Volume 2 Number 12 March 23, 2003 Knowing the Will of God (And doing it) Part 7 "Hearing the Voice of God"

Knowing the Will of God
(And doing it) Part 7
“Hearing the Voice of God'

Greetings, I am thrilled to continue this column on the subject of 'Knowing the will of God'. I have prayed and felt that I should complete this completely. This column will be mostly scripture. Last week focused on Jesus teaching this subject. This week will be a study in the Book of Acts. This is so exciting. I know we often want to take one verse and do a long teaching or commentary. However in this case I will let the scripture speak for its self. Should you want the context then please read the scripture in the Bible.

This is the true record of how God spoke the first century followers of Jesus. Study it carefully.
God bless you. Now relax and let the Lord speak to you as you read these powerful scriptures from the Holy Bible.

'Holy Spirit' speaking in the book of Acts
Acts 2:1-4
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 4:8
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said unto them'¦

Acts 4:31
And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

Acts 7:55-56
But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

Acts 11:12
Then the Spirit told me to go with them, doubting nothing.

Acts 11:27-30
And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch.
Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar.
Then the disciples, each according to their ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea.
This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

Acts 8:29
Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go near and overtake this chariot."

Acts 8:39
Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing.

Acts 13:2-4
As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."
Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.
So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed '¦

Acts 16:6
Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia.

Acts 17:16
Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols.

Acts 19:6
And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.

Acts 20:22-24
And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, "except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me.
" But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

Acts 21:4
And finding disciples, we stayed there seven days. They told Paul through the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem.

Acts 21:11
When he had come to us, he took Paul's belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, "Thus says the Holy Spirit, 'So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.'"

Acts 21:14-15
When he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, "The will of the Lord be done."
And after those days we packed and went up to Jerusalem.

Signs and Wonders in Acts

Acts 2:43
And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

Visions in Acts

Acts 2:17-18
'And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams.
And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy.

Acts 10:3-4
He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.
And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thy alms are come up for a memorial before God.

Acts 10:9-10
On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:
And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,

Acts 10:19
While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.

Acts 11:4-5
But Peter explained it to them in order from the beginning, saying:
" I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision'¦

Acts 16:9-10
And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."
Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Acts 18:9-10
Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, "Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent;
" for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city."

Angels in Acts

Acts 5:19-20
But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said,
" Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life."

Acts 8:26
Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, "Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." This is desert.

Acts 10:30-31
So Cornelius said, "Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
" and said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight

Acts 12:5-11
Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.. And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison.
Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, "Arise quickly!" And his chains fell off his hands.
Then the angel said to him, "Gird yourself and tie on your sandals"; and so he did. And he said to him, "Put on your garment and follow me."
So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.
When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.
And when Peter had come to himself, he said, "Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people."

Acts 22:6-16
" Now it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me.
" And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?'
" So I answered, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said to me, 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.'
" And those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they did not hear the voice of Him who spoke to me.
" So I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said to me, 'Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do.'
" And since I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus.
" Then one, Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there,
" came to me; and he stood and said to me, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight.' And at that same hour I looked up at him.
" Then he said, 'The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth.
'For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.
'And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.'

Acts 22:17-18
" Now it happened, when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance
" and saw Him saying to me, 'Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me.'

Acts 23:11
But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome."

Acts 26:12-20
" While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,
" at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me.
" And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.'
" So I said, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said, 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
'But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you.
'I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you,
'to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.'
" Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,
" but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.

Acts 27:23-25
" For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve,
" saying, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.'
" Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me.

Acts 9:1-19
Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
And as he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven.
Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?"
And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" And the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads."
So he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" And the Lord said to him, "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."
And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one.
Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.
And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord."
So the Lord said to him, "Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying.
" And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight."
Then Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.
" And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name."
But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.
" For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake."
And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.
So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.

A pilgrim follower of Jesus,

Arthur Blessitt Editor
Luke 18:1

Denise Blessitt Associate Editor