We explore ways to discern if a word, thought, plan, goal, or dream is from God or not.
Scriptures:
- I Thessalonians 5:19-21
- Isaiah 38:1-6
- Proverbs 16:9
- Acts 18:1-3
- Luke 24:31-32
Outline
- Review
- Does It Agree With the Bible
- Get Counsel from Wise Christians
- God Uses Other People to Confirm His Word
- A Prophet May Confirm It
- Ask God for Confirmation
- Does it Align with a Previous Word from God?
- Does it Align With Your Purpose?
- Things Effortlessly Fall Into Place
- Heartburn
Let me tell you one sign that God is speaking to you?
… HEARTBURN
Review
In the series Hearing From God
We previously discussed that God can speak to us through:
- Bible
- Prayer
- Voice
- Pastors / teachers
- Prophetic words
- Tongues / Interpretations
- Dreams / Visions
- Peace
- Unusual circumstances / coincidences
- Fleece
- Closing doors
- Bringing things to your memory
- Inspired thoughts
- Prompting of the Holy Spirit
- Draw your Attention to something
- Nature / creation
- Worship / music
- Emotions
- Writing
- Angels
How does God most often speak to you?
Voices We Hear
Voices / thoughts / impressions that we get aren’t necessarily all from God
The voices can originate from
- God
- Your Mind
- The World
- Your Flesh
- Your Gut
- The enemy
- Your Emotions
Your Mind
Your Own Voice
- Your own plan
- Voice of past trauma
- Limiting beliefs
- View of God
- Waiting to punish you
- You need to perform for love
Voice of the World
The systems that promote non-Christian perspectives
- Science
- Media
- Popular opinion
Non Christians often believe
- If you come to believe there is not a God that is through reason
- If you come to believe there is a God that is through faith
Everything that you doubt about Christianity is based on faith in something else.
Examples:
- I can’t believe in a God who allows such evil and suffering
- What you are saying is that because I can’t think of a good reason that God would allow evil and suffering there can’t be a good reason
- Your doubt is based on faith in yourself
Secular beliefs are usually based on:
- Culture / society
- Historical context
- Your emotions
Your Flesh
Lust of the Flesh
- To want something because it feels good
- Your physical desires
- Your sinful tendencies
Lust of the Eyes
- Coveting
- Desire for status
Pride of Life
- Power, Significance, respect
- Something that leads to boasting
Your Gut
- Bacteria
- Viruses
- Fungus
- Candida
- Yeast
They influence your fleshly desires
- Cravings and addictions
- Sweets
- Alcoholism
- Sexual desires
- Obesity
Example:
- Obesity in rats
- Sex drive in crickets
The Enemy
How many of these are you experiencing during the lockdown?
- Stronghold
- Temptation
- Fear
- Isolation
- Attacks When You’re Vulnerable
- Condemnation
- Deception
- Distraction
- The Enemy Can Influence Your Thoughts
- He Uses Other People
Your Emotions
How you feel can interfere with you hearing from God
You can be influenced by:
- Fear
- Embarrassment
- Unhappiness
Example: what will people think?
God’s Voice (Review)
You can’t just judge based on your personal experience or by what your church does.
Does it Agree With the Bible?
“How do you know what God is going to say unless you know what He already said
How do you know how God is going to speak unless you know how he has already spoken”
- Look at the context
- Who was the verse addressed to?
- We can apply promises God made to Israel
- We were adopted into God’s family
- Jesus already fulfilled some of the promises
- We can apply wisdom literature
- We can’t apply statements from one person to another
- Is it in Alignment With the Whole Bible?
- Is it Universally True?
- What Was the Point of the Verse?
Example: all Christians will be rich
- Were the apostles rich?
- Did Jesus promise riches?
Get Counsel from Wise Christians
There are 3 types of spiritual leaders in your life
- The evangelist wants you to connect with the message of Christ
- The teacher wants to teach you the word and show you what it says about your life
- The mentor is there to help you listen to your life
The first two are directed by their goal for you. The mentor is going to come in and ask questions first.
God Uses Other People to Confirm His Word
- Pastors
- Bible teachers
- Fellow Christians
- Prophets
Story: drunk guy in Vegas elevator
A Prophet May Confirm it
I Thessalonians 5:19-21
19 Do not quench the Spirit;
20 do not despise prophetic utterances.
21 But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good;
Gift vs Relationship
When it comes to hearing God from others you are generally operating through a gift.
When it comes to hearing God for yourself you are not usually not operating through a gift.
- You hear him through a relationship.
Old Testament Prophets
Did the old testament prophets operate in the gift of prophecy?
“Spiritual gifts“ are gifts of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit did not indwell people until Jesus brought Him here.
Prophetic Myths Debunked
Have you heard it said that:
1. Prophecy Will Only Be Confirmation
2. Prophecy Will Always Be Positive
3. Prophecy Will Only be About You
@Isaiah 38:1-6
- God told Isaiah to tell Hezekiah he was going to die so get his house in order
- Hezekiah cried to God
- It wasn’t a confirmation
- It wasn’t positive
- It wasn’t about Isaiah
These myths were developed to protect against the many false prophets that we have in our churches but they aren’t biblical.
Ask God for Confirmation
Confirmation can be through any of the ways God speaks
- Bible
- Other people
- Coincidences
- Doors opening / closing
- Fleece
Story: Skip breakfast
Can you think of an example of when God gave you confirmation?
Does it align with a Previous Word from God?
Proverbs 16:9
9The mind of man plans his way,
But the LORD directs his steps
Example: God told me to teach
- Join this other growth group
Does it Align With Your Purpose?
Life Purpose vs Season
We have a life purpose and we have seasons. Every season may not seem to guide you towards your purpose.
Story: my history
- Tutoring job
- Tutoring company
- Consulting company
- Teaching
Things Effortlessly Fall Into Place
Acts 18:1-3
1After these things he left Athens and went to Corinth. 2And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. He came to them, 3and because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and they were working, for by trade they were tent-makers.
- Convenient coincidences
Story: computer teacher was college counselor
Heartburn
When Jesus met the Disciples on the road after the resurrection
Luke 24:31-32
31Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight. 32They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?”
How do you know it’s from God?
- When your heart burns
When you have a strong sensation caused by God’s presence
When The Word ignites something inside of you
- A renewed enthusiasm
- An irrational hope
- A peace that surpasses understanding
You may feel an intense communion with God, that "inspires" you to become active.
It changed the disciples ... from mourning His death ... to proclaiming that He was alive!
The disciples went from doubting, fearful, questioning followers to becoming leaders
- They bravely faced the risk of death
- They preached boldly to crowds of thousands
A word from God changed me from a pew Christian who wouldn’t volunteer to help with anything
“TEACH”
Change me from not wanting to volunteer for anything because I didn’t have time…
Changed me from focusing solely on my own pleasure...
To spending 20+ hours a week working on this ministry
Someone said that the gift of teaching always comes with a hunger for the Word
A fire burning in your heart is yet another way to discern the voice of God
When it ignites a fire within your chest
When you have a supernatural motivation to do something of God
I pray that God inspires a burning in your heart
I pray that during this locked down that you get a burning desire to serve the Lord
Instructor: Michael Leadon
References
How to Hear God’s Voice
How to Discern if a Word is From the Lord
5 Questions to Know If We're Hearing From God
7 Ways to Distinguish God’s Voice from the Circumstances of Life
http://ronedmondson.com/2015/04/7-ways-to-distinguish-gods-voice-from-the-circumstances-of-life.html
Discerning God's Voice
Discerning the voice of God – the mission church
Discerning the Voice of God - Kingdom City Messages
Discerning God‘s voice - First Baptist Church Amherst
Hearing God’s Voice - Robert Morris
How To know God’s voice
Freshwater church
How Do We Listen to God?
Discerning God’s voice - Leighton Ford
Which Old Testament Promises Apply to Me?
7 Keys to Hearing God
Extra
Aquila and Priscilla
- Acts 18:2-3: There he became acquainted with a Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently arrived from Italy with his wife, Priscilla. They had left Italy when Claudius Caesar deported all Jews from Rome. Paul lived and worked with them, for they were tentmakers just as he was.
- Acts 18:18: Paul stayed in Corinth for some time after that, then said good-bye to the brothers and sisters and went to nearby Cenchrea. There he shaved his head according to Jewish custom, marking the end of a vow. Then he set sail for Syria, taking Priscilla and Aquila with him.
- Acts 18:26: When Priscilla and Aquila heard him preaching boldly in the synagogue, they took him aside and explained the way of God even more accurately.
- Romans 16:3: Give my greetings to Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in the ministry of Christ Jesus.
- 1Cor 16:19: The churches here in the province of Asia send greetings in the Lord, as do Aquila and Priscilla and all the others who gather in their home for church meetings.
- 2Tim 4:19: Give my greetings to Priscilla and Aquila and those living in the household of Onesiphorus.
