D03 I Listen to Living Jesus
List of the Online Lessons: A B C D E F G H
D03 I Listen to Living Jesus
The Lord Jesus assures His disciples that His departure will be better for them (John 16:7) than if He stayed physically with them. „The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of everything I have said to you.“ (John 14:26) „The Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth; He will speak what He hears; He will also tell you what is to come.“ (John 16:13) And many other sayings… Just before He ascends from them into heaven, Jesus says, „I am with you always, even to the end of the age.“ (Matthew 28:20)
The Lord Jesus is not just some omnipresent and omniscient „fluidum.“ He is active! He shows us the way, speaks to us, and empowers us. He acts even on the unbelieving people we meet. He enters their lives, addresses them and influences them, even if they cannot name it. (Lesson B01)
The truth of God’s Word is extremely important foundation that we need to guard at all costs! But if we forget living Jesus and our daily personal connection with Him, then we are left with an intellectual „faith“ that has little impact on real life…
Even Moses was in the Old Testament is extremely concerned about presence of the Lord: the Lord says to Moses, „I Myself will go with you and give you rest.“ Moses tells him: „If Your presence should not be with us, then do not take us away from here! By what else would it be known that I and your people have found your grace, if not by the fact that you will go with us; by this we will be distinguished, I and your people, from every people on the face of the earth.“ (Exodus 33:14-16) Moses makes it a requirement that the Lord’s presence be a distinguishing sign for them in comparison to any other nation!
Even the immediate followers of Jesus were recognized that they „used to be with Jesus.“ (Acts 4:13) It could be seen in their transformed lives, and also in their boldness and skill in sharing Jesus, and in their knowledge of God’s Word.
Nowadays people are not interested in our „correct doctrine“. In the first place, they carefully observe our reactions, our behavior in various situations, our way of thinking, our relationships… When they catch the hard-to-name signs of the presence of living Jesus in these areas, then they ask directly about the deeper things! „Pavel, where do you get that strength?“ one lady asked me. „Call Joseph, he’ll pray and the machine will start running,“ colleagues in the factory used to say quite seriously about a brother who was known for his practical contact with Jesus.
Jesus is present here and now as you watch this video. Jesus is present in every conversation you have with a person who does not know Him, yet. Listen to the Lord during the conversation. He is leading you! Sometimes I ask Jesus very practically whom to sit with and how to approach Him. Other times, with prayer, I let it go. But when I sense an inner „urge,“ I go for it.
Different Christians listen to the living Lord in different ways. For some, a certain biblical text comes to mind. For some, a clear thought appears in prayer; either in response to questions asked in the prayer, or when we experience the nearness of the Lord over a longer period of time, there may be stimuli beyond our questions or needs. For many Christians, God’s answer comes in conversation with other Christians. It may be a little different for everyone. However, God’s voice will never go against the written Word of God! So, diligent study is very important here! The ideal is to learn God’s Word by heart – Then the Holy Spirit has something to remind to us…
To this lesson, I attach a series of Bible passages that reflect variety of situations when God spoke to biblical characters at different times.
1) Take a moment of silence and solitude now and read each paragraph slowly, prayerfully, repeatedly. Watch how Jesus or God addresses His people. Possibly add other references that are precious to you. Remember that the essence of listening to living Jesus is our holistic devotion to Him, our focus on Him and His Word (not just when we need something or when we don’t know what to do).
2) With a partner, share which texts are most valuable to you and how you can apply them specifically.
Lord Jesus, please open our hearts to perceive Your specific outreach as any of us need it right now.
Bible references on the topic of listening to the living Jesus
The Lord Jesus was continually preparing His disciples that He would not be physically present. At the same time, He assured them that He would remain with them until the end of the age (Matthew 28:18-20)
Matthew 16:21 From that time on, Jesus began to show His disciples that He must… suffer many things… be killed and be raised on the third day.
John 14:18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
John 14:26 The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
John 16:13 The Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth, speaking what He hears; He will also make known to you what is to come.
John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice.
Matthew 28:20 I AM with you ALL THE DAYS until the end of the age.
Take a moment to silently read the following Bible quotes. Observe how Jesus or God the Father desires to speak to us in a timely and understandable way. Mark passages that touch you in a special way, that give you hope, that you wish to experience… Add other references that are precious to you. Remember, the essence of listening to Jesus lies in holistic devotion to Him, in focusing on Him and on His Word.
Then share with your partner, which of these texts are most valuable to you and how you can apply them specifically. The numbers of each quote will help you in your sharing.
(1) Genesis 3:8 (Adam and Eve) …heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the breeze of the day…
(2) Hebrews 1:1 Many times and in many ways God spoke to the fathers by the mouth of the prophets; 2 in this last time he has spoken to us in his Son… 3 He, the reflection of God’s glory and the expression of God’s essence, bears all things by his powerful word…
(3) 2. Moses 33:14 (The Lord answered to Moses), „I myself will go with you and give you rest.“ 15 Moses told him: „If your presence should not be with us, then do not take us away from here! 16 By what other means will it be known that I and your people have found favor with you, if not by the fact that you will go with us; by this we will be distinguished, I and your people, from every people on the face of the earth.“
(4) Jeremiah 33:3 Call unto me, and I will answer you. I want to tell you great and unapproachable things that you do not know.“
(5) Psalm 27:8 My heart repeats your call: „Seek my face.“ Lord, I seek your face.
(6) John 14:26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
(7) Psalm 143:5 I recall the days of old, I meditate on all your works, I consider the deeds of your hands; 6 I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. 7 Make haste, answer me, O LORD… 8 Proclaim your mercy to me in the morning, for I trust in you. 10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your good spirit guide me on leveled ground!
(8) Psalm 16:11 You make known to me the path of life; the height of joy is to be with you; at your right hand is infinite bliss.
(9) Psalm 63:7 I remember you in my bed, I meditate on you in the watches of the night, 8 That you have been my help, in the shadow of your wings I rejoice. 9 My soul leans to you; your right hand holds me fast.
(10) Proverbs 30:5 All God’s speech is sober; he is the shield of those who flee to him. 6 Add nothing to his words, or he will punish you and you will be found a liar.
(11) 1 Samuel 3:1 The young man Samuel performed the service of the Lord under the supervision of Eli. In those days, the word of the LORD was rare; prophetic vision was not common. 4 The LORD called Samuel. He answered, „Here I am.“…10 And the LORD came and stood and called as before, „Samuel, Samuel!“ Samuel answered, „Speak, your servant hears.“ 11 The LORD said to Samuel: „Behold, I will do something in Israel that will sound in both ears of everyone who hears about it.“
(12) Psalm 73:23 I will be with you always; you have taken me by the right hand, 24 you will guide me according to your purpose, and then you will receive me into glory. 25 Whom shall I have in heaven? 2 But it is well with me in the presence of God; in the Lord GOD I have my refuge: therefore I will speak about all your works.
(13) Deuteronomy 30:14 For the word is very near to you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may keep it.
(14) Psalm 119:97 How I have loved your law! I meditate on it every day. 98 Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies; they are mine forever. 102 I do not depart from your judgments, for you show me the way. 103 How delicious is what you say! It is sweeter than honey to my mouth. 104 From your statutes I have gained understanding; therefore I hate every path of deceit. 105 A light for my feet is your word; it illumines my path.
(15) John 14:21 „He who has my commandments, and keeps them, loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father; and I will love him and will reveal myself to him.“ 23 Jesus answered him, „He who loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him; we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.
(16) 1 John 2:5 Whoever keeps his word, in him the love of God has truly reached its goal. 6 He who says he abides in him must live as he lived. 24 Therefore let it abide in you, which you have heard from the beginning. If what you have heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.
(17) Hebrews 5:12 In the meantime you should be teachers yourselves, but in the meantime you need someone to teach you the alphabet of God’s speech again; you need milk, not thick food. 13 Anyone who needs milk because he has not been accustomed to the word of righteousness is like a baby. 14 Thick meat is for the mature ones, for those who have cultivated their senses by training, so that they know right from wrong.
(18) 1 Peter 3:15 Always be ready to give an answer to anyone who questions about the hope you have.
(19) Acts 15:28 For so the Holy Spirit has decided, and so have we
(20) Matthew 18:20 (Jesus:) Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
(21) Matthew 28:20 (Jesus:) Behold, I am with you always, even till the end of the age.
(22) Hebrews 2:1 Therefore the more we must hold all we have heard, lest we would be swept away by the flow.
(23) Revelation 3:3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard my word, and keep it, and repent. If you will not watch, I will come as a thief, and you shall not know what hour I will come upon you.
(24) 2. 1 Peter 1:12 Therefore I am going to keep reminding you of these things, even though you know them and are established in the truth you have received. 13 But I consider it right to awaken you by exhortation, as long as I dwell in this body;
(25) Deuteronomy 8:2 Remind yourself of all the ways in which the LORD your God has led you… 3 So He has made you know that man does not live by bread alone, but by everything that comes from the mouth of the LORD. 5 Therefore acknowledge in your heart that the LORD your God has brought you up, as a man brings up his son. 6 Therefore you shall heed the commandments of the LORD your God, to walk in his ways and to fear him.
(26) Psalm 106:12 And though they believed his words, and sang his praises, 13 they quickly forgot his works, and did not wait for his counsel;
(27) Revelation 2:5 Remember from where you have fallen; return, and act as you did before. If not, I will come upon you and move your candlestick from its place if you do not repent.
(28) Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
YOUR OWN ADDITIONAL REFERENCES
Remember that the foundation for our listening to living Jesus must always remain the written Word of God – the Bible! That is why we are encouraged to read the Bible diligently every day and memorize important passages.