Listen to God

Front matter
Connections List
 * HS
 * Prayer
 * Man affect God decisions
 * Ask for whatever
 * Obedience
 * Calling/Vocation
 * Lists of Good/Bad actions/attributes in Bible
 * Gods will, mind
 * Epistemology
 * Truth source, ethos
 * Cast lots

Scope
 * Methods of hearing Gods specific will
 * Includes theo for authority/credibility source
 * How much we can know of Gods will

Topics
 * Theo mech
 * Principles
 * Attitude
 * Methods
 * Examples
 * References, verses

Theo mech and principles

 * God reveals himself...
 * Amos 3:7 "[God] does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets" - this is in the context of choosing Israel. So I would say that the covenant of his current dispensation should always be known.
 * Isaiah 65:24 (in new Jerusalem setting) "Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear."
 * If you hear nothing, either 1) finish the previous command or 2) repent of sin
 * God frequently speaks to multiple people at once
 * Scripture > feels from HS. Test any thoughts that you have.
 * Scripture > church authority (cf reformation)
 * Give HS maximal flexibility, still inside black and white scripture or outer boundary of grey area.
 * No papal infallibility
 * Why does God not speak regularly to us? Even in bible does not seem to be normal/frequent. All prayers seem one way (except Job, eli, moses shiny...). Except prophets maybe.
 * Sometimes we get it wrong Acts 16:6 and it's ok.

Practical
Attitudes In favor of less information:
 * Soft heart
 * Good to be fuzzy like music influence?? Creative drugs
 * Something I learned (I think), take only what God gives. Do not search on your own much or extend/interpret his will. John 5:19. Also, servants wait for the masters instructions. God controls your 'diet'. Depend on God.
 * Being focused on listening to his voice too much may distract you from obeying it. Follow the path closing eyes. It is more certain to walk the edge and know the path but slower.
 * Useful to follow God with less information. It creates more of an intuition like a neural network like a mind which is what God is. Clear rules are useful but God is a mind.

Methods
 * Bible
 * Direct (we or God initiates)
 * listening prayer, prophets inquire
 * cast lots, ephod
 * literal voice: samuel&levi
 * dreams, visions, Acts 10:3 "clearly in a vision"
 * Signs: gideon
 * People - discipleship systems might be applicable
 * Circumstances - 1 Cor 16:9
 * Skills - HS gifts maybe Rom 12
 * Desires
 * Needs
 * others?

Data
Examples
 * Me with 4 images from Esther for missionary KT
 * Green ice cream and other stories
 * Acts 10:3 clear vision - indicates real interruption of physical eye stim
 * Samuel - he thinks it is Eli, indicates real sound to him
 * Lots: Urim and Thummin general, Jonah, choosing Judas replacement
 * 1 Sam 28:6 dreams, Urim, and prophets

References
 * Book "Is that really you God?"
 * VERSES
 * Hebrews 3:8, 4:7 if you hear his voice do not harden your hearts
 * 1 Samuel 3 samuel hears God's voice and thinks it's a person, Eli
 * Many examples of prophets hearing Gods voice in a nondescript way
 * 2 Peter 1:21 carried along by the holy spirit
 * Romans 8:26 spirit intercedes for us with wordless groans
 * 1 Cor 2:11 who knows thoughts of God except the spirit?
 * Jonah, Acts 1:26 casting lots
 * Leviticus 16:8 lots as part of ceremonial process
 * Joshua 18:6 lots for allocation of promised land
 * Judges 20:9 who fights first by lots
 * Quite a few more OT examples
 * Romans 12 living sacrifice, renew mind, know his will
 * Exodus 18:15 Ppl seek God's will go to Moses's judgements
 * James 4:15 say "if it is God's will", probably about long term trust
 * Jeremiah 7:13 "I spoke to you again and again.." referring to the prophets