HEARING GOD'S VOICE WHEN READING HIS WORD

What's the difference between, on the one hand, simply reading the Bible, and on the other hearing God's voice WHEN you are reading the Bible?

That kind of question came my way recently on a Sunday morning.  How do I know it is God's voice I am hearing when I am reading the Word?

To be sure, there are a lot of voices speaking into our lives each day.  Estimates are that we encounter over 2,000 messages (ads, etc.) per day.  Some are shorter and perhaps more forgettable, others are more impressionable, perhaps longer.  Certainly they linger and crowd into our intention to sit quietly with the Word and simply listen to God.  Add to that our own thoughts which spring up from all of the life situations we face, problems we are trying to solve, pressures that are mounting.

How in the world can God's voice come through?  

First, remember that God is perfectly capable of both getting our attention and speaking clearly.  Time after time in the pages of Scripture, God spoke directly to men, women, even children.  God is God, right!?  If anyone can clear cut his way through the clutter, He can.

Second, reaffirm that God's voice can be heard in and through God's written Word, the recognized "Scriptures" which came through men by the Holy Spirit.  From the "Thus says the Lord..." of the prophets to Paul's description how the Apostles by the Spirit "impart (the things freely given to us by God) in words not taught by human wisdom, but taught by the Spirit" (1 Corinthians 2:12-13) -- the promise of God is that we can hear from Him in these timeless, inspired pages.

Third, realize that God's voice is best heard through a rightly-interpreted portion of His Word.  What do I mean?  I mean that each portion of Scripture has an historical context (when it was written, in what circumstances, and to whom), a purpose behind it (why it was written), and a precise originally intended meaning (what do the words actually mean and say).  It's important to understand these background facts when reading any portion of the Bible.  

For example, Genesis was written by Moses somewhere around 1440 BC while the nation of Israel was coming out of slavery and looking to head into the promised land.  It was written to give God's people "roots," an understanding of both how the world was purposely created by God, and how Israel came to be His chosen people, and why they had spent the last 4 centuries in slavery.

The purpose and background of Genesis is different from the purpose and background of Jonah, or the New Testament book of Galatians.  Good interpretation is NOT rocket science, but it does require "digging a bit" and finding out some of the factors surrounding the original writing and meaning.  There are good background resources available on-line to anyone who will invest a bit of time.   Actually, it's quite fun to discover these things and then to read the passages.  They come alive!!!

Fourth, be assured that all of the Scripture can become the sounding board of God's voice to you.  "All Scripture is God-breathed, and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.  This is so the man or woman of God can be equipped, thoroughly prepared to do every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17). 

So how does this happen?  After you've decided to set aside some time for the Lord, here are some simple steps:

A)   Pick a "book" to read (I'd suggest a book like the Gospel of John or the letter to the Ephesians).

B)   In prayer, thank the Holy Spirit for giving you this book, and ask Him to guide you and speak to you as you read it.

C)  Read it through in one sitting - yes...take the time to do this.  Have pen and paper handy and as you are reading, simply jot down the questions that come to your mind.  Things you don't understand.  Words you'd like a definition of.

D)  Go to GOOGLE and do a search like "background for EPHESIANS"  - you'll get a number of choices of websites that will give you the WHO, WHAT, WHY, WHEN, and WHERE stuff behind the book.

E)  Go back and read several times a shorter portion of the book - say like Ephesians 1:1-14.  Usually a Bible will divide the book in to paragraphs or sections.  Take the book a section and a time.

F)  Continue to ask God what He wants to say to you in this passage.  Answer the questions, jot down your thoughts and answers to: What is this saying?  What is it describing?  Is there a promise from God here?  Is there sin to identify and avoid?  Is there a command to obey?  Is there some teaching about how to walk with Jesus more closely? 

G)  ALWAYS...jot down on paper what you are "hearing" as you read and observe and answer the questions. 

My guess is that after 30 minutes or so (and those minutes WILL fly by), you are going to come up from the text and say, "Hmmm...I think I just heard from God!"

No doubt you have...and now the challenge is, "Will I believe what He says?"  (and) "Will I do what He asks?"

Key Ideas that Shape a Life

When I was a boy, my hulking, Swedish grandfather Carl came to live with us.  Grandma Amelia had died, and Grandpa Carl was unable to live on his own.  So, for a time, Grandpa took the small spare bedroom at the end of the hallway on the right.  

Grandpa Carl had given me my first taste of coffee, which he liked with cream and at least 4 lumps of sugar.  Grandpa Carl had put me in his lap and let me steer the car when we went to the new carwash in south Racine, Wisconsin.  Grandpa Carl insisted that at 6:00 PM on Saturday nights, the Lawrence Welk show be on the family TV.

And one day, Grandpa Carl gave me a key idea that has always shaped my walk with God.

I walked in his bedroom one day when he was reading his Bible.  When he looked up, I could tell he’d been shedding tears.  He was reading 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 in the King James Bible, and with his magnifying glass, he showed me the verses.  I recall him reading them out loud while I listened.  And then, looking up again, he said, “Ah Davy…’dat ‘vill be a great day.”

The momentary expectation of Jesus’ return, and that when it happens, it will be a great day, has never left me.  It is one of the key ideas deeply rooted in my heart by my Grandpa.

What are the key ideas that are rooted in your heart, that act as a beacon, a guide, that keep echoing in your heart and shape your walk with Jesus?

Here are a number of key ideas that came from the bunch I preach to each Sunday:

• Jesus' command to "Follow Me!"
• Trust!
• I owe Him so much
• Hope and Promise
• Focus on things of Eternal Value
• Jesus has the words to eternal life (John 6:68)
• His faithfulness
• God's love and grace
• To know God's love and to show God's love
• His love never fails
• "I have one that you may have life and have it abundantly" John 10:10
• He lived among us - perfect - and Jesus' forgiving those humiliating and killing him
• Prayer, prayer, and more prayer
• Eternity for those who do not know Him is eternal separation
• I'm free
• Grace
• Love
• The Lord is My Shepherd
• friendship
• My whole reason for being is because of Him; All I have belongs to Him
• His great love and unfathomable lovingkindness
• Be available to God
• Faith
• Compassion
• In this world we will have trouble; He has overcome the world (John 6:33)
• God is love.  He who does not love does not know God
• Memorize Scripture and Pray Scripture
• Jesus gave His life for Me
• Nothing I have can earn His love and grace
• Advance the Gospel and His Kingdom into the Nations
• Serve Others
• The Word of God is living and active (Hebrews 4:12)
• God is always good
• Jesus alone has the words of Life
• Even when failed by others, He will never fail
• Be in the Bible - regularly
• There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1-2)
• Jesus loved me first, so I love Him.
• Jesus' love is not dependent on my attempts to please Him.  The Cross alone.
• The hunger to glorify myself is my greatest enemy; that I may know Jesus as friend and Lord is my greatest hope.
• What is seen is temporary, unseen eternal
• I cannot do life on my own; I must be filled with His Spirit
• Christ's heart of welcome -- full of grace and truth -- stirs me
• Walk with Jesus fearlessly; God works good from pain.
• Blessings from relying on Him are unbelievable

What key idea guides your walk with Jesus?

Thanks to the congregation of the Christ Community Church (Ames, Iowa) for these great ideas.  Righteous!