Quiet Time 101b -Hearing God's Voice - Are You Ready to Listen?

[Brother Bob...<><]

 

 Quiet Time 101-b

Hearing God's Voice - Are You Ready to Listen?

Based on a study found at:  http://www.allaboutgod.com/Quiet-Time.htm

 (Heb 3:15 KJV)

  While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice,

 harden not your hearts,

as in the provocation.

Hearing God's Voice - Are You Ready to Listen?
Hearing God's voice is something we all long for-but did you know that it's not hard to do? In fact, God wants you to hear His voice!... Hearing the voice of God is as natural as hearing your best friend talk to you. What's more, we can hear Him everyday and not just on special occasions or by chanting special incantations. He speaks to us in the natural moments of life. Do you want to hear God's voice? Then you must be ready to listen.

(Heb 4:2 KJV) 

 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them:

but the word preached did not profit them,

not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

 

Hearing God's Voice - Why Do You Want to Hear Him?
Why do you want to hear God's voice? That may sound like a silly question, but motives are important in anything we do. The Bible says this about God's Word:

 (Heb 4:12 KJV) 

 For the word of God is quick{Grk=alive), and powerful,

and sharper than any twoedged sword,

 piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow,

 and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Do you want to hear God's voice? If you do, it's possible you're hearing Him already, for He may be the one giving you the longing to hear Him.

Hearing God's Voice in the Bible
In his book Knowing God, J. I. Packer says, "God has spoken to man, and the Bible is His Word, given to us to make us wise unto salvation."
The Bible itself declares,

(John 1:1 KJV) 

 In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

 

(2 Tim 3:14-17 KJV) 

 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of,

 knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

{15} And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures,

which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

{16} All scripture is given by inspiration of God,

and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

{17} That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

You may hear people say that the Bible is just a book written by men, but the Bible itself claims to be God's Word! Can we rely on it? The evidence of history, archaeology, fulfilled prophecy and personal testimony over thousands of years is overwhelming that the Bible is, indeed, God's Word. Do you want to hear God's voice? Then read the Bible. Find a good daily reading plan, and stick to it.

Hearing God's Voice through Prayer
When you want to have a conversation with someone, how do you begin? Do you just stand in front of the person and hope they will talk to you? That might work, if the other person is outgoing enough, but usually we begin a conversation by opening our own mouths and talking, engaging the other person's attention. It's the same with God! He loves to hear us talk to Him, and it's in those moments that we prepare ourselves to hear the voice of God. Prayer is like saying, "Hello, God, it's me. I believe You created me and that You know way more about how I should live my life than I do. I'd like to get to know You better. Here's what's going on in my life, and I'd sure like Your thoughts on how to handle it. Would You please speak to me about this today?"

In an ordinary conversation, we speak, then listen for the response of the other person. It's the same with God! Once we've prepared our hearts to listen through prayer, we're more likely to hear the voice of God. Does He speak to us through an audible voice? Some claim He does, but usually that's not the case. We may not actually "hear" the voice of God, but He speaks to us in many ways. Here are some of them:

• God speaks through His Word
• God speaks through our thoughts
• God speaks through conversations with others
• God speaks through circumstances

Hearing God's Voice through Jesus
The Bible also tells us that Jesus is God in the flesh. Therefore, if you want to hear the voice of God, you must study and know the teachings of Jesus.

(John 14:9-11 KJV) 

Jesus saith unto him,

 Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip?

 he that hath seen me hath seen the Father;

 and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?

{10} Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me?

the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself:

but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

{11} Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me:

or else believe me for the very works' sake.

 

(John 10:30-33 KJV) 

Jesus said,  I and my Father are one.

 {31} Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.

 {32} Jesus answered them, Many good works have I showed you from my Father;

 for which of those works do ye stone me?

{33} The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not;

 but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

 

Here's how John describes Him:

(1 John 1:1-3 KJV) 

That which was from the beginning,

which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon,

and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;

 {2} (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it,

and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life,

which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)

 {3} That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you,

that ye also may have fellowship with us:

 and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

 

You must also have a personal relationship with Jesus. Have you ever tried to carry on a conversation of any depth with a person you did not know? It doesn't usually go very far.

 

(Rev 3:14b KJV) ....These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;...

(Rev 3:19-21 KJV)  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten:

be zealous therefore, and repent.

{20} Behold, I stand at the door, and knock:

 if any man hear my voice, and open the door,

 I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

 {21} To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne,

even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

 

 

Hearing God's Voice with the Help of the Holy Spirit

Shortly before He was crucified, Jesus met with His disciples to reassure them of what would happen after He was gone. He promised them a helper:

 

(John 14:16-18 KJV) 

 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter,

 that he may abide with you for ever;

{17} Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive,

 because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him;

for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

{18} I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

 

The Holy Spirit, then, is the fulfillment of the way we hear God's voice!

(John 14:25-26 KJV) 

 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.

{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.
The second chapter of Acts describes the events that occurred on the day of Pentecost, after Jesus ascended into Heaven. Verse 3 says they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, the Counselor promised by Jesus. This unique aspect of God's personality did not come to them as someone they could see and touch, but rather He came to live inside them. That same Spirit is available to you and me today. Are you a Christian? If so, you already have the Holy Spirit available to you. Ask God for a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit everyday, and He will prepare your heart to hear God's voice. His Spirit, that still, small voice inside you, is the One who will remind you of what God said, and help you recognize God's opportunities in your life.

 

(Isa 30:21 KJV) 

And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying,

This is the way, walk ye in it,

when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

 

Hearing God's Voice - Conclusion of the Matter
So we have the Bible, prayer, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and our own hearts to help us in hearing God's voice. Do you want to hear God's voice? That is the final question, for God responds to willing hearts. In the book of Revelation, we read: "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." (Revelation 3:20). God will never force you to obey Him, but waits for your willing response to His call. Are you hearing His voice right now? Don't let your final answer be the wrong one.

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God Bless You.....brother bob.......<><