Listening to the Word of God: How We Can Let God Lead In Our Lives (Ft. Pastor Tom Flaherty)
As followers of Christ, we look to Him for answers to our prayers and guidance in our lives. Unfortunately, we’re vulnerable to listening to the wrong voice and falling prey to the enemy’s strategies that lead us astray. Even when He speaks, many don’t take the time to listen to the voice of God. How can we know when God is speaking to us? How can we make sure to listen to His Word, understand the prophetic and forge a relationship with God?
That’s the question we dive into in this episode of the Revelations Podcast with Pastor Tom Flaherty. He shares how you can turn your desire to listen to God into a delight you can experience every day. With God’s strength and support, he shares how we can stand firm against the enemy’s temptations and reach others with our faith. We also talk more about the joyful intimacy of letting God into your life and giving Him your time and heart.
Listen to the voice of God; learn, and let God lead you in life. Tune in to this episode and open your ears to the Word of God.
Here are three reasons why you should listen to this episode:
Learn to examine and discern the voice of God from the noise of the world and the roaring of the devil.
Discover and be secure in your identity as God’s beloved child..
Let Jesus lead you to the next step in your life. No matter your circumstances or problems, trust in Him to guard and guide you.
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Episode Highlights
[02:37] Tom’s Journey To Become Intimate With God
Pastor Tom grew up in the Catholic Church but found himself disconnected. He experienced different churches that were united in Jesus Christ.
He emphasizes that God wants the Church to be united with Christ at the center despite these differences.
Tom’s experiences hearing God and His direction have formed who he is today.
[05:36] The Desire To Hear And Listen To The Voice of God
In today’s world, there are many voices and opinions that make noise and make us weary. On the other hand, the Word of God strengthens, comforts, and sustains us.
[08:03] Tom: “One word from heaven changes everything. One word that comes from God to our hearts has strength in it and it sustains us.”
That’s why it’s critical to listen and be able to discern His voice. He wants us to open our ears and desire to hear His voice.
Raegan shares that the reason she started the podcast was because God spoke to her. It may be hard to hear Him, but He is there.
[10:23] Examining The Prophecies
Many use God’s name to manipulate others for their own gain. Examine the prophecies you hear, discern the voice of God, and cling to Him.
Tom advises never to place your identity in your ability to hear God. Instead, place your identity in being God’s child whom He loves. You don’t have to perfectly hear God all the time.
You don’t have to declare that this is what God has told you. Instead, leave it open and align it with the Scripture.
Your relationship with God starts with Him speaking to you first. All you need to do is to reposition yourself to listen, not just to what He is saying now but also to His Word.
God speaks to us through the Bible. Prophetic experiences align with and honor the written Word.
[20:31] Delighting In God’s Presence Every Day
Raegan shares her personal journey of seeking God’s presence in her daily life. She shares her need to rest with God amidst the busy times.
It starts with a desire for intimacy to be with God. Make it into a discipline that will become a delightful part of your every day.
Tom shares how his greatest delight is to have a coffee with God every morning. This way, God is at the center of his life all throughout the day.
You don’t have to work too hard to hear the voice of God. Instead, treat him as a friend you love building a relationship with rather than a mission to get your reward.
[27:02] An Addiction To God
It’s important to differentiate between an assignment from God and a relationship with Him.
Even within the ministry, don’t put your identity into how much you’re doing for God. Instead, host His presence and let him help you with your assignment.
Tom shares how he had burned out in 2013 as a pastor of a large church and planned a sabbatical. Before he left, he dreamt of two women being worn down by the enemy
God tells him His plans to refresh these women by giving a drink of the Spirit of God and nurturing an addiction to His presence.
It is through this addiction to God that we become free. We live our lives easier in delight with Him.
[35:22] Surrendering Our Human Weaknesses To God’s Spirit
There are two ways we can miss the voice of God and end up listening to the enemy: human agenda and human strength.
Do not put God’s name for your personal agendas and interests. This is a manipulative way of using God’s name in vain. One example of this in Scripture is how Jesus rebuked Peter and the apostles after their denial of Jesus’ incoming death.
Doing things with human pride and strength can lead us to be deaf to God’s voice. Just like how Peter and the apostles insist that they will never forsake Jesus despite what Jesus says will happen.
Don’t rely on human effort. Surrender your human agenda and strength to be with His Spirit and do things together with our Lord and God.
[41:44] How the Voice Of God Reaches Us
[41:47] Raegan: “Intimacy is: into me see, into me see. God, He wants to see into us and He allows us to see into Him through His word but also just by His presence we get to see more of Him and experience more of Him.”
Intimacy with God allows us to be in His presence and experience Him. Jesus speaks through the Holy Spirit which speaks to us and reveals the truths from Scripture.
The voice of God can reach us through many ways, like dreams and the even events in our lives.
Our lives are God’s platforms to speak. Whatever we may be experiencing, we need to notice when God is speaking to us and listen. We can see this in how He reaches out to Moses, Samuel, Elijah, and other prophets through their circumstances.
Just like how God led Elijah out of the cave when he was depressed and in despair, the Lord also speaks to you and calls for you to leave the depression and walk with Him.
He is the Shepherd and we, as the sheep, need to know his voice, listen, and follow Him as He leads us to the next place.
[47:24] Discerning The Voice Of God From The Enemy’s Words
We have to acknowledge that the enemy is here and actively trying to get to us. Whether through human agenda or strength, it tries to pull us away from God.
One way the devil speaks is loudly through fear and intimidation. The loud voice in your head can make the fear feel overwhelmingly real.
However, we have to submit to God, rise up, and resist the fear. Command the enemy to go using the authority and support of Jesus Christ.
The enemy also speaks to us through accusation. It tries to define us by our worst sins. However, the whole truth is that God loves you and Jesus died on the cross for our sins.
Against the accuser, we stand victorious with God’s love and Jesus’ blood covering us. Place your identity in God and not in your sin, others’ opinions, or self-hatred.
[51:56] Tom:“My identity is not in my worst behavior. It is in His love, it is in His grace, it is in His favor and there is no argument in hell that can overcome that. That is the place of victory.”
[57:20] Riding In God’s Car: Obeying And Following Him
Raegan shares her personal experience of learning to sit with God without an agenda.
So many people receive silence from God because they have failed to do what He first asked of them. Be easily led and quickly agree and obey Him.
Love God unconditionally and He will lead us through our lives. At times, it may not go the way we want it to go, however, this is His raising you to be pure. He is building and strengthening your relationship together.
Christianity has its own engine. We don’t have to hook it up to a horse and pull it ourselves. Instead, intimacy with God is the gas that allows Him to lead us all day.
The only cost that we have to spend is to patiently wait on God. Listen, do less, and spend more time with Jesus.
[01:08:25] Security In Intimacy With God
The enemy is present in our lives. However, Jesus Christ covers us and strengthens us as we move forward.
In the Scripture, God declares Jesus as the Son of God. However, the devil continues to tempt Him through doubt and insecurity. Jesus turns away from insecurity and refuses.
Just as Jesus resists the devil and the insecurity it brings, don’t act on insecurity. Be secure in your identity and cast off fear as God’s beloved.
God created intimacy in our relationship with Him as something pure, beautiful, and loving. This is what God intends for us.
[01:13:40] Dancing With Jesus
Tom shares the acronym, GUIDANCE to remember to dance with God. Say yes to dancing with Him! Once you ask and surrender, He will lead you in the dance of your life.
God speaks to us differently. You have to turn to Him and discern that He is speaking. This includes attending church and hearing God speak through the pastor.
Have the humility to listen and notice the many ways God converses with us.
Listen and resonate with the Holy Spirit to discern when God speaks. Use the tools and the truths He gives us to stay strong and stand against the enemy at all times.
The enemies will be in our lives every day, however, we don’t have to face them alone. We have God and the anointing of the Holy Spirit to guard our hearts and minds.
About Tom
Tom Flaherty is the Head Pastor at City’s Church in Madison, Wisconsin. Throughout his life, he has spent time with Jesus and listened to His truth and love.
Listen to our first conversation with Tom on Revelations Podcast in Season 2, Episode 7 Draw Near to the Throne of Grace
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