December 2022

1 Mos 11,1-4  Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. 2 As men moved eastward,* they found a plain in Shinar and settled there.

 3  They said to each other, «Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.» They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. 4 Then they said, «Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth.»

1 Mos 12,1-4  The LORD had said to Abram, «Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. 2 «I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.» 4  So Abram left, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran.

We all know Abraham as the Father of Faith. Have you ever thought about who the Father of his faith is? In essence he was the first sheep to hear and obey God’s voice. He responded to the voice of God. His response was counted to him for righteousness, God’s sheep hear and recognize the voice of their shepherd, They trust the shepherd and obey His voice. Did Abraham know Noah, did he know about the flood, did he know Nirmrod?

Noah was Abraham’s great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great-grandfather! He knew all about the tower of Babel and of course, Noah’s faith. Some writings suggest that Abraham lived with Noah for 39 years? At any rate, he knew Noah’s faith and he knew Noah’s God. He was, in my understanding, the first sheep to hear and obey the voice of the Shepherd.

Look at what the tower builders said in Genesis 11…”Let us” LET US, LET US make a name for ourselves, LET US. Anybody know any of their names? It’s the story of man without God, let us, let me make a name. We know about their tower, but not their names. Got a lot of people in the world today doing the same thing as the world prepares for the coming anti-Christ. Let me make a name for myself!

Just glance across the page of your bible to Genesis 12. Wow, what a contrast! For now we read of God speaking, probably he spoke to Abraham thru the Angel of Jehovah. God said, Get out of here. Get away from this country, from your kinfolks and from your father’s house. Go to a land that I WILL show you. Now it’s not man saying “Let us”, it is God saying “I WILL”. Four times in 4 verses He tells Abraham “I WILL”

Abraham heard the voice of God and he obeyed. What a mark of faith. Recognize the voice of The Shepherd … the old hymn we sang, “Trust and Obey…trust and obey to be happy in Jesus, for there is no other way.” He immediately trusted God’s voice. But God doesn’t speak to us that way, thru an audible

voice and perhaps the presence of an angel. So, how can we know the voice of God? He does still speak, thru His Word and to our minds and hearts. We have the mind of Christ, we have the Word of God, which is a discerner and we have the Holy Spirit. Yes, he still speaks. We need to learn the voice of God!

Dr Adrian Rogers tells of his call to Bellvue Baptist church in Memphis, Tennessee, years ago. He said he pastored a growing church in another part of the country and was very happy there, he had no desire to leave and go to Tennessee. However, he did go to visit the church out of courtesy…he said he heard the voice of God in his spirit and knew that’s where God wanted him. The rest is history. 

There are some principles that help guide us in hearing the voice of God. When God speaks to you, it will not be about someone else. Not for you to bring correction or advice to others. It will be for you. Let me share six principles.

THE VOICE PRINCIPLE: Do you recognize the voice of your shepherd. There are many voices

that you may hear, this one you must know. “My sheep hear MY voice and they follow Me”. As I would share stories of prison and deliverance and healing many people told me, “you should write a book.” I pondered on it many times but never did it, one night I very simply asked God, He spoke seven words very clearly in my mind, “write the book and I will bless it.” I did, and He did.

THE VENTURE PRINCIPLE: Is simply, are you ready to venture out when He speaks. That will be your first test of obeying His voice. He told Abraham get up and get out of this country…Abraham, without question, got up to leave, not knowing where he was going. You must be obedient to what you know as the call of God.

THE VALUE PRINCIPLE: Are you ready to prioritize things in your life? Can no longer be a friend to the world and the things of the world, “lust of the eye, lust of the flesh and the pride of life”. Some things must go so new things can come. Do you value the call God has placed on your life. Can’t be conformed to the things of this world. Maybe you are already there but you must be willing to obey God’s voice and the Holy Spirits conviction. Must value His call, don’t ask to hear from Him unless you are willing to obey. You might want to count the cost.

THE VISION PRINCIPLE: Do you see God’s voice…do you see it by faith. I preached recently about SEE IT, SAY IT, SEEK IT, SEAL IT. First you have to see by faith. Faith is seeing the invisible. 2 Cor 4:8 “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”  First you see it by faith.

When Disney World was opened and there was a grand celebration, a lady seated next to Walt Disney’s widow said, it’s too bad that Walt is not here to see this. “Oh he saw it, that’s why its here.”

THE VIGILANCE PRINCIPLE: You will be tested. Faith that cannot be tested cannot be trusted. Face the tough questions and persecutions, they will come.

THE VICTORY PRINCIPLE: You must see the victory of the call. Be confident in His call. Abraham walked 7,529 miles until he reached the destination of his call. He was looking for a city whose builder and maker was God. Eternal in the heavens. There is victory in obedience, victory on the journey and in the journey!

Sometimes you must recognize God’s call in your circumstances. Why are you where you are? Listen for God’s voice in the midst of your situation. Blessings!

Just for Jesus,

Don