Barnabas Bulletin ~ 0179
LEARNING TO BE MORE SENSITIVE
TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
There is a great need today for Christians to know the purpose for which Christ saved us. It is so we can know what it is to be filled, led, used more effectively, and fruitful in those things that can impact people in time that will last throughout all eternity. So many opportunities are lost because we either do not recognize what (or when) the Holy Spirit is speaking to us to do certain things, or we are not sensitive enough to His voice. In Scripture the Holy Spirit is likened to a dove (Matthew 3:16; Mark 1:10; Luke 3:22; John 1:32). The dove is a very sensitive and pure bird. The word “sensitive” means “having the power of sensation; capable of registering small differences or changes in amounts, quality, etc.” (Collins Dictionary). While the word is not specifically used in Scripture, it does speak to us of a closeness of relationship, a willingness to “not miss a word” that God speaks to us, to demonstrate a priority to Who comes first in our lives ~ JESUS! When our sensitivity is focussed on hearing from God, then we will hear words from Him that others will not pick up. We will have “God opportunities” come to us that, when acted upon, will cause us to be more effective and fruitful than the norm. Divine appointments are what I call them! Noah depended upon the sensitivity of the dove to know the right timing as to when to leave the ark (Genesis 8:7-13).
God desires us to become more and more mature in His purposes so that we have the joy of “being led by the Holy Spirit” (Romans 8). “Being led by the Spirit” is the evidence that we are the sons and daughters of the Living God. Sons and daughters do what their Heavenly Father wills for them, because He loves and wants the best for His children. When we are being led by the Holy Spirit it demonstrates in us a growing maturity in the purposes of God. The more we can do things God’s way the more we will experience the greater happenings of God in and through our lives. And we can only do that as we are sensitive enough to hear His voice to us, telling us what He wants us to do.
HOW DO WE BECOME MORE SENSITIVE TO THE HOLY SPIRIT?
So, how do we become more sensitive to the ways of the Holy Spirit? We have to develop a listening ear, to still our spirit enough to not allow “other voices and hindrances” from getting in the way of our hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit. It is not by accident that “He that has an ear, let him hear” is repeated 16 times in the New Testament (Matthew 11:15; Matthew 13:9, 43; Mark 4:9, 23; Mark 7:16; Luke 8:8; Luke 14:35; Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; Revelation 3:6, 13, 22; Revelation 13:9). Of those 16 times, seven times the words “let him hear what the Spirit is saying …” is added.
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That is an absolute key to New Testament/Covenant Christianity.
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Christians are to focus their lives upon listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit.
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It is through hearing His voice that we are able to produce things in time that will last throughout all eternity.
The reality is that He is speaking more than we are hearing; hence the exhortation to “tune our ears” into listening and hearing God’s voice. That means being sensitive ~ more sensitive ~ to Him. “He that has an ear, let him hear . . .”
Sometimes it is very important to just sit quietly in His presence and listen for Him to speak to us. Psalm 46:10 exhorts us to: “Be still, and know that I am God.” He is speaking to us more than we realize, but because (often) we are not finely-tuned in to Him, we can miss what He is saying to us. We need to ask ourselves: “How available and sensitive am I to listen to God and to be committed to doing whatever He asks of me?”
Jesus taught us that “He who is of God hears God’s words” (John 8:47). His own testimony of His walk with Father God is: “For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father Who sent me gave me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak” (John 12:49-50, NKJV).
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Jesus set the example, and Jesus is our example.
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We should seek to follow in His steps and to do whatever He has told us ~ and tells us.
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It is the only way we can fulfil His plan and purpose for our lives.
This takes a greater sensitivity on our part to be able to discern and recognize how and when He is speaking to us. For Jesus, what the Father said was paramount. For us, what Jesus and the Holy Spirit say to us should be paramount too. What we hear from heaven is exactly right for us, as it is the voice of truth coming to us from above. God’s ways are higher than our ways; therefore it is important that we develop a relationship with Jesus that enables us to hear, receive and grasp those higher ways. Isaiah 55:8-9 declares: “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.” This means that we have to change our thoughts and our ways and submit/subject them to the higher ways of God.
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We can only be the winners when we can learn to do things God’s ways.
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And that takes a sensitivity and commitment of heart to hear, know, then do what He is asking of us.
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There is no better way in life than hearing the voice of God and doing what He asks of us.
May we all encourage one another to be seeking to get closer to Jesus and to build a growing and more intimate relationship with Him through being sensitive to what He says to us. He holds all the keys to your life and future ~ and we need to know them through hearing His voice. Praise His Mighty Name! ~ Rodney W. Francis.
Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 3 1 Samuel 4:1
Prayer: “Dear Lord,I come to You in Jesus’ mighty name, and I ask You to help me become more sensitive to Your voice, so that I may know your will for my life more clearly. Help me to lay aside everything that would hinder me from hearing Your voice more clearly. Thank You, Lord. Amen.”
The Gospel Faith Messenger Ministry, , New Zealand. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.