How to Hear the Voice of God in the Details of Life (part 8)

The Inward Witness

9.27.2020

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.

Jeremiah 10:23 (NKJV)

O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.

Psalms 32:8 (NKJV)

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;

I will guide you with My eye.

Romans 8:14 (NKJV)

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons 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.

Week 1 – August 2 – Judges 6 – Gideon

Week 2 – August 9 – There are two ways we receive direction from God: General Guidance and Specific Guidance.

Week 3 – August 16 – I am a spirit living in a human body.

Week 4 – August 23 – I am a spirit living in a human body.

There are three ways that the Father leads you in your spirit.

1. The voice of Conscience.

2. The Voice of the Holy Spirit

3.The Inward Witness

Week 5 – August 30 – 8 steps to having a clear conscience

Week 6 – September 6 – 8 steps to having a clear conscience

Week 7 – September 20 – The Voice of the Holy Spirit

Today: The Inward Witness

3. The Inward Witness

 

A knowing, a premonition, a witness, a hunch, a perception…

Look again at:

Romans 8:14

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

Romans 8:15 (NLT)

So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”

Romans 8:16

The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

This witness is not necessarily words you hear inside; it is more of an impression, and inner knowing. It is deeper than thought!

Acts 27:9-11

Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was already over, Paul advised them, (10) saying, “Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives.” (11) Nevertheless the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul.

Acts 27:21-24 (NKJV)

But after long abstinence from food, then Paul stood in the midst of them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss. (22) And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. (23) For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, (24) saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’

 

Paul had an inward perception.

You could call it a witness, a hunch, a knowing, a premonition, a gut feeling. It was an inward witness that something was not right.

Follow inward peace.

Colossians 3:15 (NKJV)

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

Rule

g1018. βραβεύω brabeuō; to arbitrate, to govern (figuratively, prevail): — to be an umpire, to decide, determine to direct, control, rule

A simple way to stay aware of the inward witness – pray in tongues!

1 Corinthians 14:13-15 (NLT)

So anyone who speaks in tongues should pray also for the ability to interpret what has been said. 14 For if I pray in tongues, my spirit is praying, but I don’t understand what I am saying. 15 Well then, what shall I do? I will pray in the spirit, and I will also pray in words I understand. I will sing in the spirit, and I will also sing in words I understand.

1 Corinthians 14:2 (AMPL)

For one who speaks in an [unknown] tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the [Holy] Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things [not obvious to the understanding].

1 Corinthians 2:11

For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.

1 Corinthians 2:11 (God’s Word)

After all, who knows everything about a person except that person’s own spirit? In the same way, no one has known everything about God except God’s Spirit.

Romans 8:26-28 (NLT)

And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. 28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

When making decisions, pray in tongues with your mind thinking about the varying choices before you.Then notice how you “feel” in your spirit while thinking about a particular decision.

You may need to do this a few days, weeks, months, until you become clear about it in your spirit

Is there a hesitancy, or a good sense, or nothing?

“I go as much by what the Lord doesn’t say as what he does say.” – Kenneth Hagin

If you don’t get a clear direction, then stay put until you do.

“He that believes will not make haste.”

Examples

1984 – You will have his job

1989 – Buying a house

1994 – You take that church…

1993 – already existing church

1993 – check your oil

For me now, God will often give me a word that describes what the issue is.

January 2016 – Trendsetter

March 2020 – Nefarious – wicked in the extreme; wicked, abominable;

May 2020 – Subversion – an overthrow of the foundation; utter ruin. As the subversion of a government or state; the subversion of the constitution or laws;

Now, I live by the inward witness. I pastor by the inward witness. I deal with people by the inward witness.

Action Points:

1. Are you able to recognize the inward witness as you deal with daily decisions?

2. Do you take time to get quiet and listen to your deepest inward thoughts and perceptions as you make decisions?

3. Are you baptized with the Holy Spirit, and do you pray in the spirit and then allow for the inward witness on a daily basis?