A Life of Holy Intimacy A Life of Holy Intimacy and Power, Part 2and Power, Part 2

Practicing the Presence Practicing the Presence of God and Hearing His of God and Hearing His

VoiceVoice

Review from Last WeekReview from Last Week

God is incredibly in love with youGod is incredibly in love with you He wants you to know itHe wants you to know it When you know He loves you, you When you know He loves you, you

can be filled with the fullness of Godcan be filled with the fullness of God With the fullness of God, you will find With the fullness of God, you will find

that God can do more than we ask or that God can do more than we ask or imagine in and through our lives imagine in and through our lives

God Desires our FriendshipGod Desires our Friendship

First step is to put our trust in the First step is to put our trust in the effectiveness of Jesus’s sacrifice for effectiveness of Jesus’s sacrifice for us – through which we are reconciled us – through which we are reconciled to God (2 Cor 5:17-20)to God (2 Cor 5:17-20)

Second critical step is to learn to Second critical step is to learn to hear His voice (the focus for this talk)hear His voice (the focus for this talk)

Possibly the most important thing Possibly the most important thing missing from the lives of many missing from the lives of many ChristiansChristians

Classic examples of friendship with Classic examples of friendship with GodGod

God would come down and talk with Moses God would come down and talk with Moses as a man would his friend (Gen 33:7-22)as a man would his friend (Gen 33:7-22)

God visited Abraham and gave him the God visited Abraham and gave him the chance to reason with Him about sparing chance to reason with Him about sparing Sodom for the sake of righteous people Sodom for the sake of righteous people (Gen 18:16-19)(Gen 18:16-19)

God said that David was a man after His God said that David was a man after His own heart (1 Sam 13:14)own heart (1 Sam 13:14)

Jesus sometimes prayed all night; other Jesus sometimes prayed all night; other times, would rise early in the morning to times, would rise early in the morning to praypray

Some verses to stir your heartSome verses to stir your heart Ex 33:15-17 (NIV) “Then Moses said to him, ‘If Ex 33:15-17 (NIV) “Then Moses said to him, ‘If

your Presence does not go with us, do not your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?’ And other people on the face of the earth?’ And the LORD said to Moses, ‘I will do the very the LORD said to Moses, ‘I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.’” with you and I know you by name.’”

Ps 84:1-2 (NIV) How lovely is your dwelling Ps 84:1-2 (NIV) How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty! My soul yearns, place, O LORD Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

More verses to stir your heartMore verses to stir your heart Ps 27:4,8,13-14 (NIV) “4 One thing I ask of Ps 27:4,8,13-14 (NIV) “4 One thing I ask of

the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple... 8 My LORD and to seek him in his temple... 8 My heart says of you, ‘Seek his face!’ Your heart says of you, ‘Seek his face!’ Your face, LORD, I will seek... 13 I am still face, LORD, I will seek... 13 I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. 14 Wait the LORD in the land of the living. 14 Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.”and wait for the LORD.”

Psalms 42; Psalms 63; Psalms 73Psalms 42; Psalms 63; Psalms 73

Where does it say in the Bible that Where does it say in the Bible that we should hear His voice?we should hear His voice?

John 10 Jesus is the Good Shepherd, John 10 Jesus is the Good Shepherd, and His sheep know His Voiceand His sheep know His Voice

John 14:26 The Holy Spirit will teach John 14:26 The Holy Spirit will teach you all thingsyou all things

Rom 8:14 We are to be led by the Rom 8:14 We are to be led by the SpiritSpirit

Jesus spoke what He heard the Jesus spoke what He heard the Father speaking (John 12:49-50, Father speaking (John 12:49-50, 8:28-29)8:28-29)

If hearing God’s voice is so If hearing God’s voice is so important... Why haven’t I heard important... Why haven’t I heard

a sermon on it before?a sermon on it before?First, some unfortunate reasonsFirst, some unfortunate reasons Some pastors probably don’t hear Some pastors probably don’t hear

God’s voiceGod’s voice It can be a little messy if everyone It can be a little messy if everyone

goes around hearing from Godgoes around hearing from God Messy because people make Messy because people make

mistakes, and because God likes mistakes, and because God likes shaking things upshaking things up

Why did I just start teaching about it Why did I just start teaching about it this year?this year?

I feel spiritually inferior to a lot of I feel spiritually inferior to a lot of peoplepeople

I'm afraid that those who hear better I'm afraid that those who hear better than I do will realize how poorly I dothan I do will realize how poorly I do

It’s an immensely personal and It’s an immensely personal and sometimes intimate experience – feel sometimes intimate experience – feel vulnerablevulnerable

Reasons for teaching others to Reasons for teaching others to hear God’s voicehear God’s voice

Raise up a people who are passionately in Raise up a people who are passionately in love with Godlove with God

Unable to sustain that passion without Unable to sustain that passion without hearing from Godhearing from God

I am also convinced that people miss out I am also convinced that people miss out on God's call on their lives because they on God's call on their lives because they cannot hear God speak to themcannot hear God speak to them

My goal: everybody here who has a heart My goal: everybody here who has a heart for the Lord will be able, over the next for the Lord will be able, over the next months and years, to hear from God and months and years, to hear from God and have intimate fellowship with himhave intimate fellowship with him

Those who hear, and those who Those who hear, and those who haven’t yet...haven’t yet...

2 groups here2 groups here Mostly speaking to those who Mostly speaking to those who

haven’t yethaven’t yet Those who do probably would be Those who do probably would be

happy if they heard more often, and happy if they heard more often, and will be able to benefit from what we will be able to benefit from what we covercover

We are all students / disciples, how We are all students / disciples, how well we hear from God is not a sign well we hear from God is not a sign of superiorityof superiority

How to Get StartedHow to Get Started

Tell God you want to learn to hear Tell God you want to learn to hear His voice (Luke 11:9-13)His voice (Luke 11:9-13)

Know He wants you to hear!Know He wants you to hear! Persevere until you do, then keep onPersevere until you do, then keep on If you know God really loves you, If you know God really loves you,

then if it takes some time, you won’t then if it takes some time, you won’t fall into the trap of feeling like God is fall into the trap of feeling like God is rejecting yourejecting you

Often we create obstacles that we Often we create obstacles that we are not aware of (more later...)are not aware of (more later...)

What does God sound like?What does God sound like?

Like you!Like you! You are the temple of the Holy Spirit, You are the temple of the Holy Spirit,

and your heart is the Holy of Holies, and your heart is the Holy of Holies, from where God speaks (Eldredge)from where God speaks (Eldredge)

God is not you, and you are not GodGod is not you, and you are not God He speaks from your heart, and His He speaks from your heart, and His

voice is still and small (like Elijah voice is still and small (like Elijah heard on the mountain)heard on the mountain)

Obstacles to HearingObstacles to Hearing

Mistaking God’s voice for ours (and Mistaking God’s voice for ours (and vice verse)vice verse)

Living from the head and not the Living from the head and not the heartheart

Too much noise in our headsToo much noise in our heads

Help for “Head” PeopleHelp for “Head” People

Mark and Patti Virkler workbook, Mark and Patti Virkler workbook, “Communion with God”“Communion with God”

Psalm 23 exercise: read verses Psalm 23 exercise: read verses slowlyslowly

How does “The Lord is my Shepherd, How does “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want” make you feelI shall not want” make you feel

Thank God, pause, and listenThank God, pause, and listen Each verse the same wayEach verse the same way Try others -- ask God to lead you!Try others -- ask God to lead you!

How to Get the Noise Out?How to Get the Noise Out?

Try some of these:Try some of these: Worship songsWorship songs Bible reading firstBible reading first Write down ideas for laterWrite down ideas for later WalkWalk Let the thoughts come in and out Let the thoughts come in and out

without reacting to themwithout reacting to them

Discerning the Source of What You Discerning the Source of What You HearHear

Journaling: Keeping a written record of the Journaling: Keeping a written record of the things you hear (review later)things you hear (review later)

Promise not to act rashly!Promise not to act rashly! If it is from God, must not contradict the If it is from God, must not contradict the

Bible, or God’s characterBible, or God’s character Sense of peace with words from GodSense of peace with words from God Satan, the accuser of the brethren (Rev. Satan, the accuser of the brethren (Rev.

12), vs. God, whose conviction brings life12), vs. God, whose conviction brings life Satan, who challenges God’s character Satan, who challenges God’s character

(Garden of Eden)(Garden of Eden)

CautionsCautions Don’t throw out wisdom!Don’t throw out wisdom! Don’t overreact to things you or Don’t overreact to things you or

somebody else may hear – take a somebody else may hear – take a while to discern, and get advicewhile to discern, and get advice

Don’t “make” others obey your word, Don’t “make” others obey your word, it is for God to doit is for God to do

Be careful if you have a word for Be careful if you have a word for somebody else, ask God what to do, somebody else, ask God what to do, and use wisdomand use wisdom

Stay humbleStay humble

Walking with God, literallyWalking with God, literally

Walking somehow distracts the noisy Walking somehow distracts the noisy part of my brainpart of my brain

Being socially alert distracts meBeing socially alert distracts me Walking very slowly helps me to limit Walking very slowly helps me to limit

distractions in my headdistractions in my head Notepad or tapeNotepad or tape Best at places set apart for seeking Best at places set apart for seeking

GodGod

How to think about where God isHow to think about where God is

Heaven vs. heartHeaven vs. heart Theologically, God is in heaven and Theologically, God is in heaven and

in your heartin your heart I find it easier to hear from God when I find it easier to hear from God when

I think about Him in my heartI think about Him in my heart Not so far awayNot so far away

Prayer: Presence, Hearing, and Prayer: Presence, Hearing, and PetitionPetition

““Petition” is asking God for somethingPetition” is asking God for something ““Presence” means being aware of God Presence” means being aware of God

with You, but the verbal communication is with You, but the verbal communication is at a minimumat a minimum

Hearing means that you sense God saying Hearing means that you sense God saying specific things to youspecific things to you

All 3 are prayer, but this lesson is about All 3 are prayer, but this lesson is about presence and hearingpresence and hearing

Beginners generally want to hear, but are Beginners generally want to hear, but are better off focusing on presencebetter off focusing on presence

Why begin with presence?Why begin with presence?

Helps us be aware of God and identify His Helps us be aware of God and identify His charactercharacter

God isn’t a chatterbox, and so a lot of our God isn’t a chatterbox, and so a lot of our time is spent like thistime is spent like this

Intimate friends like to be around us Intimate friends like to be around us without having to entertain uswithout having to entertain us

It expresses love toward God, and doesn’t It expresses love toward God, and doesn’t demand God give us somethingdemand God give us something

If God wants to speak to us, it is easy to If God wants to speak to us, it is easy to hear Him when we’ve been enjoying His hear Him when we’ve been enjoying His presencepresence

Do Only Christians Hear from God?Do Only Christians Hear from God?

Apostle Paul on the road to Apostle Paul on the road to Damascus hear from GodDamascus hear from God

John 6:44 says no one becomes a John 6:44 says no one becomes a Christian unless the Father draws Christian unless the Father draws him or herhim or her

I became a Christian when I started I became a Christian when I started talking to God and heard His repliestalking to God and heard His replies

ResourcesResources WowGod.orgWowGod.org Brother Lawrence and Frank Laubach, Brother Lawrence and Frank Laubach,

“Practice of the Presence”“Practice of the Presence” Dallas Willard, “Hearing God”Dallas Willard, “Hearing God” Madame Jeanne Guyon, “Experiencing the Madame Jeanne Guyon, “Experiencing the

Depths of Jesus Christ”Depths of Jesus Christ” Joyce Meyer, “Knowing God Intimately: Joyce Meyer, “Knowing God Intimately:

Being as Close to Him as You Want to Be”Being as Close to Him as You Want to Be” Leanne Payne, “Listening Prayer: Learning Leanne Payne, “Listening Prayer: Learning

to Hear God's Voice and Keep a Prayer to Hear God's Voice and Keep a Prayer Journal”Journal”

Silent RetreatsSilent Retreats

Dayspring in Germantown, MDDayspring in Germantown, MD Bon Succours in Marriottsville, MDBon Succours in Marriottsville, MD St. Gabriel’s at the Episcopal St. Gabriel’s at the Episcopal

Convent in Catonsville, MDConvent in Catonsville, MD Something about a time and a place Something about a time and a place

fully set apart for being with Godfully set apart for being with God Silence helps remove distractionsSilence helps remove distractions

What we learnedWhat we learned God wants to have an intimate friendship God wants to have an intimate friendship

with you, and a major part of that is with you, and a major part of that is hearing His voice and being aware of His hearing His voice and being aware of His presencepresence

If we ask Him for help and don’t give up, If we ask Him for help and don’t give up, we will succeedwe will succeed

God speaks to us from our heart, and His God speaks to us from our heart, and His word usually comes with peaceword usually comes with peace

Seek His presence before trying to hear Seek His presence before trying to hear answers to your questionsanswers to your questions

Use wisdom, and stay balanced by letting Use wisdom, and stay balanced by letting others help you discern wordsothers help you discern words