“But they did not obey nor incline their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear nor receive instruction.” – Jeremiah 17:23
New Book Release: A HEARING GOD HANDBOOK – For a Stiff-Necked People
This Handbook is a practical account of one man’s (my) pursuit to hear God’s voice and respond.
Hearing God’s voice is a challenging notion even for many Believers in Christ.
Whether you call it “Hearing God” or one of the Biblical sign gifts (word of knowledge, word of wisdom, or prophetic word), it is about hearing from God to communicate something to yourself and/or to someone else.
One reason I wrote this book is that after sharing what I believed God had given me for another person, the person would ask, “How do you do that?” After enough people asked the same question, I figured I’d document it.
How does this hearing God for others work for me? Read the book! However, I have to say, it is not something that I can often produce “on demand”. If someone asks me, “Give me a word from God,” it is unlikely I’ll have anything much to offer beyond pointing to Biblical truth. A unique (often called a Rhema word) comes from a time I’m dedicated to listening and engaging with God. I’ll ask God, Do you have something you want me to deliver to someone? It may be for a specific person, or in a group setting, it may not be obvious who it is for. (It will always be consistent with and connected to the Bible)
Mystery Men
I get a kick out of some of the dumb comedy classics. One of them is the movie Mystery Men. In the movie, there is a group of quirky heroes with ridiculous superpowers. One of them is called Invisible Boy. Invisible Boy could actually become invisible – but only when no one is looking!
That’s pretty absurd, but in a strange way, that is how it seems to work for me. What God wants to do is often unexpected. He may step in to speak to people who aren’t really looking to hear from God. They’re not seeking a sign, but God shows up with something to say. I give several examples of how this has worked in my book.
In R.T. Kendall’s book, Word and Spirit, he writes, “Perhaps you see by now that there is an element of mystery in the gifts of the Spirit. I don’t fully understand any of them! We can only do our best to grasp what the Holy Spirit is teaching. I have learned this much: don’t try to figure God out.” So true and yet James implores us in James 1:5, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” and in 1 Corinthians 12:31 Paul writes, “But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.”
It boils down to what we are seeking. Jesus warns against just seeking after a supernatural experience. He says in Matthew 16:4, “A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” And He left them and departed.”
What is Jesus addressing here? He is speaking of lazy and evil people who seek to experience God’s power but are not interested in pursuing a relationship with the living God. The purpose of God displaying that He is real, active and interactive is to draw people to the Gospel and a saving relationship with Him.
Kendall further writes, “God is no respecter of persons. He wants us to seek more of Him than more from Him. God is looking for a people who want more of Him.”
Tucked In and Lamps Burning 