Life Lessons From The Road
Knowing the Will of God (And doing it) Part 6 “Hearing the Voice of God'

During the past few weeks I have been sharing about my personal relationship with God and how He speaks to me. Now we move back more to the Word of God. I know you will be blessed.

I know doing these columns on the Will of God 'is' the will of God for me. I trust should this be your first time to read this column that you will go back and check out the past 5 columns on the same subject.

There are many ways the Bible speaks of people knowing and doing the will of God. I do not want to create any kind of formula or plan. God's ways are not our ways. I will list a few of the ways God reveals His will and then expound on these.

I want to share with you one of my favorite scriptures in God's Word.

“For it is God which works in you both to will and to do His good pleasure.' (Philippians 2:13 in the Holy Bible)

Understand that God is at work in you and me giving us both the “Will' to do His Will and the “Power' to Do His Will! How thrilling. This is not my effort, not the will of the flesh, but God working in me giving me even the desire to do His will. I often have people say to me, 'Oh what faith you have to do what you do'. I say 'No' it is not my faith but the faith God gives me. Both the desire and the power are from God to do His Will. This means no one can glory their works, all glory is to God.

Note too that it is His Pleasure that we seek. Which brings me to another scripture.

Jesus said:

Most assuredly, I say to you, the person who believes in Me ,

The works that I do they will do also ;

And greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.

And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do,

that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

(John 14:12-13 in the Holy Bible)

The will of God will always look like Jesus! “The works that I do they will do also.' This is one sure test of the will of God in your life.

That the Father may be glorified in the Son is a very powerful statement. The will of God will glorify Jesus in your life. As you glorify Jesus the Father will be glorified too.

So let's look at this for a moment.

God gives us both the will and the power to do His good pleasure. That is to do the works and follow in the life of Jesus and as we do this seeking that the Father be glorified in Jesus then we can ask anything in His Name and He will do it. Why? Because His will is my will so I ask for only what He has put on my heart! Wow, isn't that wonderful.

Never any conflict or confusion when we do things His way.

I want you to stay with me through this thrilling study. I must say that this column is more of a Bible Study than my thoughts. I think you will begin feeling the great Presence and Glory of God as you follow this now.

“The Word of the Lord' “The Lord Said' “God Said' “The Lord God Said'

“The Word of God' “The Lord of Hosts' says. “The Voice of the Lord'

Hundreds of times in the Old Testament the above terms are used. It is clear God want to let us know Him and His will. The following are just some samples of the hundreds.

“I heard the voice of the Lord , saying:

"Whom shall I send,

And who will go for Us?"

Then I said,

"Here am I! Send me."

(Isaiah 6:8 in the Holy Bible)

This term or something similar is used very often in the Old Testament of the Bible as God speaks to someone or to the people.

“But it happened that night that the word of God came to Nathan, saying,'

(1 Chronicles 17:3 in the Holy Bible)

In the New Testament its common use is about preaching or people hearing the Word of God as it is preached.

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.'

Hebrews 4:12-13

Then the LORD said to Noah, "Come into the ark'.

(Genesis 7:1 in the Holy Bible)

Thus says the LORD of Hosts :

(Malachi 1:4 in the Holy Bible)

“Signs'

God Himself made a sign in making the Rainbow.

And God said: " This is the sign of the covenant which I make between Me and you, and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. "

(Genesis 9:12-14 in the Holy Bible)

False Signs :

"If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, 'Let us go after other gods' -- which you have not known -- 'and let us serve them,' you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the LORD your God is testing you to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

(Deuteronomy 13:1-4 in the Holy Bible)

True Signs :

Tomorrow this sign shall be. And the LORD did so. Thick swarms of flies came into the house of Pharaoh, into his servants' houses, and into all the land of Egypt.

(Exodus 8:23-24 in the Holy Bible)

No Sign :

He (Jesus) answered and said to them, " An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. "

“Matthew 12:39 in the Holy Bible'

“Dreams and Visions'

Very often in all the Bible God has spoken through Dreams. This was a powerful way of revelation in the Bible.

Over and over through out the entire Bible men and women have been spoken to through visions. Sometimes it is not possible to tell the difference between dreams and vision. From my standpoint I think dreams are when one is sleeping. A person could be awake and have a vision.

"But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

'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 2:16-18 in the Holy Bible)

“Jesus speaking'

Beginning in the Gospels we have Jesus speaking as He walked and talked. Yet even after He ascended up into heaven He still spoke many times in New Testament from Acts through Revelation. This is very common for me. I know I hear Jesus speaking to me. You will read of this in my previous columns.

“Holy Spirit speaking'

We are to be in constant fellowship with God through His indwelling Holy Spirit. This is a moment by moment walking in the Spirit and open to every impulse and prompting of the Holy Spirit. Also illustrated in the previous columns. More scripture will be given on this in the next column and later in this one.

“Word of prophecy for you through another person'

Many times in the Bible one of God prophets spoke forth a message for another person. I illustrated in earlier columns and will give more scripture in the next column.

“Inter Peace or Peace'

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