I have been thinking a lot about listening and discerning the voice of God recently. Specifically considering the role of the Holy Spirit plays in giving us direction. How can we be sure when it is the Holy Spirit speaking to us and not something else such as our emotions?
I recently received an email from a church member on this subject. The author of the email wrote:
“The one thing I am feeling very strongly about is how loosely everyone uses the Holy Spirit to say that the actions and words we use are totally led by the Holy Spirit. My self included. I openly admit that, and with God’s help will nip that kind of language. I feel like emotions are leading many to look for the answers they want. I do not, and am at a point where I want to refuse to be engaged in any talk that would actually grieve the Holy Spirit because of it.”
Her concern was that people were throwing out the Holy Spirit’s name to justify their position or viewpoint. The 10 Commandments forbid us to take the name of the Lord in vain. And using the Holy Spirit’s name to justify our position on a given matter is a gross violation of this commandment.
Maybe I had a dream last night. In this dream God told me to do something. Then someone called me on the phone the next day and told me the same thing. Is this the Holy Spirit speaking to me? Maybe! Maybe not! When we believe that God is speaking to us through the Holy Spirit, there are ways to confirm it.
As Lutherans, we believe and teach that God’s regular means of communication are through the Word and the Sacraments. This means that God regularly speaks to us when we read the Word, study the Word, and reflect upon the Word. He reveals himself when we receive the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We can be absolutely certain that we hear from God through these “means of grace.”
Now we keep in mind that God is God. We cannot limit God and keep God in a box. While God regularly uses the means of grace to communicate with his people there are certainly other ways in which he can communicate with us. He will speak through visions and dreams. He will speak through events and circumstances. He will speak through other people.
But we MUST be discerning in these other matters. If we believe that God is revealing something to us in a different way, it is critically important that we test this word we receive. In John’s first epistle he writes: Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1
We test these spirits first and foremost according to the Word. We go back to the Scripture. Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” 1 Samuel 15:29, “He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a man, that he should change his mind."
God does not go back on his Word. His message does not change. What he said thousands of years ago, is still true today. That is why Paul says in Galatians 1:8, “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!”
Also in 2 Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness . . .” Did you catch that? All Scripture is useful for correcting. That means correcting us, if we were to hear a voice that we believe is from God, but is not. If the message we believe is from God, does not conform to the Word of God, then that message is not from God.
Not only does the Word confirm God’s voice, but the church does so as well. If the church is not confirming of what God is speaking to you, then you had better be careful that it is indeed God who is speaking to you.
This is most clearly seen in the calling to ministry. There are many people who may feel called into ministry whether that be as a pastor, or a teacher, or an elder, or a worship leader. It has always been impressed upon me that you may feel that calling, but the confirmation of that calling will come from the church when the church brings you into that ministry through the laying on of hands.
I am reminded of Paul’s calling to be an apostle. He discovered that calling on the road to Damascus, but that calling would later be confirmed by the church. There is a story where the church is worshipping in Antioch. And it says, “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.” Acts 13:2-3
Yet a third test of the Spirit is the test of leadership. Hebrews 13:17 say, “Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.”
Authority is something that is established by God. And when we go against the leadership that he has put in place we are rebelling against God. In speaking about secular authority, Romans 13:1-2 says, “The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” And if this is true for secular authorities it is certainly true of spiritual authorities as well.
On top of all this there is the commandment that says, “Honor your father and your mother, that it may go well with you.” The spirit of this commandment is not only our biological parents that God has established as an authority, but every authority he puts over us, whether it be our boss at work, our pastor at church, our president of the United States, or our small group leader.
If you believe God is speaking to you, do not rush to conclusion. Keep in mind that Satan is the wolf in sheep’s clothing. He is the great deceiver. His trademark is to take the Word of God and twist it. Think about the temptation of Eve in the garden of Eden. Think about the temptation of Jesus in the desert. Both times Satan used words that God had spoken.
Satan does not speak to us in obvious ways, but in subtle deceitful ways. He does not come to us and say, “this is the voice of Satan.” Rather he comes to use disguised as the voice of God.
That is why it is important for us to know the Word inside and out. That is why must seek to grow in maturity of faith. That is why we must be quick to listen and slow to speak. Don’t rush to conclusion or judgment. Wait patiently on the Lord. Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord.
Confirm God’s voice through the Word. Confirm it through the church. Confirm it through the leadership and authorities that God has established.
In the end, know that the voice of God is one of love. “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” 1 John 4:7
I recently received an email from a church member on this subject. The author of the email wrote:
“The one thing I am feeling very strongly about is how loosely everyone uses the Holy Spirit to say that the actions and words we use are totally led by the Holy Spirit. My self included. I openly admit that, and with God’s help will nip that kind of language. I feel like emotions are leading many to look for the answers they want. I do not, and am at a point where I want to refuse to be engaged in any talk that would actually grieve the Holy Spirit because of it.”
Her concern was that people were throwing out the Holy Spirit’s name to justify their position or viewpoint. The 10 Commandments forbid us to take the name of the Lord in vain. And using the Holy Spirit’s name to justify our position on a given matter is a gross violation of this commandment.
Maybe I had a dream last night. In this dream God told me to do something. Then someone called me on the phone the next day and told me the same thing. Is this the Holy Spirit speaking to me? Maybe! Maybe not! When we believe that God is speaking to us through the Holy Spirit, there are ways to confirm it.
As Lutherans, we believe and teach that God’s regular means of communication are through the Word and the Sacraments. This means that God regularly speaks to us when we read the Word, study the Word, and reflect upon the Word. He reveals himself when we receive the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We can be absolutely certain that we hear from God through these “means of grace.”
Now we keep in mind that God is God. We cannot limit God and keep God in a box. While God regularly uses the means of grace to communicate with his people there are certainly other ways in which he can communicate with us. He will speak through visions and dreams. He will speak through events and circumstances. He will speak through other people.
But we MUST be discerning in these other matters. If we believe that God is revealing something to us in a different way, it is critically important that we test this word we receive. In John’s first epistle he writes: Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1
We test these spirits first and foremost according to the Word. We go back to the Scripture. Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” 1 Samuel 15:29, “He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a man, that he should change his mind."
God does not go back on his Word. His message does not change. What he said thousands of years ago, is still true today. That is why Paul says in Galatians 1:8, “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!”
Also in 2 Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness . . .” Did you catch that? All Scripture is useful for correcting. That means correcting us, if we were to hear a voice that we believe is from God, but is not. If the message we believe is from God, does not conform to the Word of God, then that message is not from God.
Not only does the Word confirm God’s voice, but the church does so as well. If the church is not confirming of what God is speaking to you, then you had better be careful that it is indeed God who is speaking to you.
This is most clearly seen in the calling to ministry. There are many people who may feel called into ministry whether that be as a pastor, or a teacher, or an elder, or a worship leader. It has always been impressed upon me that you may feel that calling, but the confirmation of that calling will come from the church when the church brings you into that ministry through the laying on of hands.
I am reminded of Paul’s calling to be an apostle. He discovered that calling on the road to Damascus, but that calling would later be confirmed by the church. There is a story where the church is worshipping in Antioch. And it says, “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.” Acts 13:2-3
Yet a third test of the Spirit is the test of leadership. Hebrews 13:17 say, “Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.”
Authority is something that is established by God. And when we go against the leadership that he has put in place we are rebelling against God. In speaking about secular authority, Romans 13:1-2 says, “The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” And if this is true for secular authorities it is certainly true of spiritual authorities as well.
On top of all this there is the commandment that says, “Honor your father and your mother, that it may go well with you.” The spirit of this commandment is not only our biological parents that God has established as an authority, but every authority he puts over us, whether it be our boss at work, our pastor at church, our president of the United States, or our small group leader.
If you believe God is speaking to you, do not rush to conclusion. Keep in mind that Satan is the wolf in sheep’s clothing. He is the great deceiver. His trademark is to take the Word of God and twist it. Think about the temptation of Eve in the garden of Eden. Think about the temptation of Jesus in the desert. Both times Satan used words that God had spoken.
Satan does not speak to us in obvious ways, but in subtle deceitful ways. He does not come to us and say, “this is the voice of Satan.” Rather he comes to use disguised as the voice of God.
That is why it is important for us to know the Word inside and out. That is why must seek to grow in maturity of faith. That is why we must be quick to listen and slow to speak. Don’t rush to conclusion or judgment. Wait patiently on the Lord. Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord.
Confirm God’s voice through the Word. Confirm it through the church. Confirm it through the leadership and authorities that God has established.
In the end, know that the voice of God is one of love. “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” 1 John 4:7
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3 comments:
The Young Pastor says: Authority is something that is established by God. And when we go against the leadership that he has put in place we are rebelling against God. In speaking about secular authority, Romans 13:1-2 says, “The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” And if this is true for secular authorities it is certainly true of spiritual authorities as well.
Not all authority comes from God.
Some men take what has not been given. Some men give what they do not have. Not all men who lead were really called. That is why so many churches are closing. If it feels wrong, you must question it. If the answers do not match the scriptures, try to correct the problem. How many souls would have been spared in the church of Jim Jones had enough been strong enough to stand up for God? Be careful of the Koolaide you drink. If leaders are doing things that harm God's church, they need to be held accountable like anyone else. They will certainly be more accountable with the Lord God almighty.
Indeed, not all authority comes from God. There are those who claim authority for themselves.
A very interesting movie is "The Apostle" with Robert Duval. In the movie, Robert Duval baptizes himself as an apostle. He does this after murdering the man his wife had been having an affair with.
Robert Duval's authority came not from God, but from himself. I was too young to really remember Jim Jones, but my guess was that his authority was self-established and not God-established.
Authority is not taken, but given. That is my point here. Every leader must be held accountable.
A spiritual leader's authority should match much of the same criteria. First, they are accountable to the Word of God. That they preach, teach, live, instruct, correct, and rebuke according to the Word. Their authority is confirmed through the church by the church for the church. In other words, God calls them through the church into a place of authority. Finally, the leader submits themselves to the authority of the greater church and to the established governance of the church.
Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give and account. Hebrews 13:17
It is the Lord your God you must follow, and Him you must revere. Keep His commands and obey Him and hold fast to Him. Deuteronomy 13:4
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