Recognizing God’s Voice

(1 John 4:1) Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God...

(Proverbs 14:12) There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.

1.Does it line up with

 the Bible?

God's voice will never contradict the Bible.  Not everything that you hear is from God. 

(Matthew 19:3-6) Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?” 

“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

(Luke 21:33 TLB) And though all heaven and earth shall pass away, yet my words remain forever true.

2.Will it make me more like Christ?

In our lives, we must think and act like Christ.  We must take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ. 

(Philippians 2:5 NCV) In your lives you must think and act like Christ Jesus.

(2 Corinthians 10:5) We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

(James 3:17-18) But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

3.Does Godly counsel agree?

(Proverbs 12:15) The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.

(Proverbs 19:20-21) Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise. Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.

(Proverbs 24:6) Surely you need guidance to wage war, and victory is won through many advisers.

4. 

Do I have peace

?

(1 Corinthians 14:33 NKJV) For God is not the author of confusion but of peace...

(Philippians 4:6-7) Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Frequency

Tune into God every day.

(John 10:4 MSG) When he gets them all out, he leads them and they follow because they are familiar with his voice.

Tune out things that oppose God.

(John 10:5 MSG) They won’t follow a stranger's voice but will scatter because they aren't used to the sound of it."

Take steps toward what God has spoken.

(John 10:27) My sheep listen to my (Jesus's) voice; I know them, and they follow me.

God won't give you a new word if you won't do what he asked you previously. 

Chris Hodges, Church of the Highlands

Video

https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/media/message/recognizing-gods-voice

Discussion Guide

https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/files/groups/guides/8-27-17_revised.pdf

All scripture is from the New International Version unless otherwise noted.