The 3 Lights for Hearing God’s Voice in your Life

1. The leadings of the Holy Spirit
2. Objective Truth (from God’s Word and God’s World)
3. Circumstances in our lives

“The circumstances of our daily life are to us an infallible indication of God’s will, when they concur with the inward promptings of the spirit and with the Word of God.” Frederick B. Meyer, The Secret of Guidance.

“For those who do not yet have a confident, working familiarity with this voice, however, trying to discern the three lights may speedily result in a swirl of confusion, leaving them hopelessly adrift or wrecked on the shoals of spiritual misadventures.” Willard, Dallas, Hearing God: Developing a Conversational Relationship with God

1. The Spirit  = the Invisible Presence of God.

2 Corinthians 3: 17-18 Now the Lord is the Spirit … And we all … are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

2. The Spirit leads by intuition, promptings, and direction in your consciousness, not Emotion.

Romans 8: 5b-6; 16 Those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace …16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

3. The Spirit is like a Spotlight that Focuses us on Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 3:16-17 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.

4. The Spirit normally is a “still, quiet voice” (but be open to MORE).

1 Corinthians 6: 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own

5. The Spirit typically works most actively through Spiritual Disciplines (fasting, meditation, etc.,)

1 Timothy 4: 7b-8 Train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

The voice of the Holy Spirit vs my own subconscious voice? … Perhaps the rough distinction is this: The voice of the subconscious argues with you, tries to convince you; but the inner voice of God does not argue, does not try to convince you. It just speaks, and it is self-authenticating. It has the feel of the voice of God within it.   E. Stanley Jones, A Song of Ascents

Hearing God: Developing a Conversational Relationship with God
Part 1 – the Spirit and the Word

2 Corinthians 2:3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:10 These are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit …What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.

If I don’t believe, it is likely that …

If I do believe, it is likely that …

Galatians 5:16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Recommended Reading:
Dallas Willard, Hearing God: Developing a Conversational Relationship with God (2012 edition)
Bill Hull,  Choose the Life: Exploring a Faith that Embraces Discipleship
Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline

Click on the link below to read Bobby’s eBook

Relational Discipleship – Biblical Theology

To listen to a teaching Bobby delivered during Exponential 2012, click on the link below

The Theology of Relational Discipleship

Harpeth Community Church Faith Statements (Revised, June 2009)

At Harpeth Community Church we believe that Biblical teachings can be understood at three levels. First, there are 1. Essential teachings, those which are necessary for salvation and a right standing with God. These teachings are so vitally important that they Read More »

On Christmas Day Harpeth members Betty Kayitesi and Emmy Nteziryayo were featured on the front page of The Tennessean! Read their heart warming story of loss, love and faith here.

To download the pdf discussion guide, Following Jesus, click here. It will help you or someone you’re discipling understand the core teachings of the Bible.

To download the MP3s of sermons on each topic, right click on the blue links below and choose “Save As”.

#1 The Word of God

#2 Lost

#3 Rescue

#4 Saved

#5 Following Jesus

Click the link below to read the full paper by Dr. Bobby Harrington

Is the Bible Reliable – Final (2)

Lost or Found?

We are in the midst of an important teaching series at Harpeth Community Church.  It is called, “Lost and Found.”  We are seeking to grapple with the core message of the New Testament that humans are lost and heading to hell because of our sinful ways, and, the good Read More »

Scripture: 1 Peter 5 ¹⁰ And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. ¹¹ To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Observation: In Peter’s final chapter of his first letter he appeals to the elders to shepherd the flock, and gives some final greetings.  In verse 10 Peter basically summarizes the entire book-there will be suffering and persecution for believers, but eternal glory follows-so Read More »

SCRIPTURE:  1 Peter 5:2-3 ² Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. ³Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example.

OBSERVATION: This is a great passage that highlights several keys to understanding how God intended the church to be led.  First, God actually takes heirs to his throne and entrusts them to the care of leaders or shepherds in the church.  Next, He reminds them of Read More »