Let's start here: We won't hear Him if we don't ask to hear Him and stop to listen. Most of the time, we don't bother because we don't really want to hear what He has to say. And we certainly don't want to obey His words. Human nature from the beginning of time is rebellious.
If you are a Christian, you should expect to hear Him speak. You must realize Jesus speaks to his sheep- and then you have to believe we really can hear Him! Look what Jesus says in John 10:27- “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”
How can we then evaluate what we think we hear Him say? How do we know it's really Him and not just our own voice? There's three main ways and they will all work together in unison.
1. The Bible- the ultimate authority for Christians. If it seems to be full of contradictions to you, you haven't studied it enough.
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path". (Psalm 119:105)
God speaks most commonly through His Word. The personal voice of Jesus to us will never contradict the Scripture. What is He saying to you as you read His Word?
2. Prayer- God desires a personal relationship with us, and He does speak to those who follow Him. But we have to ask for his guidance. "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him." (James 1:5)
God reveals His will for us as we ask Him. What is He saying to you as you pray? What are you consistently hearing from Him? It takes time. We must wait for Him. His voice will not always be immediate.
3. The Wise Counsel of Others- Real wisdom man gives never contradicts the Bible. "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice." (Proverbs 12:15)
Seek prayer and wisdom from those you trust know God and have an established record of being obedient to Him. Are they praying for you? Do they share scripture to support what they are saying? Even imperfect people can have God’s wise counsel for you.
9 "Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place." (I Samuel 3:9)
What about circumstances? Circumstances should never be the sole source of our decision making! It can be the most dangerous one upon which to base our decisions.
1- It causes us to rely on what we see and what we can deduce from human wisdom and practicality. (Read 1 Corinthians 3:18- “The wisdom of the world is foolishness in God’s sight.”)
2- This kind of reasoning can draw us away from seeking God for direction, making us dependent on ourselves or someone else as the source.
3- Circumstances are easily manipulated .
How should we view circumstances? As opportunities! God allows us to be placed in circumstances that are difficult and beyond our control.
This is not to discourage us but instead to:
o Display his power
o Help us learn to rely on Him
o Conform us into the image of Christ
o Draw others to Him
Think of the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead in John 11. Even at the request of his sisters Mary and Martha, Jesus delays going to heal him. He dies; the sisters are hurt- thinking Jesus doesn’t care about them.
Yet when Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead, he gives them something better than just knowledge He can heal the sick. Jesus proves to them He conquers death and is above all of our life’s circumstances- a much greater gift!
So ------ As you are seeking God for direction, He will answer you if you are submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, believing He alone is the payment for your sins and that He rose from the dead, proving He is God in the flesh!
In all these things, remember Believers have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16)
God also speaks through dreams and visions as well as that still small voice you hear as you wait in prayer. But that's for another post. Therefore, if you see multiple pieces of this evaluation come together in unity, chances are pretty good that you have heard God clearly.
One last question to ask yourself: An important measuring tool- Who gets the glory if you are obedient to what you’ve heard God say? This is perhaps the best indicator of all.
Jesus is speaking, and He is calling everyone to a relationship of love with Him. He doesn't want to see anyone perish for eternity in their sins, but He also knows not everyone will respond.
Jesus says "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father but by me." (John 14:6) This isn't because He hates people. It's because He desires to make it simple and clear.
Joy, Sunny, and especially Sherry, whose last name is probably a testimony in and of itself, research it for yourself. Or you can choose to believe your own thoughts and the voices of the world. That's been happening since time began. You can read all about it in the New Testament in Romans Chapter One.
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