Hearing & Knowing His Voice....

[Diplomat]

Re: Hearing & Knowing His Voice....

sistagirl: How do you or hubby know that that something was not the confirmation? There had to be some basis that caused him to know that you were the one for him before you both got married.

[LINDA]

Re: Hearing & Knowing His Voice....

CEW what if the person didn't go into "prayer" so much as, crying out to God?
Do you believe he would carry out the request within minutes? Or does that sound like the work of SOMEONE else.
And if He did, wouldn't/shouldn't it be believable?
And also, if the person was still thinking this can't be the work of God, would he on more then one occasion send others to rebuke you of those thoughts?

[sistagirl]

Re: Hearing & Knowing His Voice....

Originally posted by CEW:
[qb] sistagirl: How do you or hubby know that that something was not the confirmation? There had to be some basis that caused him to know that you were the one for him before you both got married. [/qb]

Aha!!! that is exactly what I said CEW. You see CEW, we have never questioned the revelation..I never did NOT believe, I have had confirmation for years. He asked once "why did God reveal that to you and not me?" and we had some discussion but never dwelled on it. Then one day I asked him if God never revealed to YOU why did you believe me? he replied about that something that he could never explain even to this day. It is literally to big to explain. One day he loved me in a way that I did not contribute ..

His spiritual walk is his own though so I can't speak on how he views that something entirely..we just marvel at it [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

It is others who have a hard time believing, not me..or him. But no matter what someone believes my testimony is that God is so awesome NEVER NEVER underestimate what he is capable of..even for a person like me..He is soooo able.

[Diplomat]

Re: Hearing & Knowing His Voice....

LINDA: We have to be careful that we not put God in a box. We are reminded that His ways are not our ways, neither are His thoughts, our thoughts. We can never say this is what He will do, or how He would do it as just about the time we think we have Him figured out, He does something totally different! Let's examine your questions:

CEW what if the person didn't go into "prayer" so much as, crying out to God?

Crying out to God is really a more "urgent" form of prayer that may stem from someone being really burdened. The Bible records various instances where individuals that have cried out to God have had those prayers answered right there and then. This has not always been the case though. What we do know however is that as long as our motives are true, He promises to hear us regardless of whether we "cry out" or not.

Do you believe he would carry out the request within minutes? Or does that sound like the work of SOMEONE else.

Of course He can carry out a request instantaneously. In Genesis 1, there are six instances of "And God said ... and it was so."

And if He did, wouldn't/shouldn't it be believable?

In Numbers 23:19 we read: "God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?" The fact that He says it is what makes it believable, not the period of time that passes before it comes through. Remember Abraham waited 25 years between being told He would have a son, and the time it actually happened. What we are told is that during all that time, even when nothing was happening, "Abraham believed God." As long as you know that what is in your heart was put there by God, it is immediately believable.

And also, if the person was still thinking this can't be the work of God, would he on more then one occasion send others to rebuke you of those thoughts?

That is quite possible, but not always the case. We do have the power of choice, and again the Bible is filled with situations where God's people, or an individual, have gone against God's will. There are times when what God has ordained for us we do not want, and as such we rebel by choosing to do differently. This goes into the area of His permissive will, in that He will sometimes allow someone to do something that is against His wishes simply because they so choose. You need look no further than Adam and Eve to see that.

Very good questions.

[Sayla]

Re: Hearing & Knowing His Voice....

Sistagirl, would it be okay for me to send you a PM?

[Diplomat]

Re: Hearing & Knowing His Voice....

sistagirl: As I read your last post, I am reminded of an experience of Elijah as found in 1 Kings 19. The relevant portion (verses 9-13) is as follows:

And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?

Isn't it funny how sometimes we can miss the voice of God because it comes in a manner that we least expect? While hubby may not have been able to explain that something, there seems to be no doubt that it was a confirmation of sorts. Perhaps it is time that he stop expecting the revelation that was already made clear in his heart before he married you.

It is others who have a hard time believing, not me..or him. But no matter what someone believes my testimony is that God is so awesome NEVER NEVER underestimate what he is capable of..even for a person like me..He is soooo able.

That much is true, and frankly, I do not have a hard time believing it at all. You do know however that with such an experience comes the realization that you are both stuck with each other for life [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] . All the very best to you both.

[LINDA]

Re: Hearing & Knowing His Voice....

CEW, first i would like to thank you for your time and insightful responses [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] (((CEW))) and of course i have one more....
you said:
"As long as you know that what is in your heart was put there by God, it is immediately believable."

How does one KNOW without a doubt, that it was put there by GOD [img]/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

[Diplomat]

Re: Hearing & Knowing His Voice....

LINDA: The pleasure is mine as I have really enjoyed this. Believe me, it has been as much a blessing to me. How does one KNOW without a doubt, that what is in one's heart was put there by GOD is the million dollar question, and puts us right back where this thread started.

There is no magic formula, and this is dependent to a large degree on one's relationship with God and whether or not one has spent intimate times with Him to know what He sounds like. For each person, the experience of knowing may be different but there are a couple of things we do know.

1) God will not provide a direction that goes contrary to His Word. For example, it is not likely that He would direct a believer to go marry an unbeliever.

2) He will not direct anyone to a situation where His grace cannot keep them there.

3) There is usually a settledness; a peace that comes with hearing that voice. If there is a question of uncertainty on the part of the believer, God may choose to confirm that Word through various witnesses/sources. Someone who knows absolutely nothing about the situation may unknowingly provide clarity. It could be through a casual conversation, a message, or corporate Bible Study.

Hebrews 1:1 reminds us: "In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets a many times and in various ways." God's voice can be heard through audible, intuitive, written, or circumstantial means. What we do know is what Jesus declared: "My sheep know my voice."

4) If you are not sure, "test" what you have heard against the Word. If it does not line up, it is not of God. The biggest hindrance to our hearing the voice of God – and accepting that it is God – is DOUBT. The devil (and self) is always wanting to make us doubt we are actually hearing from God. He knows that as long as we doubt what we’re hearing, then we will never act upon what we hear.

5) If you are still not sure, seek godly counsel from a Christian you trust and whose walk with the Lord is very evident.

As you can see, there is not an easy answer to your question. I am of the opinion that if we surrender our ways to the Lord and ask Him to help us to hear what He has to say, and as long as we spend intimate times in His presence with our hearts tuned in to His, we will eventually come to know what He sounds like and there will be no doubt then that in fact we have heard the voice of God.

[sistagirl]

Re: Hearing & Knowing His Voice....

Originally posted by Sayla:
[qb] Sistagirl, would it be okay for me to send you a PM? [/qb]

Sayla, of course. I love to get PM's [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[sistagirl]

Re: Hearing & Knowing His Voice....

Originally posted by CEW:
[QB]
Isn't it funny how sometimes we can miss the voice of God because it comes in a manner that we least expect? While hubby may not have been able to explain that something, there seems to be no doubt that it was a confirmation of sorts. Perhaps it is time that he stop expecting the revelation that was already made clear in his heart before he married you.

So true CEW! God is just beginning to work some powerful things through my husband..he will know [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[sistagirl]

Re: Hearing & Knowing His Voice....

I'm gonna check out Elijah, thanks CEW it's been a pleasure sharing His works. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Sayla]

Re: Hearing & Knowing His Voice....

[Diplomat]

Re: Hearing & Knowing His Voice....

Originally posted by sistagirl:
[qb] I'm gonna check out Elijah, thanks CEW it's been a pleasure sharing His works. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] [/qb]

I have enjoyed it [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[Virtuos Woman]

Re: Hearing & Knowing His Voice....

Originally posted by CEW:
[qb] There is no magic formula, and this is dependent to a large degree on one's relationship with God and whether or not one has spent intimate times with Him to know what He sounds like. For each person, the experience of knowing may be different but there are a couple of things we do know.

1) God will not provide a direction that goes contrary to His Word. For example, it is not likely that He would direct a believer to go marry an unbeliever.

2) He will not direct anyone to a situation where His grace cannot keep them there.

3) There is usually a settledness; a peace that comes with hearing that voice. If there is a question of uncertainty on the part of the believer, God may choose to confirm that Word through various witnesses/sources. Someone who knows absolutely nothing about the situation may unknowingly provide clarity. It could be through a casual conversation, a message, or corporate Bible Study.

Hebrews 1:1 reminds us: "In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets a many times and in various ways." God's voice can be heard through audible, intuitive, written, or circumstantial means. What we do know is what Jesus declared: "My sheep know my voice."
[/qb]

I am in complete agreement with these points and a lot more of what has been said so far. I believe hearing His voice is completely dependent upon the relationship that you have established with Him. If you are a person that communes with Him daily then you would hear Him and see Him through others as you have made yourself more open to being sensitive to His move.

There are times I remember going to God regarding a certain situation and due to my impatience and wanting to know NOW, nothing happens and when I least expect it, someone who is totally removed from the situation and would have no idea of what I had talked to God about, shows up with the answer. The first time that happened to me I was just simply in awe of the way in which He choose to speak back to me.

The first time that I can remember hearing the voice of God speak to me to do something I didn't want to do, I questioned whether or not it was Him, even though I knew deep down inside it was. I think sometimes due to our reluctance to do what He ask, we question it - and sometimes hoping it is not. I was in church one night during a crusade and it was time for the altar service and God spoke to me and told me to go pray with this particular person who was sitting way in the back with a body language that told me I do not want to be bothered. I finally got up and went to this person who could not have been more accomodating when I asked, 'can I pray with you'. He ended up going to the altar and he surrendered his life to God that very night. This person as since become extremely valuable to the body and has been involved in many areas of the church. After that night I purposed in my heart to be more sensitive to His voice and not to question everything that He wants me to do.

I am also reminded of Young Samuel who had to be called by God four times before he realized that God was speaking to him. Three times he went to Eli asking if he had called him, and after the third time Eli realized that the voice was God and told Samuel that the next time he hears the voice to say, "speak Lord, thy servant heareth." Afte that Samuel became familiar with the voice of God, and went on to do great and powerful things in the sight of God. Once we spend quality time in His presence and become familiar with Him, we will know what He sounds like.

[Queen]

Re: Hearing & Knowing His Voice....

Originally posted by CEW:
[qb] For those of you to whom this applies, much mention have been made of prayer and listening to God. Amidst the hustle and bustle, as well as the other "voices" - noises if you will - how do you know, and can tell, when it is His voice? [/qb]

***Running 'til I'm out of breath trying to get into the already discussed and over with conversation*** Whew! take a deep breath.

This is a very intersting thread, thanks for posting CEW. I'll be brief. When God talks to me, I just know it; it took me a while to recognize His voice because I was always second guessing that peaceful, still, crystal clear, sharp voice, telling myself, Oh it's just me talking to myself; I think too much, I need to let my mind rest etc. When He speaks it's as if something is birthed within my Spirit and I know who's voice it is. Someone mentioned a tranquility when God speaks and I can attest to that, no matter the commotion I may find myself in, that voice is always so piercing and clear, I can't help but to hear.

As I said earlier, I wasn't always able to recognize the voice of God. I can't pin point when I started hearing HIs voice but remember clearly one night, just before going to sleep I heard a voice telling me to check my door. I was tired and told myself, oh the door is locked, I know it is and I'm not getting up. I heard it again, and again ignored it. Well the next morning, I was rushing to go to work and couldn't find my keys. I turned everything upside down, rummaged through all my coat pockets and still no keys in sight. In a hurry still running around trying to find them, I heard that voice again "check the door."

I think my heart stopped for a milli-second at the thought of what may be at the door. I ran to the door opened it, and hanging there was my bundle of keys still stuck in the keyhole...mind you my car keys were there as well and I did not have an alarm in my apartment. I shuddered at the thought of what could have happened had someone walked by.

There were similiar occasions when I heard God talk to me, it took a while but I now know exactly when He's the one speaking. I ask Him to speak to me regarding everyday, what may seem menial issues, to major ones. I don't always get an answer, but when I do, I know HIs voice...It can't be compared to any other and it never contradicts His word.