Stephanie Ike - Hearing Knowing Gods Voice Part 1

You see, when it comes to healing, it's something that I'm so you know, no one should come to the No one should come. To the House of the Lord and be restricted. Because of a pain in their body or something that is a limitation for them to come into the house of God. And for me, it's very personal to me because there were two specific, you know times in my life where it was God that touched me. I remember as a child and at this time, I was in Nigeria. I was in high school and on the basketball team, and at the point, every time I would jump, I had this like you know, this really scruciating pain. And so we went to the hospital and the doctor said that, you know, I had to get my appendix removed, that it was swollen and all this stuff. And you know, at that time in Nigeria, I said, God, I would bet on you first, not the hospital here. And and so I said. Mom, I'm not doing no surgery here. I'm not doing it, you know, And my mom was just like Stephanie. You know, they gave me medication and they're like you need to do the surgery, and I'm like, I'm not doing it. I will bet on God first before I bet on these doctors and by the time we had to go back in for the checkup, and I was like, God, you know you're my father and you will heal me. And when we went back in for the checkup, it was like, somehow we just went back to his normal size. You know, some years ago I used to have this pain, ain't I But that's praiseworthy. Come on, Jesus, some years ago I used to have this pain on my left bob. And it's weird to say boob on the altar, but but that was a pain there. I'm going somewhere and you see, I'm like Laura, I'm like, Lord, I don't have health insurance. I'm gonna bet on you again. And it was so funny because in the dream, a man comes up to me and he pulls what looked. Like a warm out of it. And when I woke, the pain was gone. And so when I talk about healing, it's so personal to me, and I believe in the healing power of God. So today we're gonna be talking about something I'm so excited about. You know, for some time we've been talking about intimacy with God. Like a lot of the messages has been coming down to that and a lot of us. And one thing God showed me is that our desire to be intimate is is really growing. But he showed me that there was still an error. There are two areas where we have to really fine tune, and that's hearing and knowing the voice of God. And because of the details that is gonna be discussing, I was like, okay, Lord, you know we have to yell. Like what I did there. Yeah, But because of the details that we have to go into those, I was like, okay, Lord, we have to like break this up, you know, cause not to rush it or anything like that, so that we really grasp this message. And so today we're just gonna be focusing on hearing God's voice, and next Wednesday We're gonna be focusing knowing God's voice. And so even if you know you're someone here and you're like I already got the knowing part checked, you know, just being you know, just pray for the rest. Of us, you know, and let's just all be in supportive of one another tonight. You See. It's so important because when the Bible talks about that those who are you know, led by the spirit of God are the sons of God, and there is a harvest, there's a reward for. The sons of God. And so we have to hear his voice, to know his voice in order to be led by his spirit. Right, And so we're gonna look at let's open to John ten twenty seven. And before we go into this, you know, a lot. Of times there's always this question, and I've gotten it a couple of times, you know, does God speak to me? Or you know, is there something going on? And all these things. But the fact of the matter is that somebody would not die for you if they didn't want to have relationship with you, right, you know, I watch. These movies and I see how like you. Know, when someone gives like a heart transplant, you know, and you you heart, the person who received the heart always has this desire to want to know the family you know of the person who you know give them their heart, and vice versa. So when so, God will not send his son to die for us. If he doesn't want to be in relationship with us. And so he obviously is speaking to us and he wants to, you know, have that relationship. So then look at two things here. So this says my sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. What I love about this is that there is like a breakdown here, right, It says my sheep, right, those that belong to me, right, So we're talking about believers. They hear my voice. So now there is relationship. So there's it's one thing to be a believer. It's another thing to be in relationship with God. Right, and they follow me. You see, it's through relationship that we're able to trust God to follow him. Right. So now I'm gonna but it doesn't mean that if you don't hear his voice or anything like that. They're just breakdowns too. And I'm gonna go into another passage and we're just gonna make that clear. So John ten believe is fourteen to sixteen. Now check this out. So it says I am the good shepherd, and I know my sheep, and I am known by my own as the Father knows me even so I know the Father. And this is so beautiful because this paints a picture that this is the level where God wants us to attain to. Right. As He and the Father are one, we should also be one with him. Right, And I lay down my life for the sheep. Now let's get into some good stuff and other sheep. Somebody say, other sheep, All right, other sheep I have. Which are not of this fold. Them I must bring and they will hear my voice and there would be one flock and one shepherd. Let's just keep that passage there. This is so powerful because. He's saying that. So now the first sheep he's talking about are those that here they follow and you know, he knows them, and they follow him, right, so they hear him their relationship with him and they are guided by his voice. But now there's another set of sheep that although they belong to him, right, they're believers. They're like, God, you know, acception my life. They did the whole thing. You know, Jesus, you know, they did that whole thing. But now he's like, but they do not hear me, and they're not following me. And it's so amazing because at the end of it he says, so that they would be one flock and one shepherd. So that means that when we're not in a place of total alignment with hearing God's voice, we can have multiple shepherds, and any shepherd outside of God is to lead you to destruction. And so that is why when he really brought. This message, it's like we have to and it's not we have to because he's bringing us to that place, right. And I love when he says that I must bring them right. We see that right there. And so you know, pet talked about this passage on Sunday. There's a passage when Jesus and in this passage he was talking about his death and he says that when I be raised up, you know from the earth, I will bring all men onto me. Right, So he's talking about, now, after all this is you know, said and done, when I'm raised up, when you know, the Crucifixion and all these things happen, that I will bring all men onto me. But this happens to people because the last thing. Jesus said before you know what we know this as like people call it the Great Commission and all that stuff. The last thing he spoke to his disciples was that make disciples. Of all nations. And so Jesus is saying that now that I have released my spirit into the earth, it is our duty to bring disciples onto him. It's all duty to make this message, like you know, bring an awareness to this message. And so whether you were here, you know you you got the hearing part checked. This is something that we also need to make sure that those around us right, that we are always sharpening each other in you know what, where are we? How filled up are we by His spirit? Right? So now I want us to look at a few things here. This code on the sipad is okay, So now three things I want us to look at quickly is three areas that blocks our hearing. And first of all, we have unforgiveness. Now this is a very like you know, weighty topic, and with unforgiveness, we have to understand one thing first. The Bible talks about that if you don't forgive, right, if you don't forgive your brother, the heavenly Father will. Not forgive you. Now this is very weighty because for you to not have the forgiveness of God is to be outside of the blood of Jesus. Because when Christ died, he talks about that he died for the forgiveness of sins, right, and he died for the forgiveness of our sins. And so God is to have. A relationship with us because the blood of Jesus is representing us and so when we step out of that, there is no relationship, and it limits his ability to speak to us. Secondly, with unforgiveness, it souls hate in the heart. Now, God is love, and everything about God's word is love. It's packaged in that, and so you cannot have hate in your heart. Love is like light, and wherever. You put light, it dispels darkness, so you cannot. So hate in your heart is almost like a restriction. It's like you have walls up against the word of God. Now you don't know this in the natural, but that's how it's viewed in the spirit. Because the Word of God cannot hate and love cannot abide in the same place. And a lot of times, our desire to hold onto an offense because it gives us control over the pain, is greater than our desire to hear from God. And although vocally, you know, we say, like God, I just want to hear from you, I want to know your word and all these things, but we still want to hold on to an offense, and that in itself cannot allow God the you know, the voice of God to flow in our hearts. And so a lot of times everyone Jesus talks about love your enemies and pray for those that persecute you. You see, there's a man named Jonah, and there was a time that you know, God tells Jonah to go to this place Ninavee and tells him all these things that he's supposed to do. Now, Jonah was against it because Jonah is like, God, you're a merciful God. If these people hear that you're gonna do all these things, they're gonna, you know, repent. And Jonah didn't want that. Now, the thing with Ninove is that the people of that you know, that land used to persecute where Jonah was from. And so there was this you know, Jonah had some offense issues, right, and he's like, God, i am not going to go here and this people repent and it's all good, and after everything that they've done to us, right, So it was a very personal matter. But at the end of all this. Sudden them because we're not here to talk about Jyonah. But after all that happened, at the end of it, God tells Jonah that these are people without understanding. You see, any time someone does something to hurt you or offend you, that is not something that anyone would naturally want to do, even though it looks that way. But the word that God spoke to Jonah is the word all the time that it is a person without understanding. So no matter how grave the offense is, no matter how close it is to you, or that it's from your family or whatever, we have to come to God and say, God, I'm opening my heart onto you about this matter. And even though I would rather hold onto the pain, I would rather surrender it to you. So it's something about we have to bring that to God because that is a limitation to hear his voice. Right. Secondly, we're gonna look at is somewhere coming up a fearful heart. Now, a fearful heart is like a clogged vessel, because the Bible tells us that perfect love casts out all fear, and so a lot of times when fear comes into the picture, it's like we are not even willing to hear what God wants to say on the matter. He said, I'll share a personal story. There's a time that you know, my mom was telling me. She's like, Stephanie, you know you should come back, you know, move back to Nigeria and all these things that she mentioned, and I was like, no, Mom. You know, God has a plan for me here and he and he told me that right, And so I'm like, no, no, God has a plan. He it's all set. I'm not coming back to Nigeria. And she had all these you know, great She's like, Stephanie, you know, I think that this is the best option. There's so much you can do and blah blah blah. And I was like, no, no, no, mom, I'm not. That's not the plan of God for me, you know. And she's and she keeps mentioning it to him. She's like, Stephanie, are you're afraid? I was like, no, what are you talking about? I am walking on the voice of God for my life. And the whole time, you know, it was I was very stubborn about it, and it caused a little frictions at a point. And then one night, you know, I'm laying down. And then God starts speaking and then it's like there's a there's a point where God would just go past your spirit and just go straight to you know, just pierce you. And he's like, do you know that you are afraid? I was like, no, I'm not. I'm like I said that, but. He showed me that I was Actually I had a fear of feeling like I needed to start over. I had a fear of, you know, just leaving where what I felt like, No, I've established something here, and God, you said you will do this, and you said you will do that and all these things. And then he hits me with but I never told. You when, And I said, oh, I. See all right now, and and another thing that was so you know, there was a also like a pride element, right, because you know what someone has been telling you something like no, Jesus said right, and then for you to be wrong, it's like, oh, maybe Jesus and say that right. And so there was there was a pride element that he will show me that you don't even want you don't want to be wrong to your mother. And the beautiful thing is that when we l when we resist the voice of God in areas that we are afraid, we're resisting his peace because his word would always come with peace. And a lot of times we're so like adamant to hear what God has to say because somehow, some. Way we know that we are in the wrong and. We don't want to to to have the burden of God being aware of not even God being aware, but us being aware that God knows that we're in the wrong. And see, God showed me that a lot of us are even in relationships. I'm not just talking about like you know, boyfriend, girlfriend or you know, fiance or whatever. I'm talking about just relationships in general, right, friendships, those kind of partnerships and all that stuff. And he showed me how there are things that we need to let go of. But there is a fear to not even want to hear what God is saying, so we use reasoning to justify our actions. So now let me go back to my mama and nice story. So that night, I'm talking to God and I'm like, okay, Lord, you know what that's It's just that's the truth. But it came with peace. And I said, Lord, if you want me to move to Nigeria and then so be it, then that's that's what we're gonna do. As long as you're with me, I'm good. And I planned to call my mom the next morning and say you no, my MoMA, I was wrong, and I think this is the plan, and I think this is what you know, what's gonna happen. But that night because honestly, it was a moment where I released the fear of all these things and I'm like, God, if you're with me, then I'll be fine. And that night, in a dream he came and he said, because fear does not have a hold on you in that area, I will do all I said in this time, and it hit me and I was. I woke up crying and I'm like, wow, God, So first of all, I don't need to move, But secondly it taught me something because a lot of times, and I'm like that I allowed fear for so long because you see, when God releases a word, he's releasing what would manifest. And I allowed fear for so long to cripple the time of what God wanted to do. And so a lot of times when we're saying that no, no, no, no, no, I have to have this thing, even though there's something in us that is like trying to check you, like hey, you might be wrong. Or whatever, and it's like no, no, no, I'm good right and all these things, it limits us. You see what I love about the song when we talk about you know, the overflow, because like I said, even with healing, there is a flow with God. There is this way he speaks that it flows. And I want us to read this passage really quick. I don't know why I have to keep it on this clothe in here. But let's go to John seventh, thirty eight to thirty nine. Okay, so it says he who believes in me, as the scripture has said, out of his heart would flow rivers of living water. Now let's go to the next one and remember out of his heart. But this he spoke concerning the spirit whom those believing in him would receive, for the Holy Spirit was not yet given. And all the rest is pretty good, right, But now we're talking about out of his heart would flow. There is a flow with God, and we cannot let unforgiveness which clogs your ability to flow, or a fearful heart which clogs our ability to flow, resists what God wants to do, because it's a flow with Him. And even when we go into the different. Ways that we can hear God, it's like God can start speaking to you with an image, then it becomes with words. It's like all kinds of things that flows into one thing. And so we cannot let things that really don't matter hinder us from listening to from hearing what the Lord is saying. Now. Thirdly, so obedient heart. We're gonna look at two passages and one is kind of harsh, and the next one kind of. Redeems the first one, right, But. This obedient heart is when you know God has been instructing you to do certain things and you've been resisting. He says this, and it's in little things, and it's in little things, and he showed me it's it's just things that would seem insignificant. But the more we say no, it hardens our heart. And so even when God is speaking, there is no conviction anymore, when you're in the wrong and you're just freely moving and doing things that He's not in agreement with, and you think it's okay because you don't feel convicted anymore. But the more that we say no in the little things, it hardens our hearts. And so even when God is speaking, it doesn't really move you, and you just kind of go ahead with what you wanna do. And we're gonna look at two scriptures really quick. And I'm only reading this, you know, because I know people are keeping notesing all that good stuff, and so let's go to Acts seven point fifty one. It says you stiff necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. Now resisting the Holy Spirit, what does the Holy Spirit do? The Holy Spirit is the spirit of truth to lead you into all truth. So to resist him is to resist truth. It is to resist when God is speaking. And it doesn't matter the magnitude of how small. Sometimes you're going somewhere and God says, don't go here, and you're like, ah, st your girl, And it's like little things like that, and it adds up, and it adds up, and it hardens your heart to even be convicted by what the Holy Spirit wants to do. So now we're gonna look into how the different. Ways that we can hear from God and this When God gave me this message, one thing he said to me is that speak from relationship, right, because I can't really go in all the ways that the Spirit will speak to you, but I can speak based on what I know and based on the. Things that I've experienced. Because the Bible says that we overcome by the blood of the lamp and the word of our testimony. You see, when you share your testimony with someone, there's an impartation of faith for that very thing. And so when he said speak from relationship, I'm like, thank you Jesus, because I don't know if I can study all the ways that you speak. But one of the main things that I want us to even highlight before we go into this is to hear from God. We have to live a lifestyle of expectancy. You see a lot of times we have this one you know, this one position. In the morning, I pray, and that's it, right, I pray, and you know, I go about and do other things in my day. But we have to have a lifestyle of expectancy that in any moment, in any time that God. Wants to speak or he will speak. You see, in relationships, you're not you're it's not you're not always the one that starts the conversation, right, Sometimes the other person wants to say something. You know, you're not always the one texting your and sometimes your friend will text you. And so with God, it's not always about when you have something to say. Sometimes he has something to say and he starts the conversation. And so when we are not expectant, we dispel that as Oh, maybe I was the one thinking that, or maybe I was the one we put ourselves, we put our imprint on it. When all along God is the one speaking. He didn't need you to say something for him to speak to you, because that's that's true relationship. Right. So now when we talk about the different ways we can hear from God, let's when we look at you know, how many of us know the. Story of when Jesus was baptized? Right? We know that story? Okay, cool, No, maybe not everybody. But so there's a part where you know, Jesus goes to a man named John the Baptist, and he goes to be baptized. Now, when you know he baptizes him, we learn in the passage that, you know, the heaven's open and all this great stuff. And then the Father spoke and he said, this is my son, you know. Who why I'm well pleased with. So we see on one part there's an audible voice of the Father. Now, when Jesus is revealed as the son of God, everyone in the presence encountered him. So there's an encounter. And right after that, Jesus is led by the Holy Spirit, and that is actually where we're gonna really emphasize on the most But first, when we speak about the audible voice of God, one thing that God really taught me is that in this time, the audible voice of God is not for It's not always for interaction or conversation. You see, one time, I remember the Holy Spirit was speaking to me about something, and this is so funny. I was really not paying attention, you know, like guys begging to You're like, I'm not trying to focus on this. And then I hear someone say something and I'm like, who said that? Like it was as loud as like someone speaking to me, and I was like, I was stripping. And then I repeat the word. And the friend I had with me, she spoke five languages and she's she was like, oh, that's. Spanish for listen. I was like, oh Jesus, I said, I'm here, Lord, I'm listening. And so a lot of times the audible voice of God is not for. You know, it's not that you have to hear the audible voice to know that God speaks to you. Sometimes he's trying to direct you. He's trying to channel you. To what the Holy Spirit is already saying, because He already gave us the Holy Spirit. You see, we always talk about a man named Saul, you know, the you know terrorists to us who became like a radical believer in converting all these people. But what's so amazing is that when Jesus encountered Saul. Actually the passage talks about how you know, there was like a light that surrounded him and he heard a voice. But the whole after that, you know, after the you know, Jesus is speaking to him. Then another man, Jesus goes and gives another man a vision and says, go and pray for Saul. When the man came to Saul, he laid hands on him and said received the Holy Spirit. Because it's not about you know, you wake up in the morning, Hey, Jesus, he speaks, you know, speaks to you from heavens for you to know that he's speaking to you know, a lot of times the au the blue voice is to direct you to pay attention to your spirit. Now we talk about encounters with Christ. I remember for the longest time, I was like, God, I'm always watching all these people that have encountered you. I just need to see a toe. You know something. I just want to see a finger I'm not asking for much, and it made me feel like, well, if I haven't encountered Christ, then maybe there's some form of inadequacy or something. And I'm like, I just something larn something. And so time goes on and one day, so I'm watching something. I fall asleep on the couch. I woke up. It's like four in the morning or so, and there's a man sitting on the couch and there was so much peace in the room that it's like, you're aware, but I wasn't in control. And so in my spirit it's not that we're not even speaking with words. It's like you're speaking spirit to spirit. What's the weirdest thing? It was like what happens in dreams or something. And so in my spirit, I was like, oh Jesus, but he's not even looking at messing. What is this. His face is like forward right, and and he mentioned like, you know, I love you know, I love watching my children sleep. And in that moment, you know what was funny is that the night before that, I'm watching a man preaching and he mentioned something and I kind of took it and passed it, and I'm like, you know whatever, and you know what he was talking about like when he goes to places to preach, that he takes and I'm gonna maybe just even this is not connected to the message, but this could help someone. So when he goes to places to preach, he would take authority over the realm wherever he's preaching, over the city or whatever, he would take authority over it. And when I heard it, I just put it in pass and I was like, Oh, that's cool, head. I don't need to do that. And but in that moment, Jesus impressed that very thing on my spirit. And that was a Wednesday morning. I was speaking that evening. And he said, before you you know, before tonight, take authority over the realm. And he was gone, And I'm like, that's all you can. I'm beinguring that we're gonna have Like when I came to myself, I'm like, yo, like I'm thinking, we're having conversations. We're gonna talk about Heaven, We're gonna talk about something, right, But all along he came to direct me to something my spirit was already trying to tell me. And so it's not about having an encounter, because it's all channeling back to I've already given you my spirit and if you just pay attention to it, you're gonna be good. Right. And even what he mentioned, and it was so powerful because when he mentioned that to me, and he said that you would notice that when you do this, people that you haven't even seen on Wednesdays would come. Now, this is for free. Well, it's always for free, but it's just not part of today, right because one thing, you know, the Bible says that we wrestle not against flesh and blood, right, but against principalities, powers and high places. But now when it mentions that, it's telling you that although it looks like you're wrestling against flesh and blood, people are being influenced by powers that are against you. And so when God told me to do this very thing, because at the same time, Jesus said that I have given you authority over the powers. Of the enemy. And so what he mentioned is that I need you to take to declare that you are taking authority over the area that you're going to, so that no human being would be influenced by the powers of the enemy to restrict my people from what they have, Okay, And so it was really amazing to me. I was like, oh, Okay, I'm supposed to do that, and when I did it, and now I do it every time. But really I saw people that day that I have never seen on the Wednesday for a minute, and I was like, okay, Lord, I get you right. But now we're gonna go into the good stuff. And it's about the different ways that we hear from the spirit. Okay, Number one, there is a knowing. Now let's go to Romans eight sixteen. Now it says the Spirit himself bears you know, bears witness without spirit, that we are children of God. Now this is beautiful. It doesn't tell it, doesn't you know, say it to us. It bears witness. It's a knowing that we have that you know what, I am a. Child of God? Right. And in the same way sometimes how many people know what I'm talking about? That Sometimes you just have a knowing of something. It's like I just. Know I shouldn't be here. Oh I know I should go here, right, And there's a spirit speaking to you, and so there is a knowing. Sometimes it would speak to us. You just have an understanding. Even when we do autoco, there's sometimes there's just knowing that God impresses on my heart that you need. To say this, and then you say it. And you know there's results right now. Scripture a lot of times, you know, when we read passages. It's some passages it would just seem like, you know, a regular thing, but to someone else, the spirit could cause that thing to jump at you in a specific way. You know. One scripture that really stands out to me all the time is Isia sixty one. And what I love about that is it could be translated. In so many ways. But when I read it and it's so beautiful, and even I know during the baptism service that was a scripture that even pt shared. But when I read it, and if you. Take your time, if you want to read it too, and it speaks to you, then great. But when I read it, it's so beautiful because in the beginning of the passage it speaks of who you are. Then it goes into what you would do, and then the people that you have is like, as a result of what you did, what those people would do and how that would bless you. It's like it just breaks down so many things. And every time I would question myself, I'm like, God, you know, should I be doing this and doing that, and he's a go to Azire sixty one. Always read that passage whenever you have, you know, any kind of confusion, because there's this particular part of that that always speaks to me. And it's a part it says, but as for you, you shall be called ministers of our Lord. And I'm like, okay, Lord, okay, So I'm not your opion. You know all this stuff. So there are different scriptures that can just jump at you and that thing. Every time you feel confused, you're like, God has given me this scripture. It doesn't matter if in the time it was written it was referring to someone else, that doesn't matter, because that was in the scripture that Jesus even spoke of when he was in the temple and he was about to read something. He opens to that scripture and starts reading it, but he's referring to himself. Right now, we can go into how quite do I have to put this cloud? Okay? And now we're going to dream and let's open to Psalm sixteen seven. And in this passage it's David and he says, I bless the Lord who gives me counsel in the night. Also my heart instructs me. And so God speaks to us through dreams. And even though all dreams may not be from God, but he speaks to us through dreams. He instructs it. And we're gonna go into that when we talk about knowing the voice of God. I'm so excited to go into that. But he instructs us through dreams. When I wrote my book, that was an instruction I received actually from a dream, right, And so he speaks to us through dreams and also in visions. Let's open Hauppacup two one to two. And this passage is so funny because this man in Happacock one, he goes on this rot, you know, this little rampage, and he's complaining about all these things and he's like, God, you know whatever, whatever. And so in this passage, it's as I will take my stand at my watch my watch post and station myself on the tower. It's so beautiful because even though what he's explaining, it just gives you an understanding of what he's expecting to receive, because a tower gives you, you know, a great view of what's happening. So he says, I was stationed, you know, myself on the tower and look out to see what he will say to me, to see what he will say to me and what. I will answer concerning my complaints. And the Lord answered. Me, write the vision, make it plain on tablets, and the rest of that is really good too. But the point is visions. You have to the visions that would just come to you without you having you know, it's just like boom when you're in prayer or in something. But when you have an expectation, God wants to show you things. And even now you know, one thing he press in my heart is that a lot of us we will have this beliefs of how God views us. And so even now I want us to all do something. Let's I'll close our eyes. And in your heart just say, God, show me how you see, how how you view me, Show me something about my life to you, and have an expectation of God. Habakac said that I stand to watch what He would show me and just be open to the spirit. It could come as an image or whatever you see. Hold on to that. Hold on to that, okay. But like a magic trick, did anybody see anything? Come on? Right? You see? Even when I did that, I saw a star in the in the like in in the night right, and so there are different things. If you saw something, just praise God, come on and it can happen that quick. It doesn't have to. When you have an expectation of God. God always wants to show you something. He always wants to show you, He always wants to speak to you. It's not just about his time. Hapechak says, I will stand and watch what he would show me, right, and then God comes and says, write the vision and make it plain. And so there's one a sense of responsibility on our part. We are responsible for what we know. We are responsible for the channels that God uses to speak to us, and we have to treasure those things. It's not just to say, oh, you know, God showed me this, and then you keep it pushing. I remember growing up and this is so bad, you know God. Like I would see like someone you know, having an accident, right, and I'll tell my mom and like, Mom, I saw this person having an accident and they did. And she's like, well, I said God showed me and she's like no, I think that's not good. I'm like no, but you know, I'm like it's really cool because she's like, no, someone had an accident. And the whole time she was trying to teach me. She's like, no, you're responsible for what she sees because you have to pray against it, right, A good prophet doesn't. Only they're not waiting for something to happen. Sometimes they don't want things to happen, and. I will be so hype. I'm like, ma, this person had an accident and God showed me, and she's just like no, no, no, no, no, right, So we are responsible. It's not just a joke about it or something will happen. And I'm like, oh, yeah, I saw. That, and my mom is like, why didn't you say anything. You know, there's a responsibility because God needs you to speak about certain things. You know, He's given us authority on the earth, and so it's not just when he shows us something. He needs his people to declare and decree. Either against or force something right. And so we can just be ignorant or you know, moving in foolishness and just say, oh, God shows me and it happened. No, he's showing us for a reason. He's showing us to take responsibility. Right, So let's go into this code. So through circumstances. Now, I love this because I'm gonna highlight a couple I love so much. But we're gonna look into one Kings nineteen eleven to twelve. It says, then he said, go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, and behold, the Lord passed by. Oh, somebody say, passed by. Wow, And a great and strong wind tore into the mountain 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. Why this is so amazing, it's because in the beginning, before any of these things, the Lord passed by. Sometimes in order for God to really highlight certain things. To you, now, he's not in the issue. That's why they're highlighting all these destructive things. You know, a wind broke the mountain, and fire and all these things, an earthquake, but God is not in it. Right. So when even when we go through certain circumstances, God is not evil, right, and he's not trying to cause evil in your life. But God will always use everything for your good. And so it says he passed by, and so he knows what is about to come, and he says, you know what, I will. Use this very thing to show you something. I will use this very thing to teach you. And so after everything happened, then a still small voice, you know, we had a volunteer and volunteer meeting. This was like two saturdays ago, I believe or something like that. And so after that we went for dinner or a lunch or a branch or whichever one you want to call it. And Stefan was there, one of our kings. In the house shouts to Stephane and Christina, and you know. We we aksed him. E w. Anytime you're around us, we're gonna talk about marriage. If you're married or dating? How did you know? How did you meet her? You know, that's just our thing, and so you know, we aksed the phone. We're like, how did you know? That? Christina was the one and one thing? He mentioned? And it moved me and I said, wow, that's all that's a woman right there. He talked about when his dad was sick, and I I aks for their approval before I spoke this message and if I say it wrong, just give me a wave or like no, no, no, or something. But he talked about when his dad was sick and it was such a hard time for him and he's like weeping. Well I'm not sure if he was weeping, but he was crying or something. And uh so it was it was a really hard time for him. And Christina was there, and so he goes to bed and he wakes up and Christina b his tickets, cleaned the house, packed his bags and said we're going and see your father. You see, it was a circumstance through that God spoke to him, this is your wife. It was so. Beautiful to me when he said it. That's all I could think about. And I was like wow, because you see a lot of times there's certain things that we would experience or go through, and God is trying to reveal someone's character to you. He's trying to reveal things that you might not see if he just spoke to you and said, this is your wife. Feel like, really, really, God, I don't think so. I mean, she's fine, but I don't know the right. But there are things that would happen and. You're like, wow, this person is for my good, right, and there are things that would happen that you're like, whoa, this person's from my bad And sometimes a lot of times we have to pay attention, right, and all these things. It's all about an expectancy that in every area of your life, you know that God is going to speak to you with that that even in circumstances, there's something that He wants to reveal to you. You see, Maya Angelo would say that, you know, when a person shows you who they are, believe them the first time. And sometimes God is like I. Need to show you again, right, because there are things that we have to pay attention to. It's not that people are bad per se. Sometimes they're just not good for you, right. And so God will use circumstances and events to reveal things to you about people, about where you are, about so many things. He will use that to speak to you. Right. So let's go into. The word you know, word of knowledge. Actually, yeah, word of knowledge you know. And this is just basically you know, we have when God will speak to you through someone write a prophetic word that would be administered through another person. And this is just a gift of the spirit and you'll be like, oh my gosh, how did they know this and that and all that stuff. But even with word of knowledge, we have to be careful because it's not to rely on for anyone who's ever maybe you know, gone to like a prophetic thing or whatever. You know, it's not to be relied on because God wants to s you to be strengthen and knowing that you hear his voice. I remember growing up in Nigeria. I mean, it was a thing, you wanna what does the Lord saying? We need to go to that pastor he knows what the Lord is saying. And every time we would go, I mean, they would come to the person here here here miss me. I'm like yo, and I will be worshiping extra i would look at them, the prophet and the eye. I'm like, oh Jesus, and it would just miss. Every time. I'm like yo. Like so, I remember one time this is what this is in Fontana or something, and then there was this prophet who came. Everybody was talking about this prophet. I said, the Lord is going to speak to me, Oh Jesus, And so I got a seat in the front row. He would not even say anything, I would jump, you know, Oh God, God, God, I'm sure. God was like, what is this child doing? You know? The man was prophesygned to everybody skipped me. I said, now it's not happening today, and so. And so after the after the you know, the service, they were like, you know, anyone who wants to meet the prophet, you know he will be you know, you know, having you know people to meet him. I said, of course whatever. I'm there. I need to hear the word of God through this man. And so there's this huge line, like it's just ridiculous, and I'm like, we're waiting, come on, Jesus, so we're end the line. I'm there for like a couple hours because if you're African, you know how it is. And I'm there. Finally I meet the man and he's like, oh, you know, my daughter, you know, what are you here for? In my mind, I'm like, what else? What is everyone here for? Right? So I'm like, you know, I know, it's so funny because when you, oh Jesus back in the days, I'm like, I just I just. Believe the Lord wants to tell me something through you. And I'm like, can we pray and He's looking at me and I'm like my eyes closed and I open it. He's looking at me, and in my mind, I'm like, what is wrong with this man? And I'm like, oh, you know, are you seeing anything? And then he says and I'm I'm about to be excited and he's like, you know, the Lord wants me to tell you. I said, yes, God, you know how sometimes all you hear is the Lord wants me to tell you. You start crying. And he's like, oh, the Lord wants me to tell you that you already know what you need. I was so upset, so I said, no, you are you seeing other things? And so I left and that's all I got and I was like, what is this? And the whole time God is like, you hear my voice right, and it's and God will speak to you through prophets, but it's not when you are in a in like a place where you're like, you feel like you don't hear from God, and you do, and so he will speak to you. There's something that needs to be you know said, but. It's not always his strategy because he wants you to know that. You hear from me. And sometimes I just need to strengthen your ability to know that. Right. Also, God can speak through created things. You know creation, you know, everything created has an imprint of God. You'll see Jesus when he was teaching the disciples, he will say, you know, look at the flowers, and then he will teach them something through that. He's like, why are you worried about all you would? You know, what you would wear and all these things. And when Solomon wasn't arrayed like one of these flowers, and so he would use a flower. To teach his disciples. You know, even in Proverbs as a passage that says, go to the ant and observe its ways. Even in animals you can learn something, right. I remember in my book I talk about there's this animal or this fish that fascinated me, and it's called the Moses Soul, and it's a little fish that lives amongst sharks. And for a minute, like. Researchers are trying to figure out that how is this little fish, you know, survivor And they found out that every time a shark tries to you know, eat it it because when the fish is scared, it secretes some kind of milky substance that is actually a repellent to the sharks, and so God position and it's it's and I'm so fascinated with animals, but it's like God positioned this fish in a place he knew it would survive, even though the fish didn't think it would survive. And so even and so even through animals, he's like, let me teach you something about me. Let me teach you something about my ways. Sometimes I would position you in places that you don't think you have the ability to survive because of the people you're around. But I've put something within you that will cause your survival. It's really it's really fascinating, right, And he can even use things that we create. One time God spoke through me. I was watching Deal or No Deal, and he spoke to me through God show, right, and it's and all this and I'm highlighting all these things because it's all about being sensitive to God. It's about in everything we do that we're doing it with God, because then He can use everything to speak to you. I was watching Deal or No Deal and the box he had. How many people have watched that show? Right, It's an amazing show. So you you pick a box and then you kind of eliminate boxes, and you can at the end you can decide if you wanna keep your box or you wanna choose another box, or every box has a certain amount of money, and they'll try and give you deals to kind of not not get you to the end of the show. I mean, just watch the shows, I know. But so I'm watching this show and so the man has a box, and in the beginning, I'm watching the show and I was really just kind of that was like a I was just having a really moody day. And then the Holy Spirit said that in his box is the million dollars, but he's not gonna pick it. He's not gonna last. And he was trying to teach me about endurance, and it was so interesting, like, really, he has a million dollars in his box. And the man says he had a dream the night before that he had the million dollars in his box. So now he's, you know, going through boxes and he's all the big numbers are coming down, all the big numbers are coming down. And at the end of it, he negotiated for a way less surprise because he got scared that what if his box is not you know, the the number and he got like it was it was not even close to what it was. And when they opened his box, that was the million dollars and I was like wow. And God was. Teaching me and Durrance through deal or no deal, and he's like, sometimes you just have to pool through to the end. Because the funny thing is that it was at the end of the show, was only two things left. One of it was like a penny and his million dollars, and they gave him a deal. You know, they'll strike a deal with you. It was like maybe six or five hundred or something, I can't remember. So he was worried that what if I have the penny in my box and I say no this deal and I leave with a penny. But he had the million dollars in his box. And so God will speak. To you through so many things if you open every area of your life to him right. Now. God can also speak, lastly through tongues, and this is in prayer, right So prayer, there's praying in tongues as prayer by you know, by your mind, you know what you're saying. And but why I. Focus on praying tongues because even when you pray whatever time prayer is this conversation. It's all about you commensating with God. But in tongues. Now, how many people hear praying tongues? Now? How many people don't know what praying in tongues is? Are right? Beautiful? Right? And so now in the Bible, we're gonna look at a couple of passages. Actually actually is gonna go into that. So let's go to Acts sixteen x nineteen six. You see, and says and when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. Now, praying in tongues it's really you know, they're in Paul would say, like, you know, if I pray in the tongues of men or the tongues of angels. Now, praying in tongues is when when you have the Holy Spirit, right, you already have the ability you speaking in tongues. That's not justifi if you have the Holy Spirit or not. When you have the Holy Spirit, you have the ability to, but you have to release yourself to do it. Right. And so praying in tongues is just is a different level of prayer because when you pray in whatever language you. Pray, and you're limited. You're limited to the things that you would naturally ask God for. Right. You're like, even when you worship, then after a while you just start repeating the same things, and you're like, okay, God, bless the country, bless the nation. Then you start going into continents, bless Africa, bless Europe, blessed Asia. And so there's a limitation to what you can pray for. So tongues, you know, the Bible talks about how it is now the Spirit is inter on your behalf. So now the Spirit is praying through you for things that you do not even know about. But tongues to praying tongues is it's the same thing. That's a prophesy because you're speaking the Bible talks about you're speaking mysteries of God. And I remember when I started praying in tongues, I was like, God, I'm not sure what's going on, right, And so when I did research, I saw that, you know, it could even be languages that already exist, or it could be heavenly languages. And so for me to test what I was doing, I wrote it down. I try to spell what I was I'm praying and I'm trying to spell it out. I'm like, Google translator is about to be real. And so I go on Google Translator and I put it in there and I'm like, Okay, let's see what I'm saying. And in that time I was going through some things, and what it translated to was that Joseph is a position of circumstance. And it really spoke to me because God was showing me that where I'm taking you, there are certain things you're gonna encounter, but you're gona it's gonna t it's gonna get you there, right. And so praying in tongues sometimes when you're speaking you God can actually be speaking to you through you. And when I recognize this, and when they said that you know that speak they spoke in tongues and prophesied. The Bible also mention things like. For those that pray in tongues, also pray that you may you know, be able to interpret what you say, because that's how it edifies everyone else. But I remember one day friend of mine, a Mirrah, and she's here and she's someone in my life who you know, there are people you have to have in your life that you respect. You can you know, the Bible event says that where there's a multitude of counselors, there is safety. And so you have to have people in your life that you know that when they speak somethings to you, you can respect it, you can honor the voice of God on their life. And so she's someone and so one night she texts me and she's like, you know, praying tongues as you sleep and God is gonna tell you something. And I'm like, if Mayra said it, I'm gonna do it. And because you know it's they're they're when. And it's so beautiful because a lot of times you look at people just as you know, oh no, that's just my friend or whatever. But you have to see beyond that. You have to see what God is doing in the person's life. If people looked at Jesus just like Jesus, they will see a man who it was just thirty years old, but Jesus existed before time, right, So you have to see the calling on people's lives. And so when she said that, I was like, you know, I'm gonna push I'm my praying. Tongues as I sleep. And so I was doing that and in the moment, there was an interpretation that came up and it was so cool, and I texted her. I was like, oh my gosh. I was like, okay, God said this, but I was praying tongues and then he revealed to me what I was saying, and he was talking to me through my own prayer and at that time, and I'll share with you, and he said, you know, for a time, I you know, for a time you were under my wings. But in this time, I give you wings. And I was like, oh God, we're about to fly. And so but it's beautiful because you can't. He's speaking to you through you. And so one of the things that he even mentioned is that he wants every He wants that for everyone. You know, praying in tongues is a beautiful gift and when you just release yourself, it's it's amazing. And I'm gonna let's open a final passages. We'd go into that, you know, And that's asks two for and I just wanted you to learn something real quick here, and it says and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them otherance. So the spirit will give you. It tells you what to say. It sounds like gibberish, but you just have to allow yourself to speak it right. The spirit gave them otherance those a time that you know, I spoke about the you know, the Holy Spirit, your life partner, and was so beautiful because people for the first time start speaking in tongues that they had some amazing testimonies as a result. It takes your prayer life to a whole new level. And it gives you the ability that a moment of confusion and doubt that you can release spirit to pray in tongues and God. Will speak to you through you. Right, So let's all rise that place. You know, if if, if that's you, and you're like, I like saying, if that's you, but or even as we talk about praying in tongues and you're like, you know, a Lord, I actually want to cause this was one thing that you know with instruction, then you're like, God, I want to elevate even that part of my prayer life. And the one thing with praying in tongues is that you cannot be it's not you. You have to take your mind out of it, because you know the Bible talks about that. It's it's unfruitful to the mind, right, and it's something that looks foolish. You know. The there's a t there's a chapter that says that the things of the spirit looks like foolishness to the natural man because what you're saying is sounds like gibberish. But you have to release your spirit. You have to release. Yourself to say what your spirit is trying to, you know, come out of you. And so if that's you and you're like, you know what, Lord, I wanna elevate my prayer life and I wanna speak in tongues of men and of angels. That just sounded cool. Way, if that's you, come on down. It's so it's such a beautiful thing. Come on down. And see the truth is I I start speaking in tongues in my bedroom, right, I was like, okay, Lord, I get it. Okay, I'm reading I was reading about it, and I release myself. Everyone has the ability to do it. You just have to release yourself to say whatever gibberish is coming out, and you just speak it, right. And so if that, if there's still some people left, come on down. It's don't be scared. Yeah, come on down. It's not weird. It's not weird, cried, I promise you it's not. Come on down. There's a pure for more, actually. Little and you cannot be afraid or you cannot be shy to say, however crazy it sounds, you know, And we're all gonna for those that do praying songs are gonna do that, and we're all gonna get excited. Right, and there's actually there's still a couple more. Don't be shy, You're not weird. Come on, come on, I see you. Come on down, strick goul. You ol what you know. And even as we spoke about, you know, hearing from God, and and even you know, there was an image when we talked about there was an image that you saw that really touched you. And God wants to continue to give you visions. He wants to show you images. He wants to show you the flow of his words, the flow of his ways. Just come on down, come on. Down, amen, amen. And even as we just spoke in general about hearing from God, and there are different things You're like, Lord, I just wanna you know, WIT talked about this, but I wanna walk with you. Right, I want every area of my life. To give you an opportunity to speak to me, because that's what he wants to do. It's a partnership, right. He can use dealer, no deal. Shark, tank, he use all kinds of things to talk to you, and whatever. He could use all kinds of things to talk to you. My friend told me how you know, he used her GPS to talk to her. She's here, maggiet. Alright, And so if you're like God, I just wanna walk with you, right, just come on down. I give you every area. Of my life. Amen, so beautiful, come on praise God. Amen, boom Amen. So let's everyone, let's all close our eyes. You know, God is so serious about us just releasing our spirits to be filled up. And so we're gonna even focus on those that wanna speak in tongues for the first time. You see, it would sound like gibberish. Trust me. When I started, that's the reason I went to Google Translate. I said, I have to figure out what I'm saying, but you have to release your spirit. You have to release your spirit. And so as I even pray, those who. Do speak in tongues, pray in tongues. Just to encourage for them to release it, for them to release it, Father Lord, as you have even given this day. Lord, He said that there are children here that desire to speak in in unknown tongues, to elevate their prayer life a different level, a different route that they can even you can speak to. Them through them. So I just pray. I cast out every fear in this shroom. Every spirit of fear, you have no place here. Every spirit of timidity, you have no place here. We release your people, Lord, We release your people, Holy Spirit. Begin to give them other runs, begin to give them. Words that they would bring. They will speak forth and. Don't don't you know, decrease it. Just let it out, be loud if you want to. We're in the house of the Lord. He takes pleasure in this. Every eye close, Just focus on Jesus, Focus on Jesus, and release your spirit. Say kadabout soul. Care they be kind out by car take. Care of the bo called obo so too, makalia. Basan tell y'a about car lay kadabo so too, kaliya By saying macalia so care, they be kid la calia aby sata macali caad is said hey by cado call oh, say care. They beg kla'matalia ba tall care by called ouba said say tell they be kayla bakara Masatalia bay called la ba take care. They be kliaba lacali ya Sitaliya bay Sonalia by calle be said kay they be kind Latalia latian by kali i Be said thank you Jesus, Thank you Jesus. Release your spirit, Release your spirit. Your mind doesn't need to know what you're saying. Release your spirit. Thank you Jesus, Thank you Jesus. Release your spirit. Come on calobo sote kana man na kardia la kate said kady b kardi. They said tim kadi kid lobo sote kada by ka matadi a sata care then said tell there you made kad out okay that by sadi a k and I boste the kid a'matta I say care They bekae kid old soul bay ka, Thank you Jesus, Thank you, Jesus, Thank you Jesus. Release yourself, Thank you Lord. Even go louder, if you may go louder, if you may be excited, be excited about what God is. Doing in you. Thank you Jesus, Oh God, Wow, so beautiful. Right now, say kad of they bede karda bay they cared is say I cast every fear, every any reasoning. We cast that out right now in the name of Jesus, release yourself. Baka, thank you Lord, Thank you Lord. Huh wow. Even if some of you are like, I'm just saying the same thing, keep saying it and you will add more. He will add more syllabus to it. Just keep saying that, keep saying that it might sound funny. Amen. Amen, Lord, as your children begin to worship you, as they begin to speak in ways they've never even spoken before. Lord God, we just pray over each and everyone in this house, Lord, that this message of hearing your voice, Lord, that would we would live a lifestyle of expectancy, to always know that in every area, that you can speak to us through circumstances, Lord, that your voice is there, that through everything you're even when watching a TV show, that you can speak to us. In creation, you can speak to us everything. Lord, God has an imprint of you. And so we come before you, Lord, a lifestyle of expectancy, a lifestyle of expectancy. Lord, We thank you Lord for the for the images you showed your children, Lord, the images of things that touch them in ways that like never before. And we know that you will continue to give them visions, you will continue to even expand on dreams. And may we also do our part. May we take our responsibility Father for the ways that you speak to us. May we treasure it. Thank you Lord, Thank you Lord. Continue to pray to your Father, continue to pray and release your those that can speak in songs, do so. Those that are in the process, release yourself. It's in you. It's in you. He's giving you the utterance. Thank you Lord. Wow, and go louder if you may don't be you know, we don't need to be quiet. Thank you Lord, Thank you Lord, Thank you Lord. Wow Wow say kada bassautea a kalia basaul kadi kada bassa bay kaaliabah coda a BC. Say kayda about kola bay say kayda about Tima Nah. Thank you Jesus, Thank you, Jesus, Thank you Jesus. It see, even as we speak, there's an image. It's that I see staircase right and it's elevation. It's it's an elevation taking place right now in the spirit. Wow Wow, Thank you Lord. Thank you Lord. And it's moving and it keeps increasing. Wow Wow, thank you Lord, Thank you Lord. There's an elevation. We just decree and declare elevation in the lives of everyone in this house in the name of Jesus. Thank you Lord, Thank you Lord. That as we are standing on behalf of our brothers and sisters, that there is an elevation taking place over this house. Lord Jesus, Thank you Lord God. We will not be afraid. We would grab this year of reward in the name of Jesus. Thank you Lord for what is taking place. Wow God, Wow wow Wow. Receive that, receive that elevation taking place in the spirit and in the natural, in the name of Jesus. Thank you Father God, Thank you Lord. Have their way in Jesus' name. It by