Have you ever wondered if a thought was just your imagination or if God was actually trying to tell you something? Learning to distinguish the voice of the Shepherd from the noise of the world is essential for walking in the abundant life He has planned for you.
The Context
Following our recent discussion on obedience being the master key to living an Elite Life, we now turn to a fundamental prerequisite: hearing God. It is impossible to obey God if we do not know what He is saying. Using examples ranging from the young prophet Samuel to the dreams of Joseph, this message explores the transition from Old Testament external encounters to the New Testament reality of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us.
The Core Message
God is not silent; He speaks in one way and then another, though we often perceive it not. While God can speak through vivid dreams or even audibly as He did with Moses, for the modern believer, His guidance most often comes through the "still small voice" and the promptings of the Holy Spirit. This internal knowing usually aligns with peace, even when it asks us to do something that feels awkward or counter-intuitive to our natural reasoning.
Living an Elite Life means actively choosing to submit to God's sovereignty. The adversary comes to question what God has said, just as he did in the Garden of Eden, but Jesus came that we might have life abundantly. By anchoring ourselves in the written Word of God—the primary way He speaks—we train our spirits to recognize His whisper in our daily lives, whether it is a directive to bless a stranger or a prompt to reconnect with an old friend.
The Application
Here are practical ways to tune into God’s voice this week:
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Prioritize the Word: Make reading the Bible your primary method for hearing God, as it is the standard of truth by which all other promptings are measured.
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Capture Your Dreams: If you wake up with a vivid dream, write it down or record it immediately, then ask the Lord for interpretation or confirmation.
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Listen for the Whisper: Pay attention to thoughts that sound slightly different than your own—often gentle promptings to do good—and act on them.
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Follow the Peace: When you feel an internal nudge to act, check your spirit; if you have deep peace despite feeling nervous, it is likely the Lord leading you.
Conclusion
Join us as we learn to quiet the noise and confidently follow the Shepherd's voice into the good plans He has prepared for you.
Here are some of the concepts we'll be touching on in today's message:
Hearing God, Voice Of God, Elite Life, Obedience, Holy Spirit, Dreams, Discernment, Prophecy, Scripture, Guidance, Faith, Samuel, Elijah, Shepherd, Christian Living, Direction
Scripture References:
2 Corinthians 10:3-6; Genesis 3:1; John 10:10-11; Jeremiah 29:11; Job 33:12-18; Matthew 1:18-21; Matthew 2:11-15; Exodus 3:1-6; 1 Samuel 3:1-12; 1 Kings 19:9-18; Ezekiel 36:26-27
