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- Apr 25, 2006
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ARE YOU LISTENING?
'If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.' 1 John 5:14
A preacher once said, 'God speaks through the Bible!' This led to much discussion among the church: 'But God speaks through dreams and visions as well,' said one. 'And He speaks through people too - what about words of knowledge, prophecy and tongues?' pipes up another. 'Hey, didn't he once speak through a donkey?" chips in a third (talking about the story of Balaam in Numbers 22). 'Yes,' agreed the preacher, 'God speaks in all kinds of ways, but there's only one way we can guarantee what we hear from other sources is truly from God - and that's by checking it out in God's Word.
God will not say anything different than what He's already told us in the Bible.' The preacher was right! God speaks truth at all times, and in many different ways, but it will always check out with the principles in Scripture.
So if you're struggling to know how best to live your Christian life, don't only copy others or just take advice from sermons; dive into the Bible and hear what God says direct from Heaven (but, here's a challenge, taking verses out of context is an express route to mishearing God! Check out the whole passage before you focus on one verse.) God communicates to us in many ways and we can know for sure it's His voice we're listening to if it's there in His Word. God knows what's best for us - it's so important that we listen to Him.
What now? Get together with a few Christian friends, read 1 John 5 and chat through any times you've thought God was speaking to you. Listen well.
written by Bob Gass
'If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.' 1 John 5:14
A preacher once said, 'God speaks through the Bible!' This led to much discussion among the church: 'But God speaks through dreams and visions as well,' said one. 'And He speaks through people too - what about words of knowledge, prophecy and tongues?' pipes up another. 'Hey, didn't he once speak through a donkey?" chips in a third (talking about the story of Balaam in Numbers 22). 'Yes,' agreed the preacher, 'God speaks in all kinds of ways, but there's only one way we can guarantee what we hear from other sources is truly from God - and that's by checking it out in God's Word.
God will not say anything different than what He's already told us in the Bible.' The preacher was right! God speaks truth at all times, and in many different ways, but it will always check out with the principles in Scripture.
So if you're struggling to know how best to live your Christian life, don't only copy others or just take advice from sermons; dive into the Bible and hear what God says direct from Heaven (but, here's a challenge, taking verses out of context is an express route to mishearing God! Check out the whole passage before you focus on one verse.) God communicates to us in many ways and we can know for sure it's His voice we're listening to if it's there in His Word. God knows what's best for us - it's so important that we listen to Him.
What now? Get together with a few Christian friends, read 1 John 5 and chat through any times you've thought God was speaking to you. Listen well.
written by Bob Gass
