Scriptures:
- @Exodus 20:4
- Philipians 4:6-7
- John 14:27
- 2 Thessalonians 3:16
- Acts 24:24-25
- John 16:7-11
Outline
- Review
- The Voice of Religion
- God’s Voice (Review)
- Does it Agree With the Bible?
- Get Counsel from Wise Christians
- God Uses Other People to Confirm His Word
- Ask God for Confirmation
- Does it align with a Previous Word from God?
- Does it Align With Your Purpose?
- Things Effortlessly Fall Into Place
- Your Heart Burns
- Does it Bring Peace?
- Conviction of the Holy Spirit
- Summary
What would you do if you walked into my house and saw that I had an altar set up for Trump?
- I had his photo
- I had candles
- I pray to him 3 times a day
Review
In the series Hearing From God
How God “Speaks”
We previously discussed that God communicates with us through:
- Bible
- Prayer
- Voice
- Pastors / teachers
- Prophetic words
- Tongues / Interpretations
- Dreams / Visions
- Peace
- Unusual circumstances / coincidences
- Fleece
- Opening / 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 God Responds to Prayer
God responds in 5 ways
- Yes
- No
- Wait
- Confirmation / Direction / Clarity
- Silence
Voices We Hear
Voices / thoughts / impressions that we get aren’t necessarily all from God
The voices can originate from
- God
- Your Mind
- Voice of Your Flesh
- Your Gut
- Voice of The World
- Voice of The enemy
- Voice of Religion
Your Mind
Your Own Voice
- Your own plan
- Your opinion
Your Emotions
- How you feel
- Fear
- Embarrassment
- Unhappiness
- What will people think?
Your Flesh
Lust of the Flesh
- To want something because it feels good
- Your physical desires and sinful tendencies
Lust of the Eyes
Desire for
- Material goods
- Status
Pride of Life
Desire for
- Power
- Significance
- Respect
Your Gut
- Bacteria
- Viruses
They influence your desires
- Cravings and addictions
- Sweets
- Alcoholism
- Sexual desires
- Obesity
Voice of the World
- Cares of the world
The systems that promote non-Christian perspectives
- Science
- Media
- Popular opinion
Ideologies
- Republican / Democrat
- Feminists
- Environmentalism
I am a good person because I follow these values
- Because I follow these values and deserving of happiness
Secular beliefs are usually based on:
- Culture / society
- Historical context
- Your emotions
Example: South Park Museum of tolerance
Voice of the Enemy
- Strongholds
- Temptation
- Fear
- Isolation
- Attacks When You’re Vulnerable
- Condemnation
- Deception
- Distraction
- The Enemy Can Influence Your Thoughts
- He Uses Other People
The Voice of Religion
False Doctrine
The Popular Doctrine Isn't Always Right
Throughout the whole Bible there are many times when the majority of the people are following a wrong belief.
- Baal worship
- Pharisees
God would then have someone go to the people and tell them that they are wrong.
- Isaiah, Ezekiel, Jesus
Example: God doesn’t speak anymore
- The bible is closed
- New Testament speaks often of The Holy Spirit communicating with you
Idol Worship
What if I had a statue of God?
@Exodus 20:4
"You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.
Praying to:
- Mary
- Saints
Who has heard of Warner Sallman?
Example: Warner Sallman
- Best known artist of the Century —NY Times
- 1940 “Head of Christ”
- 500 million copies were sold
What if I had an altar with his painting on it?
God said not to make any idols or likeness of Him
- That was one of the key differentiators between Jehovah and the other gods
- Jesus is God
God’s Voice (Review)
You can’t just judge based on your personal experience or by what your church does.
How do we “test the spirit”?
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”
Get Counsel from Wise Christians
God Uses Other People to Confirm His Word
- Pastors
- Bible teachers
- Fellow Christians
- Prophets
Ask God for Confirmation
Confirmation can be through any of the ways God speaks
Does it align with a Previous Word from God?
Does it Align With Your Purpose?
Purpose vs. season
Things Effortlessly Fall Into Place
Don’t expect this to be the normal scenario.
Your Heart Burns
You feel a deep emotion or burning pull for something.
Does it Bring Peace?
Philippians 4:6-7
6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Shalom
completeness, soundness, welfare, peace
eirḗnē
Usage: peace, peace of mind; invocation of peace a common Jewish farewell, in the Hebraistic sense of the health (welfare) of an individual.
- Strong’s Concordance
Natural / Worldly Peace
John 14:27
27“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful
The world defines peace as to be without trouble.
- To be free for a conflict
- To have no stress
- Being free of what caused you to be anxious or stressed
It is a temporary escape from an otherwise troubled existence.
Some historians describe peace as the lul in the battle when everyone stops to reload
Example: Calgon take me away
The world pursues peace by
- Distraction
- Recreation
- Drugs
- Shopping
- Massage
- Yoga
- Meditation
We’re not talking about a natural peace
You Got What You Want
Example: international tasting job
We’re not talking about a peace that comes from getting what you want
You will have a peace if it is the decision the world would obviously suggest
Sometimes Used to Justify
Some people justify bad choices by saying… I am at peace about it.
Example: move in with your side chick
- Wife was nagging and complaining
- Now You can play video games all day and don’t have to work
- Now you’re at peace
Example: God told me he was going to be my husband
- He’s the fine pastor
- 5 other women said that
- His wife is not at peace with that word
Supernatural Peace
What is the peace of God that surpasses understanding?
- Not worried
- Not anxious
- Not stressing
2 Thessalonians 3:16
16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all!
Supernatural peace is a sign when when you have peace when you don’t get what your want
- It is not the peace you get after everything works out the way you wanted
- That’s natural peace
Example: stop looking for a job
- Didn’t solve the problem
Supernatural peace is not based on your circumstances
- Natural peace - based on things outside of you
- Supernatural peace - based on things inside of you
Fireproof Faith
- 3 Hebrew boys
Sometimes God will deliver you from the fire; sometimes he will make you fireproof.
Supernatural peace is usually about you not getting what you want
- The storm doesn’t go away
- The solution doesn’t get presented
- You don’t get what you want
When you get a word from God and you get a supernatural peace, that’s confirmation that it’s God
You Don’t Always Get Peace
Just because it’s God doesn’t mean you’ll always have peace
Those who didn’t feel peace about the Word God gave them:
- Jonah
- The Israelites to go into Canaan
- Told Hezekiah he was going to die
- Samuel told Saul he would be king
- Nathan told David his child would die (Bathsheba)
Not at Peace
Acts 24:24-25
24But some days later Felix arrived with Drusilla, his wife who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. 25But as he was discussing righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for the present, and when I find time I will summon you.”
Does his lack of peace mean that God wasn’t at work?
Why was Felix afraid?
It was the conviction of the Holy Spirit
Conviction of the Holy Spirit
John 16:7-11
7“But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. 8“And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; 9concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; 11and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.
- The Holy Spirit will convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment
Why was it to their advantage that Jesus left?
- The Holy Spirit can be in everybody at the same time
- God or Jesus won’t stop you from doing wrong
- Only the Holy Spirit will convict you.
God speaks through conviction
Example: hell sermon
- Many will join church after a fire and brimstone sermon
- “You might get hit by a car when you leave”
Conviction vs Condemnation
Is the conviction moving you towards following Jesus?
- Is there an obvious solution?
- Condemnation just make you feel shameful
Example: backslider
- you need to go back to church
Not Guilty
When someone is found guilty of something in court… They are convicted of the crime
- You were judged and found guilty
Story: witness protection
We were found guilty of our sins
- But Jesus paid our time
Summary
How to Know God is Speaking
- Does It Agree With the Bible
- Get Counsel from Wise Christians
- God Uses Other People to Confirm His Word
- Ask God for Confirmation
- Does it align with a Previous Word from God?
- Does it Align With Your Purpose?
- Things Effortlessly Fall Into Place
- Does it Bring Peace?
- Conviction of the Holy Spirit
References
How to Hear God’s Voice
https://unchaineddisciples.blogspot.com/2019/10/how-to-hear-gods-voice.html
Discerning the voice of God – the mission church
https://themissionchurch.online/2019/05/26/discerning-the-voice-of-god/
Discerning God‘s voice - First Baptist Church Amherst
https://www.fbcamherst.org/media/sermons/page/9/
Hearing God’s Voice - Robert Morris
Discerning God’s voice - Leighton Ford
7 Keys to Hearing God
https://www1.cbn.com/prayer/seven-keys-to-hearing-god
The Man Who Painted Jesus
https://theconversation.com/the-man-who-painted-jesus-116253
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warner_Sallman
Supernatural peace
Let’s Stop Pretending Christianity Is Even “Christian” Anymore.
Extra
Holy Spirit
John 16
13 “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.
14 “He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.
