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VOICE OF THE SHEPHERD
7My
sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28And
I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither
shall any man pluck them out of my hand (John 10:)
1Verily,
verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the
sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a
robber. 2But he that entereth in
by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3To
him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice:
and he calleth his own sheep by name, and
leadeth them out. 4And when he putteth forth
his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him:
for they know his voice. 5And a
stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know
not the voice of strangers. (John 10:)
What
does the Shepherd's voice sound like?
Have
I startled you? Have you ever considered this question before? Has your
Pastor ever told you which voice to listen to? Has he told you to
listen to the True Shepherd's voice? Or have you been taught to listen
to your Pastor's voice?
It's
going to make a big difference in the end, don't you think?
If
you haven't heard the Shepherd's voice, don't you think it would be
expedient to check in on this? Perhaps you should ask your Pastor if he's
heard the voice of Jesus.
When
I first heard the Lord's voice, 30 years ago, I was shocked, and I was
in no position
to investigate the meaning of the experience, or how others have
experienced hearing the Lord's voice. And at this
time my entire life turned around.
The
second time I heard the Lord's voice was 30 years later. At that time I
was stressed and worried, and I cried out to the Lord for His peace.
I
received His peace, and at the same time I spent an entire month crying
uncontrollably. And at that time I began having an understanding of the
Word, which I relay on this website. And on a personal level, amazing
things began to happen that I would surely have never expected or
believed.
I
have found that when the Lord speaks to people, people change. Consider
those in the Old Testament. Consider the Apostles and others in the New
Testament. When Jesus spoke, nothing remained the same.
What
does Jesus sound like?
When
I heard the Lord's voice this last time, I set
out to learn what others who have heard the Lord's voice experienced. I
asked people if they have heard the Lord's voice. Some people thought I
was a Kook. Other's said they had heard His voice, and when they told
me of their experience, I knew they hadn't.
I
read books telling of people's experience with the Lord. Again, though
these people were very often high in the church and well regarded, I
knew they hadn't heard from the Lord.
But
one lady told me of someone she knew (or had heard of) that heard from
the Lord, and from her description of his experience, I believe he had,
because his experience was similar to my own. I don't mean to say that
God does not speak to different people in different ways, but there are
some things that just don't fit the pattern He has given us as to
how He works.
Another
confirmation as to my, or anyone else having heard from the Lord, is if
it fits the experiences that are portrayed in the Bible. All through
the Bible we have examples of God speaking to people. What did God say
to these People? How did He sound? How did He say it? What happened
before and after the experience?
There
have been other times besides those I mentioned when I heard "voices."
And it appears that these voices have some understanding of what I
expect the Lord to sound like, because they seem to be imitations of
what I had described in my writings as having heard. But they were not
His voice. I had no doubt about this. Whether those other voices were
just my own wayward thoughts, or if they were the tempter's in an
effort to confuse me I don't know. I just know they weren't the Lord's
voice.
What
does the Lord sound like?
I
would like to give you a step-by-step plan as to how you can learn to
hear the Lord's voice. I see others doing just such a thing in regards
to prayer: Pray this way, and get that. Pray saying these words, and
get this. I have never seen or heard anyone tell how to hear the Lord,
and if I did, I think I would run from that person.
I
can't tell you how to hear the voice of the Lord, but I can give you
some tips on how to find out for yourself:
Read
the Bible!
When
I say: read the Bible, I mean forget all you've been taught the Bible
says, and read it as if you had never seen the book before. Read it,
not like a story book in the children's hour or from the pulpit, but
read it like you believe every Word. You've been doing this? I doubt
it. If you have then:
What
does the Lord sound like? That's an easy question, isn't it? Ever been
asked this question before? Don't you think it's a logical question to
ask of someone who is a Christian and supposedly following the Lord? If
we're following Jesus, then we surely must have heard Him speak. Or if
we are a new Christian, we must surely be making a strong effort to
get close enough to Him to hear what He is saying. Isn't that what
you've been taught in church? It is what you've
been taught? Or do you say it isn't what you've
been taught?
Below
are some Scriptures relating to Jesus speaking; or of other people who
have heard the voice of the Lord. Perhaps you might learn from them how
to detect the Lord's voice so when He calls, you will recognize the
Shepherd's voice and not be led astray by a wolf in sheep's clothing.
And
when you've learned to hear your Shepherd's voice, perhaps you can
instruct your Pastor.
28Ye
yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that
I am sent before him. 29He that hath the bride
is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and
heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the
bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
(John 3:)
24Verily,
verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and
believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life,
and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto
life. 25Verily, verily, I say unto you, The
hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the
voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
(John 5:)
28Marvel
not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all
that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29And
shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of
life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
(John 5:)
1Verily,
verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the
sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a
robber. 2But he that entereth in by the door is
the shepherd of the sheep. 3To him the porter
openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth
his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4And
when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before
them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5And
a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know
not the voice of strangers. 6This
parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they
were which he spake unto them. 7Then said Jesus
unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am
the door of the sheep. 8All that
ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the
sheep did not hear them. 9I
am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved,
and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10The
thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am
come that they might have life, and that they might have it
more abundantly. 11I
am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
12But he that is an hireling, and not the
shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and
leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and
scattereth the sheep. 13The hireling fleeth,
because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 14I
am the good shepherd, and know my sheep,
and am known of mine. 15As the
Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life
for the sheep. 16And other sheep I have, which
are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they
shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and
one shepherd. 17Therefore
doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that
I might take it again. 18No man taketh it from
me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I
have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my
Father. ....26But ye believe not,
because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. 27My
sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28And
I give unto them eternal life; and
they shall never perish, neither shall any man
pluck them out of my hand. 29My
Father, which gave them
me, is greater than all; and no man
is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. 30I
and my Father are one.(John 10:)
Compare
this Scripture with Revelation. Notice the being called out, the being
led out of the sheepfold of His sheep.
What
is the fold where the sheep are being kept? Who is the "porter"? Who
are the other sheep that are not the Shepherd's own? They're not goats,
but sheep, in with the Good Shepherd's sheep. Who are they? Which flock
are you in? Who's voice do you hear? The porter's? The other shepherds
(or wolves as the case may be)? Or do you hear the voice of the Good
Shepherd because you are a part of His flock?
What
does your shepherd's voice sound like?
36Jesus
answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this
world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to
the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. 37Pilate
therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou
sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause
came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth.
Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. (John
18:)
Are
you "of the truth"? How do you know? There are thousands of brands of
"truth" floating around in the churches, how do you know what you're
being taught (or that you are teaching or preaching) is the truth and
not one of the many fables saturating the church? How can you be sure
you are "of the truth"?
1And
Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the
disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2And
desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found
any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them
bound unto Jerusalem. 3And as he journeyed, he
came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light
from heaven: 4And he fell to the earth,
and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why
persecutest thou me? 5And he said, Who art
thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it
is hard for thee to kick
against the pricks. 6And he
trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have
me to do? And the Lord said unto
him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou
must do. (Acts 19:)
What
was Paul (Saul) doing when he heard the Lord's voice? Was he seeking to
do the right thing? As we read Paul's writings, yes, he was
seeking with all diligence to do the "right thing." Yet he was going
just the opposite direction of that which was right.
And
what happened when Paul heard the Shepherd's voice? Did he change at
all? Or did life go on as usual for him?
9On
the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city,
Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: 10And
he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready,
he fell into a trance, 11And
saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto
him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let
down to the earth: 12Wherein were all manner of
fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things,
and fowls of the air. 13And
there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. 14But
Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is
common or unclean. 15And
the voice spake
unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that
call not thou common (Acts 10:)
Here
we have Peter, one who walked with Jesus for over three years, being
one of the closest to Jesus of all of the disciples. Peter is told to
do something. What was he told to do? Did he like what he was told? How
did Jesus talk to this special disciple who He has apparently placed
over His entire body, the Church? Did anything change in Peter's life
after he heard from Jesus? What kind of "conversation" did he have with
his Lord"
We
have very few instances where Jesus spoke to anyone, even His Apostles,
after His ascension. We find this in the Old Testament as well. Except
for Moses, who "stood in the stead of God," we see but rare occasions
that God spoke to anyone other than His prophets. Abraham, that special
one of God; David, that "Man after God's own heart:" Joseph, the one
who endured so much in his youth and who is a portrayal of God: these
heard from God but rarely, and some not at all. But when God spoke to
them, nothing was the same thereafter.
We
read where Jesus spoke to John "the Beloved." Read the account, notice
how Jesus spoke to John. Pay attention to how John responded to his
Lord and "friend." Compare your own relationship with your Lord with
those who were closest to Jesus. Do you show the same awe, reverence
and trust that Peter, John and the others who heard from their Lord has
demonstrated? Are you taught to have this kind of relationship with
Jesus? Or are you taught that you are "buddy-buddies" with Jesus and He
is just waiting to do whatever He can for you because you are so
special to Him?.
25And,
behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was
Simeon; and the same man was
just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel:
and the Holy Ghost was upon him. 26And it was
revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not
see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27And
he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the
parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of
the law, 28Then took he him up in his arms, and
blessed God, and said, (Luke 2:)
Notice
that Simeon was "just and devout" and that he was "waiting." Notice Who
was leading this man who was waiting.
For
well over a thousand years the people "waited." The entire purpose of
God selecting a people was that they should wait, and to know what to
watch for when He arrived to fulfill His purposes. No other people was
so prepared. The rest of the world was in complete ignorance of Jesus.
But the Jews waited. And they waited.
When
their Messiah finally arrived, what did they do, those who waited? Did
they flock to Him? Yes, they did. The angels called the shepherds from
the fields. Wise men came from afar to see the Messiah. The poor and
the sinful sought Jesus. Even a Roman Centurion believed on Jesus, as
did cities of the Samaritans believe on the One they had been waiting
for and had been prepared for. There was just one group of people who
did not care that their Messiah had arrived: the religious leaders who supposedly
cared the most, and who were the most educated as to the arrival of
their Messiah, and who taught the poor and beggarly what they were to
watch for and how to make themselves prepared. They taught, but they
neither believed, nor did they prepare themselves.
Sound
familiar?
When
Jesus was born, wise men came to Herod and announced the birth of their
Messiah, and the religious leaders knew absolutely that this was their
Messiah because they told Herod so. Do we read of one single of these
leaders, the "preachers of the Word" going to visit their Awaited One?
When
John the Baptist was born, there was much ado, in the Temple itself,
about how this child must be something special. When Jesus was
circumcised, two saints who had been waiting for years announced that
this was the Messiah they had been waiting for. This right in the
Temple. Do we read of any of those religious scholars announcing to
others this great event?
When
Jesus was 12 He was showing extraordinary knowledge and wisdom. The
religious leaders took note of this, but did one of them follow up on
this fact?
We
read of at least two of the religious leaders who were "secret
disciples" of Jesus, and there are verses that describe how all the
leaders believed that Jesus was the Messiah. But how many of these "in
the know" did anything but deny and persecute the One they were waiting
for? Their "position" in the community was more important than their
commitment to God or their placement as instructors of righteousness.
These
religious people were so involved with being religious, that they were
blinded to their own reality.
How
are your eyes? What do you look for? How earnest are you in your
seeking of the Lord? Is it just a ritual, a game as it was with the
religious people of Jesus' day? Who do you have your ear tuned to? Do
you think you are seeking the Lord so earnestly that angels will be
sent to gather you and to inform you of your Master's return?
Read
the parables, the many of them where Jesus describes His return, such
as the ten virgins, and the servants entrusted with the talents. Where
do you fit in to these scenarios? Read the Sower and the Seeds. Which
describes you best? Be honest with yourself now, because some day the
truth will come out, and it may look a whole lot different in the light
of day before the Judgment Seat than it does in these darkest days in
history.
42And
now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is,
the day before the sabbath, 43Joseph of
Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited
for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto
Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus. (Mark 15:)
35And
in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and
departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. 36And
Simon and they that were with him followed after him. 37And
when they had found him, they said unto him, All men
seek for thee. 38And he said
unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also:
for therefore came I forth. 39And he preached
in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils. (Mark
1:)
34And
take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged
with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so
that day come upon you unawares. 35For as
a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face
of the whole earth. 36Watch
ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to
escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before
the Son of man. (Luke 21:)
2Until
the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost
had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: 3To
whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible
proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things
pertaining to the kingdom of God: 4And, being
assembled together with them, commanded them that
they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the
promise of the Father, which, saith he,
ye have heard of me. 5For John truly baptized
with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days
hence. (Acts 1:)
5That
in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in
all knowledge; 6Even as the testimony of Christ
was confirmed in you: 7So
that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ: (1Cor 1:)
4And
we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will
do the things which we command you. 5And
the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient
waiting for Christ. (2thes 3:)
16The
Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children
of God: 17And if children, then
heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so
be that we suffer with him,
that we may be also glorified together. 18For I
reckon that the sufferings of this present time are
not worthy to be compared with the glory which
shall be revealed in us. 19For the earnest
expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons
of God. (Rom 8:)
7Ask,
and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find;
knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8For
every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to
him that knocketh it shall be opened. (Mat 7:)
There
are many people supposedly "waiting." But for what? And for Whom? What
are they looking for? What do they expect to see? Perhaps a cloud to
whisk them away into Never-Never land?
What
are you looking for? Are you really waiting? Or
are you waiting because it's "The thing to do" like the Pharisees of
Jesus" day?
15I
know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot:
I would thou wert cold or hot. 16So then
because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I
will spue thee out of my mouth. 17Because
thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and
have need of nothing; and knowest not
that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
18I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried
in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou
mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy
nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with
eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19As
many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous
therefore, and repent. 20Behold,
I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the
door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 21To
him that overcometh will I grant to
sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame,
and am set down with my Father in his throne. 22He
that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
(Rev 3:)
13But
he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not
planted, shall be rooted up. 14Let them alone:
they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind
lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. (Mat 15:)
Have
you been giving your Pastor and your Sunday School teachers their
regular eye test? Have you been searching the Scriptures with the aid
of the Holy Spirit to insure that what you are being "fed" is proper
and good fodder? Or have you been just blindly following your leader
into whatever ditch he may lead you?
8But
other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an
hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. 9Who
hath ears to hear, let him hear. (Mat 13:)
It
might be possible that your Pastor has very good vision and can see
things in their right perspective. But his ability will be useless to
you unless your hearing is at its best. Have you been inspecting your
hearing for truth-blocking ear wax and faulty connections? A good Bible
understanding is essential for good hearing.
5And
Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man
deceive you: 6For many
shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ;
and shall deceive many. (Mark 13:)
22For
false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and
wonders, to seduce, if it
were possible, even the elect. 23But
take ye heed: behold, I have
foretold you all things. (Mark 13:)
Note,
even the "very elect" of God will come close to being deceived. Why
won't the elect be deceived? Is it because they are hearing the voice
of the Lord and they're not confused by the many other voices in the
world?
We
think that all we have to worry about is some "beast" who will be
obvious to everyone because he'll be running around with a rubber stamp
putting numbers on everyone's forehead. But John tells us:
18Little
children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that
antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we
know that it is the last time. 19They
went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us,
they would no doubt have continued with us: but they
went out, that they might be made manifest that they were
not all of us. (John 2:)
42But
I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. 43I
am come in my Father's name, and ye
receive me not: if another shall come in his own name,
him ye will receive. 44How
can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the
honour that cometh
from God only? (John 5:)
The
church does the very same thing the leaders and the religious did in
Jesus' day: they serve one another and seek to impress one another.
Those who do so learn the Bible in order to be better able to sell
false doctrine, or to impress others with how much they know.
Read
carefully these final passages and see where you will be standing.
21Not
every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom
of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22Many will say to me in that day, Lord,
Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out
devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And
then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye
that work iniquity. 24Therefore
whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them,
I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25And
the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat
upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26And
every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall
be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house
upon the sand: 27And the rain descended, and
the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it
fell: and great was the fall of it. 28And it
came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were
astonished at his doctrine: 29For he taught
them as one having authority, and not as the
scribes. (John 7:)
13Enter
ye in at the strait gate: for wide is
the gate, and broad is
the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in
thereat: 14Because strait is
the gate, and narrow is the way,
which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 15Beware
of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly
they are ravening wolves. 16Ye shall know them
by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17Even
so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree
bringeth forth evil fruit. 18A good tree cannot
bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt
tree bring forth good fruit. 19Every
tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the
fire. 20Wherefore by their
fruits ye shall know them. (Mat 7:)
13(For
not the hearers of the law are just before God,
but the doers of the law shall be justified. (Rom 2:)
21Wherefore
lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive
with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 22But
be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only,
deceiving your own selves. 23For
if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man
beholding his natural face in a glass: 24For he
beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what
manner of man he was. 25But
whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein,
he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall
be blessed in his deed. 26If any
man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but
deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is
vain. 27Pure
religion and undefiled before God and the Father is
this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and
to keep himself unspotted from the world.
(James 1:)
31When
the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with
him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32And
before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them
one from another, as a shepherd divideth his
sheep from the goats: 33And he shall set the
sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34Then
shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my
Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the
world: (Mat 25:)
11And
I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the
earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12And
I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were
opened: and another book was opened, which is the book
of life: and the dead were judged out of those things
which were written in the books, according to their works.
(Rev 20:)
25And
there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto
them, 26If any man come
to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and
brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he
cannot be my disciple. 27And
whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my
disciple. 28For which of you,
intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the
cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29Lest
haply, after he hath laid the
foundation, and is not able to finish it, all
that behold it begin to mock him, 30Saying, This
man began to build, and was not able to finish. 31Or
what king, going to make war against
another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able
with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty
thousand? 32Or else, while the other is yet a
great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of
peace. 33So
likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath,
he cannot be my disciple. 34Salt is
good: but if the salt have lost his
savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? 35It is
neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but
men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. (Luke 14:)
62And
Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the
plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
(Luke 9:)
24Know
ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one
receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25And
every man that striveth for the
mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it
to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26I
therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that
beateth the air: 27But I keep under my body,
and bring it into subjection: lest
that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a
castaway. (1Cor 9:)
11And
he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the
mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these
things are done in parables: 12That seeing
they may see, and not perceive; and hearing
they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they
should be converted, and their sins should be
forgiven them. 13And he said unto them, Know ye
not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables? 14The
sower soweth the word. 15And
these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they
have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the
word that was sown in their hearts. 16And
these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they
have heard the word, immediately receive it with
gladness; 17And
have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time:
afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake,
immediately they are offended. 18And these are
they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, 19And
the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of
riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and
it becometh unfruitful. 20And
these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and
receive it,
and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
(Mark 4:)
3But
he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress
the commandment of God by your tradition? 4For
God commanded, . . . Thus have ye made
the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. 7Ye
hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8This
people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their
lips; but their heart is far from me. 9But
in vain they do worship me, teaching for
doctrines the commandments of men. (Mat 15:)
15If
ye love me, keep my commandments. 16And
I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another
Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17Even
the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive,
because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he
dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (John 14:)
25These
things have I spoken unto you, being yet present
with you. 26But the Comforter, which
is the Holy Ghost, whom the
Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring
all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
(John 14:)
5Jesus
answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man
be born of water and of
the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6That
which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the
Spirit is spirit. (John 3:)
7My
sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28And
I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish,
neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
(John 10:)
LISTENING
FOR THE VOICE OF GOD
Joseph
did not hear the voice of God. Abraham heard the voice of God but
rarely, and the first time he did so he was older than most of us will
ever be. Even Moses, who was the voice of God to millions of people did
not hear from God until he was 80 years old. And most of the Apostles
did not hear from their Lord after they watched Him ascend into heaven,
and then but rarely for the few who did.
Yet
these people were able to follow the Lord, in spite of their not being
able to hear Him audibly. How could this be?
15If ye
love me, keep my commandments. 16And
I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that
he may abide with you for ever; 17Even
the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive,
because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him;
for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
18I
will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. 19Yet
a little while, and the world seeth
me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. 20At
that day ye shall know that I am
in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. 21He
that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is
that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of
my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
22Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot,
Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto
the world? 23Jesus answered and said unto him,
If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him,
and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24He
that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear
is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
25These
things have I spoken unto you, being yet present
with you. 26But
the Comforter, which is
the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach
you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I
have said unto you. 27Peace I
leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give
I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
(John 14:)
1I
am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2Every
branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch
that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3Now ye are clean through the word which I
have spoken unto you. 4Abide
in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except
it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5I
am the vine, ye are
the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the
same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6If a man abide not in me, he is cast
forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them
into the fire, and they are burned. 7If ye
abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and
it shall be done unto you. 8Herein
is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my
disciples.
9As
the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
10If
ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even
as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 11These
things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that
your joy might be full. 12This
is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
13Greater love hath no man than this, that
a man lay down his life for his friends. 14Ye
are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. 15Henceforth
I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord
doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard
of my Father I have made known unto you. 16Ye
have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye
should go and bring forth fruit, and that
your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask
of the Father in my name, he may give it you. 17These
things I command you, that ye love one another.. .
26But
when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you
from the Father, even
the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify
of me: 27And ye also shall bear
witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning. (John 15:)
7Nevertheless
I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away:
for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I
depart, I will send him unto you. 8And
when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of
righteousness, and of judgment: 9Of
sin, because they believe not on me; 10Of
righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11Of
judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. 12I
have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 13Howbeit
when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all
truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear,
that
shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. 14He
shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall
show it
unto you. 15All things that the
Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and
shall show it
unto you.. (John 16:)
The
chances are slim that any of us are going to hear the Lord call our
name, or verbally explain to us what He wants us to do. That would be a
great thing if He did so. But that is not the way He has chosen to deal
with us. He did not do so with His disciples, nor will He with us. Yet
there is a way that He has provided by which He may communicate with us.
I
hope I have shaken your confidence that He will tell us what He desires
of us through a pastor. He might, but that is unlikely, especially
since few pastors, it appears, are listening to God themselves.
In
order to be in the will of God, we must be striving to fulfill His
commands. We must be doing what we have been given to do, and this in
little steps. Those who take the steps given them will be given more.
Those who remain in their pews and trust in their church doctrine, will
hear no more than what comes from the pulpit.
We
must past one test before we are given a more advanced test. And it is
in the testing that we are able to grow in faith, and to become ever
more in tune with the Lord's voice.
Often
we are not aware that we are truly walking in the will of God, but as
time passes, many years on occasion as it was with Joseph and Moses,
the working of the Lord reveals itself in our past. Joseph expressed
this concept thusly:
17And
Joseph wept when they spake unto him. 18And his
brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said,
Behold, we be thy servants. 19And
Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the
place of God? 20But as for you, ye
thought evil against me; but
God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it
is this day, to save much people alive. 21Now
therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he
comforted them, and spake kindly unto them. (Gen 50:)
After
writing the main body of this article I was given a suggestion that
expresses this portion that I now write, and that I had missed. The
critique explains what needs to be said better than I am able to say
it, so I would like to print it in its entirety here, and leave it as a
conclusion.
"Interesting, and good, but
don't forget that the Holy Ghost speaks to us interiorly. He moves our
souls to take action, to do God's will.
He
touches our heart and His word becomes clear and distinct in our
immortal souls."
( For
more on this subject, read The
Judgment, and Ten Gates.)
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