Your not Delusional, that’s Gods voice.

By Pastor George

Can you hear God Speak?

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” – John 10:27

“The View” panelist Joy Behar brings up a topic that is gaining popularity among atheist: “It’s one thing to talk to Jesus,” Behar said, “It’s another thing when Jesus talks back to you.… That’s called mental illness if I’m not correct. Hearing voices.”

Some of today’s Christian T.V. evangelists do make the bold claim that they not only talk to but hear God speak. In fact multi-multimillion dollar ministries are often built around the pastors uniquely amazing ability to converse with the creator. If these are true experiences they shouldn't they have the same weight and authority as scripture and be added to the Bible? However God’s word plainly states “do not add to this book” (Rev 22:18). When some mainstream evangelicals claim that God speaks to them it is very dangerous (Heb 1:1, 2).

For nearly one quarter of Americans there is a new “renewalist” spirituality movement where some seek God more intimately, personally, and interactively. This kind of Church teaches a new way of thinking about the mind as a place to meet God. An anthropologist named Tanya Luhrmann says “many cultures over thousands of years have used the cultivation of the inner-senses as a skill of the imagination to make God to seem more real.” The danger of these teachings is that a Christian might instead open the mind to thoughts that are anything but God’s will. We all have thoughts that come out of left field and capture our attention but that doesn’t mean they are true or even good.

“The View” panelist Joy Behar

Recent technology, such as Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (FMRI), has opened up new fields of research that allow scientist make recordings of the brain in real time as someone is praying. If that’s not enough, breakthroughs in the understanding of Quantum Physics have confirmed aspects of God’s creation never before considered. Outspoken skeptics want to twist this evidence with their own spin with the intention of seducing uninformed Christians into atheism. They do this by explaining away our communication with God as some form of cognitive dissidences. However, science has consistently shown a valid connection between humans and the supernatural world.

There is a lot of scripture about prayer, but as Christians a common desire is to want to hear God speak, and not only that, to tell us what to do. Ok, let’s bring the cookies to the bottom shelf.

It almost goes without saying that God speaks through His word the bible but there’s more to this. We need to be receptive. Here’s a basic framework on how this is possible.

There are four elements we can get in-tune with in order to hear God speak. 1; Personal study: a critical reading of relevant scripture that brings meaning to your life; 2. Circumstances: take a look at the situation and understand it from different perspectives; 3. A message: unexpected from a Godly source unaware of your circumstances or personal study; 4. Your prayer life: this includes new things you pray for as well what others perceive to pray for you. Now watch for the point when these four elements come together. As you become aware of this intersection you can know without a doubt it is God speaking directly to you.

Now, if you want to hear Gods speak audibly then you need to read Gods word out loud. –GVThe mind will play tricks on you when you ignore the convictions of Holy Spirit. If our requests to God are not made we isolate the soul from the spirituality that glories in the Lord. Those who know love pray for one another. (Phil. 4:6, 7). The spirit is a terrible thing to waste.

“Prayer is far more complex than some make it out to be. There is much more involved than merely asking for something and receiving it. For every person who feels that prayer has not “worked” for them and has therefore abandoned God, there is someone else for whom prayer remains a vital part of their life, sustaining her even when her prayers have gone unanswered, because their belief and trust is not only in the power of prayer but in the character and wisdom of God.”

(Taken from Has Christianity Failed You? by RAVI ZACHARIAS.)