Listen for the Lord – Lessons Learned in Wilderness Times, part 3
Do you know God’s will and direction for you? In today’s message, learn how to listen to God and why it’s so important. God will supply all you need to get you to the place where you will hear his voice. The question is, will you listen and be open to receiving what God has for you?
Feeling alone, deserted, empty, or vulnerable? This could be described as a season of wilderness. A wilderness season of life is the place where we can grow spiritually and learn about ourselves and God Almighty through the testing of our faith. Wilderness times are often very difficult times and are not desirable. Times of trials, testing, and temptations. However, the wilderness can become a place where you grow spiritually and learn of God, as you seek to depend on the Lord. It is often a place where you will witness the hand of God in your life. It is a place where you learn about yourself. It is a place where you learn of God’s blessing and presence.
This series explores what a wilderness season is, why God allows these seasons, and what should you do when you are experiencing a severe wilderness season.
Be ready to listen, discern, receive, and respond to his voice.
When you find yourself in a difficult wilderness season of life, always look for the grace of God. Always stop and listen to the Lord.
Choose each day to:
Have the grace of God in your heart.
Live each day with the grace of God on your lips.
Live each day with the grace of God displayed by your actions.
And seek the Lord with all your heart, press in to know him for who he is, and he will direct your steps.
Choose to seek him for who he is, the sovereign Lord and creator of the universe, rather than only seeking him to fulfill your desires along life’s journey.
We have learned that a wilderness season is often a deserted place, a dry and lonely place, a place of painful solitude and a place of testing at times. Wilderness seasons in life will often precede God’s blessing.
Wilderness seasons involve testing and learning of oneself and of God’s faithfulness and provision for those who seek and trust him. It is in the wilderness seasons of life that the grace of God is seen most clearly.
The first point we have learned regarding wilderness seasons in life is that it is a time of testing.
The second point regarding wilderness seasons in life is that we need to be patient and wait upon the Lord and for his timing.
Today we are diving even deeper into life in the wilderness. We will see that a person in a wilderness season of life should listen and consider what the Spirit of God is saying.
To know God’s will and directions in every season of life, we must learn to listen. We must learn to focus and be open to listening for the voice of God in every season of life. Especially in the wilderness season of life when things can appear dire, difficult, all alone and you are unsure of the future.
Let’s look at an event in prophet Elijah’s life. In 1 Kings 19, Elijah had just witnessed God prove himself to be God over the false gods of Baal. You might remember the story of Elijah on mount Carmel. In chapter 18, Elijah challenges the prophets of Baal to a spiritual showdown. A showdown of whose God is truly God: Baal or God Almighty. Elijah confronts the people of Israel with these words:
‘Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.”
But the people said nothing’ (1 Kings 18:21, NIV).
It appears that the people of God were on the fence spiritually and did not want to take a stance for God. So, they said nothing. The people spoke loudly. The people of God chose to not take sides. They were going to play it safe and straddle the line between the two. They were spiritually lukewarm, and they were OK with that, so it seems. Taking a stance for God might cost them something. They were unsure what they believed.
Elijah was out to prove God to be God Almighty. Elijah was alone, choosing to take a stance for God. But what we see here in this event and following is that God was with Elijah all the time.
Elijah challenges 450 prophets of Baal to a test. The challenge was that the God who answers by fire is God. He is God. Both Elijah and the prophets of Baal were to offer a burnt sacrifice, but not light the fire for the burnt offering. God was to send the fire to burn up the sacrifice. Elijah declared without hesitation that the God who answers by fire is God. The prophets of Baal did everything they thought of to get their god Baal to send fire. Elijah teased them that maybe their god was asleep as the day went by and their so-called god was silent. Elijah gave them all day, but no fire.
Elijah rebuilt the altar and set the wood and sacrifices upon the altar. He then had a trench dug around the sacrifice and water poured over the sacrifice. Elijah prayed and Fire from heaven consumed everything.
I believe God used Elijah to spiritually awaken the people of God. The demonstration of God sending fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice that was placed upon the rebuilt altar turned the people’s hearts back to God and to declare once again that God is God Almighty. It is at that moment that the people declare God is God.
‘When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!”’ (1 Kings 18:39).
We then read how the false prophets of Baal are taken away and killed. The physical drought is now over, the prophets of Baal are killed, and King Ahab tells his wife all that happened, and Jezebel threatens to kill Elijah, and Elijah runs away in fear. All this is recorded in 1 Kings 18 and the first few verses of chapter 19.
Elijah runs for his life into the wilderness all alone. Wilderness seasons of life can often seem like lonely times.
This wilderness season appears to be a result of Elijah’s choosing fear over faith in God. Elijah allowed fear to speak louder than his faith in God Almighty. God is about to prove to Elijah that he is able to provide all Elijah needed to sustain him along life’s journey, no matter what others might say.
A wilderness season of testing can follow a mountain top experience, like what Elijah experienced, and it may also happen just prior to God doing something great as well. Never limit the Lord and never even think you are alone. You are never alone spiritually. God is always extending the grace of God, only listen for his voice. Be open to what the Lord is wanting to do in you and all around you.
Lean into the presence of God and stop trying to go it alone.
Elijah chose to be alone by telling his servant to not continue with him into the wilderness. Then we see that God provides for Elijah in the wilderness with food and water and Elijah travels 40 days to Mt Horeb, the mountain of God. God provided for Elijah all he needed to make the journey to Mt. Horeb. God will supply all you need to get you to the place where you will hear his voice. The question is, will you listen and be open to receiving what God has for you?
Elijah spends the night in a cave and the Lord calls out to him.
It’s interesting to me that, in Genesis, it is after Abraham’s father dies and Abraham is in Haran and far from his homeland, that God speaks to him about being made into a great nation and that God would bless him and all the people on earth will be blessed through him. Abraham listens to God and sets out for the promised land.
We can also see that:
Moses was alone when God spoke to him from a burning bush.
Joseph was asleep when God spoke to him in a dream.
Adam and Eve are alone in the garden, and God speaks to them.
God spoke to Noah about the evil in the world and God told Noah to build an ark. All living creatures are destroyed except those Noah was to take into the ark.
In each of these cases and other times in scripture God spoke to individuals. Each time they found themselves in a wilderness season of life. All they had to hold onto in the wilderness season of life was the word of God Almighty. They needed to know, believe, and learn to listen for the voice of God.
Are you listening for the voice of God? Would you recognize the voice of God? Will you obey the voice of God?
Elijah is a prophet of God. He just experienced a mountain top experience where God proved himself to be God. But Jezebel threatened Elijah’s life, and he runs away in fear for his life.
Let me ask you a question: If God can send fire from heaven to consume a sacrifice and prove himself to be God, shouldn’t he be able to protect Elijah from the likes of Jezebel? Yes!
God will do the same in your life. Know this to be true. Whatever you might be going through, know this, you are not alone. Just as God was with Elijah and others down the ages, he is with you. You have no need to fear. You are not alone in the wilderness. You may feel alone. You may even separate yourself from others like Elijah, but you are never alone. God knows where you are, and he is with you.
‘God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” 6 So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”’ (Hebrews 13:5-6).
In Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus told his disciples:
‘“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”’ (Matthew 28:18-20).
God spoke to each of the people we listed earlier in very different ways. In a dream, from a bush, face to face, alone, and with others around at times. Allow me to suggest that the Lord can speak whenever and however he desires. But know for sure he will speak. Are you listening?
He speaks through his Word in the scriptures, in an audible voice, in a dream, from a burning bush, an angel, another person, and sovereignly to your heart. Do not limit God regarding how, when, or where he might speak to you. It might be in a crowd, alone on a street corner, driving a car listening to a song on the radio, at the quietness of a campfire looking up to the sky or on the run in fear. Remember, Elijah is on the run and hiding within a cave in fear and that is where we find him.
‘There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” 11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”’ (1 Kings 19:9-13).
I thought it a bit humorous that God asked Elijah, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” God knew what Elijah was doing there.
Elijah had just witnessed the power of God in a dynamic way but in the next moment he is running for his life because of a threat on his life from a person of limited means and power. Elijah allowed the threats and words of Jezebel to speak louder and strike fear in his heart, rather than allowing the actions of God to speak to him in that moment.
Let me say that again: Elijah allowed the words of Jezebel to speak louder than the action of God.
Elijah had forgotten the times God had spoken to him over the years and directed his life in the past.
It is almost like God is surprised by Elijah’s actions, but he is not. The words: What are you doing here, Elijah? should have caused Elijah to think, “what am I doing here? Why am I running away? Why am I fearful? God is greater and more powerful than Jezebel. God is stronger than any force that might come against me.”
Often a person may not realize their actions in the moment. It may only be after they react negatively to their situation that they realize what they did was wrong, and they need to change. In that moment cry out to God and look for his grace and listen for that still small voice to speak into your heart.
Truth is, we all need to learn to discern why we do some things. Why do we allow fear to grip our hearts? Why do we try to do things in our own strength rather than looking to God? We need to learn discernment of right from wrong. Good from evil. God’s voice from the voice of those of the world who want to lead you astray, to fail, or sin.
We need to learn to listen for the voice of God and discern God’s voice from all the other voices that want to influence us to sin and turn our backs on God.
To be able to discern God’s voice we must develop a deep relationship with God, and that takes time. Over time you will learn to distinguish God’s voice from the others in your life.
Example: A parent can distinguish their child’s voice in a crowd. A child can distinguish their parent’s voices from other adults because they are familiar with the voice, tone, and call of their parent.
This is where listening for his voice over the clutter of other voices comes with having a deep relationship with God and being familiar with the voice of God. As people of faith let us do the same.
It begins with a relationship. Elijah had a relationship with God, but Elijah allowed fear to be the louder voice he followed. I think God at times must say to us, “what are you doing here?” when we ignore his voice and listen to another, allowing fear to grip our heart.
We must learn to listen and discern what God is saying to us. Discernment is defined as the ability to judge well. Spiritually, it is the ability to judge between good and evil. Between God’s voice and that of other voices like that of the world or the enemy of your soul. We need to listen closely to know the difference between voices and then act accordingly. Turn away from the worldly voices and embrace the voice of God wholeheartedly.
Having a close relationship with God our heavenly father, we will learn to discern his voice and have greater understanding of what he might say, and how he leads us in paths of righteousness rather than down a dark road leading to destruction.
“Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” (John 10:1-5).
“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me” (John 10:14).
Elijah knew the voice of God, but Elijah allowed fear to be the louder voice and he ran away. God sent Elijah into the wilderness alone to speak to him and to teach him a spiritual lesson that we all need to know today. A lesson we need to know is that God’s voice may not always come the way we expect it to come. A second lesson being that we may not always know what is best for us, but God knows best, and we simply need to listen and follow his leading.
You may not know what way to turn today, but God knows.
Learn to quietly wait on God. Learn to wait patiently. Learn to get away from all the distractions in life and get alone with God. Learn to listen to his voice and distinguish his tone, and words. God may use someone, or a different manner altogether than what you are expecting, to speak directly into your heart and life. Remember, the way to discern his voice is by having a close relationship with Jesus. Know what he might say in times of trouble. Recall what he has said in the past, “Fear not. I am with you. I have plans for you. You will be with me in paradise, only believe.” Listen to see if what is being said falls in line with the true word of God.
Understand, the closer you are to him, and the more you know the Word of God, the more likely you will not fall victim to obeying the wrong voice.
Once you learn to discern the voice of God over the noise of other voices, you will need to learn to act on what God is speaking to your heart and life.
You need to be receptive and learn to obey the voice of God. Being receptive to God’s voice means more than simply hearing his voice. It means obeying and acting upon his word leading in your life. It means removing all the worldly clutter in your heart so you will stop being distracted. It means removing things in your life that can stop you from acting upon what you know to be true spiritually for you.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2).
We need to learn to let go of the things that entangle us, whatever that might be. Some addiction, habit, or an unhealthy relationship in your life that causes you to not hear the voice of God. Stop the business of life, stop making excuses about why you do not have time to spend with God Almighty. Stop making excuses of why you do what you do and be strong in the Lord. Remember what Paul said, “when I am weak then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10). Remember what David wrote in Psalm 56:3-4: “When I am afraid, I will trust in you. 4 In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?”
Stop listening to voices that speak fear. Stop listening to voices that tear people down or that do not honor God. Refuse to listen or share stories that do not honor God Almighty and instead hinder or can distract a person from seeking God Almighty. Refuse to echo voices that will be a distraction to others.
Be someone who knows the truth and the voice of God. Be someone who points others to God and encourage others to listen and receive from God all that he has for them. Be a doer of the Word, of the voice of God, and not a hearer only.
Elijah heard the voice of God in an unexpected place and time. In a still quiet voice. This may not have been what Elijah was used to. This still quiet voice of God might have been new for Elijah. Elijah may not have heard God’s still small voice with all the sound of fear ringing loud in his mind.
Learn to be ready to always receive from God. Be ready to listen, discern, receive, and respond to his voice.
Understand that to hear his voice, you may need to step away from everything and listen closely for him to speak to your heart and soul.
Once you discern God’s voice, once you are receptive to his voice and his leading, you will need to respond to his voice and the leading of God in your life.
Elijah after hearing the voice of God, responded, and stood in the presence of God Almighty, “When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" (1 Kings 19:13). Elijah drew closer to God and stood in his presence. Elijah did not remain where he was. No! Elijah went to meet God. Elijah got out of the cave and stepped into God’s presence. That is exactly what we should do: draw close to God. Elijah may have felt safe in the cave, but once he heard the voice of God, Elijah knew he needed to get closer to God and receive all God had for him. Once Elijah moved closer to God, God asked him to go back the way he came. Elijah, in turning back, was taking a big risk of being found by Jezebel’s men and being killed, but that did not appear to worry Elijah any more. God sent him on a wilderness journey and now Elijah’s faith had been strengthened to overpower his fear and the threats to kill him. Elijah trusted God. His faith was in God.
The bible tells us that Elijah went to where the voice of God was, and he found strength in the Lord. Elijah learned that to listen well, he simply needed to be closer to God. Elijah needed to leave the cave, a place that appeared safe to him, and step out in faith and receive all that God had for him.
We need to do what Elijah did and take a step of faith. We need to get out of our spiritual comfort zone and listen for the voice of God.
The voice of God will shatter what is holding you back.
The voice of God can break the hold of fear in your life.
The word of God can break every addiction and bondage.
The voice of God speaks words of grace, love, mercy, forgiveness.
Face your fears knowing God is with you.
The wilderness is not something to fear. It is a time to get alone with God. Trust the Lord. Know he is God almighty. Wait patiently. Know his timing is perfect. Discern his voice. Be receptive of his words. Choose to respond to God Almighty. Draw closer to the Lord and listen for his voice and know he is God Almighty. In the past, in the present, and tomorrow.
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