1. Hearing From God Four Ways to Know His Will

2. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5, 6

3. Four Ways to Know the Will of God 1. The Word of God: The Holy Scriptures 2. The Providence of God: Providential Circumstances 3. The Conviction of God: Convictions of our own higher judgment 4. The Voice of God: Inward impressions of the Holy Spirit

4. Four Ways in Harmony 1.His voice will always be in agreement with itself. 2.If there is a contradiction then one of the voices is not God. 3.Agreement is the litmus test to distinguish the voice and will of God

5. Prayer is Vital to the Process Apostle Paul and God’s will in Romans

6. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:1, 2

7. First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, 10 making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you. Romans 1:8-10

8. Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me, 31 that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you. Romans 15:30-32

9. Prayer is Vital to the Process 1.The four ways serve as pistons in a motor. 2.Prayer is the ignition that starts the motor and the GPS. 3.The Holy Spirit provides the fuel and fire to give us the power we need. 4.Our will to do His will moves us to obedience.

10. Prayer is Vital to the Process Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27) Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:26, 27

11. I. The Word of God: The Holy Scriptures A.Consult the Bible B.No special revelation C.Reasoning will mislead D.What is already spoken we must accept and do.

12. II. The Providence of God: Providential Circumstances A.He is working for our good. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

13. II. The Providence of God: Providential Circumstances A.He is working for our good. B.Circumstances C.Acquaintances D.Trials and tribulations

14. Daniel2:31-45Daniel2:31-45 Head of Gold: BABYLON B.C. 635-539 World History Foretold Breast of Silver PERSIA B.C. 539-331 Thighs of Brass GREECE B.C. 331-168 Feet of Iron and Clay REVIVED ROMAN EMPIRE A.D. 476 – 2 nd Advent Legs of Iron ROME B.C. 168 – A.D. 436

15. III. The Conviction of God: Convictions of our own higher nature A.Convictions: The set of moral values to know, in a godly sense, what is right or wrong, and determine right from wrong / good from evil. B.Convictions must be in agreement with, and in submission to the Word of God.

16. IV. The Voice of God: Inward impressions of the Holy Spirit A.John 10:4 B.Three competing voices: 1. Human reasoning: our own or other’s 2.The Adversary 3.The Holy Spirit

17. Conclusion: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5, 6