John 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

We have established the need for relationship with God. We have established setting aside self-interest. The next step should be hearing God. What does the bible say about hearing God?

The Lord spoke to Abram. Just before this pronouncement, there was no indication of any contact, speech, events or relationship between God and man. This was many generations after the Tower of Babel and the confusion of languages. We know nothing about how Abram would have heard or recognized that it was the Lord. We do not even know if it was an audible voice. Somehow Abram heard and obeyed and for that he became to father of faith to three major religions.

Let us move forward to Moses, the burning bush, and an exchange of dialogue between God and Moses. Moses was living and working with his wife, the daughter of a Median priest. They worshipped the God of Abraham and they lived beneath the mountain of God. Moses had some idea of this God and seeing the burning bush he turned aside from his duties to investigate. In this we see an individual who is hearing God in the midst of a miracle. Something caught his attention. This is still an individual hearing God. God has chosen to speak to Moses. Why hasn’t God spoken to the masses?

Exodus 20:18-19 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.

The masses were afraid to hear God. They were not ready to hear God.

John 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

Now that we have establish a priority in having a relationship with God the Father it seems fair to ask what is next. If we are seeking to walk by faith and faith is in question, then how did Jesus demonstrate faith? I believe that His method is outlined here in John 5:30.

Perhaps the second step is shown in setting aside self-interest in favor of God’s will. Our life before Christ was filled with self-interest. What’s in it for me? How do I get what I want? How do I get ahead? How can I survive in this competitive world? How can I succeed?

If this is true, and I believe it is true, faith is to be used to seek God, please God, and to do His will. Note that this is about kingdom living and allowing this life with Christ and faith to come first before the things of this world. We still live in this world but to live for worldly things endangers our relationship with God.

So the order of faith might be defined as hearing, judging, right conclusions, and to act on those conclusions.

I know my father’s voice because I grew up with him. I saw him nearly every day. I learned who he was by observation, and listened to his instructions in how to live a life he meant for me. Is Father God any different?

John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Replace worship with the word love. My human father I knew in the flesh. I loved him in the flesh. I knew nothing else. When it comes to knowing and loving God, worshipping God, it begins in the spirit.