by Alan Langstaff

Two weeks ago, we looked at spiritual leadership, and I told the story of the purchase of Channel 23 TV Station. It’s in my book “The Best is Yet to Be.” Today I want to give some more examples of hearing the voice of the Lord. All of us need to develop that ability, but especially leaders.

But first of all, let us look at a Scriptural basis of hearing God’s voice. Take, for example, John 10:1-5 (NKJV) – 

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them.”

He relates to a shepherd and his sheep. In verse 10, He declares, “And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.”

In other words, Jesus, the good Shepherd, not only leads the sheep (that is you and I) but also communicates with the sheep (the believer). They hear His voice (he calls each individual person by name). There is an individuality to communication. We don’t necessarily hear the Lord the same way all the time, but all of us are meant to do what He is saying, maybe for that very moment.

A WORD FOR THE MOMENT

When He communicates with us, it may be for that very moment right now; we need to hear and, as a result, need to act.

Two weeks ago I told the story of the purchase of Channel 23 TV Station. As the only one of the Executives available, I had to hear from God right then. In response to my prayer of “Help!” He told me we were to “Bet the farm” – i.e., not hold back in any way. As a result, we bought the TV Station.

So there are times when we need to hear the voice of the Lord right there and then and in turn act upon His direction. Remember, “understanding can wait, but obedience can’t.”

A WORD FOR THE FUTURE

Let me tell you a story where it related to later on. For over twenty years I was involved in Christian Television. Initially, it was with the PTL Club (Jim Bakker) as I was the Australia Director and the host of the Australian version of the program. It involved going to Charlotte, North Carolina, many times each year.

On one of those occasions, I watched the American program of the PTL Club being filmed. It involved some missionaries who were sharing about what God was doing worldwide. They mentioned China, which was then involving the nation opening up to the world. It was starting to do business with other nations.

As I was watching, God spoke clearly to me when He said, “You will be in China before the end of the year.” I had not considered going to China, but God had spoken so clearly I knew I was going to China that year.

Now I didn’t run off and buy an airline ticket to China. I just knew that if it was going to happen, the Lord would have to arrange things for me to go.

Some months later I received communication from Dr. Yonggi Cho, the pastor of what was then the largest church in the world located in South Korea. It was an invitation to come to his church for a week and speak at his church. This was a unique privilege which I readily accepted. I ended up planning my visit so that I could have some time in Hong Kong and hopefully do a quick trip into China. In time of that year, I set off. I still remember on the plane talking to some Australian businessmen who were on their way to China. I explained that I hoped to go to China a bit. They explained to me that I would have had to apply months ago. They didn’t think it would happen. I booked into a Hotel and then went to the Chinese office to inquire about going to China. They explained to me that was not the usual way to arrange a trip, but they said there was a short tour going into China that week that had one seat available. So I booked it up for that train and went into China just as the Lord had told me would happen. I have a beautiful picture taken with a group of Chinese children from that trip.

On that occasion it was a word for the future. The Good Shepherd orchestrated details that made it possible to go. From there I went to South Korea and ministered in Dr. Cho’s church.

A WORD FOR MUNDANE THINGS

Let me tell of an incident that involved everyday things. Very early after we moved to America, I was invited to speak at a service on Ash Wednesday.

By the time I got home to our townhouse, I was tired. I drove into the basement Garage, and after fixing a few things, I headed up the stairs to the living part of the Townhouse. I distinctly remembered to press the button, and the Garage door began its descent as I walked up the stairs. I had only two thoughts in my mind at that time. I would get something to eat from the refrigerator, and then I would go to bed.

After I had been to the refrigerator and I was halfway to the stairs that took me up to the bedrooms, I heard the voice of the Lord with an impression in my mind: “The Garage Door is open.”

I stood perplexed. I knew I had closed the door to the Garage. How could it be open? So I had a debate. One part of me said, “It is open,” and another part said, “It is closed.” This went on for a while until I decided I would go down and check it out.

I opened the basement door, and there the Garage door was open to the street. But how could that be? I realized that when I was back home and was to put the garbage can out. That night, while I moved the pile out to the street, I must have dislodged something into the Garage Door sensor. The Garage door came down, but when it struck that object, it reversed course and went back straight up again.

What was the Lord doing? Protecting the house, maybe. But he was also giving me an illustration that I have used quite often – that God speaks even when we are not expecting Him to do so, about the little things as well as big ones.

SOME CLOSING THOUGHTS

1) God speaks to individuals in many ways. See the book, “Love Speaks.” 

2) God’s Word is sometimes for immediate action; sometimes it is to get us ready for the future. 

3) The important thing is for a person to develop the ability to hear God’s voice.

He is the shepherd, and we are the sheep. Let us listen to His voice and then be ready to respond.