prayerstrategists.net · Collection of Listening Prayer Verses & DBS Ideas

Listening Prayer

Collection of Listening Prayer Verses & DBS Ideas

Listening Training-

This is LOT more than can be covered in a simple training on Listening Prayer. These Scriptures are all just tools/validation of the point- God wants us to listen to Him. Study these things personally and determine which portions might be most useful/helpful to the folks you are training.

A.God Speaks:

Gen 2:16 (God warns them…)

Gen 3:9 (God calls to man…)

Gen 7:1 (the Lord said to Noah)

Gen 12:1 (spoke with Abram)

Ex 3:7- 4:11 (burning bush, spoke w/ Moses)

Deut 10:1 (spoke to Moses)

Rev 1:10-11 (spoke to John)

Q: What is God doing in each of these passages?

B. Moses and Israel

Ex 15:26

Deut 13:4

Q: What does Moses tell the Israelites they should do?

C. Saul

1 Sam 15:16-23 (God’s rejection of Saul)

Q: Why did God reject Saul?

Q: What was Saul trying to do for the Lord?

Q: What does Samual say is “better than sacrifice?”

Q: Do you ever try to do things for God, rather than simply obey His commands? Which is better?

D. 2 Chronicles 26:3-5, 16-19 (Uzziah)

Q: v 4, How was Uzziah described?

Q: v 16, what happened to Uzziah as he got older?

Q: What did Uzziah do wrong?

Q: Is it possible to presume on God or His laws? How can you avoid doing this in your own life and minsitry?

E. 1 Kings 22:1-38 (Ahab and Jehosephat)

This could be an extended study about motives of the heart, when listening do you have suppositions and expectations about what God should say, already there? Are your ears really open for anything God might tell you to do?

F. Ears to hear verses

Matt 11:15

Matt 13:9

Matt 13:15

Matt 13:43

Mark 4:9

Mark 4:23

Lk 8:8

Lk 14:35

G. For each passage below, answer the following questions:

1 To whom was God speaking?

2 What did God command?

3 What did God promise? (not applicable to every passage)

4 What does the passage teach about listening to God?

Genesis 26:4-5

Exodus 7:13-18; 16:17-20

Numbers 14:21-23

Deut 4:1-2; 13:4

1 Sam 3:1-11

1 Kings 11:38

Psalm 25:4-5, 8-9; 37:23; 85:8-9; 95:1-7

Proverbs 1:22-24; 3:5-6; 16:20

Isaiah 43:1-3; 48:17; 59:1

Jeremiah 10:23

Matthew 11:15; 13:9; 17:5

Mark 4:23-25; 9:25-27; 12:29

John 6:45; 10:1-16

Ephesians 1:9

Hebrews 12:24-25

James 1;19; 22-23

Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29

What do you need to change in order to apply these verses to your life and ministry?

H. Matt 17:1-8 (Mount of Transfiguration)

Jesus took Peter and John with him to the mountaintop. There Jesus became glorious and shining, and two prophets from centuries before were standing with Jesus. Peter spoke out, “Lord, it is good we are here. We can build a temple to honor all three of you!” A cloud came over them and they felt great fear. Then a voice from the cloud said, “This is Beloved Son, My Chosen One. Listen to Him!”

Repeat three times, then practice. Get in groups and repeat until everyone knows it by heart.

Q: What was Peter attempting to do (do something for God)? What is the One command in this story?

H.1. Mary and Martha Story, Lk 10:38-42

According to this story, what’s the best way to honor Jesus- serve him? tell him your opinions and what you want from him, or listen to Him?

I. Luke 6:46-48 (house on the rock = listening and obeying)

46 “Why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? 47 I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens, and then obeys. 48 It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. 49 But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods come against that house, it will collapse into ruin.”

Repeat 3 times, then break into groups and memorize.

Questions about the Story (Lk 6):

1. What do you like about this story? 2. What do you not like about this story? 3. What do we learn about God? 4. What do we learn about man?

Is there a command to obey or an example to follow?

How does this story relate to the command you learned earlier?

Let’s discuss some other questions about the command and the Story:

1. Why do we listen and obey?
2. Who should listen and obey?
3. How do we listen and obey?
4. When should we listen and obey?

Q: How will you apply this to your life and to your disciple-making efforts? J. Who is the Teacher? John 6:45 (Father) John 14:17, 26 (Holy Spirit) Who teaches people? Who is taught? John 10:14-16 (Good Shepherd) K. Holy Spirit in Acts Make a list of who God is directing, and in what way. Acts 9:10 (Ananias) Acts 13:1-2 Acts 16: 6 (Holy Spirit prevented Paul and Silas from preaching in Asia) Acts 16:7 Acts 16:9-10 (vision to Paul- come to Macedonia!) L. Ask for wisdom James 1:5 What is the command in this passage? What does this look like, for you? In what way do you ask God? In what way(s) do you receive an answer? Do you trust that you can properly hear from God? M. All Authority What fears do you have about listening to God and waiting for His answers to your questions? Matt 28:18 What does Jesus say about authority? What does He have authority over? 2 Cor 10:5 As we take our thoughts captive and submit them to Jesus, can we trust that He really has authority over us, over our thoughts, over our capacity to hear? What does He promise in James 1:5? N. Anecdotal Q: Does a good father demand that his children be “better children?” That they “Love your father more!” No, of course a good father never does that. A good father gives his children something specific to obey, not vague commands. He doesn’t demand subjective behavioural norms, but specific tasks to accomplish (wash the dishes, sweep the house, brush your teeth, go to bed, etc.) Would not our heavenly Father be even better than any earthly father, and if so, would not our heavenly Father be right and fair, and specific about the things He wants us to do? We may not have not learned to think of our relationship with the Father in this way, but it does not negate that this is something we see throughout Scripture (Noah, build a boat, make it so long and so high…) And, maybe when we read what seems to be a vague command in the Word, He is expecting us to draw near to Him and ask, “Dad, how would you like me to obey this today?” -When submitting yourself to the Lord in listening prayer, commit the time to the Lord in prayer, submit your mind to Him in prayer, and pray against any evil or distracting influences. Have a journal next to you to write down distracting thoughts (that annoying to-do list) and to write down what you hear Him say. Ask Him a specific question about your ministry, or about your life. Then be silent. Wait for an answer. You may sit in silence for 10 or even 20 minutes. Wait for an impression in your mind, or a specific word, like a voice, or maybe you will get a picture in your mind, or a Scripture you should look up. Doing this with other people often helps to clarify what God is saying. If the question is a decision about the family, then do this with your family, and expect your children can hear from Him just as well as you do. If this is about ministry, then do this with your teammates. – Maybe you don’t have a pressing issue about life or ministry. Still, you can use (should use) listening prayer regularly in your walk with God. After reading His Word, you can ask Him “How shall I apply this to my life today/this week, Lord?” You will find your heart opening up to a closer relationship with the father and you will be growing in sensitivity to His moment-by-moment leading. In conclusion: Make a list of the commands you heard from this study. What do you need to do, or to change, in order to apply these passages to your life and ministry? What are some pressing issues in your life or ministry for which you are going to spend some time listening to God for answers? Make a list and put those times in your calendar, now.

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