Episode 19: What if I’m scared to hear God as I might not like what He says?

Episode 19: What if I’m scared to hear God as I might not like what He says?

Sep 24, 2023 | 0 comments

Episode Description:

Have you ever not wanted to hear God or been unsure about hearing God because you didn’t know what He would say? Have you ever thought that God may ‘nail’ you on something, so you didn’t want to hear God? Do you think God may ask you to do something you don’t want to do? Join Gary & Jane as they unpack this topic using Jonah from the Bible as an example. Dealing quickly with disappointment and unforgiveness is encouraged so bitterness doesn’t develop. In this episode, Gary & Jane encourage listeners not to live paralyzed by fear but to take the next step of adventure with God.

Episode Notes:

First Principle: Our view of God and His character

  • God is a loving God who wants an intimate relationship with us.
  • God is not wielding a stick and wanting to punish us.
  • God sees the BIG picture.
  • A classic story from the Bible is Jonah.
  • A reminder to deal with unforgiveness and bitterness we may have towards God.
  • Hebrews 5:13-14. We need to become mature and get into solid food.
  • Our character and how we respond when we don’t like what God says are important.

Second Principle: Am I afraid God will nail me of sin in my life?

  • Jonah 4:2 “I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.”
  • We are all on a growth journey.
  • Secrets bring shame – we need to expose them to the light.
  • 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but power, love and sound mind.”

Third Principle: Past experiences may determine my attitude.

  • Was it actually God I heard?
  • Is it my perception?
  • If fearful of what God may say is holding you back, it is worth looking into and having prayer ministry to remove misconceptions, barriers, etc.
  • Joni Eareckson Tada’s definition of faith – “Great faith isn’t the ability to believe long and far into the misty future. It’s simply taking God at His word and taking the next step.”
  • Don’t be paralyzed into not taking the next step of adventure with God.
  • Some reasons why Christians don’t obey God quickly or are scared of what God may ask them to do.
  • Evan Roberts, instrumental in the Welsh Revival in 1904-1905 emphasized immediate obedience to God. He would say that when we delay, we allow our mind to question everything, and we can expect something different.

Important Principles: How can I obey God immediately?

  • Know God and His thoughts for me through intimacy with Him. Spend time with Him, read the Bible, confess sin, etc.
  • Purpose in my heart to immediately obey God.
  • Take the first step. Don’t dally.
  • Surround myself with people of great faith.
  • Receive wise, godly counsel.

Prophetic activation:

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

  • Is there an area of my life that I have not obeyed you in yet?
  • God, what do you want me to do about that?

Time Stamps:

[0:55] – Gary & Jane share briefly how they have heard God this week.

[4:18] – First Principle – View of God and His character

[4:53] – Jane starts unpacking the story of Jonah.

[7:24] – A reminder to deal quickly with unforgiveness and disappointment.

[8:47] – Second Principle – Am I afraid God will nail me of sin in my life?

[10:18] – Secrets bring shame and need to be exposed to the light. Prayer for listeners.

[11:55] – Third Principle – Past experiences may determine my attitude.

[13:12] – Is it my perception?

[17:43] – Reasons we may not obey God.

[21:27] – How we can obey God immediately.

[23:24] – Prophetic activation.

[24:14] – Gary & Jane both share a prophetic word for a listener.

[25:54] – Gary prays for you.

[26:40] – Jane explains about the survey at https://garyandjane.co/survey

 

Resources / Links Mentioned:

Bible Verses Mentioned:

  • Jonah
  • Hebrews 5:13-14
  • Jonah 4:2
  • 2 Timothy 1:7
  • 2 Corinthians 6:14 – don’t be yoked together with unbelievers
  • Matthew 14:22-33
  • Hebrews 11, especially verse 1
  • 1 Corinthians 2:14

Connect with Gary & Jane:

Support the show:

  • Share this podcast with someone who would value hearing from God.
  • Subscribe 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 16: How else can God talk to me?

Episode 16: How else can God talk to me?

Sep 3, 2023 | 0 comments

 

Episode Description:

This episode of Hearing God expands upon the various ways God communicates with us, as explained in Episode 4. Gary & Jane unpack this topic, encouraging you to read the Bible and never underestimate God and what He can and will do. They share numerous Bible stories and practical examples of how God has supernaturally communicated with them.

Episode Notes:

First Principle: There are no formulas with God.

  • When we think we have worked out God, He smashes all formulas.
  • God prioritises relationship with us over rules.
  • Don’t disregard God communicating with you if it’s not the usual way you receive from God.

Second Principle: Various ways God can communicate with us.

  • Remember – God is outside of time, what we can think etc, so if God wants to do something new, He will.
  • The Bible
    • 2 Timothy 3:16 – all Scripture is God-inspired
    • Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path.
    • Hebrews 4:12 The word of God is alive and active.
    • Romans 15:4 – Bible written to teach us, encourage us and give us hope.
    • Sounds like a prophetic word from 1 Cor 14:3
  • Supernatural manifestations
    • Moses & burning bush Exodus 3:1-4
    • Fleece – Judges 6:37-40 – Gideon didn’t trust God and still needed a fleece even after a powerful encounter with an angel.
    • Soul blinded by a light flashed from heaven, then sight restored in Acts 9:1-19
    • Balaam and the donkey in Numbers 22:1-35
    • Daniel 5:5 fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the wall plaster.
    • Acts 5:1-10 Ananias & Sapphira struck dead after lying.
    • Often say to God, you have done it before, you can do it again.
  • Character of God
  • Co-incidences or God-incidences
  • Dreams, visions, mystical sense eg angels
  • Nature
  • Music and lyrics
  • Signs, numbers, colours
  • Smells
  • Miracles
  • Supernatural manifestations of weather
    • John 12:27-30 – God speaking to Jesus after Jesus was predicting his death. Some thought an angel had spoken from heaven; others heard thunder. What is your ear inclined to?
    • John 14:12 – Whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing and even greater works than these.
  • Other people
  • Wise advice eg people or books
  • Holy Spirit – John 14:26 – Jesus said the advocate would come and teach us all things.

Important Principles:

  • God can do and will do whatever He wants.
  • Don’t underestimate God. Don’t box God in with your preconceived ideas.
  • Be open to God speaking to you however He wishes.

 

Prophetic Activation:

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

  • If I were a food, what would I be and why?
  • What would I taste like, the colour, texture, smell, how you eat it, things it pairs with etc.
  • Don’t forget to ask God why that particular food.

 

Time Stamps:

[2:18] – Gary & Jane share briefly how they have heard God this week.

[4:30] – First Principle – there are no formulas with God.

[5:27] – Example of daughter hearing from God.

[6:46] – Gary shares what he would say to someone unsure if they heard God.

[7:53] – Second Principle – God speaks in various ways in the Bible.

[8:08] – How the Bible describes itself.

[9:06] – Bible stories of supernatural manifestations.

[10:17] – Encouragement from Jane to mature, grow up, and trust God.

[16:09] – Other ways God can speak.

[16:34] – Supernatural manifestations of weather.

[21:14] – Important Principles.

[21:41] – Prophetic activation.

[22:27] – Gary & Jane both share a prophetic word for a listener.

[24:32] – Gary prays for you.

 

Resources / Links Mentioned:

 

Bible Verses Mentioned:

  • Judges 4:16-22
  • 2 Timothy 3:16
  • Psalm 119:105
  • Hebrews 4:12
  • Romans 15:4
  • Psalm 32:8
  • 1 Corinthians 14:3
  • Exodus 3:1-4
  • Exodus 14
  • Judges 6:37-40
  • Acts 9:1-19
  • Numbers 22:1-35
  • Joshua 10
  • Acts 5:19
  • Acts 12:3-19
  • Daniel 5:5
  • Acts 5:1-10
  • John 12:27-30
  • John 14:12
  • John 14:26

 

Connect with Gary & Jane:

 

Support the show:

  • Share this podcast with someone who would value hearing from God.
  • Subscribe 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.