by Pastor Lawrence Yap, Senior Pastor of Charis Christian Center
There are several ways which include:
- The Bible/Word.
- Guidance through Circumstances.
- The Inner Voice of the Holy Spirit.
- Visions.
- Dreams.
- Prophesy.
- Counsel.
Proverbs 11:14
“Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.”
What is the result of hearing from God?
1 Sam. 3:19-21
The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the Lord. The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word.
Firstly, Hearing from God leads to Growth.
– We will grow spiritually and in understanding the things of God.
Secondly, it will bring Anointing to do spiritual tasks.
Thirdly, it will establish your Ministry.
– The work of your hands will be established.
Fourthly, God’s Presence and His Word will continue to flow with you.
Let me share with you my personal experience of how the Lord used the various ways to speak and how He directed me.
I accepted the Lord in July 1977. In October I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and by 25th December of the same year, I was water baptised.
By 1978 His “Logos or written word” was already stirring my heart to hunger for Him and to love Him. In a special revival meeting, the Lord stirred my heart through a “prophecy” that my life must be surrendered to Him. I find myself crying uncontrollably at the altar and it was without doubt the work of the Holy Spirit.
After finishing my course in college, my first job was in a lawyer’s firm. My heart was not content as I wanted to have more time and liberty to serve the Lord and I joined two of my classmates in a T-shirt business. By then, another church brother persuaded me to start a satay business that I can learn from my own brother – with the purpose that we can earn money to support the ministry as well as the liberty to serve the Lord. It was through these “circumstances” that the Lord was moving me to serve Him more and more.
It was in 1980 that I faced the crossroad of my life – to serve Him full time or to continue in business and to serve Him fervently like how others are doing.
While contemplating on this, the Lord gave me a “Rhema word” one day. I was just reading the book of John and while I was thinking whether it was really necessary for me to go full time, I read
John 6:27 – “Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”
That was it. I did not look for the scripture, but the scripture was looking for me at that moment when I needed the answer.
The “Inner Voice of the Holy Spirit” continued to confirm with me that it is that path that I should follow and I sought for “counsel” from my Pastor and he advised me the steps that I should be taking to embark into the ministry.
God speaks to us as He is our Father who will lead us. We have to be patient and learn to listen to His voice.
About Charis Christian Center
CHARIS CHRISTIAN CENTRE is a dynamic church located at the heart of Cheras district in Taman Billion, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The church is committed to God’s call and believes that the Spirit of the Lord is on us, because He has anointed us to preach good news to the poor.
This is part of a series of devotionals that was specifically initiated since the MCO period by Rev Lawrence Yap, senior pastor of Charis Christian Center in Cheras. You may find out more about the church on their website at https://charis.org.my/
