Hearing God’s Voice for Direction as a family

Messages for October 2018: Our Month of Divine Lights

Message for Sunday 21^st October, 2018

Theme: Hearing and Following the Voice of God

Topic: Family Life - Hearing God’s Voice for Direction
Author: Adetola Onadipe

Introduction:  Last week you were taught the different ways God speaks to His people. Today we will look at how we can take advantage of hearing God’s voice for direction as a family.

In an ideal family set up, the husband being the head of the family, should be the one to receive direction from the Lord about his family (Eph.5:23).   Considering the realities of life, it does not always go that way.  We do have single parent families and we also have individual member of the family set up at different levels of growth in their Christian faith.  Therefore every family member can hear the voice of God that will benefit the individual and the whole family.

Quiet Time/Devotion: This is a time that a believer sets aside to meet with God. It could be a specific time of the day (am or pm) or a particular day of the month. It is a time for us to draw near to God with no distractions, Jas.4:8.  By this we gain more knowledge about God and His Word.  The ultimate purpose is for us to know Him as we develop an intimate relationship with God.  This should be done consistently to have the desired impact, just like Jesus frequently set time apart to commune with His Father. Mat.26:36; Mark 1:35 and Luke 5:16.

What to do during Quiet Time/Devotion: Read the Bible/Devotional; Talk to God (Pray) - the prayer can be in all or any of the different types – praise, confession, thanksgiving, petition and intercession; Keep silence and ask God to speak (listening prayer); We write down what God lays in your heart.

It can be done individually and/or collectively as a family.  If it is done as a family it is usually called devotion.

Family devotions – a set time for parents and children to sit down, read the Bible and pray together. It is designed to build up each individual and establish a sense of unity and direction within families.  When parents establish a consistent personal quiet time, having family devotion becomes easy. Since parents are the mirror with which the children view life, our children tend to copy what they see and actively pursue a relationship with God.

Time Out:  We can go a step further by taking time out specifically to be alone with God for a day or two. See Luke 5:16; 6:12.  It will give you the opportunity to seek God with all your heart and get the direction in all your endeavours.

Benefits of Quiet Time/Devotion/Time Out

1.   It gives us the opportunity to cut off the ‘noise’ in our lives.

2.   It gives us time to read the Bible, meditate on it and spend time with God in prayer.

3.   Quieten yourself in God’s presence, listen and be willing to obey His instructions. When God speaks, He never goes against His written word in the Bible.  

4.   He can always give directions to the family members individually or collectively.

5.   It brings families together and brings peace and harmony.

6.   In times of difficulty, each family member will know that they can look up to the Lord for direction/guidance through what He will tell them.

It is important to spend time with God in daily devotions, why?  Apostle Paul says in 2 Cor 4:6 “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”  The experience of having God’s light shine in our hearts comes when we consistently spend time in His presence (every day)

We shall draw the curtains here today for want of time. If you are yet to start hearing the voice of God because you are yet to make a commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ, this is your opportunity. You can start doing so right away by saying the following prayer out loud in faith and you will be born again and have access into God’s family. You can start hearing the father from today because your access is the repentance through the New Birth offered by God to us in the Lord Jesus Christ. You can say the following prayer out loud in faith and gain that access at once:

Heavenly Father,

Have mercy on me a sinner. Today, I believe that Jesus died for me and you raised Him from the dead for my Justification. I therefore declare that Jesus Christ is my Saviour and Lord and from today, I renounce the fatherhood of Satan and embrace Jesus Christ as my Saviour and Lord. Thank you for this father in Jesus’ name! Amen.

Congratulations! For more information and resources that would help you grow in this new life, please visit our website at www.kingdomheirsministries.org and our blogs at www.flourishinggirl.blogspot.com and follow us on twitter at alero_nanna and on face book on www.facebook.com/flourishinggirl www.facebook.com/khmii2015; www.facebook.com/thewellbeingcenter. Or www.facebook.com/kingdomjointheirsfamily email:  jointheirsfamily@gmail.com.

NOTE:

Mr. and Mrs. Onadipe have been successfully married for more than 31 years and I have had the privilege of obeserving them closely over a period of 25 years because they are my friends and I believe that they are the best people to do this family weekend ministry for us. They are also in the Board of Trustees of Kingdom Heirs Int'l Ministry in Nigeria. 

Thank you my friends - Flourish A. Nanna.