Barnabas Bulletin ~ 0089 DEVELOPING A LISTENING EARIf we are really sincere about the winning of the lost, then it is very important that we can develop a listening ear to the voice of God. The voice of God is the Holy Spirit of Truth; He is sent to lead and guide us into all truth, and to bring to our remembrance the words of Jesus. His voice never lies! The Holy Spirit is the voice of God within us and we need to be always seeking to develop a greater sensitivity to what He is saying to us. He carries the heart of God to touch, make known, and to heal our generation, and He knows exactly the right strategies for us to use to accomplish His purposes. The voice of God is creative; therefore when He speaks to us, it is often about learning to obey Him in new ways that will bring about much more fruit than our own “methods.” (Yes, it is so easy for us Christians to become habitual in our service to God)! God is “not willing that any should perish” (2 Peter 3:9) and is ever yearning to guide us in His ways of our being more effective witnesses to Him. As we develop a listening ear to God’s voice we will discover that He will speak to us in different ways. I believe He wants to be able to speak to us in any way He wants to, and that we should still know it is Him. Jesus taught us that His “sheep follow Him, for they know His voice” and “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:4, 27). Sheep represent the Christian believer, the follower and disciple of Jesus.
How can we say we are obedient to God if we do not hear, know and follow His voice? Who, or What are we responding to? Trying to keep “a law of commandments” does not please God. No, it is in our ability to discern the voice of God in whatever way it comes to us, and in simply doing whatever He says. Mary, the mother of Jesus, had it right when she said: “Whatever He (Jesus) says to you, do it” (John 2:5). The more we can develop a listening ear to His voice, the more we will know the joy of hearing and obeying Him ~ and we will have wonderful testimonies of the blessings in other peoples lives as a direct result of our obedience to Him. Learn to respond more quickly to His voice by recognizing it and responding to it. Because it is the voice of God ~ when acted on ~ it will always bear fruit for His glory. Let me encourage you to listen and obey. When God speaks to us, it is not only for our good, but that others may also benefit through our relationship with the Living God. He so longs to speak to and impact other peoples lives through us! Are we willing for that to happen more? Are we available to God for Him to speak to us and to use us in creative new ways? It takes faith to step out and do things we have never done before, but that is what God is wanting us to do. He has the plans, the strategies. We must have the listening ear and a willingness to obey whatever He asks of us. God Bless You! ~ Rodney W. Francis. Bible Readings: Psalm 29 and John 10. Please Pray This Prayer: “Dear Lord Jesus, I come to You with a sincere heart, desiring to love, know and serve You better. Help me to be more and more sensitive to Your voice, that out of a loving heart of commitment to You, I will be quick to respond to whatever You ask of me. Help me to be much more fruitful in my walk with You, as I know that You are not willing that any person should go to a Christless eternity. Increase my burden to listen to You and then to reach the lost in whatever way I can. In Jesus’ Name I pray these things, Amen. The Gospel Faith Messenger Ministry, New Zealand. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |