JAT

It is valuable to counsel with spiritual people in the Christian community when we're learning to discern God's voice because those who have a spiritual relationship with God may have some insight and maturity to help us discern with us whether we have heard form God or not. They also enable one to test where the voice may have come from. This is especially helpful when one has a spiritual mentor - a guide. The danger of always going to another person to confirm God's word is one does not really begin to develop and rely on the faith in God to speak to the individual directly. Out growing a mentor is a common occurence because one should be striving for maturity and relationship with the Father directly, developing and building a personal realtionship with the Lord Jesus.

The voice of the devil might sound like the justification of the behaviour and actions one has taken. 'we'll they did it first so you have every right to take, steal, demand or take back etc. After a fall, it may be - We'll you are a sinner, you can't go back to God like this best to have a period of purity, goodness or time earning his favour back before you return to him. At which point the devil can continue to lure one away. the knowledge of scripture is necessary for discernment of these voices because if we can identify them we will know who they are and can be armed with how to deal with them the right way.

Gideon asks God for a sign because he trying to anchor his faith. Gideon has belief because he is already destroyed the alter of Baal, the rest of the idols and rallyed troops. The difference between Gideon seeking confirmation and tesing God is Gideon has faith and has put this faith into action. In this case Gideon is unsure of the as to whether he has heard God's voice and so is asking God to establish his faith - so he has a firm and permanent basis to go forth and fulfil God's commands. Whereas testing of God is primarily made by peope of unbelief who want signs and wonders and still may not believe. I think if we are truly descerning God's voice God does not mind us aksing in faith for confirmation as long as the heart is not desiring from a prideful, testing or demanding place, in these cases I believe God may be upset in us asking for confirmation.

Pride can corrupt our hearing from God because we: become the centre of attention as opposed to messager get caught up in being the hero of the story and not the guide want to be part of the reaction and not he catalyst. Which all centres from a deep pleasure, satisfaction or achievement of being closely associated with God and the need to be admired. We can protect ourselves from being deceived by our pride by: surendering every aspect and dimension of our lives to god my spirit, soul and body, my heart mind and will Asking the Holy Spirit to resore us in Him, renew us in Him and lead us to God's will.

The willingness to obey without full or part understanding of the reasons for God's commands is so important becasue it conveys two things in relationship under knowledge of the the person; trust and faith. When we have knowledge of the character of the person we trust especially when we do not know where He will lead us we have faith that He has our best at the heart of His will for our lives. The alternative which does not appear to be an alternative is to trust in ourselves, to believe that we have all the answers. In this case we are more like Psalm 32:9. Where we do not take counsel and advice nor are ready to to run where wisdom points the way. Hence stupidity of the heart leads us to fall into all forms of sinful calamity. Obedience can sometimes help us understand God's workings becuase when we trust God, choosing to do his will by obeying what God show us we can find out what he is planning to do through us.

A desire for a relationship with God is more important than seeking to hear his voice because desire creates relationship a knowing of that which one yearns for. A need that must be satisfied. This desire to have a relationship wth God to know Him more intimately, leads us on to find out more about him, to know his character, what He love and likes and abhors. Developing this kind of relationship is an essential foundation to build on for the trust between us and God to grow. When we trust God because we know ( yāda ) Him we can leverage this relationship (based on trust) when it is not clear what or where God may lead us to; in what we perceive is the dark or hidden path (unknown - to us). The hard things God may ask us to do. Hearing God's voice contributes to the relationship becuase after a relationship and trust has been established, we are no longer reliant on the novelty of the hearing God's voice as it relates to our perceived special position or relationship that one might believe this confers. Hearing God's voice just adds some more colour to vibranccy of colour that already existed in the relationship as opposed to being the feature wall. We are commanded to press on to know the LORD because within us there should be a sense of urgency to build a relationship with the LORD. Akin to taking hold of a prize. A prize which Jesus has given to me with the riches of this prize something that we can take hold of as we strain (it'll be a sttetch) towards heaven. Paul's passion for a relationship with God does insipre me, becuase it enables me to view the journey as a race, a journey which we must take becasue the prize is worthwhile. The prize is a richer, moe rewarding relationship with the LORD God knowing Him and the joys that exist in a wholehearted trusted realtionship within his presence.

Eli's council to Samuel was "Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, 'Speak LORD, for your servant hears"' Yes, this was good counsel from Eli. The significance of Samuel recognising that he is a servant of the LORD is important becasue Samuel has positioned himself in a humble subordinate role recognising his role and postions to the LORD's in their relationship.

I think God sometimes does not talk to us because, sometimes we are not receptive, nor listening out for his voice or expecting him to speak to us. Other times it maybe becuase he has spoken and we ae expecting a different word or confirmationthat what we heard is right. Similarly, it maybe becuase God is not speaking to us at that time. It all seems challenging to discern, but I believe that God does speak to us and in his will, will enable us to hear from him in his time, so we can take comfort in Psalm 27:14 when God is not speaking to us - Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD! in earnest expectation that God will speak in his timing which is the right timing for his will to be done in our lives.

When God give me insight into the spiritual state of people around me, I should be asking God what he wants me to do, say or act once I receive this insight about them. Yes. I have have had a nudge form God that resulted in a person receiving help, I received a nudge that I should ask a client how he bacame a christian, it turned out that he had not accted Christ into his life becasue he did not know he needed to he thought he was a christian because his parents were. I learned from these experiences that God communicates very well asking me to get involved with his objective to follow his lead if I put myself aside and see where he wants to deliver his mercy and love

The similarity between God's brief, inarticulate nudges or promptings, and David's use of the Urim and Thummim to receive direction is that the both are forms or revealings form God. In the case of nudges or promptings or in the case of 2 Samuel 5:19 -the Urim and Thummim God chooses to communicate in simple manner yes, no or left, right type response we saw earlier with Philip and Ethiopian eunuch. In these cases we are to keep going with the guidance we seeem to have. God is not telling us where we are going but just to follow and head for the objective, which is revealed progressively. When David needs more than a 'yes' or 'no' answer God provide what is needed with clear direction. So we can be confident that when listening and discerning God's voice, once we know his voice we can be suer that the nudges, promptings or need for more that a yes or no are what we need for that objective God has given us to achieve.

When reviewing these verse in Acts the promptings from the Holy Spirit are clear when seeking God's voice. As a pattern for one's walk with God, I believe that God does speak to me in promptings and nudges and has on occassion been a audible voice; albeit in some some cases I had not at the time been able to differentiate God's voice from my own internal monologue. So, I believe that expecting to hear from God and hence listening for Him in whichever way he communicates is essential if we want to hear God's voice. No is just as important an answer as yes, when the will of God is present in the answer. It's a bit like expecting to get some directions and only waiting for a right hand signal ('go right, go right') and then getting a left hand turn and experiencing confusion. I have felt God's promptings to take action, although I cannot bring to mind at occurance at the moment. I'll ponder and come back to theis question. hmmmmm.....

It is important for Simon to get a very clear command from the Spirit to go with the visitors because: Simon is confused by the dream I think he believes is has significance because it happened three times Hence, clarification from the Spirit to go with Gentiles, who potentially pose a threat to Simon is important. If the word wer not so clear I believe Simon would have procrastinated and not gone with the visitors When criticised Simon explains that the Spirit told him to go without hesitiation, which provided an explanation to the vision Simon had of eating with the uncircumcised men. I think it takes a strong faith to obey the Spirit and take an action you know you will be criticized for later, I know I disobey when I know I might face critism for obedience - the lack of action needed in the present feels better than the fear of critism later..