getting started.

For the last several years when I preach about following God, most people ask me the same question, How do I know? How do I know: God's will, God's voice, God's plan, that I'm right, that I am hearing right, that it's not me, or not the devil or the world. These questions come up on a regular basis.

I think you are going to be surprised by the answers I am going to give to these questions. Most people are looking for a formula, a discernment process a way of being sure that they are on the right path. What most people don't realize is that what really concerns them, some of these questions have to do with fear, some have to do with wanting to be right with God, some are because the person asking the question does not trust themselves. There a thousand people asking the question so there are a thousand different reasons but no matter what the reason most people who ask these questions really don't want to be out of God's will.

When answering these questions, most people answer with some sort of formula, they answer with their experience or they quote scripture. I don't want to do that. Formulas, experiences and scripture shed light on a path that is dark. Which is a good thing and sometimes the best answers we can give. What I would like to do is to describe the path so that you can recognize it when you are on it. So that you have tools to describe what you are looking at and what you are walking in or on so that you can discern for yourselves. I want you to be able to recognize that just asking these questions puts you on the right path.

Have you ever been asked by someone in love "How do you Know?". How do you know your in love. You and I know the only real answer is "you just know". You can describe how you felt, you can describe how incredible it was, you can't put in terms that anyone would understand until they have experienced. When they experience it the mental/emotional lights go on and they say "that's what they were talking about". The ah hah moment of realization happens and then the communication about love can happen. When we talk about God and hearing his voice, direction and guidance we can only point to the path and wait for it to happen.

When we talk about knowing we usually put it in the context of right and wrong. We really at some level don't want to be wrong. All kinds of things come into play when it comes to being right or wrong. The issue of right or wrong, good or evil was offered to us by the devil himself in the Garden of Eden. He called Eve's hearing into question, then what God said into question, he called God himself into question and then flat out called God a liar. He said, "You shall be like God knowing Good and Evil". In the Garden Adam didn't know right or wrong, good or evil. Adam and Eve only knew what God said and they obeyed or disobeyed. Jesus Himself said "if you love me keep my commandments". The real issue in knowing God's will is a listening skill, it is not about getting it right or wrong. The real issue is who you are in relationship with. Who are you listening to?

My wife is an awesome person. I have gotten to know her. When someone comes up to me and tells me my wife said something I can pretty much tell if they are telling the truth or not. Over the years I have gotten to know my wife. I have learned her way of speaking, the way she puts words together, they way she cares, what she likes and does not like. If you came up to me and said your wife says your ugly. I wouldn't believe you. You could try everything to convince me but I would not believe you. Now I don't think I'm especially handsome or ugly just kind of normal looking. If she said I was ugly I wouldn't be particularly offended but I wouldn't believe her either. You see every once in a while I see the look in her face. I might get that look right in my face, I might catch a glance or see it in a mirror. I know what that look means, she thinks I am handsome. What I am trying to tell you is this the voice of God, His direction, discernment is all based on a relationship that has been developed over time. A relationship not built on being right or wrong but based on two people getting to know each other. It is my firm belief that God the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are all persons. They are persons that we have to get to know. Then we will be able to discern the voice, direction, and plan of God.

There are some things that need to happen for any relationship to take place. You have to start with an introduction. Christian's introduction to Jesus always takes the form of the Cross. Jesus died for your sins so that you could be forgiven. The one who is forgiven much loves much. The beginning of the voice of God in everyones life is the unmeasurable love that flows from His merciful heart. When you realize that your sins are forgiven and that you are indeed a child of God you can see how great His desire to be in relationship with you is. This is the same love that desires to lead you, guide you, protect you and care for you. So many people have problems knowing God's will, plan and voice because they have not yet allowed God to love them or do not trust that they can be loved. The introduction to Jesus is so important because until you meet Him you cannot believe that you are so loved.

A young newly engaged woman came to me for prayer. She was worried about her wedding night because ten years earlier she had been raped. She loved the man she was marrying but was afraid to give herself to him. Every day since the rape she relived it, every moment every experience. I took her to the Lord in Prayer and told her to trust that Jesus was the great communicator and to tell me every thought she thought after we asked Him the question. I told her to ask the Lord where He was when she was raped and why He had not protected her. The first thought she thought was "If you were a better person I would have protected you". She started to cry and to relive the event again. I very firmly told her that what she heard was not God speaking to her. She asked me how I knew.

Well first of all you are a rape victim you didn't ask to be raped. So the statement is filled with lies, shame and blame. None of which God will participate in. If it was your fault you would realize the truth and move on to make changes. You are cowering in shame. You know a thing by it's fruit. The fruit of those words was shame and reliving a horror. God is a protector and a comforter not a destroyer.

Let's speak to that voice and reject it and let's ask again. Where were you. She closed her eyes and she saw a picture of God tapping on her mom's shoulder telling her to take a walk. She got another picture in her mind of her sister worrying and taking a drive and not knowing why. She opened her eyes up and said God tried to protect me. I told her to call her mom and ask her if she ever got a weird feeling and went for a walk late at night. Both her mother and her sister passed by the sight where she was raped but didn't see anything. After she got off the phone she realized God tried but couldn't get anyone to see or hear clear enough to help.

As she realized this another thought came to her mind. She realized that the rapist stole her self worth. He made her feel dirty and used. I told her to ask God what He thought of her. The Holy Spirit whispered to her and she saw Jesus looking at her with a very proud look. He said, I am proud of you. You are a loving and kind person worthy of being loved. He had a package in His hand. Jesus gave her back her self worth. She never relived the moment again. In fact she has difficulty remembering.

We need God's voice in our life. We need to be able to discern.

Everyday, I can, I am going to write a tidbit, a tool, a story about God's voice and the relationship that allows Him, Almighty God to lead us.

Send this link to everyone you know.
Mark

THURSDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY

Thursdays are bible study night. We do an intense look at growing spiritually: How to deepen your relationship with the Lord and growth in understanding of what God is saying to us. If you live anywhere near Orange County California come and join us at 7:30 p.m. e-mail me for the address markferrel@roadrunner.com.