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!


 

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Fulfill Your Financial Destiny

Fulfill Your Financial Destiny

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 66 Pages

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This is a workbook which guides you in meditating on hundreds of New Testament verses which speak of Who Christ is within us and how to touch and release Him and His wisdom, power and might continuously and effortlessly out through our lives. You will look up every New Testament verse on being "in Christ," "in Him" and "in Whom." In addition, you will meditate on the various names given to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and realize that all that He is is available within you and even joined to you (1 Cor. 6:17)! Absolutely amazing!

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Health Mastery Through MRT

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 82 Pages

Wouldn't it be great if there were a way for my body to tell me exactly what it needs and desires, without having to take expensive or invasive tests? Wouldn't it be amazing if I could perform these tests as often as I wanted, right in my own home (or anywhere I wanted), with no costly instruments necessary? 

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Hearing God Through Biblical Meditation

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 179 Pages | $15.99 retail list price

For many years I studied the Bible incorrectly, and it produced death rather than life. Even though I had a knowledge of the Scriptures, I did not personally experience the life and the realities they revealed. The Bible calls this the ministry of death, rather than the ministry of righteousness (2 Cor. 3:6–9). Upon coming out of Bible college, I found myself just like the apostle Paul, attacking those who disagreed with my theology. 

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How Do You Know?

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 180 Pages

How do you know? What is the process you use to discover truth? I did not ask that question during the first 25 years of my life. I used eleven different methods for discovering truth including: if my parents said so, then it was so. If my teacher said it was so, then it was so. If my pastor said it was so, then it was so. If my theology said it was so, then it was so. I have discarded them all and adopted a twelfth method, which is in harmony with what the Bible teaches. We teach you this method in this book.

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How to Build a Winning Team

How to Build a Winning Team

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 105 Pages

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!

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How to Receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit

How to Receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 44 Pages | Published 2002

This brief booklet walks a person through the main obstacles to speaking in tongues, and shows how each one can be successfully overcome. It is down-to-earth, practical and biblical, and in it Mark Virkler shares the struggles he went through before he was able to speak in tongues. Some were theological issues and some simply practical issues, like the fact that if I am going to speak in tongues, I will need to speak. Otherwise, nothing happens.

Price: $2.95
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How to Walk by the Spirit

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 136 Pages | Previous name "Sense Your Spirit"

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Price: $13.95
Intimacy with the Holy Spirit

Intimacy with the Holy Spirit

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 223 Pages

This book leads you in meditating on and journaling about two hundred and fifty verses that discuss the Holy Spirit. You will grow in intimacy with the indwelling Holy Spirit, and the anointing within you will increase! You will exclaim as the disciples did on the Emmaus Road “Did not our heart burn within us…while He opened to us the scriptures?” (Luke 24:32)! In addition to being led to journal through these verses, you will read numerous two-way journal entries from Mark Virkler, as well as a five-page prayer at the conclusion of the book.

Price: $10.95

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