Listen and Respond to Christ’s Voice

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me (John 10:27 NIV).


As a child growing-up on the farm, Dad expected me to run in response to his commands. If he asked for a 11/16" deep socket, I ran to find the 11/16" deep socket, then ran to deliver the socket to him. He expected the same response in getting a shovel, a tractor, the pick-up or something in the house. When my father spoke, he expected an immediate, urgent response in my running to fulfill his command. I obeyed because I knew my father's voice, and I strongly desired to please him. Oftentimes, Dad did not have time to explain why he needed me to run for whatever he needed. I was expected to run in response despite whether I understood the purpose of the command.


Naturally, our loving desire to please our heavenly Father, responding to Christ's voice spoken in our hearts by the indwelling Holy Spirit should generate at least an equal response to our dad's voice.

True obedience responds immediately.

~ Dr. Stan Toussaint, Dallas Theological Seminary

Other times have failed to immediately respond to Christ's voice, because my selfish pride prevented my recognizing, my knowing Christ's voice. In the spring and early summer of 2009, I had "hunches" to visit a neighbor across the yard. My sinful, inward focused pride prevented me from visiting this neighbor who lived by himself. I justified that I was too busy; another time will work better for both of us.


Additionally, my sinful pride rhetorically asked, "What will this guy whom I never met think? What will the other neighbors think of me visiting this raggedy dressed man.'


I am embarrassed to write about my terrible sins, I now am unable to understand what causes such as awful thoughts, and more importantly what caused my obedience to these sinful, prideful thoughts. During Saturday morning Bible study in mid-July, one of the men told of my neighbor whom I was too busy and prideful to visit, committed suicide due to loneliness. The indwelling Holy Spirit requested that I visit this man. I ignored the Holy Spirit, I failed to listen to Christ's voice. I failed to follow Christ to that man's home.


Consequently, I now strive to immediately respond to Christ's voice, even if I risk embarrassment. I would rather be embarrassed in immediately responding to the voice of Holy Spirit, than risk failing to respond. This includes calling someone immediately before entering a meeting because I hear in my heart and mind the Holy Spirit's voice instructing me to leave a message of healing and encouragement. A few minutes later the person sent a text message thanking me for the message. This text message validates that I did appropriately listen to and respond to Christ's voice.


Other times, I send messages of thoughts, encouragement, hopes and prayers via text, e-mail, facebook or a spoken word to those whom the Lord places on my heart. Sometimes it seems rather awkward, yet I know that as long as I seek to serve and please God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit He will guide my messages in hearts of the receptors.


This morning at church a couple and their young son whom I had never met, sat by me. Near the end of the service, I heard the Lord instruct me through my heart to tell the mother how I could easily see and sense her and her husband's authentic Christian love for their son. Despite the awkwardness, I immediately responded to Christ's voice. The mother thanked me profusely. She repeated her gratitude as we departed the sanctuary. I further stated that their love for their son is indicative of her and her husband's love for each other. Her eyes once again softly leaked with compassion and gratitude as she assured me of their authentic Christian love for one another.


The reason for Christ using me to express this message to this mother remains unknown to me. Yet, just as I Dad didn't always explain why he needed me to run for something for him, neither does God need to explain each of His commands to me.


The above stories have little to do with Rick E. Meyer, rather everything to do with how you will listen to Christ's voice, immediately respond to Christ's voice as you follow Him.


To listen to Christ's voice, assumes we know Christ's voice spoken non-audibly in our heart and mind by the indwelling Holy Spirit. Do you listen and respond to the Holy Spirit? Listening and knowing mandate immediate response. Delays in belief cause delays in belief, we respond according to our belief.


To know Christ's voice, pray—this includes listening, read scripture, associate with mature Christians and journal to aid your calibration of His voice.


How has God used you to touch lives, even when it seems awkward?


Are you prepared and willing to immediately respond to Christ voice in serving His people in whatever method He commands? Trust Him! Seek to honestly say, "Lord, you know that I try to hear, listen and respond to appropriately to your voice. Cause me to glorify you even when I inadvertently mess up in understanding your message and / or how to respond to your message. Lord, thank you for using me, and helping me perpetually improve in listening and responding to Christ's voice spoken to me from the indwelling Holy Spirit."


Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.
(Psalm 37:4-5). Listening and responding to the Christ who sent the indwelling Holy Spirit to believers—delighting in the Lord—results in you and I requesting God to infuse His desires into your heart and my heart.


See Christ, Believe Christ, Achieve with Christ!
Rick E. Meyer
See, Believe, Achieve Inc.
www.rickEmeyer.com