Lesson 13. Knowing God’s Voice. The “How to Hear God” School was held at Father’s Blessing Church. Author – John Paul Jackson. Teacher – Dmitriy Leo
1. We recognize God’s voice in three ways:
- How He comes to us.
- The appropriateness of what He says.
- What action or fruit it produces in us.
1. How He Comes to Us
- The Lord speaks to us when we listen to Him. When we do not want to listen to Him, He will not speak.
- God comes and knocks at the door of our hearts. He does not force us to spend personal time with Him.
- He does not use threats such as: “If you do not do this, something bad will happen to you.”
But demons, on the contrary, forcibly try to impose various sinful thoughts, fears, and doubts on us. God offers fellowship, while demons attack.
2. The Relevance of What He Says
God cares about the circumstances around us, unlike us. First of all, He wants to help us, and only afterward to give us something.
Time.
First, He tells us what is happening in our lives at the moment. When we are just beginning to hear the voice of God, 97% of what is spoken is for us and only 3% is for others.
God can speak about the past and the future, but He will speak about the present more quickly—about what is important to correct in your life right now.
But demons, on the contrary, try to dredge up some kind of filth from the past and convince you of some lie.
Resources.
He tells us not to worry about basic needs, because He knows our needs and directs us to the place where we can receive His provision.
Matthew 6:25 Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
Matthew 6:26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
Matthew 6:27 Can any one of you, by worrying, add a single cubit to your height?
Matthew 6:28 And why do you worry about clothing? Consider how the wildflowers grow: they neither labor nor spin;
Matthew 6:29 yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed like one of these;
Matthew 6:30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you, you of little faith?
Matthew 6:31 Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
Matthew 6:32 For the pagans seek all these things, and your Heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
Matthew 6:33 But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
If we hear that we should not be restless or worry about material things, it sounds like God.
The desires of the flesh and demons may talk to you at length about earthly possessions and material things.
Circumstances.
God will try to speak to us about what is happening around us, not around other people. Everyone notices the mistakes of others, but few notice their own mistakes, and that is bad. God cares about the circumstances we are in, and He tells us what to change:
- why your boss is rude and demanding…
- why your car or house will not sell…
- why you are not successful in ministry…
- why your husband wants to leave you…
Demons love to point out what is wrong in other people's lives.
Maturity.
God speaks to us at a level proportional to our maturity, and no higher. God will not give a scalpel to His two-year-old child, even if He loves him.
Many people wait for words and revelations of universal significance and miss the simple words God speaks to them every day.
Demons and pride more often diminish or exaggerate the truth. God will not tell you that you are a prophet if you are not one. Demons and your flesh, however, will not be modest and will lie to the fullest extent.
3. What action or fruit does this produce in us
God convicts us; He does not condemn us.
Conviction:
- Leaves us hope for change
- Is specifically related to what you have done, not to every sin in the world
- Leads us to repentance and relief from our pain
Conviction leads to repentance; condemnation leaves us in the same state or makes things even worse.
God gives us a way out by convicting us of sin; through condemnation, the devil leads us into a dead end.
2. How to Respond Properly to the Word We Have Heard
When we hear a word from God, we need to:
1. Discern whether this word is
- for us
- for someone else
- for the Church—to pray and discern whom this word is addressed to
2. find out what to do next:
- pray
- speak
- wait
- be silent—you need to pray and receive knowledge about how to apply the word
End of lesson.
Father’s Blessing Church
Author—John Paul Jackson
Teacher—Dmitriy Leo
