My pastor preached an excellent message this morning. Fortunately for me (and for you) he forgot to include a copyright statement on the message outline, so I thought I would share that content with you! No copyright means it is public domain, right? The message was entitled “How To Recognize God’s Voice” and dealt with those times when you feel a “spiritual impression” and are seeking to know what you should do.
He began by saying that there are three sources of spiritual guidance. God is not the only one who provides spiritual impressions. Three questions we need to ask are:
- Is the voice I am hearing Satan’s – “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. (2 Cor 11:14)
- Is the voice I am hearing my own? – “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” (Prov 14:12)
- Is the voice I am hearing God’s – “But God speaks again and again, though people do not recognize it.” (Job 33:14)
He then turned to seven questions we need to ask to test a spiritual impression:
- Does it agree with the Bible? – “Heaven and earth will pass away but my words will never pass away.” (Luke 21:33)
- Does it make me more Christ-like? – “Your attitude should be the same that Jesus Christ had…” (Phil 2:5)
- Does my church family confirm it? – “The wisdom of the righteous can save you.” (Prov 11:9)
- Is it consistent with how God has shaped me? – “God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well…” (Romans 12:6)
- Does it concern my responsibility? “We will all be judged one day, not by each other’s standards, or even our own, but by the judgment of God…it is to God alone that we shall have to answer for our actions.” (Rom 14:10,13)
- Is it convicting rather than condemning? – “If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong.” (1 John 1:9)
- Do I sense God’s peace about it? – “God is not the author of confusion.” (1 Cor 14:33)
It was a message that provided practical guidance in an area I have often struggled with. I am sure I will often return to these seven questions as I continue to seek God’s will for my life.
