“My sheep hear my voice and I know them, and they follow (obey) me. John 10:27


Nothing pleases me more than having fellowship with a child of God that is excited over his or her relationship with Christ. Of course the excitement I experienced in my soul when I was saved is still the greatest of all excitements.

The second most exciting thing was the day that I learned the art of listening to God.

Quoting Charles Stanley, “I believe one of the most valuable lessons we can ever learn is how to listen to God. In the midst of our complex and hectic lives, nothing is more urgent, nothing more necessary, nothing more rewarding, than hearing what God has to say. His voice waits to be heard; and having heard it, we are launched into the greatest most exciting adventure we could ever imagine.

Prayer is so vital! Without prayer it is impossible to live joyfully in Christ. God wants to communicate with us constantly. He wants to direct our daily activities. If we consider prayer to be merely talking with God, then we do not fully comprehend the meaning of prayer. Prayer is not only talking with God but listening to Him. Prayer is a two way conversation.

One of the more unpleasant times of life is trying to communicate with someone who does all the talking without allowing you to respond.

One of the truly great days of my early Christian life was the day I realized that God spoke to me personally. My early prayer life was that of merely petitioning to God. Then one day I began to listen. My heart was thrilled when I spoke to God. He not only listened but He spoke back! Prayer became a conversation between God and me. My relationship with Him became a fellowship. There is no joy greater than the experience of hearing the voice of God.

The day in which we live is so bound in rationalism that we almost mock when we hear of one actually claiming to be able to hear the voice of God. But, we must not scoff for several reasons. First, men and women throughout the Bible heard God’s voice; and secondly there are some highly effective men and women, both young and old, who tell of hearing the voice of God.

Of late, I have given time to read the Scriptures that relate to those Bible characters who heard the voice of God. Adam (Genesis 3), Moses (Exodus 19), Samuel (I Samuel 3), Elijah (I Kings 19), Isaiah (Isaiah 6), Ezekiel (Ezekiel 1), Peter, James and John (Matthew 17), Paul (Acts 9) and John (Revelation 1).

Even as God spoke to a young Samuel, He continues to speak to His children today. I have never personally heard the audible voice of God. Yet, He sometimes speaks with such strong impressions that His words are clear and often seem oral. When God speaks in this way, we are prone to reply orally, as did Samuel, “Speak Lord, for thy servant heareth.”

Acts Chapter Ten

Here I ask you to give thought to the way God spoke to both Cornelius (who was at that time a lost man) and Peter (who at that time believed that God’s favor was limited to the nation of Israel).

Verses 3,8

At about 3:00 P.M. one day Cornelius had a vision.

Three Questions:

  1. In what way did God speak to Cornelius and Peter?

Cornelius in a vision saw and heard an angel call his name.

Peter was caught up in a trance and heard the voice of God.

In chapter 9, God spoke to Paul in a voice that must have been oral, because those who were with him “heard the voice, but saw no man.”

God spoke to Ananias (in a vision) so clearly that he replied, “Behold, I am here Lord.”

  1. Why did God speak to Cornelius?... about salvation

  1. Why did God speak to Peter? …for correcting a prejudice attitude toward Gentiles.

God does not engage in idle chit-chat.

When God speaks it is for the purpose of directing and leading. … “This is the path, walk ye in it.”

When God speaks it is often in answer to prayer. Praying reaches that point of excitement when God speaks in answer to our petitions.

 

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