Approaching Scripture with a Listening Heart

Mark Virkler's picture

The following story is from Robin Little: I recently resumed my studies with CLU after a four year break.  In the second lesson of the foundational course, How to Hear God's Voice, I had a question for my Instructor but she suggested I journal it instead.  Here are my questions and Father God's surprising answers.


Father, what do You want to say to me regarding this question I had for my Instructor? "...I am not sure yet about what he is saying about Genesis, that we are not to use our minds and Scripture to determine right from wrong but are only to listen to God's voice in our own hearts.  Karen, what are your thoughts on this?  Doesn't this open us up to deception, like the girl who shared how she had slept with her boyfriend but didn't think it was wrong since they didn't feel convicted about it?"

Robin, just as a young child goes to his parent with questions about a book he is reading instead of trying to figure it out himself, I want you to come to Me with your questions about the Word.  Does a child go to his schoolbooks to discern right from wrong or does he simply ask His Dad?

I want you to become wholly dependent upon Me so that your mind is My servant instead of you being your mind's servant.  I will show you the way you should walk, sometimes speaking from My Word, sometimes speaking directly to your heart, but always from My heart to yours. 

But what about my friend's lack of conviction?  Does that somehow absolve her and her boyfriend of guilt?

No, it merely points to a hardness of heart, for My words will never contradict My Word.  But My point is that I want you to become dependent on Me.  Talk to Me as you read.  Listen for My heart instead of looking for logical connections.

But what if I hear wrong? 

Come back to My word, to the place of apparent contradiction, and listen for My heart in the situation, ask for more revelation.  Then ask Me why you heard wrong, look for vision, and I will show you why.

Lord, what is the role of my three spiritual advisors in all this?

Robin, the role of your 3 spiritual advisors is simply to take you by the hand and lead you to Me.  If you ever wander from the path they will gently bring you back.  If you get hurt they can help you to heal by bringing you back to Me.

For I am your Healer, I am your Comforter, I am your Counselor - but you must come to Me. So if your wounds ever lead you astray, your advisors are there to gently bring you back to Me.  You have chosen well My son, you have chosen well.  I do not desire counsellors who will control My sheep but who will lead them back to Me.

Love,

Your Dad

Courses Robin Was Taking with Christian Leadership University

Communion with God

A thoroughly practical course on hearing God's voice. Biblical techniques of vision and journaling will be combined to help one discern and clarify the spontaneous thoughts that come from God. (Key verses: Habakkuk 2:1-4) The goal is that one commune (converse) with God through the fellowship of the Holy Spirit and that this communion flow both ways.

 

“I'm taking Communion With God. I am so blessed so far. My life is already completely transformed. I went from hearing God speak to me once in a while to hearing Him not just in my journaling times but even throughout the rest of the day. What a difference this has made.”

— Andrew Steck

 

“We have been using Communion With God for some months now in all our home groups and one after another people whose prayer lives were dry difficult affairs have blossomed as they have heard the Heavenly Father commune with them, His children.”

— Rev. Bill A. VanZutphen,
Baptist Church, Wollongong, Australia

 

“Oh my, I am speechless...I have completed only the first several lessons in Communion With God and my life has been totally, totally transformed. He is such a wonderful, wonderful God. A few months ago I told Him I was desperate for more of Him...I had no idea His answer to my prayer would be so exceedingly abundantly above anything I could ever have imagined. My days and nights are now filled with His presence. Thank you for your service to Him, Mr. Virkler. I will be in touch as I progress through the course....”

— Amy


Pentateuch

The student will read through Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy at a rate of about two chapters per day. He will discover, record, and share his insights from each chapter. The background and theme of each book are studied, and major biblical themes are traced. The student is exposed to proper principles of biblical interpretation and is required to work with them. The revelation of the Holy Spirit as the Author of the Scriptures is central throughout.


Want to learn more?

Find out about the various online certificate and degree programs through CLU or discover how you can take these classes with our brand new School of the Spirit which offers a simpler, less expensive version of each course.Try it out free today!


 

Related Blogs: 

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Rivers of Grace DVD Package

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 1 Book | 1 LEARN Notebook | 1 DVD

You can be the parent God wants you to be: loving, encouraging, trusting and able to raise up your children in the way they should go, fulfilling their own unique destinies. Parenting was not intended to be a burden, and anyone who tells you differently has bought into a lie. You will learn to enjoy parenting as an exciting, joy-filled, divinely-ordained opportunity, not a wearying responsibility.

Price: $36.89
Spirit-Anointed Teaching Package

Spirit-Anointed Teaching Package

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 2 Books | 2 CDs | 2 DVDs

Spirit-Anointed Teaching Materials designed to strengthen ALL teachers including parents, Sunday school teachers, cell group leaders, pastors and educators in every field! These materials will give you the tools to become a Spirit-anointed trainer!

“They were amazed at His teaching; He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” (Mark 1:22)

Price: $35.85

Take Charge of Your Health DVD Package

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 1 book | 12 Video Sessions

Discover how you can take charge of your own health — keeping yourself young, energetic, attractive, and free of degenerative diseases! Discover the biblical injunctions on diet and health, and the amazing correlations between them and modern scientific research. Updated in 2015 with 20 years of fresh insights since recording the previous "Go Natural" series!

Price: $69.90

Through the Bible 1: Pentateuch DVD Package

1 DVD Set by Dr. Andrew Hardy | 1 Book by Mark and Patti Virkler

Dr. Andrew Hardy takes you from Genesis through Deuteronomy in 10 sessions. This is part one of our Through the Bible series, which gives you an overview of the entire Bible. It contains DVDs of Pentateuch as well as Through the Bible workbook

Price: $44.00

Through the Bible 6: Life of Christ DVD Package

4 DVDs by Dr. Andrew Hardy | 1 Book by Mark and Patti Virkler

Dr. Andrew Hardy takes you through the Life of Christ in 10 sessions. This package contains part six of our Through The Bible series, which offer you an in-depth overview of the entire Bible. You may choose to begin with the Life of Christ and work your way through the entire New Testament, and then follow this up by going through the Old Testament.

Why are there four Gospels describing Jesus' life? How are the three synoptic Gospels different from John? What does God want to say to me through the life of Jesus? Can I really imitate Christ and be like him? Yes, Jesus came to model the lifestyle God has empowered us to live!

Price: $44.00
Through the Bible Discounted DVD Package

Through the Bible Discounted DVD Package

1 Book | 8 DVD Sets | 1 Single DVD | 1 Single CD

This package gives you the tools to transform your study of the Scriptures into encounters with their Author Who will personally reveal what He wants to say to you through them each day! First is a CD which teaches you how to meditate on Scriptures so you receive revelation from the Holy Spirit as you prayerfully read the Word (Josh. 1:8; Eph. 1:17,18). You will discover how this is different from, and much deeper than, simple western study. Next is a Through the Bible workbook which guides you chapter-by-chapter through the entire Bible. Finally, we provide the cultural, historical and linguistic insights of Dr. Andrew Hardy, a British scholar in the eight DVD sets which are all part of this discounted package.

Price: $199.00

Through the Bible New Testament DVD Package

3 DVD Sets by Dr. Andrew Hardy | 1 Book by Mark and Patti Virkler

Dr. Andrew Hardy takes you through the New Testament in three modules. This package includes parts six - eight of our Through The Bible series,  which provide you an overview of the entire Bible. You may choose to begin with the Life of Christ and work your way through the entire New Testament, and then follow this up by going through the Old Testament.

Why are there four Gospels describing Jesus' life? How are the three synoptic Gospels different from John? What does God want to say to me through the life of Jesus? Can I really imitate Christ and be like him? Yes, Jesus came to model the lifestyle God has empowered us to live!

Price: $89.00

Through the Bible Old Testament DVD Package

5 DVD Sets by Dr. Andrew Hardy | 1 Book by Mark and Patti Virkler

Dr. Andrew Hardy takes you through the entire Old Testament in these five modules. This is a part of our Through the Bible series, which gives you an overview of the entire Bible. This package contains five DVD modules which span the Old Testament and includes the Through the Bible workbook

Price: $144.00

Unique Gifts Make Winning Teams DVD Package

2 books | 1 card | 1 DVD set

Can I succeed like others have? What do I need to do? How do I go about it? What if I don't have the gifts necessary to do something great?  The wonderful truth revealed in Scripture is that God uses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary feats, especially when they say, "Yes, Lord" to the destiny He has prepared for them!

Price: $69.95

Unleashing Healing Power Through Spirit-Born Emotions DVD Package

Book | 14 DVD sessions | CDs of 5 devotionals set to music

Experience Healing for Your Body, Soul, and Spirit through Kingdom Emotions!

In Christianity, emotions are often considered to be misleading and untrustworthy—a lingering part of our fallen nature that distract us from God’s truth. But our emotions were created by God, and though the enemy may seek to manipulate our hearts, Jesus sets us free! This practical teaching will empower you to see emotions as unique channels through which the Holy Spirit works to bring miraculous life-transformation, deliverance and healing.

Price: $95.00

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