God's Voice 2: Objective 1 - CORE BRIEF

IDENTIFYING THE VOICE OF GOD


WHY does God speak to you and I today? Ever since the beginning of time God has been interacting with man and now he wants to interact with you. God wants to establish a line of communication with you. Non-Christians find this concept very hard to believe and understand. Never the less it is true and very biblical.


Here is 7 reasons why God wants to speak to you:


1. To create something new.


  Thessalonnians 2:13 “And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.” God's word is at work. When you receive it, it will create something new in your life. God never creates anything before he first speaks it out. In the beginning God said "Let there be....." then he created. The bible also says in the book of Amos 3:7 "Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets." that God does nothing until he first reveals what he is going to do.


2. To release faith.


Roman 10:17Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. Every time God speaks to you your faith in him will increase. God wants to begin building in you a strong everlasting faith in him and he will begin by speaking to you.


3. To edify.


1Corinthians 14: 3"But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort." To edify means to build up or strengthen. When God speaks to you your body, faith and hope will be strengthened.


4. To exhort.


 1Corinthians 14:3"But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort." Exhortation means to encourage. When God speaks to you he will help you if you are struggling in your walk with him. Exhortation restores positives thoughts to your mind.


5. To Comfort


1Corinthian 14:3"But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort." God will speak to us in times of affliction, trials and persecution to comfort us. The words of comfort that we receive will relieve us from any suffering or grief that we may be experiencing. God wants to see the hurting healed!


6. To reveal sin.


2Thessalonians 2:3"Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for [that day will not come] until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction." God does not tolerate sin! He will speak to men to reveal it and to those who are sinning so that they will repent.


7. To give direction. 


Psalm 119:105"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." It's very difficult to walk in total darkness because you cannot see where you are going. God speaks to us to show us where to go with our lives.

HOW DOES GOD SPEAK TO US TODAY?

Exodus 3:4When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.”

There are a number of different methods that God can use to get your attention and speak to you. He caught Moses's attention by setting fire to a bush in the wilderness and then speaking from within the flames. In Numbers 22:28Then the LORD opened the donkey’s mouth, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?” God enabled a donkey to speak to it's master Balaam. Now God may not use these two drastic methods to get your attention but he could if he had to. There are a number of easier methods that God will use to speak to you before resorting to speaking from flames and animals.

1. A word of prophecy.

1Timothy 1:18Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight" God can and will use other people to give you his message. Someone who has the gift of prophesy can pray and God will tell them to tell you something. Sermons that you hear at church are also classed as a word of prophesy to you. However with every word of prophesy that you receive it is your responsibility to test what is said against the bible.

2. The Bible.

Matthew 4:4Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word(Rhema) that comes from the mouth of God.’” The rhema word comes from reading the bible. God will speak to you as you read his word. For example you might be praying for a solution to a problem then you read what to do in a verse from the bible. This is as equally good as having Jesus appear to you and tell you what to do.

3. Open doors.

Revelation 3:8 :"I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. " When you are driving in a car you will come across traffic lights. Their purpose is to direct traffic, they will tell you whether it is safe to go (green) or stop (red). Open doors are like spiritual traffic light. Whenever you are praying for direction God can give you a red or green light. For example you have just left a job interview and you are praying "Lord, is it right to take this job?" Now if you are offered this job, but none of the others, in most cases it is like God giving you a green light. Open doors are windows of opportunity that open up to you.

4. Vissions and dreams.

Acts 217“‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams." God can speak to you by showing you pictures while you are awake or asleep. In a vision or dream you can see something similar to a movie playing in your mind. They are vivid and usually speak about what God is doing or going to do in the future. Visions and dreams can also be still images that resemble photographs.

5. Angels.

Judges 6:12When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.” Angels are sent by God to us. They can bring with them healing, provision, deliverance, judgement and the word of God to you.

6. Answered prayer.

James 4:2 "You do not have, because you do not ask God. " Again traffic lights are like answered prayer. If you are asking God for something and he gives it to you then it is as if he is giving you green light and saying "YES". You can then stop praying for that item and thank God for it.

7. Vocally.

Matthew 3:17And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

There are reports today of people physically hearing God's voice. It is possible! When Jesus was baptised in new testament times God the Father spoke and everyone around heard him.

8 Directly.

2Corinthians 8:16"I thank God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you." This is voice that only you can hear. It is as if God is placing thoughts and desires directly into your heart and mind. For example you could be walking through your neighborhood and you suddenly get a thought to go and tell a certain person about Jesus. Nobody else heard that voice, only you. Also you might get an impression in your spirit about how God feels about something that has happened. This is one of the most common way that God will speak to you.  

CONCLUSION

If you think that you can't hear God or that God isn't speaking to you then I suggest that you review this objective. God is speaking to you all the time, it's just a matter of being able to recognize how. 

PRAY

"Lord Jesus, help me to recognize your voice."