We are not guests in the house of God. We are family at the table of the Lord. Coming to the table of God awakens conversation with Him on a very intimate level. The New Testament reveals how Jesus brings Jews and Gentiles together into God’s family.
Rom 1:14-17 I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish…16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” NIV
Suddenly the Law was no longer the focus and the elite membership of God’s chosen people had an open enrollment. The Jews had worked so hard for so long, generation after generation, to preserve the bloodline of the Messiah embracing and reiterating the Law. The problem is when we work so hard to present what we have to present to God it can blind us to what He’s presenting to us.
Paul’s writings were absolutely offensive. Samarians were half breed dogs whose forefathers had intermarried. These Jews had something to be proud of and Paul had been at the head of their pack. But now he embraced the heart of Jesus to dismantle religion and welcome everybody to God’s table.
Not only were these Gentiles now embraced by God but they are given a Holy Spirit internal guidance system as sons and daughters.
Rom 2:14 The Gentiles who did not have the Law did instinctively the things of the Law…
There is a signal coming from heaven and every believer has a receiver. We need to tune in to the signal God is releasing. While traveling in England once I was in a Pastor’s home where I was ministering that weekend. In the search to get online I found there were multiple signals coming into his home from his neighbors but he didn’t have his own. Interestingly the neighbors used their last names for their signals and some of them were open so I could access my email, etc.
The next morning at breakfast I inquired about his neighbors calling them by name. He was astonished that I could know this information thinking God had revealed it to me in the night. We had a good laugh when I explained. Later I thought about the fact that he lived with an open signal in his home and he never even knew it. This is much like the signal coming from heaven. So many of us simply have no idea what is accessible to us from God.
Pain is to the body what conviction is to the spirit.
God is so gracious to us that He created a system of conviction that is different from the world’s. In God’s system conviction comes before we do the crime prompting us to avoid the sin. In the world’s system you do the crime and then you get convicted.
Rom 8:14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. (NAS)
2 Cor 13:14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (NIV)
May we all be more sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and the presence of God so conversations become confirmations that God is speaking to us all.
Practicing hearing God’s voice daily is the key to hearing with greater clarity. We practice in places of consistently reading the Bible and prayer. Don’t just read the book. Sit with the Author! Reading without meditating is like eating without chewing. Your devotions aren’t something to be done so you can get them out of the way. There are treasured deposits God will make to sustain you throughout your day when you make the time and take the time to spend with him. Purpose a place and time in the morning before your day begins. Pause throughout your day and just take a 3 minute walk around your office area listening to the Holy Spirit practicing being polite and kind to others in the process. You’ll be amazed how many times God will prompt you to say something specific to somebody just to encourage them.
Let’s break into new dimensions of God’s purposes and God’s love as we listen for his voice. Here are some wonderful verses to reflect on as you pursue hearing God’s voice more readily in your life.
Eph 1:23 The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ’s body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence. (MSG)
1 Cor 4:1 So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. (NIV)
John 10:27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. (NIV)
Isa 30:21 – Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” (NIV)
1 John 2:6 Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. (NIV)
Isa 44:7 Who else can tell you what is going to happen in the days ahead? Let them tell you if they can and prove their power. Let them do as I have done since ancient times. (TLB)
Isa 42:9 See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you.” (NIV)
Isa 43:19 “Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it?… (NAS)
Isa 46:9-10 And don’t forget the many times I clearly told you what was going to happen in the future. For I am God– I only– and there is no other like me 10 who can tell you what is going to happen. All I say will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish. (TLB)
Isa 50:4 The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of disciples, that I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word. He awakens {me} morning by morning, He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple. (NAS)
Isa 54:13 All your sons will be taught by the LORD, and great will be your children’s peace. (NIV)
Col 2:6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, {so} walk in Him, (NAS)
Joel 2:28 “…I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; and your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. (NAS)
Jer 33:3 ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’ (NAS)
Amos 3:7-8 Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets. 8 The lion has roared– who will not fear? The Sovereign LORD has spoken– who can but prophesy? (NIV)
Exod 19:9 The LORD said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you.” Then Moses told the LORD what the people had said. (NIV)
1 Cor 14:1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. NIV
Eccl 3:11 “…He has also set eternity in their heart…” (NAS)
- You were designed to live, listen and speak from another world/realm.
1 Cor 2:13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. (NIV)
Isa 37:31 Once more a remnant of the house of Judah will take root below and bear fruit above. (NIV)
Prov 3:6 Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. (MSG)
The #1 key to hearing the voice of God is to be willing to hear what He wants to say more than what you’re wanting Him to tell you.