Hearing God's Voice: Embracing Divine Conversations Today
Summary
In my recent sermon, I began by reflecting on the history of God conversations within the church, emphasizing the early church's expectation to hear from God. I recounted how the Holy Spirit's arrival on Pentecost enabled all believers to prophesy, see visions, and dream dreams, as foretold by the prophet Joel. This marked a significant shift from the Old Testament prophets to a new era where every disciple could hear God for themselves.
However, I also addressed the abuse of this gift throughout history, where individuals added to the Gospel, burdening people with traditions and ceremonies not commanded by Jesus. I cited Joseph Smith as an example of someone who, believing he was having a God conversation, founded the Church of Mormon, which strays from the true Gospel.
I then discussed the Reformation, where reformers like Martin Luther and John Calvin sought to correct these abuses by emphasizing Scripture alone. Unfortunately, this led to the belief that God no longer speaks outside of the Bible, which I argued is not supported by Scripture itself. I stressed that while the Bible is the ultimate truth and authority, the Holy Spirit continues to speak to us today.
Sharing personal experiences, I illustrated how God conversations have guided my life, such as my decision not to pursue a job interview because I felt God leading me elsewhere. This decision was confirmed when I was offered a different role that was more aligned with God's plan for me.
I also recounted the biblical story of Gideon, who doubted his ability to lead Israel against the Midianites. Through a series of God conversations and confirmations, including a dream overheard in the enemy camp, Gideon's faith was strengthened, and he led a small army to victory.
In closing, I offered practical advice on discerning God's voice, emphasizing the importance of testing every revelation against the character and teachings of Jesus, seeking confirmation from the Christian community, and looking for spiritual signs that accompany God's guidance.
Key Takeaways:
1. The early church's expectation to hear from God's voice is a model for us today. We must approach our relationship with God with the anticipation of engaging in meaningful conversations, just as Philip did with the Ethiopian. This openness can lead to transformative events in our personal lives and the broader history of the church. [01:24
2. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost was a pivotal moment that democratized the ability to hear from God. It is not just for a select few; every believer has the capacity to receive and discern God's voice. This is a profound truth that should embolden us to seek and listen to God's direction in our daily lives. [02:12
3. While God's voice is available to us, we must be cautious not to abuse this gift. We should not add to the Gospel or create burdensome traditions that were never intended by Jesus. Our conversations with God should lead us closer to the true Gospel, not away from it. [04:42
4. The story of Gideon is a powerful reminder that God often calls the unlikely and the uncertain. Through God conversations, He can transform our doubts into conviction and use us in ways we never imagined. This should encourage us to trust in God's calling, even when we feel inadequate. [26:33
5. Discerning God's voice requires a humble and testing spirit. We must ask if what we're hearing aligns with Jesus' character, seek confirmation from our Christian community, and look for God's affirmation through spiritual signs. This approach helps us to navigate our fears and doubts while remaining faithful to God's leading. [44:48
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Acts 2:17 - "‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams."
2. Judges 6-7 - The story of Gideon and his God conversations.
3. Hebrews 8:6 - "But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises."
#### Observation Questions
1. What was the significance of the Holy Spirit's arrival on Pentecost according to Acts 2:17? How did it change the way believers could hear from God? [02:12
2. How did Gideon initially respond to God's call to lead Israel against the Midianites? What were his doubts and fears? [26:33
3. What practical advice did the pastor give for discerning God's voice? List the three checks mentioned. [46:54
4. How did the pastor's personal story about the job interview illustrate the importance of listening to God's guidance? [19:23
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it important to test what we believe to be God's voice against the character and teachings of Jesus? How does this safeguard us from deception? [39:44
2. In what ways did the story of Gideon demonstrate that God often calls the unlikely and the uncertain? How did God confirm His calling to Gideon? [30:44
3. How can the early church's expectation to hear from God serve as a model for us today? What might this look like in our daily lives? [01:24
4. What are the potential dangers of adding to the Gospel or creating burdensome traditions, as discussed in the sermon? How can we avoid these pitfalls? [04:42
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt God was speaking to you. How did you discern whether it was truly His voice? What steps did you take to confirm it? [46:54
2. The pastor shared a personal story about a job interview and feeling led by God to decline it. Have you ever experienced a similar situation where you felt God leading you in a specific direction? How did you respond? [19:23
3. Gideon doubted his ability to lead Israel, yet God used him mightily. Is there an area in your life where you feel inadequate but sense God calling you? How can you seek confirmation and courage to follow His lead? [30:44
4. The sermon emphasized the importance of not adding to the Gospel. Are there any traditions or practices in your life that might be adding unnecessary burdens to your faith? How can you align more closely with the true Gospel? [04:42
5. How can you cultivate an expectation to hear from God in your daily life? What practical steps can you take to be more open and attentive to His voice? [01:24
6. The pastor mentioned the importance of seeking confirmation from the Christian community. Do you have trusted individuals in your life who can help you discern God's voice? How can you involve them more in your decision-making process? [42:51
7. Think of a recent decision you made. Did you seek God's guidance in that decision? If not, how might you approach similar decisions differently in the future to ensure you are following His lead? [39:44
Devotional
Day 1: Anticipating Divine Dialogue
Engaging with God is not a passive experience; it is an active pursuit that requires an open heart and an expectant spirit. The early church modeled this beautifully, approaching their faith with the belief that God would speak to them directly. This anticipation of divine dialogue is not just a historical practice but a living reality that can lead to transformative experiences. It is about being open to the unexpected ways God may choose to communicate, whether through Scripture, prayer, or the circumstances of life. By cultivating a posture of listening, believers can experience the richness of God's guidance and presence in a way that deeply impacts their personal journey and the collective story of the church. [01:24]
Acts 8:29-31 (ESV): "And the Spirit said to Philip, 'Go over and join this chariot.' So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, 'Do you understand what you are reading?' And he said, 'How can I, unless someone guides me?' And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him."
Reflection: How can you cultivate a daily practice of listening for God's voice in your life, and what might be hindering that process?
Day 2: The Democratization of Divine Revelation
The Pentecost event was a game-changer in the history of God's people. It was the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy that the Spirit would be poured out on all flesh, enabling every believer to hear from God. This democratization of divine revelation means that the ability to discern God's voice is not reserved for a select few but is accessible to every follower of Christ. It is a profound truth that empowers believers to seek God's direction in their daily lives. The Holy Spirit's role is to guide, teach, and remind believers of Jesus' words, thus ensuring that the conversation with God is an ongoing and dynamic aspect of the Christian life. [02:12]
Joel 2:28-29 (ESV): "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit."
Reflection: In what ways have you experienced the Holy Spirit's guidance in your life, and how can you be more attentive to His voice?
Day 3: Guarding the Gospel's Purity
While the gift of hearing God's voice is a treasure, it comes with the responsibility to guard the purity of the Gospel. Throughout history, there have been instances where individuals have claimed divine revelation only to add to the Gospel, creating burdensome traditions and straying from the teachings of Jesus. It is crucial to ensure that any claimed conversations with God do not lead away from the true Gospel but rather draw closer to it. Believers must be discerning, weighing every revelation against the character and teachings of Jesus, and avoiding the temptation to add to what has been clearly revealed in Scripture. This vigilance helps maintain the integrity of the faith and prevents the church from being led astray by false teachings. [04:42]
Galatians 1:8 (ESV): "But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed."
Reflection: Have you ever encountered teachings that seemed to add to the Gospel? How can you ensure that your understanding of God's voice remains aligned with Scripture?
Day 4: Embracing God's Call in Uncertainty
The story of Gideon is a testament to how God can use the unlikely and the uncertain for His purposes. Gideon's doubts and fears were met with God's patient conversation, leading to a series of confirmations that bolstered his faith. This narrative encourages believers to trust in God's calling, even when they feel inadequate or unprepared. It is a reminder that God often chooses the most unexpected people to carry out His plans and that through His conversations, He can turn our doubts into conviction and lead us to accomplish great things for His kingdom. [26:33]
Judges 7:13-14 (ESV): "When Gideon came, behold, a man was telling a dream to his comrade. And he said, 'Behold, I dreamed a dream, and behold, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian and came to the tent and struck it so that it fell and turned it upside down so that the tent lay flat.' And his comrade answered, 'This is no other than the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel; God has given into his hand Midian and all the camp.'"
Reflection: When has God called you to step out in faith despite feeling uncertain or inadequate, and how did you respond?
Day 5: Discerning the Spirit with Humility
Discerning God's voice is a process that requires humility, wisdom, and a community of believers for confirmation. It involves asking whether what one hears aligns with the character and teachings of Jesus, seeking affirmation from fellow Christians, and being attentive to the spiritual signs that accompany God's guidance. This approach helps navigate fears and doubts while ensuring that one remains faithful to God's leading. It is a safeguard against deception and self-deception, ensuring that the voice one follows is indeed the voice of the Good Shepherd. [44:48]
1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 (ESV): "Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good."
Reflection: What steps can you take to ensure that your discernment of God's voice is done with a humble and testing spirit, and how can you involve your Christian community in this process?
Quotes
1. "Many people don't like to use this ability or at least they keep it to themselves they don't stand on what they believe has been said what they believe has been their God conversation and the reason they do it is because of fear fear of getting it wrong." [14:48
2. "I needed that conversation I needed that relationship with Jesus to get me to that point and it was that revelatory word directly from holy spirit that drove my decisions did I do it blindly no because whenever we hear something from God we can test it." [39:44
3. "We should ask three questions would Jesus say that you see Jesus was God is God in flesh everything that Jesus says everything that Jesus does how he thinks is God so if he he wouldn't say it think it or do it then it isn't God speaking to you." [40:35
4. "For Gideon he went down into the camp and he heard that other people were having dreams about what God had spoken to him and he conf confirmed for him that he was the man to save Israel why because God had made them have the nightmare about being handed into Gideon's hand." [44:48
5. "When I Look to become the pastor here at the church I said yes to doing this when Chris talked to me about it I said yes I will go for this I'll walk this walk why because I heard God say this was what you need to do however ever I had no money whatsoever to pay for it." [46:15
6. "Don't allow your fear or your doubts to stop you having God conversations we have a God that wants to speak back to us that wants to talk to each one of us that has the ability and desire to speak to us." [47:32
7. "Joseph Smith is a great example of how this notion this idea of God conversations can go horribly wrong we talked about the reformers Martin Luther John Calvin others who because of incidents like this did their very best to pull the church back to the true Gospel of Jesus." [07:56
8. "Gideon full of fear completely overwhelmed pushes back and says no that can't be me you've got this wrong maybe it's him there there it's not me don't know whether you've ever been in a situation where God has spoken to you and said this is what I want from you." [28:05
9. "We reminded ourselves that on the day of Pentecost a new way of hearing God was released Upon Us Peter when he stands up and starts to explain what's going on to all those that are listening to all those who are saying these guys must be drunk he quotes from The Prophet Joel." [02:12
10. "But this was abused and we talked about this we talked about a pendulum swinging from the early church position of expecting to hear God's voice of expecting to use whatever it is that God speaks to them about as Direction as their leading to this swing to members in the early church later on a little bit starting to abuse this idea this notion of hearing God." [03:48
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