Two Essentials When You Hear God's Voice

 He went out, not knowing where he was going. —Hebrews 11:8

Oswald Chambers said “[as a Christian] One of the most difficult questions to answer in Christian work is, “What do you expect to do?” You don’t know what you are going to do. The only thing you know is that God knows what HE is doing. Continually examine your attitude toward God to see if you are willing to “go out” in every area of your life, trusting in God entirely. 

Ok So what are the 5 W’s you might be wondering. In the Army there are two basic types of written orders – A warning order – which is a heads up that you are about to do something and a field order which gives the details. The warning order is composed of what is referred to as the 5 W’s. Who, what, when, where, and why. 

But the thing is, in my experience, God does not give you all of that information before He sends you out. 

There are a couple of essentials in “going out”.  The first essential is “knowing”.  Knowing what? Knowing that it is God and not your own idea of what you should do or want to do.  When God sends you, He goes with you.  It’s not like leaving your parents’ home.  You leave and they stay. 

You must be careful … if you go off on your own to do something that requires the power of God, but you are doing it on your own … you are in trouble from the start.  You can do nothing in the flesh that will please God. To know it is God speaking, your heart must be right with Him … your relationship must be solid … your devotion to Him consistent.  God examines the heart.  Why do you think He chose Abraham?  

The second is “leaving”.  Leaving what?  Paul wrote to the church in Phillipi …. 

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. -  Philippians 3:-13-14

If you are going to follow God then you must be prepared to abandon your earthly affections and trust God.

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. - Hebrews 11:8-10

These men were willing to put their lives, their affections, their cultural preferences behind them in favor of following God.  Jesus said if you are going to follow Him … be His disciple … your love for even your own family must be subordinate to obedience to God’s voice and His will.  

I have heard many men say that their priorities are God, family, then ministry.  If I understand the Bible correctly .. ministry is doing God’s will .. it’s not a vocation … God may ask you to do something that requires not only your sacrifice, but your family’s as well.  That is a true test of higher devotion.  

I know people who think that doing comes before being.  The thinking is that if I immerse myself in the work of the ministry then I will be in the will of God.  That is a “works” mentality. But doing the will of God starts in the heart not in the hands.  Following God for Martie and me has meant that we have not been with our family for years at a time.  Do we trust God enough to believe that He is in control?  Even in the lives of those on this earth that we love the most?  If not, when He says go – you will say no … or maybe later.

Then another of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father. But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead. – Matthew 8:21

So what is it that God has been saying to you?  Nothing?  Maybe you have not been listening ... or maybe you put your fingers in your ears because you don’t want to hear. Or maybe what the Lord asks of you is more than you are willing to sacrifice to the Lord.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone