Prayer: Hearing from God

(Radio Message Notes from Marilyn Potter)

Have you considered this scripture in John?

John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and the follow me.

Living in this modern fast paced world we tend to be easily distracted. There are so many things to do, places to go and people to see, so many choices to make, and they all require our time and attention.

With all of these things happening we tend to tune out everything that doesn’t fit our paradigm. We choose what we want to hear. So most often we tune out Jesus. Not willing to take the time to hear His voice. So we ask, How much intimate, one on one, time do we set aside for Jesus? How much time do we set aside for the one we call God?

Here is a story as told by Jeffrey Smead: “Two men were walking along a crowded city sidewalk. Suddenly, one of the men remarked, “Listen to the lovely sound of that cricked,” But the other man could not hear the sound.

He asked his friend how he could hear the sound of a cricket amid the roar of the traffic and the sound of the people. The first man, who was a zoologist, had trained himself to hear the sounds of nature.

He did not explain to his friend in words how he could hear the sound of the cricket, but instead, he reached into his pocket, pulled out a half-dollar coin, dropped it onto the sidewalk, and watched intently as a dozen people began to look for the coin as they heard it clanking around amid the sounds of the traffic and the sounds of the city. He turned to his friend and said, “We hear what we listen for.”

We hear many people say they don’t hear from God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit. God speaks to everyone all the time. Could it be we are not willing to listen, or could it be we don’t really want to hear His voice.

Back in verse 26 Jesus said, “You do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you.” Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice.” This is a promise of God. Our hearing is hinged on our belief of His word to us. Anyone can hear the word of God as read from the bible. It is with understanding that the sheep hear the word He speaks to them because of the willingness to hear and obey.

Therefore, if you are not hearing God’s voice, you are probable not walking in His will for your life.

In order for the will of God to be fulfilled in the earth, all of His followers must be doing His will. How can you walk in the will of God for your life, if you don’t hear what God says to you?

We are instructed to be slow to speak and quick to listen.

In this ‘burdened under satan’s yoke society’ those that call themselves Christians or followers of Jesus, are not taking the time to listen to Him. Often we don’t even take the time to listen to each other. We have become burdened by the cares of this world. Not taking time to stop and listen.

Here is a story that has been passed down regarding President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Apparently President Roosevelt got tired of smiling the expected presidential smile and saying the usual expected things at a myriad of White House receptions.

So, one evening he decided to find out whether anybody was really listening to what he was saying.

As each person came up to him with extended hand, he flashed that big smile and said, I murdered my grandmother this morning.

People would automatically respond with comments like, how lovely! Or it is nice to meet you mister President. Keep up the good work.

Nobody listened to what he was actually saying, except for one foreign diplomat. When the president said, I murdered my grandmother this morning; the diplomat responded softly, “I’m sure she had it coming.”We did this same thing years ago. When we met a co-worker one morning and she said good morning, how are you? We replied, not very well. We usually said good or great. She responded that’s nice, as she marched on to the bathroom. When she came out we asked, if she knew what we said to her in our greeting. She had no idea. And she realized that she didn’t really listen to anyone’s greetings. People do this kind of thing all the time. When we don't take time to listen, we come up with a lot of cliché answers.

How can we know God’s will? (Pause) Do we actually want to know the will of God? Because when we know the voice of God, it results in finding the will of God for your life.

Matt 4:4 tells us that 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'

Here the word 'proceeds' is very interesting. It means that it has a continuing function. It happened in the past, present and future. It means ongoing. It means something produced by an effectual cause.

Like creation proceeds from God. Light proceeds from the sun.

The word “Word” can mean either logos or rhema. Logos generally meaning the written word, and among other meanings, also means the spoken word. Rhema also means the spoken word. However, it is God giving a specific word (pause) to a specific person (pause) for a specific reason or situation. We often refer to this as revelation.

This is where God is giving us a personal understanding of what He is saying. The bible actual comes alive for us. In the event that we are to occupied with things of this world or not really wanting to hear God, we miss out on the information He has for us. The personal will God has for us. The bible has many scriptures that end in “and this is the will of God for you.” (We are going to leave those for you to find.)

Since God speaks to us continually, the hearing problem is with us, not God.

God gives us several ways in which to fine tune our hearing. The first is reading a scripture then meditating on it. That means to sit quietly in peace and listen for the word of God to you. Do this in thankfulness too.

Fasting is also a method of drawing us closer into the presence of God and seeking His will.

Prayer is highly important to the intimacy of hearing from God. What ever method you are using, and it should be all three, you need to set aside time when you can be in peace, and listen to the one you call your Father in Heaven.

Maturing in the faith depends on our willingness to listen to the voice of God.

Or do we choose to listen to the voices of the world? What are the voices of the world?

The voice of man is one of the voices of this world. Peter said in Acts 5:29 that We ought to obey God rather than men.

Then there is the voice of satan. Eve heard that one, as told in Genesis 3. satan's voice tells lies,and deception always attempting to lead man into sin, out of the will God. Satan even wanted Jesus to listen to him.

Satan's demons also have voices. Acts 8:7 says, 'For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed;... Also Read Luke 4:33-34.

Another voice is the voice of self. Jere 10:23 Oh God, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps. Also read Jonah 4:8

Charlie do you ever give yourself the best advice?

Then there is the voice of God. John 10:3-5 Jesus says, “To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out . And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”

The voices of strangers are all the other voices out there. So we 'can' close our ears to sin by focusing on Jesus, intently listening to Him. Making a conscious choice of whom we are going to listen to.

The good shepherd doesn't push, coerce, or manipulate one into doing the will of God. There must be a willingness to be led that comes from a heart of love. If we love Jesus, we obey Him. We listen diligently for our instructions. Then we do them.

Jesus said several times that His sheep hear his voice. It is only the voice of Jesus that is relevant to believers. So what do we need to hear the voice of God.

• One prerequisite to hearing the voice of God is to be willing to be one of His sheep. This means open to hearing the shepherd lead His flock. This is called salvation. John 8:47 tells us He who is of God hears God's words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God. Many in this world are under spells of seduction therefore, don't hear from God. Again it is a choice, as spells can be broken.
• Another prerequisite is a willingness to be receptive to God “the sheep follow Him”. Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock, If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

Spiros Zodhiates, an American-Greek bible scholar, put it this way, quote. They were listening to what he had to say, but they were not capable of understanding because they did not want to understand( or be receptive.) Those who will not give room in their heart to His truth will not understand His speech, utterance, the outward form of His language which His Word assumes. (He died October 10, 2009)

• Faith In chapter 10:3 'the sheep hear his voice' and in verse 27 it says, “My sheep hear My voice.”
• When we listen and obey our faith grows. Heb 11:6 says, Without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and he is a retarder of them that diligently seek him.
• Attentiveness: Read Ex.3:4
• Discernment: Read I kings 19:11-13

There is great purpose in hearing His voice.

• It brings us into intimacy with Him “he calleth his own sheep by name”
• It gives us understanding or comprehension. “ we hear his voice” We can perceive and understand what is said about His Presence, Love, Holiness , Faithfulness, Will and Sovereignty. Read all of John 10.
• It also encourages compliance. “the sheep follow him”

James 1:22 Be doers of the work, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

There is a lot on this topic for your consideration. We pray that you are encouraged to study further, and gain a better understanding of our great God. Here are some more scriptures to help you get started. John 18:20,37. I John 4:6, Rom 22:17.

Proverbs 8:34-35 Blessed is the man who listens to Me,....

Because in John 12:48 Jesus warns., He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him--- the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. That, is worthy of consideration!

Shalom everyone.

Thanks to Dennis Deese and Jeffrey Smead.