OK, GOD, I HEARD YOU!

Do you recognize God's voice when He speaks?

This has been a chronic problem for many people throughout the history of humanity.  

God called Moses up onto the mountain where He then spoke to him like a man speaks with another man.  

And GOD spoke with Moses face-to-face, as neighbors speak to one another.

Exodus 33:11 (TM)

 According to Genesis 17:1 (NIV),

"When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said to Abram, 'I am God Almighty; Walk before Me, and be blameless.'" 

But by David's time, God had begun speaking through the 'Urim and Thummim' which were gemstones embedded on the priest's garments that allowed David to receive answers from God.   

OK, Hal, that's all well-and-good, but how does God speak today in the 21st century?

Well, there are a number of answers, foremost among them would be through His Word (the Bible).  

But the purpose of this blog is not to address the full subject of the question.  Rather, I'd like to address the inner voice of the Holy Spirit.

We typically think of three ages of revelation of the triune God:

1. The Old Testament period was predominated by God the Father.
2. The Gospels represent a period when Jesus [God Incarnate] came to teach and prepare for the future.
3. The rest of the New Testament explains and illustrates the work/age of the Holy Spirit!

We live in the age of the Holy Spirit!  He directs the work of the Church in accord with the Word of God!

Christ-followers have the capacity of hearing directly from the Holy Spirit because at our salvation, He takes up residence within us!  

But believers have to cultivate the ability to hear the voice of the Spirit!  

This can happen while we're listening to our pastor bring a message on Sunday.  It can also happen when we read from God's Word and suddenly find ourselves sensing the Spirit's direction as we read.  It can happen virtually at any time and in any place if we are open to God and repeatedly obedient when we sense His attempts to direct us.

I know this is a vague subject and especially challenging for newer believers.  

I'm sure that at one time or another, you've looked at a picture of a group - perhaps a large group of people.  As your eyes roll across the scene, you rather quickly pick out people you know.

When we got our dog, Gabe, I trained him to come to my sharp, shrill whistle.  [Please don't be angry with me because of this illustration - it isn't something I do very often.]  One day - in a crowded space - I needed to get Debbie's attention.  So, I gave my Gabe-whistle.  She immediately turned and caught my eye!  :-)  We still laugh about this.  She also recognized my whistle!

The point: As we grow our familiarity with the voice of the Holy Spirit, we will more easily recognize those times when He is trying to get our attention!

Let me illustrate.

Just yesterday I wrote a blog article that had to do with integrity.  I worked on it for several hours before publishing it.  As usual, I re-read it repeatedly to make corrections and improvements.  I felt good about the product.

Today, after writing another blog article and publishing it, I worked on my message for The Foundery this coming Sunday.  Having a good five hours in, I loaded up Gabe in the truck and we went for a ride as a bit of a break [Deb works at Bethel Church library all morning on Wednesdays].

We ran some local, country roads with the windows down.  Gabe - as all dogs do - had his head out the window the whole time.  I simply enjoyed the pastoral views and the warm weather.

Although it's difficult to explain, as I drove, I suddenly heard the voice of the Holy Spirit!  It was crystal clear to me!  He was reminding me of the blog article I had written about integrity.  He took me to a specific area of my life and then simply said, "What about this?  Does this come in line with your understanding of modeling integrity?"  

This illustration is private, however, the area He laid His finger on was not a sin.   It was simply an area where I needed to do some thinking and evaluating.  I knew He was making an attempt to cultivate in me a greater measure of holiness, consistency and witness.  

The last ten minutes of our ride was a deliberation.  

• Did I just hear the voice of the Holy Spirit?
• Is He trying to cultivate a deeper obedience in my life?
• Am I willing to adapt my life in the way He seems to be directing?
• Will this increase my integrity?
• Will making adaptations open me to the greater works of God?

The answer to all the above was 'Yes'.  I knew it!  

And now comes the obedience - the conforming to the will of God for my life!  

___________________________

Can you identify with this?

Have you cultivated the ability to discern the voice of the Holy Spirit?

Are you soft in His hands?

Have you heard from the Holy Spirit lately?  If not, is it because He's not speaking to you?  Or is it because you are not listening carefully?

One of my favorite hymns - written by Adelaide A. Pollard in 1906:

Have thine own way, Lord!

Have thine own way!

Thou art the potter,

I am the clay.

Mold me and make me

after thy will,

while I am waiting,

yielded and still.

Have thine own way, Lord!

Have thine own way!

Hold o'er my being

absolute sway.

Fill with thy Spirit

till all shall see

Christ only, always,

living in me!

HEARING GOD SPEAK?

There are three instances in the New Testament where God speaks in an audible voice.  Let's check them out:

FIRST, JESUS' BAPTISM - Matthew 3:17

As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water.  At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.  And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love;  with him I am well pleased."  

Most of us are familiar with this incident.  Some question that God may have just been speaking to Jesus.  But the context makes it clear that God is speaking to the people ABOUT His Son.

SECOND, JESUS' TRANSFIGURATION - Matthew 17:5/Luke 9:35/II Peter 1:17-18

Matthew 17:2,5   There he was transfigured before them.  His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light...a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love;  with him I am well pleased.  Listen to him!"  

Peter James and John's response is significant:  ...they fell to the ground, terrified. 

Peter later testifies:  "We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain."

THIRD, JESUS' PREDICTION OF HIS DEATH - John 12:28

(Jesus speaking) "Father, glorify your name!"  Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again."  

Again, the people responded:  The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered;  others said an angel had spoken to him.  Jesus said, "This voice was for your benefit, not mine."  

________________________________

I met a man while leading the New Middletown church who told me of hearing God's audible voice.  He was a humble man who was physically handicapped and the father of two of our attenders.  He attended regularly in his wheel chair and often wept as I preached.  He was quiet and only in the privacy of his home did he share his story.

He had been living in the Washington, D.C. area and was driving in his panel truck on the beltway one day when God audibly spoke to him.  It transformed his life from that day forward!  Interesting, no one thought of him as a great Christian.  He didn't turn into a dynamic evangelist.  He didn't become wealthy and successful.  But he exhibited a humble, quiet charm that was only evident to those who took the time to get to know him.  

________________________________

The Old Testament reveals God as One who spoke to people!  

Exodus 33:11  -  The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.

Then, there's the wonderful story of Elijah.  He had a powerful experience on Mt. Carmel and won a spiritual victory over the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah (I Kings 18:16-40).  However, immediately after this spiritual high, Queen Jezebel threatened his life and Elijah fled to the wilderness.  Gradually, God directed him to Mt. Horeb, the mountain of God.  There, Elijah hid in a cave.  Once settled,

The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by."  

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind.  After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.  After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire.  And after the fire came a gentle whisper.  When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. 

Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"  

Then, of course, there's the infamous incident of God speaking to the prophet, Balaam, THROUGH THE MOUTH OF HIS DONKEY!!!!  [Exodus 22:21-41]

________________________________

One of the hardest concepts I have tried to teach through the years is about God speaking to us.   He has never spoken to me in an audible voice - yet He has spoken to me on countless occasions!  We've seen in this study that God is CREATIVE and will go to great extent to get our attention and communicate His messages.  

His primary ways of speaking:

1. THROUGH WHAT HE HAS ALEARDY SAID IN HIS WORD!  God has given us a written book of guidance and inspiration.  If we neglect it, it's to our detriment.  [See II Timothy 3:16]

2. THROUGH MEDITATION.  Not eastern mysticism or yoga.  Through being quiet before the Lord and listening for that gentle whisper that Elijah heard.  

3. THROUGH PRAYER.  It's a dialogue - not a monologue!  Too often, we deliver our messages and then get up and run into our day without giving Him a chance to respond!

4. THROUGH OTHERS.  I Corinthians 12:7-11 speaks of special spiritual gifts that reside in believers for the benefit of the body of Christ.  Two of these are:  the message of wisdom and the message of knowledge!  

5. THROUGH NATURE.  Romans 1:20 - For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

6. THROUGH WORSHIP.  Psalm 22:3 tells us (KJV) God inhabits (lives in) the praises of His people.  A called and trained pastor's messages offer insight, correction and direction!  Music moves us on several levels;  intellectual and emotional.

I'm sure there are other ways that He speaks, too.  God has consistently used books to inspire and correct me;  over and over I've realized that He had me reading a certain book at a specific time.  He is CREATIVE and will go to great extents to get your attention and call you to Himself!  

Just remember:  The Lord is your shepherd!  He leads you!  He guides you!  Even when you walk through the valleys, He is with you!  He comforts you!  He provides for you!  He restores you!  Give Him thanks!