If we want to hear God’s voice, we have to ask the question ‘what does God’s voice sound like?’ Dallas Willard, in his book ‘Hearing God’, says ‘Certain factors distinguish the voice of God, just as any human voice can be distinguished from another’ and says these factors involve the quality of the voice of God, the spirit of the voice of God and the content of the voice of God.

The Quality of God’s Voice

Stanley Jones says, ‘The inner voice of God does not argue, does not try to convince you. It just speaks and is self-authenticating.’ (‘A Song Of Ascents’, P 190) In the creation narrative in Genesis 1, we read ‘God said, “Let there be light” and there was light.’ (Gen 1:3) God speaks and creation happens. God speaks and things happen. God speaks and we cannot deny He has spoken. We are not always sure how we know this, but there is a weight, an impact, an authority to His voice which every other voice lacks. God speaks and something happens. Just as He created our entire universe through the power of His word and just as He sustains the universe through His powerful word (Hebrews 1:3), when He speaks to us, there is an authority which makes things happen.

The Spirit of God’s Voice

There are many voices in the world which seek to dominate our thinking. One of the chief characteristics of God’s voice is that it builds up and does not tear down. Other voices may be critical and belittle us, but God’s voice, even when it chastises us, does not leave us guilt-ridden or dejected. It’s like the ‘sting’ we get when we put an antiseptic cream on a wound; we gasp initially as the pain hits us, but then the cream does its work and we can feel the wound being healed. God’s voice will never leave us wounded beyond repair. It will always cleanse us, heal us, restore us and set us right again.

The Content of God’s Voice

Dallas Willard says ‘the content of a word that is truly from God will always conform to and be consistent with the truths about God’s nature and kingdom that are made clear in the Bible.’ (quoted in Richard Foster’s ‘Sanctuary of the Soul’ P 81-82) God does not change (Malachi 3:6) and so what He says to us will always be consistent with His revelation of Himself. We need to be soaked in Scripture so that we know as much of God’s character as we possibly can (see 1 John 4:1, Acts 17:11) False teachers, misguided enthusiasts, bigoted opinions abound and it’s very easy to be taken in by persuasive speech, powerful rhetoric and manipulative marketing, so it is imperative that we learn to recognise the content of God’s voice.

Prayer is a tw0-way conversation with God, but more often than not it is easier to focus on the ‘speaking’ part of prayer than on the ‘listening’ part. Since James tell us we should be ‘quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry’ (James 1:19), it’s important that we learn to listen to God’s voice. Jesus told us that He is the good Shepherd and we are His sheep (John 10:11, Psalm 100:3) and says ‘I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.  I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.’ (John 10:14-16) If we want to know God’s guidance throughout 2015 and beyond, we need to learn to listen.

This is not always easy, for distractions abound. We need to practise the discipline of silence if we are to hear God speak and shun the distractions (see how Martha and Mary dealt with this in Luke 10:38-42). God may well roar like a lion (Amos 1:2, Amos 3:4, 8, Jer 25:30, see Chris Tomlin’s ‘The Roar‘) and thunder louder than mighty waters (Ps 29:3, Rev 1:15), but He also speaks in gentle whispers (1 Kings 19:12) and if we are to hear these whispers, we need to be still and know that He is God (Ps 46:10, see also Ps 131:2). We have to ‘crucify the spirit of distraction’ (Richard Foster, ‘Sanctuary of the Soul’ P 106)  and pursue prayer diligently and passionately (see Lam 3:26-31, The Message). Setting time aside and learning to quieten our impatient souls is the first step to listening to God.

Between 24th January and2nd February 2015 the global Worship Central team will be holding 100 gatherings of worship leaders and worshippers in 100 different locations held in anywhere from living rooms to cafes to churches. These gatherings will be hosted by coordinators and friends of Worship Central from all over the world.

Our nearest venue is Sheffield on Monday 2nd February at St Thomas Crookes church, Nairn Street, Sheffield, S10 1UL, starting at 8 p.m. and a group of us from church will be going along to this event. See Julie or Garry for further details. There is no need to register beforehand, just turn up at the venue in good time!

This is an opportunity to join with other Christians to worship and pray and to see the worship of Jesus Christ made central in society again. It’s an opportunity to broaden our horizons and realise that God is far bigger than one area or one local church. Come along and connect with others passionate about worship in your local area. For further details, see the Worship Central website.

Dave’s sermon on Sunday evening alluded to the wilderness wanderings of the Israelites and how they were led by God during those 40 years before they actually reached the River Jordan. Following God for them meant following the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night, God’s presence made visible for them to follow. Chris Tomlin takes this theme in his song ‘I Will Follow’:

‘Where you go, I’ll go
Where you stay, I’ll stay
When you move, I’ll move
I will follow…

All your ways are good
All your ways are sure
I will trust in you alone
Higher than my sight
High above my life
I will trust in you alone (trust in you alone)

Light unto the world
Light unto my life
I will live for You alone
You’re the one I seek
Knowing I will find
All I need in You alone, in You alone

In You there’s life everlasting
In You there’s freedom for my soul
In You there’s joy, unending joy
And I will follow.’ (Chris Tomlin, ‘I Will Follow’)

Jeremy Camp’s new album (released next month) has the same title: ‘I Will Follow’

”Though the desert be before me
And there’s no relief in sight,
Though the enemy is breathing
All the lies into my mind,
You will always carry me
Until my dying day.
What you have for me is worth it
‘Cause I’ll see you face to face

I will follow,
Follow you wherever you go
And I will listen
To the very promises I know.
You are with me
Always with me
Keeper of my soul
I will follow
Follow you wherever you go.

And the day is coming quickly when
You break open the sky
And the armies all around you
Will be conquering the night
You gather all the children
That are calling out your name
When the troubles are the here and now
I know it’s not in vain.’ (Jeremy Camp, ‘I Will Follow’)

Steve and Katuska Davies, missionaries we support in Mozambique, have sent an update for us:

‘Katuska and the boys are doing well.  Home school occupies the mornings, then the boys tend to read, play, fight, bake cookies, ride bikes… we get them out of the house somehow, except on the hottest of days when everyone is too exhausted to move.  We’ve even made iced tea, I’m ashamed to say.

January, for me, is the quiet hour before the dawn landings.  The seminary will get under way in the second week of February.  But this time I’ve had some enforced rest, as I’m part way through a bout of malaria and pneumonia, and not sure yet if it’s over.

In your prayers please remember:  our health; new students for the seminary; variety and interest in the boys’ lives; the need for social life and friends outside our compound!’

Please continue to pray for this family and for the Bible college where they work. You can view photos here.

Dave spoke from Josh 3:1-4 last night, looking especially at verse 4: ‘you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before.’ The people of God had been travelling for 40 years in the wilderness, journeying to the Promised Land, and essentially (because of rebellion and unbelief), they had wandered around the same area for a very long time. Now it was time for them to cross the River Jordan, and this was very unfamiliar territory indeed.

For us, a new year represents new territory to be explored, and for most of us, the unfamiliar evokes apprehension and even fear. Few of us actively welcome change! Yet God knows the path ahead of each one of us and will direct and lead us in the way we should go. The Israelites had spent many years not trusting God, and distrust dishonours the God of all faithfulness. ‘The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith,’ George Mueller said. In order for us to overcome our fear of the unknown, we have to:

1. Seek the Word of God

Josh 1:8 reminds us of the key to Joshua’s success. If we want to be blessed by God even through whatever trials 2015 may bring, we have to get into the word of God every day, for His wisdom and guidance are found in His book. God comes into our situations as we read His word and leads the way for us to follow.

2. Look to the ark of God (God’s presence)

The Israelites moved at God’s command, when the ark of the covenant (symbol of God’s presence) moved. The ark was situated in the middle of all the tribes and was the signal for the Israelites to follow. The presence of God is vital for our ongoing journey. We need to keep our eyes firmly fixed on Jesus. We are His followers; He needs to lead the way.

The generation of Israelites about to enter the Promised Land had not (with the exception of Caleb and Joshua) seen the miracles which had led to their deliverance from Egypt. They trembled as they saw this unpassable river. Faith was required to cross the river, and faith and trust will be required for every trial and difficulty we face this year. God’s providence has brought us far over the years, but we cannot rely on our past experience for new trials. This year’s unknown path is not unknown to God, however, for He exists where there is no yesterday or tomorrow, simply an ever-present now.

1 Cor 10:13 reminds us that our experiences may be new to us, but they are not new to God’s people. Caleb and Joshua had seen the Red Sea part; they would see the River Jordan part as well. Others have gone through experiences similar to ours and we find encouragement in Scripture to deal with situations and also to know that God will not give us more than we can bear. God’s faithfulness remains constant, even when we face unfamiliar paths. He is with us throughout every test and trial and will lead us into the future, therefore we can have confidence – not in ourselves, but in Him!