Jeremiah 17:7-8 English Standard Version (ESV)

⁷ “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord.
⁸ He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

Yesterday I asked us to set aside this question about hearing God’s voice for a moment in order to speak to more important issues. While I do understand the issue it should not replace the primary important effects of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Using those spiritual ears and eyes are not the primary signs of salvation.

Ezekiel 34:27 English Standard Version (ESV) And the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield its increase, and they shall be secure in their land. And they shall know that I am the Lord, when I break the bars of their yoke, and deliver them from the hand of those who enslaved them.

Both of these scriptures indicate that fruit production is the indication of salvation and the presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Fruits are not works.

Matthew 7:19-23 English Standard Version (ESV)

¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

I Never Knew You

²¹ “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²² On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ ²³ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

The fruit produced are the fruits of the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 5:17 English Standard Version (ESV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

I do understand the urge to ask about the voice of God. If we could, let us hold off trying to answer that question for a moment and answer more important questions.

Since reading the bible have we changed? Being in Christ is key to a life with Christ and this new creation, being born again. Being born in the spirit is a critical detail that is more important than determining if we have spiritual ears and eyes.

If we have changed, is it due to self-fill or through no effort on our own part? All self-help programs lay out a plan to be followed, a formula for success. We can see the need for change and by sheer determination try to change ourselves into what we think needs to be done. That may change the outward appearance but does nothing to change the inner being. Only the Spirit can change the inner being.

Ephesians 3:16-19 English Standard Version (ESV)

¹⁶ that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, ¹⁹ and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Love above knowledge. Changing our hearts is more important than changing our minds. Love leads us to come to a right understanding, not the other way around.

1 Corinthians 2:12-13 English Standard Version (ESV)

¹² Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. ¹³ And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.