Wrap Up for 2024

Wrap Up for 2024

Nov 10, 2024 | 0 comments

Episode Description:

Sharing 14 main principles of how Biblical characters heard God and the application to our life, we also reveal which Biblical character from our series in Season 2 we have related to the most. We also share why this is the last episode for 2024 Season 2 and how we will return in March 2025 with Season 3. Meanwhile, we encourage you to listen to episodes you’ve missed or your favourite ones to inspire you while you wait for Season 3. Thank you so much for listening.

Episode Notes:

Review of 2024:

  • An explanation of why we are taking a break until March 2025 from podcasting.
  • The Bible characters that Gary & Jane felt they learnt the most from, especially concerning hearing God.

14 Main Principles from how the various Biblical characters we covered heard God.

  1. God speaks to us personally and in multiple ways. He desires relationship with us. E.g. Paul, Lazarus, Hagar, Ezekiel, Adam & Eve, Jonah, Mary & Joseph.
  2. Reading the Bible is important. E.g. Nehemiah, Josiah.
  3. God loves questions. E.g. David, Nehemiah, Haggai, Jeremiah.
  4. God works in bizarre ways. E.g. Hosea, Abraham, Balaam & the donkey, Gideon, Jonah, Ruth, Esther.
  5. Practice hearing God. E.g. Samuel, David.
  6. Grow in wisdom and discernment. E.g. Jochebed.
  7. Character is important. E.g. Noah.
  8. Live courageously. Hear God and then courageously step out and obey. E.g., Jochebed, Joshua (who heard God and was still afraid), Deborah, and Daniel (who was counter-cultural).
  9. Identity is important. Hearing God encountering God changes us—for example, Leah, the woman at the well, Gideon, and Saul.
  10. There’s always hope with God. Never give up. E.g. Lazarus, Ezekiel.
  11. Don’t limit God. E.g. Ezekiel.
  12. Position yourself to hear God. E.g. Lydia, Samuel, Jeremiah, Habakkuk.
  13. Act on what you hear. E.g. Lydia.
  14. Just because we can’t see God at work doesn’t mean He’s not working. E.g. Ruth, Esther.

Prophetic activation:

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

  • “God, which Bible verse would You like me to hold on to for 2025?”
  • “God, what do I need to do in preparation for next year, and how does this Bible verse apply to my life?”

Time Stamps:

[2:21] – Gary & Jane share briefly how they have heard God this week.

[9:59] – Gary & Jane share which Bible character they related to the most.

[14:48] – 14 Main Principles from how the Biblical characters heard God.

[18:13] – Prophetic activation.

[19:18] – Gary & Jane both share a prophetic word for a listener.

[23:59] – Gary prays for you.

Resources / Links Mentioned:

Bible Verses Mentioned:

  • Psalm 23:5 (I incorrectly mentioned Psalm 25:5 – sorry)
  • Song of Solomon 8:14
  • Mark 6:31-33

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 64: Hearing God when life doesn’t go according to plan

Episode 64: Hearing God when life doesn’t go according to plan

Nov 3, 2024 | 0 comments

Episode Description:

Life often seems to throw us ‘curve balls’, and we can end up living lives different from what we imagined. How we deal with these events is vital. In the Bible, Moses dealt with significant events in his life, especially when he went from a ‘somebody’ living in a royal palace to a ‘nobody’ in the outback. He then discovered what God can do with a person fully devoted to Him. Join us as we unpack how Moses heard God amid these events and how it can relate to our life.

Episode Notes:

Background to Moses:

  • We read about Moses in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
  • Episode 63 – Jochebed Moses’s mother and the events surrounding Moses’ birth.
  • Basically, Pharoah was scared of the Israelites in his country and issued an edict to kill every male baby born. Moses’ mother, Jochebed, courageously hid Moses. He was found by Pharoah’s daughter who paid Jochebed to nurse Moses and bring him up for the first approx. eight years of his life.
  • Moses then went to live in the Royal Palace.
  • Can you imagine the emotions behind this story? The jealousy that Jochebed was being paid to bring up her only son. Jealousy that Moses went to live in luxury and have servants, whereas his brother and sister and friends were servants.
  • Flavius Josephus, a Jewish priest, scholar and historian, wrote in the first century in a manuscript called ‘The Antiquities of the Jews’ (Book 2, chapter 10) that Moses became the General of the Egyptian army and was famous for defeating the Ethiopians. Acts 7:22 says Moses was mighty in speech and deeds. He had power and the ability to do anything. He saw an Egyptian and Israelite fighting and went to intervene and killed the Egyptian. Expecting it to be kept quiet, he was obviously shocked and alarmed the next day when he saw two Israelites fighting, and they challenged him about killing the Egyptian. Moses then ran away and lived as a nomad for 40 years.
  • Hebrews 11:24-25 says, “By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.” Moses chose between royalty and being a servant.
  • After Moses had lived in the desert for 40 years, God called Moses through a burning bush experience to lead the Israelites in escaping from the Egyptians to cross to the Promised Land.
  • Moses had several mountain-top experiences with God, one of those being when God gave him the 10 Commandments for the Israelites (Exodus 20)
  • His death is recorded in Deuteronomy 34. Due to an incident recorded in Numbers 20 where Moses didn’t obey God but relied on a past experience, God prevented him from entering the Promised Land.
  • He had been leading this grumbling tribe around and around the desert for 40 years, and then he is prevented from seeing the one thing they were aiming for due to not obeying God.
  • 1st 40 years, Moses thought he was a somebody as Pharoah’s ‘grandson’. 2nd 40 years, Moses believed he was a nobody and lived a nomadic lifestyle as a shepherd. 3rd 40 years – discovered what God can do with a person devoted to him.
  • Moses was fluent in both Hebrew and Egyptian culture.

First Principle: Never underestimate God.

  • God is God. He can do whatever He likes. He can and often will do the bizarre and extraordinary.
  • God spoke to Moses through thunder, fire, and lightning.
  • God used Moses in the miraculous parting of the Red Sea so the Israelites could escape from the Egyptians.
  • God performed many miraculous signs. In Exodus 16, God provided manna and food each night for the Israelites in the desert.
  • God spoke to Moses face to face. Exodus 33:11 “The Lord would speak to Moses face to face as one would a friend.”
  • Moses sensed and felt God and had visual and auditory experiences. In Exodus 19, Moses spoke, and God answered him in thunder.
  • What’s in your hand? Moses, in Exodus 4 – what was in Moses’ hand? Provision. Protection. Promise. Due to his Egyptian background, he had been taught to pick up snakes by the head so they wouldn’t bite you. God said, pick it up by the tail. Obey me, not your Egyptian ways and knowledge.
  • Always an outcome for disobeying God. Due to disobeying God, Moses wasn’t permitted to cross into the Promised Land. God could have waivered that, but He didn’t. Moses died before the fulfilment of the task. I don’t want to die prematurely before the fulfilment of what God has called me to. What about you?

Second Principle: Identity is important.

  • Acts 7:22 says Moses was mighty in speech and deeds. Yet in Exodus 4:10, we see Moses believed he lacked eloquence. Was slow of speech and stuttered. How Moses saw himself did not line up with how others saw him and how he truly was. Unless the trauma of being caught killing the Egyptian and disappearing into the wilderness for 40 years destroyed his self-esteem. Moses lost all confidence in himself. He felt inferior.
  • Thankfully, God sees us differently. God knows us intimately. God believes in us and our potential.
  • Moses had a massive fear of rejection in Exodus 3, telling God what some of the problems he might face could be. Despite God telling and showing him otherwise, he felt inadequate, unworthy, useless, and undeserving.
  • Moses did not trust God enough to believe God could triumph and do whatever through Moses. God gave him three signs – throwing his stick on the ground and it turns into a snake, putting his hand inside his jacket and it becomes leprous, and water turning into blood. Even after all these miraculous signs, Moses doubts.

Third Principle: Pay attention to the unusual.

  • Moses call in Exodus 3:1-6 Moses saw that though the bush was on fire, it did not burn up. So, Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”
  • Whenever you see a strange sight, investigate.

Summary:

  1. Never underestimate God.
  2. Identity is important.
  3. Pay attention to the unusual.

Prophetic activation:

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

  • “Father God, when you look at me, what do You think?” or “What’s on Your mind, God, when You see me, when You look at me, when You gaze at me?”
  • “Father God, can You tell me more about that please?”
  • Or “God, how do You see me dressed symbolically at the moment (ie what outfit am I wearing eg Warrior, Princess, Sailor etc)?

Time Stamps:

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

[8:09] – Background to the story of Moses.

[13:14] – First Principle: Never underestimate God.

[19:44] – Second Principle: Identity is important.

[22:59] – Third Principle: Pay attention to the unusual.

[27:18] – Recap the principles.

[27:39] – Prophetic activation.

[29:13] – Gary & Jane both share a prophetic word for a listener.

[32:32] – Gary prays for you.

Resources / Links Mentioned:

Bible Verses Mentioned:

  • Exodus, especially chapters 3, 4, 16, 19, 20, 33
  • Leviticus
  • Numbers, especially chapter 20
  • Deuteronomy
  • Acts 7:22
  • Hebrews 11:24-25

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 62: Did Abraham get it wrong in hearing God?

Episode 62: Did Abraham get it wrong in hearing God?

Oct 20, 2024 | 0 comments

Episode Description:

Was Abraham mentally unstable? Did he really hear God tell him to kill his son? What if God asked us to do something bizarre? How would we respond? There were also other occasions when Abraham made some questionable choices. It’s probably not that much different to us at times. Perhaps that’s part of the tension of living by faith. Join us as we unpack the story of Abraham in the Bible and the significant times he heard God. This episode also looks at the principle of returning to the last time you heard God if God appears silent.

Episode Notes:

Background to Abraham:

  • We read about him in Genesis, chapters 11- 25. He is called the Father of Nations.
  • In Genesis 11:27 – 32, we see where Abram’s father Terah took Abraham, his wife Sarah, and his nephew Lot from Ur of the Chaldeans (South Bank to the Euphrates River in Iraq) to go to Canaan (modern-day Israel). After about 1,000 miles, they stopped in Haran (thought to be in Turkey) and settled there.
  • In Genesis 12, after Terah died, God called Abraham to continue to Canaan to fulfil that which his father hadn’t done. God said to Abraham that he would make him a great nation and would bless him.
  • On the way to Canaan, they stopped in Egypt for a while, and since he was afraid that the Pharaoh would kill him because Sarah was so beautiful, he told Sarah to pretend to be his sister. Pharoah took Sarah as his wife, but God inflicted diseases upon Pharoah and his household – until it came out that Sarah was in fact, Abraham’s wife. Pharoah said, take her back and go. Leave.
  • Abraham then went back to where he had last heard God near Bethel. (Great principle!!)
  • Abraham and Lot had too many animals to live together, and the servants were fighting, so they separated. Lot chose the choice land of the plain that looked fertile but was next to an evil people.
  • This was when God said to Abraham, I will give you all this land you can see and make your offspring like the dust of the earth ie too numerous to count. (13:16).
  • Genesis 15 – look up to the sky – I will give you children as numerous as the stars.
  • Genesis 16 – Sarah is frustrated with not having any children and sick and tired of waiting. So she takes matters into her own hands, giving her maid Hagar to Abraham to have sex and get pregnant.
  • Hagar gives birth to Ishmael.
  • Genesis 17 – the Lord appeared to Abraham when he was 99. And talked with him. Changed his name from Abram to Abraham. Name changes are usually related to times of covenant or promise regarding the future.
  • Also told him that within 12 months, Sarah would have a child.
  • Genesis 18 – The Lord appeared to Abraham as 3 men standing before him at the entrance to his tent on a hot day. A vision. I wonder if he thought he had heat stroke. They reinforced the fact that within 12 months, Sarah would have a child. Abraham walked with these 3 men as they were leaving, and they all looked down towards Sodom and Gomorrah. Two men (angels) turned towards Sodom, but the Lord stayed and chatted with Abraham, telling him he would destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham said, if there are 50 righteous people in the city, will you spare it? Yes, said the Lord. Abraham then bargained the Lord down – what about 45, 40, 30, 20 and finally 10 righteous people? Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed in chapter 19.
  • Chapter 20, Abraham once again pretended Sarah was his sister for King Abimelek.
  • Chapter 21, Isaac is born, and due to jealousy between Sarah and Hagar, Hagar and Ishmael are sent away to die.
  • Chapter 22 God said to Abraham, take your son, your only son Isaac and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there on the mountain. Early the next morning, Abraham got up, loaded his donkey and went with Isaac and 2 servants. After 3 days of travelling, he told his servants to wait there and took Isaac further, saying that they would soon return to the servants. Isaac saw the wood, the fire, and the knife, but there was no meat, so he asked where the lamb was for the burnt offering. Abraham said God will provide. He built an altar, bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. He raised his hand with the knife to kill Isaac when the angel of the Lord called out to him to stop, now that he knew Abraham feared the Lord. Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught in a thicket, which they sacrificed instead.
  • Genesis 23 Sarah died.
  • Genesis 25 Abraham died.
  • Throughout Genesis 12-22, we read numerous times how Abraham heard God through God speaking audibly to him and God appearing in both visions and in person to Abraham. Abraham dialogued with God. He wrestled with God.

First Principle: God has a specific call for you.

  • God has a call for each of us. He has gifted us and created us for great things. He has a plan for us. Jeremiah 29:11
  • God had a call on Abraham’s life.
  • Generational call – finish that which our ancestors didn’t e.g. go to Canaan/Israel.

Second Principle: Practice and build credibility with hearing God’s voice.

  • Did Abraham really hear God’s voice when he believed God said to take his son and sacrifice him on an altar? What if it wasn’t God? What if Abraham was mentally unstable?
  • God is not into child sacrifice, murdering kids, or anything like that. Incompatible with God’s nature and character.
  • So Abraham believes God told him to do that, and for once in his life, he immediately obeys and sets out the next morning before Sarah is awake. Obviously, he was being secretive. Obviously, he hadn’t told Sarah, or I reckon they would have been up half the night debating if he should do it. Instead, he sneaks away extremely early the next morning, meaning he doesn’t have to face Sarah. I mean, imagine if God hadn’t provided a ram as the sacrifice. Imagine if Abraham had had to slaughter Isaac. Imagine coming back to Sarah and the response. I mean, did he consider all this stuff beforehand? Was he having some sort of mental breakdown? Or had he developed such intimacy over the years, especially those times when he hadn’t been obedient that he knew that he knew that he knew the voice of God.
  • Abraham does say in chapter 22 verse 5, we will return to you. Meaning him and his son would return to the servant. There was a lot of symbolism in that chapter of Abraham believing God would provide the lamb for the sacrifice.
  • Our context informs our decisions. Remember how Abraham argued with God over the number of righteous people in Sodom and Gomorrah and convinced God to reduce the number of 50 to 10? I find it extremely interesting that Abraham doesn’t argue with God over such a significant issue as being asked to kill your son. Perhaps it was because Abraham was surrounded by people worshipping other gods who needed sacrifices to appease him – not a good argument though, as he was in charge of the area he lived in.
  • God’s voice always leads to healing, life, restoration, hope, and justice.
  • What if we were asked to do something so bizarre by God? Would you do it if your spouse believed it wasn’t right? If others said don’t do it?
  • Tension of living by faith. Trusting in God. Not knowing the end result. Was God bringing Abraham into a deeper level of trust?
  • Importance of knowing the nature and character of God. Build history and trust. Abraham had already journeyed with God for over 40 years – built credibility, trust, relational knowledge and not just blind faith. Intimacy with God.
  • John 10:3-4 the sheep know the shepherd’s voice. God’s voice becomes more real than logical reasoning.
  • Hebrews 11:8-19 “By faith Abraham trusted God” By faith 4 times “By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice.
  • Are we called to trust God blindly?
  • Is it okay to ask God to confirm what He has said to you? Does that mean you don’t have faith?
  • I think of the Apostles in the New Testament. They did some crazy stuff and went places everyone said don’t go as you will be killed. They went anyway.
  • What about the Moravians in the 18th Century? They packed their coffins when they went overseas as missionaries as they knew they wouldn’t return home.
  • Deuteronomy 30:11-20 telling the Israelites to choose life, not death, with their decisions.

Third Principle: Clean up your mess

  • Sarah and Hagar mishap – took shortcut. Yes, it was Sarah who said take my servant, but Abraham willingly had sex with her.
  • Twice, Abraham tried to pass his wife off as his sister. Surely, he would have learnt after the first time. Both times thinking only of himself.
  • Obviously, Abraham had a lot of character issues.
  • Imagine the lack of credibility and trust with Sarah after setting off to sacrifice Isaac.
  • Traumatising Isaac. Can you imagine lying on the altar, tied up with a crazy dad holding a knife over you to kill you? Scar you for life. Interestingly, his son Isaac was quite weak and passive and had everyone pandering to him over the years. I wonder how that traumatic event affected his life and character.
  • Also, if you are having trouble hearing God, go back to the last time you heard God. What’s changed since then? Is there something you haven’t obeyed God in?

Summary:

  1. God has a specific call for you.
  2. Practice and build credibility with hearing God’s voice.
  3. Clean up your mess.

Prophetic activation:

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

  • “Father God, is there something I need to repent of, or someone I need to ‘clean up my mess’ with and ask forgiveness? If so, can You please bring it to my mind now?”

Time Stamps:

[0:51] – Gary & Jane share briefly how they have heard God this week.

[4:38] – Background to the story of Abraham.

[13:16] – First Principle: God has a specific call for you.

[17:13] – Second Principle: Practice and build credibility with hearing God’s voice.

[25:07] – Third Principle: Clean up your mess.

[28:27] – Recap the principles.

[28:47] – Prophetic activation.

[29:53] – Gary & Jane both share a prophetic word for a listener.

[31:52] – Gary prays for you.

Resources / Links Mentioned:

Bible Verses Mentioned:

  • Genesis chapters 11-25
  • Jeremiah 29:11
  • John 10:3-4
  • Hebrews 11:8-19
  • Deuteronomy 30:11-20
  • Isaiah 40:31

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 36: Hearing God – Daniel (from the Bible)

Episode 36: Hearing God – Daniel (from the Bible)

Apr 21, 2024 | 0 comments

Episode Description:

Join Gary & Jane in this latest episode of Hearing God as they share how Daniel in the Bible heard God, even when threatened with death. Thus, a more apt title may be: “What to do in a hard or seemingly impossible situation”. Daniel sought God and received wisdom and knowledge that he had no way of knowing other than from God. Gary & Jane unpack how God used Daniel to speak the truth to the King, even when it seemed impossible.

Episode Notes:

First Principle: We are called to live counter-cultural.

  • People should be able to discern we are different.
  • Am I prepared to give up my life rather than serve/worship any god except Almighty God?
  • Can others find me to be trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent?
  • God can give us wisdom, knowledge and understanding.

Second Principle: Anyone can hear God. You don’t need a relationship with God to hear Him.

  • God desires a relationship with everyone.
  • God can and will do whatever it takes to get our attention.

Third Principle: How to deliver hard words.

  • Do we get swayed by money, power, position and people?
  • As soon as we pray, our prayers are actioned.
  • Just because we can’t see anything physically doesn’t mean it isn’t happening in the spiritual.
  • When delivering hard words, be respectful, honest, and give a way forward.

Prophetic activation:

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

  • “God, is there an aspect of my life I need to change or adjust?”
  • “God, what do I need to do differently with my life so that I’m living counter-culturally in this world?”
    “God, what would You have me do differently?”

Time Stamps:

[0:51] – Gary & Jane share briefly how they have heard God this week.

[3:12] – First Principle: We are called to live counter-cultural.

[7:10] – Second Principle: Anyone can hear God. You don’t need a relationship with God to hear from God.

[10:24] – Third Principle – how to deliver hard words.

[16:13] – Recap the principles.

[16:48] – Prophetic activation.

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

[19:48] – Gary prays for you.

Resources / Links Mentioned:

Bible Verses Mentioned:

  • Daniel (specifically Daniel 1:17,20, Daniel 2, Daniel 3:28, Daniel 4:19,27, Daniel 5:5, 18, Daniel 6:4, Daniel 8:1, Daniel 9:23)
  • Romans 12:2
  • John 17:13-19
  • Proverbs 25:2

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.