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Pastor Chris Oyakhilome Question 4 – Christopher (United Arab Emirates): Dear Pastor Chris, I praise and thank God for this media. Kindl... -
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome Introduction: Hello! Welcome to today’s program! I will endeavor to answer your questions and I believe that thi... -
Question 5 – Neo Daniel Diphaha (South Africa): Hi, Pastor Chris, I would like to know the rules of fasting. When am I supposed to fast and...
Monday, August 16, 2010
Episode 1 :: Prayer/Words of Knowledge
7:03 PM | Posted by
St. Burnish
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| Pastor Chris Oyakhilome |
Prayer/Words of Knowledge: Praise God! Now, we’ll talk again coming Tuesday. God bless you. But, I want to pray for you at this moment, and there are some of you who say you want to receive the Holy Spirit – I think you can receive the Holy Spirit right now. And plus that, if you are sick or diseased or afflicted, I believe you can be healed even now.
And in the Name of Jesus, I command sickness to leave your body. I command the infirmity to go! Be healed in your body in Jesus’ mighty name! I see someone who’s been wanting to have children. Now, that evil power that’s been holding you back, the authority - the dominion - of that evil power over your body is broken in Jesus’ mighty name, and your body is loosed, and you will be able to have children.
Now, be healed; maybe you have an infirmity in your blood [in your blood vessels] be healed right now, in Jesus mighty name! Be healed of that blood condition; be healed in your heart; be healed in your eyes, in Jesus’ mighty name! From the crown of your head to the soles of your feet, be made every whit whole in Jesus’ name, right now. Amen!
Now, you want to be filled with the Holy Spirit? Receive the Holy Spirit now in Jesus’ name. Receive the Holy Spirit and receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Be filled with the Holy Spirit right now, by the power of the Holy Ghost. Be filled with the Holy Spirit. Thank You Lord Jesus. Thank You Lord Jesus. Yes! May God’s peace fill your home; may God’s peace fill your life - fill your spirit right now - fill you to over flowing! The anointing of God [is] flowing through you right now, in Jesus’ name.
I see someone with a deaf ear. I command that deaf ear to open up in Jesus’ name. I see a girl [a little girl] about in her teenage years – somewhere between thirteen and fifteen is what I’m seeing – and she’s been unable to walk, and actually has been using a wheelchair. Young lady, in the name of Jesus Christ, be healed! Be healed!! Be healed right now!!! I see a lady named Ann; you’re healed in Jesus’ name. Be healed! Be healed!! Rise up and walk!!! Yes, walk in Jesus’ name. Receive strength in your limbs. Receive strength for your body, in the name of Jesus! I see someone else who’s been connected to an oxygen tank. You’ve also had a terrible asthmatic problem. Your heart is healed, your lungs are healed in Jesus’ mighty name, and the back pain you’ve been suffering from is healed – the spinal problem is healed in Jesus’ name. Yes! Receive healing into your body from the crown of your head to the soles of your feet! You are healed, in Jesus’ mighty name! Amen!! Praise the Lord. I’ll see you again. And keep checking on our website, and remember to follow us on twitter as well. God bless you.
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Episode 1 :: Question 8 on Changing One's Destiny Through Prayer
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| Pastor Chris Oyakhilome |
Question 8 – Rumbidzai (United Arab Emirates/Middle East): Can a man through prayer reverse the destiny God has set for him?
Answer 8: Emphatically, yes! Now, that may sound tough to hear, but it’s true. A typical example is what you would find in the Book of Isaiah – a beautiful story – in the 38th Chapter of the Book of Isaiah. Now, I’ll just give you the background here; I’ll read it quickly: “In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death, and Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, came unto him and said unto him, ‘Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order, for thou shalt die, and not live' [Isaiah 38:1].” [Pauses scripture reading] God sent Isaiah the prophet to King Hezekiah to tell him he was going to die. Here was God’s decree: “Man, you’re going to die, set your house in order; its time.” Now [continues scripture reading] “Then Hezekiah turned his face towards the wall, and prayed unto the Lord. And he said ‘Lord, remember, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight’ and Hezekiah wept sore. Then came the word of the Lord to Isaiah saying, ‘Go and say to Hezekiah, ‘Thus saith the Lord God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen they tears, and behold, I add unto thy days fifteen years.’ [Isaiah 38:2-5]’” God changed his mind because the man prayed. Hezekiah prayed. After he had heard the decree of God that he was going to die, the Bible says he turned to the wall and prayed to God. The details of his prayer is written for us here. And when He prayed to God, God told the prophet to go back and tell him, “I’ve changed it. I’ve added to your days fifteen more years.” So, it is possible to change what you call the destiny of God.
Now I want you to understand what you mean by destiny of God. What exactly is the destiny of God? Why did God change his mind? Why did God in the first place say to the man “You’re going to die?” It wasn’t really God’s purpose. The thing is that, the Bible says [that] God has thoughts for us – thoughts that are good - to give us an expected end [Jeremiah 29:11], and if it’s not an expected end [that means a glorified end], it’s not really God’s purpose. But you see, many people think that when something happens and we can’t resist it, that’s God’s purpose – that’s God’s destiny for us. God’s destiny - God’s dream for us always – is good. It’s glorious. See? It’s something that honors him. It’s something that we also are happy about. God doesn’t enforce anything on us. He always wants us to walk in his divine plan of glory, because the Bible says He’s called us unto glory and virtue. So, that’s very important. So, His destiny is [also] always for glory and virtue, and why would you want to change God’s destiny of glory and virtue? You would never…you wouldn’t want to do that! But when something is wrong and we think it’s God’s destiny, and even when God decrees it because of what’s going on with us, we can change it. Now, Hezekiah had gone wrong. If you read the previous part of his story, you’ll find that he actually had done some things wrong even though he was telling God “I’ve done all that was pleasing to you.” He didn’t really do all that was pleasing to God. He had missed God somewhere, as his story shows us, and God said, “Hey, you’re going to die. But when he prayed, God changed it. So if the destiny that you think is in front of you is not the kind that you’re happy with, you can change it [and God actually wants you to change it].
Episode 1 :: Question 7 on Suffering with Christ
Question 7 – Maria Teresa (Italy/Europe): In studying the Bible, I’ve found those scriptures: Romans 8:17 “If so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together” and 2nd Timothy 2:12 “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him.” Can you please explain this? Shall we suffer as Christians? Is it necessary to suffer before being glorified with Jesus?
Answer 7: Well, the suffering here is not suffering like, you know, you’re in pain or in confusion and so on and so forth. That’s not what it’s talking about. It’s talking about persecution – suffering in persecution or suffering in what we call a sacrificial life, where you choose to go without or where you have to go without because of what you’ve got to do. There are times we do that. For example, I remember years ago, we went to preach in a certain little village, many years ago. And, when we preached there, we didn’t have a nice place to stay. The building that we stayed in had no windows, or rather didn’t have covers for the windows – just large openings. All through that night [it was] cold and we were barely lying on the floor. And, plus that, there wasn’t much good food, but we stayed without. It’s called self-denial because you want to preach the gospel. We stayed with the villagers; we ate what they ate - little but terrible. And yet we enjoyed it because we were doing it for Jesus Christ. It wasn’t an enjoyable place by its own standards, but we enjoyed it because we did it in the name of Jesus. We loved it, and we did. So that’s self-denial.
Sometimes you have to fast – you go without. That’s self-denial. Sometimes you have to stay without even money - self-denial. So, self-denial is something that the Lord allows us to participate in and that’s a part of suffering, but not suffering because you are oppressed with circumstances and you can’t come out. Not suffering because you’re poor – you don’t have to be poor. You may not have, but you are greater than the circumstances. That’s what the Bible teaches us. So, the kind of suffering its dealing with here is the suffering we take as an act of faith and in self-denial or under persecution or when we have to preach the gospel through some kind of hardship, and all that is acceptable with God. Sometimes we are punished by other people, who are in greater positions than we are because of the gospel, and we take it, and all of that is acceptable with God. The Bible says those who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution, and that we’re not only called to believe on him but to suffer for his sake [2 Timothy 3:12]. So that’s important. Alright! I’ll take just one more question today.
Episode 1 :: Question 6 on Knowing God's Purpose
Question 6 – Andilawe (Tanzania): How can I know God’s purpose or will for my life? How can I identify God’s calling and assignment for my life? How can I get acquainted and know the voice of God?
Answer 6: Well, questions like this keep coming. It’s important that you first and foremost know the Word of God. You’ve got to study the Word of God. Now, that doesn’t mean you’ve got to know the whole Bible from beginning to the end, but you see, get acquainted with the author of the Bible and that’s the Holy Spirit. If you ever want to know the voice of the Holy Spirit [really], you’ve got to know his writings. As you study the word of God – the Bible - you get acquainted with Him. He’s the author of the scriptures. The more acquainted you are with his message, the easier it’ll be for you to know what is his will and purpose for you. So that’s the way; get acquainted with the written word, and you will understand the leading of the Holy Spirit, who is the author of the written word. That’s the best way. That’s the best way, because that’ll help you stir your spirit to the consciousness of the Holy Spirit. Alright!
Episode 1 :: Question 5 on Female Ministers
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| Pastor Chris Oyakhilome |
Question 5 – Gustave (South Africa): Good day Pastor Chris. I’m Gustave, a prophet from the Messenger Church in Johannesburg. I want to know why it was forbidden in the Bible (Paul writing to the Corinthian Church and to Timothy) for women to preach in a congregation. Why don’t we see in the Bible a female Apostle, Pastor, Evangelist, Prophet, or Doctor? Thank you Pastor.
Answer 5: Alright! Now, in the Bible, there are two particular places that Paul actually talked about women speaking, you know, whether in church or wherever. There are two particular places where the Bible talks about it, and in none of those places did he say that a woman should not preach. Now, this is an erroneous idea that a lot of people have cooked up, you know, to make it look like God never wanted a woman-preacher. Now, the first place is in 1st Corinthians Chapter 14, and I want to read to you what it says there so you’ll understand exactly what the Bible is telling us. In 1st Corinthians Chapter 14, I’ll read to you from verse 34, and I want you to listen to what it says: “Let your women keep silence in the churches; for it is not permitted unto them to speak…” Now, He didn’t talk about preaching – I want you to listen carefully [continues scripture quotation] “…for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also sayeth the law. And if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home; for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.” Then it says “What? Came the word of God out of you, or from you, or came it unto you only? If any man think himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that are right unto you are commandments from the Lord. [1 Corinthians 14:34-36]” Now, you know what it’s talking about here? He’s dealing with women making noise, talking to their husbands, asking questions in the church in disregard to their husbands or directly to their husbands. It says “…if they will learn anything, they should ask…at home...” See, the context tells us what Paul was talking about here - the context. He says it was not permitted for women to speak in the church. If they will learn anything, they should ask their husbands at home. What about those without husbands? What should they do? Because it was specific. So that tells us that there was a relational problem in the church. There was a relational problem in the church, and this had to do with women and their husbands and the kind of communication they were having in the church. That’s what he was talking about.
Now, the next place where he talks about something similar is what will tell you what he was dealing with here. Then we’ll talk about some other examples in the Bible that show us whether or not this was what God had in mind. Now, we’ll go to the next place which is in 1st Timothy Chapter 2. I’ll read to you from verse 11: “Let the woman learn in silence, with all subjection [1 Timothy 2:11].” You see? So he’s talking about the same thing. He said women should keep silent in the church, ok? Now again, he [Paul] picks it up, and he’s talking to Timothy, who was the pastor of the church at Ephesus at this time. You see? So Timothy was a pastor, which means that the message he’s writing to Timothy is consistent to what he wrote to those in the Corinthian church. So Timothy as a pastor would know exactly what to do and how to handle the church. Now, I want you to listen again to the context. So it says [continues reading from 1st Timothy] “Let the woman learn in silence, with all subjection; but I suffer not [or permit not] a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. [1 Timothy 2:11-12]” Now, that’s just clear; he’s saying exactly the same things he said before, just in other words. Now, listen to it. It says “…but I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.” He didn’t say “I suffer not women to teach, nor to usurp authority over men.” He’s not speaking about women and men in general; he’s talking about the man and his wife. He says [listen], “I suffer not a woman to teach, nor usurp authority over the man.” What do you mean by ‘the man’? The man that’s connected to the woman – that will be her husband. You see that? That’s what it’s talking about. That will be her husband - the man that’s connected to that woman. So, definite article - ‘the man’ - definite article. Then, the use of the term here ‘usurp’ – that means that that man already had authority over this woman, and this woman is trying to ride out of that authority to be over him. So it says “I do not permit her to teach him, or usurp authority over him.” It’s talking about husbands and wives. So, that’s the same context in which he said it in 1st Corinthians Chapter 14.
Now, by the way, remember, the first person that Jesus sent to herald his resurrection message was a woman - Mary Magdalene; Jesus sent her to preach. She was the first person to preach the gospel of the resurrection. It was a woman. Now again, the Bible tells us about four women - four daughters of Philip the evangelist - and that they were all preachers. The Bible says they prophesied [Acts 21:8-9]. Now, where we get the word ‘preaching’ from in the Bible is actually from the word ‘prophecy’. ‘To prophesy’ is what was translated into ‘to preach’. So when you say you are a preacher, it’s coming from where it talks about prophesying, meaning speaking words - the word of faith - voicing God’s word, releasing God’s word, not just the prophetic utterance of revelation now. But these women prophesied and they spoke forth the word of God. Remember how they spoke concerning Paul the apostle. See? Four daughters of Philip the evangelist who prophesied, meaning the four of them preached. And where do you prophesy? The Bible says that the gift of prophecy is for the church. You see? It’s for the church. So, he says we may all prophesy, and that by cause. Now if the Bible says in the congregation we may all prophesy one by one, and that by cause, all of us [1 Corinthians 14:31]. ‘All of us’ - again referring to the church - that means men and women in the church can prophesy. So, remember that and that will help you understand.
Now, the second part of your question was, Gustave, “Why didn’t we have in the Bible female apostles, and female evangelists, and female teachers and so on and so forth?” Well, I’ll tell you why. First of all, if you go back in the Old Testament, you will find that there were leaders who were women, and God raised them up. Deborah for one was a leader [Judges 4:4]. She was a judge. Now, I know you are talking about in the New Testament. Well, interesting. You’ve got to understand the day in which they lived. This was a time that the people would not receive a woman. Yet, Christ sent a woman to herald the good news. She may have not been called an evangelist, but how else do you describe an evangelist? It’s not all evangelists that were named in the Bible. Just because Jesus picked certain men didn’t mean he didn’t have women. The Bible tells us that there were multitudes of women who were with him when he went out to preach the word. They were there. But, you see, the writers of the Bible wouldn’t have given us the details of their operation in ministry, because Jesus had twelve men. Now, just because he chose twelve men didn’t mean he didn’t have more men; he had more men. See? So, he didn’t choose twelve men to represent men; he chose twelve men to represent him. So that’s very important. We shouldn’t use those kinds of examples as a covering for everything that God was supposed to do, because if you read the Old Testament, you’ll find that He chose men and women, and in the New Testament, He ministered through men and women, and that’s very important for us. Alright! So the simple reason was [that] the background of the people of the day was clear; they would not accept a woman. And so Jesus picked men, but he gave women responsibilities until the Holy Spirit should come, so that in the church where Paul also [the same Paul you quoted] tells us that in the Church of Jesus Christ, there is neither male nor female as he says there’s neither bond nor free, there’s neither Jew nor Gentile [Galatians 3:27-29]. He says we are all one in Christ, which means the Holy Spirit ministers through both men and women now. That’s important.
Episode 1 :: Question 4 on Deliverance
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| Pastor Chris Oyakhilome |
Question 4 – John Jeff Momoh (Sierra Leone): I want to know if deliverance is necessary for a Christian especially when you think of the African background and the ceremonies and rituals performed. Why don’t you preach on deliverance?
Answer 4: He’s asking me “Why don’t I preach on deliverance?” {Smiling} Well, I do preach on deliverance; I may not preach the kind of deliverance that you might be thinking about, but I believe the Word of God brings us deliverance [really]. And, once we receive Christ, we are delivered! That’s what it’s all about! See, the Gospel is a gospel of deliverance – you are automatically delivered. Now, when we receive Christ, we receive Him as Lord of our lives. You have to understand this - how we got salvation. In Romans Chapter 10 verse 9, the Bible says “If thou shall confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in thine heart that God raised him up from the dead, thou shall be saved.” Now that means that Jesus Christ has become Lord of your life! If He’s become Lord of your life – and by that you became saved – then what do you need to be delivered from anymore? That is the deliverance! The Lordship of Jesus Christ over your life is what broke the dominion of Satan from your life completely because Jesus became your Lord! You cannot have Jesus as Lord of your life, and at the same time have Satan lording it over you. So that’s the deliverance! So the gospel of Jesus Christ already brought deliverance!
Watch full episode 1 [May 26, 2009] video here!
Episode 1 :: Question 3 on Being Filled with the Holy Spirit
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| Pastor Chris Oyakhilome |
Question 3 – Isaac Jimmy (Tanzania): I have tried my best to make sure that I am filled with the Holy Spirit, so Pastor, what is the problem with me?
Answer 3: Now, I’ve just talked about that. I’ve just talked about that. Now, remember, Jesus said “…if you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” [Matthew 7:11]. Now, one of the problems that we have observed around the world with a lot of people is that even after that they have asked for the Holy Spirit [some even have fasted and prayed for the Holy Spirit], they still, somehow, don’t believe they have received the Holy Spirit because they are listening for something. You know, maybe, thinking that a voice would just speak through them to speak in other tongues, particularly. They’re thinking a voice will just force their mouth open. They think “If I’ve received the Holy Spirit, then the Holy Spirit should speak through me and speak in tongues”. No! When we speak in other tongues, it’s not the Holy Spirit that’s speaking in tongues; it’s our spirit that’s speaking in other tongues. It’s our spirit – that’s what the Bible says. So, it says “If I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful” [1 Corinthians 14:14-15]. It is my spirit that is praying, and my understanding is unfruitful. So, [continues quoting 1 Corinthians 14:14-15] “What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also. I’ll sing with the Spirit, and I’ll sing with the understanding also.” So, it’s our spirit that prays in other tongues, not the Holy Spirit himself. But the Holy Spirit gives us the ability. He gives us the language. So when you receive the Holy Spirit, He puts that language in your spirit; He puts the ability within you. So don’t wait for a voice – act by faith! It’s like walking on water. You remember Jesus walked on water, and Peter said “Master, if you are the one, ask me to come to you on the water” and Jesus said “Come” [Matthew 14:26-29]. And Peter stepped out of the boat and walked on the water to go to Jesus. So that’s what you do – you step out in faith, like the Bible says, “Open your mouth, and I will fill it” [Psalm 81:10]. So you have to trust that when you asked God for the Holy Spirit, He gave you the Holy Spirit; you don’t need to ask twice. If you ask once, God hears you. He’s more willing to give you the Holy Spirit than you are willing to receive the Holy Spirit. Trust that, and so believe that, and act accordingly. And begin to say: “I have the Holy Spirit!”
Now, for example, did you know it’s the same faith that we exercise in salvation that we need to exercise in receiving the Holy Spirit? If I asked you now, “Have you received salvation?” You’d say “yes”. If I asked you, “Have you received Christ into your heart?” You’d say “yes”. Then, how do you know? You’d say “Because I asked, and according to the Word of God, I believed, and I received.” That’s the same thing you’re supposed to do about the Holy Spirit. See? And then He will confirm that faith by granting you his divine presence. Don’t wait till you feel something physical – you don’t need to feel anything physical. It’s an act of faith on your part, and it will be made real to your spirit. Praise God!
Watch the full episode 1 [May 26, 2009] video here!
Episode 1 :: Question 2 on Receiving the Holy Spirit
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| Pastor Chris Oyakhilome |
Answer 1: Well, in the scriptures, there are several ways that we are shown [that] we can receive the Holy Spirit or the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The number one way is an act of faith – when we receive the Holy Spirit, because He’s the bringer of the gifts. You see, [every time you receive the Holy Spirit] anybody who receives the Holy Spirit automatically [actually] has certain gifts of the Spirit. So, [but] after you’ve received the Holy Spirit, there are other gifts you might want. And the Bible says that the one who speaks in tongues should covet also to interpret [1 Corinthians 14:13] which means that we can ask God for the gift of interpretation. Then again, He tells us to all desire the gift of prophecy because the gift of prophecy is important in the Church of God. So he wants us all to have the gift of prophecy, which means you can ask. So you ask as an act of faith. Now, remember the words of Jesus, when He said “Ask, and ye shall receive; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”[Matthew 7:7] Then he says “Which of you, as a father, if his son should ask for bread would give him a stone? Or if a son should ask for fish, would give him a serpent or a scorpion?” Then he says, “If ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?”[Matthew 7:9-11]. See, which means that when we ask, the Father can give us the Holy Spirit. So you can ask and receive the Holy Spirit.
Now, if you can ask and receive the Holy Spirit, it means you can ask and receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit. And you ask in faith, nothing wavering, as James the Apostle tells us [James 1:6]. When we ask, we must ask in faith, nothing wavering. Now, how do you ask in faith? It means that when you ask, you believe – like Jesus taught on the prayer of faith. He said “what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them” [Mark 11:24]. So when you pray or ask, believe that you receive and you shall have, which means when you ask God, you must have it in your mind that when you asked, He also heard you and granted your heart’s desire. And from then on, act by faith that you have received what you’ve asked for. So, that’s receiving as an act of faith, through prayer.
The other way is by the laying on of hands. Now, in the scriptures, we also find that the apostles had hands laid on certain people to receive the Holy Spirit. Plus that, they also laid hands on others and they received the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Some even were commissioned into the ministry through the laying on of hands. Now, even back in the Old Testament, the Bible does tell us that Joshua had the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him, which means that we can actually communicate (transfer) the gifts of the spirit through the laying on of hands. So, what I ask you to do is: get across to someone who already has the gifts of the Holy Spirit – maybe your Pastor, maybe the minister of God with you has the Holy Spirit (the gifts of the Holy Spirit); he can lay hands on you, and you will receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit. And even now, maybe when I begin praying, you can actually receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit when I pray for you. And, I would ask you that you get ready for that in a short while. We’ll minister to you.
Episode 1 :: Question 1 on God's Voice
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| Pastor Chris Oyakhilome |
Question 1 – Ann Marie (Cote d’Ivoire, Africa): How may I differentiate the voice of God from my own perception or imagination?
Answer 1: Now, there are several ways that the Bible shows us that we can do that. The first one is that that voice, that thought, [or] that idea – whatever it is - must line up with the Word of God; that means, with the will and purpose of God that’s already written for us in scripture. In other words, the voice of God to you in your heart will never contradict what God says – it’ll never contradict the scriptures [what is clear to us from the scriptures]. So that’s the number one way you compare what you are having in your heart to what God tells us.
Secondly, whatever that thing is…because sometimes, you may not have a definite scripture for that voice or the message that is coming into your heart. For example, if it has to do with…you want a particular - maybe a job, maybe a project, you know, something like that that may not be expressly written in the scripture; how can you then compare it? So, if you can’t find it definitely in the Word of God, the next thing is it must glorify Jesus. The voice of the Holy Spirit will always glorify Jesus. Now, in St. John’s gospel Chapter 16, when you read from verse 13 [Jesus said these words]:”Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” In the 14th verse, He says: “He shall glorify me, for he shall receive of mine and shall shew it unto you. [John 16:13-14]” So, when the Holy Spirit receives from Jesus - when he receives from Jesus - He shows it unto us. So, he can show us the will and purpose of the Father for our lives. But that means, whatever it is that He’s bringing to us will surely glorify Jesus. So, does that message glorify Jesus? Does that idea glorify Jesus? So, it’s got to glorify Jesus.
Now, the other thing is, it must be in love – the motive must be in love, that message must be in love. In other words, what that message or that word is causing you to do must be in love – the love of God. See, faith is ministered to us through the Word of God. The Bible says “…faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”[Romans 10:17] Now, when we hear that Word of God and faith is imparted unto us, the Bible says “…faith works by love.”[Galatians 5:6] See? The faith that comes to us through the Word of God is propelled by love; love makes it work. And so, when the Word that’s coming to our heart is subjected to the scrutiny of love, we can tell whether or not it is from God. It’s got to be in Love.
Then, lastly, the timing: timing also matters because sometimes something is right in itself, but the timing may be wrong. And so, you can know about the will and purpose of God with reference to timing as well. Now, how can you know that? Well, timing means that we’re going to have certain confirmations in our spirits. There are certain confirmations that God will give to us. Sometimes, that confirmation is given as an inspiration that comes to you when you are listening to God’s word being preached, or taught, or when you’re studying, or a counsel – the counsel of a Pastor. You see, the pastoral leadership helps us also to gain the knowledge of accurate timing in the things of God.
Now, these several ways can help you know whether or not the message that you’re getting, the idea that you’re getting, the voice that you’re hearing is from God, or your perception or your own imagination.
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