The How To’s

By Pastor Jeff,

Have you ever been challenged to do something but was never given the “How to”?

I can remember a time when if you had something to repair or build, you would have to take it to someone, hire someone, buy a manual, or get a book from the library. Now all you have to do is go to “YouTube” and find a video that shows you the  “How To”, technology is wonderful, isn’t it?

However if you are like me, you have heard countless sermons, that have told us that we need to do this or that, all we are told is pray, read your bible, and then you will know what to do. Well I agree the word of God is the greatest book ever written, but when it comes to certain things we don’t have a clear cut answer. Two areas I hear often is “How do I know God’s will for my life?” and “How do you hear God’s voice?”

When we talk about the “Will of God” we do see in the Bible does give us some answers, Romans 12:1-2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” 1 Timothy 2:3-4, “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”
Matthew 28:19-20, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Luke 6:37, “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.” This is just some of the scriptures that tell us, what we should do as believers, but what most people are looking for is what does Jesus want me personally to do, or go?

Let me answer the second question and I believe it will help you here, how do I hear God’s voice? Let me say first, if you are a Spirit filled Saint of God, you do hear the Lord’s voice! John 10:27, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:” The problem most of us have is that we have a difficult time distinguishing God’s voice from all the other voices that we get bombarded with every day. We have our own voice, the voice of our families, coworkers, media, the world, Satan, and God’s, wow, no wonder we think we don’t hear from God!

I contend the first thing you need to do is to believe, believe, and believe that God speaks to you! Many people will tell you that you need to find a quiet place, really?, I don’t know about you, sometimes quiet is the hardest place for me to differentiate God’s voice from mine, they will also tell you to quiet your mind (sure, nice try), or you need to fast and read your bible more (this is probably the best suggestion as God many times speaks to us through His word). I read someone wrote this,  “Don’t expect God to speak to you in a sensational, spectacular, supernatural way!” Well, I don’t believe that, for when I was struggling with moving my family and me from Milwaukee, to Janesville in 1995, I was not getting any clear cut answer to go or not, in fact my gut and some of the circumstances pointed against it. I eventually decided on going and as one walking the aisles of GM, I indeed heard God’s voice, He told me, “If you go, you will see a great harvest!” I know some will say that wasn’t God, but I just say “I Know what I know” and hear I am in Janesville WI some 22 years later in a great church started by a great God.

As I have grown in my love and knowledge of God I believe I hear the voice of God quite often, not in that quiet place, not trying to quiet my mind, but mostly when I’m going about my daily routine. I do give this warning found in 1 John 4:1, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”  Don’t ever be afraid to ask who is speaking to you, if you get no answer or another answer beside that it is “Jesus the Christ” be carful to follow it and also be careful of other people, including pastors and prophets telling you do or not do something. You must yourself hear that voice and then you will know Gods will for your life!

picture care of; govloop.com