How to Hear the Voice of God in the Details of Life (part 2)

The Logos and the Rhema

8.9.2020

 

Review

It is more important than ever today to know the voice of God.

There are challenges now and in our future that we have never navigated in this way. The world is changing.

Romans 8:14-16 (NKJV)

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God

Proverbs 20:27 (NKJV)

The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all the inner depths of his heart.

One great desire that I have had since I’ve known Jesus is to know how to correctly hear the voice of God.

Judges 6 – Gideon was called by God to lead Israel into battle, and Gideon “put out a fleece,” that is, he looked to circumstances to confirm what God was saying to him.

The only time I have ever done that I missed God’s plan completely! I was 22-23 years old. It was a great life lesson.

God’s leading is often unreasonable, because it doesn’t make sense to the natural mind.

God will lead you to do something now that will set you up for something in your future that is coming that you don’t know about.

I mentioned buying a house in a city over 30 miles away from where I was pastoring. I would not be here today had I not obeyed that.

We’ll start where I left off last week:

1. There are two ways we receive direction from God – General Guidance and Specific Guidance.

General guidance:

From God through His Word.

Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV)

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.

The Word of God here is Logos – the sum total of all of the expressions of God.

Colossians 3:16-17 (NKJV)

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

James 1:22-25 (NLT)

But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

General guidance would be …

Treating others the way you want to be treated. The golden rule.

Being kind to others.

Forgiving.

Tithing, giving.

Being unselfish.

Putting God first.

Disciplining your children.

Loving your spouse.

Seeking to live a sexually pure life…

Specific Guidance:

When the Holy Spirit quickens a thought to your spirit, and gives you specific direction about a situation or issue in life.

Ephesians 6:17 (NKJV)

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

The sword of the Spirit or word of God here in Ephesians 6:17 is Rhema – the Word of God quickened to you personally by the Holy Spirit. It is made real to your situation by the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 37:23 (NKJV)

The steps of a good man are ordered of the Lord, and He delights in his way.

 

Psalm 32:8-9 (NKJV)

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with my eye. (9) Do not be like the horse or mule, which have no understanding, which must be

harnessed with bit and bridle, else they will not come near you.

Proverbs 16:9 (TPT)

Within your heart you can make plans for your future, but the Lord chooses the steps you take to get there.

John 16:13-15 (NKJV)

However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.

Example : My call to ministry. February 8, 1977. 2:00 pm

Vanity of vanities, all is vanity, says the preacher!

I enrolled in Bible School…

When I was 21, I had been married 6 months – I heard deep within – go to Rhema…2nd Bible school

Associate pastor of a church I attended said I should stay there and be trained…

2. You cannot hear the voice of God if you neglect the Word of God!

If you’re not walking in the general guidance of the Word, in the areas that you KNOW about, then you’ll not be in position to receive more specific guidance from the Lord.

Proverbs 4:20-22 (NLT)

My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. 21 Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, 22 for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body. 23 Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

James 1:22-25 (NLT)

But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

E.W. Kenyon

Our attitude towards the Word determines the place that God holds in our daily life!

If I know that God tells me to love my enemy and I refuse to do it, then I am not walking in general guidance.

I know that I am not to gossip and I do it anyway, then I am not walking in general guidance.

If I choose to defy feelings and do something kind for a person who injures me, then I am walking in general guidance, the logos of God.

If I will walk in the Logos, the general guidance, God will give me specific guidance when I need it. He will give me a Rhema.

Example – I was an associate pastor…and God allowed me to pastor the church for one year while the pastor went on a one year missions endeavor to start a church in Latvia.

During that time, God quickened this verse to me:

Luke 16:10-12 (NKJV)

He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. 11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own?

Since I obeyed that, then towards the close of that year, God gave me 3 words. They were for me a Rhema – the Word spoken to my heart – already existing church.

It took 11 months for those words to come to pass.

And, here I am, almost 26 years later.

You could never convince me that I was not in the will of God!

So, for instance, I know to tithe and give, but I don’t do it, and I run into a financial hard place, and then ask God to meet my needs, is He going to give me specific guidance? Not until I repent and obey the logos! You don’t have the Holy Spirit speak specifically very much at all until you get committed!

Action Points:

1. Are you obeying the general Word of God as you go about your daily life?

2. By obeying the Word that you know, are you a candidate to receive the specific Rhema Word of God spoken by Him to you about your personal situation?

3. Are you willing to to begin today to allow the Logos, the general Word to be your guide?