Hearing God's Voice | POWERFUL PRAYER
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· 99 viewsIn its essence, meditation is simply the practice of listening to God’s voice as He speaks through His Word and prayer. It is this crucial element that makes our prayer life a two-way conversation rather than a one-way monologue. Meditation is the intentional act of listening to God. We must come to Bible study and prayer expecting to hear a personal word from a personal God.
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Continuing our series “Powerful Prayer”
Wk 1 - Praise & Worship
Wk 2 - Confession
Wk 3 - Petition & Intercession
Today - Meditation — Hope you brought your yoga mat...
Prayer Card
A primary means of communication that binds together God and humankind in intimate and reciprocal relationship.
Prayer is not primarily about what we can get out of God, but what He purposes to do in and through us for His own pleasure.
The great secret of prayer is to align ourselves to God’s purposes rather than seeking to align Him to ours.
The great secret of prayer is to align ourselves to God’s purposes rather than seeking to align Him to ours.
Genuine prayer is a relationship and not just a habit or ritual.
Genuine relationships require both talking & listening. (Ex: Spouse/Friend)
Meditation: Hearing God’s Voice
Meditation: Hearing God’s Voice
Meditation is that time when we specifically listen for God to speak to our heart.
:: Meditation is that time when we specifically listen for God to speak to our heart.
14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Meditation is a form of prayer because it is communication with God through prayerful listening.
It is in meditation that we quietly listen for God’s voice through His Word and the impressions He speaks to our heart.
Genuine prayer is a relationship and not just a habit or ritual.
Genuine relationships require both talking & listening. (Ex: Spouse/Friend)
HOW TO MEDITATE: SIMPLE MEDITATION FOR BEGINNERS (World vs Biblical)
HOW TO MEDITATE: SIMPLE MEDITATION FOR BEGINNERS (World vs Biblical)
This meditation exercise is an excellent introduction to meditation techniques.
Sit or lie comfortably. You may even want to invest in a meditation chair or cushion.
Close your eyes. We recommend using one of our Cooling Eye Masks or Restorative Eye Pillows if lying down.
Make no effort to control the breath; simply breathe naturally.
Focus your attention on the breath and on how the body moves with each inhalation and exhalation.
The goal of meditation is to “think of nothing” or have an “empty mind” - GAIAM
If relaxation is not the goal of meditation, it is often a result. - GAIAM
Relaxation vs Peace
Relaxation vs Peace
The purpose of biblical meditation is not to empty your mind, but rather to fill your mind with the truth of God’s Word.
8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.
Relaxation is temporary. Peace is lasting.
philip4.
Relaxation is dependent on our present circumstances. Peace sustains us even in the darkest moments of life.
>>> You can empty your Amazon shopping cart. Yoga mats and cooling eye mask aren’t necessary for this exercise.
What ways does God speak to us?
What ways does God speak to us?
Influence of others
Influence of others
Pastors/Teachers, friends, mentors, books, etc.
Samuel rebukes Saul’s disobedience ()
20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”
Life situations
Life situations
Paul and Silas prevented from speaking in Asia ()
Joseph sold into slavery - What you meant for evil, God intended for good ()
23 Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. 24 Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. 26 I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. 27 I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.
Paul recounts his trials - “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” ()
2cor11.23-
7 even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. 8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2cor12.7-
Guidelines:
Don’t try to understand God based on your circumstances. Ask God to help you see your situation from HIS perspective.
Circumstances proved God with an opportunity to speak powerfully into our lives. Yet, without the help of the Holy Spirit to interpret them, they are merely events.
Leading of the Spirit
Leading of the Spirit
Philip and the Ethiopian ()
Philip and the Ethiopian
Philip and the Ethiopian
After being prevented from speaking in Asia, God have Paul a vision to travel to Philippi ()
Word of God
13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.
12 And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.
Word of God
Word of God
Too many of us underestimate God’s Word — It is far more powerful than we realize!
One word from God and galaxies burst to life.
One word for God and the earth was teeming with life.
God spoke and the earth and waters were divided.
Whatever God speaks comes to pass.
11 It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.
Throughout history, whenever humanity has obeyed the Word of the Lord it has brought life. When we rebel and disobey, it always brings death.
From Genesis to Revelation, God’s Word has the power to speak directly to our heart.
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.
jos1:
The Word of God is the filter. It is the standard by which everything else is to be measured.
How do I know
It is also the primary way in which God speaks to us.
Too often, we long for God to speak to us in some grandiose way. Yet, He has already revealed so much of Himself and how we ought to live in His Word.
Why should we expect God to speak to us in some miraculous way when we neglect to turn to the Word He has already given.
If you understood how miraculous it is that the Word of God has endured this long, you wouldn’t be so quick to disregard it.
6 And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. 7 Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. 8 Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. 9 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
deut6.
PRACTICAL GUIDELINES OF DAILY MEDITATION
PRACTICAL GUIDELINES OF DAILY MEDITATION
Meditation is God’s invitation to take His Word seriously.
His Word is clear, yet deeply profound.
It contains so much truth that it takes a significant time to digest it.
It demands that we pause to meditate and carefully consider what God’s Word says.
Many of us look around and wonder why some people seem to have such a depth of understanding of God’s Word that we do not.
This depth was not stumbled upon. It did not happen by accident.
This kind of depth only comes from intentional and committed time in God’s Word.
Do you long for understanding? Do you long for intimacy with your Savior? You must commit to spending significant time in His Word. Will you?
13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.
It takes a wholehearted, not lackadaisical search.
Meditation invites God to explain His Word to you and to open your heart, mind, and soul to what He wants to communicate to you.
Meditation means staying with a passage of Scripture long enough for the Holy Spirit to enlighten your understanding to its meaning and application.
>>> Phases 1-4 are our opportunity to speak to God. Meditation is His chance to speak into our lives through His Word and promptings.
Through His Word, our Father speaks to us, encourages us, comforts us, instructs us, humbles us, and reproves us.
1. In your daily Bible reading, ask God to speak to your heart.
1. In your daily Bible reading, ask God to speak to your heart.
Daily
Take your time. You can’t meditate in a hurry.
2. When you have completed your daily time of Bible reading and prayer, write down key ideas and impressions.
2. When you have completed your daily time of Bible reading and prayer, write down key ideas and impressions.
Choose a reasonable amount of Scripture to meditate on at a time so you can amble time to the text.
Read the passage several times. Look for context. Pay attention to wording.
Look for truth you can apply to your life. Doers not just hearers.
3. Fill your life with the Word of God
3. Fill your life with the Word of God
Moses told the Israelites, “Repeat them to your children. Talk about them at home and on the road, when you wake up and when you go to sleep. Tie them to your hands, wear them on your foreheads, write them on your doorpost and gates.”
Obviously, it is important that we surround ourselves with God’s Word.
4. When you pray, be sensitive to God’s specific impressions through which He leads you to focus on various issues of concern.
4. When you pray, be sensitive to God’s specific impressions through which He leads you to focus on various issues of concern.
It’s not usual to feel your mind drift/wander. Keep a pen and notebook close by and write these thoughts down. It’ll keep you from going too far down the rabbit trail, but allows you to capture issues God wants you to address.
How do we know what promptings are from God?
How do we know what promptings are from God?
1 “I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! 2 But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. 5 They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.”
God’s promptings are usually counter to our natural desires.
God’s promptings are usually counter to our natural desires.
The world says claim your rights; God says take up your cross
God’s promptings will always align with His Word.
God’s promptings will always align with His Word.
The world pursues relativism; God provides truth
God’s promptings generally deal with how more than what.
God’s promptings generally deal with how more than what.
The world steers you to your strengths; God works through your weaknesses
God’s promptings are most often concerned with eternity.
God’s promptings are most often concerned with eternity.
The world measures success; God measures surrender
Scratch Sheet:
Scratch Sheet:
A Word About Fasting
A Word About Fasting
The Bible clearly assumes the God’s people will fast in their devotion to the Lord (; ). The Scriptures leave little doubt that God expects Spirit-led fasting to be a definite part of our relationship with Him.
GENERAL GUIDELINES CONCERNING FASTING:
GENERAL GUIDELINES CONCERNING FASTING:
Ask God to enable you to fast by the leading of the Holy Spirit and not just because someone else fasted.
Fast with the purpose of turning aside from other things in order to more fully focus on God.
Fast with the purpose of turning aside from other things in order to more fully focus on God.
Ask God to show you the type of fast He desires for your.
Ask God to show you the type of fast He desires for you.
Complete fast for short periods
Complete fast for short periods
Water-only fasts,
Water-only fasts,
Juice fasts
Juice fasts
Fasting from certain type of food
Fasting from certain type of food
Fasting from certain activities or recreation
Fasting from certain activities or recreation
The general biblical principle is not to publicize your fasting.
The general biblical principle is not to publicize your fasting.
Fasting is definitely connected with great urgency and power in prayer. Virtually all great awakenings were brought by prayer and fasting.
Fasting is definitely connected with great urgency and power in prayer. Virtually all great awakenings were brought by prayer and fasting.
Fasting is a basic biblical experience for our love relationship with Jesus Christ.
Close
Close
4 “Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. 5 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. 6 And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. 7 Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. 8 Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. 9 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
New Living Translation Chapter 6
4 “Listen, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. 5 And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. 6 And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. 7 Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. 8 Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. 9 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
6 “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. 8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. 9 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
1 “I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! 2 But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. 5 They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.”
In its essence, meditation is simply the practice of listening to God’s voice as He speaks through His Word and prayer. It is this crucial element that makes our prayer life a two-way conversation rather than a one-way monologue. Meditation is the intentional act of listening to God. We must come to Bible study and prayer expecting to hear a personal word from a personal God.
john10.1
josh1.
What ways does God speak to us?
Influence of others
Life situations
Leading of the Spirit
Word of God
How do we know what promptings are from God?
God’s promptings are usually counter to our natural desires
God’s promptings will always align with His Word
God’s promptings generally deal with how more than what
God’s promptings are most often concerned with eternity
PRACTICAL GUIDELINES OF DAILY MEDITATION
In your daily Bible reading, ask God to speak to your heart.
When you have completed your daily time of Bible reading and prayer, write down key ideas and impressions.
When you have completed your daily time of Bible reading and prayer, write down key ideas and impressions.
Fill your life with the Word of God
Fill your life with the Word of God
When you pray, be sensitive to God’s specific impressions through which He leads you to focus on various issues of concern.
When you pray, be sensitive to God’s specific impressions through which He leads you to focus on various issues of concern.
ILLUSTRATION: Approaching God’s Throne [Build a picture]
When we pray, we are invited to approach the throne of God with boldness
The throne is where power and majesty sit.
It is here that world and history altering decrees are given
It is here that world and history altering decrees are given
In prayer, we are standing in the glittering palace of our great King — the king of the universe
The place where angels bow with veiled faces
Cherubim and seraphim circle and adore before this great throne
PRAYERS FOR DAILY GROWTH
PRAYERS FOR DAILY GROWTH
Father, cause me to pray according to Your priority of holiness and sanctification in my daily life. Cleanse and transform me by the washing of the water by the Word (). God, instill the spiritual fruit and the Beatitudes into the very fabric of my heart.
Father God, fill me with the spirit of genuine intercession. Help me stand in the gap for my land (). As an intercessor teach my hands to war and fingers to fight. Grow me up into powerful biblical prayers that spring from Your heart.
Lord Jesus, forgive me for being lazy and inconsistent in the battle of intercession. Forgive me for praying general, non-specific prayers. Fill me with Yourself and teach me to allow Christ to pray through me.
God, grant me a burning desire to daily hear Your voice by the revelation of the Word and prompting of the Holy Spirit.