[Learning to Listen to God, Part 2 of 3]

Yesterday I started a three-part blog about how to learn to listen to God. The idea is that God is speaking – God is moving – God wants us to know what His purpose is for our lives. He wants us to live in the “blessing realm” [sounds charismatic, huh?]. He wants us to have what Jesus says is “abundant life.” But to get there you have to learn how to listen to God.

Church planters should especially listen up here. Why? Because there are a lot of guys out there planting church that ended up in the “graveyard for church planters” because they thought they heard from God but didn’t. They just wanted to be the boss and make all the decisions so they started their own thing. Or they wanted to be like Nelson Searcy, Gary Lamb, Steven Furtick and Perry Noble so they rented a school, hired a band, and bought some sermons from Pastors.com and thought they had it figured out. Well, there’s a lot more to it than that. You have to be called to church planting which means you have to “hear” from God.

Here’s the second thing I’ve learned about listening to God…
2. Investigate the ways in which God speaks to you.
How does God speak to you? Not, how did He speak to Moses. Or, how does He speak to your friends. How does God speak to you? Let me give you a few common ways He speaks to people.

A. God speaks through Pastors. Ephesians 4:11-12 says, “It was He [God] Who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up…” God speaks through Pastors.

Note: I have my favorite Pastor/Preachers and you should too. If you’re reading this blog I’m hoping that I’m one of your favorites ☺. There are guys I listen to every week (Nelson Searcy, Gary Lamb, Steven Furtick, Ed Young, Jr., Rick Warren, and a couple of others). I let these men of God speak Truth into my life.

Here’s the thing: You have to test the one who is teaching – especially if you are getting your teaching from pastors on the radio or the TV. If God is speaking through a pastor or teacher, he or she will teach the Word of God – the Bible. That’s it: plain and simple. They may be persuasive. They may be popular. They may cry and get emotional. They may be positive and be good storytellers. But if they are not teaching the Bible, then God is NOT speaking through them. And for sure, if they say something that contradicts the Bible, God is not speaking through them.

B. God speaks through Godly friends and family. All of us have blind spots. Some of us have bald spots too [Brian W. ☺]. But we all have blind spots in our lives. There are things that need to be addressed that we just can’t see. Sometimes God will use a friend or family member (WHO IS A BELIEVER) to point those out; to help us see things that need to be corrected. I have heard Nelson Searcy (www.nyjourney.com) say this for years.

You need a friend who will be honest with you. You need a friend that cares about your relationship with Christ. Someone who will say, “Hey man. You’ve got to work on your pride.” Or, “You’ve got to get this other issue in your life under control.” All of us, even pastors, need this kind of person in their life. I have one and you need one too.

C. God speaks through the Bible. This is so important. It’s the biggie! Some of you are reading this blog right now and you are desperate for a Word from God. You need an answer to your prayer. You need some guidance. [If you are a church planter you probably need some money!] And you’re probably thinking that it would sure be great if God would send you an email or a fax to help you with whatever your crisis is. Well, He has. He’s given you what you need in His Word to help you through your need, or situation or crisis. Your next move is in the Bible.

D. And finally, God speaks to us through causes. Sometimes God speaks to us through a cause. For example, He spoke to Martin Luther in the 16th century through the abuses of the church. That’s why we had the Protestant Reformation. He spoke to our Forefathers like George Washington about a self governing Nation of States. And the United States was born. He spoke to Martin Luther King, Jr. through a cause; civil rights. He spoke to Bono through the AIDS epidemic and poverty. Again, He spoke to Moses through a burning bush, but it was about a cause. That cause was to go back to Egypt, where he was a wanted fugitive, and demand that the Pharaoh let the Children of Israel go free. God was saying to Moses, “Like you, I am sickened of the way My people are being treated in Egypt.” God gave Moses a “Holy Discontent.”

Is God speaking to you right now through a cause? Has He given you a “Holy Discontent?” He gave me one. My holy discontent was to plant a church where people would feel welcomed, no matter who they are, or where they’ve been, or what they’ve done in life, or what’s been done to them. The church I pastor – Rocky River Community Church – is that kind of church.

Part 3 coming on Monday…