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

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 52: Hearing God when no-one listens, or you’re struggling with God’s call on your life.

Episode 52: Hearing God when no-one listens, or you’re struggling with God’s call on your life.

Aug 11, 2024 | 0 comments

Episode Description:

If you are struggling with God’s call on your life, the story of Jeremiah and his response to God is extremely relevant. Jeremiah is a story of ups and downs, redemption and bitterness, rejection, loneliness, ridicule, backstabbing, murder, deceit, courage, imprisonment and danger – all for being faithful to what God said. If ever there was a time for someone to say, “I told you so”, Jeremiah had the right. Jeremiah is a reminder that we are to go directly to God and not base our ‘hearing from God’ through other people. But the book of Jeremiah and his life is also a story of hope and promise – if you seek to find God, you will not be disappointed. Join us in this latest episode of the ‘Hearing God’ Podcast as we look at how the prophet Jeremiah heard from God.

Episode Notes:

Background to Jeremiah

  • Set in the 6th and 7th century BC (627-587BC) Jeremiah was a contemporary of Daniel, Habakkuk, and Ezekiel.
  • The nation of Israel was divided into two Kingdoms. Israel in the Northern Kingdom (which had been wiped out and the people in exile in Babylon) and Judah in the Southern Kingdom – they had the city of Jerusalem in their Kingdom.
  • Jeremiah prophesied various other reigns would come and go until finally Babylon, under King Nebuchadnezzar, would become the superpower that invaded Jerusalem, would overthrow its armies and carry most of the remaining people of Judah away into captivity. Jeremiah was left there until politicians betrayed him and finally taken as a captive to Egypt, where he died as an unsung hero, stoned to death by his own people.
  • Jeremiah spent over 40 years as a watchman for Judah and warning the nation without people listening to him and obeying.
  • Jeremiah must have sounded like a ‘stuck record’. Kept saying – warning – God is going to punish you, not only punish you but use an evil King (Nebuchadnezzar) and nation to carry it out. But in the end, he will bring you back like the potter’s house.
  • He was imprisoned, thrown down a muddy well to die, beaten and abused.
  • There are many famous verses throughout Jeremiah. Example: 29:11; 33:3; 30:24; 17:7-8; 30:17, etc.
  • Chapter 1 – the call of Jeremiah. He felt inadequate. He was born the son of a priest and grew up in the Levitical town of Anathoth, where only priests lived, meaning he would become one too. His father’s name was Hilkiah, and scholars say he may well have been the priest who one day was tidying up in the Temple, moved some dusty scrolls and discovered a copy of the law of Moses! As he read it, he saw how far away from God the nation had fallen, so he showed it to King Josiah who was so convicted by it he got the whole nation to listen to the words then tear down their idols and turn back to God.
  • His dad modelled doing hard things!! Thus, his inner heart condition, as opposed to external acceptance and praise, was his family’s priority.
  • False prophets abounded. Hananiah was the main one. Hananiah kept prophesying God’s graciousness and that all the exiles would return from Babylon within two years and everything would be alright. Hananiah, by his prophesying, encouraged the Israelites to keep sinning and to live as they pleased and thereby resist God’s will and God’s Word. Word of caution: If we are unsure if it is from God or if it affirms sinful living, it is not of God. It is much harder to hear God if you crave acceptance or struggle with pride.
  • In chapter 26:20-23, we read about Uriah, son of Shemamiah from Kiriath Jearim (Not Uriah the Hittite, who David had killed after he had slept with Uriah’s wife Bathsheba). Uriah was a prophet who prophesied in a way similar to Jeremiah. King Jehoiakim threatened to kill him as he didn’t like what he said. Uriah was scared and escaped to Egypt. The King sent men to bring him back, and the King then beheaded him and threw him into a pauper’s grave. At the same time, Jeremiah stood firm. He cried out to God but stood firm. Do we stand firm in times of trial?

First Principle: Hearing God means setting aside time to hear God in the quiet.

  • Jeremiah was a watchman – he spent time with God, seeing and hearing what God was saying and then proclaiming it.
  • God spoke audibly to Jeremiah and through imagery. Chapter 1 – look around you, what do you see:
    • A stick/branch of an almond tree. I’m watching and sticking with you to see my word fulfilled.
    • Boiling pot/cauldron from the north would tip out its hot contents and destroy Juday.
    • The Potter’s house and God reworking the clay being an image of God bringing Israel back from Babylon and restoring them.
  • Chapter 30:2 God tells Jeremiah to write everything I tell you in a book. Often, God will tell us what to do and give us strategies.
  • God spoke audibly to Jeremiah. Numerous times throughout the book of Jeremiah, he says, “This is the word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah…”
  • God spoke to Jeremiah through visions and pictures. Chapter 24 – two baskets of figs – one good fruit, the other bad fruit, symbolising the initial people in exile and the remaining Judean government.
  • God spoke to Jeremiah and asked him to do prophetic acts.
    • Chapter 19 – go and buy a pottery jar and smash it, representing what I will do to my people.
    • Chapter 27 to make a yoke out of straps and crossbars and put it on his neck and send word to enemy nations that they’ll be subject to King Nebuchadnezzar, and if they don’t bow their neck under his yoke, they will be punished with sword, famine and plague.
    • Chapter 32:15 – buy a field as a prophetic act that houses, fields, and vineyards will again be bought in this land.
  • God gave Jeremiah practical strategies – chapter 36: take a scroll, write on it, take it to the Temple, and read it.
  • In chapter 42, the army officials approached Jeremiah and asked him to petition God on behalf of the remnant. Verse 7 – ten days later, the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah. Jeremiah persevered. Sometimes, our prayers are not answered instantaneously. We need to keep praying.

Second Principle: In hearing God, don’t be afraid to question God and check what you are hearing

  • God is big enough to question Him and bring our frustrations to Him. We see this time and time again throughout Jeremiah.
  • In Jeremiah’s calling in chapter 1, we see that Jeremiah is unsure.
  • Verse 5 ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.’
  • Jeremiah said, “I’m too young. I don’t know how to speak.” He questioned God and his own ability. He didn’t see himself as God saw him. Our identity is important in hearing God otherwise we can dismiss what we hear.
  • Love how God uses people who don’t know how to speak to be his mouthpiece. Moses in Exodus 4:10 I can’t speak. I’m not eloquent. I stutter and stumble.
  • Can’t take any credit for it ourselves. 1 Corinthians 1:27 God uses the foolish things of the world to shame the wise.

Third Principle: Keep your heart turned to God, pure and focused on Him, not what others say and do.

  • Jeremiah must have had the worst job description ever. He is known as the ‘weeping’ prophet.
  • In chapter 20, he is pouring his heart out to God and complaining about his role, and verse 7 says, ‘it’s not fair, you deceived me in my calling. People ridicule and mock me all day long’. Imagine what his mental health must have been like!!
  • Verse 9 then says, “But if I say, ‘I will not mention his wordor speak any more in his name, his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.” Can we say that?
  • If you want to hear God clearly, be prepared for rejection and do not pander to the status quo.
  • During the hard times, and there are always hard times for everyone, we need to remember the call of God. The things he’s spoken to us and promised us. We have to hold onto them or we’ll give way to doubt and give up.
  • We need wisdom and discernment. James 1:5-6
  • The only way for evil to prevail is for good men to say and do nothing.
  • Check the source of what you are hearing. Ch 23:16 “Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord.” These false prophets spoke messages of hope – nothing wrong with that, but it was the wrong season. The real issue was the heart and the source – not from God.
  • 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 “Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.” Be aware there will be people who speak from a source other than God. Test what they say. Do they come true? Don’t allow fear to dismiss all you hear. Weigh it up. Hold on to what God is showing you.
  • In prophesying (hearing God for others), we need to prophesy what God wants us to say, not what others want to hear.
  • Jeremiah 38 – the officials said to kill him, he’s too discouraging. Ended up putting him in a muddy cistern. This was after he had been under house arrest and imprisoned.
  • If you’re going through a hard time, chapters 31 and 32 are great to memorise, decree, battle and war with.
  • God can and will use anyone, often the humble to shame the proud. God desires true obedience and a pure heart.
  • Jeremiah’s prayers and prophecies affected not only his own nation but also Egypt, Assyria and Babylon. Imagine what our prayers and prophecies could do when we listen to God and act on what He is calling us to do.

Summary:

  1. Hearing God means setting aside time to hear God in the quiet.
  2. In hearing God, don’t be afraid to question God and check what you are hearing
  3. Keep your heart turned to God, pure and focused on Him, not what others say and do.

Prophetic Activation:

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

  • “God, what is something ‘hard’ that I need to hear from You? Something I need to change? Something new You would love me to do?”

Time Stamps:

[2:38] – Gary & Jane share briefly how they have heard God this week.

[4:13] – Background to the story of Jeremiah.

[9:31] – First Principle: Hearing God means setting aside time to hear God in the quiet.

[12:46] – Second Principle: In hearing God, don’t be afraid to question God and check what you are hearing.

[15:21] – Third Principle: Keep your heart turned to God, pure and focused on Him, not what others say and do.

[20:32] – Recap the principles.

[21:04] – Prophetic activation.

[22:03] – Gary & Jane both share a prophetic word for a listener.

[23:58] – Gary prays for you.

Resources / Links Mentioned:

Bible Verses Mentioned:

  • Jeremiah – the whole book, but particularly 25:3; 29:11; 33:3; 30:17; 26:20-23; 30:2; 20:7,9; 23:16; chapters 1, 28, 18, 24, 27, 42, 31, 32,
  • Exodus 4:10
  • 1 Corinthians 1:27
  • James 1:5-6
  • 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22
  • James 5:16

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 51: Hearing God as Carriers of the Presence of God

Episode 51: Hearing God as Carriers of the Presence of God

Aug 4, 2024 | 0 comments

Episode Description:

I wonder how we would have reacted if we were Mary or Joseph and an angel appeared to us and told us we would have a baby supernaturally. Imagine the emotions. Mary and Joseph trusted God that He was orchestrating the miraculous in their lives while not restricting God to what their knowledge and experience said of God. They were both willing participants in God’s story, open to the mystery and adventure, displaying the courage required to partner with God. Do you believe God can do the impossible in your life? Join us in this latest episode of the ‘Hearing God’ podcast as we look at how Mary and Joseph heard from God during Mary’s conception, pregnancy, and birth with Jesus.

Episode Notes:

Background to Mary and Joseph and the birth of Jesus

  • Mathew’s Gospel is the account of Joseph hearing from God in Matthew 1:18-25 and then the birth and fleeing to Egypt as a refugee in chapter 2.
  • Luke’s Gospel is Mary’s account in Luke 1:26-56 and the birth of Jesus in Luke chapter 2.
  • Mark and John leave out this part of the story of Jesus’ conception, birth, and early years.
  • Mary was pledged or promised to be Joseph’s wife.
  • Interestingly, the time between the promise and the fulfilment of the promise often has some hiccups—a huge hiccup with Mary and Joseph.
  • Great question – what is our response when our expectations are shattered after a promise is made, or we believe God will do something in our life, but it hasn’t yet manifested and looks worse?

First Principle: We can hear God through dreams and visions.

  • We did a 3-part series on hearing God through dreams in episodes 22-24.
  • Luke 1:26-38, the angel Gabriel visited Mary and told her not to be afraid, but she would conceive and give birth to a son and call him Jesus.
  • Mary asks – how will this be? (verse 34) – great question.
  • God’s timing plus ‘just in time’ wisdom and guidance
  • Mary shares this significant change of events with Joseph, who decides to quietly divorce Mary to save her further embarrassment and not to expose her to public disgrace. Very thoughtful and considerate of Joseph.
  • The punishment by Jewish law would be death for Mary (Leviticus 20:10). Instead, Joseph went to sleep (gave himself some time and breathing space – not acting rashly). An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, don’t be afraid to take Mary home as your wife because what is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus because he will save his people from their sins.” Joseph understood his life purpose– marrying Mary, naming the child, protecting the child, and raising the child in obedience to God.
  • We know the angel was from God because the Bible says so – but it was a massive leap of faith for Joseph.
  • God spoke to Joseph several more crucial times. In Matthew 2:13,19,22 – three times, Joseph was warned in dreams to go quickly (i.e. the first time it was to flee in the middle of the night – imagine Mary being wakened, told to grab everything we’re leaving immediately to a foreign country where we don’t know anyone, have no place to live, no money, no work, and we’re going immediately) so their baby son would not be killed. Just before this, in Matthew 2:12, the Magi were warned in a dream not to go back to Herod and tell him where the baby boy was.
  • Mary obviously trusted Joseph that he was hearing from God in those dreams.
  • Joseph and Mary had completed the arduous trek to Bethlehem and the ordeal of childbirth in a stable. On the eighth day after Jesus’ birth, they had Him circumcised as the law required. Forty days after His birth, Mary offered her purification sacrifice in the Temple. Then, it seems as though they settled down in Bethlehem, possibly planning to make it their new home. Some time passed before the Magi arrived from Persia to worship the newborn king, and they found him in a house, not in the manger, as most nativity scenes suggest ( 2:11).
  • The trip to Egypt was about two hundred miles by foot or donkey, over mountains, wilderness, and desert, with a baby. There is no indication in Scripture that Mary ever questioned Joseph’s decision.
  • Mary again trusted Joseph sometime later when Joseph was told in a dream that they could return to Israel but not Bethlehem.
  • Joseph heard from God through dreams and received revelation, comfort, and specific instructions. Each time, Joseph quietly obeys. He doesn’t get angry or sulk.

Second Principle:  We can hear God by feeling.

  • Episode 29 – Hearing God through our feelings.
  • Luke 1:39-44 Mary travelled to stay with Elizabeth for about three months. As soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s voice, the baby within Elizabeth leapt in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She knew Mary would bear a child, and the baby would be the Lord.
  • Elizabeth’s baby responded to Mary’s baby’s presence.
  • You can feel God’s Presence.
  • Some people feel from God and ‘manifest’ by shaking, running around, extreme wailing, etc. That’s not us.

Third Principle: We can hear God by pondering and reflecting.

  • Luke 2:19 (& later in verse 51 when they were living in Nazareth after the birth of Jesus) – Mary treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart.
  • God grew in her womb. His promise grows in us as we listen, discern, and feel the strength of God’s energy.
  • Take time to ponder, reflect, and meditate on God and His promises.
  • You can carry a promise.
  • It was a defining moment for Mary and Joseph.
  • The challenge for us today is whether we have the faith to believe that God can do the impossible in our lives.

Summary:

  1. We can hear God through dreams and visions.
  2. We can hear God by feeling.
  3. We can hear God by pondering and reflecting.

Prophetic Activation:

Sit in a comfortable chair, close your eyes and ponder/meditate on God. Ask God to join you in your thoughts and ponder God’s attributes and who He would love to be for you. Then, wait for His reply.

Time Stamps:

[2:06] – Gary & Jane share briefly how they have heard God this week.

[4:05] – Background to the story of Mary and Joseph.

[5:40] – First Principle: We can hear God through dreams and visions.

[13:35] – Second Principle: We can hear God by feeling.

[17:37] – Third Principle: We can hear God by pondering and reflecting.

[23:18] – Recap the principles.

[23:40] – Prophetic activation.

[24:47] – Gary & Jane both share a prophetic word for a listener.

[26:38] – Gary prays for you.

Resources / Links Mentioned:

Bible Verses Mentioned:

  • Matthew 1:18-25
  • Matthew 2
  • Luke 1:26-56
  • Luke 2:1-22
  • Leviticus 20:10

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 50: Hearing God with Peter Yaxley

Episode 50: Hearing God with Peter Yaxley

Jul 28, 2024 | 0 comments

Episode Description:

How do you know whether to rent or buy a house? This was the dilemma facing Peter Yaxley (our guest on this episode of the Hearing God Podcast.) So, together with his wife Kathryn, they asked God and clearly heard an answer through separate Bible verses. Peter and Kathryn are good friends of Gary & Jane. They operate a ministry called Kingdom Presence Ministries that equips people to hear God and grow in their journey of hearing God. (You can find Jane’s interview with Kathryn in Episode 45.) Listen to Jane and Peter’s conversation as they chat about Peter’s journey of becoming a Christian and starting to hear God.

Episode Notes:

Background to Peter:

  • He grew up in Tasmania and met Jane in his 20s.
  • Married to Kathryn and lives in Poatina, Tasmania.
  • Involved in running equipping workshops and reflective healing retreats.
  • National and international ministry – Kingdom Presence Ministries.

Topics discussed with Peter:

  • A brief history of Peter becoming a Christian and his early Christian walk.
  • In hindsight, Peter recognized God speaking to him.
  • Peter shares how he best hears from God.
  • A memorable time for Peter hearing from God about whether they should buy or rent.
  • A short piece of advice for our listeners in relation to hearing God for themselves.

Prophetic activation:

Look around wherever you are (e.g. the room, out the window, outside, etc) and see what God highlights to you. Ask God what He wants to say to you through this object/what has been highlighted. Feel free to ask God more questions about this.

Time Stamps:

[0:47] – Jane introduces Peter Yaxley.

[4:41] – Jane & Peter share briefly how they have heard God this week.

[7:21] – Peter shares how he became a Christian.

[9:05] – How to become a Christian.

[11:27] – The first time Peter recognized God speaking to him.

[12:40] – Peter shares how he best receives from God.

[14:04] – Peter shares a memorable time receiving from God.

[17:16] – Advice Peter would give anyone wanting to hear God.

[18:49] – Prophetic activation.

[20:28] – Jane & Peter both share a prophetic word for a listener.

[23:00] – Peter prays for you.

Resources / Links Mentioned:

Bible Verses Mentioned:

  • Acts 28:30
  • Nehemiah 5:16
  • 1 Corinthians 14:3
  • 1 Corinthians 2:16
  • Numbers 22:21-39
  • Matthew 6:28-33

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 49: If a donkey can hear God, what about me?

Episode 49: If a donkey can hear God, what about me?

Jul 21, 2024 | 0 comments

Episode Description:

How often do we miss what God is trying to say because we are not looking or listening? At what point are we willing to disobey God? What is our breaking point? Join us in this latest episode of ‘Hearing God’ as we unpack the truths in this story and how Balaam and his talking donkey met and experienced God. This story is a great reminder to first seek God for ourselves and not go running to others to hear from God for us.

Episode Notes:

Background to Balaam and the talking donkey:

  • We read about Balaam in Numbers 22-24
  • Near the end of the Israelites wandering in the desert for 40 years after fleeing Egypt, The Israelites were camped on the plains, east of the Jordan River across from Jericho.
  • Balak was the King of Moab & had seen what had happened to other nations that stood up to the Israelites. He sent for a prophet, albeit a false prophet, or better still – an unholy prophet, to bless the Moabites and curse the Israelites so the Moabites would win the war. Balaam had a reputation that whoever he blessed won, and whoever he cursed lost.
  • Balak heard and felt threatened by the proximity, the strength and the reputation of the Israelites.
  • Balak was going to pay Balaam well.
  • Balaam told the messengers, stay the night, and I will tell you the answer in the morning.
  • God spoke to Balaam and asked who these men were. Balaam told him. God said, do NOT go with them. You must not curse the Israelites because they are blessed.
  • The next morning, Balaam said go back to your own country, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you. Even at this stage, Balaam didn’t own it himself but blamed God for not letting him go. Subtle difference, but it opened the door slightly.
  • Messengers went back to Balak and told him. Balak sent higher officials and higher financial incentives.
  • Balaam said, “Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything great or small to go beyond the command of the Lord my God.” But spend the night here so I can find out what else the Lord will tell me. Don’t play with fire – you will get burnt!
  • God said you can go with them, but wait for them to come to you in the morning.
  • First thing, Balaam got up, saddled his donkey and went out to find them.
  • God was angry at him. In Numbers 22:22, we see Balaam riding on his donkey and having two servants with him. The angel of the Lord stood in the road to oppose him.
  • Verse 23 – when the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, the donkey turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat it to get it back on the road.
  • Verse 24 – Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path through the vineyards with walls on both sides. When the donkey saw the angel, it pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. Balaam beat the donkey a second time.
  • Verse 26. Then, the angel of the Lord moved ahead and stood in a narrow place with no room to turn. When the donkey saw the angel, it lay down under Balaam. Balaam was angry and beat it again.
  • Verse 28 The Lord opened the donkey’s mouth, and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to make you beat me these three times?”
  • Balaam responded, “You have made a fool of me. If only I had a sword, I would kill you right now.”
  • The donkey said, “Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden? Have I ever done this to you before?
  • NO said Balaam. (Notice how he was so intent on sinning that he didn’t notice the strange phenomenon of a talking donkey??)
  • Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn. Balaam bowed low and fell face down.
  • The angel said – why did you beat the donkey? I came here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one. The donkey saw me and obeyed. If the donkey hadn’t turned away and tried to stop, I would have killed you, but I will now spare your life.
  • Balaam realised he had sinned. He said he would go home.
  • The angel said, no, go with the men, but only say what I tell you to say.
  • When he reaches Balak, he tells him he can only say what God tells him to say.
  • Balak takes him to a mountain overlooking the vast number of Israelites and says curse them. Balaam’s first message – build me 7 altars, sacrifice 7 bulls and 7 rams but he couldn’t curse them.
  • Balak horrified.
  • Balak says, come to another place where you can see the Israelites. He built another 7 altars with a bull and ram on each altar. Chapter 23 vs 19 & 20 “God is not a human, that he should lie, not a human being that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and then not fulfil? I have received a command to bless – he has blessed them and I cannot change it.
  • Balak is very persistent and says, let’s go to one more place to see the Israelites.
  • Verse 24 “Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he didn’t resort to divination as at other times. He blessed Israel willingly.”
  • Balak was angry and sent Balaam home without rewarding him, breaking his promise.
  • Not the end for Balaam – crafty – couldn’t directly curse the Israelites, so told Balak to entice them with idols and prostitutes.
  • Numbers 31:16 “They were the ones who followed Balaam’s advice and enticed the Israelites to be unfaithful to the Lordin the Peor incident, so that a plague struck the Lord‘s people
  • 3 New Testament references all refer to Balaam as a false prophet
  • Revelations 2:14 Speaking against the church at Pergamum: ‘Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality.’
  • In 2 Peter 2:15-16, Peter’s talking about false prophets and says: ‘They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam , son of Bezer, who loved the wages of wickedness. But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey—an animal without speech—who spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.’
  • Jude 1:1 ‘they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error.’

First Principle: God can speak through unexpected sources.

  • God can use anything, even a donkey.
  • God is all-powerful and will use whoever and whatever He desires to glorify Himself and achieve His purposes.
  • God goes to extraordinary lengths to get our attention.
  • Balaam was meant to be a seer (someone who can see in the spiritual world), but he didn’t see the angel.

Second Principle: Be alert both to watch for God and against the path of sin.

  • Balaam completely missed the phenomenon of a talking donkey!! It wasn’t until God opened Balaam’s eyes to see the angel that Balaam realised what was happening.
  • How often do we miss what God is trying to say because we are not looking or listening?
  • Balaam was a prophet for profit. He was willing to do and say whatever to get rich. He desired prestige, status and riches.
  • At what point are we willing to disobey God? When the price changes as it did with Balaam?

Third Principle: Sin always carries consequences.

  • Never play with sin.
  • If God says no, don’t keep asking!! Don’t play with evil. Balaam should have sent them away immediately the second time. He already knew God’s thoughts on the matter.
  • Balaam heard, “If you want to go, then go”. Was that God?
  • Balaam didn’t wait for the entourage to come in the morning. He leapt out of bed, got ready, and went out to meet them. So he didn’t follow God’s instructions.
  • Balaam compromised. He opened the ‘back door’ to betrayal and corruption.
  • When we partner with things not of God, we open the back door in our life to consequences not of God.
  • James 4:7 – resist the devil. Don’t get into bed with the devil.
  • Be careful of false prophets. They target people in deception who can’t hear God for themselves and don’t have a true checkpoint.
  • A great reminder to seek God for yourself and not run to others to hear from God for you.

Summary:

  1. God can speak through unexpected sources.
  2. Be alert both to watch for God and against the path of sin.
  3. Sin always carries consequences.

Prophetic activation:

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

  • “God, is there an area of my life where I am ‘playing with fire’, where I’ve opened the door a little bit?”
  • “If there is God, please show me what it is and what I need to do?”

Time Stamps:

[0:40] – Gary & Jane share briefly how they have heard God this week.

[3:26] – Background to the story of Balaam.

[11:03] – First Principle: God can speak through unexpected sources.

[12:58] – Second Principle: Be alert both to watch for God and against the path of sin.

[15:24] – At what point are we willing to disobey God?

[16:49] – Third Principle: Sin always carries consequences.

[18:29] – Recap the principles.

[19:00] – Prophetic activation.

[19:56] – Gary & Jane both share a prophetic word for a listener.

[22:09] – Gary prays for you.

Resources / Links Mentioned:

Bible Verses Mentioned:

  • Numbers 22-24
  • Numbers 31:16
  • Revelations 2:14
  • 2 Peter 2:15-16
  • Jude 1:1
  • James 4:7

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 48: Hearing God when feeling unseen, uncared for, abused, or overlooked.

Episode 48: Hearing God when feeling unseen, uncared for, abused, or overlooked.

Jul 14, 2024 | 0 comments

Episode Description:

Hagar’s story includes exclusion, oppression, jealousy, desperation, powerlessness, hopelessness, uncertainty, cruelty, humiliation, impatience, broken promises and flawed people. It is messy and chaotic. It is life. God met Hagar in the middle of her pain and abandonment. God meets us amid our sorrow, pain, brokenness, and desert experience. Join us in this latest episode of ‘Hearing God’ as we unpack all these truths and how Hagar met and experienced God.

Episode Notes:

Background to Hagar:

  • Genesis 16 & 21:8-21
  • Hagar means alien, and she was an alien/foreigner in Sarah and Abraham’s household. She was an Egyptian slave.
  • God had promised Abraham he would be the father of a great nation, but as years went by, nothing was happening. It looked like God wasn’t coming through on His promise.
  • Genesis 16:1 Sarah, Abrahm’s wife, had borne him no children. Sarah was impatient and desperate. She had been pulled out of her comfort zone, traipsed all over the countryside with Abraham, followed her husband where he went, and obeyed him. Sarah said to Abram – take my slave Hagar and sleep with her. Hagar conceived.
  • Genesis 16:4 – Once Hagar was pregnant, she despised Sarah and looked with contempt at her mistress. Hagar wasn’t the innocent girl in this. She’s not spotless.
  • Verse 5 – Sarah is jealous, scared, and losing faith in God and His promise, so Sarah takes matters into her own hands and blames Abraham. Fear can cause us to react in ways we wouldn’t normally – jealousy, anger, etc.
  • Verse 6 – Abraham wipes his hands of it and doesn’t take responsibility. Spineless. Abraham says, “Sarah, you sort it out. It’s your problem.” So Sarah abuses/mistreats her. Interestingly, Sarah & Abraham never call her Hagar but ‘that Egyptian slave’. She was nameless to them.
  • Hagar flees and runs away to die.
  • Verse 7 – an angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert. Talks with her to find out what she is doing.
  • Verse 9 – The angel of the Lord tells her to return to her mistress and submit to her. God will bless her with descendants too numerous to count, but the baby will be a son and live in hostility toward all his brothers. It is interesting to note yet again that in Deuteronomy 23:15-16, the legal code God gave the Israelites regarding runaway slaves was that they shouldn’t be returned to their masters.
  • Verse 13 – first person to name God – El Roi – You are the God who sees me. I don’t know if I would have said that after being told my son would live in hostility toward all his brothers. But it was based on her experience.
  • Hagar’s son Ishmael (means God hears)
  • The next we read of Hagar is in Chapter 21, after Sarah gives birth to Isaac.
  • At the celebration of Isaac’s birth, on the day he was weaned, Sarah noticed Hagar mocking her. Sarah saw the threat that Ishmael was to her child Isaac. When does protection turn to jealousy? She told Abraham to send Hagar away.
  • Abraham was greatly distressed as Ishmael was his son. God said not to be distressed; both sons will have offspring as a nation.
  • Verse 14 – Abraham gave Hagar food and water and sent her and Ishmael away.
  • They wandered until the water was gone. Hagar put Ishmael under a tree, and she went off as she couldn’t watch him die.
  • Verse 17 – God heard her crying, said open your eyes. I’ve supplied a well of water for you both. They then lived in the desert.
  • This second time she was sent away, it was a permanent exile. Both times, an angel of the Lord meets her and saves her.
  • The irony of Hagar’s story is that it flips the power dynamics of the Israelites.
    • The Israelites were a threat to Pharoah once they increased in number. Hagar was a threat to her mistress once she gave birth to a son.
    • The Israelites suffered abuse at the hands of their Egyptian masters. Hagar, the Egyptian, suffered abuse at the hands of Sarah.
    • The Israelites escaped from bondage under the Egyptians. Hagar ran away from her cruel mistress.

First Principle: God sees you.

  • You are not overlooked.
  • Two-way conversation. Calls God – El Roi, the God who sees.

Second Principle: God wants to speak to us personally.

  • Like Hannah and Mary, God spoke to them personally and not through their husbands, saying they would have offspring and their child would be extraordinary and have a unique destiny.
  • The angel of the Lord spoke audibly twice.
  • Every person is important to God.

Third Principle: God meets us where we are.

  • God met Hagar in the middle of her pain and abandonment.
  • God meets us amid our sorrow and pain in our desert. Like God met Moses with the burning bush in the desert, God met Hagar.
  • Don’t try to short-circuit God or take matters into your own hands. Like we know better than God – not a good outcome!!
  • God will sustain, love, and rescue us.
  • Sometimes, we are so caught up in our circumstances that we miss God and His best for us.
  • Don’t try to fulfil God’s will in your way. Wait on God.
  • God wants to reveal solutions to us that we can’t see.

Summary:

  1. God sees you.
  2. God wants to speak to us personally.
  3. God meets us where we are.

Prophetic activation:

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

  • “God, where do I need You to come through in my life at the moment?”
  • “God, where am I feeling desperate?”
  • “God, where do I need to feel seen, heard, or known?”

Time Stamps:

[1:30] – Gary & Jane share briefly how they have heard God this week.

[5:13] – Background to the story of Hagar.

[11:49] – First Principle: God sees you.

[18:36] – Second Principle: God wants to speak to us personally.

[21:02] – Third Principle: God meets us where we are.

[27:31] – Recap the principles.

[28:07] – Prophetic activation.

[29:10] – Gary & Jane both share a prophetic word for a listener.

[31:05] – Gary prays for you.

Resources / Links Mentioned:

Bible Verses Mentioned:

  • Genesis 16
  • Genesis 21:8-21
  • Deuteronomy 23:15-16

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.