There are times when you hear a word from God and you want to be sure that what you heard is really from Him.
Picking up the Bible, His Word and searching for what you heard in the scriptures are key. God is a God of order, so anything bringing unsurety, confusion, or ambiguity, is NOT from God. He always backs up what He says with His Word.
Even when Jesus was on earth, He wanted to make sure that what He taught, His disciples understood.
Jesus would always draw in crowds with His parables, but He’d always explain their under surface meaning in private to His disciples, those He was training to exercise authority He’d soon give them.
An example, is the Parable of the Sower, found in Matthew 13:1-23. Take a look:
Jesus tells the parable:
That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
Those who had ears to hear, sought Jesus for clarity, and Jesus responded:
But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
When God speaks, it is because He is trusting you with something, He’s looking to see if you will work the word given or just sit on it.
It is always a great and marvelous event when the Lord speaks. Here are some points to ponder when you hear Him:
- Does this word bring condemnation or conviction? Is it pronouncing guilt or does it bringing correction? God will always bring to light that which He wants to deal with in you, never to make you feel bad and leave you feeling guilty. He wants to help you. It’s up to you to give whatever it is He shows you to Him and allow Him to help you.
- Does this word bring fear? Remember, 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
- Can I find it in the Word? God’s Word speaks His mind. Remember, “The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple” (Psalm 119:130).
- Does the word you hear line up with the character of God?
God never changes. For example, God is holy, so everything He does is holy. God is love, so everything He does is out of love.
As you continue to seek God, He will bring clarity. Don’t stop hungering and thirsting for His voice, for you shall be filled (Matthew 5:6).
