What kind of privileges or advantages does the person who hears God’s voice possess over the others who don’t?

 Welcome again to the column of our “Daily word for spiritual strength”! May the grace and peace from our Lord, Jesus Christ be with you this day! As we discussed yesterday there are three simple steps you can begin to take if you wants to learn hear the voice of God: first of all, in order to hear God’s voice having understanding and willingness to hear it is very important. Second, it’s important to pray and ask God to teach us to hear His voice. Third step is the importance of actually giving listening ears to what God is trying to speak to our hearts. Really, God desires fellowship with us, so He is constantly inviting us into such fellowship with Him. The following passage is one of such invitations: 

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with me”. (Revelation 3:20).

 

• The phrase “dine with” in the above passage points to fellowship. And it is talking about spiritual fellowship or spending time with the Lord.

• Notice, the Lord stands at the door or at the entrance of our heart.

• Notice, He knocks, but He also SPEAKS. GOD SPEAKS and our fellowship depends on our ability to hear His voice.

Jesus said: “If anyone hears my voice“. 

• Jesus speaks, but not everyone is hearing or listening to Him, therefore, not everybody is opening the door of their lives for Him to come in and fellowship with them. Nevertheless, to anyone who hears His voice and opens the door of his heart, Jesus gave the promise: « I will come in to him, and will be … with him, and he with me».

 What kind of privileges or advantages does the person who hears God’s voice possess over the others who don’t? Usually, we never dedicate time to something unless we realise its advantage and strict necessity for us. When we realise what we are losing by not understanding and hearing God’s voice, then we can become zealous and motivated to do our best in order to dedicate time and attention to it. You must understand that satan is a thief and given a smallest chance he will take away all our privileges and opportunities in God. So, what does the ability to hear God’s voice gives us? Let’s read some passages from the Scripture and then come to some common conclusions after that:  

” …, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out. Whenever he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. They will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him; for they don’t know the voice of strangers.”… My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of my Father’s hand”. The Gospel of John 10:3-5, 27-29.

   We live by hearing God’s voice. The above passage points out the reason why it’s so important for us to hear God’s voice. If we hear God’s voice, then: 

• He leads us («…and leads them out …»)

 

• God goes before us, so He can fix everythingthat is out of order («… goes before them …»)

 

• We learn to recognise His voice, thus reduce the risk of being misled by other voices («… they know his voice. They will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him …»)

 

• We enjoy the life everlasting Jesus brought to us («…I give eternal life to them»).

• We enjoy God’s supernatural protection («… they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand».)

 These are just few of many privileges that become accessible to everybody who has learned to hear God’s voice! The ability to hear God’s voice is not a privilege reserved only for some chosen ones, but for every child of God who realises the importance of that and desires to have that in his or her life. Tomorrow we are going to continue to discuss some of the other benefits of hearing God’s voice. God bless you abundantly on this beautiful day! Rufus Ajiboye, Pastor