HEARING GOD

            Ever wondered if God speaks at all? Like, is God just in heaven, enjoying with the angels worshipping Him; such that He is so far away for Him to hear you or even speak to you? Does God care enough to have time to listen to all you have to say? My dear you have to understand that the reason you can speak is because God speaks, and you can only listen because God listens; after all, you are made in God’s image. God does love talking and speaking (i.e. communicating) with us – men. So how does God speak and how can we ensure we hear Him speak.

            You see previously, God has spoken with the audible voice. Check out the Israelites, they heard God speak audibly from Mount Sinai. Ask Abraham, Moses, Elijah, Isaiah and the other Prophets, they did hear God’s voice. Friends consider this: ‘does God have a preferred way of speaking?’ Remember the discourse between Jesus and the woman at the well in Samaria, Jesus said God does not enjoy being worshipped in physical temples; so our Father does have a preference. One thing that links all the ways God spoke to man after the fall of Adam is this: they heard God from outside. The voice of God had to be audible to them because though they related with God, God was still external to them. God’s presence lived in buildings, arcs and stones in that period. So something physical needed to be involved for them to hear God.

            Jesus enlightens us on how to hear Dad very clearly. Three times in the ministry of Jesus, we see written that God spoke audibly. At His baptism, God’s audible voice came to John the Baptist: (John1:32-33; Matt.3:17; Note: John and Matthew’s Gospel explain and make us understand the accounts of Jesus’ baptism in Mark & Luke. The person that saw the spirit descending on Jesus was not the crowd gathered around but John). It follows then that the voice spoken was not to Jesus, but to John who needed to see and hear to believe in his heart and afterwards proclaim: John1:36. Again at the transfiguration, the voice of God came physically to Peter, James and John, not to Jesus, nor the prophet and the law-giver who were with Him. Finally when Jesus prayed in John 12:28-30, the audible voice from God, came not for Jesus but for the people who were gathered around. So, how did Jesus hear God during His prayer? We know Jesus heard God when He prayed; in fact Jesus was always in prayer and always hearing God. John 12:49 confirms that every word Jesus said was gotten in the place of communion with our Father! Again when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, He didn’t start praying, rather he continued in prayer; to understand see John 11:41b. Jesus had already conversed with God within Himself before He spoke those words and God had also responded; hence He said thanks to God for all the men around to hear (vs.42).

            So again, how did Jesus hear God? Jesus answers first by telling the woman at the well in Samaria: ‘God is a Spirit, and He prefers to be worshipped in spirit’. That is the place of communion – hearing and speaking – with God that God prefers most. Know this, that man is a spirit, and has a soul (the mind for thinking & emotional components for expression) and man lives in the body. So the real you is the spirit; you don’t have a spirit, my dear friend, you are a spirit. Hence God said, let us make man in our image; and God is a? ……. So the utmost place of God communing with His sons is within. The best way to hear God is to hear God speak to the spirit that you are; to use ehm ehm ‘unspiritual English’: it is to hear God speak to your spirit. This is the core of the sheep hearing and knowing the voice of the shepherd (John 10:27&4b). How do I know this is the most excellent way of God speaking to us now? Well, Romans 8:16 clarifies that the place where we receive the witness and confirmation that we are actually God’s sons is in our spirits, not in our minds or bodies; the mind and body takes time to catch onto this knowledge. Again, Philip’s experience with the Ethiopian man, the spirit spoke to Philip to minister to the man (Acts 8:29). How did God speak? By the spirit of course and therefore, how do you think that Philip heard? Through his …….. Also, Peter heard God speak via the agency of his spirit communing with God’s spirit (Acts 10:19). So dear friends you want to hear God’s voice frequently? Don’t just yearn to hear a physical audible voice with your ears, rather allow yourself to be trained to recognise when God talks to your spirit, for there ain’t anything physical about this. This is why Peter said faith is involved when we have not seen Jesus yet we believe in Him (1Peter 1:8); same way faith is involved when you have not seen God and you hear him speak to you in the spirit. After all, speaking with God and hearing God speak – prayer, is part of the components of worship; & God is to be worshipped in spirit and in truth.

            Joel speaks of the ways God speaks to us today (Joel2:28). God still speaks today in dreams and visions. So my dear, understand that God does speak in diverse ways, but when it comes to the place of 1 Thess. 5:17 where you are to pray as a believer without any interruption, and the place of Luke18:1 where you are to pray always, without stopping then you’ve gotta hear God as frequently as Jesus did as illustrated in john 12:49 (NIV). So God does speak, He is speaking and he will keep on speaking, you simply have to be aware that your spirit can actually hear God and already does hear God. When you become aware of this, your mind will start to get the words of God that your spirit hears. Dear friends, this is but a minute tip of the iceberg in the teaching of hearing God speak, so after reading this if you do have questions or objections, please feel free to bring it up.

Live In The Promises

I told y’all that last year was so challenging for me, and I promised to share about it with y’all from December 25^th. But I changed my mind. I think rehearsing stories of woe is a display of unbelief. I’m sorry if you were disappointed.

About two weeks or so ago, I posted something on my Facebook wall about me being a priceless jewel that only priceless people can possess. In response to that, a very wonderful and dear friend called me and said, “I like your post on Facebook, I just wish I could say the same thing for myself.” Of course, she was going through some things and needed someone to talk to. Later that day, we spoke at length, I counseled her, assured her of God’s love for her, and she felt much better. However, when we were hanging out two days later, she still continued to speak in unbelief. She wouldn’t stop, until I jokingly told her to move far from me so her unbelief doesn’t rub off on me. You know what? I forgive her, I forgive me, and God forgives us all, including you. That was 2014. This is 2015. In 2015, we’re all going to act, everyday, like the Word is true. We don’t have to cajole God into fulfilling His promises. We don’t have to coax Him, nag, and pull the hem of His garment like a little child does when he/she wants something from mommy. We don’t have to do acrobatics praying to God for Him to perform what He said He’ll do. I’ve always said it, there are some prayers believers should not pray – e.g. God, please bless me. It is not a believer’s prayer. It’s a promise (Ephesians 1:3, 2^nd Peter 1:3).

In Nigeria, at the close of service in most of our churches, we share the grace in unison, quoting two powerful Bible scriptures – 2^nd Corinthians 13:14 and Psalm 23:6. One day, while sharing grace, it dawned on me that we all recite these words from memory but many of us do not live it. Psalm 23:6 says, “Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Those were originally the words of King David, and those are definitely not words of a confused person. Believers should never be confused or be in doubt of the Word of God. It is yea and amen. It must surely (certainly, definitely, assuredly, undoubtedly) come to pass – 2^nd Corinthians 1:20. Imagine if everyone who shares grace with those words every time actually believe what they say; I bet being a pastor will be more attractive than it is right now. (Can I hear all the pastors here say “Amen” to that? Lol.)

One day, about eight years ago, I was in a place in my life where I needed to feel the arms of Jesus wrapping me from heaven. As I stood in front of the registrar’s office at the University of Ghana about to hand in my withdrawal letter with no other University admission in view, I heard the words, “I will never leave you, nor forsake you.” At that time, I knew there was a verse like that in the Bible (Hebrews 13:5), but I didn’t know where it was, and for many years, I didn’t even care to know, because I wanted to always believe that those words were for me alone. I took those words and sailed with them into another world. When I got to the United States a few months later to continue my education, compared to where I was coming from, it seemed as if I’d been thrown into a boot camp of learning with no prior warning. Everyone knows that all work and no play makes Jack an American, not a dull boy. Through it all, though, I held on to those very words I heard that day at the registrar’s office. God didn’t lie. He never left me. He never forsook me. (He still hasn’t). He gave me way more than I expected. From a student who couldn’t make the fairly cheap cut into medical school, I became one who graduated Summa Cum Laude (First Class). His promises are true. Never let go of them.

He also said in Jeremiah 29:11 that He thinks about us; and that His thoughts towards us are thoughts of peace and not of evil to give us an expected end. I usually remember and speak out these words when I’m in great confusion – confusion that makes me cry pitifully. Amidst tears, He’ll remind me of those words, and I’ll say them out. I love the New Living Translation version that says, “… to give us a future and a hope.” While meditating on this verse, I realized that in this version, “future” comes before “hope”. To me, this means that when I arrive that future or promise God has for me, it doesn’t end there; there is still hope ahead. I mean, we don’t hope for the present or for we have; we hope for what is ahead. So it means that wherever God is taking me to isn’t the end of His plans towards me. Until I enter into everlasting rest with Him (which is what our greatest hope is), I keep on moving ahead – a future, a hope. Hallelujah!

Life is full of challenges. And God never promises us a smooth ride. There are bumps, potholes, sharp bends, and dangerous alleys in this journey, and that’s why Jesus said He has overcome the world for us (John 16:33). It’s a journey that will end safely if we hang on to the words of Jesus. In 2015, there will be many challenges. There will be times you’ll want to give up. Like the disciples in Mark 4:36-41, you’ll want to ask God if He doesn’t care that you perish. But, hold on! Hang on to His promises. He doesn’t lie (Numbers 23:19). One of His promises at times like these is found in Isaiah 43:2-3a (NLT) – “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you (or, kindle upon you). For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” Brothers and sisters, can we just believe His words? They’re powerful, faithful and true, and if you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus is LORD, they are definitely for you.

In 2015, there is no need to be afraid of death either, because Psalm 91 is for you. When Ebola found its way into Nigeria last year, and precisely, into the very city in which I live, I held on to Psalm 91. I love the last verse – “With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.” (Psalm 91:16 KJV). I cannot die in 2015, and I don’t have to pray about it. It’s a promise. It’s done, and I have received it. Full stop.

This year when you face challenges, speak the word. God said His words will never go back to Him void (Isaiah 55:11); so it means whether or not we hold on to His promises, they will still fulfill purpose. They are for us anyway, so why waste it? They are true and powerful and they work (Hebrews 4:12). And that’s why the devil works sooo hard to keep us away from the Bible. He knows that if all Christians know their rights in Christ, then he is in big trouble. I want to put the devil in big trouble even before his time is up, and I’d like y’all to join me in doing that starting from this year. (You know you can’t do that without studying your Bible regularly, right? *wink*)

Don’t worry about anything. God loves you with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3). He is with you. He said He’ll calm your fears with His love and rejoice over you with joyful singing (Zephaniah 3:17). Wow, such love! When things are not going your way, trust God. His thoughts and ways are waaay higher than yours, and believe me, He wants your good more than you want your good, so why not chill and relax in His everlasting arms of love and strength. It’s easier said than done, I know – but just do it. Trust Him to help you. He won’t put you to shame.

In 2015, bask in His love, and live in His promises.

Happy New Year!