04 Oct God speaks to us
“While walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And He said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. And going on from there He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and He called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed Him.” Matthew 4v18-22
The call of Jesus to follow Him is exactly the same today as it was for the disciples. We are called to follow Him and leave our old lives so that He can gave us the life He has prepared for us. Sometimes this can involve immense cost to the individual however He promises that “there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.”
The challenge for most Christians is not on making the decision to follow Jesus, it is taking the steps of faith to walk this decision out. Unlike the apostles who followed Jesus whilst He was on earth we are called to follow Him by his spirit. So how does He instruct me and speak to me and how do I hear His voice? I list below some of the main ways God will speak to you;
- The Word of God
The bible is “living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword” and through it God will speak to us. When we read it we need to read it with an open heart and listening ears. Not only will He speak to you out of the word it is the measure by which every other voice needs to be judged.
- The still small voice of the Holy Spirit
Jesus said in John 10v27 that “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” The Holy Spirit lives within the born again believer and it is this voice that Jesus is referring to. The still small voice of the Holy Spirit will speak to us and lead us forward in our Christian walk.
- The Peace of God
Following Jesus involves making decisions and it is the peace of God that helps us make those decisions. Phil 4v7 tells us the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” We need to allow that peace to guard and rule our hearts. If we lose our peace it means we are not doing the right thing.
- Other People
God speaks through other people and in particular through preaching. I can recount many times God has spoken to me through others. When you go to church on Sunday you should come expecting God to speak to you.
- The Prophetic Word
When the prophetic word is flowing it has the power to impact people as Paul recounts in 1 Cor 14v24-25 “ But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.” Prophesy is something God has used to powerfully speak into my life. However, it has always just confirmed what I believed God had already said to me. Prophesy should reveal the secrets of a man’s heart so speaks with regards to what is already in the heart. God uses prophesy to act as a confirmation of what He has already spoken to your heart.
If you have decided to follow Jesus then do so wholeheartedly and by faith. I want to encourage you to ask Him to speak to you and as He does to obey him. Jesus didn’t just call you so that you could go to church but He called you to follow Him so that He could make you fishers of men. Let’s go fishing together
Every Blessing
Alex
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