So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17 NKJV

Too many times when seeking revelation we settle for general impressions of the will of God, rather than specific instructions. General impressions may not have the power to impart faith like specific instructions would. God is able to speak clearly and precisely about any situation. If you wanted to fix your automobile, you would want precise instructions on how to turn the wrench, rather a general impression that ‘I want the car to be fixed.’ Demand of God that He speaks clearly. If you don’t like what He says, and you think you are right, argue with Him.

GETTING CLEAR INSTRUCTION

In hearing from Him, the Lord wants two things from you: your undivided attention and open-ended time.

I used to take our dog with me on prayer walks until I came under the impression that the Lord really didn’t want him there. I tended to give too much attention to him. This is why, generally speaking, it’s much more effective to sit and pray, listen and wait rather than praying while doing other things. You can and should pray while doing other things, but the most effective thing is to listen when you can give Him your undivided attention. When making major decisions, or in crisis, you have no more important thing to do than wait and listen until you have a clear, specific word from the Lord. Decisions made out of panic, or under pressure will almost invariably be outside of faith and the will of God.

In hearing from God the major challenge is to clear your mind from the problem at hand. You pray and release that thing to God, then pray, sing or just wait. Go fishing, watch a funny movie, or take a walk. When your mind is lifted off the oppression of the problem, your heart can bubble up with the answers He puts in your spirit.

Ask specific questions if you want specific answers. Before I go on a trip, I always want to know if He is sending me, or if I am sending myself. You can have the money, the tickets, the visa and the invitation and go without God. Not good! Ask specific questions, and you will sense in your spirit His honest, accurate response.

Open-ended time does not mean you do not keep to a schedule, but rather are flexible enough in your scheduling to allow God time to move. It’s kind of like scheduling a date with your wife. You want that open-ended time with God to be the centerpiece of your schedule like nothing takes precedence over it. The Lord in love will release you to do the things you need to do when you need to do them. You will know!

However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. John 16:13 NKJV

Worry is fear about the future. Ask the Lord specific questions about each of your worries. Do not settle for general impressions, but get specific answers -”Yes!” “No!” “That will occur in two weeks, but here is what you do about it…” “Change THIS…and THAT will not occur.” If ‘I love you, I’m in control’ comes up in your mind, say, “Father, that mush is not good enough, it does not impart real faith. I need a clear word from You!” Then, pray in tongues and wait until it comes…

Clear RHEMA words will impart faith that makes us more than conquerors.

IF YOU THINK YOU ARE RIGHT, ARGUE WITH GOD!

Now, let’s say you get a clear, specific word from God, and it is not what you want to hear. You can meekly accept it, which is fine, or you can fight for what you believe would be the greater result or course of action. Consider this clear word that Moses got from the Lord…

And the Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and indeed it is a stiff-necked people! Now, therefore, let Me alone, that My wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them. And I will make of you a great nation.”

Moses could have meekly accepted that word. The children of Israel would have been wiped out, Moses would have had a kid, and God would have started all over with him. But Moses chose to fight for the children of Israel…and the word from God changed.

Then Moses pleaded with the Lord his God…So the Lord relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people. Exodus 32:9-11, 14 NKJV

Consider what Isaiah told the king…

In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.'” Isaiah 38:1 NKJV

Isaiah had a great ‘bedside manner,’ didn’t he? ( Don’t expect a prophet to be a pastor…they are different creatures ). Hezekiah could have meekly said, “Let me prepare for my funeral!” But Hezekiah decided to fight! Fighting with God can be fighting for God, for His perfect will. You know the rest of the story…

Now, let’s examine what happened here. There are other examples in the Word that we could have looked at: Jonah at Nineveh, Abraham fighting for Sodom and Gomorrah, a man to stand for the land in Ezekiel. Can you change God’s mind?

For I am the Lord, I do not change…Malachi 3:6 NKJV

The Lord is all powerful, and all knowing, past, present, and future, down to the minutest detail. The Lord is asymmetrical, but time, history and man are linear. The Lord deals with man on the level of his faith in a linear manner, A to B to C. Do you understand?

When Isaiah prophesied to Hezekiah that he, Hezekiah, would die, that indicated the level of Hezekiah’s faith, which is what the Lord was bound to operate by, because the Lord deals with man on the level of his, or their collective, faith. But when Hezekiah fought back, just as when Moses pleaded with the Lord, their faith rose up, and God was able to do what He really wanted to do.

Most people don’t understand that God has different wills, or different levels of His will: His primary, His secondary, and so on. He holds to His primary will, which will ultimately be fulfilled. But He reaches down with His will to reach where man will meet Him, with a view of ultimately bringing man up to His primary will.

The Lord wanted to be King of Israel, but the people wanted a man to rule over the nation. So, God ultimately gave them the house of David, His secondary will, and through the House of David, came Messiah, so that the Lord would finally become the King of Israel, His primary will. The Lord never originally intended to be a man, but came as a man, so that He might bring man back to His ultimate purpose and will for man. Do you see?

When you sense that God has spoken something that is not His primary will, you can intercede and argue FOR His primary will, which may just be what it takes for your faith to arise to receive His primary will. Psychologists know that if you get someone to argue FOR something, they will embrace it with their hearts ( this is why you never argue with someone you want to influence ). The Lord is the ultimate Psychologist…He knows that if He can get us to argue, intercede, for His perfect will, our faith will arise because we embrace it.

Argue with God, dear one. Demand specific answers. Fight for the perfect will of God. Don’t meekly accept something less. Your destiny and your fruit are tied to your willingness, and determination to have the perfect will of God for yourself, your family and the nations. Demand more of God!

Remember dear ones, we must be about our Father’s business…