Hearing From GodHearing From God

Four Ways to Know His WillFour Ways to Know His Will

Part FourPart Four

The Voice of God – Inward The Voice of God – Inward Impressions of the Holy SpiritImpressions of the Holy Spirit

Four Ways to Know the Will of GodFour 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

Four Ways in HarmonyFour 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

I. The Word of God: The Holy ScripturesI. 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.

II. The Providence of God: II. The Providence of God: Providential Circumstances Providential Circumstances

A. He is working for our good.

B. Circumstances

C. Acquaintances

D. Trials and tribulations

III. The Conviction of God: Convictions III. The Conviction of God: Convictions of our own higher nature of our own higher nature

A. A. Convictions: 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. ConvictionsConvictions must be in agreementagreement with, and in submissionsubmission to the Word of God.

A. Foundation – FormedA. Foundation – FormedEssential Humanity vs. Existential Humanity Essential Humanity vs. Existential Humanity

III. The Conviction of God (Cont.)III. The Conviction of God (Cont.)

Essential HumanityEssential Humanity

RIGHT OFF THE SHOWROOM FLOORRIGHT OFF THE SHOWROOM FLOOR

Existential HumanityExistential Humanity

A. Foundation – FormedEssential Humanity vs. Existential Humanity

B. Redemption – ReformedB. Redemption – ReformedNew creation with the restored image of God.New creation with the restored image of God. (attributes of God: (attributes of God: Intellect, Morality, Volition)Intellect, Morality, Volition)

III. The Conviction of God (Cont.)III. The Conviction of God (Cont.)

Redemption – ReformedRedemption – Reformed

Chevrolet buying back the old rusted out 1957 and restoring it to its original condition.

A. Foundation – FormedEssential Humanity vs. Existential Humanity

B. Redemption – ReformedNew creation with the restored image of God. (attributes of God: Intellect, Morality, Volition)

C.C. Sanctification - Transformed Sanctification - Transformed1.1. Setting apartSetting apart2.2. Willing living sacrificeWilling living sacrifice3.3. Knowing inner convictionsKnowing inner convictions

III. The Conviction of God (Cont.)III. The Conviction of God (Cont.)

4.4. Higher Nature Higher Nature

a. Knowledge and understanding is based on a. Knowledge and understanding is based on the foundational truths of the scriptures.the foundational truths of the scriptures.

b.b. The redemptive work of Jesus Christ The redemptive work of Jesus Christ changes the way we exist (existential to changes the way we exist (existential to essential)essential)

c.c. Awareness of a renewed moralityAwareness of a renewed morality

d.d. Convictions (inherent and developed)Convictions (inherent and developed)

C.C. Sanctification – Transformed (Cont.) Sanctification – Transformed (Cont.)

My sheep hear My voice, My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and I know them,

and they follow me. and they follow me. (John 10:27) (John 10:27)

IV. The Voice of God – Inward IV. The Voice of God – Inward Impressions Impressions of the Holy Spirit of the Holy Spirit

A. His Sheep Hear His VoiceA. His Sheep Hear His Voice

1. God spoke in the past. 1. God spoke in the past.

Adam and Eve communed with God Adam and Eve communed with God before the fall (essential man)before the fall (essential man)

A. His Sheep Hear His VoiceA. His Sheep Hear His Voice

1. God spoke in the past. 1. God spoke in the past.

Adam and Eve communed with God Adam and Eve communed with God before the fall (essential man)before the fall (essential man)

2. God spoke throughout the Old Testament.2. God spoke throughout the Old Testament.

A. His Sheep Hear His VoiceA. His Sheep Hear His Voice

1. God spoke in the past. 1. God spoke in the past.

Adam and Eve communed with God Adam and Eve communed with God before the fall (essential man)before the fall (essential man)

2. God spoke throughout the Old Testament. 2. God spoke throughout the Old Testament.

3.3. God came to this world and we heard His God came to this world and we heard His audible voice.audible voice.

A. His Sheep Hear His VoiceA. His Sheep Hear His Voice

1. God spoke in the past. 1. God spoke in the past.

Adam and Eve communed with God Adam and Eve communed with God before the fall (essential man)before the fall (essential man)

2. God spoke throughout the Old Testament. 2. God spoke throughout the Old Testament.

3.3. God came to this world and we heard His God came to this world and we heard His audible voice.audible voice.

4.4. The Holy Spirit Speaks to us today.The Holy Spirit Speaks to us today.

B. Inward ImpressionsB. Inward Impressions

1. Still small voice1. Still small voice

Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, the Lord, but but the Lord was not in the wind; and the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, after the wind an earthquake, but but the Lord was not the Lord was not in the earthquake; in the earthquake; 1212 and after the earthquake a and after the earthquake a fire, fire, but but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. fire a still small voice.

1Kings 19:11-121Kings 19:11-12

B. Inward ImpressionsB. Inward Impressions

1.1. Still small voiceStill small voice

2.2. Speaks to our heartSpeaks to our heart

3.3. Moves upon our spiritMoves upon our spirit

C. Voices of Strangers C. Voices of Strangers “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them. John 10:1-6

C. Voices of StrangersC. Voices of Strangers

1. Many voices are vying for your attention.1. Many voices are vying for your attention.

2.2.Three primary voices:Three primary voices:

a.a. The devilThe devilb.b. The worldThe worldc.c. The old nature (flesh)The old nature (flesh)

3. They Speak in three primary ways:3. They Speak in three primary ways:

a. Lust of the flesha. Lust of the fleshb. Lust of the eyeb. Lust of the eyec. The pride of lifec. The pride of life

ConclusionConclusion

1.1. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and and they follow Me.they follow Me. John 10:27 John 10:27

a. They follow the will of the Shepherd.a. They follow the will of the Shepherd.

b. They hear and know His voice.b. They hear and know His voice.

c.c. They trust Him in where He leads.They trust Him in where He leads.

d.d. He is Jehova-Ra’ahHe is Jehova-Ra’ah

ConclusionConclusion

1.1. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and and they follow Me.they follow Me. John 10:27 John 10:27

2.2. Jesus said, “Everyone who is of the truth Jesus said, “Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice.” (John 18:37)hears my voice.” (John 18:37)

3.3. God still speaks to us today.God still speaks to us today.

1 Timothy 4:1 The Spirit speaketh expressly 1 Timothy 4:1 The Spirit speaketh expressly

4. He speaks so that we may know His will4. He speaks so that we may know His will

Four Ways to Know the Will of GodFour Ways to Know the Will of God

1.1. The Word of God: The Holy Scriptures The Word of God: The Holy Scriptures

2. The Providence of God: Providential 2. The Providence of God: Providential CircumstancesCircumstances

3. The Conviction of God: Convictions of our 3. The Conviction of God: Convictions of our own higher judgment own higher judgment

4. The Voice of God: Inward impressions of the 4. The Voice of God: Inward impressions of the Holy Spirit Holy Spirit