Hearing God through my spirit being stirred up

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

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.