The Voice of God

While I was training at YWAM, a teacher told us that when we hear a string of good thoughts, it's God speaking.  I never really asked what he meant, but I began contemplating it.  Does God still literally speak to people, and if so, what does He sound like?  I began seeking answers for those questions, and eventually the answers began revealing themselves.

About a month after I came back from training, I started attending a church called Elmbrook.  One day, an older woman stood on stage and told amazing stories of times when she listened to God.  Listened to God!?  Did God actually speak to her?  Her sermon didn't answer that question, so I requested an appointment to meet.

A week later, Jill and I met at a coffee shop, and I told her that I wanted to find out what God's voice sounded like.  "Is He in the inner monologue I hear when I talk to myself, Jill?"  She chucked and told me that people from all over the world have asked her how to hear God's voice, but she warned that her answer might not impress me: she was right.

She began with the typical, "God speaks through the bible" answer, and then began to caution about the inner monologue.  I was disappointed, but Jill explained that it's hard to know which thoughts are from God, and it's easy to be led astray if you're wrong.  Although I wanted to quit listening, she was persistent in her explanation.  She said that she first asks God to bring a bible verse into her head, and then makes sure she understands it.  That seemed simple enough to me, but for some reason she kept restating her point.

Ask for a verse, and know what it means.  


She explained that it's because you can be ineffective whether you misunderstand God by a mile or an inch.  She advised me to I learn the bible as best I could, even taking seminary if possible.  I thought her advice was simple, but it took me 3 months to realize that she was providing me with new and important information.  

I say 3 months, because at about that time I ran into a young man who was unemployed and in need of assistance.  He said his family wouldn't help him, and I didn't really know him, so I asked a pastor for advice.  The pastor suggested that I maintain wisdom in the manner I offer help, because it's easy to enable someone who has bad motives.  The pastor's advice was helpful, but knew I couldn't judge the young man's motives.  Instead, I asked God for wisdom, and I believe that's when God spoke to me.


I was reminded of James 2:14-16 which says:


What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds?  Can such faith save them?  Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.  If one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?

Looking back, I realized that three things happened.  First, James 2:14-16 came to mind when I asked God for help.  Next, I continued with my day and decided to pray about it later, but felt like the verse was hijacking my brain when I thought of this young man's situation.  Finally, the verse eventually just started coming into my mind randomly.  I felt plagued by the verse, so that's when I figured it was God reminding me to help him.   In essence, Jill's advice worked:  


Ask for a verse, and trust God to provide.  


So does God still speak to His people?  Yes, I believe He spoke to me personally in that situation.  What did it sound like?  Like a verse from the bible.  Am I disappointed?  Absolutely not!


Although He spoke through the bible, it was a lot more personal than I originally thought.  God's word is alive, active and useful in your time of need.  The bible isn't just a list of rules and strategies to be successful in life, nor is it just a story with parables and lessons.  The bible is a way for God to personally speak into our situation...if we understand Him.  Which brings up Jill's second piece of advise:


Know What It Means!


I think that's something I going to address in my next blog, but for the meantime, I encourage you to understand the bible to the best of your ability.  Life is so much more fun when you can put your faith in a God who actively speaks to your situation.

It's Worth The Trouble!

I went for a walk with a friend one day, and while we were talking about our girlfriends, he said, "you know Josh, giving a woman a ring these days is like telling her you want to break up."  I laughed, but realized he was pointing out a discouraging and widely held belief in our culture; divorce rates are at an all-time high.  In fact, many people say that over 50% of all marriages in America will end in divorce, which is really discouraging considering that I'm getting married in 2 months.  

I honestly don't know whether that statistic is true, but I find it hard to believe that anyone makes a commitment before their family and friends, and then breaks it on a whim.  In fact, I think the couple's hope is stolen by difficult circumstances which cause suffering.  Suffering?! Is marriage worth suffering?

I decided that the best way to answer that question was to ask an older man who has stayed loyal through a very tough situation.

Jerry's wife has battled with depression for most of their marriage, and now she has acquired Alzheimer's in her old age.  I consider this man to be my mentor because he has been a constant encouragement and example of faithfulness.  As I was reading through the book of romans, I came to the romans 5:3 where Paul urges us to rejoice in the midst suffering.  Although I knew it was possible to find contentment while suffering, I began to wondered whether it was possible to actually rejoice in it.  I think of contentment as saying, "I can deal with this, because I know I will survive."  Rejoicing on the other hand, is thanking God during the hardship in your life.  How is it possible to be thankful during pain and suffering?  I thought my mentor could shine some light on the subject.

The next time I saw Jerry, I said to him, "Jerry, I understand that you can find contentment in the midst of trials and suffering, but is it possible to be joyful during those sufferings?  Is it possible for you to thank God for allowing your wife's disease to place hardship upon you?"  I was amazed at how quickly he responded.  "Oh, absolutely Josh.  Yes, you can definitely be joyful."  He then went on to explain two reasons why it's possible to give thanks even while suffering.  The first is that suffering produces a stronger character, which has many benefits on it's own.
  

In Romans 5:4-5 Paul says that tribulation (suffering) brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope.  What does it mean to have a proven character?  I think it means we become like Jesus by following the Spirit of God.  I say that, because James 1:2-4 mentions that trials (tribulation/suffering) bring about maturity, and Jesus was the greatest example of spiritual maturity.  I also know that Romans 8 explains that the children of God are led by the Holy Spirit to become like Jesus.  So what's the result of being led by the Holy Spirit to become like Jesus?

Well, the leading of the Spirit brings life and peace, and Galations 5 lists the "fruits of the Spirit" which are: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.

In essence, Jerry was telling me that his hardships helped him experience greater measures of love, joy, peace patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.  He was also stating that God is powerful enough to bring good from a bad situation as promised in Romans 8:28 "God works all things together for the good of those who love Him and who have been called according to his purpose." 

The other reason why Jerry said he found joy in the midst of his suffering is because he knew it was temporary.  Again, this goes back to Romans 5.  In Romans 5, Paul says that suffering eventually produces hope, and this is a hope for eternal life with God.  One day we will all die, but those who put their hope in Jesus (even when it requires suffering and persecution) will live with God for eternity.  Our temporary sufferings will nothing compared to that eternity of peace, love and joy.  


So, that brings me back to my initial question: is marriage worth suffering?  Who am I to answer that question; I've never been married.  But what I do know is this: if there is suffering involved, so be it.  God said that if suffering comes, He will bring His children through it with a stronger character and a hope for the future.  How great is that?!

Decisions, Decisions...

I first heard about the WWJD (what would Jesus do) bracelets while spending a week at a Christian summer camp before 7th grade.  They really took off in the 90’s and were designed to make people think about the choices they made.  After I left the camp, I threw the bracelet away; abandoning my moral compass in order to obtain popularity.  Looking back, I realize that part of the reason I failed to see any significance in the bracelets was because I had such a narrow view of them.

At that age, I believed the bracelets were intended to prevent me from sinning by making me remember my moral code.  It wasn’t a lack of knowledge that caused me to sin, though, it was a desire to be accepted, and the bracelets didn’t help me feel accepted.

Could I have avoided some of those failures by asking the question WWJD?  Yes, but only temporarily.  The bible mentions that the knowledge of right and wrong (the law) wasn’t meant to keep us from sin, but to reveal the sin we all have in our hearts.  We can strive to have Godly behaviors, but we are still going to fail eventually because we are human.  No one is perfect; everyone has sinned in their lives.  That’s why we all need forgiveness.

So the question arises: what does this have to do with my “narrow view” of the WWJD bracelets?

Well, I’m beginning to see the significance of WWJD bracelets again, because I have new questions which can only be answered by Jesus.  Let me explain…

One of the things I’ve noticed is the prevalence of opinions in our society.  People spend countless hours researching topics in order to tell us how to live our lives.  Take the example of the decisions leading up to a potential recall election for Scott Walker.  Very smart people have been researching ideas to fix the budget, yet each side arrives at a different conclusion.

Although each party has great ideas, neither will concede because they believe their idea is best.

This puts us in a difficult spot, because how can we know what’s right if the experts can’t agree?  Who gets the final say?  As we have seen with the Walker election, no one get the final say.  We argue instead of making unified choices.

It’s times like this that I realize I’m blessed to be a Christian, because our ways are different.  

For example:

My mentor keeps mentioning that the direction of the church is determined by biblical principles. As the pastor of a church, he submits to the authority of the elders who submit to the authority of the bible.  He and the elders ask questions like, “What does the bible say about church finances?”  Or “did Jesus train people in a small group format?”

This concept of biblical based decision making is something I’ve failed to act upon, because I thought Jesus only wanted to prevent me from sinning.  I am now beginning to realize that He wants to help answer all sorts of tough questions, and I can choose to listen to the world’s experts or the true expert: the author of Truth.

God gave us His word in order to help us navigate through tough choices, and He demonstrated that He was going to lead us in the right path through His sacrifice.  It’s impossible to say that God wants to lead us into harm when He came to earth and died on a cross in order to save us from eternal death.  So my question is this:

If you know who has the truth, and you know He wants to save you from death, why would you hesitate to ask Him for help?

Don’t believe me, read it yourself:

John 3:16   “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:17   God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

Jeremiah 29:11   For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

James 1:5    If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.