Can you hear me now?

Inspiration

By Pastor Doug Bankson

Recently while I was praying for some people, this thought came into my heart:

"You won't hear a direction word until you obey the correction word."

Spring is in the air, and many people are seeking God for a new direction in their lives, a fresh "word from the Lord," but God can't give you a word of direction when you aren't willing to obey His written word.

2Tim. 3:16 tells us, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: "

We must be doers of the word of God if we are to be led by the Spirit of God. The Word corrects the conscience and confirms the Spirit, so when we are living in disobedience to the Word, it confuses our ability to hear from God. It darkens and damages our conscience until we can't have faith even when He does speak to us.

And I'm not just talking about the parts of the Word you like. Just like working out your body, the exercises you tend to avoid are usually the ones that you need the most cause that's where you're weakest and that causes the most discomfort. Even those who make it to the gym still tend to work out the areas they have already developed while procrastinating or skipping the parts that need the most attention. So it is with the Word.

God speaks to us first through His Word, and if we become hardened to it, God will also speak through your pastor who is called to correct and instruct in righteousness (make sure you have a godly pastor and not just a poser!) True pastors will obey 2Tim. 4:2 which commands them to, "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." To reprove is to correct, and it must be done in patience and with sound doctrine, which again is the rightly divided Word of God.

So ask the Holy Spirit to help you, and to show you where you have been disobedient to the Word, and then repent and ask forgiveness. Here's the great part - HE WILL! Your conscience gets a reset, and you'll be free from condemnation and confusion. Now start to obey the written Word, and you will begin to hear Him leading you again.

His Word is His will for you, so listen to His corrective will, and you will hear His directive will!

Doug Bankson is the lead pastor at Victory Church World Outreach Center and an Apopka City Commissioner.