A Sound in the Air

“He calls his own sheep by name and  leads them out….and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.” (John 10:3b, 4b)

“Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” (2 Peter 1:2-4)

There are two words in the passages above that I am thinking about right now-‘voice’ and ‘know/knowledge’.  Both are speaking about experiencing the presence of God, and to hear the voice of God with increasing clarity. The following is the first of two parts centering on these passages, and it’s my hope that, as you read, you will be drawn to a deeper place of experiencing God’s presence.

Back in 2007, I received a series of revelations on the shifting paradigm from the external realm of the kingdoms of men, to the interior realm of the Spirit and the Kingdom of God. During that time a strong word was placed within me. God said, “What you are holding in your heart you will hold in your hand. It is an unalterable law of My Spirit.” That word has not changed; but, has picked up speed and power. Over the last three years a number of desires I had long held in my heart literally were fulfilled. And, I believe this is only a foretaste of what God intends to do in 2010.

Toward the end of last year God said the new year would be one of ‘completion’, of ‘prophetic fulfillment’. That there would be a powerful explosion of creativity. The desires of the hearts of His people would be brought forth to be held in their hands; and, abundant provision would pour out through wonderful creative ways for Kingdom expansion. In other words, the time is at hand for the Sons of God to be revealed with God’s Authority and Power for the bringing in of a Great Harvest.

This is happening. There is a stirring in the hearts of many, a sense deep inside that something huge is about to take place. And, what is important is that this stirring is literally a turning of the ‘ears of the heart’ toward the Voice of the Lord, and an opening of the ‘eyes of the heart’ to see the Face of God. The Bride is turning the words of her Bridegroom spoken over her back toward Him, “Show me your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet and your face is lovely.” (Song of Songs 2:14). And, God is responding.

I am saying all this to lead up to what is called the “Sound of Heaven”. Psalm 29:3-8 speak of the “voice of the Lord”, and how His voice “is over”, “thunders”, “strikes with flashes of lightning”, “shakes”. In other words, the Voice of God is all consuming. It is over all, above all, in all, through all. Literally, the Voice of God, the Word of God, is the very energy holding all things together. It is the Eternal Sound of Eternal Life.

We live in the atmosphere of sound. We literally are made up of sound. Our very DNA carries a unique sound. Scientists can literally ‘play’ strands of our DNA and it sounds as music. Put it this way: we are a SONG. We carry within the Sound of Heaven. The stirring of our hearts is the rising up of our Song to align with, merge with, the Song of the Lord. When that happens, there is a tangible release of God’s Presence.

HEARING THE VOICE

Jesus said that His sheep “know” the voice of their Shepherd. That is an important word. It is one used in His priestly prayer, “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” (John 17:3 emphasis mine)

Peter uses the same word twice in the form of “knowledge”. This word is not speaking of ‘information’; but, of EXPERIENCE. The ancient way of using it was often for “sexual intercourse”. In other words, the marriage bed was (and is) the place where husband “knows” his wife, and she her husband. Bride and Bridegroom do not simply gather data; but, enter into the place of intimate experience.

This is very important. We live in a ‘religious’ nation. We have seen the organized church become an ‘institution’ of learning about Jesus, not a place of ‘knowing’ Jesus. A system of religion has been built in which the almost endless variety of denominations and affiliations operate purely from the platform of performance. And, while many confess Jesus Christ as Savior, and the Bible to be the Word of God; nevertheless, there is little or no intimate relationship with Jesus as Lord. Thus no authority and power to walk with Him as King.

My point is this: We have serious issues facing us as a nation. These cannot be dealt with effectively when we split ourselves into two–a secular self that lives in the world everyday, and a spiritual self that only honors God, or believes in God, on one day a week, or for a few short hours during our busy schedules. We cannot see life change for the better when we relagate Jesus to a place of religion. He did not die on a cross to establish a religion in His name; but, to remove the veil of separation keeping us from ‘intimacy’ with Him.

The Lord says, “Listen! Quiet your heart in these days of great noise. Be still and KNOW that I AM your God.”

“It is not your behavior I AM after. It is not your performance of ritual that impresses Me. It is your heart I AM after. For, I AM your First Love, and I AM calling you to return to Me and be with Me in the Secret Chamber of Love.”

“You have been deceived, Beloved. The evil one has manipulated you into exchanging the Glory of My Presence for the peforming of religious duty. The exchanging of Love’s Embrace for the obedience to rule, law, commands, teachings of men. You have thought that if you behaved right then you are right; that if you cleaned the outside of the cup then the inside would be clean also. But, this has not brought the change you had hoped for.”

“There is no life in such things, Beloved; for, life is IN ME. Return to Me. Come into the Secret Chamber, the Holy Place deep within. Shut out all other voices. Be still before Me. And, you will begin to hear My Voice. At first it may sound like a quiet song carried on the evening breeze, or a whisper, a breath close to your heart. You will hear it, and you will begin to rise to meet the Song. The Song that you ARE will rise and join with My Song.  And, you will find the weight of the burdens of men fall away. The burdens of law and rule, of performing and measuring up will slip from your shoulders.”

The Lord says, “You will find great freedom in this. You will find the circumstances of life will not control your heart, mind, emotions. A great peace will settle upon you, and increasing confidence will empower you. Be still now, Beloved. Be filled with Me. All this, and more, shall be yours in abundance. Rejoice, for I AM with you.”