I heard Bill Hybel's talk on this at a Leadership Summit years ago then did the video series-but here is a 5 minute read that gives you the essence of it. A practical teaser for the book "The Power of a whisper"-if you want to study it let me know. I'll likely pitch it to our Sunday School class next...
5 Filters for Testing Your Whispers by Bill Hybels
HEARING GOD
How we know we are hearing God
Bill Hybels says, “Over the years I have compiled a short
list of five filters that help me ‘test every whisper’ I receive. If a whisper
fails to make it through one of these five, I question whether the whisper is
really from God. At the very least, I move slowly to confirm the whisper’s
validity. At other times, a whisper makes it through these filters with no
problem. In this case, no matter how confusing, challenging or unsettling a
prompting may be, I attempt to obey it.”
Filter #1: Is the Prompting Truly from God?
The first filter is to simply ask God, “Is this message truly from you?” Does it align with the character of God as revealed in Scripture?
Hybels continues, “Whenever you receive a prompting—whether
from God directly, or through the lips of another—be sure to test it. Take
whatever time is necessary to ask, “God, is this message from you? Does this
square with who I know you to be? Is it consistent with your character? Is it
aligned with your attributes? Is this you trying to convey something to me, or
are there other voices getting into my head?” Before taking a single step to
obey the whisper you’ve received, be sure you get the all-clear that the voice
you have heard could be from God.”
Filter #2: Is It Scriptural?
[Next, run the prompting through the Scripture filter. Several times a year someone will tell me that the reason their life is in shambles is because God “told” them to do something absurd. “God told me to cheat on my wife.” “God told me to drop out of school with one semester left.” “God told me to quit my job, even though I have four kids to support and no other source of income.”
I can’t tell you how many jobs have been lost, educations have been foregone, marriages have been destroyed, bank accounts have been blown, all because someone felt sanctioned by God to take a particular action. Scripture is replete with examples of how God would behave in any given life situation, and the Example’s name is Jesus Christ. Whenever I sense a prompting from God, I ask myself if I could imagine Jesus taking whatever action I am considering taking. If I can’t envision Jesus following suit, I fear my wires somehow must have gotten crossed.] Bill Hybels
“Check every prompting you receive against the thematic
teachings of Scripture. Messages that contradict Scripture are not from God.”
Filter #3: Is It Wise?
[A third filter I use in determining the veracity of various
whispers is the general-wisdom test. Jesus was fond of telling his followers to
be wise at all times. “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of
wolves,” he says in Matthew 10:16. “Be ye therefore wise as serpents, and
harmless as doves.” The entire book of Proverbs is devoted to dissecting wisdom
and all her attributes.]
Filter #4: Is It in Tune with Your Own Character?
Okay, on to filter number four. One of my favorite filters
for verifying divine direction is what I call the wiring test. Are you wired for this? Is the a long term passion for this whisper you heard-or more to the point have heard again? Have you had any training to prepare you for this? Have you had any experience in this?
I can get really excited about something in the moment but then I hear Bill's words in my head from page 105 "maybe God just wants you to reflect on that wonderful experience with out upending your entire world..."
Check your wiring by asking those simple questions.
Filter #5 – What Do The People You Most Trust Think About
It?
Summary by Dr. Kenneth Acha and yours truly
Here's where I found this:
https://www.kinglove.org/5-filters-for-testing-your-whispers-by-bill-hybels/
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