Welcome back to our series called Being led by His nature rather than by His word.
We are currently looking at the first step of the Journey
How to be led out of His word or by His every word.
Last time we looked at Jesus and how He knew the power of the Word personally, as it was who He was.
All that He had surrendered to become flesh and be a witness for us as seen in John 1:1-5 (NKJV)
As the scriptures Jesus read, studied and taught, revealed who He was and would be again. As for this season He was standing in, He had chosen to lay this part of Himself down.
Then we looked at the importance of the understanding that we are made in His image as seen in Genesis 1:27 (NKJV)
Before continuing with this thought and fact.
Although all of the bible is in Him.
Not all of Him is in the bible.
And why is this important ?
The bible is like a doorway or window to reveal Him and to enter into, a relationship of knowing Him.
But this is only a starting point.
For each time we read the scriptures, they draw us closer together to Him, through His spirit.
We learn from these experiences, how He speaks to us individually.
From this place we discover our identity in Him.
The unique part of Him, which is who we are in Him.
As the scriptures say in John 10:27 (TPT)
My own sheep will hear my voice…
I shared that one of my greatest delights is helping people hear Him and see Him work through them.
But over the years of doing this, I have discovered again and again.
That He speaks in so many ways.
That each person hears Him, completely. uniquely different.
There is no five step program or single way that can be taught, to hear the Lord.
It is also the same when the Lord reveals Himself, which is what we will be looking at today !
Over 10 years ago the Lord showed up in a cloud in a house with a few gathered around a table. Since then we have witness the same thing happening in so many different places and situations.
You would think He would have done this in places with a lot of people. But He has chosen to reveal Himself this way. Where there are only a small amount of people, as little as two.
One of the things that use to sadden my heart is when the glory cloud would appear! People who saw the cloud would yell out and others in the room would withdraw as they could not see it. Thinking they were not worthy enough to see it.
One night in Dunedin in a home group we had the privilege of taking a path of. The cloud turned up and the Lord said to me, ask everyone in the room what they personally experienced, when my glory came.
So at the end of the meeting. I said to the people. When His glory cloud came tonight. I know some saw it, His cloud which I know was amazing for those who saw it. But I would like to go around the room and hear from each of you, what you personally experienced or witness.
There was some in the room who saw the cloud, smelt His fragrance, I believe some tasted Him, another got healed of a skin condition, another got a blueprint for business he was asking for and so many more encountered Him in a variety of ways.
In fact everyone except for one in the room, got to experience His glory. But all in a way uniquely individually and personal for each person .
The one who did not experience anything sadden me greatly. As I knew His nature is that all may experience Him .
So as I left I felt to hug her and as I did she got suddenly delivered.
So everyone got to experience His presence and Majesty in a variety of ways.
This is the same, when He speaks. He speaks in a variety of languages and ways too. Which He reveals through His prophet Isaiah in
Isaiah 55:8-9 (NKJV)
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
A great example of this was found in the scripture from the challenge in our last part 1 Samuel 3:1-19. If you have not read this scripture, please grab your bibles and read it before you continue reading this message today. For it will help you understand the questions and suggested answers below.
These were our questions from this scripture and below some answers.
- . So why do you think Eli missed that the Lord was speaking to Samuel ?
May I suggest it was because,
The Lord was speaking in a way, time and space, that did not align with the way the Lord had spoken with Eli. Also the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation seen 1 Samuel 3:1
2. Why did Samuel not know that it was the Lord speaking, directly to him.
May I suggest it was because, Samuel did not know how the Lord speaks, as He had never heard Him speak before. We see this in verse 1 Samuel 3:7 seen below.
(Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, nor was the word of the LORD yet revealed to him.)
3. . Is there anything Eli could have done to prepare Samuel for this moment?
Yes we can learn something from this story and it’s found in verse 8 and 9.
Lets read it
And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. So he arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you did call me.”
Then Eli perceived that the LORD had called the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, Speak, LORD, for Your servant hears.’ (1 Samuel 3:8-9)
As children of God, we need to be looking for the heart of God or His nature, to know it is Him when He speaks to us.
This takes us full circle back to His inspired word the bible.
So the bible is where we discover His ways,heart and nature. This then will allow us to understand the way He speaks to us personally.
Also we can help others to learn, how to do the same from this perspective.
The Bible ‘His Word’ is like a Plumb line for our life and relationships. This includes our relationship with the Lord, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
In Amos 7:7-9. the prophet Amos sees a vision of the Lord holding a plumb line, symbolizing God’s standard of righteousness and judgment. This vision emphasises that God’s Word serves as a measuring stick, which all things are judged by Him, urging believers to align their lives with His will, which is found in His word.
To conclude this part of your journey, reading the word daily helps us know Him. Then from this place clearly know and discern His will and His voice, from the voice of this world , the voice of others and the voice of the enemy.
Challenge Time
- When you read the word this week ask the Lord to speak to you through His spirit before you read it.
Say a prayer like Samuel did
Speak, LORD, for Your servant hears.’
2. Then after reading the scripture take sometime to wait on Him. Then write down all He says.
3. Give thanks for every a word, phrase, question or vision. In fact whatever He reveals to you.
Father I thank You, that You are ready to speak and to be heard, by all who ask to hear you. I pray that this week will be a life changing week for so many of Your children. As they hear Your Voice with clarity ! I ask this in Jesus name amen
For those of you, who want to place an offering at the alter or plant a finical seed in the fertile ground of the Lord. Maybe you could contribute in someway towards His House, we are currently building. To equip the saints for ministry, then release His word through them, in a variety of ways.
Below is a link to a secure website, so you can do this safely online.
https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=87bf3759-ef4a-4ae2-ac5d-902b82587e44
Or our bank account details for New Zealand memebers,
Encounter Centre – 03-0481-0007448-000
If you require a receipt for tax purposes please email to info@encounterministries.org.nz
Craig Patten
Founding Pastor/Prophet
Encounter Centre & Ministries