1. Listening
to God
Reasons for Delay in Answers
Part III

2. Discerning Gods Voice
Is it in line with what the Bible
actually states?
Does it match the overall teaching
of Gods’ Word on that subject?
Is it in harmony with the character
of God and the ways of God from
the Word of God?

3. Discerning Gods Voice
God will never tell us to do
something that:
- Is in any way unholy or harmful to
another
- Is unloving
- Would lessen our love toward our
husband/wife or family member
- Hinders our witness for Christ

4. Discerning Gods Voice
- Lessens our burden for lost souls
- Segregates us from the rest of the
body of Christ by our choices
- Would bring dishonour to Gods
name
- Would give a distorted view of
Gods character (although many
times in the Bible God told his
servants to do unusual things)

5. Reasons for Delay in Answers
1.Asking the wrong question
2.We have been
consciously/unconsciously been
dictating to God the method
which we want Him to speak to
us
3.Sometimes God is silent
4.God wants us to wait on Him
5.God is testing us
6.The next move is Gods

6. 1. Asking the Wrong Question
Our question can be:
-unwise
-Wrong intentions
-Good but not asked in proper
order or timing
-Related to other peoples lives
-It’s not our place of
responsibilty

7. 1.Asking the Wrong Question
Peter turned around and saw behind
them the disciple Jesus loved—the one
who had leaned over to Jesus during
supper and asked, “Lord, who will
betray you?” 21
Peter asked Jesus,
“What about him, Lord?”
Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain
alive until I return, what is that to you?
As for you, follow me.” John 21:20-
22

8. 2. Consciously/Unconsciously
dictating to God the method we
want him to speak to us

9. Gods unexpected answer to
ElijahThen He said, “Go out, and stand on the
mountain before the LORD.” And behold,
the LORD passed by, and a great and strong
wind tore into the mountains and broke the
rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the
LORD was not in the wind; and after the
wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not
in the earthquake; and after the earthquake
a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire;
and after the fire a still small voice.
1 Kings 19:11-
13

10. 3. God is Silent
It is the glory of God to conceal a
matter;
to search out a matter is the
glory of kings.

11. 4. God wants us to Wait on Him
- Jeremiah 10 days
- Daniel 21 days
- Abraham 10 years
- Moses 6 days then 40
years

12. Waiting on God
God will never
substitute good old
fashioned seeking God
in silence and solitude
no matter how fast
technology goes.

13. Wait on God
Be still before the
LORD and wait
patiently for him; do
not fret when people
succeed in their ways,
when they carry out
their wicked schemes.
Psalm 37:7

14. 5. God is Testing us
A delay can be because
God is testing us to see
if we diligent seekers or
casual inquirers

15. When God is testing us
Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible
to please Him, for he who comes
to God must believe that He is,
and that He is a rewarder of those
who diligently seek Him.

16. Singleness of Purpose & Intensity
Then you will call on me
and come and pray to me,
and I will listen to you.
You will seek me and find
me when you seek me with
all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:12-
13

17. - Abraham & Isaac
- Joseph
“...Joseph, who was sold as a
slave. His feet were hurt with
fetters; his neck was put in a
collar of iron; until what he had
said came to pass, the word of the
LORD tested him. Psalm 105:18-
19
Testing Trust & Obedience

18. Commit your way to the
Lord
Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him, and he will act.
Hebrew word for “Commit”
means to “throw”.
6. When the next move is Gods
Psalm 35:5