1/26/11
Ps 139:17-18
17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! 18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.
I AM GOING TO CONTINUE IN THIS SERIES, YOU CAN HEAR GOD SPEAK THIS MORNING. PSA.139:17 IS JUST ONE VERSE OF SCRIPTURE THAT SUGGESTS THAT GOD HAS A LOT OF THINGS TO COMMUNICATE TO US BUT WE ARE JUST NOT IN THE RIGHT POSTURE TO HEAR HIS VOICE. WE HAVE ALREADY LEARNED A FEW THINGS THAT SHOULD HELP US HEAR GOD SPEAK.
Heb 5:11-14
11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered,
seeing ye are dull of hearing.
1. HEB. 5:11 SUGGESTS TO US THAT EVERY NEW CHRISTIAN IS BORN WITH PERFECT HEARING AND 20/20 SPIRITUAL VISION BUT BECAUSE OF A LACK OF EXERCISE OUR SPIRITUAL SENSES HAVE BECOME DULL AND DEFECTIVE. THIS SERIES IS INTENDED TO BRING HEALING AND RESTORATION TO YOUR SPIRITUAL SENSES SO THAT YOU CAN HEAR GOD SPEAK TO YOU.
2. THE NUMBER ONE DIFFICULTY WE HAVE IN HEARING GOD SPEAK IS DISTRACTIONS. WE NEED TO LEARN TO OVERCOME THE DISTRACTIONS THAT KEEP US FROM HEARING GOD SPEAK.
3. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE WRITTEN WORD OF GOD AND A PROCEEDING WORD FROM GOD ACCORDING TO DEUT.8:2-3.
Deut 8:2-3
2 And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. 3 And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.
4. ZACHARIAH, THE FATHER OF JOHN THE BAPTIST DIDN'T HAVE ANY TROUBLE HEARING AND OBEYING THE WRITTEN WORD OF GOD BUT WHEN IT CAME TO RECEIVING A PROCEEDING WORD OF GOD HE FAILED MISERABLE.
5. A PROCEEDING WORD OF GOD IS GOD SPEAKING TO YOU IN A PERSONAL AND INTIMATE WAY. ITS A PERSONAL WORD JUST FOR YOU. WE'VE UNDERSTOOD THIS IN THE PAST BY THE GREEK WORD REHEMA WHICH IS FOUND IN ROM.10:17 For faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. YOU SEE THE TWO WORK TOGETHER: WE READ THE WRITTEN WORD AND GOD USES THAT TO SPEAK TO US A PROCEEDING WORD.
6. PLEASE REMEMBER: WE DON’T BEGIN TO GROW IN GOD UNTIL WE BEGIN TO HEAR GOD‘S VOICE:
NOW ONE WAY THAT WE CAN OVERCOME DISTRACTIONS IS BY SETTING ASIDE A TIME OF DAY WHEN WE WAIT ON GOD, READ HIS WORD AND PRAY.
Matt 6:6
6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray
to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what
is done in secret, will reward you.
NOW, THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS THAT CAN HINDER A CHRISTIAN FROM HEARING THE VOICE OF GOD BUT ONE OF THE MOST DECEITFUL AND DIABOLICAL STRATEGIES OF THE ADVERSARY IS NOISE POLLUTION. THERE IS A WAR GOING ON IN THE SPIRIT WORLD AND THE DEVIL IS COMPETING FOR YOUR ATTENTION. JUST AS THE FAST FOOD FRANCHISES COMPETE FOR YOUR BUSINESS SO THE DEVIL IS COMPETING FOR YOUR ATTENTION THROUGH NOISE POLLUTION. FROM ADVERTISING TO BILLBOARDS TO THE RADIO OR THE TV THERE IS A CONSTANT BACKDROP OF NOISE. IT WASN’T TOO LONG AGO WHEN THE TV WENT OFF THE AIR AT MIDNIGHT BUT NOW YOU HAVE 24 HR A DAY TV AND 5- -60 CHANNELS TO CHOOSE FROM. I MEAN, BUT GOD HELP YOU CAUSE YOU COULD WATCH TV NONSTOP UNTIL JESUS COMES BACK. IT IS THE DEVIL’S STRATEGY TO FLOOD OUR BEING WITH EARTHLY INFORMATION AN NOISE AND SO RESTRICT OUR ABILITY TO HEAR FROM GOD THROUGH DISTRACTIONS. THE PHRASE, "WHEN YOU PRAY" IN MATT.6 IS REALLY TALKING ABOUT COMMUNICATING WITH GOD. IF YOUR PRAYER TIME IS ALWAYS CONSUMED WITH YOUR TELLING GOD THINGS OR ASKING GOD FOR THINGS THEN YOU AREN’T REALLY ENTERING INTO THE KIND OF PRAYER TIME GOD WANTS YOU TO HAVE. PRAYER IS SUPPOSE TO BE A DIALOGUE NOT A MONOLOGUE. WE ARE SUPPOSE TO HEAR FROM GOD WHEN WE PRAY. (MOST OF THE TIME WE JUST DUMP ON GOD WHEN WE PRAY) NORMAL CHRISTIANITY IS BEING ABLE TO WALK WITH GOD AND TO HEAR HIS VOICE ON A DAILY BASIS.
1 Cor 2:9-12
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard,
neither have entered into the heart of man, the things
which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit
searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knoweth
the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so
the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12 Now we
have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God;
that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
GOD DOESN’T USUALLY SPEAK TO US FROM THE OUTSIDE IN BUT RATHER FROM THE INSIDE OUT. YOUR SPIRITUAL EARS REPRESENTS YOUR HEART OR YOUR SPIRIT. WHEN YOU ARE BORN AGAIN YOUR SPIRIT MAN COMES ALIVE AND BECOMES THE BASIS FOR ALL YOUR COMMUNICATION WITH THE FATHER. GOD IS A SPIRIT AND THOSE THAT WORSHIP HIM MUST DO SO IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH. GOD DOES NOT SPEAK TO YOUR MIND FIRST BUT TO YOUR HEART OR SPIRIT. THE MIND OR INTELLIGENCE OF MAN IS ONE OF THE GREATEST DETERRENTS TO HEARING FROM GOD.
1 Cor 2:14
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God:
for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them,
because they are spiritually discerned.
I HAVE A LOT MORE THAT I WANT TO SAY ABOUT THE HEART BEING PRIMARY AND THE MIND BEING SECONDARY WHEN IT COMES TO HEARING FROM GOD BUT I WILL SAVE IT FOR ANOTHER TIME. I DO WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT GOD DESIRES TO SPEAK TO YOU ON A DAILY BASIS AND THAT HE WANTS YOU TO GROW UP AND BE ALL THAT HE HAS DESIGNED YOU TO BE. SO WE SHOULD LEARN TO EXPECT TO HEAR FROM GOD.
Ps 5:3
3 In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.
ONE OF THE BEST TIMES TO HEAR FROM GOD IS WHEN YOUR MIND IS NOT FULLY ENGAGED. FOR ME THAT USUALLY HAPPENS JUST BEFORE I FULLY WAKE UP IN THE MORNING. SOMETIMES IT HAPPENS WHEN I’M TAKING A SHOWER BECAUSE I AM RELAXED AND MY MIND ISN’T GETTING IN THE WAY OF HEARING FROM GOD. WHENEVER GOD SPEAKS TO YOU IN YOUR DAY YOU SHOULD MAKE IT A HABIT TO HAVE A NOTEBOOK OR A PIECE OF PAPER HANDY TO WRITE DOWN WHAT GOD SAYS TO YOU. WHEN YOU DO THIS YOU ARE INDICATING TO GOD THAT YOU EXPECT TO HEAR FROM HIM. YOU SEE, EXPECTATION PULLS VIRTUE OUT OF GOD. NOW, WHY SHOULD YOU WRITE DOWN WHAT GOD SAYS TO YOU. FIRST OF ALL ITS AN ACT OF EXPECTATION, YOU EXPECT GOD TO TALK TO YOU. SECOND, YOU WILL BE AMAZED AT HOW QUICKLY YOU CAN FORGET WHAT GOD HAS SAID TO YOU. SO LIVE WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT GOD WANTS TO TALK WITH YOU AND CULTIVATE A SENSITIVITY TO THE VOICE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN YOUR HEART. YOU NEED TO KNOW BEYOND A SHADOW OF A DOUBT THAT GOD WANTS TO SPEAK TO YOU AND THAT HE WANTS YOU TO HEAR HIS VOICE. THIS CAN BE CLEARLY SEEN IN ON THE FIRST DAY OF PENTECOST IN:
Exod 19:3-9
3 And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; 4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself.
5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: 6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
7 And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him.
8 And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD. 9And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD.
Exod 20:18-20
18 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. 19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.
20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to
prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.
FIFTY DAYS AFTER THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL WERE DELIVERED OUT OF EGYPT GOD APPEARED TO HIS PEOPLE ON THE MOUNTAIN AND WANTED TO BEGIN TO SPEAK TO THEM. THE PEOPLE WERE AFRAID OF GOD AND DIDN’T WANT TO CONVERSE WITH HIM SO GOD SPOKE TO THE PEOPLE THROUGH MOSES. BUT WE CAN SEE WHAT GOD’S INTENTIONS WERE, HE WANTED TO SPEAK TO THE PEOPLE DIRECTLY. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THIS MORNING THAT GOD HASN’T CHANGED. HE WANTS TO SPEAK TO YOU AND ME. WE MUST COME TO GOD WITH AN EXPECTANCY AND NOT WITH A FEAR WHICH TURNS AWAY FROM GOD. MANY PEOPLE DON’T WANT GOD TO SPEAK TO THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE AFRAID OF WHAT HE MIGHT SAY OR BECAUSE THEN THEY WOULD HAVE TO BECOME ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT GOD HAS SPOKEN TO THEM. GUILT WILL RESTRICT YOUR ABILITY TO HEAR FROM GOD. BUT IF OUR HEART DOES NOT CONDEMN US, THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, THEN DO WE HAVE CONFIDENCE AND EXPECTATION FROM GOD.
ACCORDING TO EX.19:5 THE ONE THING THAT SETS US APART FROM THE REST OF THE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD AND MAKES US A SPECIAL PEOPLE UNTO GOD IS THAT WE HEAR HIS VOICE AND OBEY HIM. GOD HAS ENABLED EACH OF US TO HEAR HIS VOICE AND RESPOND TO HIM IN LOVE AND DEVOTION.
2 Cor 11:3
3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve
through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from
the simplicity that is in Christ.
HERE’S ANOTHER THING THAT WILL HELP YOU TO HEAR GOD SPEAK FOR YOURSELF: KEEP IT SIMPLE AND DON’T COMPLICATE THE GOSPEL. GOD NEVER INTENDED THE PRINCIPLES OF HIS KINGDOM TO BE COMPLICATED. IN FACT, THE GOSPEL MESSAGE HAS ALWAYS BEEN COMMUNICATED THROUGH SIMPLICITY. THE HEART ATTITUDE OF THE CHRISTIAN SHOULD BE THAT OF TRUSTING, CHILDLIKE AND NON-ANALYTICAL OBEDIENCE. THE MAJOR PROBLEM WE HAVE IS THAT WE STRIVE FOR INFORMATION WHEN WHAT WE REALLY NEED IS REVELATION.
Eph 1:17-18
17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory
of his inheritance in the saints,
THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS BEEN SENT TO COMMUNICATE TRUTH BY REVELATION. IN OTHER WORDS, IT IS REVEALED ITS NOT FIGURED OUT. THAT’S WHY HEARING THE VOICE OF GOD IS SO EXCITING. WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT COMMUNICATES TRUTH, THE REVELATION IS SO SIMPLE TO UNDERSTAND AND YET PROFOUND IN ITS RAMIFICATIONS. ALTHOUGH THEOLOGIANS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR COMPLICATING THE GOSPEL THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL KEEP IT SIMPLE AND PRACTICAL. IN FACT, ONE WAY WE CAN BE CONVINCED THAT WE’VE HEARD FROM GOD IS THAT THE ANSWER IS ALWAYS SIMPLE. JESUS TOOK COMPLICATED PROBLEMS LIKE BLINDNESS, LEPROSY, AND PARALYSIS AND SIMPLIFIED THEM INTO ACTS OF OBEDIENCE. HE SAID THINGS LIKE, GO WASH, GO SHOW YOURSELVES TO THE PRIESTS OR TAKE UP YOUR BED AND WALK. JESUS USED THE ACRONYM OF FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES: KISS: Keep It Simple Stupid. NOW, HEARING GOD’S VOICE DOESN’T MEAN WE UNDERSTAND ALL THE MYSTERIES OF THE WORLD. IT DOES MEAN THAT GOD WILL ARTICULATE A WORD THAT WILL SIMPLY HEAL OR DELIVER US IN OUR SITUATION. HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT WHEN WE TRY TO FIGURE SOMETHING OUT IT SO THAT WE CAN FIX THE PROBLEM AND MAINTAIN A POSITION OF CONTROL. UNTIL WE LEARN TO SURRENDER THE CONTROL ISSUES OF OUR LIFE TO GOD WE WILL BE UNABLE TO HEAR GOD SPEAK. ANALYTICAL MINDS DO NOT GET VERY FAR IN UNDERSTANDING THE MIND OF THE SPIRIT.
YOU SEE, JESUS REJOICED BECAUSE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD WAS NEVER A MATTER OF INTELLIGENCE OR IQ BUT A HEART THAT WAS OPEN AND SENSITIVE TO GOD. LOOK AT THIS SCRIPTURE:
Luke 10:21
21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.
IN FACT ONE OF THE ONLY PREREQUISITES TO HEARING FROM GOD IS AN HONEST AND PURE HEART. JESUS SAID IN MATT.5:8, BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEAR FOR THEY SHALL SEE GOD. AND GOD MAKES A WONDERFUL PROMISE TO US IN:
Isa 35:8
8A highway shall be there, and a road, and it shall be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it, but it shall be for others. Whoever walks the road, although a fool, shall not go astray.
Isa 35:8 (tlb)
8 And a main road will go through that once-deserted land; it will be named "The Holy Highway." No evil-hearted men may walk upon it. God will walk there with you; even the most stupid cannot miss the way.
HEARING GOD AND KNOWING HIM IS NOT A COMPLICATED FEAT RESERVED FOR A SPECIAL FEW. HEARING AND OBEYING HIS VOICE WILL BECOME NORMAL OPERATING PROCEDURE FOR EVERY CHRISTIAN WHOSE HEART IS PURE TOWARDS GOD.
PEOPLE OFTEN ASK HOW CAN THEY HEAR FROM GOD. THE FIRST THING THAT I EMPHASIZE IS NOT HOW BUT WHERE. GOD DOES NOT TALK TO OUR BRAINS HE SPEAKS DIRECTLY TO OUR SPIRIT. IN FACT THAT’S WHY YOU WERE BORN AGAIN IN THE FIRST PLACE. OUR SPIRIT WAS DEAD AND CHRIST HAS COME INTO OUR HEARTS TO RESURRECT OUR SPIRIT AND REACTIVATE THE SPIRITUAL SENSES OF INTUITION AND CONSCIENCE. JESUS NEVER SAID THAT THE WATER WOULD FLOW OUT OF YOUR HEAD BUT HE DID SAY IN JN.7:38 THAT OUT OF YOUR INNER MOST BEING WOULD FLOW RIVERS OF LIVING WATER. THE HOLY SPIRIT WITHIN THE BELIEVER WILL COMMUNICATE TRUTH.
NOW I NEED TO MENTION SOMETHING AT THIS POINT. GOD IS NOT ANTI-INTELLECTUAL. THANK GOD FOR INTELLIGENT AND GIFTED MINDS BUT THE THINGS OF THE SPIRIT BYPASS THE NATURAL MIND AND ARE REVEALED BY THE SPIRIT AND GIVEN TO THE SPIRIT OR HEART OF MAN. THEREFORE, AS WE STRIVE TO HEAR GOD SPEAK PAY ATTENTION TO THE HOLY SPIRIT INSIDE OF YOU. ONE WORD FROM GOD HAS THE POWER TO DISPEL ALL OBSCURITY AND CONFUSION.
1 Cor 2:14-16
14 But the man who isn't a Christian can't understand and can't accept these thoughts from God, which the Holy Spirit teaches us. They sound foolish to him because only those who have the Holy Spirit within them can understand what the Holy Spirit means. Others just can't take it in.
15 But the spiritual man has insight into everything, and that bothers and baffles the man of the world, who can't understand him at all.
16 How could he? For certainly he has never been one to know the Lord's thoughts, or to discuss them with him, or to move the hands of God by prayer. But, strange as it seems, we Christians actually do have within us a portion of the very thoughts and mind of Christ.
NOW HERE’S ANOTHER MAJOR POINT THAT WE MUST CONSIDER IF WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO HEAR GOD SPEAK TO US ON A DAILY BASIS. LOOK BEYOND THE SUPERNATURAL AND THE SPECTAC-ULAR.
IKing 19:9-12
9 And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? 10 And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. 11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: 12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
THE GREATEST HINDRANCE TO THE SUPERNATURAL IS THE SPECTACULAR. YES, THE SPECTACULAR STANDS IN THE WAY OF RECOGNIZING THE SUPERNATURAL POWER OF GOD. EVERYONE HAS THE WAY OF STEREOTYPING GOD INTO A SENSATIONAL PARADIGM. THIS IS EXACTLY WHY MANY CHRISTIANS ARE FRUSTRATED BECAUSE THEY CANNOT HEAR THE VOICE OF GOD. THEY ARE STILL WAITING FOR A SPECTACULAR SOUND: HANDWRITING ON THE WALL OR AN AUDIBLE VOICE OR A DREAM OR A VISION OR SOMETHING EXTRA ORDINARY. BUT THE PRIMARY REQUIREMENT FOR HEARING FROM GOD IS MERELY THE WILLING-NESS TO LISTEN TO THE STILL SMALL VOICE OF GOD.
Isa 30:20-21
20 And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the
water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a
corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers: 21 And
thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk
ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.
GOD CHOOSES TO SPEAK TO US EVERY DAY BY WAY OF HIS STILL SMALL VOICE OR WE HEAR A WORD BEHIND US OR IN THE BACKGROUND OF OUR BUSY, COMPLICATED LIVES. GOD SPEAKS TO US IN A QUIET AND UNASSUMING WAY, JUST THE WAY INTIMATE FRIENDS OR LOVERS WOULD SPEAK TO ONE ANOTHER.
**ILLUS. WHEN I FIRST MET MY WIFE I INTRODUCED MYSELF AS JIMMY STEWART. I REMAINED KNOWN TO HER AS JIMMY STEWART UNTIL A PERIOD AFTER OUR FIRST FEW TIMES OF RUNNING WITH THE CRUE AN MEANY PHONE CALLS. AFTER A WHILE I’D CALL HER UP AND JUST SAY, "HI THIS IS JIMMY." AND AFTER A WHILE I WOULD JUST CALL UP AND SAY "HI" AND SHE AUTOMATICALLY KNEW WHO IT WAS. WHY? BECAUSE SHE WAS BECOMING FAMILIAR WITH ME AND MY VOICE. AFTER OUR FIRST FEW MONTHS OF CALLING I NO LONGER NEEDED TO SAY "HI, THIS IS JIMMY I MET YOU ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO, DO YOU REMEMBER ME.
YOU SEE, THE LONGER YOU KNOW THE LORD THE MORE RESTRICTIVE AND SMALL HIS VOICE WILL BECOME BECAUSE INTIMACY IS BEING DEVELOPED. NOW WHY DOES GOD CHOOSE TO SPEAK TO US IN A STILL SMALL VOICE? PRIMARILY BECAUSE IT TAKES NO FAITH TO RESPOND TO THE SENSATIONAL AND THE SPECTACULAR, BUT IT DOES TAKE FAITH TO RESPOND TO THE STILL SMALL VOICE OF THE LORD.
Heb 11:6
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that
cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder
of them that diligently seek him.
FAITH IS ACTING ON THE STILL SMALL VOICE OF THE LORD. HERE ARE SEVERAL KEYS TO HEAR GOD SPEAK:
1. DON’T DEMAND HIS VOICE TO BE SENSATIONAL BECAUSE IT RARELY WILL.
2. STAY STIRRED UP. DON’T LET YOUR SPIRIT MAN GET INTO A DORMANT STATE. PRAYER AND PRAISE WILL STIR UP THE VOICE OF GOD IN YOU.
3. REALIZE THAT THE DEVIL HATES THE SPOKEN WORD OF GOD AND RESIST HIM WHEN YOU ARE PRAYING AND TRYING TO LISTEN TO GOD.
4. RECOGNIZE THAT YOUR MIND IS THE GREATEST OBSTACLE YOU HAVE TO HEAR GOD’S VOICE SO BEGIN TO EXERCISE YOUR SPIRIT WITH PRAYER, THANKSGIVING AND PRAISE.
5. REJECT THE FEAR OF FAILURE. YOU ARE FREE TO FAIL BUT YOU ARE NOT FREE TO BE IRRESPONSIBLE. ADMIT IT WHEN YOU THOUGHT YOU HEARD GOD BUT THE OUTCOME PROVES THAT YOU DIDN’T. GOD WILL EVEN REDEEM OUR MISTAKES AND USE THEM TO TEACH US HOW TO HEAR HIM MORE ACCURATELY.
- 6. IT IS ESSENTIAL TO PRAY IN THE SPIRIT. YOUR PRAYERS OPENS YOUR SPIRIT TO HEAR THE LORD.
