Hearing the Lord Jesus Christ

[Karl Peters]

God is omni-present. Our theology (our understanding of God) should even tell us that! Jesus said He would never leave us and that His sheep hear His voice - so do we? Do we hear from Him who never leaves us??

I don't hear from Him like I should, but I hear from Him everyday!! I would like to have a discussion about hearing from Him. Since His sheep hear His voice and it is written that we all know in part, others should have things to add that can help us all.

For me, I pick Him up in words. It is explained that His words are spirit and life, so I expect and do hear by faith words from Him through His Holy Spirit speaking to my spirit. I do hear words!! Because those words are from His Spirit and not sound waves, they are sometimes easier to pick up that at other times. Because it requires faith, there are some things I can hear by faith and something I have trouble picking up because I want to doubt them. Because I get busy and thus don't usually pay attention to Him like I should, I often get a feeling like He is trying to tell me something, so I have to stop and ask Him, "Lord did you say ...?" and in that way get the information again. Because the Holy Spirit is not the only spirit around I often test the spirits (1 Jn 4:1-3) and I often specifically seek Him by asking by name, like "Jesus Christ, do you want to tell me something?"

I find that the more I seek Him, the easier it is to hear from Him and discern whether it is Him or not. I also find that He sometimes like to stretch my faith, so that when I seek Him more He can and often does make it more challenging for me to believe Him.

I have lots of other things to note, from the 20 years of listening to Him, but this is a start. What have others come up with on this subject?

 

[Randy Kluth]

God is omni-present. Our theology (our understanding of God) should even tell us that! Jesus said He would never leave us and that His sheep hear His voice - so do we? Do we hear from Him who never leaves us??

I don't hear from Him like I should, but I hear from Him everyday!! I would like to have a discussion about hearing from Him. Since His sheep hear His voice and it is written that we all know in part, others should have things to add that can help us all.

For me, I pick Him up in words. It is explained that His words are spirit and life, so I expect and do hear by faith words from Him through His Holy Spirit speaking to my spirit. I do hear words!! Because those words are from His Spirit and not sound waves, they are sometimes easier to pick up that at other times. Because it requires faith, there are some things I can hear by faith and something I have trouble picking up because I want to doubt them. Because I get busy and thus don't usually pay attention to Him like I should, I often get a feeling like He is trying to tell me something, so I have to stop and ask Him, "Lord did you say ...?" and in that way get the information again. Because the Holy Spirit is not the only spirit around I often test the spirits (1 Jn 4:1-3) and I often specifically seek Him by asking by name, like "Jesus Christ, do you want to tell me something?"

I find that the more I seek Him, the easier it is to hear from Him and discern whether it is Him or not. I also find that He sometimes like to stretch my faith, so that when I seek Him more He can and often does make it more challenging for me to believe Him.

I have lots of other things to note, from the 20 years of listening to Him, but this is a start. What have others come up with on this subject?

This is a very interesting and important subject. Francis Schaeffer wrote a book on hearing God, stating that God does speak. But every outstanding Christian leader could probably write a book on the subject. God is God, and one thing I'm sure of--God does whatever He wants the way He wants to do it. The only thing we can be sure of is that He will be consistent with His own good nature.

We know God loves fellowshiping with us. We know that from Genesis, where God and Adam are walking together through the Garden of Eden. God created us in His image so that we can communicate with Him. And as Christians we certainly know that He does, because He spoke into our heart, and we responded to His message of Salvation.

But what about at other times, from day to day? How does God speak to us? Well, I have to say that God probably would speak more if we weren't so sinful of heart. Would you say much to someone who may turn it around on you in a bad moment? And we humans have *lots* of bad moments!

So I think we can expect that God will speak more to us the more mature we get, the more in control of our passions we get. We will be less likely to turn on God, using His words against Him.

When we overcome our suffering in this life and begin to practice gratitude, we begin to hear God as He shows us the beauty of His creation, the blessings of the people He brings into our lives, the way He helps us as we partner together with Him to do good things.

This is one way God speaks to us, simply by giving us things and showing us that it is He who is doing them for us! Another way He speaks to us is by taking His liberty, as Creator and Father, to ask us to do things for Him. They may be difficult, and they may involve suffering, but sometimes God tests us to ensure that we are really committed to be His servants and children. (He speaks to us in this way by speaking through our circumstances.)

Some people at important moments in their lives or in history may actually hear God speak audibly, to mark that pivotal time as something to be remembered, to fall back on later. There have been times when God simply comforts--this could probably happen more often if we weren't so bitter. It's hard to accept a pat on the back when we've just been drenched by a heavy rain. When we've lost a loved one, for example, how can we accept comforting from God? He could've stopped it from happening!

But the more we walk with God, the more we will love it. It seems to be what He wanted for us, to bless us with His fellowship. And there really is no greater blessing in all of eternity and in all of the universe than simply to have God's manifest favor, which is shown to us when He speaks to us! :)

 

[Mantis]

There are a lot of voices out there but only one Christ. And if you hear his voice and know who it is, your his!

I wish he would talk to me every day with his voice. But that just doesn’t happen(for me). I was thinking about when God has spoken to me and I think it’s when I needed to hear him most. But I have also noticed that he likes us to pray for small things and he responds not with a voice but with an action. Small things like “Lord please make my lawn mower start” and he starts it. Things like that.

But His voice is like medicine for the soul. I also think that he would talk to us more if we weren’t engulfed in a world of sin, always staining us. I wonder how many preachers actually know Jesus and hear him!

 

[Karl Peters]

This is a very interesting and important subject.

Would you say much to someone who may turn it around on you in a bad moment? And we humans have *lots* of bad moments!

So I think we can expect that God will speak more to us the more mature we get,

I loved these comments!!

Hearing from God is very interesting and important!!!

Actually I believe it is the most important subject - It is written that faith comes from hearing - so if we are saved by faith the life eternal comes from hearing and Jesus also explain that it is the Spirit who gives life and that His words are spirit and are life!

Jn 6:63 “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.

So the faith in Jesus Christ comes from the hearing of the Holy Spirit and that gives us life - eternal and more abundant life now also, right?

And INTERESTING?? Wow - from listening to the Lord perhaps the thing most about hearing from Him is that He is interesting!! From Him telling me He loves me, to the wisdom and teachings He gives me, to the instructions that He tells me and makes things interesting. I have seen Him do so many miracles around me and they seem to happen when I listen and obey Him. Like when He had me in a Christian healing ministry for five years. I got to see legs grow out, walkers left behind, and so many other things (big and small) that interesting is perhaps a large understatement. And His little sayings to me, though not as fantastic are very interesting. It reminds me of this little saying He gave me:

WISDOM IS LIKE RICHES. THE FIRST DOLLAR IS EASILY SPENT! YET AS YOU CONTINUE TO COLLECT WISDOM YOU’LL GET A RETURN OFF YOUR INTEREST.

--------- NOW IS’NT THAT INTERESTING?

Now about God speaking to us the more mature we get - I have found that to be kind of true but not really!

What happens is that we get into a relationship with the Lord. He is all about personal relationships and especially with you and Him. Relationships are something you build, and that is true with a relationship with Him also. So maybe there is a girl that you take out on a date. That doesn't mean you now her well, but that you are starting a relationship. In the same way He said He stands at the door and knocks and if anyone hears His voice and opens the door they will eat with Him and He with them. That is the start of a relationship. So is He going to listen to you more or less on the first date. The fact is that He is willing to listen to you and talk to you even on the first date, but the relationship is only beginning. Still, there is something else that has to be built up and that is faith. We hear by faith and you can get greater faith. And since faith comes from hearing the more you hear the greater your faith becomes that He is indeed there for you. So with more practice you faith grows and your hearing and relationship grows also. Of course your maturity is probably growing to - I mean He is the Teacher and so He is teaching you something.

There is one other comment I quoted, which has to do with someone not wanting to put up with us when we don't treat the well. Of course there is something to that, however God's love for us transcends that obstacle, doesn't it? We have not been listening to Him day after day after day, and He still went to the cross for our sins. My point is that the comment that who we would feel might not be the same as how He feels, because we are people and He is God and has a great deal more love, forgiveness, and understanding than we do. (God is love) That is to say that is a person does have a lot of bad moments but He does not. We might turn on Him but He still loves us. I am not saying that He might not do something at sometime, hell is real, but I am saying that He is a lot more understanding and forgiving that any person you can think of.

This is indeed important to understand all this! You might not think He will talk to you, but He is just standing there at the door speaking to you and just hoping you will open up to Him. You might not be sure if it is worth while seeking His voice but it mean life to you and that more abundantly. You might think that He is probably and old boring God but I guarantee (based on experience) that He can make your life quite interesting indeed. I will tell you that it might not (will not) be like you think. You might think He will give you the numbers to the winning lottery ticket, and He might think you would find a more interesting life in the darkest of jungles. You then might think He is going to surely take you to the darkest of jungles, while He might be thinking putting you on stage with bright lights. The point is that you don't know what He is thinking until you start talking to Him and listening to what He has to say!!

 

[Randy Kluth]

Actually I believe it is the most important subject - It is written that faith comes from hearing - so if we are saved by faith the life eternal comes from hearing and Jesus also explain that it is the Spirit who gives life and that His words are spirit and are life!

Jn 6:63 “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.

So the faith in Jesus Christ comes from the hearing of the Holy Spirit and that gives us life - eternal and more abundant life now also, right?

Yes, we can never expect anything good to come from our own words unless somehow Christ is presented together with them. We are trying to communicate a person, and not just an idea. His presence must be in our words.

Now about God speaking to us the more mature we get - I have found that to be kind of true but not really!
...In the same way He said He stands at the door and knocks and if anyone hears His voice and opens the door they will eat with Him and He with them. That is the start of a relationship....Still, there is something else that has to be built up and that is faith. We hear by faith and you can get greater faith. And since faith comes from hearing the more you hear the greater your faith becomes that He is indeed there for you. So with more practice you faith grows and your hearing and relationship grows also. Of course your maturity is probably growing to - I mean He is the Teacher and so He is teaching you something.

Yes, that's my point, that maturity brings about greater faith, which makes us better able to hear God speak. So you're saying that God is speaking, and we're only gradually hearing. And I'm saying that God is speaking less until we're able to hear. Not much different really.

There is one other comment I quoted, which has to do with someone not wanting to put up with us when we don't treat the well. Of course there is something to that, however God's love for us transcends that obstacle, doesn't it?

Of course. God isn't like a Greek god, intemperate and vengeful, intolerant towards any slight directed at Him! ;) Clearly, the Prophets of old spoke their mind, and God understood. He knows we can't completely eliminate sin in our lives and thoughts, nor in our attitudes and behaviors. Yet, we are given to "overcome," which means that these things should not get the better of us.

But we reap what we sow, and God would be an irresponsible Father if He let us get away with too much. And so, He's not going to throw so much goodness at us that we get spoiled.

This is indeed important to understand all this! You might not think He will talk to you, but He is just standing there at the door speaking to you and just hoping you will open up to Him....

I have no idea why you think I doubt God will talk to me? I hear from God every day in the way that He communicates to me. Largely, He shows me the path of love so that I will know to walk that way. He guides all of my circumstances, and He helps me deal with the regular negativities that happen. It's truly a relationship that we have with God. But He speaks of things He wishes to speak of--He's God. I can't control anything He does. I can only please Him and know that He is pleased. That will result in something good--I know that much! :)

 

[Karl Peters]

I have no idea why you think I doubt God will talk to me?

I don't think that at all - I think you have misunderstood that the "This is indeed important to understand all this! You might not think He will talk to you, but He is just standing there at the door speaking to you and just hoping you will open up to Him...." is a general statement and not a person judgement.

In the Bible it is explained that He is just standing there speaking with His voice to all of us!! The "you" is then to everyone, because He is talking to everyone (all people who be considered a "you") but we people often don't take that verse (Rev 3:20) personally. That is a general problem that we people have - not thinking that we personally can hear from Him.

Understanding this, or maybe it is better to write; The failure to understand that He is always standing there talking to us results in our failure to hear from Him!! Our faith is blown around in the wind, so to speak. That really means that spirits come around like the winds and they influence us to believe the Lord is there (if we are getting the Holy Spirit or the angles that serve the Lord) or if we are getting influenced by evil spirits (which we all battle with). We see this with John the Baptist, who at one point is declaring Jesus to be One who he is not worth to tie His sandals, yet later has to send his disciples to find out if Jesus is who John himself already proclaim Him to be. Jesus then compare John the Baptist to a reed blowing in the wind - yet Jesus also said John was the greatest born of women. So we need to expect this is a problem with all of us.

Even the Christian that seem to hear from the Lord the best report times when He seems to not be talking to us. Well- that is not so according to the Bible, so hearing from Him better means that we personally must understand that our faith fades and increases according to the spiritual present influencing us. Remember the first words from that snake in the garden were 'did God really say' which is just a statement meant to cause doubt that God would speak to us. The devils today do that same thing. So according to the verse (Rev 3:20) I must believe that "you" and every person must have God talking to them. So then where did the idea that I "doubt" that God will talk to you? Not from me - I was pointing out that He stands there speaking to all of us! I am trying to get people to stop doubting God will talk to them, but others are around who are bring doubt into all of our lives.

 

[Karl Peters]

There are a lot of voices out there but only one Christ. And if you hear his voice and know who it is, your his!

I wish he would talk to me every day with his voice. But that just doesn’t happen(for me). I was thinking about when God has spoken to me and I think it’s when I needed to hear him most. But I have also noticed that he likes us to pray for small things and he responds not with a voice but with an action. Small things like “Lord please make my lawn mower start” and he starts it. Things like that.

But His voice is like medicine for the soul. I also think that he would talk to us more if we weren’t engulfed in a world of sin, always staining us. I wonder how many preachers actually know Jesus and hear him!

It does happen - that is that the Lord stands at the door and is knocking with His voice - His Holy Spirit is throughout the world and there is no place we can go that He is not there, and He is wanting to talk to us!! We of course are His, because all things belong to Him, simply because all things were created by Him.

Now certainly God can do things that can get us to pay more attention to Him! And He, being a love, is of course going to make a greater attempt when it is most important. I mean if a fire broke out in a building wouldn't you yell louder to help save people? So yeah, He appears to be there more for us during times of great need, but we can hear from Him and anytime!!

So the problem is not that He won't talk to us, but as suggested in the quote, that "we get engulfed in a a world of sin".

We all do that. So the secret to hearing from Him more is just seeking His voice more!!

If we can seek the Lord in the small areas and the less important things in our life then are we not then going to be better able to hear from Him when He yells "fire"?

It is also easier to believe Him for things that are not so important. So ask Him what foot to put for next. There is something written about Him guiding our steps, but what if we are not paying attention to Him for the next step? Isaiah explain (Is 30) that you will hear a voice behind you saying this is the way, every time you turn to the right or to the left. In that regard the Lord has often taken me out to yard sales on Satruday mornings just to get me to listen for His voice better! He would tell me 'go here, turn there) and would lead me to the yard sales He wanted me at. He would get me things I needed for a really cheap price and He also would often have me ministering at the yard sales. Of course first you have to believe He is there to guide you around to talk to you about the little things in your life!

 

[Karl Peters]

Hearing God more mean seeking Him and His voice more, and that means in the little things in your life!

My wife recounts a story where another Christian was trying to tell her that God will not tell you what socks to put on - the point being that God will not help you with the little things. Yet that was the belief of that Christian person and not a fact - and it is written that according to you belief. If we take that approach that God will only talk to us on the little things, and at times of great importance, then according to the belief we will hear Him only on the big important things. But what if we decide to seek Him in the little things in our lives and stepped out by faith for those little things, even perhaps for the next turn or the next step? Then according to our faith we would hear Him more! Think of the possibilities, if in fact we could get His help in the little things also.

So when and how does the Bible explain that we should hear from Him?

Is 30:21 Your ears will hear a word behind you, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or to the left."

Ps 37:23 The steps of a man are established by the LORD, And He delights in his way.

The Lord had me open a Christian bookstore, and one day I was sitting in it and wanting to hear from the Lord. Nobody was in the store and I was asking the Lord what He wanted me to do next. I decided to get more specific and ask Him which foot I should put forward next. He then told me to put the right foot forward, then the left, then the direction, which was out the door of the store. I asked Him if I should lock the door and He said "No". So then I asked Him where I was going, and He said "To the car" I started to panic, thinking He wanted me to drive away from the store with the door open. Then I saw a man coming up to me walking a bike. The man asked me if I had any tools he could use to fix a flat tire his bike had. "Yes" I explain. "I have some tools in my car."

Now is was a little thing that the Lord had me walking to the car so that when the man asked for tools I was already on my way. Yet it is a big things to know that the Lord will guide your steps if you are paying attention to Him!

 

[Randy Kluth]

I don't think that at all - I think you have misunderstood that the "This is indeed important to understand all this! You might not think He will talk to you, but He is just standing there at the door speaking to you and just hoping you will open up to Him...." is a general statement and not a person judgement.

Okay. I see. You see God as always talking to us in some general sense? I think there's truth in that, but I was speaking of specific communications, and not the general sense of God's Word always being in our heart, guiding us into moral truth. I would agree with the idea that Christ is always in us, guiding us spiritually. This is a lesser sense of God's word communicating to us than what I was referring to, however. We all know what is right to do all the time in terms of maintaining His love in all things. But even now I'm in a predicament, financially, and am not sure which direction to go in. I'm looking for a word from God that is more specific to my situation. I'm told by James that God always gives wisdom to those who ask. Right now, I'm asking quite desperately! ;)

I do think that it's not us always preventing us from hearing God speak. I think sometimes He just doesn't speak--His prerogative. He may have any number of reasons for not speaking right away. He may speak later. He may want me to seek his answer. He may want us to make a calculated decision on the information we already have. But I'm not going to say in these times that it is the fault of the petitioner. We are all flawed, but we don't have to feel guilty every time we have a question and don't yet hear from God on an issue. It's sometimes just an opportunity to lay our petitions before God and wait. It's good to be patient sometimes.

 

[Karl Peters]

Okay. I see. You see God as always talking to us in some general sense? I think there's truth in that, but I was speaking of specific communications, and not the general sense of God's Word always being in our heart, guiding us into moral truth. I would agree with the idea that Christ is always in us, guiding us spiritually. This is a lesser sense of God's word communicating to us than what I was referring to, however. We all know what is right to do all the time in terms of maintaining His love in all things. But even now I'm in a predicament, financially, and am not sure which direction to go in. I'm looking for a word from God that is more specific to my situation. I'm told by James that God always gives wisdom to those who ask. Right now, I'm asking quite desperately! ;)

I do think that it's not us always preventing us from hearing God speak. I think sometimes He just doesn't speak--His prerogative. He may have any number of reasons for not speaking right away. He may speak later. He may want me to seek his answer. He may want us to make a calculated decision on the information we already have. But I'm not going to say in these times that it is the fault of the petitioner. We are all flawed, but we don't have to feel guilty every time we have a question and don't yet hear from God on an issue. It's sometimes just an opportunity to lay our petitions before God and wait. It's good to be patient sometimes.

Yes - He must be always talking to us. But if always talking to us then are we listening?

If we are going to hear from Him more the question of if we are paying attention to His voice has to be the biggest concern!

How many times in the Bible do we read something about having ears to hear? We all have physical ears so we all must have spiritual ears, so the real question is whether we are using them and how often. For example in Revelation we read correction to seven churches, but there was one bit of correction that was given to every church and it was "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’"

Therefore the question that each and everyone of us needs to be asking ourselves is are we using our spiritual ears and how often? It's not that we can not hear but that we don't pay attention like we should or could.

Now there are various reasons for that. Someone wrote that we get into this world, which I agree with but it is more simply put that we just get busy doing what we do, and forget that our Lord Jesus Christ is always with us. Therefore one of the main problems with not hearing from Him more is just us not seeking Him. It is important, like you said, that we do hear from Him and more. :)

 

[Randy Kluth]

Yes - He must be always talking to us. But if always talking to us then are we listening?

If we are going to hear from Him more the question of if we are paying attention to His voice has to be the biggest concern!

How many times in the Bible do we read something about having ears to hear? We all have physical ears so we all must have spiritual ears, so the real question is whether we are using them and how often. For example in Revelation we read correction to seven churches, but there was one bit of correction that was given to every church and it was "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’"

Therefore the question that each and everyone of us needs to be asking ourselves is are we using our spiritual ears and how often? It's not that we can not hear but that we don't pay attention like we should or could.

Now there are various reasons for that. Someone wrote that we get into this world, which I agree with but it is more simply put that we just get busy doing what we do, and forget that our Lord Jesus Christ is always with us. Therefore one of the main problems with not hearing from Him more is just us not seeking Him. It is important, like you said, that we do hear from Him and more. :)

I think you're wrong on this, and it can lead to self-condemnation. You think we're not hearing from God because we are putting up obstacles to hearing him? That's not true in my experience. God is always leading, but He's not always speaking directly to our issues.

Anyway, I'm not going to convince you otherwise. This you're going to have to discover for yourself, whether what I'm saying is true or not.

Incidentally, it seems that God is suddenly speaking to us today. I can't be specific because it is too personal. But take my word that things really changed today, and may be leading us in a new direction that is much more stress-free. Thanks for the conversation...

 

[marksman]

The thing going through my mind is that we seem to think that God is in business for us so we want him to answer our prayers. Whereas the important thing is that his will be done. So our praying should be more about what he wants rather than what we want.

 

[Karl Peters]

The thing going through my mind is that we seem to think that God is in business for us so we want him to answer our prayers. Whereas the important thing is that his will be done. So our praying should be more about what he wants rather than what we want.

YES< YES< YES

Now the Lord is concerned about us!! However the best thing for us is what He asks us to do - which means we must seek His voice for instructions, wisdom, teaching, and even encouragement. That might lead you places you don't want to go, but that is the best thing for you, and He does have promises for you also (life and that more abundantly)

Yet so often our prayers are about what we want instead of what He wants, like that is going to be the best thing for us.

For example: just recently my son got a big promotion and I was asking the Lord what I could do for Him. The Lord has often told me things I could do, say, or advise my son about, but this time He told me the best thing I could do was step back and just let my son talk on the new challenge. So I wanted to help, and the Lord has often had me do so, but this morning He was telling me to stay out of the way. I don't know what's best (to help, how to help - or not to help?) but He does at all times. So to do the right thing (righteous thing) I have to seek the Lord and listen by faith!!

We need to stop thinking praying is a one way means of communicating to the Lord for what we want, as if we are Lord and not Him!

 

[Karl Peters]

I think you're wrong on this, and it can lead to self-condemnation. You think we're not hearing from God because we are putting up obstacles to hearing him? That's not true in my experience. God is always leading, but He's not always speaking directly to our issues.

Anyway, I'm not going to convince you otherwise. This you're going to have to discover for yourself, whether what I'm saying is true or not.

Incidentally, it seems that God is suddenly speaking to us today. I can't be specific because it is too personal. But take my word that things really changed today, and may be leading us in a new direction that is much more stress-free. Thanks for the conversation...

The Lord does not "condemn" us, so seeking His voice and listening never leads to condemnation and especially "self-condemnation" because He is not you!! Still the Spirit does convict us of our sins, and not listening to Him like we should is something we need to be convicted of or we will not turn to Him like we should!!!

Yet you are right about it seeming that God suddenly speaks to us Today! Today is the day we should be hearing from Him! Still, why does it seem that He "suddenly" speaks to us? We are supposed to pray unceasingly, so it should not seem that He suddenly speaks to us, but it does. The very fact that it seems that way should convict (not condemn) us. There should be a realization that we could get a lot more from Him if we listen more!! That is not condemnation, but conviction! There are spirits that want to condemn us and we all do battle with the dark forces of this world and Paul explained the principle that evil is present in us (Rom 7) So it is that the Lord comes along with encouragement, love, wisdom, teachings, and instruction, and then we wind up dealing with those spirits we battle with who tells us things that condemn us and make us feel bad.

The fact is that we don't listen to Him like we should - WE DON'T - NONE OF US! There are many reason for that, but the Lord is still there for all of us to just open up to Him and what He has to say. He is always standing at the door knocking with His voice. That doesn't mean we are always listening! We are not! That is a fact. Thanks to Him, that fact does not condemn us! If we just believe that He is there we will hear from Him at some point! Hopefully and some point Today. Probably He is suddenly going to get through to us.... but it can be better!! We can seek Him more, listen to Him more, get more advice, more wisdom, more of those valuable instructions, more encouragement, more of Him telling us that He loves us, more life and that more abundantly!!

Being honest with others and pointing out the fact that we don't listen to Him like we should/could is not a message that convicts it should be and is a message that encourages others to seek His voice more. So where does the condemnation message come from?

There are many reason we don't hear from Him more, and we can be sure that the presence of those dark forces is one of those reason. Our own pride also gets in the way. We are not perfect in dead, He is. We are counted as righteous simply because we believe in Him and that will mean hearing from Him. And since faith comes from hearing, the more you hear the more you believe His is there. The more you believe He is there the more you will turn back to Him for instructions and such. So it is that if we exercise our faith by seeking Him more, the greater our faith becomes.

 

[Karl Peters]

Heb 5:11 Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.
Heb 5:13-14 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

If a person wants to get good at playing the piano the simple secret is to practice, practice, practice!

If we want to get better at hearing the Lord the simple secret is to practice, practice, practice!

The more we seek the Lord and what He has to say to us the better we get at hearing Him!! On the other hand is we don't practice listening to Him our ability to hear from Him is going to be poor, like the piano player who never practices.

Therefore is we are going to talk about hearing from Him and being better at it, then PRACTICE has to be one of that main things we talk about. And note in the verse above that practice also helps with our discerning between good and evil. All this should be obvious. I mean get better at things because we practice them is really no secret at all!!And obviously if we are using our spiritual senses (ears...) then we are going to become more aware of what is doing on around us in the spiritual/heavenly realm! The more aware and the more practice is obviously going to help with our discernment between what God and His Kingdom are doing and what Satan and those dark forces are doing.

And basically the Holy Spirit is trying to hooks us up by faith with Jesus Christ and the words of God that He has for us, where as that evil snake is still trying to bring doubt like when he told Eve 'Did God really say'.

So we Christian have the same message that the Father has concerning Jesus Christ, which is "This is My beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased, Listen to Him."

Mat 17:5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!”

If we practice that we will get better at it!

 

[Randy Kluth]

The Lord does not "condemn" us, so seeking His voice and listening never leads to condemnation and especially "self-condemnation" because He is not you!! Still the Spirit does convict us of our sins, and not listening to Him like we should is something we need to be convicted of or we will not turn to Him like we should!!!

Brother, that's a contradiction if I ever did hear one! We *need to be convicted?* What, you want me to make God convict me? I can't make God do anything.

And if I don't feel convicted, I should try to make myself feel convicted? ;) I'm either convicted or I'm not. The only way I can prevent being convicted when I should be convicted is if I put some kind of obstacle between God and myself. And if I haven't done that, we're back into self-condemnation! ;)

Yet you are right about it seeming that God suddenly speaks to us Today! Today is the day we should be hearing from Him! Still, why does it seem that He "suddenly" speaks to us? We are supposed to pray unceasingly, so it should not seem that He suddenly speaks to us, but it does. The very fact that it seems that way should convict (not condemn) us. There should be a realization that we could get a lot more from Him if we listen more!! That is not condemnation, but conviction! There are spirits that want to condemn us and we all do battle with the dark forces of this world and Paul explained the principle that evil is present in us (Rom 7) So it is that the Lord comes along with encouragement, love, wisdom, teachings, and instruction, and then we wind up dealing with those spirits we battle with who tells us things that condemn us and make us feel bad.

Well, it's not true with me. I live to hear from God. I want to hear from Him every day. I put no obstacles between Him and me. I know I'm a sinner, and expect that His speaking to me will not be as clear and as rich as it will be when I'm glorified.

But thanks for acknowledging that God doesn't always speak immediately. Of course He can, if He so chooses. But it is His prerogative to speak when it's best for us.

In all honesty, sometimes I ask for things, and don't hear for days or even years! Some things I've asked from God He took decades to tell me--perhaps I just couldn't receive a revelation of things in a less mature state of mind?

The fact is that we don't listen to Him like we should - WE DON'T - NONE OF US! There are many reason for that, but the Lord is still there for all of us to just open up to Him and what He has to say. He is always standing at the door knocking with His voice. That doesn't mean we are always listening! We are not! That is a fact. Thanks to Him, that fact does not condemn us! If we just believe that He is there we will hear from Him at some point! Hopefully and some point Today. Probably He is suddenly going to get through to us.... but it can be better!! We can seek Him more, listen to Him more, get more advice, more wisdom, more of those valuable instructions, more encouragement, more of Him telling us that He loves us, more life and that more abundantly!!

If all you're saying is that there is room for improvement, of course I agree. We'd be fools to say we've "arrived!" ;)

Being honest with others and pointing out the fact that we don't listen to Him like we should/could is not a message that convicts it should be and is a message that encourages others to seek His voice more. So where does the condemnation message come from?

The self-condemnation comes from a false expectation that when we pray and don't hear a response from God *that day* we must somehow blame ourselves. In my long experience with the Lord, I know God doesn't always answer *that day.*

I think you're confusing the fact that God is always there for us with whether God will always immediately answer a specific prayer for guidance? He will certainly always be there to guide us in His peace. But He will not always immediately give us direction on a given subject.

There are many reason we don't hear from Him more, and we can be sure that the presence of those dark forces is one of those reason. Our own pride also gets in the way. We are not perfect in dead, He is. We are counted as righteous simply because we believe in Him and that will mean hearing from Him. And since faith comes from hearing, the more you hear the more you believe His is there. The more you believe He is there the more you will turn back to Him for instructions and such. So it is that if we exercise our faith by seeking Him more, the greater our faith becomes.

We can always seek Him more. Love never ends. We should love Him *with all our strength.* In the morning, at noon, and at night. We should sing to Him throughout the day. We should read Scriptures, if we can, or devotionals, and fellowship only with other Christians. We should share our faith with others, who are open to the Gospel.

Bottom line, we need to be God's kids, and serve Him like children should obey their parents. And we should mature in faith, not living under a cloud of condemnation every time we find ourselves to be flawed.

Thanks for the conversation. These are interesting things to discuss! I hope I haven't upset you with my candid statements of belief or thoughts?

 

[Wynona]

God is omni-present. Our theology (our understanding of God) should even tell us that! Jesus said He would never leave us and that His sheep hear His voice - so do we? Do we hear from Him who never leaves us??

I don't hear from Him like I should, but I hear from Him everyday!! I would like to have a discussion about hearing from Him. Since His sheep hear His voice and it is written that we all know in part, others should have things to add that can help us all.

For me, I pick Him up in words. It is explained that His words are spirit and life, so I expect and do hear by faith words from Him through His Holy Spirit speaking to my spirit. I do hear words!! Because those words are from His Spirit and not sound waves, they are sometimes easier to pick up that at other times. Because it requires faith, there are some things I can hear by faith and something I have trouble picking up because I want to doubt them. Because I get busy and thus don't usually pay attention to Him like I should, I often get a feeling like He is trying to tell me something, so I have to stop and ask Him, "Lord did you say ...?" and in that way get the information again. Because the Holy Spirit is not the only spirit around I often test the spirits (1 Jn 4:1-3) and I often specifically seek Him by asking by name, like "Jesus Christ, do you want to tell me something?"

I find that the more I seek Him, the easier it is to hear from Him and discern whether it is Him or not. I also find that He sometimes like to stretch my faith, so that when I seek Him more He can and often does make it more challenging for me to believe Him.

I have lots of other things to note, from the 20 years of listening to Him, but this is a start. What have others come up with on this subject?

You're right. Its not sound waves but I feel like I have to "tune" my heart to hear Jesus. This can take a few minutes.

 

[Karl Peters]

You're right. Its not sound waves but I feel like I have to "tune" my heart to hear Jesus. This can take a few minutes.

Yes - and what we want to do is seek Him more and more - as we can. It's not that we are every going to get there (praying unceasingly) but that we are trying to live our lives closer to the Lord by praying/talking/ communicating back and forth with Him as we go about our day.

Brother, that's a contradiction if I ever did hear one! We *need to be convicted?* What, you want me to make God convict me? I can't make God do anything.

Jn 16:7 “Nevertheless 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 depart, I will send Him to you. “And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: “of sin, because they do not believe in Me;

Rev 3:19 “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.

There is sometime very important to understand!!! The Lord is going to show us where we are not doing things like we should. That is He is going to bring reproof and conviction on us. That is not to condemn us to hell, but on the contrary it is to save us - but not just save us He wants to make us better people!!! So He reproves, disciplines, and shows us where we are doing things wrong and could do them better!!! That doesn't condemn us but it sure does convicts us! And not seeking Him and listening to Him more is the main area we can improve upon.

Note that Rev 3:19 that I quoted above just happens to come before Rev 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

If we are not willing to be reproved/ shown how we are wrong and could do better/ be convicted of the things we don't do right (and all unrighteousness is sin) then we will not seek Him and His voice!!

Another way to put it is that we need to repent!! Repentance is not just a one time thing, but a life that realizes that it is not us, but Him, who is right - so that we regularly turn back to Him for advice, counsel, teaching, and instructions!!!

Therefore the person who thinks they are hearing from Him plenty, is in fact tending to lean on their own understanding. Where as the person who seek that their understanding is not the best is the person who does seek Him and His voice by faith more often!! Indeed, the more we reject the idea that we can and should hear from Him more that we do the less we are going to hear from Him. Where as the more we realize that we don't know what's best the more like we are to turn to Him!! And the Holy Spirit is right there convicting us, and showing us that we do need Him. Again - that does not condemn you but indeed that is what saves us and makes us better people!!

 

[Randy Kluth]

There is sometime very important to understand!!! The Lord is going to show us where we are not doing things like we should. That is He is going to bring reproof and conviction on us...

Nevertheless, it is *God's job* to convict us. We shouldn't be on a mission to find something wrong with ourselves.

If we are not willing to be reproved/ shown how we are wrong and could do better/ be convicted of the things we don't do right (and all unrighteousness is sin) then we will not seek Him and His voice!!

Whoa, slow down! You're jumping way out ahead and assuming that God is convicting us of sin all the time, and that if anybody doesn't feel convicted at a particular time, then he or she is *ignoring the conviction,* and basically denying that God is speaking?

Another way to put it is that we need to repent!!

Amazing! You want Christians to repent when they're walking with God and not even sinning? This isn't a matter of maintaining humility, confessing we're sinners, and repenting of daily sins in matters of being unloving at times. You're talking about the supposed "sin" of not accepting we're doing wrong when we're not even doing wrong! How can one repent if he isn't doing anything wrong at the time? Are you saying we need to get on our faces and repent of having a sin nature?

Indeed, the more we reject the idea that we can and should hear from Him more that we do the less we are going to hear from Him.

God is vindictive, and gets angry because we don't want to hear more from Him? Actually, I think God gets more angry when we *demand* that He speaks to us, or when we *claim* He is speaking to us when He really isn't!

"Do not take the Lord's name in vain." This commandment is not about cussing. No, this is about misrepresenting the Lord's name by declaring what the Lord is saying when He isn't really saying it.

To me, this is just about being honest, and I feel no condemnation for being honest here. God doesn't speak all the time about what direction we are to go in. Sometimes we have to wait because He is the One who decides what we should do, and when we should know what to do. I'm letting God be God.

If you're living in sin, then by all means, you should be hearing God convict you, and you should be repenting. But if you're walking with the Lord today, there's no reason to feel convicted of doing anything wrong.

Why look for something wrong in yourself that is purely human imperfection? God deals with us by grace, with tolerance, with patience, with long-suffering when we are walking faithfully with Him!

1 John 3.19 This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: 20 If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him...
4.18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love....
5.14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

 

[marks]

So I think we can expect that God will speak more to us the more mature we get, the more in control of our passions we get. We will be less likely to turn on God, using His words against Him.

I think this has more to do with our faith.

Be it to us according to our faith, is more how I think.

Much love!