Hearing from God can be a tricky thing

[David A. Wikle]

Hearing from God can be a tricky thing at first, but as you grow in the Lord it becomes easier. There are TWO main ways to hear from the Lord. Both of these work real good if you use them.



The best and a sure way to hear from God is also the most un-used by Christians. Over the many years since I have been saved (Feb. 1954) I have found very few Christians who use this method to hear from God. It is reading the Bible. Jesus said that He was The Word, so this makes the Bible a spirit to spirit connection. God’s Spirit to our spirit. As you read the Bible you will be in contact with God’s Spirit so that as you read, the Lord will drop stuff into your spirit. Most of the time, what He gives to you is sparked by what you have just read; the scripture becomes a launching pad for God to get the message to you. You might be reading one thing and the Lord starts telling you about something else. And you wonder how did I get that from that scripture? It is a sure fired way to hear from God. If you need to hear from God on a matter; then pick up the Bible and go at it. As you read, He will be with you giving you answers.



The one super way to grow as a Christian (you will be far and above most Christians) is to read the complete Bible. Start at front and end at back. You can keep a journal of all that the Lord speaks to you about. As you read, you will end up with more questions than answers, but that is a God thing. He knows more than you do. He will share some of that stuff as you grow with Him or as you get older. You can read the same scripture 20 years later and it will mean something totally different to you. The Bible is real and alive. You cannot read it and not be changed. Of course, the Bible will only be revealed to you if you are a Christian; an exception to this is the plan of salvation.



The other method of hearing from God is to learn to hear His voice. This takes time and testing. As you learn, you will be able to divide the things from God and the junk from Satan.

At first, it is a hard thing to discern if what you are hearing is from God, you, or Satan. But as you grow, you will be able to fine tune yourself to hear His voice when He speaks to you. You will be going about your normal business and He will speak to you and you will get it every time if you are in tune with Him. This requires a clean and pure walk before Him, sins forgiven and others forgiven. If you are in sin, then this does not work, you could hear from Satan and think it is God.



Hearing from God directly is very exciting and it gives you a chance to be His servant. He speaks and you do. Sounds simple, but it is not. More time and testing are required, but this is the fun and scary part. As a servant, you do what He tells you to do and that can be quite an experience, but this is exactly what He wants His children to do.



Hope this helps.



David Wikle

kingdavid@core.com

 

[whatseekye]

very interesting. thanks for posting lately. i'm still reading through them but they are thought provoking.

 

[BlessedVegan]

You make really good points. I'm a new Christian and I know I tend to try to find guidance through other sources, instead of just reading the Bible!! I know, it should be obvious. But somehow I miss it. But thanks for making it clear

 

[TheOriginalWhitehorse]

That was a great post. Thank you for blessing us with it.

 

[Maharg]

I've been blessed in the last 12 months with a real desire to read my Bible and it has been wonderful. As a seven year old child I decided I was going to try and read the Bible all the way through, but at the time, I had not really understood about who Jesus was and what his death meant. I think I got as far as Deuteronomy!

I didn't really my Bible very much then until I got to about 18 years old, and since then have only really dipped in and out of it in a most irregular fashion: instead opting for Christian books, which felt m,ore accessible and less scary at the time. I was blessed by these books and learnt from them, but now that I have started reading the Bible more regularly, I can see its benefits. Particular verses come to my mind spontaneously when I am thinking negative thoughts, and I have learnt a great deal about how to handle situations, and how certain behaviours I always engaged in were not necessarily things that God had comanded, but instead habits passed down by my family - and not terribly helpful ones at that!

In terms of hearing from God directly - I am learning a bit more about that. I do struggle to tell the difference between His voice and mine, but I guess He will help me to learn in time.

Thank you for this thread!

 

[JWBZ SVT]

Interesting, I did a google search earlier today on this subject before I read this thread. I know that I need help in discerning God's voice from my own. Even the devil's voice can be deceptive like when he tempted Jesus during his 40 day fast. Satan "told" the truth but misrepresented it.

I wish someone on this board would do an indepth analogy or study on differentiating between God's Voice, our own voice, and Satan's voice. I don't mean simply by quoting Scriptures but by expounding upon the Scripture. I think that could help a lot of us. Maybe we should pray that God will move in somone to make such a post. That's my prayer!

 

[TheOriginalWhitehorse]

Interesting, I did a google search earlier today on this subject before I read this thread. I know that I need help in discerning God's voice from my own. Even the devil's voice can be deceptive like when he tempted Jesus during his 40 day fast. Satan "told" the truth but misrepresented it.

I wish someone on this board would do an indepth analogy or study on differentiating between God's Voice, our own voice, and Satan's voice. I don't mean simply by quoting Scriptures but by expounding upon the Scripture. I think that could help a lot of us. Maybe we should pray that God will move in somone to make such a post. That's my prayer!

Good idea. Praying with you.

 

[IKTCA]

JWBZ and WH:

I am most surprised by your posts. Even in Deeper Fellowship, brotherly sharing is difficult to find. I pray that the Lord consider your humble hearts worthy and speak to you in his merciful and truthful voice. Amen.

 

[but'n'ben]

Great post David. I often just open the Bible at a random page if I'm looking for help and have always found what I needed there.

 

[whatseekye]

I wish someone on this board would do an indepth analogy or study on differentiating between God's Voice, our own voice, and Satan's voice. I don't mean simply by quoting Scriptures but by expounding upon the Scripture. I think that could help a lot of us.

I've wondered the same thing myself because I have had some startling experiences of either dreaming that God was speaking to me, or feeling that God imparted some kind of suggestion or comfort or affirmation or leading to do a certain thing. And I wondered how you can know, and whether doubting it's God is a going to squelch the Holy Spirit or even be a blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Maybe I can find a sermon or teaching on the internet that goes in to this in further detail.