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Riddle Me This: Hearing from God: How can you tell if it’s Jesus talking to you and not the devil trying to influence you?

Riddle Me This: 1. Does God really speak to people? 2. If so, how do we know that it’s God who is talking? 3. How do I better position myself to hear from Him?

1 Samuel 3: 1 -10 (NIV) 1 The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions. 2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the Lord called Samuel answered, “Here I am. ” 5 And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me. ”

1 Samuel 3: 1 -10 (NIV) But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down. ” So he went and lay down. 6 Again the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me. ” “My son, ” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down. ” 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. 8 A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me. ”

1 Samuel 3: 1 -10 (NIV) Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. ’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening. ”

Hearing from God: We can all learn to discern the voice of God.

1 Samuel 3: 1 (NIV) 1 The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.

1 Samuel 2: 12, 17 (NIV) 12 Eli’s sons were scoundrels; they had no regard for the Lord. 12 The sin of the young men was very great in the Lord’s sight, for they were treating the Lord’s offering with contempt.

Hearing from God: God speaks to those who position themselves to hear.

John 10: 1 -5 (NIV) 1 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice. ”

Hearing from God: The Good Shepherd’s voice will never lead us astray.

3 Tests: 1. God’s voice will always confirm the work of Jesus in us.

1 John 4: 1 -3 a (NLT) 1 Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. 2 This is how we know if they have the Spirit of God: If a person claiming to be a prophet acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God. 3 But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God.

3 Tests: 1. God’s voice will always confirm the work of Jesus in us. 2. God will never ask us to do something that contradicts His word.

Luke 8: 21 (NLT) 21 Jesus replied, “My mother and my brothers are all those who hear God’s word and obey it. ”

3 Tests: 1. God’s voice will always confirm the work of Jesus in us. 2. God will never ask us to do something that contradicts His word. 3. When God speaks to us, it is always consistent with His word.

Revelation 22: 18 -19 (NLT) 18 And I solemnly declare to everyone who hears the words of prophecy written in this book: If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book. 19 And if anyone removes any of the words from this book of prophecy, God will remove that person’s share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book.

3 Tests: 1. God’s voice will always confirm the work of Jesus in us. 2. God will never ask us to do something that contradicts His word. 3. When God speaks to us, it is always consistent with His word.

7 Ways in Which God Speaks 1. Scripture 2. The Holy Spirit speaking to our heart 3. The Prophetic (word of knowledge, word of wisdom, personal prophecy) 4. Godly counsel 5. Confirmation 6. The peace of God 7. Circumstances/Timing