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“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me,”
John 10:27
“Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose
that prevails,” Proverbs 19:21
* Second Edition *
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Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New Interna-
tional Version. Copyright© 1989-1998 by International Bible Society. Used by permis-
sion of International Bible Society.
The Scriptures are packed with examples of people who had a close re-
lationship with God. The Bible illustrates how God leads us on an individual
level and on a corporate level.
The people spoke to him and heard him speak to them in words and
ways they understood it was him speaking. The presence of God was what
characterized people that submitted their lives to him.
For instance, Paul was full of God’s presence through the Holy Spirit in
his inner person. He was able to see the hand of God with him even in circum-
stances we would normally think God is absent.
In one situation Paul said, “Compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jeru-
salem, not knowing what will happen to me there,” (Acts 20:22). A prophet
named Agubus told him what the Holy Spirit said would happen to him. “The
Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this
belt (Paul),’ ” (Acts 21:11).
Having heard this, his colleagues pleaded that he should not go. He re-
sponded, “I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the
name of the Lord Jesus,” (verse 13).
Paul lived as a mere instrument under the use of God. He was totally
possessed by the Holy Spirit and submitted to the authority of the Holy Spirit in
his life. We too can be led by the Spirit of God to effectively live as his instru-
ments.
In fact, God has made the presence of the Holy Spirit in a greater meas-
ure in the end times we’re living in. “In the last days, God says, ‘I will pour out
my Spirit on all people,’ ” (Acts 2:17).
All people refers to all believers as God’s word testifies. Our Lord Jesus
said that only his followers, that is, those born of the Spirit, can receive the
Spirit of God. The rest cannot receive him:
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Hearing the Voice of God and Fulfilling God’s Purpose for Your Life
“I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with
you for ever - the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it
neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and
will be in you,” (John 14: 16-17).
All believers therefore, have a privilege to personally ‘hear’ God
through his Spirit and to be led by him in their lives. “Those who are led by the
Spirit of God are sons of God,” (Romans 8:14).
As we increasingly learn to hear God’s voice, we also become increas-
ingly tuned to his program of our lives. Instead of trial and error, we are able to
precisely know or be confident of where, why, who with and what God wants to
do with us. We thus, are able to escape avoidable burdens and tragedies in our
lives and the lives of those entrusted to us.
It is a great mystery that God lives inside every one of us that are born
again. “Don’t you know that you yourself are God’s temple and that God’s
Spirit lives in you? (1 Corinthians 3: 16). “Do you not know that your body is a
temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?”
(1 Corinthians 6:19).
Hearing the ‘voice’ of the Holy Spirit and knowing it is him who has
spoken is determined by our closeness to God. It is like any other relationship -
the more time the partners spend with each other, the more they are able to
know each other. The relationship grows on close acquaintance.
God through his Spirit speaks to us in many ways. “God does speak -
now one way, now another - though man may not perceive it. In a dream, in a
vision of the night... he may speak in the ears and terrify them with warnings, to
turn man from wrongdoing and keep him from pride, to preserve his soul from
the pit... Oh a man may be chastened on a bed of pain with constant distress in
his bones...” (Job 33: 14-18).
Our Lord frequently emphasized the importance of having ears to hear.
“He who has ears, let him hear,” (Matthew 11: 15; 13: 9, 43; Mark 4:9, 23;
7:16; Luke 8:8; 14:35).
The same emphasis is made in the book of Revelation several times:
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” The
issue therefore is not on trying to find out whether or not God is speaking to us
through his Spirit. He is always saying something to each of us.
The main issue is: do we have ears to hear what he is saying? Physical
ears are not necessary for hearing from the spiritual realm. It is the spiritual ears
that matter.
If we cannot hear what his Spirit is saying to us on matters in our lives
then we’re labeled as spiritually deaf and blind:
“Hear, you deaf; look, you blind, and see! Who is blind but my servant,
and deaf like the messenger I send? …You have seen many things, but have
paid no attention… This is a people plundered and looted…they have become
plunder with no one to rescue them,” (Isaiah 42: 18-22).
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Introduction
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1. How God Speaks to Us
1) Through prayer
2) Through the Bible
3) Through books, other types of literature, and multimedia
4) Through wise counsel (other people)
5) Through circumstances and opportunities
6) Through fellowship
7) Through prophecy
8) Through Visionary Leadings (including Through Visions)
9) Through dreams
10) Through inner peace
11) Through fasting
12) Through testimonies (past experiences - ours and others’)
13) Through inborn (natural) gifts and personality attributes
14) Through newbirth (spiritual) gifts or abilities
15) Through an authoritative voice
16) Through an inner voice and affirmation
1) Through Prayer
Prayer is basically us talking to God, just as reading the bible is God
talking to us. It is expressing our thoughts, desires, feelings, gratitude, praises,
disappointments, concerns, burdens, our inadequacy without him, etc. Through
prayer each of us believers has personal access to God. When we’re praying we
leave the earthly realm (spiritually, not physically) and we enter the heavenly
realm of God’s kingdom.
Prayer is also an avenue God uses to enable us, believers, to establish
our given authority on earth. Our given authority is in the area of fulfilling his
will on earth and extending his kingdom to all people on earth. Through prayer
we’re able to ask God, according to his written will in the bible, to fulfill matters
on earth he has burdened us with:
“Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of
the earth your possession,” Psalm 2:8.
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Hearing the Voice of God and Fulfilling God’s Purpose for Your Life
“Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you
will receive, and your joy will be complete,” John 16:24.
Through prayer, God desires us to ask him for things that he world like
to fulfill on earth and in our lives. Thus without asking God may result in him
not bringing to pass many things he’d planned to fulfill on earth and in our lives.
This is a profound gesture from God. The almighty, all-powerful God has
chosen not to impose his will on earth and opted to work with his children, us
believers, on many critical matters.
It could be that certain matters not yet fulfilled on earth and in our lives
are due to not having asked and cooperated with God in fulfilling them. In his
book titled, Understanding the Purpose and Power of Prayer: Earthly License
for Heavenly Interference, Myles Munroe shows how through prayer God has
placed us in such a central position in making a difference in this world.
God has given us the keys to his kingdom. “I will give you the keys of
the kingdom of heaven,” Matthew 16:19. This means that there’re certain places
and matters that unbelievers and Satan’s hosts cannot have access to in heaven.
It’s our Father’s house that only his children have access to. It carries with it
immense authority.
The whole verse in the passage reads: “I will give you the keys of the
kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and
whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven,” Matthew 16:19.
(On what binding and loosing means according to the bible, please read
Chapter 2: Our Territory and Nature of Our Christian Authority in my book on
spiritual warfare, titled Major Spiritual Warfare Principles: Biblical Do’s and
Don’ts of Warfare. Some in the body of Christ recently began to assume it
implied binding and loosing evil spirits in geographical territories, in the
heavenly realms or the spirit world).
What a priestly privilege we have to have access to God’s heavenly
kingdom and stand for unbelievers by going to heaven (through prayer). We’re
able to petition their case of salvation for them with our spiritual keys of access
to his kingdom (that they don’t have yet).
The entire kingdom of God is on our side in bringing to pass in heaven
matters that we’ve appropriately agreed upon (bound) on earth. As we biblically
pursue such matters we’ll be able to see Satan’s works destroyed in our lives
and the lives of others we represent before God.
We also have access to God’s throne of grace for wisdom and every
provision for fulfilling our purposed callings. “Let us then approach the throne
of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help
us in our time of need,” Hebrews 4:16.
As we take time in our daily prayer devotion, it’s important to pause oc-
casionally to hear what God has to say on some matters. Prayer on a higher
level, is a two-way interaction, not just one party doing the talking and another
listening.
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1. How God Speaks to Us
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Hearing the Voice of God and Fulfilling God’s Purpose for Your Life
What is to worship?
In its widest sense it is to commune (communicate), honor, glorify,
praise (including through music), exalt, connect with and please God. Worship-
ing God is therefore many things in our relationship with him.
It is basically to love God. It doesn’t demote the meaning yet still brings
it down to earth to easily understand. Someone you love you’re naturally driven
to please them and express your love in so many ways. And it’s from your heart
that you value and express your love to the person.
In loving God Jesus said God treasures those who love him in spirit and
truth. It is not those who go to a particular mountain, to Jerusalem, and in our
times, to a particular church or a particular denomination.
And what is “in spirit and in truth?”
We’ll start with “truth” since it’s much easier to address. It’s more tan-
gible than “spirit” and the scriptures have many references. Our clearest
description can be found in John 17:17 – “Sanctify them by the truth; your word
is truth.”
God’s word is truth. Obeying and applying his word in our lives is in
God’s eyes is a form of worship because everything that comes out of walking
in truth pleases him. There are religious rituals involved and certainly no ill
motives involved while serving God in truth.
And by walking in truth we find freedom because we end up knowing
God’s ways that bring true freedom. We escape the ways of this fallen world
and of Satan that bring bondage. “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my
disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free,” John
8:31-32.
Worshiping God in spirit is where it’s less plain. It’s also an area where
prayer is a major part. Why? Because prayer is one of the most spiritual aspects
in our Christian lives.
Like fasting, it’s one of those unseen and hard to evaluate disciplines in
our Christian lives. We can measure ourselves how often we attend church, how
much our income we give the body of Christ, how many we’ve evangelized in a
period, how often we take communion, read the bible, other Christian books, the
multimedia, and so on.
And if we’re doing well in any combination of areas we could pat our-
selves on the back. Others may even use these seen areas to measure our crowns
in heaven at the end of time.
Not so on prayer. It’s our most unseen Christian area. It’s also measured
in quality not quantity or volume of prayers. This is where the “in spirit” aspect
comes in. The main verse we’re examining says why we should worship in
spirit. It says “God is Spirit.” The whole verse reads: “God is spirit, and his
worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth,” John 4:24.
God being a Spirit or more respectfully, the Spirit, desires believers
whose worship of him connects with him in the spiritual realm, above the
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1. How God Speaks to Us
natural realm. He requires our worship of him to rise above the natural realm of
religious duties and obligations. Instead of saying our prayers out of religious
duty and obligation he desires that we rise above this natural realm. They must
rise to a relationship level.
All our service and worship unto him, be it prayer, fasting, praise, bible
study, charitable service, and so on, are expected to rise above this natural realm
of religious duties and obligations. They are expected to reach the spiritual
realm of connecting with the spiritual God. It is a relationship with him.
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Hearing the Voice of God and Fulfilling God’s Purpose for Your Life
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1. How God Speaks to Us
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Hearing the Voice of God and Fulfilling God’s Purpose for Your Life
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1. How God Speaks to Us
put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather
around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to
hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths,” 2
Timothy 4:3-4 (emphasis added).
We have nothing in common with this world as our Lord said. What the
world is busy chasing in order to find happiness should not be our preoccupa-
tion. Well, let’s move on before we start discussing another sub-topic. For
detailed info on this topic please see chapter 7: Christian Deliverance and
Healing in Financial Areas, in my book Major Christian Deliverance Princi-
ples: Keys for Self-deliverance and Ministry. It covers on this topic with an
emphasis on sound doctrine.
The same Bible we use the enemy also used in tempting Jesus. He’ll
also try to quote the Bible to try to give us false doctrine. Though quoting
scripture is necessary the quantity an individual quotes ought not to be the
standard of measure of truth.
For every topic, the enemy tries to use people to bring in false doctrine -
on prayer, spiritual warfare, deliverance ministry, money, career and ministry,
family and marriage, health, and so on.
Some authors are his agents. These are very easy to detect because we
are Christ’s sheep with God’s Spirit dwelling in us. “My sheep listen to my
voice; I know them, and they follow me,” John 10:27. The voice of a stranger is
made clear by he that is in us. He reveals what he has not originated. Scripture
says, “We are not ignorant of his schemes,” (2 Corinthians 2:11)
For most servants that stray from the scripture it’s out of their lack of
submission to the Holy Spirit that other voices are able to come in. Other voices
include our personal perceptions through upbringing, through education and
areas of training, through our limited knowledge, etc.
Our knowledge of truth is not perfect. It is colored by our own limita-
tions which are voices from our own selves. That’s why many church denomi-
nations exist. The voices also include voices from the enemy.
There’re two ways to confirm the tune of doctrine from a book or some
portions of it. One is to continue reading as many books as possible on that area
and other matters. The more one reads the more she is able to have various tones
of understanding.
The books are worth being read with prayerfulness so the Holy Spirit
can be allowed to do his part. The Holy Spirit will use what the individual has
deposited in him from the diverse teachings she has read to accept what is truth
and reject what is error.
Books and other literature are inevitable for one to know the truth. We
all need to be set free from all that tries to weigh us down in our race. Person-
ally, an individual who does not bother to read literature or search for truth
through all other avenues God has given us is a risky person to work with. He’s
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Hearing the Voice of God and Fulfilling God’s Purpose for Your Life
an empty vessel the enemy will be very happy to fill with his teachings. We
need to be vessels for the Lord to fill us, not the enemy.
Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled,” (Matthew 5:6). According to the scriptures therefore, no
amount of deception and schemes of the devil can make a person hungering for
righteousness not to be filled by it.
He may temporarily fall into false teachings. Yet because of his contin-
ued hunger God will ensure that the right teaching comes to fill him. A sense of
emptiness is a weapon against deception. The Holy Spirit takes over when one
hungers for truth and begins to feed an individual with it.
The believer’s part is to hunger for truth. The Holy Spirit’s part is to fill
that hunger. Since the Holy Spirit lives inside us the interaction is an intimate
relationship. It is hearing and learning directly from God’s mouth.
The second way of rescue from error is, of course, by the grace of God.
The first method is also grace from God, but it is grace mixed with the individ-
ual doing his part.
This second type of grace comes to rescue an individual without doing
his part. All of us received this grace the time we were being born again. It also
comes to us after we are born again.
We serve a merciful, and loving God. That’s why we’re able to see peo-
ple who look lazy, they don’t do much to hunger for truth and yet they’ve
always followed central truths throughout their Christian lives. Some of us have
been busy moving from church to church, doctrine to doctrine, from the north to
the east, from the west to the south, busy looking for God. We ended up making
N.E.W.S. (North, East, West, South).
God also responded: “My child, I’m not in denominational buildings. I
can’t be boxed up. Neither am I in books. I’m not a concept you can define. I’m
inside you. You are my building. Other buildings, books and other media are
there to help you know and relate with the me in you better. Maximize the other
areas, but don’t let them take the central place of the inner relationship you have
with me. I’ll use them to point you to some truths but always consult the me in
you and my written word as final authorities. I’m in my written word (the
Bible). Personally study my word and you’ll hear me speak to you.”
The grace some of us received was the energy to continue searching for
God. Others received the grace to stay put in the right area God put them in and
not be moved by other teachings.
Hungering and thirsting for righteousness is therefore an indispensable
responsibility for us to know and fulfill the will of God in our lives. We’re to
read any book that appeals to us without any fear of deception. Scripture says,
“We have the mind of Christ,” (1 Corinthians 2:16). That mind will enable us to
distinguish truth from error. And the truth we get from that literature will set us
free.
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1. How God Speaks to Us
For instance, David Servant, Jeff Harshbarger and I are gifted in areas
on spiritual warfare and deliverance. A reader may not agree with all that we
have published. But if most of what we have published sets people free in many
areas then there is value in it. To avoid reading our publications just because of
certain portions which one's innerperson does not agree with may cost him/her
the truth that God wanted to impart to her through our work.
Florence Littauer is gifted in the area of relationships. Her books would
be the first on the list I’d recommend to any couple, parent, leader (servant) or
any individual who wants to know matters on relationships. Some areas bring
doubts on the relevance of some teachings in her books. However, that does not
cancel the many truths God has used her to impart to people. There books are
frankly life transforming.
Moreover, the fact that an individual’s innerperson has no peace on cer-
tain matters does not necessarily mean that those matters are false. God’s
revelations are progressive. The entire Bible is an account of God’s revelation of
the salvation of man in a progressive pattern.
God's first salvation was Abraham, then Isaac, next was Jacob and his
family, then the nation of Israel (descendants of Jacob), and finally the whole
human race through Christ. He was not in a hurry to save the entire human race.
He moved from one degree to another in a progressive way.
The same goes for each one of us. Each one of us born again is a nation.
We're, “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, that
we may declare the wonderful deeds of Him who called us out of darkness into
His marvelous light,” (1 Peter 2:9-10). God has saved us as individual nations
from darkness (deception) into his marvelous light (truth). He has a salvation
program to accomplish in us and through us. That program is progressive. It is
based on the progressive revelation of truth in all areas – spiritual, social,
material, physical, etc.
Our Lord said, “You shall know the truth and the truth will set you
free.” Outside knowledge of truth is bondage. His salvation program is that we
know the entire truth that is beneficial to our purpose in life. The revelation of
that truth is progressive depending on our spiritual growth and submission to
him.
There are therefore many things that constitute truth but have not yet
been revealed to us. They are either not compatible with our spiritual maturity
or not compatible with our individual callings in life. When we read about these
matters we assume they are false or irrelevant.
There are also truths that are not compatible with our individual callings
in life. No matter how much our minds are bombarded with these truths our
spirits will not embrace them. They will fall on dry ground because the Holy
Spirit has not fertilized our hearts for them to flourish in our lives.
For instance, a believer who has been given a greater responsibility of
the intercessory assignment than we ordinarily have may be given certain truths
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Hearing the Voice of God and Fulfilling God’s Purpose for Your Life
about intercession which are not relevant to those given greater evangelism
responsibilities.
Those in evangelism have to be on the move while the intercessor has to
be more indoors preoccupied with prayer and related business. The deep truths
the intercessor needs to know to be effective in setting others free may be
different to the deep truths the evangelist requires.
Both ministries need each other but their mode of operation is different.
Each therefore needs certain deep truths related to its modus operandi (mode of
operation). It may be inappropriate for an intercessor to be emphasizing certain
truths to an evangelist that are in the area of deep intercession.
What we regard as truth and what God has apportioned to reveal to us is
therefore a function of our spiritual growth and our given purpose in life. As we
grow more will be revealed to us. And in the area of our purpose more will be
revealed to us than those with other callings.
And as our purpose in life becomes more focused he’ll make us teachers
in our line of duty by revealing to us more than is ordinary.
Some truths in God’s word may be revealed to us just for our consump-
tion. Paul received such extraordinary revelations from God that it was not
proper for him to reveal them to ordinary minds. God told him to keep his
mouth shut concerning those matters. He died without having uttered a word
about them.
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1. How God Speaks to Us
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Hearing the Voice of God and Fulfilling God’s Purpose for Your Life
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1. How God Speaks to Us
There’re people we’ll meet and we’ll like them at first sight. However
that on itself doesn’t imply we should join our hearts together. So eventually we
realized God had nothing to do with our convictions and moving together.
But thanks be to our merciful God who works all things to our good.
Whether we ended up realizing our mistake after committing ourselves into
marriage or realized it before marriage and thus terminated it, God doesn’t care.
His mission is to work all things to our good.
A couple married outside God’s perfect will can have a fulfilling mar-
riage to the same level as those married in his perfect will. His only desire is that
we be submissive and obedient to him all the remaining days of our lives. Then
he’ll proceed to work all things (good and evil, past and present, successes and
failures, strengths and weaknesses, abilities and disabilities, etc.) to our good.
“We know that in everything God works for good with those who love
him, who are called according to his purpose,” (Romans 8:28). Hallelu-jah
(praise the Lord)!! That means, as God’s children, nothing negative from our
past has any negative influence over our lives. God is able to change all past
negative circumstances and experiences to have a positive effect on our lives.
As we submit to God and allow him to fulfill his unchanging plans for
our lives he is able use all matters in our lives to our advantage. Instead mourn-
ing over the past the Lord works things out to the point where we can say like
Joseph, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good,” Genesis
50:20.
My book other covers in detail on how God is able to fulfill his "Plan
B" if we cooperate with him in bringing good out of whatever matters in our
lives. The book is titled, Breaking Spiritual Strongholds and Healing the
Wounded Spirit: Dealing with Root Causes.
With this understanding, that God works all things to our good, unfa-
vorable circumstances ought not to intimidate us when they confront us. We’re
called to walk by faith and not by the sight of circumstances.
Our Lord Jesus is aware of our lack of strength and helplessness against
circumstances and has promised to open doors for us where everything seems to
be shut. “These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of
David. What he opens no-one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I
know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no-one can
shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have
not denied my name,” (Revelation 3:7-8).
As long as our deeds are blameless before him, he’ll always place open
doors before us. In his time and way he makes all things beautiful for us. God
will ensure that we pursue the careers (callings) he has purposed for us at every
point in time, place and with the right people. He’ll ensure that we’re favored in
the midst of unfavorable circumstances.
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Hearing the Voice of God and Fulfilling God’s Purpose for Your Life
When God opens a career door the career becomes a ministry since it
has been given to work to his glory. The individual will be ministering to God in
his career regardless of the profession.
Each of us must present our case before God. For instance one may say,
“Heavenly Father, please cause that open door concerning the ministry and
marital plans you have for me to remain open. Thank you that no one will be
able to shut it. Please also, close every open door that comes my way and has
not been opened by you. Enable me to hear from you on every matter that seems
like it’s from you. Help me not to lead a life of trial and error. By the saving
name of Jesus, help me to always be in your perfect will for my life per time and
matter.
“I am aware that your main purpose for giving me the privilege to ful-
fill your ordained career and ministry in my life is not to satisfy my needs of the
flesh. Rather it is so that you can use me to satisfy the needs of other people and
the advancement of the gospel. In doing so, I will be serving you. Our Lord
Jesus said: “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you
did it for me,” Matthew 25:40.
It is such a blessing to depend on the Lord in our lives. Our abilities, in-
tellect, qualifications and other attributes lose their high seats. The more
dependent we are on God the more we live to his glory. The more dependent we
on ourselves the more we live to our own glory.
Our carnal nature is more vocal when we have things under control by
our own strength. So we end up engaging in many things that have nothing to do
with God’s plan for our lives. When our strength is crushed our carnal nature
has no voice. We’re helpless. And God only works with the helpless. “Though
the Lord is on high, he looks upon the lowly, but the proud he knows from afar,”
Psalms 138:6.
As we remain in a state of helplessness, God our helper will always go
out of his way to ensure all things work to our good. He also opens doors for us
so we’re not victims of circumstances.
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1. How God Speaks to Us
6) Through Fellowship
While the early disciples assembled together in fellowship, God spoke
to them through the Holy Spirit. “While they were worshipping the Lord and
fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to
which I have called them,’ ” (Acts 13:2)
God can speak to us for our individual benefit or our corporate benefit
as we assemble together. It does not have to be a church fellowship. Jesus said,
“Where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them,” (Mat-
thew 18:20).
Jesus comes in our midst and begins to speak through any one or more
of us wherever we “come together.” He may speak through the person speaking
in our gathering or from within us from the inside.
Jesus is also able to heal people physically and spiritually since his
power is also present when two or more assemble in his name. “When you are
assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus… the power of our Lord Jesus is
present,” (1 Corinthians 5:4)
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Hearing the Voice of God and Fulfilling God’s Purpose for Your Life
7) Through Prophesy
The Holy Spirit can speak through a godly person or people on a matter
concerning an individual. “But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their
strengthening, encouragement and comfort,” 1 Corinthians 14:3.
Agabus prophesied about Paul (Acts 21:10-11). Paul and other elders
prophesied to Timothy. “Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping
with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may
fight the good fight, 19 holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have
rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith,”1 Timothy 1:18-19.
“Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic
message when the body of elders laid their hands on you,” 1 Timothy 4:14.
Prophecies like circumstances and wise council are worth being sent
back to God to back it up with other confirmations. “Dear friends, do not
believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God,
because many false prophets have gone out into the world,” 1 John 4:1.
The most important way of testing the spirits behind a prophesy is by
using God’s word as the standard of evaluation. Nothing is meant to run
contrary to it. The bible is in fact called God’s most important and reliable word
of prophecy:
“We have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do
well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day
dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,” 2 Peter 1:19.
Prophecies are very common in our last days. “In the last days, God
says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will
prophesy, your young men will see visions,’ ” Acts 2:17, Joel 2:28. More on this
verse in the next chapter.
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1. How God Speaks to Us
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Hearing the Voice of God and Fulfilling God’s Purpose for Your Life
God’s leading through any one or a combination of the avenues of his visionary
leadings.
These visionary leadings outside visions constitute God’s “gentle whis-
per” to us (1 Kings 19:12 (called “still small voice” in KJV)). They are not as
glamorous with a lot of pomp like visions yet he prefers to use these avenues
than visions.
The bible says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish,” Proverbs
29:18 (KJV). This verse is a little clearer in NIV: “Where there is no revelation,
the people cast off restraint.”
The vision aspect encompasses God’s revelation aspects to us. It does
not refer to a vision in its narrow definition. It therefore encompasses the other
visionary leadings outside visions that are also God’s revelation avenues.
Having a revelation is so important that the bible says, “Where there is
no revelation, the people cast off restraint,” or are “the people perish,” in KJV.
Do you have a revelation in your life? Not specifically a majestic encounter with
God but his “gentle whisper” in your life in? Or have you ignored these “gentle
whispers” in preference for a vision encounter that still hasn’t surfaced?
Have you searched for God’s leading in your life through the visionary
avenues mentioned in this section? It’s so important to be aware of such
leadings since it’s through them that you’ll find your sense of purpose in your
life. A sense of purpose is your compass of knowing what you’re here for, what
the Lord has purposed to use you for in the body of Christ –per time and place.
Without a sense of purpose heading into any direction seams right. It is
such a directionless state that leads some of God’s people to perish. They may
not perish in a physical sense but in a spiritual sense where their lives remain
fruitless.
Some believers may actually have received vision encounters. Few of
God’s children have vision encounters and among them some receive false
visions. It is also possible to receive false visions even among totally surren-
dered believers. The main matter is that a believer must be able to determine
what’s truly from God and what’s not. “My sheep listen to my voice; I know
them, and they follow me,” John 10:27
Vision encounters therefore ought to be balanced with other avenues
God speaks to us, particularly his word. For instance God speaks to us through
circumstances and opportunities. When these run contrary to an experience of a
voice or vision from God year after year we ought to seek God for more
confirmation.
Some who stay on for many years to their vision encounters even when
their encounters are contradicted by circumstances end up wasting much of their
time.
It is also important to note that people who receive visions are not nec-
essarily any closer to God than any of us that do not. They seem to appear as if
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1. How God Speaks to Us
they are but that is not true. For further info on this matter please see chapter 2.
Why the Different Ways God Speaks.
While studying in Nairobi, Kenya I met a backslidden Christian through
a friend. On one occasion she told me about what God revealed to her concern-
ing me. I knew she was not a committed Christian but what she said was
consistent with what I heard from committed believers.
This is just one example to show that having visions does not necessar-
ily measure one’s close walk with God. Some people have a natural or acquired
inclination of tapping into the spirit realm - for good and bad (good as God’s
children, bad as vessels of Satan such as witches, occult members, spirit
mediums, etc).
My other book covers on how and why some people have a natural and
others an acquired inclination of tapping into the spirit realm. The book is tilted,
Breaking Spiritual Strongholds and Healing the Wounded Spirit: Dealing with
Root Causes.
People with such an inclination are thus able to tap into the spirit realm
quite easily. It is just a gift when it’s from God. Gifts have nothing to do with
showing how close we’re walking with God. They’re for effectively doing
God’s work on earth. It’s the fruits that are the true measure.
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am
only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and
can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move
mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and
surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing,” 1 Corin-
thians 13:1-3.
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Hearing the Voice of God and Fulfilling God’s Purpose for Your Life
9) Through Dreams
Nearly all that’s been said in the previous section on visionary leadings
applies to this section. It may not be worth repeating.
“And having been warned in a dream, they (Joseph and Mary) returned
to their country by another route,” (Matthew 2:12). Dreams that are from God
will be very memorable. They seize our attention to figure out what God is
saying. Such outstanding dreams are worth taking to God in prayer, asking him
to reveal to us what he means.
Some outstanding dreams thought to have divine origins may turn out to
be mere dreams. Other dreams may be from Satan trying to deceive us to
believe they’re from God. The main matter is that a believer must be able to
determine what’s truly from God and what’s not. “My sheep listen to my voice;
I know them, and they follow me,” John 10:27.
Jesus said his sheep reject the voice of stranger once the stranger speaks
in an earlier passage to the above verse. “They will never follow a stranger; in
fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's
voice,” John 10:5.
Thus the stranger, who is Satan and his fellow fallen angels (demons),
does speak to us. Being born again does not give us immunity from Satan
speaking to us. It’d be nice if he didn’t have verbal access since there’d be no
temptation and any possibility of falling.
Since we’re still in this fallen world where he was cast down he’s able
to try to influence us. What he doesn’t have access to us our eternal destiny. “I
give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of
my hand,” John 10:28.
Distinguishing between God’s voice and that of the stranger is easier
than we imagine it is. Some may assume only the spiritual elite can separate the
two voices. The fact is that it’s the work of the Holy Spirit in us. His work is
enhanced as we grow in God’s word and walk closer with God in submission to
his will.
It does not take one to be a pastor or have a ministry title to have a
closer walk with God. Every believer has equal opportunity to walk closely with
God, abiding in him and his word. There are no favorites.
Those of us with ministry titles (like myself) have the inclination to be-
have as if we’re spiritually above the rest. It is tempting to act this way because
it gives us more authority and influence over those we lead. And it’s a sin to
mislead others by acting as if we’re spiritually above them. It is manipulation.
Manipulation is not true leadership. It’s a control tool used in the secular world
(politics, business, etc) and in the occult. True leadership is empowering others
to maximize their input.
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1. How God Speaks to Us
So I’m here saying that no matter who you are you have equal opportu-
nity to walk closely with God, abiding in him and his word. You’ll therefore be
able to clearly hear from him, be able to walk with him and be able to bear
much fruit. It does not take a vision or dream to do that.
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him,
bears much fruit; for without me you can do nothing. … By this my Father is
glorified, that you bear much fruit,” John 15:5,8 (NKJV).
No one therefore ought to manipulate you that because he or she had a
vision or dream makes him closer to God. This is being stated because some
people are capable of using their experiences to manipulate others that their
agenda prevails, regardless of how it applies to you.
They’re not many who do this but their effect is repressive to those un-
der them. They are spiritual tyrants that choke the true spiritual growth of those
they lead. The outcome is narrow minded clones that are incapable of thinking
for themselves. They are thus hindered from a personal walk with God. This is
not empowerment.
That was some caution concerning some in positions of spiritual leader-
ship. Some caution is also worthwhile with other believers. There are some
believers who assume because they had a vision or dream concerning a matter it
was undoubtedly from God. They conclude without seeking God to confirm
through other avenues. They also try to impose their agenda on others in a
manipulative way. Such are worth taking heed of.
For instance, it is not worth agreeing with someone who says God told
him or her to marry another person. That other person also needs to hear from
God. If he/she does hear the entire process needs diplomacy (respecting each
other’s understanding) and free from manipulation.
Scripture also indicates that dreams from God will be mainly received
by old people: “In the last days, God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit on all
people. ...your old men will dream dreams,’ ” (Acts 2:17, Joel 2:28).
This is partly because most of us in our younger days spend less time
sleeping and thus hardly ever remembering our dreams. Our elders probably
need to be talked to through dreams since they spend more time sleeping than
we do.
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Hearing the Voice of God and Fulfilling God’s Purpose for Your Life
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1. How God Speaks to Us
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Hearing the Voice of God and Fulfilling God’s Purpose for Your Life
Fasting, that of abstaining from food, can become legalistic and ritual
oriented when taken out of context. It can become a religious activity performed
in order to influence God. Fasting is not a tool to win God’s audience. God is
always ready to speak to us and to help us. It is for our sake to tune ourselves to
his wavelength in order to hear from him and effectively walk with him.
In his audio sermon on fasting, Ron Gartner makes an important point.
He says fasting is not giving up meals and making a sacrifice so that God can
speak to us or bless us. It is not an exchange of a sacrifice in order to obtain
blessings.
He says it is moving into a spiritual realm of faith and power by putting
down (denying) our flesh desires. The Holy Spirit and the spirit part of us then
take dominance in moving in an area of prayer (communion with God) that we
cannot get into through any other way. It is moving into the spirit and walking
in the spirit. This does not mean being foolish and turning our reasoning off. It
is being wise with the mind of Christ while being submissive to the Holy Spirit.
Fasting may be unpleasant since our bodies are conditioned to be our
masters. When they cry for food we quickly feed them. When they’re denied
food they scream louder and louder at us.
Common body reactions include extreme thirst and hunger (of course),
weakness, fatigue, headaches, and occasional dizziness. In the early stages of
attempting to fast these reactions are more intense. They fade and fasting
becomes easier as the body becomes more conditioned.
With more regular fasting our bodies become less “unruly.” God also
helps us in our natural weakness of finding it difficult to fast. He always makes
his grace abundant on his children that are sincerely willing to obey his word.
“God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all times, having all that
you need, you will abound in every good work,” (2 Corinthians 9:8).
Regular fasting cannot kill the body. We may lose weight and strength
during prolonged fasts but the spiritual breakthroughs in moving closer to God
are too precious compared to anything we can lose.
How to Fast
There’re no rules on fasting periods. One can set apart a day every week
without food and water. Or she can set three days aside every month to recondi-
tion her sensitivity to God. Water can be taken in a three day fast though it’s
possible to do without it up to three days. Beyond three days water is essential
for your body.
There is a story of one believer who fasted for 40 days without drinking
water. He died on the fortieth day. He’s no doubt heaven-destined and probably
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1. How God Speaks to Us
had victories over matters he fasted for. However he went too soon for lack of
knowledge on appropriate fasting principles. A prolonged fast from 4 days to 40
days needs water and probably a slice or two of bread (or three) per day.
Fasting beyond 40 days is not biblical. It’s not a sin to fast over 40 days
but it’s a health risk. There is no scriptural record of anyone fasting beyond 40
days. This should be a medical health alarm because beyond 40 days physical
health is likely to start deteriorating. It can bring health complications that may
be hard to reverse. On the other hand fasting within biblical limits has lasting
health benefits – though it’s the spiritual benefits that are more important.
After ending a 40 day fast I weighed 130 pounds (58.9 Kg) at 6 foot
(1.83m). It was like coming out of a concentration camp with a chest showing
all the bones of the ribcage. Only the Lord enabled this fast since I had a six-day
full time job at the same time. Two to three slices of bread where taken every
midnight. On two or three occasions a small portion of beans was taken after
feeling completely weak.
Headaches can come once in while but this ought to be endured during
the fast. Headaches only signal the cries of the body. They’re to be ignored for
as long as they don’t worsen. The victories from the fast cannot be quantified to
this day.
If there is any mountain for the Lord to move allow fasting to facilitate
the work. Seek him to enable you rather than making all kinds of excuses. After
all it’s you that stands to gain over all the matters you’re burdened with. It’s
such a privilege to give birth to these matters after much travail through fasting.
And God’s work goes beyond the matters of concern thus making the victories
through fasting hard to quantify.
Prayer and fasting is like sowing in tears. It’s a sacrifice yet a more than
worthwhile one. “Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who
goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying
sheaves (bundles of crop harvest) with him,” Psalm 126:5-6.
I believe a 40 day fast ought to be once in a lifetime –if one has the
grace to even do it. It ought not to be done more than once if you are enabled to
fast up to 40 days. Only Moses is said to have taken two 40 day fasts in the
bible. If you want to be like Moses it’s no sin. However note the health precau-
tions. Our bodies have been designed to work in certain ways. Fasting helps
them when it’s done within limits that our bodies have been framed.
Outside these limits fasting becomes detrimental. Victories come but at
health costs that were not even necessary. After one 40 day long fast it is
advisable to stick to 2 to 3 day fasts afterwards. Besides 3 day fasts without food
or water can be as overcoming as a 40 day fast.
How often one needs to take such fasts depends on the grace one has.
Allow the Lord to equip you and enable you rather than use your own limita-
tions as yardsticks. At one point he may enable you to take 3 day fasts three
times in one month, at a later period once, and so on. His enabling rather than
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Hearing the Voice of God and Fulfilling God’s Purpose for Your Life
yours should win the day. But do your part in allowing him to work through
you. Plan ahead when you sense his leading. When that day comes make no
excuses. Commit yourself rather than flip flopping.
A fasting program ought to include prayer, intercession, reading of
God’s word (i.e. one way of listening to God), allowing God to speak from
within. It can also include worshipping him with songs of praise on multimedia
or personally. Listening to or watching sermons focusing on areas you are
burdened with is also edifying.
Allowing God to speak from within is not waiting to hear a strange
voice. It is God speaking from within. His Spirit dwells in you so he speaks
from within. You will be able to grasp matters in your life and the lives of others
in ways you never perceived them before. That is God speaking to you and
revealing his ways to you. What he says is always supported by scripture.
If it’s something contradicting scripture then it’s the voice of a stranger,
Satan. Satan also speaks to our hearts with his temptations and appeal to the
flesh. His voice can be recognized by its appeal to the flesh, the fallen nature
and contradiction of what God has told us in his word.
Scripture also tells us to move out of our comfort zones and stretch our
hands to those who don’t have whatever basic needs we have. We share what-
ever resources we have with them and with extended family members that may
be underprivileged.
Many forget that charity is part of our Christian pillars and has its level
of blessings or curses, depending on how we carry ourselves. See Isaiah 58:6-9
outlined below for the fast that God desires. Without engaging in most of these
areas, fasting only becomes a form of dieting or hunger strike.
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of in-
justice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every
yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor
wanderer with shelter-- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn
away from your own flesh and blood?
“Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will
quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the
Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you
will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I,” Isaiah 58:6-9
In our New Testament (Covenant) era Jesus said we should make fast-
ing a secret. It should not be like the Pharisees who blew the horn and covered
their heads with oil to show everyone how holy they were. No one needs to
know unless one has health ailments that fasting may affect. Particularly short
fasts, fasting ought to be between you and God.
Anointing ones head may be necessary since Jesus said so. “When (not,
if or in case) you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not
be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen;
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1. How God Speaks to Us
and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you,” Matthew
6:17-18.
Notice after saying “put oil on your head,” he also said “wash your face,
so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting.” So you can anoint
yourself and then wipe the oil out. It will not be a problem if you don’t apply
any oil. Application of oil when fasting was the Jewish custom. Jesus did not
want to discredit the oil so he included its relevance but attacked the wrong
motives for its application. Some anointed themselves to show everyone they
were fasting instead.
One may be asking on how to use the anointing oil if one decides to use
it. It’s any oil that you have, even basic cooking oil. It does not have to be some
special oil straight from Jerusalem.
God is more interested in our faith than in what kind of oil is being
used. It can even be petroleum jelly like Vaseline if you cannot afford any oil.
Jerusalem oil, Olive oil, cooking oil or Vaseline oil will all have the same effect
if applied in faith.
You can pour some oil in a smaller bottle for future use. Take some oil
and apply it on your forehead and pray that God uses it as a point of faith in
anointing you and consecrating you.
Your consecration enables you to be under his agenda of fasting.
Anointing oil is for consecration, being set apart as holy vessels for the Holy
Spirit to work through. “He (Moses) poured some of the anointing oil on
Aaron's head and anointed him to consecrate him,” Leviticus 8:12
The oil is meant to be an act of faith in receiving the anointing of the
Holy Spirit. The anointing of the Holy Spirit enables us to fast for the right
reasons and to flow under the power and influence of God. He is also the one
who moves into our lives to break yokes and overcome spiritual strongholds –
spiritually, physically, materially, socially and so on.
What Is Fasting?
Fasting is going without food to pursue and/or focus on something more
important.
1. Fasting helps subject our bodies to our spirits. (I Cor 9:27)
2. Fasting is disciplining the body, mind, and spirit. (Prov. 25:28)
3. Fasting is subordinating our flesh-desires to our spirit-desires. (Gal 5:17)
4. Fasting helps set the priorities in our lives. (Mt 6:33)
5. Fasting is longing after God. (Ps 63:1-2)
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Hearing the Voice of God and Fulfilling God’s Purpose for Your Life
34
1. How God Speaks to Us
Prayer and fasting constitute our true spiritual warfare prayers and de-
liverance prayers. We bring matters before God in humble submission and seek
him to deal with them in his power and might.
The outcome is twofold: first is victory and deliverance over matters be-
ing submitted to him. Second, we draw closer to God, experiencing his grace,
love and power. Going after demonic spirits in thin air and calling it spiritual
warfare prayer or deliverance prayer is our invention that the bible does not
support. No wonder it leads to more bondage instead of deliverance.
Most people God greatly used began their calling in intense prayer ac-
companied with one type of fasting or another. Although fasting is basically
abstaining from food, self-denial from other things of the flesh is also fasting.
For instance, couples are advised to mutually deprive each other of intercourse
whenever necessary for more effective prayer. “Do not deprive each other
except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to
prayer,” (1 Corinthians 7:5).
There are many things of the flesh (of worldly value) that hinder sensi-
tivity to the spirit of God. Some require occasional fasts like intercourse for
couples, interaction with certain people. Some require frequent fasts like certain
foods and quantities, certain books and multimedia, etc.
Others require permanent fasting. These constitute things that are either
directly sinful or indirectly sinful. Anything that does not add to our closer walk
with God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit is a seed of the flesh. It
therefore requires a permanent fast. Otherwise, by partaking of it quenches the
God’s Spirit whom we desperately need in our daily walk with God. Each seed
sown to please the flesh and sinful nature eventually adds up for its due level of
harvest.
The law of sowing and reaping applies to whatever we think of, say or
do. No neutral ground. “A man reaps whatever he sows. The one who sows to
please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows
to please the Spirit will reap eternal life (Galatians 6:7-8).” Every thought, word,
or act is a seed either to the flesh or to the Spirit.
Seed sown to please the sinful nature therefore eventually bring some
level of destruction in our lives. Anything that brings destruction upon an
individual is sinful. Thus a Christian who’s serious about desiring to always
grow in her walk with God, hearing from him and fulfilling his will is expected
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Hearing the Voice of God and Fulfilling God’s Purpose for Your Life
to guard against things that look innocent on the outside. Otherwise they’ll bring
destruction in one area or another in her walk with God.
We usually think of destruction as physical death. In that case all of us
end our lives in destruction. In scripture, it is the isolation of the spirit part of us
from God. It is alienation from the Spirit of God. A person engaging in
thoughts or activities of the flesh is thus alienating himself/herself from God.
The greater the intensity of involvement in activities of the flesh the wider the
distance he/she separates herself from God. It therefore, becomes more difficult
for her to hear from God.
That is a challenge to those of us who desire to walk with God and ef-
fectively hear from him. We’re called to permanently fast over things of the
flesh – things of worldly value. “Do not love the world or anything in the world.
If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in
the world - the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of
what he has and does – comes not from the Father but from the world,” (1 John
2:15-16).
Our Lord said we must carry our cross of self-denial from all worldly
things if we desire to follow him (Luke 14:27). Paul, like the other early
disciples did just that. He said, “May I never boast except in the cross of our
Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world was crucified to me, and I to the
world,” (Galatians 6:14).
He said he was crucified and died to worldly desires, though like Christ,
he also died to save the world. This too is our calling: “Set your minds on things
above, not on earthly things. For you died and your life is now hidden with
Christ in God,” (Colossians 3: 2-3)
Setting our minds on things above demands forsaking things below.
These include most secular programs, music, magazines, books, certain places,
certain forms of entertainment and activities, and so on. One cannot partake of
things below and expect to effectively hear from God and fulfill his will.
For instance, watching secular films only contributes to increased spiri-
tual deafness. It only opens the individual’s spirit to the many voices and ways
of the world which easily crowd out God’s voice. Whatever we give our
attention to takes charge of our hearts.
Not only do our hearts become increasingly impure to hear from God,
we also partake of other people’s sins in these programs. We share their sins.
For instance, on sexual sins, our Lord said, “Anyone who looks at a woman
lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart,” (Matthew 5:28).
The sin therefore does not have to be physically committed for the individual to
account for it. That sounds harder than the Old Covenant law under Moses. But
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1. How God Speaks to Us
thank God we have the Holy Spirit and the grace of God to help us in the New
Covenant under Christ.
And an avenue like fasting has been given to us to connect with the
Holy Spirit who enables us to live lives worthy of our Christian calling. Try
fasting over some sins and you’ll see how easily they will drop off. No binding
and loosing of demons and so called spiritual warfare prayers needed. My book
on spiritual warfare, titled Major Spiritual Warfare Principles: Biblical Do’s
and Don’ts of Warfare, deals with major spiritual warfare principles in detail.
If the sinful tendencies return get back into fasting, for longer periods if
necessary. And continue the fight for as long as you’re here on earth. Fasting
breaks demonic strongholds, demonic attacks and helps us to walk in the spirit,
not the flesh, to sow to the Spirit, not to the sinful nature.
It’s a mystery how fasting works in bringing such outcomes. Or shall
we say it’s a mystery how God works through fasting in bringing such out-
comes. Why we’re so keen to guard our flesh interests is also another mystery -a
mystery of lawlessness (2 Thessalonians 2:7 (KJV)). May God enable us to
overcome appetites that have nothing to do with our walk with him and take
hold of the glorious promises lying ahead of us.
The issue of sowing to earthly verses spiritual things can be a long and
controversial one. It’s tempting to justify certain things of the flesh we’re not
willing to give up. In a nutshell, self-denial is a prerequisite to a closer walk
with God. Many types of non-food fasts are required to silence the flesh and
exalt the spirit.
“When (not, if or in case) you fast, put oil on your head and wash your
face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your
Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will
reward you,” Matthew 6:17-18
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of in-
justice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every
yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor
wanderer with shelter-- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn
away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the
dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go
before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call,
and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I,”
Isaiah 58:6-9
“His disciples asked him privately, "Why could we not cast it (the de-
mon) out" And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything
but prayer and fasting,” Mark 9:28-29, Matthew 17: 21, (in KJV, ISV bibles)
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Hearing the Voice of God and Fulfilling God’s Purpose for Your Life
“And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplica-
tions, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: And I prayed unto the Lord my
God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God,
keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his
commandments…O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For
your sake, O my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your
Name.” Daniel 9:3, 19
Faced with great invasion king Jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast and
prayed: “O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven?
You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your
hand, and no one can withstand you. O our God, did you not drive out the
inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the
descendants of Abraham your friend?.... But now here are men from Ammon,
Moab and Mount Seir….O our God, will you not judge them? For we have no
power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do,
but our eyes are upon you,” 2 Chronicles 20:6-7,10,12
“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with
fasting and weeping and mourning. Rend your heart and not your garments.
Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to
anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity,” Joel 2:12-
13
“While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit
said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called
them,’” Acts 13:2
“Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with
prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their
trust,” Acts 14:23.
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1. How God Speaks to Us
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Hearing the Voice of God and Fulfilling God’s Purpose for Your Life
40
1. How God Speaks to Us
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Hearing the Voice of God and Fulfilling God’s Purpose for Your Life
42
1. How God Speaks to Us
3. It helps in guiding career choices. Though not the only guide a person-
ality self appraisal helps in pointing to some career preferences related
to one’s personality.
As Christians the Holy Spirit is our primary guide. It is not strange
to find the Holy Spirit guiding a person in a career area related to one’s
personality.
For us Christians any career is a ministry. It is a profession through
which God is able to use us in being vessels to show his nature through
us. His nature through us in our various forms of ministry is expressed
through our conduct, our diligence, our concern for others, and where
there is an opportunity our witnessing to others.
In addition, it is through our primary areas of ministry (work) that
our financial earnings come from. The way we use our financial earn-
ings for the various needs, whether for personal or corporate interests,
determines where our hearts are –to the interests of God and fellow
humanity or to our own interests.
4. It helps in understanding oneself in dealing with your emotions. Emo-
tional health is guided by understanding. Although emotions are sepa-
rate from reason or the mind, they are guided by the mind.
Try screaming in a public square if you drop your cell phone. Your
mind says it’s not appropriate. When you drop it at home you may
even yell at the phone – at least some personalities have this tendency.
Having an understanding of your unique self therefore helps in deal-
ing with your emotions. Your mind takes an active role in controlling
the various emotions going inside you. Your mind takes an active role
by you purposely deciding or working on your emotions to go toward a
desired direction. This is better than yielding to the sometimes irra-
tional whims of emotions.
Understanding your unique self therefore helps in exercising your
emotional strengths while minimizing your emotional weaknesses. It
gives you a sense of direction rather than mere guesswork. More un-
derstanding of yourself helps you gain what some call emotional judg-
ment, emotional intelligence, and emotional health.
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Hearing the Voice of God and Fulfilling God’s Purpose for Your Life
the four types. It is the support for the unique combination of traits each
of us has that makes the theory more acceptable.
1. TRAITS OF A SANGUINE
STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES
1. Outgoing, sociable Undisciplined
2. Inspires allegiance Easily influenced
3. Sincere Restless
4. Positive attitude Disorganized
5. Responsive to others Undependable
6. Talkative Loud
7. Enthusiastic Promotes self
8. Seldom worries Exaggerates
9. Compassionate Fearful, insecure
10. Generous Unproductive
2. TRAITS OF A MELANCHOLY
STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES
1. Natural talent Moody
2. Analytical Negative
3. Perfectionist Critical
4. Conscientious Resists change
5. Loyal Self-conscious
6. Organized Unpredictable
7. Idealistic Revengeful
8. Sensitive Lacks self-confidence
9. Self-sacrificing Unsociable
10. Self-disciplined Theoretical
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1. How God Speaks to Us
3. TRAITS OF A CHOLERIC
STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES
1. Determined Unsympathetic
2. Independent Inconsiderate
3. Productive Resists regulations
4. Decisive Cruel, sarcastic
5. Practical Doesn’t give recognition
6. Goal-oriented Self-sufficient
7. Optimistic Domineering
8. Willing to risk Opinionated
9. Self-confident Proud
10. Willing to lead Cunning
4. TRAITS OF PHLEGMATIC
STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES
1. Calm, quiet Unmotivated
2. Easygoing Unexcitable
3. Likable Avoids conflict
4. Diplomatic Spectator
5. Efficient, organized Selfish
6. Dependable, stable Stingy
7. Conservative Stubborn
8. Practical Self-protective
9. Reluctant leader Indecisive
10. Dry humor Fear of risk
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Hearing the Voice of God and Fulfilling God’s Purpose for Your Life
46
1. How God Speaks to Us
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Hearing the Voice of God and Fulfilling God’s Purpose for Your Life
to cultivate it and not to neglect it. “Do not neglect your gift, which was given to
you through a prophetic message,” (1 Timothy 4:14).
For instance, a believer who has received a gift of healing will be urged
from within by the Holy Spirit to pray and lay hands on sick people. His
obedience in cultivating that gift will be shown from being trustworthy in the
small matters like headaches and fevers. His master (Jesus) will be adding
bigger matters because of his trustworthiness. His master will say, “Because
you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities,”
(Luke 19:17).
A believer may also lack the gifts because he has not asked for them.
Spiritual things are for the thirsty, those who crave (persistently desire and ask)
for them in order to glorify God – John 7: 37-39. We’re to continually ask for
these gifts to be given to us according to God’s purpose for our lives.
We’re also asked to be specific in asking for certain gifts. Scripture
says we must eagerly desire for them. “Eagerly desire the greater gifts,” (1
Corinthians 12: 31). For instance the gift of prophecy can be given to each one
of us. “Be eager to prophecy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues,” (1
Corinthians 14:39).
Without the spiritual gifts our Christianity is powerless. It becomes a
mere religion like other religions. Spiritual gifts enable us to fight the good
fight of our calling. We become effective in our calling by operating with
supernatural power and results. Timothy was urged to cultivate the gifts God
gave him so that he could effectively fight. “I give you this instruction in
keeping with the prophesies once made about you, so that by following them
you may fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some
have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith,” (1 Timothy 1:18-19).
Thus without following our spiritual gifts we can shipwreck our faith. We end
up doing things we’re not called and empowered to do. Then we fail and our
failure can demoralize our faith.
Spiritual gifts are therefore indicators of our calling in the Body of
Christ. When God reveals them to us we must follow hard after them. As we
cultivate them our Christianity moves from mere religion or an intellectual
discipline to a religion of power.
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1. How God Speaks to Us
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1. How God Speaks to Us
Most people tune their lives to channel flesh. Those tuned to channel
evil spirit are those in the occult. They are few among unbelievers while none
among Christians (true believers).
As for most that’re tuned to channel flesh, they receive signals from
their hearts, full of their own ways and desires. Their decisions are based on
what they feel, want and how circumstances will enable them to obtain their
desires.
Such people live self centered and self ruled lives instead of God cen-
tered and Holy Spirit ruled lives. The signals they receive from their own hearts,
based on their upbringing, personalities, education, status, culture and so on are
transmitted in their words and actions. Their words and actions are packed with
self-direction, perceptions and limitations.
We’re all born already tuned to channel flesh since we inherit Adam’s
sin. At rebirth we’re expected to increasingly listen to the Holy Spirit channel.
Sadly, many Christians remain tuned to the old channel even years after conver-
sion. They refuse to obey God’s command to be transformed by the renewing of
their minds (Romans 12:2). Although they willingly accepted Jesus as their
Savior they are not willing to have him as Lord of their lives.
Scripture says such people are “Lovers of pleasure (flesh desires) rather
than lovers of God, having a form of godliness (religiousness) but denying its
power,” (2 Timothy 3:4-5). They say they’re born again, some speaking in
tongues, but their lives show denial of the power of God to reign in their lives.
Such cannot know God’s will for their lives. They do not give him
room to speak to them and fulfill his plans in their lives. Consequently, they
usually end up in unnecessary traps that could have easily been avoided had
they sought God’s guidance.
Then there are those who have tuned their lives to channel Holy Spirit.
They receive signals from the heart of God concerning their circumstances, their
lives and lives of others. Jesus our, good Shepherd said, “My sheep listen to my
voice; I know them and they follow me,” (John 10:27). His sheep are tuned in to
his channel to listen to his voice. They have willingly chosen to be led by him
and to follow his ways rather than follow their own ways or ways of the society
they live in. Our Shepherd’s voice is the voice of the Holy Spirit. We’re
expected to lose all sense of self direction and become like sheep, before our
Shepherd’s guiding voice can be heard in our lives.
Paul understood the importance of Christ replacing the self part of us.
He said, “For to me, to live is Christ,” (Philipians 1:21). “I have been crucified
with Christ and I no longer live but Christ lives in me”. (Galatians 2:20). What
Paul meant was “I have no thoughts but his thoughts, plans but his plans, no will
but his will, no personality but his, no energy but his energy, no mind but his,
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Hearing the Voice of God and Fulfilling God’s Purpose for Your Life
my body is not mine, my house is not mine, my money is not mine, my career is
not mine - all belong to Jesus. The man you knew as Paul is dead. Jesus now
lives in the body Paul used to live in. So physically you may see a body of Paul
yet inside it is Jesus living in it.”
He also labored in prayer and his ministry for Christ to be formed in the
lives of other believers. “My children, for whom I am again in pains of child-
birth until Christ be formed in you,” (Galatians 4:19) Once Christ is formed in a
believer it will be no longer be such-and-such a person who desires, who thinks
or loves. Rather, Jesus Christ will think, act and love in that individual. This is
the highest level of calling God desires us to reach - each of us to be like Jesus
on earth. In a world heavily tuned to channel flesh it’s not very easy. However it
is very possible.
It’s very possible because God’s grace is always made available to us
when we earnestly desire to live by his terms, (2 Corinthians 9:18). Jesus
intercedes for us (Hebrews 7: 24-26). God’s Spirit lives in us and produces his
fruits as we allow him to rule us (Galatians 5:22). We have been given all
authority over all power of Satan (Luke 10:19, 1 John 5:4). Our supernatural
weapons are superior than our enemy’s since they’re divine powered (2 Corin-
thians 10: 3-5). God trains us for battle and his Spirit teaches us to fight accord-
ing to his will (Psalm 144: 1-2, 1 Corinthians 2:10). God is always for us not
against us (Romans 8:31). We’re more than conquerors through Christ Jesus
(Romans 8:37). He is the one who started the good work in us and he will
ensure that all that he wants to achieve in us, for us , and through us is com-
pleted no matter the level of opposition (Phillipians 1:6). He (the Holy Spirit)
that is in us is greater than the one in the world (1 John 4:4). Thus this surren-
dered lifestyle is more than possible.
The journey of being changed into Christ likeness is thus very possible.
It’s also very exciting. One is able to look back and feel excited at how God has
been at work in his or her life. One can look back at his life before being born
again. He can also look back to his spiritual babyhood after being born anew
and see how he has been growing from strength to strength.
It is exciting to look back and see how the Holy Spirit has been clean-
sing his temples (our bodies) from all evil things – thoughts, word and actions.
The cleansing is his lifetime job since his temples were so dirty with all sorts of
unclean things. At some point of cleansing he begins to use each temple to draw
others to Christ though at the same time still cleaning it.
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2. Why the Different Ways God Speaks
Why does he want us to go through the many things in life like reading
his word, praying, visionary leadings, fasting, circumstances and so on in order
to determine what he is saying on particular issues? Sixteen ways have been
mentioned here on how God speaks to us. The list seems long and it’s not
exhaustive.
The main reason is that God wants to have a unique and colorful rela-
tionship with each of us. He wants each one of us to have a personal relationship
with him. That is why the way he relates with one individual may not be the
same for another.
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got antagonistic with those in disagreement to what he knew was the truth. He
was quick to confront Peter (in front of others) when he was in err (Galatians
2:14). He confronted congregations such the as the one in Corinth on their
shallowness and immaturity on speaking in tongues. He aggressively confronted
Alexander the metalworker, an aggressive hothead equal to Paul, to a point
where Paul’s colleagues deserted him out of fear (2 Timothy 4:14-16). The list
is endless.
God effectively related with Paul in the way he uniquely made him.
Whenever necessary God related to him in avenues outside his makeup. He
received visions and was once caught up in the spirit that he received deep
revelations. Outside these exceptions Paul was a practical person, always on the
go and relating with God in his day to day dealings.
Most of the Epistles he wrote them without receiving a vision nor any
other avenue we might call a super-spiritual experience. He wrote them based
on day to day matters he confronted and applied his understanding through the
Holy Spirit, the teachings of Christ and based on the Jewish Torah, what we call
the Old Testament. There was largely no extraordinary spiritual experience or
drama behind his leading by God.
Then there are those on other extreme end, opposite to practical or
“willpower” driven people like Paul. They are what we may call emotional and
sensorial. Emotional and sensorial matters includes the ability to feel and sense
matters or people, to see deeper realities and patterns in life’s matters, and
having an awareness or perception of deeper things.
On the emotional side the secular term used for such is emotional intel-
ligence (EI). It includes abilities such greater self-awareness, perceiving,
assessing, and managing the emotions of one self, of others, and of groups. On
the sensorial side they are referred to as transcendental in the secular world.
This is not the spooky transcendental practices such as transcendental medita-
tion. It’s in reference to supernatural experiences, that is, matters that go beyond
or transcend the physical world.
God is able to relate at their level to people whom he made with an
emotional and sensorial orientation. Whenever necessary he’s able to relate to
them in avenues outside their makeup. Christians in this category tend to make
up the most upright believers who apply the scripture to its letter, are pure and
sincere, trustworthy, dependable, good intentions, etc.
Remember Isaiah, also known as the Prophets’ Prophet? If most proph-
ets in the scripture were to be examined by modern non-Christian psychiatrists
they would be diagnosed as having psychotic disorders.
Psychotic disorders are a collection of severe mental illness where an
individual occasionally loses contact with “reality.” They can be in any combi-
nation. They include:
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2. Why the Different Ways God Speaks
For example, Isaiah was led by revelation through visions, dreams and
auditory revelations. Few if any could understand what he wrote in his day. I’d
say the book of Isaiah is among the last books one should read after reading the
more straight forward ones like the gospels and Paul’s epistles.
Isaiah is not an easy read yet it has one of the richest (deepest) content.
Among the major ones are the scattering and gathering of Israel, and the mission
of Jesus. Jesus even quoted from Isaiah to proclaim his mission (Luke 4:18-19
quoting from Isaiah 61:1-2). What happened after Jesus began to explain the
mission to those having a different “reality”? They chased him from the syna-
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Hearing the Voice of God and Fulfilling God’s Purpose for Your Life
gogue and attempted to throw him off a cliff. Yet the works he fulfilled after
this speak for themselves.
So Christians with an emotional and sensorial orientation may not be
the most acceptable in their views and perceptions. However they are normally
way ahead of time among those who’re more practically oriented, like Paul.
Remember how Paul resisted the early church to the point of orchestrat-
ing Steven’s murder? His practical nature hindered him from seeing or sensing
that there could be something in this new “movement.” After Jesus revealed
himself to Paul he realized that his zeal and accomplishments did not necessar-
ily imply he was heading in the right direction. God effectively used his practi-
cal nature in its rightful place.
A word of caution to those with an emotional and sensorial orientation:
not all that seems to come from God actually comes from him. Some of it is
from inner perceptions while some can even be from Satan. The devil copies
what God does and how he works: “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of
light,” 2 Corinthians 11:14.
Remember in the Old Testament that for every true prophet there were
many more false prophets issuing false oracles (divine revelations). It is fitting
to say that for every true divine revelation there are many more false revela-
tions. It’s worth testing every revelation on God’s word. If it’s outside the bible
it’s not from God. “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow
me,” John 10:27.
For instance there are Christians receiving “revelations” about marrying
someone that’s an unbeliever. Others may already be married yet assume a
“revelation” about marrying someone else is from God. This is just one area.
You name it, it’s out there.
This is not funny when confronting such matters. It’s sincere believers
who’re sincerely misled by their inner world. They can be quite a pain to those
around them and can also undermine the work in the body of Christ if they are
in high ranks.
I’d one such experience in my early Christian life. It could have been
avoided had I known matters I’m sharing. But the depth of understanding on
this matter may not have been known had I not gone through it. My family
couldn’t believe what I was getting into. It was a problem for them while also a
problem for me to see that they were so unspiritual. I had heard from the Lord
and they needed to get it.
So much prayer and fasting was devoted for God to convince my family
on matters I was applying. A whole city could have been saved if all such prayer
and fasting was devoted to it! I’d even gathered a lot of scripture to back up my
“revelation.” The scriptures were however misinterpreted as I later found out.
When the Lord revealed that I was the one mixed up my spiritual and emotional
orientation got its wakeup call.
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2. Why the Different Ways God Speaks
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Hearing the Voice of God and Fulfilling God’s Purpose for Your Life
John Paul Jackson has written a wonderful book on spiritual warfare ti-
tled Needless Casualties of War. However, outside this he has many extra-
biblical teachings on the spirit realm. They fail the biblical test regardless of
how excellent, glorious, or clear they are.
A bigger list of names can be added on believers having supernatural
revelations without thoroughly testing them. Each of us has a responsibility to
examine or test the revelations others are sharing, no matter how prominent they
are, how excellent, glorious, or clear they are.
We cannot afford pushing the scripture out of its central role as our
Christian foundation. For detailed info on spiritual areas please see my book,
Breaking Spiritual Strongholds and Healing the Wounded Spirit: Dealing with
Root Causes.
The extremes of how God meets us based mainly on our spiritual
makeup (mind, will and emotions) are guiding examples. Most of us are a mix
of the three makeups, like Jesus was. Other factors include our natural gifts and
spiritual gifts discussed in parts 13 and 14 of chapter 1.
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2. Why the Different Ways God Speaks
The more we look for him the more of us is lost. And the poorer in spirit we
become.
God never allows us to be sure we know him enough. He hides himself.
“Truly you are a God who hides himself.” (Isaiah 45: 15). Each of us has a
responsibility to search for him and find him in order to live fruitful lives. The
more we seek him the more we find him. “You will seek me and find me when
you seek me with all your heart,” (Jeremiah 29:13).
The more we seek him the more we deny ourselves and become child
like. We become like children with nothing to boast of. Our abilities, intellect
and other attributes lose value in knowing his will and relating with him. He
becomes the ruler of our lives not ourselves. We cannot press any buttons to
receive our answers. We just surrender ourselves to his will and his ways of
doing things.
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Hearing the Voice of God and Fulfilling God’s Purpose for Your Life
suppress the urge to live self centered and self ruled lives instead of God
centered and Holy Spirit ruled lives.
All of us have equal opportunity to be led by the Holy Spirit. It’s not a
pastor thing, nor anything some have more privileges than others. Through the
blood of Jesus we are now counted as righteous in God’s sight. That’s why he
qualified us to have the Holy Spirit who only relates with holy vessels. Every
believer now has a right to draw towards God’s throne to receive grace, when-
ever need arises (Hebrews 4:16, 2 Corinthians 9:8). His grace, not our efforts
therefore enables us to walk and relate with him.
However, that grace does not take our responsibilities. Its main purpose
is to empower our weak nature to fulfill our responsibilities. Our responsibili-
ties still include obedience to God in fulfilling our Christian duties and submis-
sion to his will.
Obedience and submission are forms of self-denial. Since our sinful na-
ture wants to rule and not to submit it becomes difficult to submit. The more we
obey the sinful nature the more difficult it becomes to submit to God. On the
other hand, the more we’re willing to obey God the easier it becomes to submit
to him.
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3. The Importance of Listening to God
We therefore cannot afford to live without God’s will and fulfilling it.
We have no excuse before him if we never labored to know and fulfill his will.
It is within our power of choice. It is within our power of choice to live God’s
way or our way, to invite blessings or curses in our lives.
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And our choice affects not only us but also our descendants. It is writ-
ten, “This day I call heaven and earth as witness against you that I have set
before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and
your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his
voice and hold fast to him,” (Deuteronomy 30:19-20).
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3. The Importance of Listening to God
others, for when we do, many will be made rich in the knowledge of Jesus
Christ. Frail and diseased bodies all around the world tremble and shudder with
the pain of their daily existence... do we dare to live fat in the abundance of our
wealth or shall we lay our lives down, as he laid his down for us?”
“Quit petitioning God for the things which pass away as your first peti-
tions, and begin to beg of him to redeem souls, to draw closer to him, to satisfy
his desire for your life. Begin to thank him fro even the smallest of blessings
and provisions that he gives. Do not compare yourselves to those who appear
rich as far as the present life, but rather compare yourselves to Jesus Christ the
pattern son. Begin to see if you are measuring up to his expectation of you or
you are simply playing a religious game to be seen and heard of men.”
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4. The Central Role of the Holy Spirit
The only way to understand these areas (who, where and when)
is through the Holy Spirit she received inside her the moment she got born
again. Scripture says, “We have not received the spirit of the world but the
Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us,”
(1 Corinthians 2:12). To understand what God has freely given her she must
have ears to hear from the Spirit she received inside her. Therefore, if she is able
to hear from the Spirit of God she’ll be able to have what God has already
“freely given” to her.
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The same goes for ministry and other important areas of life. Whatever
God has called us to do is ministry. For instance, some are called to be pastors,
others lawyers, farmers, medical professionals and all other godly professions.
The Holy Spirit’s inner witness will confirm what God has called an individual
to do in life.
Outside God’s calling an individual ends up having a job. A job is born
in the flesh because it is the individual’s chosen assignment. Ministry on the
other hand, is God’s chosen assignment for the individual.
A job is determined by human strength in areas of relative advantage. It
is determined by things of the flesh such as education, qualifications and other
human attributes. Ministry on the other hand, is not determined by our human
might or power. It is determined by the Spirit of God. It is determined by one’s
submission and sensitivity to the leading of the Holy Spirit. God can use our
human attributes but he does not depend on them.
Being of the flesh (the sinful nature), a job brings fruits of the flesh in
one area or another of the individual’s life. Scripture says the fruits of sowing to
the flesh (sinful nature) include, “Sexual immorality; impurity and debauchery;
idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition,
dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I ward you, as
I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God,”
(Galatians 5: 19-21).
On the other hand, ministry being of the spirit brings fruits of the Spirit.
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith-
fulness, gentleness and self control,” (Galatians 5: 22-23). It also makes an
individual to be a part of the body of Christ, thus facilitating his relationship
with God. All these benefits are “freely given” and are obtainable through one’s
fellowship with the Spirit he/she has received from God..
The central place of fellowship with the Holy Spirit cannot therefore, be
replaced with church or book fellowship. Its central place must remain if an
individual wants to know all truth concerning God’s perfect will for his life.
The other areas must be there to facilitate it. They must be effectively used so
that fellowship between the individual and the Holy Spirit can grow.
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4. The Central Role of the Holy Spirit
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Hearing the Voice of God and Fulfilling God’s Purpose for Your Life
ship with God than Adam did since God lives inside us. The choice to utilize
that privilege is with each individual.
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4. The Central Role of the Holy Spirit
prosper you and not to harm you, and plans to give you hope and a future,”
(Jeremiah 29:11).
It is within our own power to choose which course of life we want to
take. However, it is not within our own power to put that choice into practice.
That is beyond our ability. When we choose to follow God’s plan God enables
us to fulfill it by empowering us with the Holy Spirit.
On the other hand, when we choose to follow our own plans we open
the door for Satan to control our lives. No matter how upright our plans are, if
they are outside the will of God they do cannot compel God’s support. So we
remain accessible to the enemy’s influence.
Many of us have at one point made great resolutions. But we found our-
selves never achieving our goals. The reason for the failure of some of our noble
plans is that we made them ourselves. We did not receive them from heaven.
As a result, God had no share in them. Since we have only been given
the freedom to choose, when it came to the implementation, the rightful Power
who determines their outcome was unavailable. He has no interest in what’s not
in line with his will, however ambitious. The enemy had access in this case.
Since our noble plans threatened his evil plans he decided to crush them. He
easily comes “To steal and kill and destroy,” our efforts (John 10:10).
Even our Lord Jesus had no power or ability to do anything good whilst
on earth. He said, “By myself I can do nothing,” (John 5:30). If our Lord Jesus
did nothing whilst on earth until he was enabled by God how much more do we,
his disciples, need to be led and empowered by God?
It was only after he was anointed by the Holy Spirit that he could begin
doing what he came for. When he was anointed he declared, “The Spirit of the
Lord is on me because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He
has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the
blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,” (Luke
4:18-19).
As his disciples our Lord Jesus said that the person who will empower
us to fulfill God’s will is the same Spirit of God that anointed him to fulfill his
mission on earth. He said the person who will teach us all things and guide us
into all truth is the Holy Spirit. He will “teach you all things,” (John 14:26);
“When he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth,” (John
16:13).
Without him we are ignorant and powerless. It means that no matter
how many Bible courses one attends, how much time he spends reading the
Bible, etc., if the Holy Spirit is not the one teaching and guiding him what he
obtains is of no spiritual value. It will have no value in fighting against things in
the spiritual realm.
Through him Christ, the same Spirit of the Lord that enabled him to
know and fulfill God’s will has been made available to us. He (the Spirit of
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Hearing the Voice of God and Fulfilling God’s Purpose for Your Life
God) empowers us to know and fulfill all that God has ordained for us. He now
lives inside us and empowers us from within.
As we submit to him he is able to do more than we ever desired and
planned for. “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we
ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory
in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!
Amen,” (Ephesians 3:20).
If we desire God’s will to be accomplished in our lives we need to allow
his Spirit to take full control over us. His Spirit is Jesus leaving inside us. Jesus
said, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you,” (John 14:18). It is
written that, “If any one does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to
Christ,” (Romans 8:9).
Through him (the Spirit of Christ) we are linked to our Savior who then
enables us to bear much fruit. He said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. If
a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you
can do nothing,” (John 15:5).
Without the Holy Spirit (Jesus and God the Father in us) we can do
nothing. If Jesus could do nothing without the Spirit of the Father our Christian-
ity is also impossible without him. He said, “I tell you the truth, the son can do
nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees the Father doing,” (John 5:19).
People were amazed at his teaching. “How did this man such learning without
having studied?” Jesus answered, “My teaching are not my own. It comes from
him who sent me,” (John 7:15-16).
Just as Jesus was enabled by the Father he also has received all author-
ity in heaven and on earth to enable us today. He was able to do wonders
through the early apostles. After healing a crippled person people were amazed
at them. Peter responded, “Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or
godliness we had made this man walk? It is Jesus’ name and faith that comes
through him that has given complete healing to him as you can all see” (Acts
3:12,16).
Jesus is still at work in the world through the Holy Spirit using believers
to do his work. “Do you know that Jesus Christ is in you unless of course you
fail the test (2 Corinthians 13:5)? Jesus was giving a rule when he said, “apart
from me you can do nothing.” Thus as a rule we have no power to do anything
of value to his kingdom without being enabled by him.
Life is mere loafing and wasting time without him. As far as he is con-
cerned, no matter how busy one is occupied if all his efforts are without Christ
he is doing nothing. He is still unemployed and jobless. The individual is still
in the life of the wilderness. He may be labeled very successful in worldly
terms, yet God labels him an outright failure. Our Lord was a failure in worldly
terms, yet God was most pleased with him. Being his servants, only his assess-
ment matters if we want to succeed on his terms.
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4. The Central Role of the Holy Spirit
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5. Every Christian’s Work/Responsibility
as a Disciple of Jesus
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5. Every Christian’s Work/Responsibility as a Disciple of Jesus
To Empower or Equip
To Enlighten
To Encourage
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my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you,” John
15:5-7.
A deeper abiding in Christ through God’s word, prayerfulness, fellow-
ship in the body of Christ, charitable service, Holy Communion and all the other
Christian disciplines is what allows God’s empowerment to work in us. Our
fallen nature or the flesh loses its influence on us over its desires, worldly ways
and cravings.
For any of us in front-line ministry we share biblical principles that en-
able or inspire believers to fulfill their areas of responsibility in receiving God’s
empowerment. God is eager for each of us to bear much fruit. Jesus said, “This
is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my
disciples,” John 15:8.
When we do our part of abiding in Christ through our Christian disci-
plines God is able to empower us. The deeper the abiding, the more empower-
ment against the whims of life and above all, against the works of Satan over
our lives or over the lives of those we’re entrusted with.
To Enlighten
“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free,” John 8:32.
In addition, the same opening scriptures used above on empowerment
also apply here. “My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge,” Hosea 4:6.
“The people who know their God shall be strong and do great exploits,”
Daniel 11:32 (KJV, NKJV, ASV).
The bible says we know in part, i.e. we do not have perfect knowledge.
That’s why we have so many denominations with somewhat different interpreta-
tions and convictions - yet following the same God. Centuries ago we used to
fight over it or hang those that differed from the dominant denomination. The
dissenters or doctrinal rebels in those days used to be called heretics. Now we’re
more mature and more tolerant of each other (for the most part).
Nonetheless there is only one truth. We cannot all be right on one issue
with different interpretations (or different misinterpretations). We’re all God’s
children yet what we know or don’t know will influence our outcomes in this
life. That is why it’s not worth being stubborn about holding on to teachings that
have been found to be in err or to be misinterpretations of scripture.
Each of us has a personal responsibility to be enlightened in knowing
what’s biblical and what’s mere misinterpretation of scripture. Otherwise we
end up entrusting our own destinies and our lives to others. We’re also to
enlighten others about these potential spiritual impediments.
It doesn’t require finding a new church if the matters in err are minor.
Every church and denomination has its leaks.
“For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection
comes, the imperfect disappears.” 1 Corinthians 13:9-10.
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5. Every Christian’s Work/Responsibility as a Disciple of Jesus
To Encourage
Christianity is not a joyride into some divine Disneyland. Some assume
it is. For the most part it is such that have a hard time being Christians. When
the Santa Claus God they have conceived does not give them blissful happiness,
trouble free, persecution free lives, great material bling bling, wholesome
health, you name it, earthly lifestyle, they begin to assume something is wrong
with their walk with God.
This section on encouragement is not for such. They need more biblical
enlightenment than encouragement. We do not use God for our own gain, wants
and desires – at least that’s what my bible says. He’s not our property for our
self-centered desires. It’s the other way round. We are his property for his
loving yet divine centered desires.
That’s why we call him Lord, which basically means master or boss.
The bible says we do not own ourselves. God owns us through his Holy Spirit.
He bought us with his Son’s precious blood.
“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is
in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were
bought at a price,” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.
The Lord’s Prayer, a model for our own prayers sums it up (Matthew
6:9-13). Max Lucado in his book The Great House of God, says, “In these
verses (of the Lord’s Prayer) Christ has provided more than a model for prayer,
he has provided a model for living. These words do more than tell us what to
say to God; they tell us how to exist with God.”
We seek God, worship him, serve him, obey him, etc for the sole pur-
pose that he is our heavenly Father and God. Serving God is not all about you.
It’s bigger than that. It is primarily about him and about his kingdom interests.
Needless to say serving God has its eternal rewards that are far greater than
temporary earthly rewards.
As we fulfill his will in our lives we grow in knowing how to deal with
matters in our lives his way (not ours) and to set our priorities on things above.
And he appropriately intervenes in our lives. As we put his interests firsts he in
return takes responsibility in securing our needs.
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things
will be given to you as well,” Matthew 6:33.
It is for such heavenly minded Christians that encouragement is needed.
Sometimes carrying the cross seems so heavy, the sacrifices, the lack of appre-
ciation, empathy, understanding and compassion among those being served,
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warring against the flesh, worldly pressures, temptation, and so on. All these can
be draining.
At the point of feeling drained the weary Christian soldier needs some
counsel from a fellow believer, a word of encouragement, a teaching or merely
some help or even some time off.
We are admonished to encourage one another, planting seeds of faith
and hope, bearing one another's burdens in our higher calling. “Encourage one
another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened
by sin’s deceitfulness,” Hebrews 3:13.
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and
good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of
doing, but let us encourage one another (toward love and good deeds)--and all
the more as you see the Day approaching,” Hebrews 10:24-24 (emphasis
added).
Fellowship whether church based or less formal ones like family and
neighborhood Christian fellowship is a great source of encouragement. With the
advent of new technology such as the internet electronic networking tools are
additional sources of connecting with other believers – giving and receiving
encouragement. Reading, watching or listening to Christian works (books,
sermons, music, etc) is also a great source of encouragement (and source of
empowerment).
Above all, we have the Holy Spirit. He is our Comforter and Counselor
who counsels us on God’s encouraging word when feeling burnt out. “But the
Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach
you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you,” John
14:26.
And we have the peace of Christ. It is the kind of peace that can never
be acquired or found by unbelievers, no matter how they try. “Peace I leave with
you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let
your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid,” John 14:27.
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one
body you were called to peace. And be thankful,” Colossians 3:15.
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Is that worth it? “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit
his soul?” Mark 8:35-36
It is our mandate to reach out to the deepest needs of the unconverted.
Their spiritual need is their utmost poverty. If this is so crucial our perspective
of which people, regions and countries are poor ought to change from material
poverty analysis to spiritual poverty analysis. The spiritual is what matters most
– at least to us Christians.
Spiritual deliverance connects people to God, their source. Above all it
secures their place in heaven. It’s of no use focusing on giving people a nice life
here and then watch them miss the most important life of eternity. It’s therefore
worth first securing people’s place in heaven and then move on to caring for
their earthly needs. It can also be done simultaneously, though with an under-
standing that the ultimate spiritual objective is receiving its due attention
However there’s more needless poverty out there and many of us are
burdened to fight one type of poverty or another. Diverse poverty can be
categorized into spiritual poverty, material poverty (this one we know too well),
socio-cultural poverty (consumerism “bling bling” cultures, “me first” cultures,
etc) and physical poverty (physical health).
The mandate Jesus received was to save the whole person (spirit, soul
and body) from such bondage. “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has
anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim
freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the
oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,” Luke 4:18-19.
He said, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you,” John 20: 21.
We have the same mandate that Jesus received. How each of us fulfils this
mandate is also another book altogether. The areas in need of freedom have
been categorized so that one may know where he/she is most burdened to serve
- spiritual, material, social, and physical areas.
Someone may say some Christians are also in need of spiritual emanci-
pation in the form of deliverance from demon possession. It may seem like it
among some. However it actually is empowerment and/or enlightenment that
they need. Christian cannot be demon possessed. This is addressed in a chapter
of one of my books – Chapter 6, “Can a Christian be Demon Possessed?” The
book’s title is Major Spiritual Warfare Principles: Biblical Do’s and Don’ts of
Warfare.
Biblical deliverance principles that fellow believers ought to apply in
their lives are covered in my other books. The main one is titled Major Chris-
tian Deliverance Principles: Keys for Self-deliverance and Ministry. The other
is titled Breaking Spiritual Strongholds and Healing the Wounded Spirit:
Dealing with Root Causes. Please see our spiritual warfare and deliverance
website (SpiritualWarfareDeliverance.com) for free online copies or for ad-
vanced editions you desire to purchase.
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5. Every Christian’s Work/Responsibility as a Disciple of Jesus
To Exemplify Jesus
Like to evangelize this section is self explanatory even for spiritually
young believers. Exemplification has to do with what others can see. It is role
modeling. To exemplify says the dictionary is to:
a) be an example of something: to show or illustrate something by being
a typical or model example of it,
b) give an example of something: to give an example or examples in or-
der to make something clearer or more convincing.
Thus to exemplify Jesus would be to think, act, interact, communicate,
stand for, desire, the very matters Jesus himself stands for. It is to live as if Jesus
were each of us. It is to embody him, be him, personify him and represent him.
This exemplification is where our lives can be seen: in our families, careers,
extracurricular activities, charitable service to the disadvantaged, and other
social areas.
This is easier said than done. However, it is not worth holding on to
negative behavior if one needs to grow, be used by God and effectively witness
to unbelievers. There is nothing that turns unbelievers off than seeing Christians
being hypocritical. It’s not worth being a stumbling block to an unconverted
from receiving salvation.
Hypocrisy is behavior the Pharisees were distinguishable of. They ma-
jored on the minors, i.e. focused on minor matters while forgetting the things
that mattered most. Jesus was not too kind in exposing their narrow mindedness.
He lashed at them even at their dinner tables where he was frequently invited.
This would be considered so rude in our generation.
He was more hash when addressing the crowds. “The teachers of the
law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. So you must obey them and do every-
thing they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what
they preach. They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they
themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them,” Matthew 23:2-4.
Here’s something happening in some of our prosperity “gospel” circles:
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a
tenth (tithe) of your spices--mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the
more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness. You
should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former,” Matthew 23:23.
So even today we have hypocritical Pharisees, whether in leadership
roles or in general Christian circles. They neglected the more important
matters that God requires of us as Christians: justice, mercy and faithfulness.
They focus on less important matters like sowing material seed to later become
rich Christians.
Some Christians are very obsessed with the material toys this world has
to offer. They measure their blessings by material toys they have, not based on
how God is using them to meet the diverse needs of others in the body of Christ
and the harvest field. It’s not worth being one of them.
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Like unbelievers they seek first earthly glory and consider their service
to God is enough through church going and giving offering. There’s more to
Christianity than cheap service to God.
The Pharisees did this. In fact they did better than people who serve
God for their own gain or just to escape hell. Many never missed a minute of
their religious duties. In their finances they gave every tithe and offering to the
smallest fragment. Their outward service to God was perfect. And people
respected them for their outward piousness.
However God rejected them. He rejected them because they failed in
the most important areas. Their hearts were not right. They served God with
their mouths (and pockets) yet their hearts were far from earnestly serving God.
Their service to God was self-centered. God rejects self-centered ser-
vice in whatever form whether it’s in money, time, skills, prayers, or whatever.
Self-centered service is born from our flesh. It’s not from the Holy Spirit. It
seeks its own good first. It’s not sacrifice service since it’s serving oneself. Thus
self-centered service is not considered a sacrifice in God’s eyes.
“When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong mo-
tives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. You adulterous
people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God?
Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or
do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us
envies intensely?” James 4:3-6.
God wants service in whatever form whether money, time, skills,
prayers, and so on, with our flesh or sinful nature crucified. He wants such
service to be driven by his Holy Spirit, not by our own ambition and self-
interests. Service driven by his Holy Spirit is full of love and genuine sacrifice.
It seeks the interests of others first, ignoring its own “losses.”
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its
passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the
Spirit,” Galatians 5: 22-25.
You’ll be puzzled on how Jesus lashed at the Pharisees if you read
through the whole chapter of Matthew 23. And he said to us, “Unless your
righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you
will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven,” Matthew 5:20.
In exemplifying Jesus there ought to be no room for making lazy ex-
cuses like “this is how I am,” “I can’t help it,” “it runs in the family,” “my
upbringing is causing all this,” “it’s part of my personality,” “I’m not perfect,”
“I’ve got bills to pay,” etc. My book, Breaking Spiritual Strongholds and
Healing the Wounded Spirit: Dealing with Root Causes, has more detailed
content on deliverance and healing on matters that hinder our Christian walk.
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5. Every Christian’s Work/Responsibility as a Disciple of Jesus
“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the
fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you,” 2 Corinthians 13:14.
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6. 80/20 Principle: Everything Permissible
is not all Beneficial
The 80/20 Principle has some significance in your life -be it in spiritual
areas, social, material, or physical health areas. It enables you to focus on the
20% of what you do best. In our Christian setting it enables you to focus on the
essentials of your calling. It enables you to focus on matters that are not just
permissible but are beneficial to your calling, and to the body of Christ.
“Everything is permissible for me — but not everything is beneficial,” 1
Corinthians 6:12.
The 80-20 Principle or the Pareto principle says that a minority (about
20%) of inputs, efforts, causes, usually lead to the majority (about 80%) of
outputs, rewards, results, or consequences.
The ratio is higher or lower for some, and in different areas per person.
The key in the 80/20 Principle is not in the exact ratio but in the idea that there
is an imbalance or inequality in nature and life. The relationship between input
and output is rarely, if ever, balanced in life. Some matters of input have far
more output value in our lives than others.
Thus a few things (about 20%) turn out to be far more beneficial or im-
portant than most things (about 80%) in your life. The challenge is on how to
focus your valuable time, resources and effort on these vital few. There are five
categories of areas for applying the 80/20 Principle:
1. General areas and the 80/20 Principle
2. Spiritual areas and the 80/20 Principle
3. Social areas and the 80/20 Principle
4. Material areas and the 80/20 Principle
5. Physical health areas and the 80/20 Principle
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than taking them “religiously” as if the 80-20 ratio must always be exact. It’s the
main principle behind the 80/20 concept that matters most than the 80-20 ratio
itself. The main principle is that some matters in life are far more beneficial or
important than others in terms of outputs, rewards, results, or consequences.
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6. The 80/20 Principle: Everything Permissible is not all Beneficial
20% of your online friends account for 80% of your valuable online
buddies. Thus focus on these friends more in Christian social network-
ing.
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6. The 80/20 Principle: Everything Permissible is not all Beneficial
man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I
have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize,” 1
Corinthians 9:25-27.
Thus the 80/20 principle of focus on important matters is actually a bib-
lical concept. Most of the “self-help,” management, and career development
material have principles taken from the bible. They just don’t give credit to it.
MBA professors from top business schools hail the 80/20 principle as if
the economist (Vilfredo Pareto) who framed it discovered an unknown principle
of life. It was in the bible before he brought it out in the secular academic world.
He did a great job at making it simple enough to understand. Here we give him
credit –and for his contribution to the field of economics.
If businesses, athletes, scholars, and others in the secular world can at-
tain high gains by using the 80/20 principle of focus how much more us Chris-
tians? We ought to be better experts at applying this biblical concept in our lives
and callings.
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As Christians it’s worth avoiding the fallen world such as the secular
media to determine our 20% areas. The secular world is obsessed with material
rewards even at the expense of spiritual values, social values, and so on.
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6. The 80/20 Principle: Everything Permissible is not all Beneficial
treasured output: spiritual value, monetary value, social value, physical health
value, egoistic value (God forbid), people-pleasing (God forbid), and so on.
This may mean making fewer promises to most people in your life. In-
stead of being a people-pleaser your goal is being God-centered on what he’s
purposed to fulfill through you. Once you’re focused on his purposes he’ll align
you with people that really need to be served by you. These God-assigned
people will benefit from your input in their lives. They’ll appreciate you dearly
–at least most of them.
If you choose to please everybody you’ll be sorry for many of your sac-
rifices. Most likely won’t benefit from your sacrifices, can be resentful because
they’re hard to please, and can derail you from fulfilling your essentials by
wasting your time, money, or other resources.
Thus it’s better to serve those God has purposed for you to serve. Out of
every 12 people you serve there could be one Judas Iscariot that’s willing to
betray you –using a biblical scenario. This is a success compared to your own
design that may bring in 11 Judas Iscariots and one beneficiary from all your
efforts. By the end of it all you may come out bitter, mad at people, mad at life,
mad at Christianity, and mad at God.
Thus what’s important is not being everything to everybody just to
prove you’re a Christian. What’s important is focusing on your area of calling.
This is were you can serve best and were God’s anointing will meet you. In you
focus on this area your service to people that really need your input will follow
–by God’s design. In other words, by focusing o your calling you’ll automati-
cally be serving people you were called to serve.
Focusing on the area you can serve best will energize you, will have
God’s anointing on your calling to flow, will enable you to go the extra mile,
and will enable you to endure hardships that may stand in your way. The
hardships may be social (people, persecution, opposition, relationships, and so
on), or material (financial, lack of adequate equipment, and so on), or physical
health (lengthy hours of work, and so on). It makes you unstoppable. Your
purpose or calling in this life is a seed that can grow anywhere God pleases, and
against any odds.
Consider Apostle Paul. He faced many unpleasant matters that to many
of us may cause us to give up. Had he given up we’d not have had a third of the
New Testament. Here is Paul’s brief account of his battles –taken from just one
small passage:
“I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been
flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I
received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten
with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and
a day in the open sea,
“I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers,
in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from
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Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in
danger from false brothers.
“I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have
known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and
naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all
the churches. Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do
not inwardly burn?” 2 Corinthians 11:24-29.
Matters of balance
All matters of balance have their optimal limits. In other ways going
beyond the limits they become a distraction from one’s primary call, and a
distraction to other people.
For example a spouse, child, close family member, or close friend will
appreciate, up to a point, the time you give them. Beyond that point you become
a distraction to them no matter how much they love you. You become “too
needy.” Excessive time with them will also distract you from your main calling.
In economics the peak or highest level of a limit is known as the point
of diminishing marginal returns. The law of diminishing returns says that for
every yield rate after a the peak point fails to increase proportionately to
additional outlays of invested time, labor, or resources. Beyond the peak limit
the benefits begin to diminish.
Although it’s an economics concept it has profound meaning to matters
we do in life. There are so many life principles we can learn from the business
world and other noble careers. They just “stole” these principles from the bible
and removed the verses. They still work even without the scriptural verses.
Truth is truth.
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6. The 80/20 Principle: Everything Permissible is not all Beneficial
It’s therefore important to note the limits in your matters of balance. It’s
important to also manage the time close people in your life get from you. Some
may be “too needy.” If they’re not burdened for anything and have time to waste
you ensure their wasteful time is not wasted on you.
Most of us have a large or sizeable extended family and friends’ net-
work that we love so much. However there isn’t enough time to frequently
spend with each one of them. We all hope that most understand. Some may feel
sad but it’s one price to pay for focusing on 20% matters. They won’t be there to
take the blame if we fail to account for what the Lord entrusted us with.
In addition, some may be focused on the wrong matters that they expect
from us. It’s therefore important to give what’s necessary to give, not just
what’s expected. One of these quality matters to give our beloved is prayer.
Some will only appreciate in heaven that our prayers saved them from needless
heartache on earth, and even more, saved them from going to hell. Through
prayer we give them the highest quality gift, by standing in the gap for them.
Thus it’s important to bear in mind the quality and the optimal limits of
matters of balance. Below are some matters of balance in life:
* Family and other relationship matters of love and support.
* Church attendance and fellowship with fellow Christians.
* Time with friends (within limits).
* Meaningful communication (with friends - within limits).
* Physical fitness training and exercise.
* Leisure time on matters that bring rest (within limits).
* Devotional time –for prayer, fasting, bible study, music.
* And so on. The above is only a guide. Create your own.
Matters of distraction
Distractions are time wasters. They’re time thieves. They steal the most
precious gift you can ever have: your time. Money and material things can
always be replaced. Time cannot.
In fact, true success in life is in time well spent on matters of one’s call-
ing that the Lord entrusts each person with. The worldly success that is defined
as making a lot of money is a total scam or trick by Satan. True success is
defined by fulfilling one’s calling to a level as high as possible. And this means
high self-discipline and walking with God in such a way that every bit of time is
well spent. The next chapter has more detailed info on true success.
Thus any time thief is not worth entertaining. A minute stolen is a min-
ute you can never get back. The word “redeeming time” does not mean getting
back the time you lost. The life clock never ticks backwards. It means compen-
sating for the time you lost by doing certain things right.
In regard to the 80/20 principle it means focusing on the right matters in
your life –spiritually, socially, materially, and physically. With the right focus
on critical or 20% matters you can redeem the lost time by fulfilling in one year
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what was “lost” in 5 years, in 4 years what was “lost” in 20 years, and so on. In
other ways you can achieve in one year what would take you 5 years, in 4 years
what would take 20 years, if you focus on the right matters in your life.
Every today is called “present” for a good reason. It’s a gift of time to
wisely use. It’s worth using every present or gift from God wisely. It’s a talent
that can be invested wisely. Any time thief is not worth entertaining from
stealing the present. Here is a guide showing some major time wasters. You can
create your own after evaluating your life on what’s on track and what’s off
track in your life:
* Secular television (see my other book on the occult world).
* Accepting unnecessary help requests (e.g. to fix a computer).
* Responding to unimportant phone calls, and emails.
* Excessive reading of newspapers/magazines.
* Entertaining unnecessary outside interruptions.
* Long personal calls, emails, and face-to-face chatter.
* Having numerous and energy draining friends.
* Idle chatter and gossip.
* Internet idling, computer games ,constantly looking up email.
* reading trivial emails which have no relevance to you.
* Internet surfing at inappropriate times.
* pursuing egoistic or personal ambitions.
* procrastination.
* Laziness and idleness.
* Negative thinking, negative talk, and negative emotions.
* having internet pages for egoistic reasons (with nothing to do with
your calling, evangelism, or other noble purposes).
Managing distractions
Distractions will always keep knocking on your life. The key to dealing
with them is in managing them. It gets better with time if you actively work to
control them –instead of allowing them to control you.
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“To suggest that the three needs are universal and developmentally per-
sistent does not imply that their relative salience and their avenues for satisfac-
tion are unchanging across the life span or that their modes of expression are the
same in all cultures,” (Deci and Ryan, “Self-determination theory,” in the
American Psychologist, volume 55, page 75).
To the extent that the three psychological needs are continually satis-
fied, people will function effectively and develop in a healthy way. However to
the extent that they are hindered, people will show signs of ill-being, non-
optimal functioning, and psychopathology (mental and behavioral disorders).
“For example, a social environment that affords competence but fails to
nurture relatedness is expected to result in some impoverishment (poverty) of
wellbeing. Worse yet, social contexts that engender conflicts between basic
needs set up the conditions for alienation and psychopathology (Ryan et al.,
1995), as when a child is required by parents to give up autonomy in order to
feel loved,” (Deci and Ryan, page 75).
Self-determination theory says that people have the freedom to deter-
mine their own behavior to the level to which major conditions in the environ-
ment they live in allow them to. Thus people’s inborn desire to succeed is
facilitated or hindered by conditions in the environment they live in. People can
be self-proactive, creative, and engaged or, alternatively, passive, “dropped out”
and alienated, largely as a function of the conditions in which they live and
develop.
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did nothing whilst on earth until he was enabled by God how much more do we,
his disciples, need to be led and empowered by God? Please read chapter 4,
“The Central Role of the Holy Spirit,” in case you haven’t read it.
Thus we need the Holy Spirit for any true success in life that’s worthy
of God’s heavenly prize. To renew the inner drive (motivation) in people who
have become passive and “dropped out” of striving we need to reconnect them
to the source. The Holy Spirit is our greatest source of inner strength, zeal, or
motivation. Through him any convictions God puts in our hearts are unstoppa-
ble. No environment, no circumstance, no opposition is strong enough to stop a
Holy Spirit “fired” person.
The secular theories of motivation on what can encourage or discourage
people are relevant to the natural person. They’ve little relevance to a spiritual
person. This is because what facilitates the zeal in a spiritual person are not
environmental or circumstantial factors. It is unseen factors that are bigger than
the environmental or circumstantial factors. The unseen Holy Spirit is at work in
a spiritual person. He’s the only power that can rise above environmental or
circumstantial factors.
This is how we break the vicious cycle of people going through the ba-
sic motions of life. This were we come in as Christians in whatever capacity –
as ministers, Christian counselors, as “lay” Christians, as Christian parents,
siblings, as friends, and so on. We seek to reconnect people to their source -
God.
I hope this won’t bring some misunderstanding. Someone may assume
it’ll just be so easy to regain the childlike motivation to strive in one’s area of
calling. What I mean is that the one who’ll make all the difference is the Holy
Spirit. Whether or not it’ll be easy to regain the childlike inner strength, zeal, or
motivation depends on factors beyond this book.
Some people’s inner will has been severely broken by whatever storm
in life. God can still bring healing and use such people. My other book covers
on the healing aspects of any inner areas that have been broken. It’s titled
Breaking Spiritual Strongholds and Healing the Wounded Spirit: Dealing with
Root Causes.
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“Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the
Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain,” Psalms 127:1.
Some areas may not fail but they lead to much sorrow in other genuine
areas in life. God eventually uses the mess to work to either our personal good
or corporately for good in the body of Christ. Yet it is not worth getting into
what could have been avoided had there been enough understanding.
Those who have gone through certain bitter experiences in whatever
area know they were not worth going through if they could be avoided -
regardless of how much good God may have brought out of the experiences.
This is when the pain, trauma, the loss and whatever wasted is deep enough to
keep saying that whatever good God may have brought was not worth obtaining
by undergoing whatever was experienced. Many of us can identify one or more
areas in our lives that bear such marks.
May we be prayerful enough in our lives to avoid experiences that God
never ordained. Prayer enables us to seek God’s help in avoiding serious traps
that seem right yet lead to destruction - destruction socially, materially, physi-
cally, or spiritually. May he also enable us to make required sacrifices that are
unpleasant to our fallen nature so that we can fulfill higher callings.
The next subsection covers on sacrifices needed for any kind of success
–true or false success, with right or wrong motives. The right perspective on
required sacrifices is essential for any kind of success.
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satisfying needs that may not be sinful but are hindrances to fulfilling more
important matters.
The right perspective on required sacrifices also enables us to cope
when major difficulties arise in our journey. For any noble cause difficulties are
as certain to come as sunrise and sunset. God allows our adversary to trespass
into our lives for reasons many times beyond our understanding. But he’s God,
and he is on our side no matter how loud obstacles roar.
Major difficulties may be in social areas like with colleagues, in mar-
riage, a family or persecution for one’s Christian beliefs. They may be in
material areas concerning money or lack of it. They may be spiritual, moral,
psychological, physiological, and so on.
Giving up is a sure alternative the more vague our perspective is on re-
quired sacrifices. Temptation to give up is not only for starters but also for the
experienced in whatever area of life. In the scripture we have great saints like
Moses and Elijah who expressed their resignation at the height of their success.
The right perspective on required sacrifices is therefore an essential key
worth carrying throughout all our various endeavors. We are to look at sacrifices
as merely strategic prerequisites for our major endeavors. Then we’ll be able to
look at obstacles and sacrifices in a meaningful way.
A willingness of carrying a failure label in areas that others value is also
essential – instead of feeling “left out” or feeling as if one is missing something.
Thus we can carry a failure label that we’ve no idea what’s on secular televi-
sion, or that we do not have certain toys worldly people value. This is more so
for us Christians where fitting in the secular lifestyle is discouraged. Christianity
demands a lot of sacrifices that the secular world values.
“You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world
is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes
an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit
he caused to live in us envies intensely?” James 4:3-6.
Worldly motives constitute spiritual adultery or friendship with the
world. There is no heavenly reward for worldly motives. One may gain this
world yet lose his entire reward in heaven, if at all he makes it to heaven.
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parents, married couples, and so on. Each had to make certain sacrifices that
they wouldn't make if there was an easier alternative. They had to carry their
own unique crosses by denying certain short-term desires in preference for their
higher or long-term pursuits.
Thus nearly every extraordinary accomplishment requires extraordinary
sacrifices to achieve it. This is so for both pursuits of temporal and eternal
value. For example, Oprah Winfrey is a personality most of us are familiar with.
This only to give an example of a known person, thus not necessarily endorsing
a person based on character. Oprah is actually now into promoting New Age
teachings.
Oprah says she had to forego the need for having children for reasons
she discovered during the peak of her career. Her material success is beyond
question. Speak of success from a temporal viewpoint she’s on the list. Oprah is
on the top material pack of the world’s current 6.7 billion people!! She is
currently, according to Forbes magazine, among 500 wealthiest people in the
world. She has an estimated fortune of 1 billion dollars.
But she probably had feelings of social inadequacy in spite of her mate-
rial abundance. This was until her moment of truth in South Africa. Her “destiny
moment” she said, came when she went to help orphaned and disadvantaged
children.
“Now I see what all of this has been for,” she said, “now I see why I am
not married. Now I see why I never had children. I am supposed to work with
these children,” (TV Guide, October 4, 2003, p.38 (NB. Not endorsing TV
Guide’s secular channels)).
Our best example of success from an eternal perspective is Jesus. He
once told his disciples the sacrifices he had to endure in fulfilling his success
story. “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders,
chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three
days rise again,” Mark 8:31 (emphasis added).
His greatest success only came after being killed. It brought his resur-
rection, ascension into glory, and its related effects on the entire humanity. It is
through him that we become God’s children. He is our Lord and Savior. His
mission to save humanity was a success.
Jesus’ success mission was totally unconventional. It had no tangible
earthly rewards of fame, fortune, and fun. This is why it didn’t sound well
among the disciples. Peter took Jesus aside for a good lecture on success from a
human viewpoint. Jesus responded, “You do not have in mind the things of
God, but the things of men,” (v. 33).
Then he told the disciples what was required of everyone who wanted to
follow his version of success. “If anyone would come after me, he must deny
himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life
will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.
What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what
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can a man give in exchange for his soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my
words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed
of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels,” (v. 34-38).
Each of us must therefore understand our unique areas of self-denial and
sacrifices required to fulfill our purposed callings. We need not be ashamed for
making them. It’ll be more shameful for not having made them when compared
with what we settled for.
The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) defines self-denial as, “the de-
nial of one’s own interests and needs.” It defines sacrifice as “an act of giving
up something one values for the sake of something that is of greater impor-
tance.”
A more elaborate description: “self-denial: - the setting aside of your
own wishes, needs, or interests, whether voluntary, altruistic, or enforced by
circumstances.” Sacrifice: “a giving up of something valuable or important for
somebody or something else considered to be of more value or importance,”
(Microsoft Encarta Dictionary).
Sacrifices are only strategic since they allow us to reach our goals. It’s
like a chess game where a player allows or forces an opponent to take one of
his/her small pieces (pawns) so that he can gain an advantage position. The
player won’t win if he tries to keep all his pieces. In real life strategic sacrifices
of small “pieces” of life are required in order to gain the more valuable ones.
No such thing as “having it all.” Attempting to have it all only leads to
constant burnout, overload and mediocre performance. There’ll be areas or
standards that others may want us to live by. But ultimately the decisions and
choices are made by each of us. Critics, though necessary and unavoidable, can
be a burden in the pursuit of our convictions if not well handled.
Strategic self-denial and sacrifices may include any combination of the
following. It all depends on one’s life mission, personal convictions and
commitment to higher causes.
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but we’ll find out who gave us the privilege to have it. There’d be less poverty if
most people saw it as an obligation, not a property to endlessly stock up.
2. Egoistic needs.
Sacrificing needs for recognition, approval, good looks, esteem, com-
parison, competition, power, wealth and fame. A less surprising sacrifice for
committed Christians since persecution (social or physical) and humility are part
of the cross in the Christian journey.
4. Marriage.
Like Mother Teresa, John the Baptist and other scriptural figures. This
doesn’t imply taking religious vows to be single. Ample sad lessons can be
drawn from many good intentioned people that did. It means purposely avoiding
marriage for as long as it’ll interfere with your mission. It’ll be unfair to your
spouse if your mission is a mere interference to your relationship.
So you purposely remain in a position where you’re not emotionally
hurting someone else. It’ll also be an emotional drain on you having someone
that not only doesn’t share your convictions but sees them as a hindrance.
If an opportunity comes of having someone that shares your convictions
in word or more rarely in deed, you’ll be free to marry instead of failing on your
vows. In this case you’ll have a mission partner rather than just a marital friend
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7. Motivation and the Conditions for Fulfilling Your Calling
you share material, physical and emotional needs. However if you’re intended to
be single for life you’ll have the grace to fulfill your mission without any
concern of marital needs.
5. Being childless.
Like Oprah Winfrey for a secular example and many biblical figures.
Asked if she could just “have it all” since she could hire people to raise her
children Oprah responded, “If I were a wife and mother, I wouldn’t have been
open to this experience (in South Africa (see above)). I wouldn’t have had the
space in my life to embrace the world’s children, because I’d be taking care of
my own, which takes a lot of energy. People always say, ‘Why don’t you have
kids? You’ve got the money, the space. Have a nursery, hire nannies.’ That’s
not how I want to have children,” (TV Guide, October 4, 2003, p.39).
6. Nurturing children.
Like most of our parents and ancestors getting married was seen as step
one to growing up. Then came having as many children as means could afford.
However these standards are changing in our increasingly trying times -
trying materially, socially, morally, spiritually, etc. One to two children families
or none at all are becoming the norm.
If you have children or intend to it’s important to integrate them in your
mission. Today’s children need more nurturing than we did. They’re far more
exposed to negative influences ranging from the media, video games, the
internet and cultures that are egocentric, materialistic and non-religious. Nurtur-
ing them may even be your main mission.
Whether or not you live to see the fruits of your labor may not be an is-
sue. You’ll be securing their future morally, spiritually, professionally and so
on. You’ll also be planting seeds of a sacrificial life rather than selfishness in
them. Children learn what they see.
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8. Fasting lifestyle.
Like Martin Luther King, Jr. who constantly fasted throughout their
callings. Fasting (among other spiritual disciplines applied) achieved what guns
could have tried to gain with much bloodshed, hatred and destruction. Certain
gains for some of us may come either through unnecessary struggle, trial and
error, sin, or through fasting. The preference is up to each one of us. Fasting
brings spiritual intervention from God (see section on fasting in this book). It’s a
spiritual discipline that works in mysterious ways.
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7. Motivation and the Conditions for Fulfilling Your Calling
his will. No career is worth pursuing that’s outside his will. No friend or
companion is worth having that will corrupt our pursuit of his will. Knowing
and fulfilling God’s will is our only worthy investment of our time and effort. It
is our only true career, our only source of employment and entertainment.
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Book References
Gondwe, Eric I., 2008. Breaking Spiritual Strongholds and Healing the Wounded Spirit:
Dealing with Root Causes, Jesus Work Ministry (JesusWorkMinistry.com), Cambridge,
MA
Gondwe, Eric I., 2008. Major Spiritual Warfare Principles: Biblical Do’s and Don’ts of
Warfare, Jesus Work Ministry (JesusWorkMinistry.com), Cambridge, MA
Gondwe, Eric I., 2008. Breaking Curses, Including Generational Curses, Jesus Work
Ministry (JesusWorkMinistry.com), Cambridge, MA
Gondwe, Eric I., 2008. Breaking Occult Spells: Protection from Witchcraft and Occult
Influences, Jesus Work Ministry (JesusWorkMinistry.com), Cambridge, MA
Gondwe, Eric I., 2008. Major Christian Deliverance Principles: Keys for Self-
deliverance and Ministry, Jesus Work Ministry (JesusWorkMinistry.com), Cambridge,
MA
Gondwe, Eric I., 2008. Bible Powered Prayer Guide: Guide for Applying Scriptures to
Daily Prayers, Jesus Work Ministry (JesusWorkMinistry.com), Cambridge, MA
Henry, Matthew, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible, 1997. Thomas
Nelson Inc., Nashville, Tennessee
Henry, Matthew, Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and
Unabridged (6 Volumes) Retrieved March 2004, from
http://bible.crosswalk.com/Commentaries/MatthewHenryComplete/
Munroe, Myles, 2002. Understanding the Purpose and Power of Prayer: Earthly
License for Heavenly Interference, Whitaker House, New Kensington, PA
Reiss, Steven, 2000. Who Am I?: The 16 Basic Desires That Motivate Our Behavior
and Define Our Personality, Tarcher, New York, USA.
Wesley, John, Explanatory Notes: the Old and New Testament, BibleDatabase
(Versio 3.1 (Christian Software)). Download available at http://bibledatabase.org
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Hearing the Voice of God and Fulfilling God’s Purpose for Your Life
Bible Library Ultra Edition (version 6.0 (Software)), 2001, Ellis Enterprises, Inc.,
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Easton, M.G. (M.A., D.D.) 1897. Easton’s Bible Dictionary (Illustrated Bible
Dictionary), 3rd Ed, Thomas Nelson, Public Domain, Retrieved March and April
2004, from http://bible.crosswalk.com/Dictionaries/EastonsBibleDictionary
The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV), 1611. Electronic conversion by
NASCO. Copyright 1988. Electronic Work Product. Bible Library Ultra Edition
(version 6.0 (Software)), 2001, Ellis Enterprises, Inc., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
The Holy Bible, American Standard Version (ASV) 1901. American Bible Society.
Electronic conversion by NASCO. Copyright 1988. Electronic Work Product. Bible
Library Ultra Edition (version 6.0 (Software)), 2001, Ellis Enterprises, Inc., Okla-
homa City, Oklahoma
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Book Index
authoritative voice .................................. 5 keys of the kingdom................................ 6
circumstances ..1, 5, 18, 19, 22, 24, 51, 53 Moses........................................ 31, 33, 36
dreams .............................................. 5, 27 prayer....5, 6, 7, 13, 16, 18, 29, 30, 32, 34,
35, 37, 38, 52
emotional and sensorial ...... 53, 54, 55, 56
prophecy ............................... 5, 12, 47, 48
fasting ...5, 8, 9, 21, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34,
35, 37, 38, 53, 56, 59, 93, 106 spiritual warfare ........................ 34, 35, 37
Holy Spirit .............. 29, 30, 33, 35, 37, 38 testimonies .............................................. 5
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Hearing the Voice of God and Fulfilling God’s Purpose for Your Life
Dr. Eric Isaiah Gondwe is the founder of Jesus Work Ministry, a pri-
marily online based Christian resource and outreach ministry. The main website
is at JesusWorkMinistry.com. He is a born again and ordained evangelical
pastor.
For many serving in the body of Christ the calling comes in unexpected
ways and sometimes in unexpected areas as well. In his case the unexpected was
serving in deliverance ministry.
Deliverance ministry is an area of ministry that abounds with harmful
demon-centered teachings. Such teachings that are obsessed with demons are
due to misinterpreted scriptures - mostly unintentionally.
This is the opposite with Christ-centered principles on deliverance.
Their focus is on God and Christ’s redemptive work on the cross. Gondwe is
among evangelicals upholding the Christ-centered principles that have tri-
umphed over evil throughout church history –over 2000 years.
His books include the following. (Please check online for latest updates,
including audio material, at JesusWorkMinistry.com/EricGondwe):
1. Breaking Curses, Including Generational Curses
2. Breaking Spiritual Strongholds and Healing the Wounded Spirit
3. Hearing the Voice of God and Fulfilling God’s Purpose for Your Life
4. Major Spiritual Warfare Principles: Biblical Do’s and Don’ts of Warfare
5. Breaking Occult Spells: Protection from Witchcraft and Occult Influences
6. Bible Powered Prayer Guide: Guide for Applying Scriptures to Daily Prayers
7. Major Christian Deliverance Principles: Keys for Self-deliverance and Ministry
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Acknowledgments
I’m grateful to numerous individuals who’ve been part of this work di-
rectly and indirectly. Your prayers, suggestions, time, and other sacrifices have
made this assignment possible.
And above all, to our Lord Jesus Christ, our Shepherd in life, who is the
way, the truth and the life. May he use this book that he inspired, among many
others throughout history, in equipping his church and prevailing against the
gates of hell. “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome
it,” Matthew 16:18.
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