Bible Study Week 2 - The Holy Spirit

When I was a teenager the highlight of my Summers was when all of the neighborhood kids would gather to play hide-and-seek. It started out as a fun game that my siblings and the kids from across the street would play. Then, it grew to twenty or thirty kids showing up to play. We would hide in little spaces, in the middle of fields,and on the roofs of buildings. If you were good enough you could hide out for thirty minutes at a time without anyone ever finding you. You see, I wasn't the greatest at hiding and I definitely wasn't fast enough to run from whoever was tagging every one. So, most of the time I would have to be it and people would feel sorry for me and just take my place, haha.

With God, it is not like the game of hide-and-seek. Throughout the Bible God always made sure that His children could discover Him and know His will. While His primary method of communication shifted from one age to the next, His purpose did not. God want us to know Him more, seek Him, and He is not hiding from us. Sometimes I am looking for angels, clouds, wonders, dreams, visions, and maybe even a burning bush for God to show Himself to me like He did for people in the Old Testament. When I don't get these miraculous signs I feel like God is hiding Himself from me. Then, I realize I have personal access to God through His Holy Spirit. He loves us so much that He promised His presence. It is not at an alternate to the signs and prophets, it is even better! If you are discouraged because you feel as if God is hiding from you, just know that God is He is not hiding from you, He is hiding for you! He leaves traces of His glory and glimpses of His grace like bread crumbs for you to follow.

"Nevertheless, I am telling you the truth. It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don't go away the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send him to you." John 16:7

God can still speak to us through miracles and signs when he chooses. Trust me, I have seen it! Some people expect God to speak to them in this loud, stern voice, too. Through my life I have discovered it is more of a whisper or a tug on the heart. That can be a foundation to hearing from God, but it must ALWAYS be confirmed through His scripture. This was a huge realization for me. How many times I have mistaken the voice of God because it did not line up with scripture? Tons! God primarily chooses to speak to us through His scripture.

Here are five ways you can correctly hear God:

1.) Look for the Message of the Spirit:

Intentionally listen

Be Still.

Turn your attention inward

Don't just ask God for guidance casually

Know that discernment takes time

2.) Live in the Mode of Prayer:

-Don't talk to others about anything more than you talk to God about it. (WOW GUILTY)

-Submit anything you think you're hearing back to Him in prayer

3.) Search out the Model of Scripture:

-Carefully Consider what the Bible says

-Dig in to the word and find out, do what you think you are hearing from God contradict His character or His word?

4.) Seek Counsel

-Ask help from a wise more mature believer who is practiced in discerning God's voice

5.) Expect the Mercy of Confirmation

-Ask the Lord to confirm His internal Word with external evidence

Scripture to Read:

-Matthew 7:7

-John 16:13

-Romans 8:14

-1 Corinthians 2:10

-2 Thessalonians 2:13

-Romans 8:11

-1 Thessalonians 5:23