Phase 1 Week 8 God Speaks and Reveals God Initiates and Invites Experiencing God, chapters 10 & 11
New York Youth Leaders Association
1. How do most people react when they hear someone say, “God spoke to
me?” Why do we react that way?
2. According to Blackaby, how do we know that God is a God who
speaks? What evidence does he provide in chapter 10?
3. How do we know when God is speaking to us personally? What
misunderstandings or mistakes does he believe we should avoid? How do
you feel about these ideas?
4. What does God want to reveal to us when He speaks to us? What
kinds of things determine how and when God speaks?
5. How do you feel about Blackaby’s suggestion that God is more
interested in you and I having an intimate relationship with Him and
in developing our character than in what can we do for Him? How have
you experienced this reality in our life?
6. How does Blackaby suggest the Holy Spirit comes to us to speak to
us? Does each person have a unique experience in hearing God speak?
How do you feel about the idea that God wants to speak to you and
involve you in what He is doing? What changes will you need to make
to
hear God speak?
divine...@gmail.com
1. When most people hear someone say, “God spoke to me!” The reaction of most people tends to be critical, skeptical, cautious, The rise of terrorism, cults, religious finantics, some who all emotionally disturbed/mentally ill, claim to hear messages "from God". Unfortunately, these messages are not from The Most High God; often result in horrendous and unspeakable crimes. "God, our Father, is not the author of confusion, but of peace,..." (1 Corin 14:33) This is a serious matter and cannot be taken lightly. 1 John 4:1-6 declares, "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God."
In addition, If God has spoken to an individual, the message, heard from God must be accurate, true and occur 100%; if not, the person is a false prophet. Scripture also says in Matt 7:15, 20, "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves....by their fruits ye shall know them. "
2a. According to Blackaby, God is a God who speaks. The Scriptures supports many encounters of those chosen to experience this amazing privilege, from Genesis to Revelation. God, spoke through prophets, kings, judges, angels, visions and dreams, symbolic actions/events miraculous signs/wonders Jesus said in John 12:49, "For I have not spoken of myself but the Father which sent me; He gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. "
3a. Only those of us who have established a deeply connected and intimate love relationship with Him, will know when God speaks to us on a personable level. God always takes the initiative in speaking to us and revealing His will. He does it in His Way and in His own time. (Blackaby, (140). Only God can confirm and verify His word to us and provide the assurance that it is truly His voice. More importantly, when God speaks to us, through His Holy Spirit, we know for sure that we have encountered and experienced the Most High God. When God speaks, we will recognize His voice and follow Him. John 10:14,27 Jesus states, "I am the Good Shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. My sheep hear my voice and I know them, and they follow me."
The methods and techniques of how He speaks directly to us is not as important as the fact that He personally communicates with us. Our body is the sacred temple of the Holy Spirit where He resides. (1 Corin 3:16). We must be sure it is God speaking through His Holy Spirit, and understand what He says to us. We must also be critically aware of who the message is for, and how we are to use it ;whether it is for us or for someone else. Then we can experience God as we wait for His promises to unfold in that what He promises, He will do.
3b. The misunderstandings or mistakes, Blackaby believes we should avoid are the misguided and self-centered approaches in determining God's voice and His will, such as:
1. Asking God for miraculous signs, and proof to test God
2. Seeking a method or formula, tradition, a hunch, or a prior experience to hear him speak.
3. Name a Scripture and claim it as the word from God for a situation.
4. Open and closed doors approach, saying "Lord, stop me and close the door if I'm wrong and bless me and open the door if I'm right.
3c. It is a process in learning to know the voice of God through a committed and deeply connected intimate love relationship. I understand that God chooses to speak to me in ways that are unique to me. And when He God speaks to me everyday through the Holy Spirit for His purpose and His will to be done. It may be an assignment for guidance, direction, instruction, teaching, wisdom revelation knowledge for my good,and for the good of others and all for his glory. I have a blessed assurance that He will ensure that I will undeniably know and recognize His voice; and know undoubtedly, that it is a word from Him through the power of the Holy Spirit of Truth. The time that God speaks to me I need to orient my mind set and adjust my life in line with His leading. Right now I am in a season of preparation on His timetable. I commit my time, treasure, and talent to know him better to love him more and to hear His voice clearer everyday.
4a. God wants to reveal his will, his plans and His purpose to us when He speaks to us. God also wants to reveal what we need to know to make the necessary adjustments to our lifestyle and in developing our character for faithful obedience.
4b. The kinds of things that determine how God speaks is unique to each individual. God chooses the various methods to use. (These methods were discussed above) When God spoke people they were certain that it was God by faith in the Holy Spirit. Only God can verify and confirm His direct word to us. As we read the Scripture, pray and observe God at work around us, the Holy Spirit
reveals and clarifies what God is saying to us.
5a. I agree with Blackaby’s that God is more interested having an intimate relationship with me and in developing my character, than in what I can do for Him. In a loving relationship with God, He speaks to me in unique ways reveals His purposes and my assignments to me. God takes His time to develop my character and prepares me to fit assignment and complete the task. What I can do for Him in my own strength does not interest God. He desires for me to simply trust Him and walk in faith. I need to respond quickly when He speaks, adjust my life to align to His Word and remain obedient until God's purpose is fulfilled.
5b. I have experienced this reality in my life many times. In my heart, God spoke to me to retire seven years ago, from a 25 year career in pharmaceutical sales and stay at home full time. It was difficult at first, but it was God's will that I am accessible and available for my family. This proved to be the best decision that I made. I missed my executive position and career in sales. But God new better and prepared my character and directed my life to be aligned with His word. I stayed humble before Him and in fervent prayer. My grandchild came along, my mom, suffered a stroke, my boys were preparing for college and God knew they needed my full attention without worrying about going to work everyday. I could not have succeeded without Him. God is so good.
6a. I agree with Blackaby's suggestion that the Holy Spirit speaks to us, as God's voice. As born-again believers, we enter a love relationship with Jesus Christ and Father God-God Himself. Holy Spirit of God takes up residence within us. He is the Spirit of Truth, who reveals Jesus Christ who is the Living Word of Truth, through the Scriptures, and in prayer. He convicts us of sin, and gives us wisdom, revelation knowledge, and understanding of God's nature, His ways, His will, His purposes.
6b. Each person has a unique experience in hearing God speak. He may use the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and other believers to drop a word of Truth in our spirit. The method or technique is not the key to hearing from God. Hearing a word from God is bases on an intimate loving relationship with Him in seeking the Lord, He gives us the assurance that it is a word directly from Him. When God speaks, we will recognize His voice and follow Him. In John 10:14,27 Jesus states, "I am the Good Shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. My sheep hear my voice and I know them, and they follow me."
6c. I believe in the concepts that God wants to speak to me and to involve me in what He is doing. I feel so blessed, humbled and astonished that I have a personal, private, loving connection with my awesome Almighty Father God who is also The Great I AM THAT I AM (Exod 3:14). I am humbled that He takes His time to initiate and pursue a love relationship with unworthy me.
I have experienced many encounters with God when He has spoken with me, through various sources and by His Spirit. I have had wonderful experiences of His powerful Presence as He revealed truth to me. Hebrews 13:8 declares that "Jesus Christ (God) is the same yesterday, and to day, and forever." He never changes. What He has done for others He can, will, and has done for me.
On my spiritual journey, God has graciously orders my steps and leads me in the paths where He was working. God has invited me to join him in the areas of witnessing, soul winning, evangelizing, ministering in alter work, mentoring the youth, discipling, teaching and preaching the Word of God to a full congregation, being a blessing in assisting someone or praying for them.
My desire is to draw closer to God, everyday, that I can hear Him speaking to me. I don't want to miss out on any blessings, comfort or healing or any directive or opportunity he sends my way. I'm so glad I'm a child of the King and I'm part of the family of God and the household of faith.
6d. I have already begun to make big changes in my life so that I can hear the voice of God more clearly. I have in loving God more each day. I have grown in my prayer life and I'm being thankful for each moment that I'm alive. I have dropped habits and friendships which are in contrast to the Word of God. I am being more obedient to God's directives by gaining wisdom and knowing understanding the Bible. I know that when God speaks to me, He has a purpose in mind. So, I have to be accessible and available when He chooses to speak to me.
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Najwa Clay_Edwards
“God spoke to me”. I believe that this type of reaction is cause by a
few reasons: 1) Maybe they have had the experience of having that
phrase be used in the wrong manor. I know that it is not popular to
mention, but some “church leaders “ both past and present use this to
control the members and to make themselves seem more spiritual than
others. The result of this behavior in my opinion has been very
detrimental to the body of believers. 2) Maybe they have not had the
experience of hearing the voice of God before. The ability to hear the
voice of God comes from first acknowledging him as God and having an
openness of mind that leads to the understanding that he will speak to
you individually. 3) Maybe they are just simply an unbeliever. Some
people hear the voice of God and choose to call it something
different, such as their own conscience, certain objects, and even
the souls of other individuals who have past away.
2) According to Blackaby, God speaks/reveals through the Holy Ghost in
an "unique" manner- clear and distinct- based on the
Scriptures. The word of God brings the affirmation into our hearts.
Blackaby also goes on to explained that God speaks by the Holy Spirit
through the Bible, prayer, life’s circumstances. According to Blackaby
on Page 139 " Hearing God does not depend on a method or formula but a
relationship". Only those of us who have an intimate love
relationship with God, will know when God speaks to us personally. God
always takes the initiative in speaking to us and reveals His Will in
his own timing. According to Blackaby only God can confirm and verify
His word to us and provide the assurance that we are truly hearing His
voice. When God speaks to us, through His Holy Spirit, we know with
certainty that we have encountered and experienced the Most High God.
When God speaks, we will be able recognize His voice and follow Him .
There can be misunderstandings and/or mistakes made when attempting
to decern God’s voice. Blackaby states that we should move away from
some of our self-centered thoughts in determining God's voice and his
will. Some of these things are:
asking God for miracles, signs, wonder used as a test to see if God
will do a certain thing; Searching for methods, tradition, formulas,
depending on a prior experience to hear him speak; “name it and claim
it” , and open and closed doors approach.
3)Only those of us who have an intimate love relationship with God,
will know when God speaks to us personally. God always takes the
initiative in speaking to us and reveals His Will in his own timing.
According to Blackaby only God can confirm and verify His word to us
and provide the assurance that we are truly hearing His voice. When
God speaks to us, through His Holy Spirit, we know with certainty that
There can be misunderstandings and/or mistakes made when attempting
to decern God’s voice. Blackaby states that we should move away from
some of our self-centered thoughts in determining God's voice and his
will. Some of these things are:
asking God for miracles, signs, wonder used as a test to see if God
will do a certain thing; Searching for methods, tradition, formulas,
depending on a prior experience to hear him speak; “name it and claim
it” , and open and closed doors approach.
4)Ultimately God desires to reveal his will, plans and purpose to us
when He speaks. He also wants to show us what adjustments that we need
to make to our lives in order to be obedient to his will and follow
his plans.
5) How do you feel about Blackaby’s suggestion that God is more
totally with this statement. God wants for me to know him intimately
and the results from that intimate love relationship will be that I do
work for his kingdom in order allow someone else the opportunity to
get to know him in an intimate way and then they will do the same for
someone else. It just keeps passing on down the lines. My testimonies
of times when God has comforted me, spoken to me and revealed things
to me during times of distress ans even times when I didn’t deserve it
help reveal His love to others and they become encouraged to love him
more intimately as well as the testimonies of thine results from the
love relationship of others helf me to want to seek God more and to
know him more intimately.
6) I agree with Blackaby's when he states that the Holy Spirit speaks
to us, as God's voice. He speaks softly to you in a way that reveals
an understanding of the nature of God, His will, His plans for
humanity and his purposes for the existence of individuals as well as
the world. It is my personal belief that God created us as individuals
who are unique in order to have an individual and personal
relationship with us . He wants to love individuals in ways that only
fit you and him. I need to work on becoming more quiet so that I can
hear God’s voice clearly.
On Mar 5, 5:12 pm, New York Youth Leaders Association
divine...@gmail.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Najwa Clay_Edwards <najsa...@yahoo.com>
Sender: new-york-youth-leader...@googlegroups.com
Date: Mon, 9 Apr 2012 15:33:03
To: New York Youth Leaders Association Level II<new-york-youth-leader...@googlegroups.com>
Reply-To: new-york-youth-leader...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: Phase 1 Week 8 God Speaks and Reveals God Initiates and Invites
Experiencing God, chapters 10 & 11
charlesette
Most people don’t believe it when someone says that God spoke, and
some of critical. Why do we react that way? Because of the lack of
proper teaching on the subject, lack of a nurturing environment in the
church and lack of practical and personal knowledge about how to
listen when God speak.
2. According to Blackaby, how do we know that God is a God who speak?
God speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances
and the church to reveal Himself, His purpose and His ways. Pg.137
3. How do we know when God is speaking to us personally? The key to
knowing God’s voice and hearing when God speak is having an intimate
relationship with Him. As God speaks and you respond, you will come
to the point that you recognize His voice more and more clearly. Pg.
138.
(b) What misunderstanding or mistake, he believes we should avoid?
Asking God for a sign, not to name it and claim it method, not open
and closed doors
(c) How do you feel about these ideas? God wants us to depend totally
on Him not on signs and other methods, the key to doing this is the
intimate relationship He want with each one of us to have with Him.
When He speaks we know His voice and we will listen and respond.
4 What does God want to reveal to us when He speak to us? God want
to reveal His purpose, His name, nature, and character. God wants
us to come to know Him so when he reveals Himself to us we can have
faith to trust Him in the assignment He calls us to. pg.154 & pg.160.
5.How do you feel about Blackaby’s suggestion that God is more
with Mr. Blackaby, God want us to develop a love relationship with Him
before we can join Him in what He is doing. He will reveal His plans
to us when our agenda is total out of the way. When we become less
self-centered and more God-centered God will reveal His plan in His
own timing.
6.How does Blackaby suggest the Holy Spirit comes to us to speak to
us? The Holy Spirit speak to us thru the Bible, prayer, circumstances
and other believers. (b) Does each person have a unique experience
in hearing God speak? Yes everyone have a unique experience in hearing
God speak(c) How do you feel about the idea that God wants to speak
to you and involve in what He is doing? I would feel so honor that God
would want to involve me in what He is doing. (d) What changes will
you need to make to hear God speak? In my prayer time I will need to
start a journal to record thing God has to say, get rid of the
distraction in my life and not be afraid to go forth when God speak to
me.
Najwa
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
-----Original Message-----
From: charlesette <charles...@yahoo.com>
Sender: new-york-youth-leader...@googlegroups.com
Date: Tue, 1 May 2012 21:02:38
To: New York Youth Leaders Association Level II<new-york-youth-leader...@googlegroups.com>
Reply-To: new-york-youth-leader...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: Phase 1 Week 8 God Speaks and Reveals God Initiates and Invites
Experiencing God, chapters 10 & 11