Shogird

Why is a desire for a relationship with God more important than seeking to hear his voice? This is a profound wisdom to me. For some reason, I thought "hearing God" is somehow the next level that few Christian can reach. I forgot that Hearing God and Relationship go together. This also applies to human relationships. Husband and wife can live together but they can't hear each other intimately. A wife may think she already knows everything about husband and husband may feel that his wife is not his soulmate in the sense that they are not connected on a deeper level. She may not recognize that [some] husbands seek the respect and leadership but not the overlording. How does hearing his voice contribute to the relationship? It will remind us to return to our first love and how far we drifted away in times of carelessness, sin, and desolation. Eli once was a person who heard God but he changed and drifted away. I wonder why he did not return to His God with all his heart. Was it too late when God spoke to Samuel and pronounced judgment against Eli and his family? Why are we commanded to “press in” to know the Lord? I interpret this word as being intentional. I should be intentional in knowing God. The title of being Christian does not guarantee the voice of God. We have to press on to know the Lord. "Jesus replied, "'You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.'" Matthew 22:37 How does Paul’s passion for a relationship with God inspire you? "I want to know Christ.... I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.... Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:10-14) This is inspiring to me. He heard his voice, he saw Jesus' appearance, he performed great miracles with Jesus name, he had a great knowledge and revelation of God but he still insists on pursuing God and knowing Him. What a stark contrast to prophet Eli who fell to complacency later in his life. Paul's example inspires me to seek and love God with all my heart and mind and to be humble when I receive something from God or hear His voice.

Thank you for this response. I agree that our motives should be clear and clean. On God's guidance or hearing His voice, sometimes we Christians tend to confuse the desires of our hearts and thoughts with God's guidance. Lord teach us to be humble.

Thank you for suggestions. I feel 10-15 minutes are not enough for me. I am easily distracted and I usually end up spending an hour or more. I like to analyze scriptures and read background information on them.

2 Cor 12:9b: "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." God is telling us that it is through His power and His guidance we can do the work for Him and not relying on our own strength and thinking. I may not have all the resources, my health may fail and I would wonder how I can continue but it is Lord who guides me and who gives me the strength to continue. In my weakness, I will yield to the power of Christ so all the glory would be to Him. We need the Power of Christ. Acts 18:9-10 "9 And the Lord said to Paul a one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” This is Jesus' ministry. Here we see that Paul, an apostle appointed by Jesus himself, is doing the ministry. Lord Jesus appears in a vision to Paul to encourage him and confirm his ministry here. We all who confess the name of Jesus are the living testimony to Jesus regardless of our calling and various occupation in this life (preacher, teacher, soldier and etc.) We should not be afraid to testify about our Lord in words and deeds and with our lives. Acts 23:11 "The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.” In this passage Bible does not mention vision but says "the Lord stood by Him". It sounds similar to when Jesus appeared to His disciples after His resurrection. Sounds like Jesus appears more clearly to Paul here. It seems to me that Lord is granting Paul greater opportunity (to preach at Rome, the center of civilization of his time) after Paul's testimony in Jerusalem. As we are faithful and diligent in our testimony, God can lead us to greater opportunities in ministry to Him. Acts 27:24: "and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’" This passage reminds me Proverbs 22:29: "Seest thou a man diligent in his work? He shall stand before kings; ...". Jesus encourages Paul not to fear in the face of the storm. Jesus reminds Paul that Lord has authority over physical world and souls of man. As God sent Moses to Pharaoh, Jesus sends Paul to Ceasar. Who is our Ceasar in our lives today that God can send us to for greater testimony for Him? We can rest assured that if He is leading us to that He will orchestrate the circumstances and situations for us.

I don't know exactly how the Holy Spirit makes "the mind of Christ" available to me but reading these verses one thing struck me that God opened himself to us and made us to be part of His family, an intimate circle of trusted and loved. As we live in close communion in this union and share the life of God we can discern the heart of God. The Bible urges me to walk continuously in the Spirit. In prayer, worship and daily walk my heart needs to be tuned to the Holy Spirit to listen to God.

Q3. (John 14-16) What promises concerning the Paraclete – Comforter – Counselor – Helper – Holy Spirit does Jesus give in John chapters 14-16? How do these relate to guidance? To “hearing” God? Promises: Helper(Comforter) who will be with us forever/14:16 The Spirit of truth whom we would know, who abides in us and will be in us/14:17 The Holy Spirit would teach us and bring to our remembrance all that Jesus said to His disciples /14:25 Helper(Comforter), the Spirit of truth coming from the Father would testify about Jesus Christ /15:26 The Spirit of truth will guide us into all the truth and he will reveal what is to come /16:12 He will glorify the Son, Jesus Christ. He would take things of Jesus and reveal to us /16:13 The Helper would convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgement. /16:8 The promise of the Holy Spirit, Comforter, Helper, Counselor directly relates to guidance and hearing God. The Holy Spirit should guide us into all the truth. He will bring to our remembrance what Jesus had spoken. He will reveal to us about future events. He will comfort us in the physical absence of Jesus, our Lord. We hear God through the agency of the Holy Spirit.

I teach Robotics in High School and I understand that robots or computers are "dumb" meaning they need instruction even to do the simplest task. Reading these verse I understand that Jesus was not a "robot" or direct physical extension without free will and personality. Jesus was a unique human being and divine same time. Having his own personality and free will He did not venture out to establish an alternative kingdom apart from the kingdom of the Father. There are two extremes, one is losing one's unique personality and being possessed by external forces (some eastern religions) or follow the letter of a law (Pharisees and etc). Another extreme is to establish one's own authority and act autonomously. As a son of man, I think Jesus was in the middle. Father loved the Son and showed him all things. As the son of God, Jesus had the oneness with the Father and saw His work and knew His will. His mission was the mission of His Father. "I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me." verse 30. I can learn from the example of Jesus that I need to abide in Jesus and apart from Him I can do nothing that can bring lasting change. Same time I should not bury my coins in the ground and fear to act and seek revelation or bible verses for each of my step. At the same time, I should not selfishly follow my own heart and do things and ask God to bless them afterward.

If Jesus was God why He had to withdraw and pray? I think He was also a son of man, a human being subject to laws, physical and emotional limitations on earth. He might be overwhelmed by pressing human needs and constant noise. By reading this portion one thing struck me that Jesus preached, healed and cast out demons everywhere he went. Probably it was quiet and beautiful place in Nazareth and Judea at that time but when Jesus started to preach the truth and expose the evil, all the problems and a spiritual confrontation started to come out to the surface. Today when we go out and see nice roads, neighborhoods, nicely dressed people we may not realize that there is still a need for God's truth to be preached and demons to be cast out. I think Jesus is trying to teach us to be in prayer before engaging the world. I myself have three small kids and it is hard to find a quiet place at home. I have to go someplace to study and pray or I have to do that when everybody is sleeping. For this new year, I want to be intentional about finding a quiet place to spend time with God before going out to the world.

It is really encouraging to read other people's responses here. In my situation, I experienced both the courage and fear. I truly believe courage comes after prayers and confidence in God's leading. I remember in the past I was courageous to make my decision and act upon it (my wrong understanding of God's leading and my deep desire to follow my will), only find out that I failed profoundly. Also, I remember a remarkable way of God's leading. In 2015, my sister's condition is worsened by her brain tumor. For some years I was trying to find help from doctors, but her brain cancer came to the point that I had to make the decision. When I contacted good doctors in states, the brain cancer tumor surgery and treatment cost was more than I can afford (100, 200, 300 grans and more). I throw myself to prayer day and night. The difficult situation was that at the time I was a staff member at the church and had a basic income. I had my pregnant wife and son. I was doing my graduate study and deep in financial debt. It seemed there was no way. During these difficult times, God reminded me of walking on the water with Jesus. With my prayers, my confidence started rising. I made the decision no matter what to help my sister who was with her two kids and a wayward husband who left her. The long story short, after long prayers and sleepless nights, I took a leap of faith and resigned from my job/ministry, took a loan and flew to another country to accompany my sister's surgery and treatment. I felt God marvelously supported me all the way in my journey. I was able to support my wife remotely with my loan, pay for my sister's surgery and treatment. I was able to continue my studies online remotely. In the process, I met many wonderful and helpful people in a foreign land. I met a minister who led my sister to Christ and baptized her in his small church. I was praying for my sister's salvation from her childhood. After the surgery and the treatment, my sister's condition is improved dramatically and she went back to her country. I came back from my long trip and I needed a job to support my family. God provided a job next month I came from my trip. It all went well, but unfortunately, my sister died next year, because her cancer was in an advanced stage. I truly believe that she is with Jesus now.

Are you referring to Iraq war, fighting with Taliban or killing Osama bin Laden?

(1 Samuel 18:18-22) Which of the following is David’s chief motive for marrying Michal, in your opinion? Argue for the motivation that makes the most sense to you: (1) pride in his military prowess, (2) obedience to Saul’s desires, (3) love or desire for Michal, or (4) enjoyment in killing Philistines. I think the answers are 2 and 3. Obedience to his king and love or desire for Milcah.

Rebellion is the opposite of Obedience. Rebellion in Faith is that person willfully takes things in his/her hand, and takes the place of God. Not God but person's ego and will becomes his or her guiding principle. Rebellion is compared to witchcraft. One of the definition of Witchcraft, based on Merriam Webster dictionary, is the communication with devil or with a familiar. In this Bible study, Saul consulted with his flesh and the unregenerate flesh led him to the rebellion. Rebellion and Arrogance in this context go hand in hand. Saul did not seek the meekness but gave way to his ego. When I find rebellion in my heart, meaning I am not following God's commandment, for example fleeing immorality, than I need to stop and grieve over my sins and rebellion. I need to ask God for forgiveness and help to break free from this sin. Jesus with his death broke the power of sin in my life. I need to draw to him more closely. If we do nothing when we see the rebellion in our life, it can lead us to more other rebellious acts which eventually can lead us to our downfall.