God is Closer Than You Think: 4 – Listening to the Voice of God
Micah 6:1-8•Psalm 15•1 Corinthians 1:18-31•Matthew 5:1-12
So far:
1 – God is Closer
2 – Week 2 Where is God?
3 – Partnering with God Today
Listening to the Voice of God
In the film, beautiful mind, Russel Crowe plays the mathematician John Nash. John Nash suffered from paranoid schizophrenia; he heard voices and saw things that weren’t there.
The brilliant mathematician that he was – his mind deceived him into believing that he saw and heard things – that weren’t there.
After some treatment, Nash was able to return to his profession; in the movie – as he discusses the possibility with a colleague; he speaks of the fact that he hears voices.
His colleague replies:
‘We all hear voices, it’s just a matter of choosing which ones we listen to…’
* * *
It should always be – with some caution – that we claim to hear the voice of God.
This is where we discover the true meaning of the third commandment – the command not to use the Lord’s name in vain.
We put God’s name to our own statements and ideas; claiming his authority for our own desires and needs.
When we speak of God speaking to us – perhaps we should use humbler terms:
Dorothy Day spoke of the lord giving her ‘notions’.
George Fox, and the Quakers – speak of the promptings of the spirit as ‘Concerns.’
Others speak of ‘Promptings,’ ‘Leadings,’ and ‘Divine Breathings.’
As we hold what we believe God to be saying to us gently; be weary of people who claim God’s authority for their own ideas.
Know that – as much as I might pray, reflect, review, rethink, reconsider my words from Sunday to Sunday they are not from God; they’re from Angus. It’s my hope that among them – you might find something that resonates with the Holy Spirit in you.
Learn the Language
But among the many voices that speak to us from day to day – we need to discern which voice is the Lord’s.
In John 10:27 Jesus tells us:
‘My sheep hear my voice.’
A flock of sheep, guided from day to day by their own shepherd begin to trust in the voice of that shepherd – to hear the calls he makes and the songs he sings; and follow him.
Step one for us, in hearing Jesus voice is recognizing the tone.
The kind of things Jesus says.
Our set gospel for today; Matthew 5:1-12; is the beatitudes.
A kind of summary of Jesus tone of voice – the kind of things Jesus’ says.
If we believe God is speaking to us, or if someone claims to have heard the voice of God and is relaying the message to us – perhaps we can check its authenticity against Jesus’ teaching:
Does this fit with: ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, blessed are those who mourn, blessed are the meek, blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, blessed are the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, the persecuted…’
Does this fit in with ‘loving my neighbour and loving God?’
* * *
Or perhaps another helpful clue comes from Paul’s letter to the Romans:
To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to se the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
- Romans 8:6
Does this message bring ‘life and peace’ or does it lead to ‘death’. Is it life giving – or life taking?
Does it fit with Jesus’ teaching – and does it lead to ‘life and peace’.
So we know what ‘kind’ of voice we’re listening for – but how do we ‘listen’.
Tune In
Our minds are bombarded by thousands of voices. Our internal dialogue. Inner voices that criticise, encourage, tempt, rationalize, budget, strategise...
I have a voice that speaks in Afrikaans.
At school our Afrikaans teacher would only allow us to speak Afrikaans in her class; I wasn’t very good at Afrikaans – so I was often in trouble.
And to this day – when I’m in trouble – I still try to think up my excuses in Afrikaans.
So that voice speaks to me in Afrikaans sometimes.
* * *
Now if we want to tune in to the voice of God – we need to start listening in the right direction.
Imagine a radio dial that runs from left to right – along that dial there are hundreds of stations.
On one side of the dial the negative, death bringing voices speak.
On the other side, the positive – life giving voices speak.
* * *
Negative
The death bringing voices speak – we all have them:
That guy is quite successful – I wonder how he cheated and stole to get there.
That guy has an expensive car – he’s so greedy; and think how it ruins the environment.
I feel threatened by this person – I’m going to believe bad things about them.
I’m late for my meeting – I’m going to be dishonest and cover for myself.
By tuning into these voices we find ourselves listening on the wrong end of the radio dial.
We reinforce our negativity – we land up unable to hear the voice that brings ‘life and peace’.
* * *
On the other end of the dial – we find ourselves in the are we’re most likely to hear God’s voice.
Middle
But most of us choose to spend half our time on each end of the dial; so all that happens is we end up conflicted.
We enjoy the negative voices.
A bit of juicy gossip is so nice. Hearing of other people’s failures makes us feel better about ourselves.
But we feel bad about the negative voice so we tune to the positive side…
O, it wasn’t gossip – it was a prayer request.
And all that happens is we end up feeling bad when we pray and when we listen to gossip.
We’ve tuned into two voices. The combination is quite toxic.
It reminds me of that verse from Revelation in the message to Laodicea:
‘Because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of my mouth…’
- Revelation 3:16
* * *
Unless we fully commit ourselves to our spiritual life with God we find ourselves almost in a worse place than we are when we just tune in on the negative end.
We don’t enjoy being naughty, and we don’t enjoy being good – because we just feel guilty all the time.
We have this constant niggling feeling that we’re not really being honest with ourselves or our neighbours; we feel like fakes.
The Positive Side
Rather, commit yourselves to only listening to the positive voices – to pay attention to Paul’s beautiful words to the Philippians:
‘…fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honourable.’
- Philippians 4:8
Become tuned into these things – and you will find that your mind is near the right frequency for discerning God’s voice.
* * *
This, is a discipline. It demands concentration… believe the best of everybody; rather than the worst.
Watch your thoughts – and your conversation; Luther said its one thing for a bird to land on your head; but if you let it make a nest you’ve got a problem.
When these thoughts and sayings cross your mind – chase them away immediately.
* * *
When someone criticises you (none of us enjoy criticism) don’t immediately retaliate with negativity – accept the criticism, secure in the knowledge that God loves you the way you are. Use it as an opportunity to grow.
When something good happens – give thanks to God for what you are experiencing. Celebrate even the small joys of life with God; a good session at the gym; a pleasing walk; a snail crossing your path.
The Psalmist says:
“I keep the Lord always before me…”
- Psalm 16:8
Always aware of God’s immediate presence.
* * *
We need to learn God’s language – by reading scripture we become used to the kind of things that God says. The ‘tone’ of God’s voice.
But we also need to tune in.
We spend most of our lives tuned into the wrong side of the dial – listening to the things that draw us away from God.
And then suddenly – when we need guidance we try to tune in on the other side – and we just get confused.
Tune into the positive side – of the dial; keep your mind tuned into God’s frequencies.
Listen Together
In a scene from A Beautiful Mind, professor John Nash – the man who hears all the voices – and sees people speaking. Meets a new person.
Someone from the Nobel prize committee – to inform him that he has been nominated to win a Nobel prize.
Professor Nash immediately stops one of his students and asks:
‘Do you see this man standing here.’
His student confirms the reality – and so Professor Nash is able to tune into this new person and hear what he has to say.
* * *
When we are accountable to each other – we are able to filter out all the strange voices – and hear God’s voice speaking to us gently and quietly.
So – learn the language; study the Bible and study Jesus; tune your mind – and listen with somebody.
Then we will be able to hear God’s call – and hopefully – live out God’s Kingdom dream more faithfully.