Do you ever feel like God has gone silent, or do you struggle to distinguish His leading from your own thoughts? The truth is that the Good Shepherd is always speaking; we simply need to learn how to tune out the static of the world and tune into His frequency.
The Context
In this continuation of our series on hearing God, we address the feeling of spiritual dryness and the misconception that God leaves us when we cannot feel Him. By examining the intimate relationship described in the Psalms and the testing of Jesus in the wilderness, we uncover how to remain confident in God’s presence even when the "lights go out" in our circumstances.
The Core Message
God is intimately acquainted with all our ways, and His thoughts toward us are more numerous than the sand. However, hearing Him requires intentionality. Just as a radio must be dialed to a specific frequency to get a clear signal, we must quiet the distractions of life to hear His still, small voice. We must also understand that God meets us where we are; whether through a subtle inner whisper or a persistent prompting—like a strange urge to visit a specific place at a specific time—God guides our steps even before we fully recognize His voice.
Crucially, spiritual maturity involves testing what we hear against the unshakeable foundation of Scripture. The enemy often disguises himself as an angel of light, sometimes even twisting Scripture to mislead us. Therefore, we cannot rely solely on feelings or the words of human teachers. We must become like the Bereans, eagerly receiving the message but examining the Scriptures daily to verify that what we are hearing aligns with God's written Truth.
The Application
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Prioritize the Word: Fills your heart with the "imperishable seed" of Scripture so the Holy Spirit has material to bring to your remembrance.
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Practice the Berean Spirit: Do not blindly accept every teaching; take personal responsibility to search the Scriptures and verify truth for yourself.
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Take Thoughts Captive: Interrogate every inner thought. If it contradicts the nature of God or the Bible, cast it down immediately.
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Trust His Persistence: Be encouraged that even if you are new to hearing God, He is faithful to lead you and will be persistent until you catch His direction.
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Acknowledge His Presence: Remind yourself daily that God is with you, carrying on a constant conversation, rather than treating Him like a visitor you only speak to during scheduled prayer times.
Conclusion
Join us as we learn to quiet the noise of the world, sharpen our discernment, and build our lives on the firm foundation of God’s Word.
Here are some of the concepts we'll be touching on in today's message:
Hearing God, Discernment, Holy Spirit, Scripture, The Bereans, Spiritual Maturity, Truth, Psalm 139, Spiritual Warfare, Intimacy With God, Faith, Obedience, Biblical Foundation, The Good Shepherd.
Scripture References:
Ezekiel 36:26-27; John 10:27; Psalm 139:1-18; Hebrews 13:5-6; 1 Peter 1:22–2:3; Isaiah 55:6-12; 1 Corinthians 13:11-13; Proverbs 16:9; Luke 4:9-13; Acts 17:10-11; John 14:25-27
