God speaks in a still, small voice:
(1Ki 19:9) And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?
(1Ki 19:10) And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
(1Ki 19:11) And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:
(1Ki 19:12) And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
(1Ki 19:13) And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?
(1Ki 19:14) And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
(1Ki 19:15) And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:
(1Ki 19:16) And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.
(1Ki 19:17) And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.
(1Ki 19:18) Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.
in order to hear from God you have to first 'incline your ear'; and second, still your own thoughts - He won't shout above your pleas, nor will He shout because you haven't inclined your ear to Him - He speaks in a still, small voice.
He's already said many, many things to you through His written word, the Bible. as you seek to hear from Him through His written word, you give Him the opportunity to reveal to you what His written word actually means - you will gain access to His 'revealed' written Word (the 'Living word') by confidently expecting (having faith) that He will speak to you through His written word in the Bible - this is how you 'incline your ear'.
the second step i find to be much more challenging - stilling my own thoughts. at times i catch myself crying our to Him to speak, but yet not giving Him an opportunity to do so because of my constant pleas.
I am convinced beyond being unconvinced that God is always speaking to me through the Holy Spirit - but like a radio playing static, i'm not always 'tuned in' to the right channel, or i'm drowning His vice out of my hearing with my own constant stream of words to Him...
(Mat 12:38) Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.
these scribes and Pharisees were looking for the same thing you are - a sign; vision, waking dream, etc. - but they asked out of unbelief, confident that Jesus could NOT give them such as sign, because they didn't believe that He was the Christ (the Anointed One, the Savior of the world) - you however are asking in faith, and God desires more than you do that you experience Him - but Jesus' reply to those scribes and Pharisees, although it was a rebuke to them, is encouragement for us who are reborn in Christ:
(Mat 12:38) Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.
(Mat 12:39) But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
(Mat 12:40) For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
(emphasis added by me)
we already have the most powerful sign we can get from God - the Bible's account of the crucifixion and resurrection of His Son Jesus as a substitute for us - He paid the price for all our sins, and paved the way to right standing with God (righteousness) through faith in His undeserved favor toward us (grace); there can be no more convincing sign than this:
(from the parable of the rich man and Lazarus):
(Luk 16:27) Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
(Luk 16:28) For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
(Luk 16:29) Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
(Luk 16:30) And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
(Luk 16:31) And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
(emphasis added by me)
i believe what Jesus is saying to you and I is that without seeking God in His written word, the Bible, we won't be able to believe as we can and should based on signs alone, but will yield to the reports of the world (the devil) and our own flesh when the devil comes to tempt us to cast away our confidence in God as Lord (One who provides direction and guidance so to led us to intersect with the blessings He's prepared for us in this life) and Savior.
(2Co 11:13) For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
(2Co 11:14) And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
what this is saying to me is that satan can appear to be an angel, so i can't put my faith in visions, dreams, signs, etc. - these can be counterfeit copies from the devil to lead me astray. but if my faith is rooted and grounded in God's revealed written Word, when doubts come, all i need to do is to go back and remind myself of His unchanging Word to be encouraged and strengthened - and the Holy Spirit will remind me of his Word, comfort me, and strengthen me with His Peace as i do seek Him in His Word:
(Joh 14:25) These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
(Joh 14:26) But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
(Joh 14:27) Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
(1Ki 19:9) And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?
(1Ki 19:10) And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
(1Ki 19:11) And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:
(1Ki 19:12) And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
(1Ki 19:13) And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?
(1Ki 19:14) And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
(1Ki 19:15) And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:
(1Ki 19:16) And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.
(1Ki 19:17) And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.
(1Ki 19:18) Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.
in order to hear from God you have to first 'incline your ear'; and second, still your own thoughts - He won't shout above your pleas, nor will He shout because you haven't inclined your ear to Him - He speaks in a still, small voice.
He's already said many, many things to you through His written word, the Bible. as you seek to hear from Him through His written word, you give Him the opportunity to reveal to you what His written word actually means - you will gain access to His 'revealed' written Word (the 'Living word') by confidently expecting (having faith) that He will speak to you through His written word in the Bible - this is how you 'incline your ear'.
the second step i find to be much more challenging - stilling my own thoughts. at times i catch myself crying our to Him to speak, but yet not giving Him an opportunity to do so because of my constant pleas.
I am convinced beyond being unconvinced that God is always speaking to me through the Holy Spirit - but like a radio playing static, i'm not always 'tuned in' to the right channel, or i'm drowning His vice out of my hearing with my own constant stream of words to Him...
(Mat 12:38) Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.
these scribes and Pharisees were looking for the same thing you are - a sign; vision, waking dream, etc. - but they asked out of unbelief, confident that Jesus could NOT give them such as sign, because they didn't believe that He was the Christ (the Anointed One, the Savior of the world) - you however are asking in faith, and God desires more than you do that you experience Him - but Jesus' reply to those scribes and Pharisees, although it was a rebuke to them, is encouragement for us who are reborn in Christ:
(Mat 12:38) Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.
(Mat 12:39) But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
(Mat 12:40) For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
(emphasis added by me)
we already have the most powerful sign we can get from God - the Bible's account of the crucifixion and resurrection of His Son Jesus as a substitute for us - He paid the price for all our sins, and paved the way to right standing with God (righteousness) through faith in His undeserved favor toward us (grace); there can be no more convincing sign than this:
(from the parable of the rich man and Lazarus):
(Luk 16:27) Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
(Luk 16:28) For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
(Luk 16:29) Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
(Luk 16:30) And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
(Luk 16:31) And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
(emphasis added by me)
i believe what Jesus is saying to you and I is that without seeking God in His written word, the Bible, we won't be able to believe as we can and should based on signs alone, but will yield to the reports of the world (the devil) and our own flesh when the devil comes to tempt us to cast away our confidence in God as Lord (One who provides direction and guidance so to led us to intersect with the blessings He's prepared for us in this life) and Savior.
(2Co 11:13) For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
(2Co 11:14) And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
what this is saying to me is that satan can appear to be an angel, so i can't put my faith in visions, dreams, signs, etc. - these can be counterfeit copies from the devil to lead me astray. but if my faith is rooted and grounded in God's revealed written Word, when doubts come, all i need to do is to go back and remind myself of His unchanging Word to be encouraged and strengthened - and the Holy Spirit will remind me of his Word, comfort me, and strengthen me with His Peace as i do seek Him in His Word:
(Joh 14:25) These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
(Joh 14:26) But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
(Joh 14:27) Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
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