Hearing God: Deep calls to deep!
“Lowliness and holiness…Keep fast hold of the intimate connection. Lowliness is taking the place that becomes me; holiness is giving God the place that becomes Him. If I be nothing before Him, and God be all to me, I am in the sure path of holiness. Lowliness is holiness because it gives all the glory to God.” – Andrew Murray
A topic often spoken about in the church is “how to hear God” especially because He very seldom speaks audibly. Almost 99.9% of the time He speaks through the Word, prayer, a teaching we hear, a prophetic word from someone else, nature, the list goes on…
He also speaks in our hearts. That feeling of “I know that I know that was God”! Sometimes it’s vague and sometimes it’s a clear answer or message. This, we know, is the Holy Spirit whom Jesus sent to always be with us. Christ in us! (John 14:15-17)
So, here’s a thought….Hearing God audibly would be like two friends standing opposite each other and audibly speaking to each other. It is easy and the message is clear. But most of the time, it seems that God desires for us to “hear” Him through knowing Him intimately. A relationship where we get to know His true character, His likes and dislikes. A relationship where we need to spend as much as possible time with Him, where we truly acknowledge – Christ in Me!! Not just talking face to face, but from within. Christ IN me! John 14:20 “At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me and I in you.” A relationship of no longer being two but ONE. And in this beautiful, adventurous, deeply romantic journey with Him, we not only learn to hear Him, we think WITH Him, become more and more LIKE Him. One with God Almighty. Not speaking as two friends and hearing His voice audibly but rather as one person – knowing His heart, enjoying sweet fellowship with the Lover of our souls who comes closer than any person can ever come, having Him right there inside of us through the tough and hard times, laughing as one at a silly joke, Christs love in us loving others around us as we love ourselves. Then, all of a sudden, we realise the second greatest commandment seems a lot more do-able because we are totally head over heels doing the first – to love God with all our heart, soul and mind! (Matt.22:36-40)
This is totally a decision we have to make – intimate relationship with Jesus does not happen automatically when we become a reborn Christian, we decide to want to get to know Him better and closer. He is a Gentleman and will not force Himself on us. When we seek Him with all our hearts we will find Him! (Jer.29:13)
The separation that was between God and man was broken when Jesus died on the cross of Calvary. The veil was torn – Jesus opened the way for us to get to know God freely and to have a deep intimate relationship with Him. How wonderful is that! Let us embrace this priviledge and get to know Him closer than when friends speak face to face with each other!
John 14:21-23 “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him. Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My Word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.”