Title: Hearing God in Modern Times, Part 2
Theme: Discerning God's Voice In a Secular Atmosphere
Introduction: I have already covered part one of this message theme. We looked at a Biblical perspective of the foundation of hearing from God, Knowing Jesus' Voice, Being Born Again, and Seeking the Lord with All Your Heart. These three foundations are like the next four. Truths that are imperative, non-negotiable, and guaranteed to finding God's will for you.
Proposition: I would propose to you God's Word is were truth is found. Seeking His truth, obeying His Word and following His precepts will set us right in the center of His perfect will.
Interrogative Sentence: With the first three steps well established, just what are the remaining four Biblical steps to hearing God in Modern Times?
Transitional Sentence: The remaining four steps cannot be accomplished without first understanding the fear of the Lord factor. The Bible says, "But be sure to fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things He has done for you." (1 Samuel 12: 24) Proverbs 1:7 says, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline."
There is a Hebrew word "Jeriah," meaning, "Fear of the Lord; reverence; Jehovah has founded, whom Jehovah has regards for. (Smith, S., & Cornwall, J. (1998). In The exhaustive dictionary of Bible names (p. 129). North Brunswick, NJ: Bridge-Logos.) Jeriah, equals to, "taught by Jehovah." (Strong, J. (2001). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software)
In July of 1861, in an act declaring September 26 as a National Day of Prayer and Fasting, Abraham Lincoln wrote, “It is fitting and becoming in all people, at all times, to acknowledge and revere the Supreme Government of God; to bow in humble submission to his chastisement; to confess and deplore their sins and transgressions in the full conviction that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom…” Catch the words acknowledge, revere, bow, deplore sin, conviction.
In Exodus 19, we read of Moses going up Mount Sinai, getting instructions from the Lord on how to govern the people of God. Moses returns to the people, he summons "the elders of the people and sets before them all the words the Lord had commanded him to speak. The people all responded, 'We will do everything the Lord has said.'" (Exodus 19: 8) The heartbeat of hearing from the Lord is to let the Holy Spirit check your heart with this question, is your response, 'We will do everything the Lord has said!"
Transitional Sentence: A heart that fears the Lord lays down a sure foundation for hearing from the Lord. This spiritual heart uses the Word of God as a mirror to examine ones own life. The Bible says, "Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!" (2 Corinthians 13:5) The Apostle Paul challenged his critics to do a spiritual audit on themselves, to see if they have a genuine believing attitude toward Christ. (Vincent, M. R. (1887). Word studies in the New Testament (Vol. 3, p. 360). New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons; Garland, D. E. (1999). 2 Corinthians (Vol. 29, p. 545). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.) As we read the whole counsel of God's Word, it would do us well to do an ongoing examination. "Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else..." (Galatians 6:4-5)
"One of the most necessary things in life is the fearless self-examination which will enable us to see when we are acting on principle and when we are the victims of our own unreasonable and unreasoning prejudices. If any man is swayed by prejudice the eye is darkened and the vision distorted. Barclay, W. (Ed.). (1976). The Gospel of Matthew (Vol. 1, p. 244). Philadelphia, PA: The Westminster John Knox Press.
"A true devotion awakens our performance to the [guidance of God's Word]. [We must] enter every season [of life] for the preparedness of both mind and body by [seeking] the guidance of God's help, ...without Him we can do nothing. The injunction is laid on us, that we may seek Him. ...The Apostle James says, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, Who gives generously...' Surely, no one is devoid of reason and does not see the character of his own life. The designing mercy of God has set up the [clearest] mirror in His [Word] wherein a man may see his mind's face and realize its conformity comparing [ourselves] too God's image... that we may throw off carnal cares, restless occupations and [forsake] earthly matters to our heavenly [callings]." (Leo the Great. (1895). Sermons. In P. Schaff & H. Wace (Eds.), C. L. Feltoe (Trans.), Leo the Great, Gregory the Great (Vol. 12a, p. 161). New York: Christian Literature Company.)
The blessing of examining one-self leads to Hoy Spirit inhibition of ideas:
"The Holy Spirit instructs us and inhibits our ideas to His promptings. Those of you who have been a while in grace, examine yourselves and you will be astonished to find how much has been shed off your life, like autumn leaves. Ideas you never imagined you could get rid of have gone completely because God’s Spirit has been definitely selecting out of your mind the ideas He can use, and as you obey Him and keep on that line, the other ideas die out. It is only done by obedience, not by impulses, but by keeping at it."
(Chambers, O. (1947). Biblical ethics. Hants UK: Marshall, Morgan & Scott.)
Every child of God can call to remembrance those times when they examined their life. They have tasted the bitter fruit of their own ideas. When they had looked to the Lord, Jesus Christ for forgiveness and guidance, they found His perfect will for them.
Transitional Sentence: Mirroring our life to God's Word enables us to hear from Him. Christians can find conformation in the guidance of God's people. The Bible says, "Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." (Hebrews 13:7) Proverbs 19: 20 gives us this truth, "Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise."
As Christians seriously seek the guidance of the Lord, the Holy Spirit brings illumination to the written Word. As Christians seek the truths of God's Word, they are given grace gifts, received from the Holy Spirit. A child of God wanting to mature in their Spiritual gifts, seek other Christians who sacrificially exercise the same endowments for the good of others. (1 Corinthians 12: 1-14: 39)
In 1 Chronicles 25 we read of musicians for the "temple of the Lord... for ministry at the house of God."
"I think of music ministers David Phelps, Mark Lowry and Guy Penrod. All three became Christians, felt the call to music ministry and over many years of study of the Word and music, they seasoned their ministry with the counsel of Bill Gaither whom God has used to mentor many Christian music ministers."
For me personally, After becoming a Christian, I spent lots of hours of reading the Bible, prayerfully studying the Word to determine my charge, "Preach the Word" and the gift of "prophecy." "Preach" (k¬¬erússo) "Means to especially preach, publish or announce religious truth, the gospel with its attendant privileges and obligations, in this gospel dispensation. It is to proclaim publicly after the manner of a herald always with authority such as to beckon people to listen and obey what is proclaimed. (The Complete Word Study Dictionary; Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament; Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon: Wuest Word Studies in the Greek New Testament) "Prophecy" (προφητεία; prophēteia) which means "to be able to speak inspired message, (Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 440). New York: United Bible Societies; Swanson, J. (1997). Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) (electronic ed.). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc.) The preaching the message of God, intelligible preaching delivering a intelligible message. (Newman, B. M., Jr. (1993). A Concise Greek-English dictionary of the New Testament. (p. 156). Stuttgart, Germany: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft; United Bible Societies.) here is '…not primarily prediction but communication of revealed truth that will both convict and build up the hearers.' (The Expositors Bible Commentary) It is a special gift that enables the preachers (Ephesians 4:11) to expound the Holy Scriptures. (Intermediate Greek-English Lexicon) This Holy Spirit gift enables the proclaimer of God’s Word to declare the Lord’s purpose, whether by reproving and admonishing the wicked, or comforting the hurting and afflicted. (Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon; The Pulpit Commentary) This gift enables the preacher to make known the will of God, which is designed to influence men. (Barnes Notes)
Over the course of 25+ years the Lord raised up preachers of the Word of God who have had an influence on my life, men who have been tested by trials, proved faithful to preach the whole counsel of God’s Word and who have withstood the test of time. To hear my calling from the Lord, I studied the Word of God. To continue hearing from the Lord I studied the ministry example of seven different men who had the same Spiritual gifts. (Preachers like, Pastor / Teacher Chuck Swindoll, Dr David Jeremiah, Pastor David Wilkerson, Pastor Carter Conlyn, Pastor John MacArthur, Pastor Rick Warren and especially Homiletical Teacher James Braga.) I had to make a trip from Norton, Kansas to North Carolina - attend the North American Conference for Itinerant Evangelist, to give accountability and vision. There, I got confirmation of my call. Later on, I traveled a great distance to attend Logos Bible software schooling so I can understand computer Bible study material. Now I am seeking my wife's opinion, someone who knows me better than anybody, to determine if I should continue to move forward in ministry style and methods."
The point of all this, all the spiritual gifts are received the same way as in the beginning, Jesus is the same. A good way to hear from the Lord is to get confirmation from those who teach the Word to us and from people who God has placed in our lives to encourage with true Biblical love.
Transitional Sentence: Hearing from the Lord requires getting confirmation and involves recognizing God's plan. The Bible says: "For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.'" (Jeremiah 29: 11-13) We must search for the Lord in diligent seeking, fervent prayer, and with expectation that we will receive a bountiful reward in due season, here and in heaven. (Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume (p. 1285). Peabody: Hendrickson.)
If God has called you to start praying for it. Know that He has put into your heart to get prepared to know and fulfill His plans for you. (Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 1, p. 535). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.)
How do we hear from the Lord in modern times on this issue. Find Biblical foundational churches, para-churches, internet ministries, Christian radio stations, TV ministries, who can teach the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Ministries who can point you to the Word covering what God has called you to do. The Bible has at least 21 gifts of the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12: 8-10, 28-30; Romans 12: 6-8; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Peter 4:11) There were farmers, including plowman, (Isaiah 28:24) husbandman, vinedressers, (Isaiah 61:5) gardeners, (John 20:15) and tillers (Genesis 4:2). There were land owners (Matthew 21:33) In the Bible there were metal smiths (2 Samuel 8:14) perfumers, they made perfumes, ointments, incense. (2 Chronicles 16:14; Exodus 30:25; 35; 37:39; 1 Chronicles 9:30; 1 Samuel 8:13) The Bible says, "To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the highest heaven, the earth and everything in it." (Deuteronomy 10:14) I can go on and on. The point is everything that is right and that which has not been adulterated by Satan's lies, is God's will. He has a perfect plan for you in one of them.
Transitional Sentence: Hearing from God requires you find His plan for you and is determined by your obedience to His call. "But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me." (1 Corinthians 16: 8-9) Paul knew that circumstances were not indicative of stopping the work of the Lord. There was something in the progress of his work that made it clear to him that a door of opportunity was open to him, an effective work.
It is often Satan's tool to cause us to look at the circumstance, to determine direction for us. Modern day ministry causes us to count numbers, trust in riches, compare buildings. All those are wrong indicators. If what you are doing is birthed, guided, and substantiated by the Word of God, be obedient. If there is any indication that there is an open door of opportunity, work in faith.
Any great work of God has its critics, those who bad mouth and oppose your vision. All the apostles had them, Jesus had them and so will we. Yet, there are open doors of opportunity, an effective work set before God's faithful servants. Proof of that, the Gospel messages has a huge amount of believers, living and loving the Lord, Jesus Christ.
It must be noted, Christians are called to "be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord [their] labor is not in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:58) Christians will not be rewarded by the results of their work for the Lord. (1 Corinthians 3:7-8) They will be reward according to their faithfulness. We know this by the teaching of Jesus in the Parable of the Talents. This spiritual teaching warns against laziness and passivity in our vocation and work in the Lord. We are to keep our hearts diligent, knowing that there will be an accounting. Those who grasp the truths in this message will hear, "...Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your Master." (Matthew 25:23)
In Closing: Hearing from the Lord in modern times, you must know Jesus' voice, be born again, seek the Lord with all your heart, have a reverent fear of the Lord, examine your heart to the Word of God, find confirmation from spiritual leaders, recognize His plan for you, lastly, be obedient to your call. These truths are imperative, non-negotiable, and guaranteed to finding God's will for you. A devotion of hearing is what is required, if one wants to hear from the Lord. One may hear one or some things from the Lord, it does mean he will always hear from the Lord. One can easily become distracted with the pleasures of this life, influenced by this world's view and even the lies of the devil. The ear that is set on listening, has the heart of Samuel who said, "Speak Lord, I am listening." (1 Samuel 3:10) Let us pray!
