “Most of the other prophetic books have a chronological arrangement (to them) but not the book of Jeremiah.

“Prophecies delivered in the final years of his ministry may appear at any point in the book, followed by messages that belong in other periods of his life.” (NIBD p.644)

The Book can be confusing, but there is a central message to the book—the impending destruction of Judah. 

Jeremiah has been called “the weeping prophet”, because he wept openly for the sins of the nation. (see Jer. 9:1).

At times Jeremiah was depressed because of the lack of “progress”. The

more he preached against the people, the less things happened to the people.

In fact, the more Jeremiah preached, the more things happened to him... the people put him in a cistern, they threatened him with death, they put him in jail, and the king burnt what the prophet wrote….

Eventually, Jeremiah words came true, and in 586, the nation of Judah fell to the nation of Babylon. Judah was punished because of its sin and disobedience.

While that’s a small reader’s digest overview of the Book of Jeremiah, there is one chapter in particular that I would like for us to look at this morning.

It’s an unusual parable, but I believe it has an important lesson. Our text is Jeremiah chapter 13.

“This is what the Lord said to me: “Go and buy a linen loincloth and put it on, but do not wash it.” 2 So I bought the loincloth as the Lord directed me, and I put it on.

 3 Then the Lord gave me another message: 4 “Take the linen loincloth you are wearing, and go to the Euphrates River. Hide it there in a hole in the rocks.”

5 So I went and hid it by the Euphrates as the Lord had instructed me.

6 A long time afterward the Lord said to me, “Go back to the Euphrates and get the loincloth I told you to hide there.”

7 So I went to the Euphrates and dug it out of the hole where I had hidden it. But now it was rotting and falling apart. The loincloth was good for nothing.

8 Then I received this message from the Lord: 9 “This is what the Lord says: This shows how I will rot away the pride of Judah and Jerusalem.

10 These wicked people refuse to listen to me. They stubbornly follow their own desires and worship other gods. Therefore, they will become like this loincloth—good for nothing!

11 As a loincloth clings to a man’s waist, so I created Judah and Israel to cling to me, says the Lord. They were to be my people, my pride, my glory—an honor to my name. But they would not listen to me.” (NLT2)

Interesting passage this is…. And I believe that there is an important lesson for us to learn… but before we learn that lesson, we need to understand what is taking place.

God had instructed Jeremiah to go and purchase a “linen belt” (NIV) a “linen loincloth” (NLT2) a “linen sash” (NKJV) and put it on, but not let it touch the water.

God then instructed Jeremiah to take his Fruit of the Looms—or Haines—Underwear-- and take them some 400 miles to the Euphrates and dig a hole and hide them.

After a good long time, God asked Jeremiah to return to the Euphrates and dig up the undergarment, and upon his arrival, Jeremiah found that this garment was unbearable. 

It had rotted away; it “…was good for nothing” (Jer. 15:7, NLT2)

Naturally, God spoke to Jeremiah and told him that this garment represented Judah.

God had created her and she belonged to Him. Judah was God’s pride, His joy. She was created to “cling to God”.

“As a loincloth clings to a man’s waist, so I created Judah and Israel to cling to me, says the Lord. They were to be my people, my pride, my glory—an honor to my name….” (Jeremiah 13:11a, NLT2)

God had created His people to cling to Him, to be close to Him, to find life in Himà they were to follow His ways, they were to depend upon Him for their very life.

“But they would not listen to me.” (Jer. 13:11b, NLT2)

Judah and Israel allowed themselves to be influenced by the people around them. They polluted themselves, and became like the nations around them.

One Bible commentary states: “They rejected worship of the one true God and turned to pagan gods instead. Immorality, injustice…and corruption prevailed throughout the land.” (NIBD.p646)

These people, at one time, were close to the Lord, but now they found themselves on the outside looking in.

Judah allowed herself to be polluted by idolatry, and “instead of clinging to her God in faith and love, she destroyed herself” (Zon. Com. Pg.1185)

Judah and Israel were created to cling to God. This was the reason God made a Covenant with them. They were God’s chosen people.

You know dear friends, if you profess to be a disciple of Jesus Christ; it’s your job to cling to Him. To be so close to Him that you are covered with His dust.

Biblical scholar Ray van der Laan, notes that first-century Jews had a blessing that beautifully expressed the commitment of a disciple to stay in the presence of the one he followed: “may you always be covered by the dust of your rabbi”

              That is (to say) “may you follow him so closely that the dust his feet kicks up is what cakes your clothing and lines your face.”

              Like a baby duckling whose image of its mother has been imprinted on its brain, disciples never wanted to let the rabbi out of their sight.

              What mattered was not so much the particular activity they were doing. What mattered was being with their rabbi whatever was going on.

Every activity was an opportunity to learn from the rabbi how to be like the rabbi.” (John Ortberg GICTYT, 54)

              John Ortberg reminds us that “The decision that makes us disciples is choosing to be always with Jesus so we can learn continually from Jesus how to be fully like Him.”

              What God created us for, what God created us to do is to “Know Christ and to Make Him known.”

To be so close to Him that His dust covers us; to cling to Him “As a loincloth clings to a man’s waist….” (Jer. 13:11a, NLT2)

              We are to be like that loincloth… to cling tightly to Godà we’re the ones that need salvation, we’re the ones that need redemption, we’re the ones that need sanctification, we need all this and more… and we can only get these things if we cling to God.

The Bible reminds us that “…you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1Pe 2:9, NIV)

Jesus said: “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit-- fruit that will last…” (John 15:16, NIV)

We are God’s chosen people. We are His Plan “A”…

It’s our job as disciples of Jesus Christ to cling to Him, to let Him transform us. We did not choose God, He chose us, and because He chose us, we find life by clinging to Him.

              So I ask all of us to consider our relationship with God… are we like the first linen loincloth—undefiled, or are we like the loincloth that has been defiled by the environment?

              If we are not spending time “near the cross of Jesus…” (John 19:25, NIV) then we will be unable to hear what God wants from us.

God said that the people of Judah would be cast away because they refused to listen to His words… “These wicked people refuse to listen to me. They stubbornly follow their own desires and worship other gods. Therefore, they will become like this loincloth—good for nothing! (Jer. 13:10, NLT2)

The constant refusal to listen to the Lord is what caused God’s people to be sent into exile. 

ILLUSTRATION- I read recently about a group of dolphins that got stranded on a beach near Boston, several years ago. 

Scientists felt that they may have run aground because of a hearing problem.

              The animals, which use sound waves to judge depths, were found to have

worms clogging their sinus cavities and inner ears, possibly making them hard of hearing.

              Those beached dolphins may have something to teach us… there are some of us who are not functioning properly, because we are unable to hear properly.

              The problem of beached Christians may be similar to the problem of the beached dolphins; we may be hard of hearing.

              Jeremiah said in verse 15: “Hear and pay attention, do not be arrogant, for the LORD has spoken.” (Jer. 13:15, NIV)

              The dolphins were unable to gauge the depth of water in which they were swimming, they thought they were in deep water, but found themselves stranded on the beach.

              This is one of the results of being hard of hearing. There are those who think that things are fine, but if you refuse to hear and listen to what God is saying, you will be beached.

The only cure of course, is to dig out the worms. To remove the obstacles that may be hindering you from hearing the Lord.”(Adapted from the prairie overcomer, 1974, Binders)

              The prophet Jeremiah was sent to the people of Judah to remind them that they were created to cling to God, but they wouldn’t listen.

              May you, may we, not find ourselves in the same position. May we choose to cling to God. May we choose to be so close to The Rabbi that we are covered with His dust.

              Know dear friends if you are not where God intends for you to be, you can always come back.

You can always find your way back into the arms of Jesus, but it will involve you surrendering, it will involve you coming to the Cross of Jesus and admitting that you are not doing what you were created to do. 

              Jeremiah 15:19 reminds us that “…If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman.” (NIV)

              God is always ready to welcome you back into His family. He is always ready to cleanse you and have you cling to Him…

              We were created to cling to God, the only question is: are we?

It's the law

the other day I was driving to Fredericton when I looked down and saw that I was speeding.

 I  don’t remember the exact speed, but I know it was well above the posted speed limit (If you are in law enforcement and you’re reading this, I live at 24 Sussex Drive, Ottawa Ontario, Canada, if you’re not with law enforcement, keep reading…)

            I began to slow down….momentarily, a short while later though, I was speeding again.

            No matter how you slice it, speeding is wrong. The posted limit is the posted limit. They are the laws to be adhered to, not suggestions to take into consideration.

            A lot of people think God’s laws are suggestions. Surely God doesn’t mean “don’t kill, don’t hate, don’t lust…” Many people think that God’s laws apply to everyone else, but not me, because there’s an exception to every rule, and I’m it.

            The seed limits are posted for us to follow. If we break them, there will be consequences. Though Christians live under Grace, there are still rules and regulations that we must adhere to.

            Romans 6:1-2 says: “…should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? 2 Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?” (NLT2)

            Grace is not a free pass to sin. Grace is there to cover us should we sin; it’s not to be taken advantage of.

            The Bible says: “(The grace of God) teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age….” (Titus 2:12, NIV)

            The Grace of God will help us live the disciplined, Christ-centered life.

            As we draw closer to Jesus, we will rely less and less on ourselves and rely more on His Holy Spirit to remind us that we might be going a little bit too fast.