Divine Communication
Divine Communication
Matthew 1:18-23 (NLT) – This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly. As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”
You need to hear from God
Matthew 1:24-25 (NLT) – When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.
Be open to hearing from God through dreams
Job 33:14-18 – For God may speak in one way, or in another, Yet man does not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, When deep sleep falls upon men, While slumbering on their beds, Then He opens the ears of men, And seals their instruction. In order to turn man from his deed, And conceal pride from man, He keeps back his soul from the Pit, And his life from perishing by the sword.
How to be confident you are hearing from God
Test the origin – 1 John 4:1 – Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world
Compare it to Biblical principles
Compare it to the names and character of God in the Word
Test the fruit – Matthew 7:20 – Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions
Share it with your spiritual counselors – Proverbs11:14b – there is safety in having many advisers.
Questions for discussion/reflection:
Have you ever done a 180 degree turn from the trajectory you were headed on? If so, what provoked the change?
Share an example of a situation in your life where you felt you needed the leading of the Lord?
Do you have a dream (from God or otherwise) that you might be willing to share?
Do you think you have heard from God before… or been led by him in some way? If so, can you share about it?
Are there any “tests” for identifying what God is speaking that you have found to be useful?
Who would be the people in your life you could share something God may be speaking to you with to help you discern the voice of God?