By Emeritus Prof. Mercy Olumide

Conditions for effective listening to God (Cont)
You won’t know that the Holy Spirit has come if you are waiting for a certain feeling; you will know he has come because Jesus promised he would. When the Holy Spirit is working within you, you will believe that Jesus Christ is God’s Son and that eternal life comes through him (1Jn 5:5); you will begin to act as Christ directs (Romans 8:5; Galatians 5:22,23); you will find help in your daily problems and in your prayers (Rom 8:26,27); you will be empowered to serve God and do his will (Acts 1:8; Rom 12:6ff); and you will become part of God’s plan to build up his church (Eph 4:12,13)
Those who are true sheep of Christ hear His voice

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” (Jn 10:27)

“My sheep hear My voice.” Those who are true sheep of Christ obey His voice and fellow Him; they are in constant fellowship with the shepherd. “Hear” and “follow” are in the present tense, denoting repeated or habitual activity. To those who are following, the shepherd gives eternal life. Those sheep who stray from the shepherd and refuse to listen prove that they are not His sheep (15:1-6). Also see John 10:4,14.

Read John 10:1-21, Jesus is the Good Shepherd

And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 14I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. 27My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” (Jn 10:4,14,27)

Those who are true sheep of Christ obey His voice and follow Him; they are in constant fellowship with the shepherd. “Hear” and “follow” are in the present tense, denoting repeating or habitual activity. To those who are following, the shepherd gives eternal life. Those sheep who stray from the shepherd and refuse to listen prove that they are not His sheep (15:1-6).

Read John 12:27-30, what were the different reactions to the voice of God?

“Father, glorify Your name.”Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.”29Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.”30Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake” (Jn 12:28,29,30)

God’s methods of Communication
• The Holy Bible, The Word of God—Heb.4:12; Ps. 19:7-9.

• Holy Spirit—Acts 1:16;10:19;11:12; 16:6,7;28:25, 20:23.

• God’s son, Jesus Christ—The Gospels, Jn. 6:63; Acts 1:4,5,7,8; 9:4,5,6,10-12; 15-16; 18:9,10;23:11; Acts 26:14-18; Heb. 1:1,2; 2:3; the Book of Rev; The book of Revelation is the revelation of Jesus,concerning Jesus, and from Jesus.

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