Hearing God’s Voice Anytime Session Five: Hearing God’s Voice outside the Bible Bill Perry

What we’ve seen: Our culture and ourselves Biblical assumptions and framework What God’s voice is and isn’t Hearing God’s voice in the Bible

Summary of God’s Voice and the Bible: We learn or train ourselves to “hear” God’s voice in the Bible through communion with the Holy Spirit, who wrote the Bible. It is inconsistent to expect to hear from God outside the Bible when we have not learned to recognize his voice in the Bible.

My Neighbor’s Radio In the hot humid months of summer in South Florida we close up the house and run the air-conditioner. In the dry cooler months we turn off the a/c and open up the windows. Our neighbor behind us plays his classic rock station pretty loudly every day. I don’t hear it in the summer months but I do in the winter months. I grew up on rock music, but it was current back then, not classic! One day as I was working on this talk I noticed the neighbor had his radio not playing as loud as normal. I could hear the beat but the melody sounded really strange, almost like with a lot of sharps and flats that didn’t sound right. Being a former back drummer in a garage band the beat and rhythm of the song sounded familiar. But that melody – it was way off! After a while of not being able to figure it out, I had had enough. I got out of my desk chair and went out back. As I got closer to the fence all those sharps and flats gave way to the proper melody. What had happened? I was just out of hearing range for my ears to hear correctly. Many times we can’t hear God’s voice because our hearts are just out of range. We need to move closer to him!

“For God may speak in one way, yet man does not perceive it.” Job 33:14 “For God may speak in one way, or in another, yet man does not perceive it.”

“Voice” is not always literal Psalm 19:1-4: “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows his handwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.”

Reason’s I can’t hear God’s Voice A belief that ‘God no longer speaks as he once did’ will make it difficult to hear.

Reason’s I can’t hear God’s Voice A belief that ‘God no longer speaks as he once did will’ make it difficult to hear. I won't hear God's voice if I don't want to listen to him. Or if, when he does speak, I do not obey.

Reason’s I can’t hear God’s Voice A belief that ‘God no longer speaks as he once did will’ make it difficult to hear. I won't hear God's voice if I don't want to listen to him. Or if, when he does speak, I do not obey. I will find it hard to hear God's voice if my mind is cluttered with other things.

Reason’s I can’t hear God’s Voice Time is needed to be able to get to recognize and hear God's voice. If I am harboring sin or unforgiveness he doesn't hear me. (Psalm 66:18)

Reason’s I can’t hear God’s Voice Time is needed to be able to get to recognize and hear God's voice. If I am harboring sin or unforgiveness he doesn't hear me. (Psalm 66:18) Because prayer is a two-way conversation, the channels of communication need to be clear.

Reason’s I can’t hear God’s Voice Time is needed to be able to get to recognize and hear God's voice. If I am harboring sin or unforgiveness he doesn't hear me. (Psalm 66:18) Because prayer is a two-way conversation, the channels of communication need to be clear. An unbiblical belief will distort God's voice when he speaks.

Reason’s I can’t hear God’s Voice Some people believe God speaks, but not to them - perhaps because they feel unworthy, unimportant or forgotten.

Reason’s I can’t hear God’s Voice Some people believe God speaks, but not to them - perhaps because they feel unworthy, unimportant or forgotten. Physical, emotional or psychological illness may impede our hearing. (www.listening2god.com/lesson1a.html )

Terms Christians use to describe the extra-biblical voice of God

Terms Christians use to describe the extra-biblical voice of God Nudge

Terms Christians use to describe the extra-biblical voice of God Nudge Sense/Feeling

Terms Christians use to describe the extra-biblical voice of God Nudge Sense/Feeling Prompt/ing

Terms Christians use to describe the extra-biblical voice of God Nudge Sense/Feeling Prompt/ing Vision

Terms Christians use to describe the extra-biblical voice of God Nudge Sense/Feeling Prompt/ing Vision Impression

Terms Christians use to describe the extra-biblical voice of God Nudge Sense/Feeling Prompt/ing Vision Impression Intuition/Impulse

Terms Christians use to describe the extra-biblical voice of God Nudge Sense/Feeling Prompt/ing Vision Impression Intuition/Impulse Assurance

Terms Christians use to describe the extra-biblical voice of God Nudge Sense/Feeling Prompt/ing Vision Impression Intuition/Impulse Assurance Peace

Terms Christians use to describe the extra-biblical voice of God Nudge Sense/Feeling Prompt/ing Vision Impression Intuition/Impulse Assurance Peace Idea/Thought

Terms Christians use to describe the extra-biblical voice of God Nudge Sense/Feeling Prompt/ing Vision Impression Intuition/Impulse Assurance Peace Idea/Thought Anointing

Terms Christians use to describe the extra-biblical voice of God Nudge Sense/Feeling Prompt/ing Vision Impression Intuition/Impulse Assurance Peace Idea/Thought Anointing Leading

Terms Christians use to describe the extra-biblical voice of God Nudge Sense/Feeling Prompt/ing Vision Impression Intuition/Impulse Assurance Peace Idea/Thought Anointing Leading Voice

Discerning God’s extra-biblical voice Does it line up with what the Bible, the written Scripture, says?

Discerning God’s extra-biblical voice Does it line up with what the Bible, the written Scripture, says? Is it consistent with the character of Jesus? (1 Cor. 11:1)

Discerning God’s extra-biblical voice Does it line up with what the Bible, the written Scripture, says? Is it consistent with the character of Jesus? (1 Cor. 11:1) Does it lead you into a closer relationship with God, a greater/stronger unity with him? (John 17:3)

Discerning God’s extra-biblical voice Does it line up with what the Bible, the written Scripture, says? Is it consistent with the character of Jesus? (1 Cor. 11:1) Does it lead you into a closer relationship with God, a greater/stronger unity with him? (John 17:3) Does it lead you into expressing love for God and the benefit of others before your own benefit? (Matt. 22:37-39)

Discerning God’s extra-biblical voice Does it lead to a dying/reduction of selfishness and a greater manifestation of Christ’s life in you? (John 3:30)

Discerning God’s extra-biblical voice Does it lead to a dying/reduction of selfishness and a greater manifestation of Christ’s life in you? (John 3:30) Does it cause greater humility in you, and a greater trust or dependence upon God?

Discerning God’s extra-biblical voice Does it lead to a dying/reduction of selfishness and a greater manifestation of Christ’s life in you? (John 3:30) Does it cause greater humility in you, and a greater trust or dependence upon God? Does it increase the quality of the fruit of the Spirit in you? (Gal. 5:22-23)

Discerning God’s extra-biblical voice Does it lead to a dying/reduction of selfishness and a greater manifestation of Christ’s life in you? (John 3:30) Does it cause greater humility in you, and a greater trust or dependence upon God? Does it increase the quality of the fruit of the Spirit in you? (Gal. 5:22-23) Does it lead to life or death - in the widest sense of these terms?

Discerning God’s extra-biblical voice Does it advance God’s Kingdom work?

Discerning God’s extra-biblical voice Does it advance God’s Kingdom work? Does it reflect/use your spiritual gifts?

Discerning God’s extra-biblical voice Does it advance God’s Kingdom work? Does it reflect/use your spiritual gifts? Others…?

Consideration from Acts Only 9 times does Luke record in Acts that Jesus or the Holy Spirit directly identifies himself as speaking or doing something specific in leading individual members of the Body of Christ in ~20 years of walking with Christ and/or expanding the Church (8:29, 9:4-5, 13:2, 16:6-7, 18:5, 20:23, 21:4, 21:11, 23:11).

Some closing examples A vision An idea/thought Others…?* Questions?* *Audience participation