Communicating With God:
How To Be Receptive To God’s Voice
Today we are finishing our series “Communicating With God.” In this series we have looked at: “How to Listen To God’s Voice”, “How To Recognize God’s Voice”, “How To Test the Voices You Hear” and “How To Talk to God”. Today we are going to look at “How To Be Receptive To God’s Voice”.
In the book of Habakkuk he prays a series of three prayers wanting to receive a word from the Lord. In chapter one he prays a prayer and God answers. Then Habakkuk prays a second time. In chapter two we see what Habakkuk actions he does after he prays. From this passage of scripture we can learn five important aspects of how to be receptive to God’s voice. Please follow along as I read from Habakkuk chapter two:
“I will stand at my guard post and station myself on the lookout tower. I will watch to see what He will say to me and what I should reply about my complaint. The Lord answered me: Write down this vision; clearly inscribe it on tablets so one may easily read it.” Habakkuk 2:1-2 (HCSB)
1. STAND at the guard post.
You must be looking to receive. You are to be observant. You will not receive if you don’t see. Notice it does not say "SIT" at the guard post. It says to “STAND”. Sitting doesn’t take as much effort as standing does. Last week, in our study, we used this passage of scripture:
"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Luke 11:9 (NKJV)
Ask, seek, knock all take effort – so does standing. Also notice what Habakkuk says – “I WILL stand”. He has expressed his intent. His will is involved. His volition is activated. He was determined to actively listen to what God had to say. There are times it takes effort to hear God’s voice. There are times it takes effort receive God’s voice. There are times you have to work to have a daily quiet time with God.
I recently read a story about Susanna Wesley who was the mother of eighteen children. Two of her sons, Charles and John, changed the expression of Christianity during their lives. Charles Wesley wrote hundreds of hymns which churches still sing today. John Wesley was the founder of the Methodist denomination. Both men had a profound affect on Christianity during their lives – which can still be felt today. With 18 children, how did Susanna Wesley ever find a quiet time to pray? This was her solution. Every afternoon she would sit in her living room and throw her apron up over her head. The children knew that when mother was in her rocking chair with her apron up over her head she was not to be disturbed. She was determined to have a quiet time. She was determined to have a time with God every day. Where there’s a will there’s a way. She stood at her guard post.
2. STATION yourself at the lookout tower.
To “STATION” yourself speaks of perseverance. It talks of sticking it out. It talks of waiting till the answer is given. It talks of looking and looking and keep on looking till an answer is given. Let’s look again at the verse from Luke that we just read. This time we will look at it in a different translation:
“So I say to you, keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you.” Luke 11:9 (HCSB)
I like the way the Holman Christian translation uses the word “Keep”. “Keep” on asking, “Keep” on searching, “Keep” on knocking and the door will be opened to you.
In our fast pace, busy world, perseverance and waiting are not spoken of much. But you find them mentioned again and again in the Bible.
“Be still, and know that I am God” Psalms 46:10 (NKJV)
“God, the one and only — I’ll wait as long as he says. Everything I hope for comes from him, so why not?” Psalms 62:5 (MSG)
The reason many of us don’t hear God is because we are too busy. It’s hard for us to station ourselves and get quiet. I like the way the Message Bible puts Psalm 46:10. It says, “"Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your High God." Psalms 46:10 (MSG)
Hurry is the death of prayer. If you want to hear God you have to become quiet. Not only do you need a quiet spot to pray you need a quiet mentality.
Many of us may find a quiet place to pray but we don’t slow our minds down. We may be resting but our minds are still racing. Our thoughts flip from one subject to the next. You think of all the unfinished tasks you have. You think of all the things you could be doing. Focus is the key.
Focus on who you are talking to. Focus on who you are listening to. If you need to – set up a chair and visualize Jesus sitting there. Talk to him and listen to what He has to say. Be still – focus – and know that He is God.
3. WATCH to see what He will say.
It’s interesting that in Habakkuk chapter two verse one it doesn’t say, “I’ll listen and hear”. It says, “I’ll watch and see”. Usually when we talk about communication we talk about listening and hearing. But this verse talks about watching and seeing. Why is that?
Because sometimes seeing is understanding. How many of you have heard this statement: A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words? I don’t know about you – but it works for me. Here is an example – a few months ago I was trying to figure out how our church, according to the by-laws, is to function. So what I did was I drew it out in a diagram. You will find that diagram in your bulletin. This is a picture of how our by-laws lay out how we are to function. Take that diagram and look it over – because next week we are going to discuss it in detail. We will look at how we are: Structured For Service.
God has made us people who can hear – but He also wants us to see. Look at what Ephesians one says:
“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the glorious riches of His inheritance among the saints,” Ephesians 1:18 (HCSB)
God wants our ears opened. But He also wants our eyes to watch and see.
4. WRITE down the vision.
The next step is to record the insights that you receive. Why does Habakkuk do that? So he can have a record of what took place and of what God said. If Habakkuk had not done that – we would not have the book of Habakkuk today. Guess what as humans – we have a tendency to forget. The best way to remember is to write it down. I made this statement a couple weeks ago and it is still true today. The shortest pencil is longer then most peoples memory.
How many of you know 1 Corinthians 11:24?
“This is My body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.” 1 Corinthians 11:24 (HCSB)
In our church we partake of the Lord’s Supper once a month. Why do we do that? Two reasons – So we don’t forget and so we will remember. Every so often we need to return to the starting point so we will remember where we came from and why we are here. Writing things down is a good way to remember. That’s what Habakkuk did – and because he did we can read the book of Habakkuk today.
5. CLARIFY what you have heard.
Make it clear. God instructed Habakkuk to write it down - but notice he is instructed to clearly write it down. I think this deals with more then just penmanship. I think that God wants us to clearly proclaim his word. Jesus took complex truths and made them simple. We have a tendency to take simple things and make them complex. How many of you would what to hear a sermon on God’s Providential Provision For Your Person. (Notice I had to get the 3 “p’s” in there.) Do any of you know what I’m talking about?
Let me state it another way – God Has A Plan To Take Care Of You. That is the same topic expressed more clearly.
Jesus said it this way: “See the birds of the air. They don’t spin nor reap. Yet the Father above takes care of them. Aren’t you worth more then the birds?”
Again Jesus is expressing the same timeless truth in a very clear fashion. Someone told me – If you can’t explain it in terms that a child will understand it – you probably don’t understand it yourself. To clarify is to come to understand. Once we understand we can apply and when we apply God’s Word we become Doers of God’ Word.
"Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear!" James 1:22 (MSG)
Here are five practical ways to be receptive to God’s Voice.
1. Stand at the guard post.
2. Station yourself at the lookout tower.
3. Watch to see what God will say.
4. Write down what you hear.
5. Clarify what you have heard.
