Forgiving As a Discipline - Ch 6C

Can You Hear from God if You Are Harboring Unforgiveness

There are several themes that form the central tenets of the Bible:  Love, redemption, justice, grace, good and evil, and of course, forgiveness.  God establishes the principle of forgiveness by modeling it often in His own actions, then making it a core principle of what Jesus called His followers to practice.  

God, thru Jesus, placed a very high value on forgiveness.  When we say the “Lord’s Prayer,” we stop with Matt 6:13.  It would seem that possibly the next verse would be very important to be praying daily, too:

14. For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

From this verse it would appear obvious that God wanted to make absolutely clear the importance of forgiveness.  Certainly the theme is picked up again and again throughout the New Testament, and the same intensity can be seen in the parable of the unforgiving servant.  

This was the part of 6th chapter in a book that has been created here on this blog.  The book will be available on Amazon.com April 26 under the title God Called - He Needs Your Decision!  This will be the Kindle edition.  The print edition will follow approximately May 15, and the audio is slated for availability around June 1. 

Click here to buy on Kindle and see more reviews 

The rest of this chapter was available free for almost a year, but has now been removed.  It is my hope that you will truly enjoy the book and that it will bless you.  Some have already reported their thoughts about the book.  Early readers report below.  

Serious Disciples of Jesus should read God Called - He Needs Your Decision!  because, according to one reviewer:

If a baby were born and failed to thrive, the family would rightly consider it a great tragedy. When a Christian is born and fails to thrive, however, many people don’t notice. God Called—He Needs Your Decision! by Randy Kirk is an invitation to Christians to thrive. It is a spiritual counterattack to the widespread misconception that “being” a Christian is a passive state. Randy invites Christians to “do” Christianity.

Katherine Harms, Editor

Are you ready to ratchet up your devotion to God and Jesus to the next level?
God Called - He Needs Your Decision! is perfect for you

Do you sometimes feel stuck in your walk and desire to be of greater service?
God Called was written for Christians just like you

Are you the first to sign up for any seminar that teaches how to find out God’s will for your life?
The pathway to that answer for you is one click away.

God Called is not for the lukewarm - UNLESS you are ready to repent of being lukewarm

God Called is not for the prodigal - UNLESS you are tired of eating with the pigs

God Called is not for pew dusters - UNLESS you are prepared to step outside your comfort zone

Here’s what others are saying:

Even as a Pastor sometimes we can lose focus on what it really is to be a
true disciple of Christ.

I would recommend it to any Pastor or leader of a church
Great Stuff!

Robert Hill
Core Church Los Angeles

Just reading the first few pages, God spoke a quick word to me, setting me free from years of bondage to what people will think of me if I follow Jesus full out. Using Randy's simple steps of faith, this is a must-read for your next step in growing in grace.

Cheryl Colwell   author  The Secrets of Montebellis and The Proof

The Psalmist tells us that deep calls unto deep . . . Take the plunge into
the River of Life with Randy Kirk's newest book, God Called—He Needs Your Decision! and drink deep from the well that never runs dry.  Find keys to intimacy with Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit hidden in plain sight.  Come away refreshed and longing for more of Him.

Michael J. Webb, Bestselling Author of The Master's Quilt

God Called was written specifically for mature Christians who feel they have not really heard the Lord speak to them. These Christians truly want to hear the voice of God calling to them with an offer to serve in a capacity that is outside of their expectations. 

Review these questions which might be holding you back from hearing God’s plan for your life:

Jesus says disciples need to carry their cross and follow Him.  Can you do that?
Jesus said that disciples must hate mother and father (compared to Him)  Is that you?
Jesus said that disciples must obey what he has commanded.  Do you?
Jesus said that disciples must give up everything.  Are you prepared to do so?
Dallas Willard says “very few Christians want to hear what God has to say.  Do you?

Here’s a sample of the impactful words from God Called that have encouraged readers to take their Christianity to the next level:

Our Christian walk is always about how much we trust and believe, and whether we trust God enough to put aside our fear. Each stage of our maturing in Christ depends on our ability to repent of our unbelief, or pride, and our idols, and move to the next stage. This is true from our first profession of faith. It is true when we start each new discipline. It is true when we become aware of the depths of our sin and mindful of our need to be continually repenting. It is true when we become willing to be completely dependent on and open with God—intimate with Him. Then we must repent of our unbelief again if we are to fully surrender to a calling.

Don’t put off your decision to move closer to God and hear His voice. Get your copy of God Called - He Needs Your Decision! today and get started on a journey that will lead to a fully surrendered life. 

Click here to buy on Kindle and see more reviews

Christian Discipline and Hearing the Voice of God - Chapter 5 b

https://www.hissongevangelism.org/ministry/about.php

Wisdom Means Sitting Under Gifted Teachers and Wise Counselors

God Commands Us to Sit Under Wise Teachers and for Some To Be Teachers

Now part of the church experience includes sitting under wise teachers, or having the gift of teaching.  It seems that God didn’t think his Bible was all we would need to work out our Christian lives.  Priests, judges, prophets, teachers, preachers, elders, apostles are just some of the job titles of teachers that God appoints to help us to greater understanding of His Word.  

But, if you’re anything like me, I hated school, even though I loved learning.  Maybe you aren’t like me and you loved school, but learning wasn’t high on your list of fun things to do.  Either way, God has made it abundantly clear that we need teachers.  

This is part of the 5th chapter in a book that has been created here on this blog.  The book will be available on Amazon.com April 26 under the title God Called - He Needs Your Decision!  This will be the Kindle edition.  The print edition will follow approximately May 15, and the audio is slated for availability around June 1.  

Click here to buy on Kindle and see more reviews

The rest of this chapter was available free for almost a year, but has now been removed.  It is my hope that you will truly enjoy the book and that it will bless you.  Some have already reported their thoughts about the book.  Early readers report below. 

You’ve made the decision to trust God, follow Jesus, and be indwelt by the Holy Spirit.

But those are only the first decisions that God allows his followers to make.  The Christian experience is a process of making one decision after another.  We make choices about:

•    loving God and others

•    participating in Christian disciplines

•    seeking God’s direction in our daily lives

•    being on fire or lukewarm

•    desiring to hear God’s specific calling on our life

•    opening our heart to actually hear from God

•    surrendering

Where are you in the decision process? Do you need a jump start? Here’s what others said:

“I started attending church again after reading God Called  JS

“I read the first few chapters of God Called but couldn’t go on.  Too convicting” TB

“After reading half of God Called, I started making big changes.” CC

Even as a Pastor sometimes we can lose focus on what it really is to be a 

true disciple of Christ.

I would recommend it to any Pastor or leader of a church

Great Stuff!

Robert Hill - Administrative Pastor

Core Church Los Angeles

Author Randy Kirk is a layman who makes his living as a marketing consultant.  He has written this book in hopes of motivating serious Christians to be open to hearing God’s call “Whom shall I send. And who will go for us.” Then respond, as Isaiah did, “Here am I.  Send me.”

Click here to buy on Kindle and see more reviews

Christian Discipline and Hearing the Voice of God - Chapter 5 a

Being Part of a Community of Believers - The Church

One of my favorite churches.  Kihei, Maui

Just how smart are you?  How wise?  How learned?  How mature?  How Spiritually Alive?  Be honest.  God says he wants us to be wise.  He wants us to eat meat and not still live on milk.  He calls us to be zealous, not lukewarm.  He provides us with all the tools to achieve “A’s” in all of the above.  But many who say they are Christ followers claim they don’t need the tools he lays out for us.  “We’re doing just fine,” they say.  

This is part of the 5th chapter in a book that has been created here on this blog.  The book will be available on Amazon.com April 26 under the title God Called - He Needs Your Decision!  This will be the Kindle edition.  The print edition will follow approximately May 15, and the audio is slated for availability around June 1. 

Click here to buy on Kindle and see more reviews

The rest of this chapter was available free for almost a year, but has now been removed.  It is my hope that you will truly enjoy the book and that it will bless you.  Some have already reported their thoughts about the book.  Early readers report below. 

You’ve made the decision to trust God, follow Jesus, and be indwelt by the Holy Spirit.

But those are only the first decisions that God allows his followers to make.  The Christian experience is a process of making one decision after another.  We make choices about:

•    loving God and others

•    participating in Christian disciplines

•    seeking God’s direction in our daily lives

•    being on fire or lukewarm

•    desiring to hear God’s specific calling on our life

•    opening our heart to actually hear from God

•    surrendering

Where are you in the decision process? Do you need a jump start? Here’s what others said:

“I started attending church again after reading God Called  JS

“I read the first few chapters of God Called but couldn’t go on.  Too convicting” TB

“After reading half of God Called, I started making big changes.” CC

Even as a Pastor sometimes we can lose focus on what it really is to be a 

true disciple of Christ.

I would recommend it to any Pastor or leader of a church

Great Stuff!

Robert Hill - Administrative Pastor

Core Church Los Angeles

Author Randy Kirk is a layman who makes his living as a marketing consultant.  He has written this book in hopes of motivating serious Christians to be open to hearing God’s call “Whom shall I send. And who will go for us.” Then respond, as Isaiah did, “Here am I.  Send me.

Click here to buy on Kindle and see more reviews

Experiencing the Voice of God - Part 2

 

Model of Jerusalem at the time of Christ

Appendix 2:  Sin Gets in the Way of Finishing a Call from God

If you read part 1, you will not be surprised that it was way more fun to write than this one.  God gave a call.  I was in a perfect position to accept the call.  I tried my best to mess up God's plan, but in the end, the results were so amazing that I couldn't possibly take the credit.  God had to intervene in astounding ways, and He did.

So, there is a premise in the Bible that tells us that if we are faithful in the small things God will give us more things to handle for Him.  Many years after the Sex Kills book, I had a vision, like a day dream, but very much all laid out in detail.  The "vision" came just like before.  It came at a time when I had clearly made myself available to God to use as He pleased.  Not because I am special, but because I was immersed and disciplined, and desiring proactively to be used.

The Vision

This is part of a new book that has been created here on this blog.  The book will be available on Amazon.com April 26 under the title God Called - He Needs Your Decision!  This will be the Kindle edition.  The print edition will follow approximately May 15, and the audio is slated for availability around June 1.  

Click here to buy on Kindle and see more reviews

The rest of this section was available free for almost a year, but has now been removed.  It is my hope that you will truly enjoy the book and that it will bless you.  Some have already reported their thoughts about the book.  Read what others are saying

You’ve made the decision to trust God, follow Jesus, and be indwelt by the Holy Spirit.

But those are only the first decisions that God allows his followers to make.  The Christian experience is a process of making one decision after another.  We make choices about:

•    loving God and others

•    participating in Christian disciplines

•    seeking God’s direction in our daily lives

•    being on fire or lukewarm

•    desiring to hear God’s specific calling on our life

•    opening our heart to actually hear from God

•    surrendering

Where are you in the decision process? Do you need a jump start? Here’s what others said:

“I started attending church again after reading God Called  JS

“I read the first few chapters of God Called but couldn’t go on.  Too convicting” TB

“After reading half of God Called, I started making big changes.” CC

Even as a Pastor sometimes we can lose focus on what it really is to be a 

true disciple of Christ.

I would recommend it to any Pastor or leader of a church

Great Stuff!

Robert Hill - Administrative Pastor

Core Church Los Angeles

Author Randy Kirk is a layman who makes his living as a marketing consultant.  He has written this book in hopes of motivating serious Christians to be open to hearing God’s call “Whom shall I send. And who will go for us.” Then respond, as Isaiah did, “Here am I.  Send me.”

Click here to buy on Kindle and see more reviews

Experiencing the Voice of God- Part 1

Appendix 1.  Successful Following of God's Clear Call on My Life

In 1992, I had enjoyed a period of time when my Christian discipline was at a peak.  I was serving
God as best I knew how and desiring to do more.  I had even dealt with (at some level) the big stumbling block of being proud of my devotion and service compared to others.  Of course, none of that made me "perfect" in my day to day walk.  Not by a long shot.  I believe good discipline should dramatically effect our Holiness when we are that sold out.  But we are still just sinful humans.

In the course of my reading at that time, I was trying to move towards surrender.  The great hymn, "I Surrender All" haunted me every time I sang it.  I knew I didn't surrender all.  This next part is precisely how I remember what took place in 1992.

In my prayer time I told God I was ready to go anywhere, do anything, uproot my family . . . anything that He wanted me to do to serve Him per Isaiah 6:8.  However, when I prayed this (and I meant it), I added at the end:  "Except Haiti!"  And I meant that, too.  I had been in Haiti, known others who had been missionaries to Haiti, and wanted nothing to do with spending even another hour there.

Then one morning I changed the prayer.

This is a section of a new book that has been created here on this blog.  The book will be available on Amazon.com April 26 under the title God Called - He Needs Your Decision!  This will be the Kindle edition.  The print edition will follow approximately May 15, and the audio is slated for availability around June 1. 

Click here to buy on Kindle and see more reviews

The rest of this chapter was available free for almost a year, but has now been removed.  It is my hope that you will truly enjoy the book and that it will bless you.  Some have already reported their thoughts about the book.  

Serious Disciples of Jesus should read God Called - He Needs Your Decision!  because, according to one reviewer:

If a baby were born and failed to thrive, the family would rightly consider it a great tragedy. When a Christian is born and fails to thrive, however, many people don’t notice. God Called—He Needs Your Decision! by Randy Kirk is an invitation to Christians to thrive. It is a spiritual counterattack to the widespread misconception that “being” a Christian is a passive state. Randy invites Christians to “do” Christianity.

Katherine Harms, Editor

Are you ready to ratchet up your devotion to God and Jesus to the next level?
God Called - He Needs Your Decision! is perfect for you

Do you sometimes feel stuck in your walk and desire to be of greater service?
God Called was written for Christians just like you

Are you the first to sign up for any seminar that teaches how to find out God’s will for your life?
The pathway to that answer for you is one click away.
Other early reviews:

Michael J. Webb, Bestselling Author of The Master's Quilt

Randy Kirk, in his latest book, God Called—He Needs Your Decision, shows a great gift for telling his story from with the crowd.  He lets the power of the principles exert the authority.  He walks alongside other disciples and points to the principles. 

The solid structure and content of the book attract and pull the reader toward growth.  Kirk’s personal narratives are like stories shared around the fire.  He and the reader work through all the same problems, and both he and the reader experience the successes and the failures, making each very real to the reader. 

Katherine Harms

Are you hungering for a closer walk with God? Do you realize that you need something more than what you have in your spiritual life? Then God Called by Randy Kirk is the book for you to read.

From the first chapter this book caught my attention. Filled with nuggets of wisdom and the instructions and encouragement to step out in faith for a fuller walk with God, this book carefully points out what it takes to go a little further in your daily life: to become a true disciple of Christ. Easy? Not at all. But for a very real sense of satisfaction in knowing you’re doing what you’re suppose to do at the right time in your life, becoming a disciple of Christ will give you a peace and fulfillment from a choice and decision that you must make. Excuses abound plentifully, no matter what age you are, to prevent one from praying the prayer of discipleship, and yet it all depends on your desire and willingness: are you willing to become humble and forsake all to follow Christ?

Kirk’s scriptures drive home his points and his knowledge in the topic is outstanding. His examples and quotes and expounding pinpoints the problems individuals have, the cost many will have, and the solutions to a life of happiness.

I heartily recommend this book for all serious Christians!

Katherine Harms

Click here to buy on Kindle and see more reviews

Active Listening in Conversation with God

Are You and Active Listener?  What About When You Are Desiring an Answer from God?

I'm going to go way out on a limb here.  I have a brand new theory about listening.  I believe that we can break folks down into various kinds of listening and listeners.  Maybe someone else has done a much better job of this analysis, but I'm going to just put it out there without any research.

1.  You listen, but half of your mind is already deciding what you are going to say
2.  You listen, but you know that you already know what your friend is going to say
3.  You listen half heartedly, because you could care less about what the other person is saying
4.  You listen very carefully, because the subject is important to you
5.  You listen really, really carefully, because you need something from the person
6.  You actively listen because you are intrigued by the conversation and the person
7.  You actively listen because whether or not the information is useful, you love and respect the person, and want to show it by the intensity of your attention
8.  You listen with one ear while you read something on your laptop, work on a project, or catch the TV out of the corner of your eye.
9.  You listen because you are shy, and it is easier to listen than to engage
10.  You listen because you know soon it will be your turn, and you want the same respect

Did I leave anything out?  Let me know in the comments.  

Now, go back through the list and think about your conversations with the Heavenly Father or Jesus or the Holy Spirit.  Whether in prayer, Bible reading, hearing the teaching of pastors or others appointed to preach, or being in the presence of wise counsel, do you have the same 10 possible approaches?

Now available at Amazon. Please tell others

So I'm toying around with this idea of active listening.  If I've asked something of God such as a prayer request, or for wisdom in a matter, or for direction, or for His call on my life, do I ask and just go about my business?

Even if I'm praying His names, or the Lord's Prayer, or the armor, or some Psalms, or repenting, or thanking Him, shouldn't I still be actively listening for His response.

I suspect that you are like me, and that you kind of figure He's going to find a way to get my attention.  That makes a lot of sense.  But I wonder if there would be a bigger blessing in our conversations with loved ones and associates if we were more active in our listening at all times.  And then I wonder the same thing about our quiet times with God.

P.S.  I did a bit of research.  I didn't invent the idea of active listening.  LOL

While you're here, would you mind going over to Amazon.com and buy my new book. I promise you are going to like it and see life change if you read it.  You can read the reviews and see pricing at http://bit.ly/GodCalled

Getting Quiet With God in a Noisy World

How Can We Hear from God if We Never Stop Yacking at Him?

I know that it is easy pickens to try and make negative statements about our current culture and yearn for the good old days.  In fact, I'm about 100% certain that folks have been so yearning since Able yearned for the days of the garden before his folks messed it up.  For the most part, I am cynical of too much judging of today in light of yesterday.  For instance, here are a few surprising things you may not have known:

• The percentage of the average paycheck being spent for gas is about the same today as 50 years ago, but we now drive twice as far on that same amount of expendable income.
• Child abductions are about the same now as in the 1950's.  In fact most crime is about the same as the 1950's
• Lots of people had all kinds of sex outside of marriage in every culture in every century.  (Not saying it isn't worse now.  Not a lot of data from prior centuries.  No Cosmo to take the polls).  But the Bible kind of suggests that our current circumstances are not completely different.
• We are currently living in a time of peace.  Annual deaths as a percent of the population due to war are very low by historical standards.

I could go on, but you get the point.  However, I would love to hear from you if you have any basis for disagreeing with this idea:  We are completely different today in terms of how much time we are having our senses assaulted, particularly our ears.  Sure babies made noise, and kids, and farm animals, but I'm thinking that it wasn't non stop.  When the sun went down, I think it got very quiet in most homes.

This long introduction is just a set up to this:  I believe that it is very hard for most Christians to tune out all that noise and get quiet with God.  Moreover, I think we have been taught to pray at God, not to enter into a conversation with God.

In reading a dozen or more books on prayer, many by authors that I really trust, the advice is to make lists and create methods to remember the way we want to pray.   We need to:

• Keep a prayer list.  Chuck Swindol says that his is so long that he divides up what he is going to pray about by days of the week.  For example we might pray for family on Monday, Christian friends on Tuesday, Missions and Missionaries on Wednesday and so on
• Keep a prayer journal.  Write down our praises and our requests, our intercessions and the answers to our prayers.  Keep notes on our reading and our insights.  
• Pray the Lord's prayer, says Larry Lee in the classic "Could You Not Tarry One Hour."  Others suggest praying God's names, the beatitudes, one Psalm or Proverb per day, or the armor.  

To be clear, there is nothing wrong with any of the above.  I have used virtually every one of these as prayer time methods to keep me focused and on track.  I use some today.  But what kind of friend does all the talking?  Especially if the one doing the talking is praising, giving thanks, asking for help, and requesting counsel?  It would seem that the "conversation" would need to be two way to have any chance of being meaningful.

Many, many times throughout the Bible we are scolded for having our ears closed, and our spiritual eyes as well.  

Isaiah 6:9 
He said, “Go and tell this people:

“‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding;
    be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’
¹⁰ Make the heart of this people calloused;
    make their ears dull
    and close their eyes.^[a]
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
    hear with their ears,
    understand with their hearts,
and turn and be healed.”

If we are going to open our ears and eyes, we are likely going to need to set it as a priority, understand why we need to do so, and then practice.  Not unlike the steps we would take if we do all the talking in a relationship with one of our friends or family currently.

For example, if I tend to take over conversations with a certain friend, I might first come to see it as an issue.  Then I might determine that I want to change the behavior.  I'd need a good reason.  What better reason than that I would like to have a truly intimate relationship where I was much more interested in him and his life than always blabbing about mine?  Then I would need to remind myself before each meeting, possibly have a few tricks to keep me on track, and then try and try again.

Hopefully you have been reading between the lines above and have quite a good list of reasons why you should listen to God more and talk less.  Two really good ones are to establish greater intimacy, and because He says so. 

What about methods.  You undoubtedly know the items at the top of the list for ways to have a more effective prayer time, but just as a reminder:

1. Pray early - First thing when you get up, before you start cranking up the to do lists.
2. Quiet place - What ever happened to prayer closets.  Look for no noise, no distractions, and certainly no smart phones.
3. Same time, same place - Routine helps to establish a habit
4. Set length of time - This lets the family know that you are not available for that amount of time each day

Now let's examine a few things you may not have heard before.  Have an agenda.  You might even establish the agenda the night before in a shorter prayer time with the Lord.  What are you most interested in learning or discussing with your Heavenly Father?  If you don't set the agenda the night before, set it prior to your prayer time in the morning.

Next, work on blocking the noises in your head.  I recommend against the Eastern methods of chanting or humming or swaying.  But rather, try to keep in mind the old saying that you can't truly hear from the other person if you are speaking or thinking about something else.  Possible have a mental image of God.  Not the old man in the shiny white clothes, but an image of pure love. 

Give God time to answer.  We all know people who don't answer right away.  And then some folks ponder for a longer time than we would like, only to tell us they need to think about it some more and get back to us.  There are many possible answers that God may give you that may not seem helpful.  But, of course, they are.  In fact the answer may come back later in the day, and it can come in many formats. 

Some of the ways that you may hear from God include:

• The specific word of God in the Bible is your best source of an answer
• The Holy Spirit's guidance through interpretation of scripture
• Your hearts yearning or an urging inside of your soul to do something that is clearly within God's will
•  Circumstances may arise that open or close doors to certain options
•  Dreams and visions are not an uncommon way for God to speak to us
•  Angels bring messages to us all the time.  Sometimes it is just more obvious than others
•  The wise counsel of others around us helping us to assess all of these 
•  The inspiration of teachers and their prophetic voice regarding scripture
•  The still small voice of God 

Many of the methods that God speaks to us are controversial.  But every one on that list has multiple scriptural examples, and there is no reason to suspect that any of these aren't being used by God today.  But let's take that last one, which for some reason is the most controversial of all. 

For the purposes of this post, I'm going to agree that God is not going to speak to us in the same way that he did to Moses or Paul.  He sure could if He wanted to.  Can I get an Amen?  But I suspect that he will leave such dramatic instances for dramatic purposes.  

Rather, I'm talking about an experience that thousands of folks claim to have had.  The voice is commonly described as maybe audible or maybe not.  The key is that there is much more than a hint or an urging or a feeling.  I have personally experienced this on two occasions.  In both instances, the information or directions to action that were "spoken" were specific, Biblical in all regards, and outside of the scope of anything I would have thought of, expected, or planned to do. 

Without using this space to go into the specifics, I couldn't be more certain of the source of the words spoken to me.  I am as certain of that as I am of my salvation.  There can be no other explanation for either the content of the words or the results that flowed from them.

So, maybe the most important exhortation that I can bring to you is this:  When you open your ears to listen, be prepared to hear.  Have faith that God not only answers prayer, but that he may do so in ways that are supernatural and unexpected.