Hearing God's voice
Shari and I continue to lead our boys in reading "The Essential 100" (along with our church). Mar. 26's reading was Acts 10:1-11:18, the story of Peter being sent to Cornelius, a Gentile, and how God poured His Spirit on the Gentiles, too.
This story is rich in lessons and messages from God. For instance, there's the fact that phariseeism wasn't limited to the Jewish leadership (see 11:2), which encourages me because it reminds me that even legalists in the Church today are still His children that He's working on (including me, at times, unfortunately). It's also a warning to me. Then there's the fact that Peter commanded the brothers around him to baptize Cornelius' family (10:48). This speaks volumes to me about how important God views baptism, and sooner is better. Then there's Peter's example of obedience no matter the cost, Peter reminding us that we're commanded to share the Gospel, Peter's lesson on what's clean and not, etc. Like I said, there's a lot of meat in this passage.
What jumped out at me, though, was God speaking, and the variety of ways He did so. He spoke through an angel to Cornelius. He put Peter in a trance and gave him a vision. Then, after the vision, the Holy Spirit spoke to him. (His heart? His mind? Doesn't say.) Finally, God spoke through these three ways, along with circumstances, to convince Peter that Jesus' message and salvation are for the Gentiles, too.
I want to hear God's voice? During this whole job search, I've wanted to hear directly from God. I know the God uses circumstances, and He speaks through His Word. However, that same Word also makes clear that God speaks through more than that. With His Holy Spirit in us, He definitely can speak directly to us, as well as through angels and visions. I want to put myself in a position to hear from Him in all those ways. I want to be able to know God's voice so well that, like Peter, I won't question it when He commands. Think about it. If that had been me, I would have seriously questioned whether God had said anything. I would have talked to the brothers around there and got their input. After all, Peter says himself that Jews aren't supposed to associate with Gentiles, and the "circumcision sect" made that clear, too. Yet Peter knew the Holy Spirit's voice so well that he didn't even question it or second guess (though it's obvious he was going, "You want me to what, God?"). He obeyed.
So, I wonder if maybe there are two reasons I don't hear God's voice clearly. First, am I spending time listening. I used to spend a lot more time listening. Lately, it's felt like I spend more time reading His Word (a good thing, to be sure) or interceding (also a good thing), and not much time listening. I think I started questioning myself after moving to Lolo. I want to get back to the place of knowing God's voice so well that I don't question it any more.
My second possible reason for not hearing God's voice clearly (maybe) is my willingness to obey. God once asked Shari, "If I asked you to build an ark, would you?" That question has stuck with me. I think that, even if an angel visited me, I'd question something like that (interesting movie, "Evan Almighty"). But, let's get simpler. Am I ready to obey if God said to head to Mexico to join my friend as a full-time missionary? What if God told me to become a senior pastor... and plant a church? You see, if we're not ready to obey, no matter the cost, God may not bother telling us to do something because our hearts aren't fully His. So, not only do I need to make sure that I'm spending time listening, but that I'm ready to obey. I think that's even harder. But, I want to hear from Him.
God, I have to choose to obey you, but, where your Holy Spirit can move in my heart and transform it, can you please help me to get better at obedience, and being ready to obey, even when it hurts my flesh or doesn't look like it makes sense.
This story is rich in lessons and messages from God. For instance, there's the fact that phariseeism wasn't limited to the Jewish leadership (see 11:2), which encourages me because it reminds me that even legalists in the Church today are still His children that He's working on (including me, at times, unfortunately). It's also a warning to me. Then there's the fact that Peter commanded the brothers around him to baptize Cornelius' family (10:48). This speaks volumes to me about how important God views baptism, and sooner is better. Then there's Peter's example of obedience no matter the cost, Peter reminding us that we're commanded to share the Gospel, Peter's lesson on what's clean and not, etc. Like I said, there's a lot of meat in this passage.
What jumped out at me, though, was God speaking, and the variety of ways He did so. He spoke through an angel to Cornelius. He put Peter in a trance and gave him a vision. Then, after the vision, the Holy Spirit spoke to him. (His heart? His mind? Doesn't say.) Finally, God spoke through these three ways, along with circumstances, to convince Peter that Jesus' message and salvation are for the Gentiles, too.
I want to hear God's voice? During this whole job search, I've wanted to hear directly from God. I know the God uses circumstances, and He speaks through His Word. However, that same Word also makes clear that God speaks through more than that. With His Holy Spirit in us, He definitely can speak directly to us, as well as through angels and visions. I want to put myself in a position to hear from Him in all those ways. I want to be able to know God's voice so well that, like Peter, I won't question it when He commands. Think about it. If that had been me, I would have seriously questioned whether God had said anything. I would have talked to the brothers around there and got their input. After all, Peter says himself that Jews aren't supposed to associate with Gentiles, and the "circumcision sect" made that clear, too. Yet Peter knew the Holy Spirit's voice so well that he didn't even question it or second guess (though it's obvious he was going, "You want me to what, God?"). He obeyed.
So, I wonder if maybe there are two reasons I don't hear God's voice clearly. First, am I spending time listening. I used to spend a lot more time listening. Lately, it's felt like I spend more time reading His Word (a good thing, to be sure) or interceding (also a good thing), and not much time listening. I think I started questioning myself after moving to Lolo. I want to get back to the place of knowing God's voice so well that I don't question it any more.
My second possible reason for not hearing God's voice clearly (maybe) is my willingness to obey. God once asked Shari, "If I asked you to build an ark, would you?" That question has stuck with me. I think that, even if an angel visited me, I'd question something like that (interesting movie, "Evan Almighty"). But, let's get simpler. Am I ready to obey if God said to head to Mexico to join my friend as a full-time missionary? What if God told me to become a senior pastor... and plant a church? You see, if we're not ready to obey, no matter the cost, God may not bother telling us to do something because our hearts aren't fully His. So, not only do I need to make sure that I'm spending time listening, but that I'm ready to obey. I think that's even harder. But, I want to hear from Him.
God, I have to choose to obey you, but, where your Holy Spirit can move in my heart and transform it, can you please help me to get better at obedience, and being ready to obey, even when it hurts my flesh or doesn't look like it makes sense.
posted by Pastor Paul at
10:06 AM
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