The Voice of the Holy Spirit

1. 1. “My sheep hear my voice”

“I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.”… My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. (^NIVJn. 10:1-5, 27)

1. 1. The Spirit of truth

When the Spirit of truth  comes, He will guide you into all the truth.  For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak whatever He hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, because He will take from what is Mine and declare it to you. Everything the Father has is Mine.  This is why I told you that He takes from what is Mine and will declare it to you (^HCSBJn. 16:13-15)

• “There is so much more that I want to say to ᵖyou, but it would be too much for you now. Yet when the one I’ve been talking about comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you in all the truth. He will not speak on his own authority, you see, but will speak only what he hears, and will make known to you the things, yes, that are to come. He will show you my glory by receiving and making known to ᵖyou what I myself want to tell you. In my possession and care are all who belong to the Father. That is the reason why I said, ‘he will receive and make known to ᵖyou what I myself want to tell you.’ (^BHTJn. 16:12-15)

1. 1. Dreams and visions in the last days

“ ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people (“on people of every kind” [BHT]; lit “all flesh”]. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.  (^NIVAc. 2:17)

1. 1. Responsibility and discernment needed
      1. Dream/vision, interpretation, application (the latter two are where I’ve seen the most problems)

Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil. (^NIV1 Th. 5:19-22)

1. 1. 1. Of course, never on same level as Scripture; the order of presentation in this series is intentional
      2. There has been a lot of talk about Pastor Dana Coverstone’s dreams. We simply need to apply the same standard to what he has shared as we would to any others (which, I’m assuming, is what he would wish).

1. 1. Testimony of a child (sent by a friend)

Testimony given to me by a friend: “The dream happened in early 2007. A four year old girl (who was the daughter of a prominent youth pastor) had a dream where Jesus appeared to her and said that she was going to be a prophetic voice in the future and that when she needed to say something, He was going to always give her the words to use. He then said that she also never needed to fear for her life because He was coming back soon and was going to meet her in the sky. She was never going to experience death because she would meet him in the clouds. Her parents are pastors at a church that does not emphasize end times or Jesus coming back. This was language that only could have come from Jesus. Her parents were ‘rocked’ by this because they did not think this was true themselves (that Jesus was coming back anytime soon) until their little girl told them.”

1. 1. Stephen’s dream
   2. Becca’s dream
   3. Asaph’s dream
   4. Emily’s dream
   5. Personal
      1. Persecution coming, build an ark (2009)
      2. House shattering dream
      3. Dream: resurrection and wrath

1. 1. The consequences of insobriety and lack of prayer and watchfulness

Then Jesus told them a parable: “Pay close attention to the fig tree and all the other trees. As soon as they start putting out leaves, ᵖyou recognize from your own observation (lit. seeing from yourselves you know, or seeing, you know from yourselves; cf Lk. 12:57) that summer is already very near (“near” being emphasized). In the same way, ᵖyou, too, when you observe these things unfolding, recognize that the Kingdom of God is very near! Amen, I solemnly tell ᵖyou this: This generation will certainly not pass away until all (“all” emphasized) these things take place. It is heaven and the earth that will pass away! My words, however, will never pass away. “Now, ᵖyou must constantly be on your guard (cf ISV; “take care for yourselves” [LEB]; “watch yourselves” [ESV]; “be on guard” [NRSV]; “be careful”; “Watch out!” [NLT]), so that ᵖyou aren’t dulled and staggering around like a drunkard and caught up in the worries of everyday life (Lit lest your hearts be weighed down with drunken behavior/hangover and drunkenness and worries of everyday life), and that day fall upon ᵖyou unexpectedly like a trap. For it will come upon all the inhabitants of the entire earth. But stay alert at all times, praying that ᵖyou may have as much strength as you need to flee (Gk. ekpheugö; cf. Gen. 19) all these things that are destined to take place, and to appear without shame (lit. and to stand; a favorable state is clearly implied here [see BDAG, 325, ἔμπροσθεν 1.b.β.; Ibid, 482, sv ἵστημι B.2.; ESS (Lk 12-24), 399; UBSHS (Lk), 678]).before the Son of Man.” (Lk. 21:29-34, BHT)

• “Constantly be on your guard so that your hearts may not be loaded down with self-indulgence, drunkenness, and the worries of this life” (Lk. 21:34, ISV)

• “But be on your guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, (Lk. 21:34, NET)

• “Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life.” (Lk. 21:34, NLT)

• “Be careful not to spend your time feasting, drinking, or worrying about worldly things.” (Lk. 21:34, NCV)

• “Be on your guard! Don’t let yourselves become occupied with too much feasting and drinking and with the worries of this life” (Lk. 21:34, TEV)