Introduction
I. We are working through a series on how to hear God’s voice.
A. Hearing the voice of God is something that every believer wants to do, at least that’s what we say.
B. Hearing the voice God, at least in this lifetime is not always easy though.
II. When we read the Bible, and if we believe the Bible is really God’s word, then many things are pretty cut and dried; we don’t have to wonder,
A. Don’t lie, cheat or steal,
B. Stay away from people that might tempt you to do something that you know you shouldn’t do.
C. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind...AND love your neighbor as yourself.” so Christ says in Matthew, and who wants to argue with Jesus.
D. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.” so it is written in the Book of Acts.
III. But we all have probably heard it from time to time.
A. Some preacher, or someone you respect says, “God told me...” thus and so.
B. In my quiet time this morning, God spoke to my heart and said.
C. And what God said to them was not something that was black and white in scripture.
IV. I even had a gentlemen come up to me one time and tell me, “God spoke to me and said you should resign as pastor and I am supposed to become the pastor.”
A. That didn’t happen here by the way,
B. My response to him was, “That’s great, but wouldn’t God also tell me that.”
V. How do we know when something is from God or not, especially when it is not a specific direction from scripture?
A. Trust your teacher, right? We not necessarily,
B. John writes in I John 4:1 "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world " circle the words “test it."
VI. And we can’t necessarily go with the idea that it is logical either, for God has certainly asked some people to do some things that seem totally illogical by human reasoning.
VII. Especially when it comes to thoughts and impressions that are not specifically spelled out in scripture, it is imperative that we be able to test and distinguish what is really from God and what might well be a false word.
VIII. This morning, I want to give you seven tests that you can apply that will greatly increase the likelihood that God is speaking to you, for if it truly is from God, you want to obey, even the illogical things.
IX. First, “Does It Agree With The Bible? 1 - Does it Agree with the Bible?
I. God never contradicts His written word. Luke 21:33 "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away." God will never tell you to violate anything in this book. Never.
II. Again in Hebrews 13, scripture states - “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever. 9 Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings;”
III. God is not going to lay on your heart to do something that contradicts the clear teaching of the Bible.
IV. Allow me to give you an example.
A. Consider a friend of mine that recently opened his own business.
1. Now he is a Christian that has always been active in his church.
a. He was always present at Sunday services, regularly attended bible study, and served in various capacities, even as a Deacon.
b. But he had the opportunity to open this business and work for himself.
2. But his business is now open on Sunday, and his evenings are spent making sells, to the extent that he is no longer “able” to fellowship,
a. But he has peace,
b. God gave him this opportunity, so it can’t be wrong.
B. But scripture states, - “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Heb. 10:25
1. I can worship anyplace - YES.
2. I don’t have to go to church in order to worship - YES.
C. But would God really say it’s OK to stop altogether?
D. Are there other options?
V. For those in the dating process, what should be the first criteria for a potential mate?
A. Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? (2nd Cor. 6:14)
B. It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; (1 Thess. 4:3)
VI. God has not changed, He is not going to tell you that it is OK to do anything that is not in line with what He has already said in His word.
VII. Be careful; if you have peace about doing what scripture clearly states you should not be, or if you have peace about not doing that which scripture says you should be doing, odds are that peace is not from God.
VIII. The first test for Distinguishing God’s voice is the scripture test.
IX. The second test is, “Does it Make me More like Christ?”
2 - Does it Make Me More Like Christ
I. Philippians 2:5 "Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,"
A. Jesus is the standard by which we measure everything we do. God says very clearly in the Bible that His goal for your life is to make you like Jesus.
B. In deciding if a thought, impression, desire, call it whatever you would like is from God or our flesh, we must decide if we are being led by the Holy Spirit or our own fleshly desires.
C. But what does that look like? See Galatians 5:16 to 24 - 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. 19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
II. Being like Christ, means being led by the Spirit.
A. It means putting off anything remotely identified with verses 19-21, and putting on those identified with verses 22 and 23.
B. Consider Galatians 5 a grid by which to filter thoughts and decision you make in life and ministry.
1. Should I being doing this?
2. Should I be having this thought or desire?
3. What is my motivation for making this decision?
4. And although it is a cliche by now, “What would Jesus do if He were faced with this same situation or decision?”
III. If in the end, this will make you more like Christ, then odds are pretty fair that you are being led by God, but if not, well then.
IV. In decision making,
A. 1st, does it meet the Bible challenge.
B. 2nd, does it meet the Christ likeness challenge,
C. 3rd, what does my church family think of this idea.
3 - Does My Church Family Confirm It?
I. When we accept Christ as our savior, we are placed in fellowship and unity with God, but that is not all.
A. We are also place in a relationship with others that have also come to faith in Christ.
B. The Christ life is not meant to be a life of just you and God.
1. We need other Christians to encourage us in times of doubt and stress - Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you also are doing. (1 Thess. 5:11)
2. We need other Christians to strenthen us in times of temptation - But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. (Heb. 3:13)
3. We even need other Christians to confront us when we falter in our walk - 15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by that which every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. (Eph. 4:15-16)
II. All of this works together when we are trying to decide if a thought that we have is from God or not.
A. When I was trying to decide if I should enter ministry as a vocation or not, I really didn’t know what to do.
1. I felt strongly that God was leading me in that direction,
2. I was also just a bit scared to think about actually doing it.
a. How would I get through school, I had not been a very good student.
b. How would I pay the bills,
(1) I was barely keeping up while working full time, and
(2) Maryann was a stay at home wife and mother.
c. I had already had my pastor tell me that such an idea could not possibly be from God.
3. I know, I will talk about it with my Men’s bible study.
a. See what they thought about the idea,
b. See if they had an ideas about how I could see if this was possible.
4. And within about 4 and a half years I had graduated from Philadelphia College of Bible, and was pastoring my first church.
B. Sometimes I still wonder if that thought was from God, but most of the time I am pretty sure it was.
III. The writer of Proverbs states - “Where no wise guidance is, the people falleth; But in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.” (Proverbs 11:14)
IV. Has God given you a thought, check it against scripture, determine if it will make you more Christ like, and see out the input from other Christians that love and care about you, and the best way to do that is to get involved in a small group Bible study.
4 - Is It Consistent With How God Has Shaped Me?
I. Ephesians 2:10 "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
II. Romans 12:6 "And since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let each exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith;”
III. I will readily admit that many people, especially when it comes to church service dispute the concept that God has given some people some gifts, and other people other gifts, but not every person every gift.
A. Does that sound confusing?
B. I hope not, but what I am trying to say is that while God has given every person the ability and desire to do something or even some things in life, not every person is meant to do just anything for God.
IV. If God is speaking to you, He is going to speak to you in keeping with how He designed you.
A. God is not going to ask you to do anything that He has not gifted and equipped you to do.
V. What are some ways that you can tell how God has Shaped you?
A. Look for areas in your life that you are consistently drawn to.
1. I really struggled with the idea of being in front of people on a weekly basis, as a teacher,
a. I really don’t like being the focus of attention.
b. How could I possibly believe that I could be a preacher?
2. But part of what made me feel like I could do this, was the fact that throughout my life, I had consistently found myself in leadership and teaching positions.
a. In the military, I rose pretty quickly to becoming a squad leader and then a platoon sergeant; that put me in a position of leading and teaching almost every day.
b. In church, I gravitated towards being a Sunday School teacher, and small group leader, areas where I studied and taught the Bible on a weekly basis.
c. It seemed reasonable that I should be able to lead a church and preach as well.
3. Even when I was working at the Rock Quarry, within a short time I was placed in the position of being second in charge of quarry operations.
B. In deciding if God is speaking to you, consider if your life has been prepared to do what He might be asking you to do.
C. Look for areas of your life that are of particular importance to you.
1. If you have a particular desire to see children learn the things of God, God could well be asking you to work with youth.
2. If see older folks connect and grow in their faith, perhaps God is asking you to work with older folks.
3. If you just simply like making people feel comfortable and welcome, perhaps God has equipped you especially in the area of hospitality.
VI. If you believe God is speaking to you about a particular area or ministry, and it seems as if God has been preparing you to do something, then do it.
VII. But if on the other hand, God has not given you desires and gifts in an area of life, don’t feel guilty about saying “No.”
5 - Does It Concern My Responsibility?
I. If it’s not your responsibility why in the world should God talk to you about it?
A. In John 21, Jesus is talking to Peter and He tells him how he’s going to die.
1. He explains that he’s going to have to suffer for being a Christian.
2. Peter, very inquisitively, turns around and points to John the Apostle and says,
a. "What about that guy? How’s he going to die?"
b. Jesus’ response is “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!”
B. Jesus was saying that Peter’s first responsibility was to be found obedient to what God was telling him.
II. From time to time, someone will come up after a message has been preached and say something like,
A. Pastor that was great, I sure hope they were listening, whoever they are, or such and such a person was listening.
B. Or have you ever been reading scripture, and think, “This would be perfect for ________________,” you fill in the blank.
C. Do you see, that’s not often the point, or the right question to ask of scripture.
1. My first question must be, “What is God saying to ME?”
2. What does God want me to hear?
III. Over the years, I have discovered that the best messages I deliver are those which God has impressed in some special way on me.
IV. I am not saying that God is not going to speak to you about someone else, or give you a scripture verse that would be helpful for someone else.
A. But I believe it is rare that you first application should be for someone else.
B. God wants to speak to me, first and foremost about me and my relationship to Him, and then sometimes, He will give me something special for someone else as well.
6 - Is It Convicting Rather than Condemning?
I. I like the way Rick Warren speaks about conviction as opposed to condemnation.
A. “Conviction is from God, condemnation is from the devil.
1. “Conviction points the way to change condemnation just makes you feel bad.
2. “When God convicts you of sin in your life it is always specific.
a. “He says, Here’s an altitude, behavior, or something in your life that needs changing.
b. “He’ll be very specific and put His finger right on it."
c. “You’re blowing it in this area."
B. Pastor Warren goes on the other hand Satan will just say, “You are worthless.”
II. Jesus said in John 12, “I have come as light into the world, that everyone who believes in Me may not remain in darkness. 47 “And if anyone hears My sayings, and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world (John 12:46-47)
III. God will most certainly speak to us concerning areas in our life where an adjustment needs to be made, but always with the idea that He loves us, and has given us the ability to do so.
A. It is much like the parent that tells their child,
1. You need to make a change in this area of your life.
2. I know you can do better than this, and I am here to help you.
B. Anna told me of a friend of hers in school.
1. This girl was in the upper 5% of her graduating class.
2. She had applied for and been accepted in an advanced Pre-med major at a very prestigious school.
3. But the school offered to advanced programs,
a. The top program would be completed in something like 6 years,
b. While the program her friend was accepted into would take and extra year.
4. This girls father berated her about her lack of diligence, and concern for him, because it would cost him an additional years tuition for her to complete the program.
5. But he never commented on the fact that his daughter had so excelled in her academics that she would complete her program two or three years ahead of most “ordinary” folk.
IV. God does not speak to us about what we are not, but rather about how much we are worth.
V. In fact God speaks to us, saying that we are worth so much, that He sacrifice His own son for our eternal salvation.
VI. The last test to see if this is really from God or not is,
7 - Do I Sense God’s Peace About It?
I. I close this morning with Colossians 3;15-17 “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father."
II. If God is speaking to you, it will be a cause of peace; not unrest, uncertainty or confusion.
A. We may feel a bit apprehension even fear; because sometimes God can be speaking to us about some very large ideas and decisions that need to be made.
B. But God is not going to steer you into a place where He won’t go with you.
C. He is not going to speak to you about making a change where He will not be guiding you.
III. If God is speaking, we can relax in the knowledge that He will be preparing the way.
Conclusion:
I. Is God speaking to you? Then make sure,
A. His voice will be supported by scripture.
B. Then end result will be to make me more like Christ.
C. My church family will be able to sense that this is the right thing for me.
D. God’s voice will be in an area where He has shaped me to be.
E. It will be an area where God has given me some responsibility in.
F. God word will convict, but it will never condemn.
G. God’s word will only bring peace.
