Episode 57: Hearing God in bizarre ways and trusting that it is God.

Episode 57: Hearing God in bizarre ways and trusting that it is God.

Sep 15, 2024 | 0 comments

Episode Description:

How do I know if the crazy vision I had was from God? How do I know if the voice I heard was God, myself, or something else? In the Bible, Ezekiel faced these issues, believed them to be from God, and willingly obeyed. What ‘checks’ do I need if I experience these things? Join us in this latest episode of the ‘Hearing God’ Podcast as we look at these issues and unpack how Ezekiel in the Bible heard God. Also, if you have ever wondered ‘why Lord?’, the book of Ezekiel is about restoration when all seems impossible, and where the river of life flows, life will flourish.

Episode Notes:

Background to Ezekiel:

  • Ezekiel was born roughly 627 BC. He was a priest in Jerusalem.
  • King Jehoiachin was king. (2 Kings 24:8-16 – not a good King)
  • King Nebuchadnezzar had invaded Jerusalem and had taken captive the people.
  • They were approximately 100 miles south of Babylon.
  • Ezekiel had bizarre encounters with God. He heard God’s voice, and he saw crazy visions (chapter 1 – windstorm, flashing lights, fire and in the middle were four living creatures with human form – 4 faces (human, lion, ox, eagle) and 4 wings, feet like calf, hands like human, wheels on the ground, rims full of eyes, above was a vault and above that a throne with a figure like a man sitting on it – glowing metal like fire and radiant brilliant light surrounding it like the glory of the Lord.
  • He endured criticism. He heard people gossiping about him. God called him to do prophetic acts that didn’t always make sense to those around him.
  • As I read Ezekiel, part of me was grieved for how he was treated and misunderstood. He could be likened to someone with schizophrenia. But there is always hope. Ezekiel reminds me that with God, hope abounds.

First Principle: God can ‘speak’ to us in multiple ways

  • God spoke audibly and through an inner voice to Ezekiel.
  • See Episodes 4 & 16 – ways God communicates.
  • God spoke in visions.
  • God asked Ezekiel to do prophetic acts – physical acts that have implications and change things in the spiritual world. A prophetic act is something done (at God’s direction) in the natural (physical) realm that supports God’s workings in the spiritual realm to bring forth results manifested in the natural realm. It somehow opens the channel for releasing God’s presence, power, and victory to affect the physical realm and change outcomes.
  • Examples of Ezekiel doing this include eating the scroll, taking a block of clay and building siege works, lying on his left side for 390 days to bear the sin for the number of days that represent the years of Israel’s sin and then lying on his right side for 40 days – number of years of Judah’s sin. He took wheat to bake barley bread over human excrement for fuel – symbolising Israelites eating defiled food among the nations. Ezekiel said he would not defile himself that way, so God allowed him to bake it over cow dung instead. Shaving head burning 1/3 of the hair, scatter 1/3, cut 1/3 with the sword representing 1/3 die by plague/famine, 1/3 scattered to the wind and 1/3 fall to the sword.

Second Principle: Don’t limit God

  • Chapter 24:15-27 God told Ezekiel his wife was going to die and to mourn her quietly but not lament, shed tears, weep for her. This was a sign of Judah’s lack of concern for the things of God. Ezekiel’s wife died that evening.
  • God cannot be put in a box.
  • Details matter to God: numerous times, exact measurements, exact little details.
  • If he asks you to do something bizarre, check it against God’s character and nature, the Bible, and trusted wise people. Episode 13 – Recognising how God speaks and checking that it is of God.
  • Elijah was translocated. Chapter 3:14-15 – then the Spirit lifted me up and took me away and Elijah was plopped down near the Kebar River in Tel Aviv for 7 days.
  • He was again translocated in Chapter 8:3 The Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and in visions of God he took me to Jerusalem. 4 catastrophic judgements against Jerusalem and the people there – war, famine, wild animals and disease.

Third Principle: God can turn a valley of dry bones into life. Don’t give up on God and the breakthrough that is coming.

  • Chapter 37:1-14
  • Verse 1 – (Another example of being transported) The hand of the Lordwas on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley of dry bones.
  • Beyond all reason and logic, the dry, dead bones were restored to life. He prophesied over the dry bones, and they came to life. The bones moved and came together, the sinews formed.
  • Imagine being there and seeing this. It does my head in. Still needed the breath in them.
  • God can and will bring dead things to life.
  • God can and will restore your dead marriage.
  • God can and will restore those dreams He’s given you to life.
  • God can and will restore those relationships.
  • Still need the breath of the Holy Spirit. His Word and His Spirit.

Caution in Ezekiel:

  • Be aware of idols in our life. Get rid of them. New Age stuff that creeps in. A great question to ask – Is God number 1 in my life?
  • Be aware of prostitution, pornography, abortion, etc.
  • God gets angry.

Summary:

  1. God can ‘speak’ to us in multiple ways.
  2. Don’t limit God.
  3. God can turn a valley of dry bones into life. Don’t give up on God and the breakthrough coming.

Prophetic activation:

Turn your heart and thoughts to Father God and ask Him –

  • “God, is there an idol in my life?”
  • “If so, what is that idol? What have I put at a higher place than You?”
  • “Lord, what do I need to do about that?”

Time Stamps:

[0:53] – Gary & Jane share briefly how they have heard God this week.

[5:42] – Background to the story of Ezekiel.

[8:13] – First Principle: God can ‘speak’ to us in multiple ways.

[13:06] – Second Principle: Don’t limit God.

[20:21] – Third Principle: God can turn a valley of dry bones into life. Don’t give up on God and the breakthrough that is coming.

[23:52] – Caution in Ezekiel.

[24:27] – Recap the principles.

[24:50] – Prophetic activation.

[25:37] – Gary & Jane both share a prophetic word for a listener.

[27:26] – Gary prays for you.

Resources / Links Mentioned:

Bible Verses Mentioned:

  • Ezekiel, especially chapters 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 24, 37,
  • 2 Kings 24:8-16

Connect with Gary & Jane:

Support the show:

  • Please share this podcast with someone who would value hearing from God.
  • Follow and leave a rating + review on your favourite podcast listening app.
  • If God is leading your heart to donate or support the show in any way, please visit https://buymeacoffee/garyandjanM Thank you so much.

Episode 56: Hearing God through my spirit being stirred up

Episode 56: Hearing God through my spirit being stirred up

Sep 8, 2024 | 0 comments

Episode Description:

Sometimes, we can get comfortable and ‘forget’ the bigger picture. We can misplace our priorities. That’s what happened to the Jewish people after the exile. But, in the book of Haggai, we finally see that the people of Judah listened and obeyed a prophet!! This is an excellent example of a time when God spoke, stirred up their spirits, and the people listened. They heard. They changed their behaviour. God chose to work out His purposes through the faithfulness and obedience of His people. When God asks you to do something, do it. When God stirs up your spirit, He requires an outcome, an action. Haggai also urges caution numerous times with the phrase ‘give careful thought to your ways’. Join us in this latest episode of the ‘Hearing God’ Podcast as we look at how Haggai in the Bible heard from God.

Episode Notes:

Background to Haggai:

  • Around 520BC – 18 years after the Jewish people had returned from exile in Babylon.
  • The first 18 years after the faithful remnant had returned to Jerusalem, they had focussed on surviving, on their immediate needs. You do what you have to do to survive. E.g. shelter, food, safety. They built houses and planted crops.
  • But this was 18 years later, and the Temple of the Lord was still in ruins.
  • Sometimes, we get comfortable and ‘forget’ the bigger picture. Misplace our priorities. The Jews had forgotten their God, focussing on their interests, and it was time to consider their ways by rebuilding the Temple of the Lord. This would put worship back at the centre of the Israelite community and life.
  • Economic issues, food shortages, barely surviving, no extra money or resources for God. What we do in that situation speaks volumes. Actions speak louder than words.
  • Governor Zerubbabel and Joshua, the priest, were struggling. They lacked resources. They were left with the scraps.

First Principle: The Lord can stir up your spirit.

  • Chapter 1:14 “So the Lordstirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of the whole remnant of the people. They came and began to work on the house of the Lord Almighty, their God.” The Lord stirred up the spirit of the governor, the High Priest, and the whole people. Also, if God stirs up your spirit, there will be an outcome—an action.
  • Also, God will often work with various people at the same time. Usually, He doesn’t call you to be a lone ranger.

Second Principle: Ask God for solutions.

  • Ask God for a solution when things are not going well or how you would like. Ask God what the problem is.
  • Here, we see that the Israelites were plagued by drought. Their crops were failing. Why – they had ignored the Lord and His Temple.
  • God can and will work in mysterious ways that we don’t always understand.

Third Principle: A reminder to put God first.

  • We are not called to live half-heartedly. We are not called to be lukewarm.
  • We are called to live courageous and bold lives with God.
  • The Christian life is not for the faint-hearted.
  • Great question to ask: Have I become ‘comfortable’ in an area of my life with God?

Summary:

  1. The Lord can stir up your spirit.
  2. Ask God for solutions.
  3. A reminder to put God first.

Prophetic activation:

Turn your heart and thoughts to Father God and ask Him –

  • “God, what is something you’d love me to do for my neighbour this week?”
  • “God, how am I to do that?”

Time Stamps:

[1:37] – Gary & Jane share briefly how they have heard God this week.

[4:57] – Background to the story of Haggai.

[7:41] – First Principle: The Lord can stir up your spirit.

[11:27] – Second Principle: Ask God for solutions.

[13:37] – Third Principle: A reminder to put God first.

[16:27] – Recap the principles.

[16:51] – Prophetic activation.

[17:47] – Gary & Jane both share a prophetic word for a listener.

[19:46] – Gary prays for you.

Resources / Links Mentioned:

Bible Verses Mentioned:

  • Haggai chapters 1-2

Connect with Gary & Jane:

Support the show:

  • Please share this podcast with someone who would value hearing from God.
  • Follow and leave a rating + review on your favourite podcast listening app.
  • If God is leading your heart to donate or support the show in any way, please visit https://buymeacoffee/garyandjanM Thank you so much.
Episode 55: Hearing God by positioning myself in the right place at the right time.

Episode 55: Hearing God by positioning myself in the right place at the right time.

Sep 1, 2024 | 0 comments

Episode Description:

Lydia was a mover and a shaker. She didn’t hang around waiting for opportunities. Lydia courageously stepped out and used what was in her hand. She positioned herself in the right place at the right time. She had the gift of hospitality and welcomed those not always accepted by society. Join us in this latest episode of the ‘Hearing God’ Podcast as we look at how Lydia in the Bible heard from God.

Episode Notes:

Background to Lydia:

  • Read about her in Acts 16:11-15 and again in verse 40 when Paul and Silas came out of prison and went straight to Lydia’s house where the believers were meeting. This passage chronicles her conversion and baptism.
  • Lydia was originally from Thyatira (what is now Turkey), but she moved to live in Philippi, Macedonia (now Greece). It was here that she met Paul.
  • Lydia was a seller of purple cloth. She is presumed to be a businesswoman with the education, skill, strength and determination required to work in a male-dominated business. She sold luxury textiles dyed purple to wealthy people. They were expensive. Thyatira was the centre of the indigo trade. Tyrian purple was a dye derived from Mediterranean marine molluscs and was very costly to obtain compared with the reddish local dye, which was far less expensive.
  • Lydia was honouring the Sabbath – most likely a Jew. She was gathered with a group of women on the Sabbath at a place of prayer by the river outside of Philippi. Paul, Timothy, Luke and Silas came to speak to the women. There weren’t enough Jewish men to open a synagogue in that town.
  • This place was significant as the first mention of Christianity outside the Jewish expansion.
  • Lydia was influential and respected in her family, as once she was baptised, her whole house followed her and were baptised.

First Principle: Position yourself to hear God

  • Lydia was the first person recorded in the Bible to have been saved in Europe.
  • She was in the right place at the right time. Divine intervention.
  • God had rerouted Paul – whose original intention was to stay in Asia, but due to a vision, he crossed the Aegean Sea and went into Macedonia.
  • Lydia listened eagerly. She obviously had a deep desire to know more about this God. An open heart, willing to be changed and grow. Not set in her ways.
  • Lydia’s value and worth were as a daughter of the Most High King, not what society said of her.

Second Principle: Act on what you hear

  • Verse 14 – The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.
  • She then immediately acted on it by becoming baptised. Plus, the rest of her household followed suit. They obviously trusted Lydia and her wisdom.

Third Principle: Use what’s in your hand

  • Lydia had a large house. She opened her home for these men to stay in and hosted meetings. It sounds like she had the gift of hospitality, and nothing was too complicated for her.
  • Verse 15 – she prevailed upon Paul and the others to stay in her home. She forcefully or repeatedly asked. She insisted. She had a fervency of desire. They must have felt at home there, and Lydia was the ‘real deal’ because they went to her house as soon as Paul and Silas were released from prison. They could trust they would find her and the fellow believers there praying for them.
  • People could rely on her. She opened her home to the visiting missionaries and the locals.
  • Courageous hospitality. To God – opening her heart, and to others – opened her home. This was radical and unconventional – to invite Paul, Silas, Timothy and Luke – strange men into her home.
  • She welcomed those who were not always welcomed by society.
  • Women were usually identified by their male relatives, but Lydia never was. We don’t know if she had a husband, but she wasn’t hanging around waiting and saying, ‘Woe is me. ‘ She was a mover and a shaker. She made things happen. She used ‘what was in her hand’.
  • Lydia used what was at her disposal – her home.
  • What’s in your hand? Time, talent, treasure

Summary:

  1. Position yourself to hear God
  2. Act on what you hear.
  3. Use what’s in your hand.

Prophetic activation:

Turn your heart and thoughts to Father God and ask Him –

  • “God, what’s in my hand at the moment? What do I have at my disposal (time, talent, or treasure) that I can use for you?”
  • “God, how do you want me to use that?”

Time Stamps:

[0:36] – Gary & Jane share briefly how they have heard God this week.

[4:18] – Background to the story of Lydia.

[6:55] – First Principle: Position yourself to hear God.

[9:03] – Second Principle: Act on what you hear.

[14:48] – Third Principle: Use what’s in your hand.

[19:17] – Recap the principles.

[19:36] – Prophetic activation.

[21:00] – Gary & Jane both share a prophetic word for a listener.

[23:23] – Gary prays for you.

Resources / Links Mentioned:

Bible Verses Mentioned:

  • Acts 16:11-15, 40
  • Matthew 5:3-12

Connect with Gary & Jane:

Support the show:

  • Please share this podcast with someone who would value hearing from God.
  • Follow and leave a rating + review on your favourite podcast listening app.
  • If God is leading your heart to donate or support the show in any way, please visit https://buymeacoffee/garyandjanM Thank you so much.
Episode 54: Hearing God through the Bible and how it can change us.

Episode 54: Hearing God through the Bible and how it can change us.

Aug 25, 2024 | 0 comments

Episode Description:

Josiah became King when he was eight years old. He didn’t have the family heritage of following God, yet he heard God and followed Him. Josiah did what was right in the eyes of God. The story of Josiah is a reminder to have a ‘backbone’ and stand up and be God’s person where He’s placed us. Join us in this latest episode of the ‘Hearing God’ Podcast as we look at how Josiah in the Bible heard from God.

Episode Notes:

Background to Josiah:

  • We read about Josiah in 2 Kings 22-23 and 2 Chronicles 34-35, around the time of Jeremiah.
  • In 2 Kings 20, Josiah’s great-grandfather was Hezekiah, a good king who did right in the eyes of the Lord until near the end of his life. He became proud. Hezekiah also became ill, and God answered his prayers and added 15 years to his life.
  • In 2 Kings 21:19-26, we read how Manasseh, Hezekiah’s son and Josiah’s grandfather, was King of Judah and did evil in the eyes of the Lord. He sacrificed his son in the fire, practised witchcraft, and consulted mediums and evil sources. Then, his son Amon was appointed King, but he completely followed the ways of his father. He forsook the Lord, the God of his ancestors, and did not walk in obedience to him. Verse 23 Amon’s officials conspired against him and assassinated the King in his palace. Then, the people of the land killed all who had plotted against King Amon, making Josiah his son King in his place.
  • 2 Kings 22:1 Josiah was eight years old when he became King of Judah between 640-609 BC. Can you imagine?
  • He was King for 31 years until he made a stupid decision not to inquire of the Lord but to take matters into his own hands.
  • Josiah had the courage to do what was right in the eyes of the Lord.
  • Josiah repaired the Temple of God, and the book of the Law was found during that time (at least Deuteronomy, if not the whole first five books of the Old Testament.)
  • 2 Kings 22:20 – The prophetess Huldah, a relative of Jeremiah, prophesied that Josiah would be buried in peace. But Josiah did the wrong thing that short-circuited his life.
  • Their world was in a state of heightened political turmoil. The Assyrian Empire, the superpower to the northeast, was disintegrating, and the Babylonians were taking over. They had captured Ninevah (the story of Jonah in episode 53).
  • Egypt was to the south of Judah, and their Pharoah Necho 2 saw this as an opportunity to assert their influence and power and capture land and people groups. Necho requests permission from Josiah to pass through Judah on the way to fight the Babylonians, saying they would leave the Israelites in peace. They just want to pass through. Instead, Josiah makes a terrible decision without inquiring of the Lord and goes out to fight Necho. In 2 Chronicles 35:20-21, we see Necho sending a message to Josiah saying, “What quarrel is there, King of Judah, between you and me? It is not you I am attacking at this time, but the house with which I am at war. God has told me to hurry; so stop opposing God, who is with me, or he will destroy you.”
  • In a moment of recklessness, Josiah then disguises himself and fights, gets shot with an arrow and dies. His son was appointed King and did evil. Egypt had captured Judah, deposed the King, and appointed his brother as King, who again did evil.
  • Josiah hadn’t brought up his sons to obey and honour God, and Josiah perhaps went a tad lukewarm towards the end of his life and lost his fervour for God.
  • Sometimes, good people make bad mistakes, and sometimes, it can be easy to stop seeking God.

First Principle: We can hear God through the Bible.

  • In 2 Kings 22, we read how Josiah ordered the repair of the Temple of the Lord. The high Priest dusted off some stuff and found the Book of the Law. Obviously, this high Priest hadn’t been doing his job.
  • Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

Second Principle: Hearing God changes us.

  • 2 Kings 22:11 and 2 Chronicles 34 – when the King heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes. This meant he was in deep sorrow and mourning and repentance.
  • He renewed the covenant with God by pledging to obey the Lord and all his commands. He renewed all the articles of worship to Baal, got rid of all idols and temple prostitutes, etc.
  • Josiah did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He didn’t follow his family or culture. You can’t blame your circumstances or upbringing on you not doing the right thing.
  • Hearing the Word of God convicts and brings repentance.
  • Word of caution – hearing God one time doesn’t mean you don’t keep seeking him all the time. Keep close to God.

Third Principle: Any person can hear God, no matter what age.

  • Josiah didn’t have the family heritage of following God, yet heard God and followed Him.
  • Kids can hear God.

Summary:

  1. We can hear God through the Bible.
  2. Hearing God changes us.
  3. Any person can hear God, no matter what age.

Prophetic Activation:

Get comfortable and turn your heart and thoughts to Father God. Ask God to highlight a book of the Bible to read. Spend time reading that book until you feel God is speaking to you through the Bible.

Time Stamps:

[0:39] – Gary & Jane share briefly how they have heard God this week.

[3:18] – Background to the story of Josiah.

[10:05] – First Principle: We can hear God through the Bible.

[12:37] – Second Principle: Hearing God changes us.

[15:19] – Third Principle: Any person can hear God, regardless of age.

[17:42] – Recap the principles.

[18:12] – Prophetic activation.

[19:24] – Gary & Jane both share a prophetic word for a listener.

[21:51] – Gary prays for you.

Resources / Links Mentioned:

Bible Verses Mentioned:

  • 2 Kings 22-23
  • 2 Chronicles 34-35
  • 2 Kings 21:19-26
  • Hebrews 4:12
  • 2 Timothy 3:16-17
  • Jeremiah 1:1-10

Connect with Gary & Jane:

Support the show:

  • Please share this podcast with someone who would value hearing from God.
  • Follow and leave a rating + review on your favourite podcast listening app.
  • If God is leading your heart to donate or support the show in any way, please visit https://buymeacoffee/garyandjanM Thank you so much.
Episode 53: Hearing God when I Don’t Want to

Episode 53: Hearing God when I Don’t Want to

Aug 18, 2024 | 0 comments

Episode Description:

Jonah is a fantastic story of a God who never gives up on us despite our attitudes and actions. A God who cares for everyone no matter what they have done. A God who values honesty and isn’t afraid of our anger. A God who loves our questions. A God who desires relationship. The story of Jonah can be likened to the story of the Prodigal Son – the lost, repentance, forgiveness, the elder son’s bad attitude, the Father who keeps reaching out. Join us in this latest episode of the ‘Hearing God’ Podcast as we look at how Jonah in the Bible heard from God.

Episode Notes:

Background to Jonah:

  • God asked Jonah (living in a city near Nazareth in Israel) to go to Ninevah (Mosul in Iraq today) to preach repentance due to wickedness in that city and tell them God was going to destroy them.
  • 7th Century BC, Ninevah was the capital of the Assyrian Empire. No love between Israel and the Assyrian Empire. The Assyrians would conquer cities and rape and take captive the women and kill the men and children. The Assyrians would tear off the lips and hands of their victims and skin them alive.
  • Nahum 3:1-4 tells us what Ninevah was like – a city of blood, full of lies and plunder, war, fighting, corpses in the middle of the street, prostitution, and witchcraft. Jonah thought they would kill him. Likened to a Jew during World War 2, hearing God say go to Hitler and tell Nazi Germany to repent.
  • Instead, Jonah ran in the opposite direction as far as he could go.
  • He went to the port and hopped on a ship across the Mediterranean Sea bound for Tarshish (southern Spain).
  • God sent a violent storm. All the sailors were afraid, calling out to their gods. Jonah went to sleep. (Some Christians go to ‘sleep’ and hide out in places that protect them from the world.) The Captain was angry at Jonah.
  • Sailors said let’s cast lots to see who is responsible for the calamity. Lot fell on Jonah.
  • Jonah said, throw me into the sea as it’s my fault. The storm will become calm.
  • As soon as they threw Jonah overboard, sea calmed. Sailors greatly feared the Lord and offered a sacrifice to Him.
  • God provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah for 3 days and 3 nights (foreshadowing what would happen to Jesus. Matthew 12:39-42)
  • Jonah became greatly distressed and cried for help. Jonah repented and said I’ll do whatever you want me to do.
  • Fish vomited Jonah onto dry land.
  • God said – great. Now go to Ninevah and preach the message I give you that I will destroy them.
  • Jonah obeyed God and went to Ninevah.
  • Ninevites believed God after the first day of Jonah preaching purely repent. They repented. Fasted. Put on sackcloth.
  • One of the most prominent gods of Ninevah at the time was Dagon, the fish god. This man comes out of a big fish, claiming to be sent by God, and goes to the city called ‘house of fish’ who worship the fish god. Only God can orchestrate that with His sense of humour. This affected the people of Ninevah far more than if Jonah had gone to them telling them there was no Dagon fish god.
  • When God saw their repentance, he relented and didn’t bring on them the destruction he had threatened.
  • Jonah became angry with God and said God was unfair. You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger, abounding in love.
  • Jonah sat down in the scorching heat and made a makeshift shelter to protect himself from the heat. God provided a leafy plant to grow quickly and provide shade.
  • The next day, God provided a worm to eat the plant so it withered. Jonah became angry and said it is better for me to die than live.
  • God said, “You’re only concerned about yourself. I’m concerned about the 120 thousand people who needed to know about me.”
  • Jonah was both reluctant and rebellious. He developed tunnel vision and felt that death was his only option. Depressed. Distraught. Dismayed.

First Principle: God speaks through your life

  • Sometimes we think it is all above ‘Ninevah’ when, in fact, it is all about us. God wanted to do a work in Jonah’s life.
  • Jonah played out the story of the Ninevites in real life. God sent the Ninevites a prophet who had just been through his very own rebellion and repentance to preach to a rebellious people the message of repentance.
  • Jonah ran away based on his feelings. Be careful of trusting your feelings or those impulses, even circumstances e.g. Jonah had the money for the fare to Tarshish. Sometimes we can think that the circumstances stack up – ‘God-coincidences’ – still need to check it out.
  • It can be so easy to justify your position and what you feel or think God told you to do.
  • Reading the book of Jonah is like holding a mirror up to our face. We see the worst parts of ourselves magnified.

Second Principle: God can give you direct instructions

  • God gave Jonah specific instructions. Go to Ninevah. Say this.
  • Ask questions of God. Clarify with God.

Third Principle: God speaks through circumstances, physical situations and nature.

  • God is Lord over nature – storm at sea. Vine grew up.
  • Through circumstances – swallowed by great fish, the vine grew up for shade and shelter. Jonah still bitter.
  • Look at your current circumstances: What is happening in your life right now? What is God trying to tell me through these circumstances?
  • God uses anything to speak to people. He used the weather these fishermen knew and understood to show His power and majesty. They turned their heart to God after witnessing the raging sea calm down. God used Jonah when he was unwilling.

What if you find yourself like Jonah – reluctant or angry at God.

  • Be honest with God. He knows already.
  • Jonah misses the 120,000 people around him. He misses reality. Does God have your attention?
  • Get stuck into reading the Bible, chatting with God, and thanking God.

Summary:

  1. God speaks through your life.
  2. God can give you direct instructions.
  3. God speaks through circumstances, physical situations and nature.

Prophetic Activation:

Turn your heart and thoughts to Father God and ask Him –

  • “God, is there an area of my life where I am not fully trusting You or am being rebellious?”
  • “God, what would You love me to do about this?”

Time Stamps:

[1:29] – Gary & Jane share briefly how they have heard God this week.

[5:34] – Background to the story of Jonah.

[13:08] – First Principle: God speaks through your life.

[16:03] – Second Principle: God can give you direct instructions.

[17:49] – Third Principle: God speaks through circumstances, physical situations, and nature.

[19:53] – Recap the principles.

[20:23] – Prophetic activation.

[21:14] – Gary & Jane both share a prophetic word for a listener.

[23:04] – Gary prays for you.

Resources / Links Mentioned:

Bible Verses Mentioned:

  • Jonah
  • Nahum 3:1-4
  • Matthew 12:39-42
  • Acts 17:16-34
  • Psalm 103:8
  • Exodus 34:6
  • Psalm 145:8

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