How To Recognize God's Voice [Video]

I'm super excited today for the simple fact that I'll be kicking off Ask Adrian Anything (AAA for short)! Basically it's a way for me to serve you better.

If you've got a burning question or something you've been trying to understand in life or the scriptures and you want God's perspective on it, then I want to see if I can help. Ask me (I'll tell you how later on), I'll search the scriptures and see what Holy Spirit would have to say on the matter. I'll be doing these every Tuesday!

The first question is one that many people want the answer too. Heck I'm challenged with it myself at times. This person asked me:

Adrian, how can you know when you hear God's voice?

That is a really good question. As a matter of fact, being able to recognize and discern God's voice is probably THE KEY SKILLSET that every disciple of Jesus Christ must master.

If you're like me who's seeking to do God's will in every area of your life, you want His input on everything, whether it be a big decision or small one. As a matter of fact, nothing is too big to God. Everything is small to Him. That's why He wants us to come to Him for everything. As Proverbs 3:5-6 says,

Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart, lean NOT on your own understanding. But in ALL your ways acknowledge Him and He'll direct your path.

Believe it or not, the Lord WANTS us to know His will. He WANTS us to recognize and know His voice. At times it can be very hard. Trust me, I face it often.

However, this sermon by Pastor Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life and pastor of Saddleback Church, has helped me tremendously. It's some of the best teaching I've heard on learning to recognize God's voice. As a matter of fact, he's going to give you 7 ways to test if an impression is from God. I pray that it blesses you. As a bonus, you'll see my personal notes below.

• How do I know when it’s God is what he’s talking about

• Proverbs 14:12

• 1 John 4:1

7 Ways To Test An Impression From “God”

John 7:17 Message

• Must pass all 7 to know its from God

1) Does it agree with the Bible?

• God’s will never contradicts His word

• God is consistent, He’s not moody

• He won’t tell you to violate His principles

• Luke 21:33 NIV

• God’s word is eternal, truth never changes

• Opinions and scientific discoveries change

• If it’s new it’s not true

• Galatians 1:8

• Even if an angel from heaven comes and preaches another message, adding more revelations, let them be forever cursed

2) Does it make me more like Christ?

• Jesus the standard that I evaluate every thought, fad, idea, etc

• God’s purpose in my life is to make me more like Jesus

• God is more interested in my character than my comfort

• Philippians 2:5, 2 Corinthians 10:5

• When I get an idea, ask would Jesus think this

• Jesus is the fruit of the Spirit

• James 3:14-17

• It’s not an idea from God if its motivated by bitterness or envy or selfish ambition

• If it’s from God, it’s pure, peace loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy, impartial and sincere

• Considerate is will it help me but hurt anyone else

• Submissive is willing to have my idea checked by someone else

• If I don’t want to tell my wife about it, it’s not from God

• Full of mercy means I’m more gracious to other people

• impartial and sincere comes from being a hypocrite, don’t try to control people with it

3) Does my church family confirm it?

• Ask other mature believers

• I’m not meant to live life alone

• Ephesians 3:10

• Through the Church God’s wisdom is made known

• Others will/will not confirm it when I talk to them about it

• If I have a resistance of telling someone else about it, it’s not from God

• Proverbs 11:9 The wisdom of the righteous can save you

• Need a small group for feedback

• Proverbs 11:14

• If I want to make fewer mistakes, get all the godly advice I can and follow it

4) Is it consistent with how God has SHAPEd me?

• Before I was born God decided what He wanted me to do

• Don’t be someone I am not

• Spiritual Gifts

• Heart

• Abilities

• Personality

• Experiences

• Those are the 5 things that make me, me

• SHAPE determines my significance and purpose, God’s will for my life

• Ephesians 2:10

• I am God’s work of art, nobody else is like me

• He never gives me a talent to waste

• What I’m good at is a good indication of what I should do in my life

• Romans 12:6

• God has given each of us to the ability to do certain things well

• So ask myself what am I really good at

• Just because I love to do it doesn’t mean I should do it

• I can be all God SHAPEd me to be not all that I want to be

• God’s leading will not contradict what He’s called me to do

5) Does it concern my responsibility?

• Stop trying to get God’s word for someone else

• Ex when Jesus told Peter what will happen to him. Then Peter ask Jesus about John

• John 21:22

• Don’t try to be Holy Spirit to someone else

• Stop being so judgmental

• I need to listen for me, not for someone else I want to change or who is in trouble

• God will speak to me about me for what I need to change in my current situation

• Romans 14:4

• God told me to tell u is a phrase that has done more damage…

• Three guidelines if God will speak to me about someone else

• Be patient and pray, give God a chance to speak directly to the person

• He’s telling me so I can pray for them and they be receptive

• He will use me to confirm what He’s already said to them

• This is common

• He will use me without me being conscious of it

• Usually done in a way that I don’t realize He spoke through me

• Romans 14:10,13

• It is to God alone that we shale have to answer for our actions

6) Is it convicting rather than condemning?

• Conviction is given to correct us because He loves us

• Is from God

• Exposes what’s wrong

• Says “This needs to change

• Condemnation is from satan

• Attacks my value, criticizes, accuses me

• Says “I’m worthless”

• Feel guilty or bad all the time

• Romans 8:1

• God never attacks my value but He will point out my sin

• Revelation 3:19

• Condemnation is a dark cloud of guilt

• Conviction from God is like a pinpoint of light, says this is what’s wrong and this is what needs to change, so lets change it together

• He tells the solution

• Condemnation is general, vague, and never goes away

• Conviction is specific, clear and goes away as soon as I respond to it

• God’s system of justice: First comes the conviction, then comes the condemnation that Jesus takes on, lastly when I recognize it I am free and set free

• The feeling of doing wrong should only last as long as it takes me to confess and repent

• Don’t mistake our low self esteem for Gd’s voice

• Before u sin, satan minimizes it, after you sin, satan maximizes it

7) Do I sense God’s peace about it?

• If I feel constant pressure, overwhelm, or confusion then its not from God

• 1 Corinthians 14:33

• The only time pressure is legitimate is when God tells me to do something and I haven’t done it

• satan wants to DRIVE me compulsively, God wants to DRAW me compassionately

• 90% of what God wants to say to me is encouragement

• Philippians 4:6-7

• Act upon what I hear and I’ll have peace

• Proverbs 22:17

• Listen to it

• Follow it closely

• Pass it along to others

• Become like a little child to hear God’s voice

• If I could hear God clearly in the past but not so much now, what’s the problem?

• I have allowed sin to become between me and God

• Pull out that blockage and I’ll hear clearly again

• May be a relationship, habit, hurt or something else I need to let go of

• Confess it and repent

• John 8:47

• If I belong to God I hear what He says

I hope this has blessed you. If you'd like your question to be featured on Ask Adrian Anything Tuesday's, then put in your name and email below. I'll make sure to address it!

Kingdom Blessings!

P.S. Let me know which point you find the most difficult to discern and why.