In the 1940s, Our Father taught the church a valuable lesson on how to distinguish between the voice of God (The Holy Spirit) and the voice of the deceiver ( the devil or Satan). At that time a group of people, led by a Reverend Minister, began to prophesy. According to what Ive heard, their prophecies were accurate and foretold events that had not happened. Our Father did not dismiss them out of hand, but instructed that their prophecies be recorded or written down and checked against the Word of God (The Bible). Do you know that they foretold my birth even before Our Mother realized she was pregnant? Do you also know that they prophesied that I would not be born alive? CLEARLY SUCH PROPHECIES THAT DO NOT COME TRUE AND WHOSE ONLY OBJECTIVE IS TO CAUSE HARM AND HEARTACHE IS NOT FROM GOD AND THEREFORE FALSE. Step 12d: TO INCREASE YOUR FAITH YOU MUST KNOW THE VARIOUS WAYS GOD SPEAKS TO US AND YOU MUST RECOGNIZE HIS VOICE. With regard to this age and so that we are not deceived, Our Lord Jesus in Mathews 24 3-5 when asked privately by his disciples Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age? 4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. The Apostle Paul in Galatians 1:8-9 warned: 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. Today we are inundated by many voices, many claiming to be from God. We all have doubts and very much would like to serve God if only we know that He is the one calling. There are some who state that God does not speak to anyone today because He has said all He has to say in the Bible. I reject that and in future may expound more on this issue, The fact, however, that many who claim to be speaking from God are false does not mean, that God does not speak to His children. There are many ways that God speaks to each and everyone of us. First, God can speak to us directly as in the case of Samuel: 1 Samuel 3:3-10 3 and before the lamp of God went out in the tabernacle of the Lord where the ark of God was, and while Samuel was lying down, 4 that the Lord called Samuel. And he answered, “Here I am!” 5 So he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” And he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” And he went and lay down. 6 Then the Lord called yet again, “Samuel!” So Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” He answered, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” 7 (Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, nor was the word of the Lord yet revealed to him.) 8 And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. So he arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you did call me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord had called the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 Now the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.” Second, God can speak to us through angels. It was an angel of The Lord who told Joseph about Marys pregnancy and birth of Our Lord Jesus. Matthew 1:20-21 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Third, God can speak to us through dreams. The story of Joseph is filled with many examples of prophetic dreams. Fourth, God can speak to us through others. Sometimes a perfect stranger may deliver a message or advice to you in answer to your repeated requests to God or for whatever purpose Gods will is. Fifth, God can speak to us through signs and wonders. Consider the case of Gideon in Judges 6:36-40 and The Sign of the Fleece: 36 So Gideon said to God, “If You will save Israel by my hand as You have said— 37 look, I shall put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor; if there is dew on the fleece only, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that You will save Israel by my hand, as You have said.” 38 And it was so. When he rose early the next morning and squeezed the fleece together, he wrung the dew out of the fleece, a bowlful of water. 39 Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me, but let me speak just once more: Let me test, I pray, just once more with the fleece; let it now be dry only on the fleece, but on all the ground let there be dew.” 40 And God did so that night. It was dry on the fleece only, but there was dew on all the ground. In an article entitled Seven Keys To Hearing Gods Voice Craig von Buseck a CBN Contributing Writer states that the most difficult part of hearing God is the fact that it takes time to learn to discern Gods voice -- and it takes a humble heart. Jeremiah 29:12-13 says, Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. He goes to state the following and I quote: So how can we know whether were hearing the voice of God? The Bible gives us seven basic keys or filters through which every possible leading should be judged. We are to carefully examine the thoughts and intentions of our hearts -- and the words of godly people who may have influence on us by their words and actions -- through the use of these seven keys: Scripture: All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work (II Timothy 3:16-17). The Holy Spirit speaking to our heart: For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall not teach everyone his fellow citizen, and everyone his brother, saying, know the Lord, for all will know Me, from the least to the greatest of them (Hebrews 8:10-11). The Prophetic (word of knowledge, word of wisdom, personal prophecy): Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances. But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good (I Thessalonians 5:19-21). Godly counsel: Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety (Proverbs 11:14). Confirmation: By the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed (Matthew 18:16). The peace of God: Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful (Colossians 3:15). Circumstances/Timing: After these things he (Paul) left Athens and went to Corinth. And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. He came to them, and because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and they were working; for by trade they were tent-makers (Acts 18:1-3 -- this relationship between Paul, Aquila and Priscilla -- which happened as a result of circumstances -- became one of the most important strategic partnerships in the book of Acts). Many times the Lord will confirm His direction to us through three, four or more of these keys -- especially when we are in the process of making an important, life-changing decision. Gillis Triplett in his article entitled The Five-Fold Secret To Clearly Hearing Gods Voice states that you know you are hearing the voice of God when it gives you: ·Instruction in righteousness, (II Tim 3:16) ·Correction in righteousness, (II Timothy 3:16, Proverbs 3:11-12) ·Causes you to profit in Christ, (II Timothy 3:16, John 15:16) ·Brings to your remembrance the Word of God, (John 14:26) ·Guides you into Truth, (John 16:13) ·Exhorts you, (Jude 3, Romans 12:1) ·Comforts you, (John 14:16, Psalm 23:4) ·Rebukes and reproves you, (Titus 1:13, II Timothy 4:2) ·Convicts you of sin, (Romans 6:1-23) ·Leads you to salvation, (Romans 10:9-10, II Timothy 3:15) ·Assures you of the Heavenly Fathers love toward you, (I John 3:1, Jeremiah 31:3) ·Admonishes and warns you, (Ephesians 6:4, Acts 21:4,10-14) ·Edifies you, (Ephesians 4:12) ·Increases our faith, (Romans 10:17) ·Cause you to triumph in life through Christ, (II Corinthians 2:14) The Seven Elements To Clearly Hearing Gods Voice These are the seven elements that must be in place in your life, if you are going to properly discern which voice is speaking. You must study the Word of God for yourself, (See II Timothy 2:15) You must meditate on the Word of God day and night, (Joshua 1:8) You must spend time praying, (Mark 1:35) You must spend time communing with the Holy Spirit, (II Corinthians 13:14) You must be planted in a good church home, (See 92:13) You must rationally consider all options, (Luke 14:28-30) You must seek counsel from wise counselors, (See Proverbs 11:14) If you follow those instructions, you will come to the place, where you quickly recognize which voice is speaking to you. That is an awesome feeling to know that you know that you know - the voice of the Holy Spirit! As usual, please extend my greetings to your family, to the Reverends, and to the Church. His Lordship.
Posted on: Fri, 12 Sep 2014 06:52:57 +0000