Author: Pastor Carroll Parish

All of us know there is something greater outside of ourselves. We want to know about it. What is it? How does it work? or Who is it? We have often heard that there is a void inside of us that can only be filled or satisfied with this supernatural being that we call GOD. We wonder what does He think about this world situation? Can He speak to me? How can I learn to hear His voice if He does speak?

THE BIBLE IS HIS NUMBER ONE WAY TO SPEAK

It is composed of history, poetry, law, and prophecy. It is divided into two covenants or testaments; Old & New. The New Covenant or Testament is the one we live under now.

John the Baptist or baptizer came on the scene to announce the coming of Messiah Jesus. Luke 16:16 says, “The law and the prophets were until John, since that time the Kingdom is preached.” The Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke & John) tell us of Jesus’ earthly ministry and His work on the Cross, His teachings about His present and future kingdom, and His ascension back to Heaven.

The other books in the New Testament, many of them written by the Apostle Paul, teach us how we are to live in this present age. And part of that teaching instructs us about learning to hear the voice of God.

PRACTICAL WAYS TO HEAR HIM SPEAK THROUGH HIS WORD

We need to read the Bible. There are many different ways we can do that. Reading through the Bible in a year is a good way to start doing it. Study topics referred to in the Bible is also a good way. A good reference Bible is helpful in studying as is a Bible concordance & dictionary. I encourage each of us to read, re-read, meditate in, and personally apply it to our lives by obeying what it says.

A good truth from the Bible that is applicable to all of us is knowing who we are in Christ and who He is in us. I encourage each of us to start in Romans chapter one and read through Revelation chapter one to discover what has been provided for us. We will find that He has provided 168 things that we possess and are in Christ. Then we should memorize & meditate in these Scriptures until our mind is renewed (Romans 12:2) to that truth and becomes engrafted (James 1:21) into our soul. As we do that, we will hear God speaking to us personally on various levels. This is a life-long process of being renewed in our minds and learning to hear Him speak to us!

Solomon said about 3000 years ago in Proverbs 24:7, “For as he thinks in his heart so is he…”

The Apostle Paul said in Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy- meditate on these things.”

The power of our thoughts is immense! I am reading a book by a Christian psychiatrist Daniel Amen called Change Your Brain, Change Your Life (Kindle version) that I think is very good along this line. I have given some quotes below.

“Did you know…every time you have a thought, your brain releases chemicals? That’s how our brains work. You have a thought your brain releases chemicals, an electrical transmission goes across your brain and you become aware of what you are thinking. Thoughts are real and they have a direct impact on how you feel and how you behave.

“Every time you have a mad thought, an unkind thought, a sad thought, or a cranky thought, your brain releases negative chemicals that activate your limbic system and make your mind and body feel bad. Think about the last time you were mad. How did you feel physically? When most people are mad, their muscles get tense, their heart beats faster, their hands start to sweat, and they may even begin to feel a little dizzy. Your body reacts to every negative thought you have.

“Every time you have a good thought, a happy thought, a hopeful thought, or a kind thought, your brain releases chemicals that make your body feel good. Think about the last time you had a really happy thought. What did you feel inside your body? When most people are happy their muscles relax, their heartbeat and breath slow. Your body reacts to your good thought.

“Your body reacts to every thought you have! We know this from polygraphs or lie detector tests. Almost immediately, the body reacts to your thoughts, whether you say anything or not. Now, the opposite is also true.

“Thoughts are very powerful! They can make your mind and body feel good or they can make you feel bad Every cell in your body is affected by every thought you have. That is why when people get emotionally upset they often develop physical symptoms, such as headaches or stomachaches. If you can think about a good thing, you will feel better.”

This reminds us of the need to renew our minds to think only things that are aligned with Scripture. Romans 12:2 says, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Over the years, I have heard many people reference this passage when praying for America. Usually, they put a strong emphasis on the phrase ‘if my people’ as if YHWH was talking about America.

WHO WAS GOD TALKING TO IN THIS PASSAGE?

The context tells us that this was when Solomon was dedicating the Temple. After it had been accomplished the Lord appeared to Solomon and, among other things, gave him this promise. So the first application was to Israel. But as is true with many of the promises of God, there can be other applications.

Does it apply to America? It certainly can, but because it can does not mean that we should think of ourselves as having a ‘favored nation’ standing before God simply because we are America! And this is how I have heard it used many times. It appears to me that it can be applied to anyone who meets the conditions mentioned herein.

THE CONDITIONS

“If my people who are called by my name…” Anyone who has a genuine relationship with the Lord.

“…will humble themselves…” Place themselves secondary to the Lord.

“…and pray…” Intercede on behalf of someone beyond themselves.

“…and seek my face…” To discern His will, fellowship with Him.

“…and turn from their wicked ways…” Repent. Follow His ways.

“Then…” Now they have a relationship and fellowship with Him and He can begin to do things for and in them.

“…I will hear from heaven…” Old Testament people basically assumed that YHWH dwelt in heaven. We know under the New Covenant that Jesus lives in us.

“…and forgive their sins…” Self-explanatory.

“…and heal their land.” This seems to imply that He will heal, deliver, and make right all that is wrong. Perhaps it has both present and future manifestations.

So, should we use this passage when praying for our country today? Yes. But do so with the understanding that as Americans we are not something special with God more than other nationalities. All who KNOW the Lord and have made Him their Lord can claim these promises continually.

My wife and I became the pastor of a new church plant a short time after getting married. The church met in a rented building. Debbie and I lived in the house next door. We pastored the church for a year. The church was composed of good people who, like us, were doing something for the first time. There were more than enough missteps to go around.

There was one man in the church who thought he was supposed to tell the pastor and everyone else how things should be done. I had pastored a church before this for a year and a half and had been removed because I got filled with the Spirit. So, I had a little experience but dealing with this type of thing I was a novice.

My wife and I prayed about how to handle the situation and determined that because nothing we did seemed to be working that it would be best for us to move somewhere else. Which we did.

The night before we were to load the truck and leave, he came by our house to pick up the keys to the house and the shop where the church was meeting. He sat on our couch and proceeded to berate me and tell of all the things he thought I had done wrong.

While this was happening, I kept my cool and did not get angry. Finally, he left. Then I made a big mistake. I started thinking about the things he said. The more I thought about them the angrier I became. I told Debbie, “I am going to his house and beat him up!” She suggested that before going there I should pray about it. I was so angry I couldn’t pray. So, after a while, I cooled down and did not go to his house.

The next day, we moved to our new location. About a year later, the church had a special service and we were invited to be there. We decided to go. But I kept wondering how I would face this man if he was still there. I had prayed extensively about him and the whole situation and had forgiven him for what he had done and said.

When we arrived, I immediately saw him across the building. He saw me and started walking toward me. We greeted each other cordially and had a short conversation as though nothing negative had ever happened. I believe the grace of God was working the whole situation out. I saw him a few more times and everything seemed to be fine between us.

To God be the glory! Great things He has done!

Our God has chosen to reveal Himself as Father, Son, & Holy Spirit (Genesis 1:26, Matthew 28:19-20). In much of the Old Testament, we see God as Father, even though it is pointing to Jesus as Messiah. In the Gospels, it is about Jesus’ life as the perfect God-man and His redemption for us. In Acts and most of the New Testament, it is about the work of the Spirit in the life of the believers.

We affirm the relevance of the Holy Spirit and His gifts and ministries for today. We have a great desire to see more of the supernatural gifts of the Spirit in our world. We see these things as manifestations of His power working among mankind. But something that is often overlooked is that the fruit of the Spirit is a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit as well.

When an individual makes Jesus his Lord, He is born of the Spirit (John 3:6). The Spirit of God comes into his spirit to live (Romans 8:9). From there He works to guide, transform, and empower his life (Galatians 4:19, Romans 12:1-2).

We often think of the fruit of the Spirit as being developed by human effort as opposed to being a supernatural work of the Spirit of God (Galatians 5:22-23). Just as the spiritual gifts are the Spirit of God working in and through a yielded vessel, so are the fruit of the Spirit. They are the outworking of His work within. While the gifts of the Spirit often do their work in a moment of time, the fruit of the Spirit should be more long-lasting developed over a lifetime. The gifts of the Spirit reveal the power of God while the fruit of the Spirit reveals the character of God. We need them both working in and through the Body of Christ – the Church. Each has an important place and they should never be thought of as opposing one another. We should not choose one over the other. It is not fruit OR gifts but both.

Those who emphasize the gifts without the fruit reveal only a partial revelation of God. Those who emphasize fruit without the gifts do the same. Obedient, yielded vessels can do both simultaneously.

During my 55 years of ministry, I have met many individuals who were confused about their gender identity. Most of them were like Jan (not her real name) who as a late teenager had fallen in love with a boy in the neighborhood whom her parents did not approve of. Because of this she became hardened toward natural affection for males. As time went on she began to have relationships with females her own age. Which in turn led to her eventually moving to another state where same-sex marriages
were allowed.

What does the Bible say about this? Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him, male and female He created them.” According to Scripture, there are two genders. I realize that many of our educational institutions advocate that their students can change sexual identities as often as their emotions change.
But I do not see that in Scripture. From what I have observed in ministry, those that have gender confusion often come from broken homes, have been sexually assaulted, or brain-washed by the media. Some later realize their sin and turn from it while many others continue for decades or their entire life. Unnatural gender roles are another manifestation of sexual confusion. Genesis 19 reveals what Lot dealt with in Sodom. That city & surrounding area was destroyed by the judgment of God because of this sin. Leviticus 18 reveals what God told Moses to teach the Israelites about what was and what was not acceptable sexually.
In the New Covenant the Apostle Paul, in Romans 1:18-32, tells us how that many have walked away from God and through a perverted mind have indulged themselves in all sorts of homosexual & lesbian activity which brings about the judgment of God. Is it possible for one who is living this lifestyle to change? Yes! I have known some who have.

The change does not come easily, but it can happen. It does require some decisions to be made.

Number 1 – the person must want to be different. They must be willing to pay the price of walking away from those who practice this lifestyle.

Number 2 – they must repent – turn around – and turn to God with all their heart.

Number 3 – they must renew their mind with Scriptures that reveal who and what they are in Christ. They have to see themselves as forgiven, redeemed, as someone God loves.

Number 4 – they must know that this is a process and not just one decision made in the heat of emotion but a choice that will require something from them.

Number 5 – they must know that God will be with them, loving them in spite of their past, and is constantly molding and making them into what His plan is for their future.

A number of years ago while pastoring a small country church in western Kentucky we had a guest speaker who, years before had left his wife and child and lived a homosexual lifestyle. He got right with God and started into the ministry. But he still had no desire for his wife. This went on for about six months. While he was with us, on the last night of the meeting, he told me that he suddenly had a desire to go home to his wife instead of going on to his next scheduled ministry opportunity. As soon as the service was over we sent him home and the rest of the team went on to the next meeting. I heard from him later that his wife accepted him home gladly, forgave him, and their sexual relationship was now like it should be. Hallelujah!

As I mentioned earlier I have seen this same thing happen to others. The God we serve does miracles!

A number of years ago a teenage boy came to me for counseling, sent by his mother who had a great concern because of the mental turmoil he was going through. As he began to open up about what was going on, he said that all of this came down to his not wanting to live. He asked, “Why would God, if there is a God, put me here on earth in a family I don’t like, around people that I don’t like? All of this just makes me miserable. Why am I alive?” He had tried several times to commit suicide. I met with him over several sessions and attempted to lead him through the Bible to see that God as His creator had only good things in mind for him and that to experience them he must get to know Him and commit himself to follow His directives. Some of the things that I shared with him are in this article.

Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning God…” We must first establish a source of authority for truth, and it can be found in Scripture. By reading and researching the Bible we learn who God is and what He is like. We find that there are over 300 descriptive terms used to reveal what God is like.

Some of the most often mentioned terms are: God is love (1 John 4:7), and God is good (Matthew 19:17).

God exists, and He is love, and He is good. He never does anything that is not based on His character. You are here because He has a plan for your life (Jeremiah 29:11), and if that plan is followed you will discover that it is what is best for you, and you can live a life that is satisfying.

Another question this young man had was, “If God has in fact given me life, (Psalm 139:13-16) why am I living at this time? I would prefer to be living during the time that Jesus walked the earth.” I assured him that God knew what He was doing, even when we may not know, and that His plans for us today are always what is best. I assured him that there is a God, and we are not Him! I taught him that we have an unseen God, facing an unknown future, with a Savior that knows all, can do anything, and is always working for our good.

This young man finally began to grasp the truths of God’s Word, and his life was dramatically changed! He met a beautiful young lady at church, they got married, and he went on to become a pastor of a church, serving God with his wife and son.

According to Provers 18:21, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”

I often give individuals positive declarations to make that help solidify Biblical truths.

POSITIVE DECLARATIONS

I am a good creation from God.

God has made me in His image and likeness.

I am full of potential, and will become and do all that He wants me to be.

Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world.

As I yield my life to Him, nothing can stop me.

I am an overcomer. My faith overcomes the world.

John 19:30 says, “So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished.” And bowing His head, He gave up His Spirit.” At that point, the price for our redemption was paid. Nothing else would ever be needed. NOTHING. Not our good works, thoughts, ideas, or theology. The price was paid for eternity!

Yet, today in Christian circles, as well as other religions, we often still try to add to what Jesus has done for us. We often couch it in religious-sounding phrases that, I suppose, makes us feel better about ourselves.

Just Believe it.

We first must know what this Scripture says and then we must believe it. Believe it enough to act on it. Live by it. Believe it enough to quit trying to add to what Jesus has done for us. Trust Him enough to obey it.

Two Great Events.

There are two great events in the New Testament that never have to be done again. Jesus dying on the Cross and the Day of Pentecost. Just as the Cross provides total redemption for those who believe and trust Him, so Pentecost is a one-time event where the Holy Spirit was poured out to empower God’s people to be able to work with Him and extend His Kingdom to the ends of the earth. Each believer can have his own personal Pentecost by receiving the outpoured Spirit today.

Each believer has the Spirit of Christ in his regenerated spirit (Romans 8:9). At the new birth, the Spirit came to live in him and he was placed in the Body of Christ in unity with those who were already in it. But that does not mean that he automatically received the Baptism in the Spirit.

Before He ascended back to Heaven after His resurrection, Jesus breathed on His disciples and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22). Which was fully manifested on the day of Pentecost. Both of these experiences have life-long effects on our lives by changing us and enabling us to have a relationship and fellowship with Jesus as we are doing His work on the earth.

Even though these are one-time events their results last a lifetime and for eternity!

Have you experienced both of these?

All authority is delegated authority. Even Jesus while He was on earth living as a man, operated in delegated authority. In Matthew 28:18, after His resurrection, Jesus said, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.” He was reminding His disciples, then and now, that He has the right to sent them out to carry on the work He started.

Any person in any position of authority operates in delegated authority. No one self-generates his own authority. Any attempt to do so will easily be recognized by others as fraudulent. Think false prophets, messiahs, etc.

In the secular realm, we often think of police and government officials as examples of authorities, and rightly so. Someone gives the policeman a badge and gun and the right to use it under certain circumstances. But if he goes rogue and steps beyond the authority given, then his use of authority is no longer legitimate. He may still have the position of policeman, badge, and gun but he has abused the authority given to him. And we, the people, have the right to appeal to his superiors and demand he is held accountable for his actions. This same scenario is applicable in all realms of life.

AUTHORITY IN THE SPIRIT REALM

Every believer in Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and Lord has a measure of authority. For it to be effective he must use it within the guidelines given, the Word of God.

Some ministry gifts (Ephesians 4:11-16) have a wider scope of authority than others. This authority works according to the gift given. Yet, it is limited and the person through whom the ministry gift flows cannot do anything they want with that authority. If they do, the One who gave the gift can negate the gift or anointing of the Spirit.

It behooves us to learn what authority is, how it operates, and our response to it. If we do so, we can be a success in any circumstance and situation that we may face.

I believe this is going to become extremely important in the near future as we face end-time events!

With these thoughts in mind, re-read Romans 13:1-8.

The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “If any man is in Christ he is a new creation, old things are passed away and all things have become new.” God does not reform the human spirit, He re-creates it! According to 1 Thessalonians 5:23, man is a tri-partite being, spirit, soul, and body. Paul says, “I pray God your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

When one is born again, his spirit is re-created. John 3:6 says, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit.” Eternal life, the zoe life of God, comes into the spirit of man. He who was spiritually dead now has life.

Ephesians 2:1 says, “You hath He quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins.” Ephesians 2:6 indicates that we have been raised up and made to sit with Jesus. This is our position in Christ. This is our new identity.

The truth of the new creation is the first and greatest of truths for the new convert. If one does not grasp it, he will be hindered in understanding the other redemptive truths. Believers are not sinners; they are children of God. They may sin, but if they do, there is a provision to deal with their sin (1 John 2:1). We need to see ourselves as no longer sinners, but children of God with a new nature – a nature that wants to please God, that wants to fellowship with Him.

If we can understand who we are in Christ, we will overcome intimidation by the world and the devil. We will overcome inferiority, insecurity, feelings of unworthiness, and low self-esteem. We will begin to recognize the greatness of Jesus’ redemption for us and the magnitude of His Kingdom. This truth properly understood creates a holy awe of God.

BLESSED WITH ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS.

Ephesians 1:3 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. Notice that it says “hath.” This is past tense. We are already blessed. It happened at the Cross.

The word “blessed” is the Greek word enlogeo which means to “speak well of or invoke prosperity upon.” When Jesus took your sins and died for you in the Cross, He blessed you with all spiritual blessings. 2 Peter 1:3-4 indicates that we have been “given all things that pertain to life and godliness.” He has given us some great and precious promises that, through them, we become partakers of His divine nature. We have been given what it takes to live this life successfully and do so in godliness. The promises of God’s Word reveal His will for us. As we believe and act upon these promises, we become partakers of what they promise.

THINGS THAT CHANGE GRADUALLY

The new birth is instantaneous. Your sins are forgiven and your spirit re-created at a moment in time. However, the rest of the person- his soul and body- are changed gradually.

Romans 12:2 says, “Be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” The mind is part of the soul. It needs continual renewal. How do we do that? By reading, studying, memorizing, meditating, and declaring the Word of God. James 1:21 tells us to “receive the engrafted (implanted) Word which is able to save your souls.” John 15:3 says, “Now you are clean through the Word that I have spoken.” Ephesians 5:26 mentions the “washing of the water of the Word.” As we apply the Word, our mind is renewed, our emotions channeled, and our will is committed to follow God. 2 Corinthians 4:16 indicates that “though the outward man is perishing, the inward man is renewed day by day.” Pauls in Hebrews 10:39 says, “We are not of them that drawback to perdition; but of them who believe to the saving of the soul?” Also, 1 Peter 1:9 says, “For you are receiving the goal of your, the salvation of your souls.”

The Bible is full of commands that tell us to put off the old and put on the new (Ephesians 4:22-24, Colossians 3:5-10). As our soul is renewed in the Word, all of our life will be affected in a good way. 3 John 2 says, “Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.” We are told in 2 Corinthians 10:5 to, “cast down imagination and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.” We do this as our mind is renewed by the Word.

The Body needs to be controlled. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 9:27, “I buffet my body and keep it under control.” The body must be kept under the control of the re-created spirit. Your body is the same one you used to sin. Its desires are the same. They were not automatically changed at the new birth. Strength to control the body is released to the degree the mind is renewed. Romans 8:5 indicates that to obey the flesh is death, but to obey the spirit is life and peace. The human spirit is instantly re-created at the new birth, but the soul must be daily renewed to the Word and Will of God.

(This is an excerpt from my book BECOMING WHO YOU ARE. It can be purchased from Amazon.com)