HEARING FROM GOD (Part 4)

(From a radio discussion of Bro. Julius and Bro. Ron).

Bro. Julius: We have discussed ways by which the Lord speaks to us. We have mentioned

revelation of the word , the still small voice, dreams and visions. We also said we must

distinguish the voice the Lord will use to speak to us from other voices in the spirit, and

from our own spirit. Our spirit can generate thoughts in us. Demons can also speak to confuse

believers whether in dreams or in visions or by voices. We have to be able to distinguish

between these other voices and when the Lord speaks. We must familiarize ourselves with

the voice and symbols the Lord will use in talking to us. Apostle Paul wrote in Hebrews that "Strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have

their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." (Heb.5:14). You see? As we use our senses we will be able to distinguish between good and evil.

We said also that every word or voice which is received must be weighed upon the scale of the word of God. We should always balance the scriptures with the experience, or the dream or the vision or a voice that spoke. Suppose the Lord says something that looks contrary to the scriptures? After you hear an instruction and you balance it with the scriptures, suppose it seems to be incorrect? Remember the Lord spoke to Abraham to go and sacrifice his son Isaac. By

many scriptures, we know God does not take human sacrifice. Then, whose voice spoke to Abraham? But Abraham went and did what was said because he was familiar with the voice of the Lord which regularly spake to him. Abraham recognized the voice of the Lord.

In like manner, suppose the Lord give such instruction to us which looks like contrary to the plan of God? When we say we should balance it upon the bible, upon which part of the bible? Upon the revealed plan of God for his saints! Upon the revealed purpose of God for mankind. As the scriptures says "Christ has come that we may have life, and that we may have it more abundantly."

Now suppose a voice said to me "go and jump into the lake". We said No, I should not do it. Is it because the voice said "go and jump into the lake", or is it because the person who spoke is not my Lord? Then I have to decide why I will not do what the voice said. Abraham decided to do what was instructed him because it was his God who gave the instruction. No matter what the instruction said! Therefore, we must also get to that stage in our Christian walk when we can be certain that the instruction we receive is from our Lord, no matter what the instruction. We must be familiar with the voice of the Lord.

But How do we get familiar with his voice?

Bro. Ron: Through his word. By getting the word of God in you; through your prayers.

Bro. Julius: Good. However, what made Abraham different from the other people around him, was the presence of the Holy Spirit. We believe that everyone that walked with God, God gave them the Holy Spirit. Or at least the Holy Spirit presence was surrounding those who walked with God. Either they were in-dwelt by the Holy Ghost, or the Holy Ghost's presence was round about them. Now Christ promised every believer the in-filling of the Holy Spirit. "These signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues." (Mk.16:17). That shows the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit for them that believe to speak with new tongues. Christ also said the Spirit of truth will come and live in us: " Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." (Jn.14:17).

Therefore, we all need the baptism of the Holy Spirit. If the listener has not received the Holy Spirit, pray and ask the Lord. You need to be filled with the Holy Ghost. Else how will you know that the instruction you receive is from the Lord? Though it looks contrary to the scriptures which you have understood, like Abraham would have said, but if the Holy Ghost confirmed it to your heart that the instruction is from the Lord, you are bound to obey it.

Some other ministers have classified it as an inner witness, when the Holy Ghost quicken your spirit to confirm what you hear is from the Lord. We have to be familiar with that quickening of the Holy Spirit also. Somebody has said, he became bitter in his belly.

Bro. Ron: Can the Lord speak to you in different ways?

Bro. Julius: Yes, but give me the ways. What do you mean by different ways?

Bro. Ron: Can he speak to you by a yearning in you?

Bro. Julius: Yes! the Holy Ghost does that. Without speaking yet, he can stir you up in your stomach with some feeling. For example, how do you know you are hungry?

Bro. Ron: Well, your stomach tells. You can feel it.

Bro. Julius: That feeling comes from the stomach. Well; the Holy Ghost is inside us. He resides inside our spirit. He can stir up something inside us that begin to feel like something is about to happen.

Bro. Ron: I have a testimony in this line. Just the other day, I had to make a phone call, and the Lord had spoken to me to pray before I made the call. Before the Lord spoke to me, When I picked up the phone there was a check in my spirit to pray first. I put down the phone and the Lord told me to pray. And I prayed. Then when I picked up the phone and called, everything was positive concerning the conversation I had with this gentleman. That is why I brought up this question.

Bro. Julius: Good. That is a feeling from the Holy Ghost. He can excite some things in us like a pressure gauge to mean "huh, huh, don't do it yet!"

Bro. Ron: Amen!

Bro. Julius: And you may not know what he meant right then. Then the voice can come to you. Because we walk with a spirit. Remember what I said? We are walking with Jesus who is in the spirit.

Listener, the only reason we are discussing this is because, we are at the end-time. We believe it is our generation that is going to meet Jesus in the air. We believe that the Lord is coming for a perfect church, people who have been walking with him right from now. People that are filled with the Holy Ghost, who can sense the Spirit of God round about them. We are rousing up people to know what is the moving of the Lord. Begin to submit to the Holy Spirit. Also grow up in faith.

The Holy Ghost inside you can quicken you. It can be in the form of a gentle tug in you. It can also be like a happiness inside of you, that something is about to happen: something good is about to happen. The Holy Ghost can make you feel like that, as an expectation; because he can see what you cannot see. Those are feelings from the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is good, and that is why the Lord Jesus gave it. That is Jesus Christ in us. He sees the things which we have not seen yet, which is about to manifest. In the same way, he can see an evil that is about to occur in our way, and he knows the escape route. That is why he will rouse us up to pray, or to change direction. We may begin to feel uneasy inside, maybe to pray, to pray.

We have a lot of testimonies to make people realize that the Holy Ghost is needful for every believer. You must begin to be sensitive to his leading. And the way you are sensitive to the Lord is the way he is going to begin to live with you. If you shut him off, then he will be shut off from you. If you listen to him, he will guide you and lead you more closely. The scripture said "stir up the gift that is in you". Also it said "quench not the spirit, despise not prophezying". If you allow the Holy Ghost to move round about you, then God will move round about you.

Remember, first of all, you must be born again, so that it will be the Holy Ghost who is moving round about you. Christ will not give that which is holy unto dogs. You receive the Holy Ghost only from the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the baptizer with the Holy Ghost and fire. Therefore, if you that listen or read this, is not born again, repent, and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and saviour today; ask him in prayer to give you the new birth. Then seek out a gospel minister and be baptized in water in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Then Christ shall give you the Holy Ghost, "for this promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." (Acts 2:38-39).

(Continue in Part 5). Return to main page.

Bro. Julius Adewumi

Gospel Distribution Ministry.

USA.