Listen to God? How do I know His voice? by pastor steve

This Sunday we continue our series Heavenly Homeland by looking at the faith of Abraham. 
As I read the call of Abraham, one important question come to mind: How confident was Abraham that he really heard God’s voice?
If the instructions were something like: “Abraham, have lamb stew for dinner this evening!”… well not a big deal if it was’t God after all. 
But… “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you….”  Genesis 12:1
That is quite a lot at stake!  
Or how about later when God speaks to Abraham:
“Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.”
Genesis 22:1-2

How did Abraham know it was God? Did he ever wonder, “What if I’m wrong?” 

What about us, today?

How do I know God’s voice? How can I be sure? 

First, we must recognize that Abraham didn’t have any Scripture to consult; so we can assume that God spoke to Him very, very clearly. And God has made it clear that for US, TODAY, he has given us the Scriptures as our guide.  

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. -1 Timothy 3:16

So whenever we believe God is speaking to us, we rightly ask, “Where is it written?” 
If it is not clearly in Scripture, then you have every reason to doubt that it was God’s voice. 
We also have our brothers and sisters in Christ to help us discern God’s voice.

So in a nutshell: How do I know what God is saying? Look to:

• The Word of God
• The People of God

If God’s Word is our ultimate guide… then how do I know I am understanding it correctly?  

Biblical Hermeneutics is the study of Biblical interpretation. Yes: there is a RIGHT way to read the Bible (and many wrong ways!)

If you’d like to begin a journey with me in studying the key principles of Biblical interpretation, check out the short video below. 

In His Love and Grace,

Pastor Steve