Audiology 101 Part I Hearing God and filtering out interference

Foundation of Hearing God's sheep hear God's Voice God's voice is often NOT overpowering Bible Experiences of the Voice are ours too God uses us as His instrument to speak His voice sounds familiar Clarity of speech is ultimately what God wants. We do too.

So... How do we learn to listen? Habakkuk had an encounter with God that we can learn from

So... How do we learn to listen? Habakkuk had an encounter with God that we can learn from

So... How do we learn to listen? Habakkuk 1:2-5

2 How long, LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save? 3 Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. Habakkuk 1: 2-3

4 Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted. The LORD’s Answer 5 “Look at the nations and watch— and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told. Habakkuk 1: 4-5

Principle 1 Questions, dialogue, and even complaints are OK.

2 How long, LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save? 3 Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. Habakkuk 1: 2-5

Complaining OK??

Complainers Hall of Fame Job 1 “I loathe my very life; therefore I will give free rein to my complaint and speak out in the bitterness of my soul. 2 I say to God: Do not declare me guilty, but tell me what charges you have against me. 3 Does it please you to oppress me, to spurn the work of your hands, while you smile on the plans of the wicked? 4 Do you have eyes of flesh? Do you see as a mortal sees? 5 Are your days like those of a mortal or your years like those of a strong man, 6 that you must search out my faults and probe after my sin—7 though you know that I am not guilty and that no one can rescue me from your hand? Job 10:1-7

Complainers Hall of Fame Jesus 1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? 2 My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest. 3 Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the one Israel praises. Psalm 22 Quoted on the cross

Principle 2 Still your heart

I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint. Habakkuk 2: 1

Dialing Down is Key Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am God...

Dialing Down is Key Psalm 130:5-6 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning

Principle 3 Be open to whatever experience God gives you. Words, pictures, sounds, whatever.

1 I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint. Habakkuk 2: 1

2 Then the LORD replied: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. 3 For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; It will certainly come and will not delay. Habakkuk 2: 2-3

Habakkuk received words and pictures He stood and watched God spoke to him “The Lord replied...” He also saw pictures 3:3-7 “I saw the tents of Cushan in distress...”

Principle 4 Write down what you see or hear

2 Then the LORD replied: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. 3 For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. Habakkuk 2: 2-3

Write down Spontaneous thoughts as you focus on God Scripture verses that come to mind Descriptions or drawings of any pictures Edit after, not during your journaling

Principle 5 Edit with the Word of God Edit with the Ways of God  We want God to make us do the right thing, but see Psalm 32:8-9 8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. 9 Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.

Principle 5 Edit with the Word of God Edit with the Ways of God Edit with the Wisdom of the Body of Christ  1 Cor. 14:  Mature prophets weighing the words  Check and balance system for questionable words

To Be Continued...