While visiting Georgia, we had an incredible experience of hearing God's voice and the Spirit confirming through the body what we were hearing. One evening, God was reminding me of verses He'd shown me in my devotional time. Some were from 2 Chronicles 20:1-30 & 29:5-36, Luke 2:36-38, Psalm 134, Mark 9:29. After rereading the verses, I noticed that they had a few things in common:
1) people were in a desperate situation where they could look ONLY to God for help. (2Chr. 20:12)
2) they declared & praised the Lord for His attributes and power. Though they could only see the temporary, they chose to BELIEVE and TRUST GOD over their circumstances (2Chr. 20:6)
3) they heard and received GOD'S VOICE over all else, not fearing only BELIEVING. (2 Chr. 20: 15, 17, 20)
4) before approaching God's throne through prayer OR setting out to do His will, they realized their sin would impact others and that they needed to be sanctified (cleansed, purified, rid of all known sin & set apart for a holy purpose) (2 Chr. 29:5-19).
5) they sanctified themselves FIRST, then went out to cleanse the house of the Lord. (2 Chr. 20:15)
6) they called upon GOD (not their own strength or others) to hear and save them. (2Chr. 20:9)
7) as the people BOWED before the Lord and WORSHIPPED HIM, GOD MOVED and they defeated enemies, were established and prospered!! (2Chr. 20:18, 22)
8) Lastly, all the nations FEARED GOD when they heard (and saw!) that the Lord was with His people. (2Chr. 20:29
So... I told my husband that night that I felt God was really burdening my heart through the Word to intercede, to fast and pray for myself and those around me who are in situations that seem impossible, and to WORSHIP (sing and rejoice!) through them until God brings victory. The VERY NEXT MORNING, we met other believers to fellowship, pray and worship. The Spirit spoke to a lady whom we had never met, confirming all of the Scriptures that we wrote above. It was an INCREDIBLE experience and strengthened our faith in our "hearing abilities". Sometimes we tend to doubt what God is speaking to us. Isaiah 11:2 says that we have the Spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel, etc. Verse 3 says "NOT to judge by the sight of the eyes or with the hearing of the ears".
Sometimes we question and doubt what we're hearing from the Lord. We must listen to God and not look/listen in the natural. 2 Corinthians 5:7 calls us to walk by FAITH and NOT BY SIGHT, right!? This is also one of the reasons He commands us "not to forsake the assembling of the brethren" (Hebrews 10:25). When the body of Christ gathers, each part supplies what is needed for the body to grow and move into all He is doing in and through them (Ephesians 4). We were listening to what He was saying but unsure. Our faithful God brought an amazing believer to our midst, sensitive to His Spirit, to confirm to us that we were hearing Him! In order to remind us of what God has spoken through His word and His spirit, she gave me her beautiful necklace. (See below!) How refreshing, encouraging and exciting it is when the brethren dwell in unity and the body functions as it's meant to! :)
So my question for you is... what situation are you in that you alone CANNOT solve? Humbly examine your own life, confess and repent of any sin and pour your heart out to the Lord (Psalm 55). Cry out to Him about whatever it is, He will hear and save! Worship Him for who HE is and all His marvelous attributes! Rejoice and praise Him until He brings the victory! Lastly, your faithfulness or your disobedience will have an impact upon those around you. Make sure you're sowing to the Spirit and not your flesh, so that you and those you love reap eternal life and instead of corruption (Galatians 6:8)!
1) people were in a desperate situation where they could look ONLY to God for help. (2Chr. 20:12)
2) they declared & praised the Lord for His attributes and power. Though they could only see the temporary, they chose to BELIEVE and TRUST GOD over their circumstances (2Chr. 20:6)
3) they heard and received GOD'S VOICE over all else, not fearing only BELIEVING. (2 Chr. 20: 15, 17, 20)
4) before approaching God's throne through prayer OR setting out to do His will, they realized their sin would impact others and that they needed to be sanctified (cleansed, purified, rid of all known sin & set apart for a holy purpose) (2 Chr. 29:5-19).
5) they sanctified themselves FIRST, then went out to cleanse the house of the Lord. (2 Chr. 20:15)
6) they called upon GOD (not their own strength or others) to hear and save them. (2Chr. 20:9)
7) as the people BOWED before the Lord and WORSHIPPED HIM, GOD MOVED and they defeated enemies, were established and prospered!! (2Chr. 20:18, 22)
8) Lastly, all the nations FEARED GOD when they heard (and saw!) that the Lord was with His people. (2Chr. 20:29
So... I told my husband that night that I felt God was really burdening my heart through the Word to intercede, to fast and pray for myself and those around me who are in situations that seem impossible, and to WORSHIP (sing and rejoice!) through them until God brings victory. The VERY NEXT MORNING, we met other believers to fellowship, pray and worship. The Spirit spoke to a lady whom we had never met, confirming all of the Scriptures that we wrote above. It was an INCREDIBLE experience and strengthened our faith in our "hearing abilities". Sometimes we tend to doubt what God is speaking to us. Isaiah 11:2 says that we have the Spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel, etc. Verse 3 says "NOT to judge by the sight of the eyes or with the hearing of the ears".
Sometimes we question and doubt what we're hearing from the Lord. We must listen to God and not look/listen in the natural. 2 Corinthians 5:7 calls us to walk by FAITH and NOT BY SIGHT, right!? This is also one of the reasons He commands us "not to forsake the assembling of the brethren" (Hebrews 10:25). When the body of Christ gathers, each part supplies what is needed for the body to grow and move into all He is doing in and through them (Ephesians 4). We were listening to what He was saying but unsure. Our faithful God brought an amazing believer to our midst, sensitive to His Spirit, to confirm to us that we were hearing Him! In order to remind us of what God has spoken through His word and His spirit, she gave me her beautiful necklace. (See below!) How refreshing, encouraging and exciting it is when the brethren dwell in unity and the body functions as it's meant to! :)
