Meridian Minute no. 20
Do you know Jesus?
If you invite him in, he will come in.
Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
John 10:25-30
God wants us to recognize his voice.
God wants us to follow him as children.
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. God is in the business of restoring us into a right relationship with him. Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. Unbelief has cut humans off from God. Belief on the Lord Jesus Christ is what saves us. It is the way of salvation for all who believe. When we become as sheep following the Shepherd, we are able to begin discerning spiritual truth and the Shepherd's voice. Within us, as children of God, we are given a helper, The Helper, the Holy Spirit. Baby Christians will notice an awakening within them, it is as if their conscience has come alive. No longer is sinning or rebellion as comfortable a place to live. If there is no spiritual "awakening" then it is doubtful that there has been a rebirth in the spirit life of the individual. To know God is to know His ways and to follow them. Even after the point of salvation, one makes a choice. We are always given a choice. Each day is a choice, to follow the Shepherd's voice or to follow our own individualistic voice.
In the seeking you will find -- God's voice is what you hear after you chase the other stuff away.
In the finding you will know -- God's voice is quiet, calm, assertive, and definite.
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. Believers in God who have put their faith in Christ, may struggle with this concept. Why? I think it is because it is hard for us to stop and be silent, to actively listen without interjecting our own thoughts, assumptions or biases. When I became serious about desiring change in my spiritual life, it wasn't too far into before I realized I was battling the spirit realm in this area. There were three forms of thoughts that seemed to be at war with my mind. When I went to prayer, it became apparent that when I was listening for God during meditating on His Word and praying, could be hijacked by the Liar saying a counterfeit message in my thoughts (even while in prayer). This would happen if I wasn't employing correct spiritual discernment. I noticed that the thoughts that entered my mind while in prayer could be one of any of these three: God, Satan, or Me. I started tracking the end results of my prayers, to figure out if something was of God or me or a counterfeit lie by the Enemy. I started looking for confirmation by a "peace" factor. Something from God has a sense of peace, strength, and weight (a knowing). My minister was helpful. He said, when seeking God's leading or will in something, look for confirmation in three areas: 1. God's Word 2. Holy Spirit 3. Wise Christians.
I have found the following to be true. Hearing God's voice also comes after there has been a time of seeking and active repentance. It does not come quickly. Sometimes it takes me minutes or even hours of going deeper and deeper, asking God for insight into my own heart, to reveal the error of my thinking, to expose my hidden sins, and to see the reflection of God's mirror into my heart and mind. Once I hear my Shepherd's voice I find that I am changed. I have supped at his table, been nourished by his truth, and refreshed by his love.
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
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