HEARING GOD

 

 

Deut. 28:1

IF YOU will listen diligently to the voice of the Lord your God, being watchful to do all His commandments which I command you this day, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth AMP

 

Listen (Hearken)- (shama) – Listen – take heed, pay attention, hear, believe information and respond on the basis of having heard.

 

I.               The Success of most Biblical Characters was their connection to God and How they heard Him

 

1.     Moses

a.     Burning Bush 

Exo. 3:1

 

b.     The Exodus. 

Exo. 7:8

Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying

14,19

8:1, 8:5, 8:16, 8:20

9:1 

Exo. 9:13-21

 

2.     Abraham

a.     Genesis 12

Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you.

 

b.     Gen 15:1  (Covenant)

After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying

 

c.     Gen 17:1

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him

 

d.     Gen 22:1

Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!”

 

3.     Joshua.

a.     Jericho – Joshua 6:1-

 

b.     Ai – Joshua 9

 

4.     Peter

a.     Acts 10:12-16

In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. ¹³ And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” ¹⁴ But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.” ¹⁵ And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” ¹⁶ This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again. While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are seeking you. ²⁰ Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.”

 

II.              Seven Basic Ways God Speaks

 

1.     Through His Word.  

2 Tim 3:16-17

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

 

2.     In Our spirit/conscience

Rom 9:1

I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit.

 

3.     Internal Audible Voice

 

4.     Dreams

 

5.     Visions

Acts 10:9

The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. ¹⁰ Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance ¹¹ and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth.

 

6.     Prophecy

1 Cor 14:3

But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.

 

Prophecy should usually confirm what God might be saying to you since it has to filter through human interpretation

 

7.     Counsel Through Others 

Exodus 18:13-24

And so it was, on the next day, that Moses sat to judge the people; and the people stood before Moses from morning until evening. ¹⁴ So when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he did for the people, he said, “What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit, and all the people stand before you from morning until evening?”… “The thing that you do is not good…¹⁹ Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God will be with you: Stand before God for the people, so that you may bring the difficulties to God. ²⁰ And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do. ²¹ Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. ²² And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you. ²³ If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people will also go to their place in peace.” ²⁴ So Moses heeded the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said

 

8.     Unusual Happenings (Signs and Wonders)

 

III.            TIPS TO HEARING FOR AGOD BETTER

 

1.     Stillness

Isaiah 50:4 

“The Lord God has given Me The tongue of the learned, That I should know how to speak A word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear To hear as the learned.

 

Psalm 46:10 

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. 

 

Isaiah 30:20-21 

²⁰ And though the Lord gives you The bread of adversity and the water of affliction, Yet your teachers will not be moved into a corner anymore, But your eyes shall see your teachers. ²¹Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left.