Even before the Law was given there was a way for man to 'walk with God'....and hear His voice.

 

Gen 5:24
24 And Enoch walked with God ; and he was not, for God  took him.   NKJV
 

Gen 6:9
Noah walked with God.    NKJV
 

 

Israel heard God’s voice to affirm their special relationship with Him…and to encourage them to keep His commandments

 

Deut 4:33-39

33 Did any people ever hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and live? 34 Or did God ever try to go and take for Himself a nation from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs, by wonders, by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes? 35 To you it was shown, that you might know that the LORD Himself is God; there is none other besides Him. 36 Out of heaven He let you hear His voice, that He might instruct you; on earth He showed you His great fire, and you heard His words out of the midst of the fire. 37 And because He loved your fathers, therefore He chose their descendants after them; and He brought you out of Egypt with His Presence, with His mighty power, 38 driving out from before you nations greater and mightier than you, to bring you in, to give you their land as an inheritance, as it is this day. 39 Therefore know this day, and consider it in your heart, that the LORD Himself is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other. NKJV

 

Deut 5:23-27

"So it was, when you heard the voice from the midst of the darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire, that you came near to me, all the heads of your tribes and your elders. 24 And you said: 'Surely the LORD our God has shown us His glory and His greatness, and we have heard His voice from the midst of the fire. We have seen this day that God speaks with man; yet he still lives. 25 Now therefore, why should we die? For this great fire will consume us; if we hear the voice of the LORD our God anymore, then we shall die. 26 For  who is there of all flesh who has heard the voice of the living God speaking from the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived? 27 You go near and hear all that the LORD our God may say, and tell us all that the LORD our God says to you, and we will hear and do it.'    NKJV

 

Israel decided that they did not want to hear God’s voice anymore….they rejected direct relationship with Him ….they left it to Moses to hear from God to relay to them what He said.

Compare this with what Jesus promised in the New Testament ...'the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and LIVE' 

Many Christians today have abdicated their New Covenant rights as children to hear from the Father directly….and chose to hear from their ‘pastors’…or ‘prophets’. Is a (false) fear of God the reason for this?….or is it in reality a fear of intimacy which causes us to chose religion over relationship?

 

Is it because all we seek to do is to ‘appease God……rather than to know Him?….to obey rules rather than to love him?

 

It is when we know His heart towards us….the love He has for us which is so pure and awesome that we are drawn into a place of surrender where we LONG to hear His voice….not primarily about what to do…but about our walk with Him….and His heart for us.

 

Eph 3:14-19

For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,   15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehendwith all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height —  19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.    NKJV

 

We can only know God in His fullness by revelation from Him of His Love

 

John 5:24-25

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.  25 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.    NKJV

 

Have you heard His voice…calling you to follow him

 

John 10:26-28

26 But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you.  27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.  28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. NKJV

 

Compare this with the Old Covenant….

 

Num 18:22-24

22 Hereafter the children of Israel shall not come near the tabernacle of meeting, lest they bear sin and die. 23 But the Levites shall perform the work of the tabernacle of meeting, and they shall bear their iniquity; it shall be a statute forever, throughout your generations, that among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.    NKJV

 

BUT in the New Covenant

 

Matt 27:50-51

50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. (it is FINISHED?)   51 Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split,    NKJV

 

God did the tearing…HE wants us to have access to Him…for ALL OF HIS CHILDREN

 

Heb 4:14-16

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.     NKJV

 

Rom 8:14-17

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father"16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.     NKJV

 

A child does not doubt His Fathers love…..he rushes in for a hug

 

Gal 4:6-7

6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.      NKJV

 

1 John 4:17-19

Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19 We love Him because He first loved us.   NKJV

 

This is one of the major differences between the Old and New Covenants

 

Heb 8:10-12

10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.  11 None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD, 'for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them.  12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more."    NKJV

 

Are you walking in the fullness of your inheritance…RELATIONSHIP!

 

Acts 2:16-18

16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

17'And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,

That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;

Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

Your young men shall see visions,

Your old men shall dream dreams.

18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants

I will pour out My Spirit in those days;

And they shall prophesy.

NKJV

 

King David understood the heart of God…and sought to spend time with God as almost no other

 

Ps 27:7-8

7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice !

Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.

8 When You said, "Seek My face,"

My heart said to You, "Your face, LORD, I will seek."      NKJV

 

See the relationship…David pursuing….and God answering…giving keys

 

Ps 55:17

17 Evening and morning and at noon

I will pray, and cry aloud,

And He shall hear my voice.

NKJV

 

David KNEW God was listening…have you had answers which convince you of the same?

 

Ps 130:2-6

2 Lord, hear my voice!

Let Your ears be attentive

To the voice of my supplications.

 

3 If You, LORD, should mark iniquities,

O Lord, who could stand?

4 But there is forgiveness with You,

That You may be feared.

 

5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,

And in His word I do hope.

6 My soul waits for the Lord

More than those who watch for the morning —

Yes, more than those who watch for the morning.

NKJV

 

A key to coming before God is revealed here…knowing that God HAS forgiven all our sins. He no longer even remembers them.

 

 

Many times when we ask something God will speak to us in a scripture …the next day…or in a dream…or a prophecy

 

Acts 13:22

He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, 'I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.'    NKJV

 

 

 

 

Heb 7:27-28

 28 For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.

 

1 John 4:17-18

Love has been perfected among usin this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.     NKJV

 

Heb 10:11-14

 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.   NKJV

 

Col 1:21-23

21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—  23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard (the gospel of His GRACE…Gal 1:6-9), which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.   NKJV

 

‘Continuing in the faith’ means NOT going back under the Law …or into works (Phil 3:2-9, Gal 5:1-6)

 

When we move to works we move out of the realm of the Spirit…(Gal 3:2 &5)

 

Eph 2:4-9

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.  NKJV

 

 

Personal experiences

(This is not to boast, but to encourage you to go with me and beyond....into a more intimate relationship and powerful walk with God)

 

I believe that when we seek God …especially as regards our destiny (Eph 2:10)…we place ourselves in a position to hear Him.

 

God has almost always spoken to me audibly OUTSIDE of my prayer times. This leads me to believe that while we are focused on our ‘religious observances’ we are almost unable to hear Him.     

 

We also have to learn patience…..God doesn’t do ‘drive thru fast food’ like Mac Donald’s. I have been blessed to experience trances and visions when I find myself patient in His presence….enjoying spending time with Him…..and seeking to know Him rather than to get specific prayers answered.

 

I had a situation where, following a Satanic accusation (the type that leaves you with chills all over) I said to God… “I know I am not worthy to serve you in any capacity… I will be happy just to be able to share your love with people on a one-to-one basis whenever you open doors”. Shortly after that I was meditating on a truth that I believe is a key to a successful walk with God…the truth that the FULLNESS of God resides in us by the Spirit of Christ as Christians. Suddenly I was away….God took over and gave me a vision of an angel going to a fire…taking out a white hot coal with tongs….and offering it to me. The coal was so hot it would have burned my hands ….and in response my body opened up and that fire came to reside in my heart...the only place that could take the heat without being burned up.

 

It was not long before I realized that God had answered me…..with a parallel from the situation Isaiah encountered…..the answer was this. Just as Isaiah had said ‘Woe to me’….because he was a man of unclean lips, Gods answer to me was that I was suitable for His use, despite what had happened through my life….but the ONLY qualification was that He had filled me with His Spirit…..who was my holiness and righteousness.

 

This same vision was used to confirm a powerful prophetic word…when I was commanded to speak up and start teaching because God had anointed me and given me a teaching ministry……given to me by a minister who did not know me. He finished of saying… ‘this picture will confirm the word…it will mean something to you’. I think that when my jaw hit the ground he knew God had spoken to me.

 

Today I speak and teach only because I am commanded to….God is gracious and every few days will speak to me in one way or another.

 

Linger in your times of worship   ..(thank you Isi for this insight)…and let God lead…you will learn awesome things. How much does your Father love you?…Ask Him!

 

I have had God ask me questions. When He does….. STOP whatever you are doing….and engage. As you look to your heart you will know the answers….which will lead to another question…and another…suddenly a clarity will come. Don’t be afraid…engage and follow!

 

Many times I have had God light up a single scripture…. or phrase… to me. This might happen once every couple of days after spending time listening to scripture on CD.

 

Please do not tell me not to ‘proof text’. My God does….Jesus did (‘gods’)…as did Paul (‘seed’ singular). I know that these individual scriptures were used in context.   God has powerfully spoken through even individual words as I listen to the bible on CD. I quote Jesus …. “Man shall not live by bread alone but by EVERY WORD that proceeds from the mouth of God”

 

God's ways are not our ways. I have learned to ask… ‘God what are you saying to me’…..and to SPEAK my questions…and what I believe to be His answers….and ask more questions. The outcome in most cases is peace and joy…when I know I have heard a WORD from my God.

 

I do not ask you to believe me…I ask you to start your own walk with God….an intimate one…..one where every aspect of your life is ‘before Him’….one where He answers the questions you can discuss with no one else….and one where you end up putting yourself irrevocably into His hands.

 

Who is your God…is He real? My God is the risen and glorified Jesus…and My Father…who lives in me by His Spirit. The Alpha and Omega…the Beginning and the End…The One who Was and Is and Is to Come…the great I AM. He is the creator of this world…and the sustainer of Life. My God holds my very life in His hands …the next beat of my heart…and the next breath I breathe.

 

Do you seek to hear His voice?….Do you spend time studying His word? Do you speak to Him thru the day? Do you ask Him what He was saying in His word? Do you ask Him what He would do in the situations you face? God is your Father….and He longs for you to open the door so He can be part of your life. I long to spend time in His presence…..heaven is my dream.....eternity in His tangible presence….worshipping with the angels…and all His children. We can even enjoy it in a measure today.

 

I once listened to a CD teaching about dreams….I literally laughed as I said to God… “you know my dreams…..they are the biggest mess ever…If you were to speak to me I would need it to be clear”….So God spoke to me in a dream THAT NIGHT.

 

I have been directed to witness to people in dreams…I have had clear answers and direction for my life in dreams. Do I expect you to believe me?   No….but I challenge you to seek a walk with God which is mind blowing….and not ‘ordinary’

 

I have heard Him warn me about Satan’s future attempts on my life…..and avoided accidents when I knew where they were coming from. And experienced His peace after incredible danger.

 

 I have sensed Him asking me to pray for people….and then when I asked for confirmation, received unbelievably clear signs.

 

I would that every Christian would experience and walk with Him in an intimate way so that we can touch our worlds.

 

I long for the day when He tells me to pray for people with specific problems……. and when I can effectively minister His love and healing to the world. It is coming…..I will settle for nothing less.

 

 

 

Or

 

Are you satisfied with just ‘doing church’ …for a couple of hours a week?