Adam Dyer

Ps. Adam Dyer grew up with the “Titanic Gospel.” Here, the only thing that mattered was people’s “souls.” The “ship was going down” so, you had to get as many people to heaven as possible before they died. This perspective failed him as a child and, along with the moral failure of his pastor (his father!), led him through a process of deconstruction as a young adult. Later, God called him into pastoral ministry and he reluctantly obeyed. His question at the time was, “where did the church go wrong and how can we do it differently?” On this episode of the God Conversations podcast, Tania and Adam discuss a much bigger gospel than the “Titanic Gospel” and show how the Spirit works both inside and outside the church to bring about the reconciliation of all things. The Gospel.. “should be good news for everybody, not just good news for a few and terrible news for everybody else.” In the podcast, Adam:  Tells his personal story of deconstruction as he struggled with the person of Jesus and the church who had failed him. Shares his hearing God experiences and how as a young boy, he just “knew stuff about people. For Adam, “sensing the Spirit moving was like sherbet running through my veins.” Reminds us that the Spirit isn’t just what shows up when “we sing the right songs and get the right key change.” The Spirit shows up in families who are trying to navigate chaos and brokenness.  “When you encounter Jesus in the homeless person, you encounter a different Jesus to the sanitised version you might sing about on Sunday morning.”  Tells the story of woman on suicide watch and how volunteering with the church’s homeless program (even as a non-Christian) saved her life. Shares the conviction that if God is involved in community, the whole community should be blessed whether they believe in Jesus or not. Tells a story about the signs of spirit at work when a formerly homeless woman bought a stack of potato crisps (chips!) from the supermarket and insisted on giving them out.  Shows us how to work with the Spirit inside and outside the church.  “It’s not about about choreographing the Spirit. We create space for God to do things. It’s a posture shift… God is saying ‘Stop trying to do things for me!'” Subscribe to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode!  Ps. Adam Dyer is leader of Yeovil Community Church in the south west of England. YCC is a vibrant church who is pioneering in community transformation. Adam is also the executive director of Jesus Collective and the author of Unknown: What if God’s Not Like That? He is married to Rachel who also leads at YCC, and together they have four children and two grandchildren. Find Adam at: Jesus Collective  Yeovil Community Church UK Adam’s Book: Unknown: What if God’s Not Like That? 

Ps. Adam Dyer grew up with the “Titanic Gospel.” Here, the only thing that mattered was people’s “souls.” The “ship was going down” so, you had to get as many people to heaven as possible before they died. This perspective failed him as a child and, along with the moral failure of his pastor (his father!), led him through a process of deconstruction as a young adult. Later, God called him into pastoral ministry and he reluctantly obeyed. His question at the time was, “where did the church go wrong and how can we do it differently?” On this episode of the God Conversations podcast, Tania and Adam discuss a much bigger gospel than the “Titanic Gospel” and show how the Spirit works both inside and outside the church to bring about the reconciliation of all things. <blockquote>The Gospel.. “should be good news for everybody, not just good news for a few and terrible news for everybody else.”</blockquote> In the podcast, Adam: <ul> <li>Tells his personal story of deconstruction as he struggled with the person of Jesus and the church who had failed him.</li> <li>Shares his hearing God experiences and how as a young boy, he just “knew stuff about people. For Adam, “sensing the Spirit moving was like sherbet running through my veins.”</li> <li>Reminds us that the Spirit isn’t just what shows up when “we sing the right songs and get the right key change.” The Spirit shows up in families who are trying to navigate chaos and brokenness.</li> </ul> <blockquote>“When you encounter Jesus in the homeless person, you encounter a different Jesus to the sanitised version you might sing about on Sunday morning.”</blockquote> <ul> <li>Tells the story of woman on suicide watch and how volunteering with the church’s homeless program (even as a non-Christian) saved her life.</li> <li>Shares the conviction that if God is involved in community, the whole community should be blessed whether they believe in Jesus or not.</li> <li>Tells a story about the signs of spirit at work when a formerly homeless woman bought a stack of potato crisps (chips!) from the supermarket and insisted on giving them out. </li> <li>Shows us how to work with the Spirit inside and outside the church.</li> </ul> <blockquote>“It’s not about about choreographing the Spirit. We create space for God to do things. It’s a posture shift… God is saying ‘Stop trying to do things for me!'”</blockquote> <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/god-conversations-tania-harris/id763485403" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode! Ps. Adam Dyer is leader of Yeovil Community Church in the south west of England. YCC is a vibrant church who is pioneering in community transformation. Adam is also the executive director of Jesus Collective and the author of Unknown: What if God’s Not Like That? He is married to Rachel who also leads at YCC, and together they have four children and two grandchildren. Find Adam at: <a href="http://jesuscollective.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Jesus Collective </a> <a href="https://yeovilcommunitychurch.co.uk/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Yeovil Community Church UK</a> Adam’s Book: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/What-Gods-Not-Like-That/dp/1910786799" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Unknown: What if God’s Not Like That?</a>

(079) Working with Holy Spirit in the Community – Adam Dyer

Carl Wesley Anderson

God Told Arthur Guinness to Make a Better Drink and other Famous God-conversations in History God is and always has been a talking God. The Hebrew Scriptures alone record over 3500 different God-conversations. Then in the New Testament, we read of at least another 30 more. But God continues to speak beyond the stories of ancient Israel and the early church. God has spoken throughout history and the stories continue to be thrilling. On this episode, I join North American evangelist and filmmaker Reverend Carl Wesley Anderson, to talk about God conversations in history. You’ll hear about Carl’s own life-changing God-conversation in his journey through cancer as well as three others that changed the course of history. 1. Carl Anderson (21st C): “Choose this cancer treatment” God spoke to Carl throughout his recovery from Stage 3b skin cancer, including a dream of his oncologist revealing which cancer treatment he should opt for. 2. Evan Roberts (20th C): “Preach this sermon” God told Evan Roberts to preach to the young people of his hometown. God even gave him the four key points. When Evan did what God said, it sparked a powerful revival that led to 100,000 people coming to faith in 5 months. 3. St Patrick (5th C): “Go! Your ship is ready” Patrick was an English slave in Ireland when God spoke to him in a dream, “Go, your ship is ready!” Patrick escaped during the night and walked 100 miles to the coast where he found the ship from his dream ready to return him to England. Some years later, Patrick had another dream – this time, he saw a group of people on the shores of Ireland beckoning him to return. Again, Patrick heeded God’s voice, moving back to Ireland to preach. So began the transformation of a nation. 4. Arthur Guinness (18th C): “Make a better drink” God spoke to Arthur to make a better drink than gin with minimal alcohol and high levels of nutrients. And so Guinness was born. The profits from this God-conversation and Arthur’s very successful drink was used to finance a range of philanthropic projects including missions to China and beyond. Subscribe to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode! Watch Carl’s series: Love Speaks, Episode 1 for free! 20% discount on Love Speaks Documentary Film Series. Use the CODE “TANIA20” at the checkout! SUBSCRIBE to Carl’s YouTube channel “To the Ends of the Earth.” About Carl Wesley Anderson  Rev. Carl Wesley Anderson (B.Comm Arts, M.Div) is an international equipping evangelist and documentary filmmaker. His vision is to inspire and equip believers for passionate discipleship and hearing God’s voice through itinerant ministry and as a “media missionary.” Carl is the Founder and Executive Director of Born to Blaze Ministries, the author of the book Love Speaks, the writer/director/producer of two television series, Love Speaks &amp; From History to Hope and documentary Does God Talk Back? He resides in Buffalo, Minnesota, USA with his wife Sarah and their three children.

<h3>God Told Arthur Guinness to Make a Better Drink and other Famous God-conversations in History</h3> God is and always has been a talking God. The Hebrew Scriptures alone record over 3500 different God-conversations. Then in the New Testament, we read of at least another 30 more. But God continues to speak beyond the stories of ancient Israel and the early church. God has spoken throughout history and the stories continue to be thrilling. On this episode, I join North American evangelist and filmmaker Reverend Carl Wesley Anderson, to talk about God conversations in history. You’ll hear about Carl’s own life-changing God-conversation in his journey through cancer as well as three others that changed the course of history. <h3>1. Carl Anderson (21st C): “Choose this cancer treatment”</h3> God spoke to Carl throughout his recovery from Stage 3b skin cancer, including a dream of his oncologist revealing which cancer treatment he should opt for. <h3>2. Evan Roberts (20th C): “Preach this sermon”</h3> God told Evan Roberts to preach to the young people of his hometown. God even gave him the four key points. When Evan did what God said, it sparked a powerful revival that led to 100,000 people coming to faith in 5 months. <h3>3. St Patrick (5th C): “Go! Your ship is ready”</h3> Patrick was an English slave in Ireland when God spoke to him in a dream, “Go, your ship is ready!” Patrick escaped during the night and walked 100 miles to the coast where he found the ship from his dream ready to return him to England. Some years later, Patrick had another dream – this time, he saw a group of people on the shores of Ireland beckoning him to return. Again, Patrick heeded God’s voice, moving back to Ireland to preach. So began the transformation of a nation. <h3>4. Arthur Guinness (18th C): “Make a better drink”</h3> God spoke to Arthur to make a better drink than gin with minimal alcohol and high levels of nutrients. And so Guinness was born. The profits from this God-conversation and Arthur’s very successful drink was used to finance a range of philanthropic projects including missions to China and beyond. <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/god-conversations-tania-harris/id763485403" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode! Watch Carl’s series: <a href="https://youtu.be/F-qDgGYqtVk" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Love Speaks, Episode 1</a> for free! 20% discount on <a href="https://lovespeaks.tv" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Love Speaks Documentary Film Series.</a> Use the CODE “TANIA20” at the checkout! SUBSCRIBE to Carl’s YouTube channel “To the Ends of the Earth.” <h3>About Carl Wesley Anderson</h3> Rev. Carl Wesley Anderson (B.Comm Arts, M.Div) is an international equipping evangelist and documentary filmmaker. His vision is to inspire and equip believers for passionate discipleship and hearing God’s voice through itinerant ministry and as a “media missionary.” Carl is the Founder and Executive Director of Born to Blaze Ministries, the author of the book Love Speaks, the writer/director/producer of two television series, Love Speaks &amp; From History to Hope and documentary Does God Talk Back? He resides in Buffalo, Minnesota, USA with his wife Sarah and their three children.

(078) God Conversations in History – Carl Wesley Anderson

Ally Cawthorn

We’re called to become more like Jesus. But does that mean we’re supposed to become more like a Middle-Eastern man? When we become a Christian, we learn that the goal is to grow “more like Jesus.” As a young person, I used to wonder what that meant. I wasn’t very enthused by the thought that I should aim to become like someone other than myself! So what does it look like to become spiritually mature?  Spiritual growth is work of the Spirit and involves deep and thorough transformation. The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, “if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Cor 5:17).  But that doesn’t usually mean that God snaps his fingers and the work is done. Formation is a process outworked in conjunction with the Holy Spirit. In other words, we have an important role to play too.  In this episode of the God Conversations podcast, Tania explores the process of spiritual formation and how we co-operate with the Spirit to make us new. Her guest is Ps Ally Cawthorn from Western Australia. Ally pastors a church with her husband and is the founding director of ‘The Immersion Academy’, a spiritual formation academy that seeks to reimagine ancient Christian formation practices for a contemporary context. The episode covers:  Ally’s story and how spiritual formation came to be a key part of her leadership journey. The goal of spiritual formation – to become our true selves. That involves letting go of false ways of being and removing the masks we often wear. The Spirit works to set us free from death-producing behaviours and become the person we’ve been created to be. The pathway of spiritual formation as individualised. While the goal is spiritual maturity, the pathway will look different for every person. Spiritual practices that facilitate the work of the Spirit – including contemplative practices such as slow-down prayer and slow reading of Scripture, journalling, silence and spiritual direction.  The way triggers in our behaviour such as anger, jealousy and anxiety can act as opportunities for reflection and growth.  In following Jesus and allowing the Spirit to work in us, we become more like true selves. Subscribe to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode!  Ally Cawthorn (D.Min, MA. Bib. Stud.) pastors Urban Church in Western Australia along with her husband. She is the Vice President of Australian Christian Churches (ACC), Western Australia and was elected as a member of the ACC National Executive in 2021. She is also the Founding Director of ‘The Immersion Academy’ (www.theimmersionacademy.com), a spiritual formation academy that seeks to reimagine ancient Christian formation practices for a contemporary, Pentecostal context. Ally is passionate about equipping believers to live a prophetic life and is seeing Christians experience a deeper relationship with God.  

We’re called to become more like Jesus. But does that mean we’re supposed to become more like a Middle-Eastern man? When we become a Christian, we learn that the goal is to grow “more like Jesus.” As a young person, I used to wonder what that meant. I wasn’t very enthused by the thought that I should aim to become like someone other than myself! So what does it look like to become spiritually mature?  Spiritual growth is work of the Spirit and involves deep and thorough transformation. The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, “if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Cor 5:17).  But that doesn’t usually mean that God snaps his fingers and the work is done. Formation is a process outworked in conjunction with the Holy Spirit. In other words, we have an important role to play too.  In this episode of the God Conversations podcast, Tania explores the process of spiritual formation and how we co-operate with the Spirit to make us new. Her guest is Ps Ally Cawthorn from Western Australia. Ally pastors a church with her husband and is the founding director of ‘The Immersion Academy’, a spiritual formation academy that seeks to reimagine ancient Christian formation practices for a contemporary context. The episode covers: <ul> <li>Ally’s story and how spiritual formation came to be a key part of her leadership journey.</li> <li>The goal of spiritual formation – to become our true selves. That involves letting go of false ways of being and removing the masks we often wear. The Spirit works to set us free from death-producing behaviours and become the person we’ve been created to be.</li> <li>The pathway of spiritual formation as individualised. While the goal is spiritual maturity, the pathway will look different for every person.</li> <li>Spiritual practices that facilitate the work of the Spirit – including contemplative practices such as slow-down prayer and slow reading of Scripture, journalling, silence and spiritual direction. </li> <li>The way triggers in our behaviour such as anger, jealousy and anxiety can act as opportunities for reflection and growth.</li> </ul> In following Jesus and allowing the Spirit to work in us, we become more like true selves. <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/god-conversations-tania-harris/id763485403" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode! Ally Cawthorn (D.Min, MA. Bib. Stud.) pastors Urban Church in Western Australia along with her husband. She is the Vice President of Australian Christian Churches (ACC), Western Australia and was elected as a member of the ACC National Executive in 2021. She is also the Founding Director of ‘The Immersion Academy’ (<a href="http://www.theimmersionacademy.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.theimmersionacademy.com</a>), a spiritual formation academy that seeks to reimagine ancient Christian formation practices for a contemporary, Pentecostal context. Ally is passionate about equipping believers to live a prophetic life and is seeing Christians experience a deeper relationship with God.

(077) The Spirit in Spiritual Formation – Ally Cawthorn

Robbo Robertson

If God truly is the Creator, that makes him the supreme artist. We’ve all enjoyed the beauty of a world that never ceases to amaze and delight. But if God sent his Spirit to fill us and speak to us, what does that mean for human creativity? How does having God’s creative Spirit make a difference in our lives? On this episode, we’re talking all things Holy Spirit and creativity. Our guest Ps. Bruce (Robbo) Robertson is a unique combination of pastor, prophet and a creative! After many productive years in youth ministry and a variety of church leadership roles, he is currently serving as a pastor at Hope Unlimited Church (Hope UC) in the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia. In the podcast, we talk about:  The creativity of God!  “God the most dynamic, creative being imaginable. All our creative urges derive from God. We call God the “Ancient of Days”, but God is not old. God is ever present and infinitively beyond our capacity for imagination. We must not reduce the communicative side of God into our very small condensed, ritualised world.”  The link between hearing God’s voice, creativity and the diverse ways God speaks How God speaks through the beauty and diversity of creation.  “The whole universe resonates with the incredible sound of God’s creativity. This utterly creative God wants to communicate to us and speak through us. What an incredible privilege. We mustn’t dumb that down. We cannot miss the beauty of what God is like!”  Bruce’s story from agnostic to Jesus-follower and how God has brought out his creativity. His spiritual journey led him to become a musician, then a script writer, advertising agent and a minister. He even wrote his first song after learning the guitar for two weeks! Bruce shares how his divinely inspired creativity has flowed in both the church and the corporate world through media and advertising. What it means to be an artist “for God’s sake” rather than for its own sake. The role of vulnerability in creativity. To create something new is to risk rejection and mockery as it leads us into the unknown. The role of creativity in mission.  “We’ve become so boring as churches that we’ve sometimes lost our capacity to communicate what God is really like. We are too mundane, too monotone. Yet none of those words would be used to describe God!” Subscribe to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode! About Ps. Bruce (Robbo) Robinson  Robbo is a unique combination of pastor, prophet and a creative! He has been involved in in youth ministry and several church leadership in a long and productive ministry career. Currently, he is a pastor at Hope Unlimited Church in the Central Coast of New South Wales. He and his wife Kate function as part of the leadership team with emphasis on the teaching and prophetic ministries of the church and leadership coaching across Hope UC’s campuses.  Bruce is a writer and creator of a whole range of media. For several years, he headed up the Church Media Association in the Hunter region, and produced a range of media including community TV ads and press articles. Bruce also has a passion for mission and consults to the Hope Global Board on mission projects and the delivery of community aid and church planting.

If God truly is the Creator, that makes him the supreme artist. We’ve all enjoyed the beauty of a world that never ceases to amaze and delight. But if God sent his Spirit to fill us and speak to us, what does that mean for human creativity? How does having God’s creative Spirit make a difference in our lives? On this episode, we’re talking all things Holy Spirit and creativity. Our guest Ps. Bruce (Robbo) Robertson is a unique combination of pastor, prophet and a creative! After many productive years in youth ministry and a variety of church leadership roles, he is currently serving as a pastor at Hope Unlimited Church (Hope UC) in the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia. In the podcast, we talk about: <ul> <li>The creativity of God!</li> </ul> “God the most dynamic, creative being imaginable. All our creative urges derive from God. We call God the “Ancient of Days”, but God is not old. God is ever present and infinitively beyond our capacity for imagination. We must not reduce the communicative side of God into our very small condensed, ritualised world.” <ul> <li>The link between hearing God’s voice, creativity and the diverse ways God speaks</li> <li>How God speaks through the beauty and diversity of creation.</li> </ul> “The whole universe resonates with the incredible sound of God’s creativity. This utterly creative God wants to communicate to us and speak through us. What an incredible privilege. We mustn’t dumb that down. We cannot miss the beauty of what God is like!” <ul> <li>Bruce’s story from agnostic to Jesus-follower and how God has brought out his creativity. His spiritual journey led him to become a musician, then a script writer, advertising agent and a minister. He even wrote his first song after learning the guitar for two weeks! Bruce shares how his divinely inspired creativity has flowed in both the church and the corporate world through media and advertising.</li> <li>What it means to be an artist “for God’s sake” rather than for its own sake.</li> <li>The role of vulnerability in creativity. To create something new is to risk rejection and mockery as it leads us into the unknown.</li> <li>The role of creativity in mission.</li> </ul> “We’ve become so boring as churches that we’ve sometimes lost our capacity to communicate what God is really like. We are too mundane, too monotone. Yet none of those words would be used to describe God!” <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/god-conversations-tania-harris/id763485403" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode! About Ps. Bruce (Robbo) Robinson Robbo is a unique combination of pastor, prophet and a creative! He has been involved in in youth ministry and several church leadership in a long and productive ministry career. Currently, he is a pastor at Hope Unlimited Church in the Central Coast of New South Wales. He and his wife Kate function as part of the leadership team with emphasis on the teaching and prophetic ministries of the church and leadership coaching across Hope UC’s campuses.  Bruce is a writer and creator of a whole range of media. For several years, he headed up the Church Media Association in the Hunter region, and produced a range of media including community TV ads and press articles. Bruce also has a passion for mission and consults to the Hope Global Board on mission projects and the delivery of community aid and church planting.

(076) God Conversations with the Supreme Artist – Bruce Robbo Robertson

Murray Newman

There’s a lot of talk around discipleship at the moment, but what does discipleship actually look like? We know it’s all about following Jesus. But if Jesus isn’t here, how do we follow?  This is where the Holy Spirit comes in. Before Jesus left the planet, he said that the Spirit would come to remind us of everything Jesus said and then to speak about things to come (John 14:26, 16:13). So to follow Jesus is to heed his continuing voice, the Holy Spirit. In this episode, we talk to Prophet and Pastor Murray (Muz) Newman about the relationship between hearing God’s voice and discipleship. We learn that hearing the Spirit and discipleship is essentially about  building intimate relationship with God. “There’s no topic that’s taboo. There’s no topic that the Lord won’t talk to you about.” Listen to Muz and Tania talk about:  How everyone experiences the voice of the Spirit differently. Therefore, discipleship involves helping people  recognise how God speaks to them. How a sense of love and concern for others led to the development of the gift of prophecy in Muz’s life. Hearing God involves “keeping our eyes open to what God is saying and doing in other people.” The need to “exercise” our spiritual senses; it’s “lots of practice doing a very simple thing.” “…that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” (Hebrews 5:14) The exposing God! In our walk with Holy Spirit, there’s no topic that’s taboo.  “Holy Spirit gets under our skin to transform us from the inside out.” Muz talks about an everyday example of what this looks like in his own life:  In the midst of our problems, ask God, “what are you doing in the midst of this?” Hearing God’s voice involves following through and acting on what we’ve heard. What stops us from following the Spirit? Pride, unbelief and maybe, a motorbike…     Murray Newman, known locally as “Muz,” is both an expert in hearing the Spirit and discipleship. He helps to pastor a church in the central coast of NSW Australia, travels and consults in many other churches around the world and is passionate about communication, healing and the miraculous. Find out more abut his ministry here. Subscribe to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode!

There’s a lot of talk around discipleship at the moment, but what does discipleship actually look like? We know it’s all about following Jesus. But if Jesus isn’t here, how do we follow?  This is where the Holy Spirit comes in. Before Jesus left the planet, he said that the Spirit would come to remind us of everything Jesus said and then to speak about things to come (John 14:26, 16:13). So to follow Jesus is to heed his continuing voice, the Holy Spirit. In this episode, we talk to Prophet and Pastor Murray (Muz) Newman about the relationship between hearing God’s voice and discipleship. We learn that hearing the Spirit and discipleship is essentially about  building intimate relationship with God. “There’s no topic that’s taboo. There’s no topic that the Lord won’t talk to you about.” Listen to Muz and Tania talk about: <ul> <li>How everyone experiences the voice of the Spirit differently. Therefore, discipleship involves helping people  recognise how God speaks to them.</li> <li>How a sense of love and concern for others led to the development of the gift of prophecy in Muz’s life. Hearing God involves “keeping our eyes open to what God is saying and doing in other people.”</li> <li>The need to “exercise” our spiritual senses; it’s “lots of practice doing a very simple thing.” “…that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” (Hebrews 5:14)</li> <li>The exposing God! In our walk with Holy Spirit, there’s no topic that’s taboo.</li> </ul> “Holy Spirit gets under our skin to transform us from the inside out.” Muz talks about an everyday example of what this looks like in his own life: <ul> <li>In the midst of our problems, ask God, “what are you doing in the midst of this?”</li> <li>Hearing God’s voice involves following through and acting on what we’ve heard.</li> <li>What stops us from following the Spirit? Pride, unbelief and maybe, a motorbike…</li> </ul> Murray Newman, known locally as “Muz,” is both an expert in hearing the Spirit and discipleship. He helps to pastor a church in the central coast of NSW Australia, travels and consults in many other churches around the world and is passionate about communication, healing and the miraculous. Find out more abut his ministry <a href="https://murray-newman.squarespace.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>. <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/god-conversations-tania-harris/id763485403" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode!

(075) Hearing God and Discipleship with Murray Newman

Nicola Neal

A Dream of a Child’s Toy and Feet Full of Maggots One Christmas morning, Nicola had a dream that would change her and her family’s life. It involved a Buzz Lightyear toy, a child in the African slums and feet infested with maggots.  In this podcast episode, Tania talks to Nicola Neal about her journey into ministry, beginning in a church in the town of Bath, UK and finishing in the slums of Africa. You’ll hear the dramatic way God turned Nicola’s life around through a vivid God conversation, how that same God-conversation was confirmed multiple times and how it led Nicola and her family to pack up their life in the UK and move to an unknown region of the world in just eight weeks. There Nicola began to understand the dream she had experienced so many years earlier. She and her family saw the supernatural work and grace of God in the face of extreme poverty, violence, sickness and death. You’ll be inspired as Nicola shares God’s heart for the poor and how the kingdom transforms at the deepest level. We also talk in the episode about everyday God-conversations and how each of our interactions with the Holy Spirit lead us step by step into God’s plan. Nicola shares how we hear God’s voice most of the time through the small, quiet and the everyday. A lot of time it feels like tuning into a whisper and sense on the inside that God is with us. As with any relationship, with time and intentionality, we gain clarity.  About Nicola Neal Nicola and her husband Simon served as church leaders up until 2009 when they followed God’s calling and moved with their two children to Uganda. There they got to see life as it really is for those living in the slums of Kampala and became passionate about bringing the God-given potential to light in people’s lives. Not only through partnering with them to see change in their homes and families but by helping them encounter their heavenly Father. Since then, Every Life has grown into the team of over 50 dedicated men and women it is today. Simon and Nicola have now relocated back to the UK with their family, where they work with the International Office, guiding and overseeing Every Life’s mission bases around the world. Nicola regularly speaks at churches and conferences around the country. Learn more at everylife.org.uk. Nicola’s books Gold and Journey into Love are available at nicolaneal.uk  Subscribe to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode!

<h4>A Dream of a Child’s Toy and Feet Full of Maggots</h4> One Christmas morning, Nicola had a dream that would change her and her family’s life. It involved a Buzz Lightyear toy, a child in the African slums and feet infested with maggots.  In this podcast episode, Tania talks to Nicola Neal about her journey into ministry, beginning in a church in the town of Bath, UK and finishing in the slums of Africa. You’ll hear the dramatic way God turned Nicola’s life around through a vivid God conversation, how that same God-conversation was confirmed multiple times and how it led Nicola and her family to pack up their life in the UK and move to an unknown region of the world in just eight weeks. There Nicola began to understand the dream she had experienced so many years earlier. She and her family saw the supernatural work and grace of God in the face of extreme poverty, violence, sickness and death. You’ll be inspired as Nicola shares God’s heart for the poor and how the kingdom transforms at the deepest level. We also talk in the episode about everyday God-conversations and how each of our interactions with the Holy Spirit lead us step by step into God’s plan. Nicola shares how we hear God’s voice most of the time through the small, quiet and the everyday. A lot of time it feels like tuning into a whisper and sense on the inside that God is with us. As with any relationship, with time and intentionality, we gain clarity. About Nicola Neal Nicola and her husband Simon served as church leaders up until 2009 when they followed God’s calling and moved with their two children to Uganda. There they got to see life as it really is for those living in the slums of Kampala and became passionate about bringing the God-given potential to light in people’s lives. Not only through partnering with them to see change in their homes and families but by helping them encounter their heavenly Father. Since then, Every Life has grown into the team of over 50 dedicated men and women it is today. Simon and Nicola have now relocated back to the UK with their family, where they work with the International Office, guiding and overseeing Every Life’s mission bases around the world. Nicola regularly speaks at churches and conferences around the country. Learn more at <a href="https://everylife.org.uk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">everylife.org.uk</a>. Nicola’s books Gold and Journey into Love are available at <a href="https://nicolaneal.uk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">nicolaneal.uk</a> <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/god-conversations-tania-harris/id763485403" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode!

(074) Dramatic and Everyday God Conversations – Nicola Neal

We all know that we should do it, but the question is how? Prayer – one of the main callings of Christians and the key means to relationship with God. The question is how do we approach this mystical thing called prayer: What works and what doesn’t? And how does prayer connect with listening to the Holy Spirit? Today’s podcast is all about prayer and we have a brilliant guest to guide us. Ps Stacey Hilliar is on the Executive team at Neuma Church in Melbourne, Australia and looks after the prophetic leadership of her church. We talk about:   Stacey’s church and their innovative “fivefold model” which means her job title is the “prophetic pillar” of Neuma Church. The story of how God led Stacey to work in prophetic ministry in the local church. Stacey became familiar with the voice of God as early as 8 or 9 years old. As she tells the story, she just “knew” things. But growing up in church that didn’t believe in Spirit speech made her experience difficult. Let’s just say it was a messy start.  How a demonic encounter led Stacey and her husband to return to church after a dark season. The truth that prayer fuels power. A key question is to always ask; “Have you prayed about it?” Specific spiritual practices inspired by ancients such as Ignatius of Loyola – reading the Scripture slowly four times slowly out loud (also known as “Lectio Divinia”). This involves picturing yourself in a scene with Jesus and allowing Holy Spirit to speak to you. How God can speak to us through our redeemed imagination.  Why discipline is important for our prayer-life. This means we pray regularly even when we don’t feel like it. ie. Put the phone away! The role of music in prayer. How the Holy Spirit spoke to Stacey about her own personal development through a Jesus story.  Subscribe to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode!  We highly recommend Stacey’s podcast: available here on Apple and Spotify.  Ps Stacey Hilliar and her husband Jai live in Melbourne with their four children. Stacey is on the Executive team at Neuma Church, overseeing the Prophetic Pillar globally. Neuma Church has multiple locations across Australia, Bangkok, Thailand and San Francisco. Stacey is passionate about equipping and empowering individuals, churches, families and teams to grow in freedom, intimacy with Jesus, and build prophetic cultures with excellence in their love for the Church. Whether it is preaching, teaching, worship leading, podcasting or writing, Stacey loves to represent the fullness of joy and freedom found in Jesus, and she’s always up for a good laugh.

We all know that we should do it, but the question is how? Prayer – one of the main callings of Christians and the key means to relationship with God. The question is how do we approach this mystical thing called prayer: What works and what doesn’t? And how does prayer connect with listening to the Holy Spirit? Today’s podcast is all about prayer and we have a brilliant guest to guide us. Ps Stacey Hilliar is on the Executive team at Neuma Church in Melbourne, Australia and looks after the prophetic leadership of her church. We talk about:  <ul> <li>Stacey’s church and their innovative “fivefold model” which means her job title is the “prophetic pillar” of Neuma Church.</li> <li>The story of how God led Stacey to work in prophetic ministry in the local church. Stacey became familiar with the voice of God as early as 8 or 9 years old. As she tells the story, she just “knew” things. But growing up in church that didn’t believe in Spirit speech made her experience difficult. Let’s just say it was a messy start. </li> <li>How a demonic encounter led Stacey and her husband to return to church after a dark season.</li> <li>The truth that prayer fuels power. A key question is to always ask; “Have you prayed about it?”</li> <li>Specific spiritual practices inspired by ancients such as Ignatius of Loyola – reading the Scripture slowly four times slowly out loud (also known as “Lectio Divinia”). This involves picturing yourself in a scene with Jesus and allowing Holy Spirit to speak to you.</li> <li>How God can speak to us through our redeemed imagination. </li> <li>Why discipline is important for our prayer-life. This means we pray regularly even when we don’t feel like it. ie. Put the phone away!</li> <li>The role of music in prayer.</li> <li>How the Holy Spirit spoke to Stacey about her own personal development through a Jesus story.</li> </ul> <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/god-conversations-tania-harris/id763485403" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode! We highly recommend Stacey’s podcast: available <a href="https://www.staceyhilliar.com/propheticcollective" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a> on Apple and Spotify.  Ps Stacey Hilliar and her husband Jai live in Melbourne with their four children. Stacey is on the Executive team at Neuma Church, overseeing the Prophetic Pillar globally. Neuma Church has multiple locations across Australia, Bangkok, Thailand and San Francisco. Stacey is passionate about equipping and empowering individuals, churches, families and teams to grow in freedom, intimacy with Jesus, and build prophetic cultures with excellence in their love for the Church. Whether it is preaching, teaching, worship leading, podcasting or writing, Stacey loves to represent the fullness of joy and freedom found in Jesus, and she’s always up for a good laugh.

(073) Healthy Prayer Practices – Stacey Hilliar

I grew up in a church that believed that God had stopped speaking outside of the Bible. This teaching, known as Cessationism, is seen throughout the church world today and has appeared periodically in history. But the question is, why would someone believe God has stopped speaking, given that the New Testament is clear that the Holy Spirit was given to everyone to hear from God on the Day of Pentecost? (Acts 2:16,17). The Apostle Peter himself said that this promise was for all generations – beyond the early church and beyond Jerusalem and Judea (and beyond the canonisation of Scripture!) (Acts 2:39).  One of the answers lies in the theological problem of how Spirit relates to Scripture. That is, how do my Spirit-speaking experiences today relate to the Spirit speaking experiences of Scripture? God’s words are both a vessel of his power and a reflection of his character. Therefore, any claim to hearing God’s voice today represents a claim to divine authority. This looks as if we’re placing our experience on par with the Bible, something most Protestant Christians would emphatically reject. This episode of the podcast begins to resolve the problem by featuring a reading from my new book, The Church who Hears God’s voice: equipping everyone to recognise and respond to the Spirit. It’s the third in a 3-part series that features readings from the book – a bit of an entree before you enjoy the main meal! In the episode, you will learn about:  The questions of a real life situation. If God said it, should I obey it? Four answers to the theological problem.  The first answer to the theological problem: “God on Mute” (Cessationism) The second answer to the theological problem: Christians who don’t read the Bible! (Why would you if you have the Spirit)  The remainder of the chapter goes on to discuss a third (“Good but not as good”) and fourth answer (“This is that”). The fourth option is the one I arrived at and expand at more detail in the rest of the book. You’ll begin to see why this question is so important and how it has practical implications for how we experience the Spirit today as well as how we read the Bible. The theological conundrum can be solved and it all starts with looking at how the early church dealt with it. I pray it is a blessing to you! Subscribe to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode!

I grew up in a church that believed that God had stopped speaking outside of the Bible. This teaching, known as Cessationism, is seen throughout the church world today and has appeared periodically in history. But the question is, why would someone believe God has stopped speaking, given that the New Testament is clear that the Holy Spirit was given to everyone to hear from God on the Day of Pentecost? (Acts 2:16,17). The Apostle Peter himself said that this promise was for all generations – beyond the early church and beyond Jerusalem and Judea (and beyond the canonisation of Scripture!) (Acts 2:39).  One of the answers lies in the theological problem of how Spirit relates to Scripture. That is, how do my Spirit-speaking experiences today relate to the Spirit speaking experiences of Scripture? God’s words are both a vessel of his power and a reflection of his character. Therefore, any claim to hearing God’s voice today represents a claim to divine authority. This looks as if we’re placing our experience on par with the Bible, something most Protestant Christians would emphatically reject. This episode of the podcast begins to resolve the problem by featuring a reading from my new book, The Church who Hears God’s voice: equipping everyone to recognise and respond to the Spirit. It’s the third in a 3-part series that features readings from the book – a bit of an entree before you enjoy the main meal! In the episode, you will learn about: <ul> <li>The questions of a real life situation. If God said it, should I obey it?</li> <li>Four answers to the theological problem. </li> <li>The first answer to the theological problem: “God on Mute” (Cessationism)</li> <li>The second answer to the theological problem: Christians who don’t read the Bible! (Why would you if you have the Spirit)</li> </ul> The remainder of the chapter goes on to discuss a third (“Good but not as good”) and fourth answer (“This is that”). The fourth option is the one I arrived at and expand at more detail in the rest of the book. You’ll begin to see why this question is so important and how it has practical implications for how we experience the Spirit today as well as how we read the Bible. The theological conundrum can be solved and it all starts with looking at how the early church dealt with it. I pray it is a blessing to you! <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/god-conversations-tania-harris/id763485403" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode!

(072) Spirit vs Scripture: The Theological Problem of Hearing God’s Voice

The concept of hearing God’s voice for yourself bears enormous potential, but it is also fraught with pitfalls. Indeed, the entire scope of history tells of the problems associated with claims to divine revelation. Torrid tales of manipulation, deception, and even murder have all been justified by the claim: ‘God told me’. The proliferation of a wide range of unorthodox beliefs and abuses of power have been so heinous, it’s not surprising that many church leaders throw their hands up in the air and reject any idea of personal communication with God! The dynamic experience given at Pentecost not only has the power to bring God’s kingdom to earth but can also work astoundingly against it. How are we to harness the potential of hearing God experiences in our churches and deal with the problems that arise from them? This episode of the GC podcast is the second in a three-part series that features readings from my new book, The Church who Hears God’s voice: equipping everyone to recognise and respond to the Spirit. It’s a little entree before the main meal! In this episode, you’ll learn about:  The potential for breaches in theological orthodoxy in hearing God. The book tells of two men and their spiritual experiences. One heard from God and changed his world. The other made claims that added to Scripture and we still live with the consequences today. The pastoral fallout that occurs when people try to hear God’s voice,  You may have seen and heard about these kinds of problems in your own life.  When I was writing the book I felt the Holy Spirit say to tackle the “hard stuff” in church life. To that end, the book contains both the good stories and the bad! The good news is that there are some simple ways to address the ministry issues that arise when we seek to hear the voice of the Spirit. Admittedly, they won’t all disappear – the fallenness of our humanity guarantees that(!) – but there are certainly things we can do to mitigate the problems. I pray it helps you in your own walk and in the life of your church! Enjoyed the excerpt? Purchase the book here. Subscribe to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode!

The concept of hearing God’s voice for yourself bears enormous potential, but it is also fraught with pitfalls. Indeed, the entire scope of history tells of the problems associated with claims to divine revelation. Torrid tales of manipulation, deception, and even murder have all been justified by the claim: ‘God told me’. The proliferation of a wide range of unorthodox beliefs and abuses of power have been so heinous, it’s not surprising that many church leaders throw their hands up in the air and reject any idea of personal communication with God! The dynamic experience given at Pentecost not only has the power to bring God’s kingdom to earth but can also work astoundingly against it. How are we to harness the potential of hearing God experiences in our churches and deal with the problems that arise from them? This episode of the GC podcast is the second in a three-part series that features readings from my new book, The Church who Hears God’s voice: equipping everyone to recognise and respond to the Spirit. It’s a little entree before the main meal! In this episode, you’ll learn about: <ul> <li>The potential for breaches in theological orthodoxy in hearing God. The book tells of two men and their spiritual experiences. One heard from God and changed his world. The other made claims that added to Scripture and we still live with the consequences today.</li> <li>The pastoral fallout that occurs when people try to hear God’s voice,</li> </ul> You may have seen and heard about these kinds of problems in your own life.  When I was writing the book I felt the Holy Spirit say to tackle the “hard stuff” in church life. To that end, the book contains both the good stories and the bad! The good news is that there are some simple ways to address the ministry issues that arise when we seek to hear the voice of the Spirit. Admittedly, they won’t all disappear – the fallenness of our humanity guarantees that(!) – but there are certainly things we can do to mitigate the problems. I pray it helps you in your own walk and in the life of your church! Enjoyed the excerpt? Purchase the book <a href="https://www.godconversations.com/product/the-church-who-hears-gods-voice/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>. <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/god-conversations-tania-harris/id763485403" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode!

(071) The Ministry Problems of Hearing God’s Voice

Hearing God’s voice may well be the most powerful experience on earth. Think about it. How was the earth created? It began with God speaking (Gen. 1:1). How are people healed? It is the word ‘sent forth’ that overcomes disease and death (Ps. 107:20; Mark 7:34; 9:25; John 11:43). How are people saved? It is made possible through the living Word, Jesus, who became flesh to atone for our sin (John 1:1). This is the pattern throughout the Scriptures. It all starts with God speaking! This episode of the podcast is a special one. It’s the first in a three-part series that features readings from my new book, The Church who Hears God’s voice: equipping everyone to recognise and respond to the Spirit. It’s a little entree before you may choose to enjoy the main meal. In the episode, we learn about  A God-dream that saved a drought-stricken Australian farm The power of hearing God’s voice in biblical history and, The impact of “love energy”: what sociologists tell us about the power of hearing God’s voice in the contemporary church.  Hearing God is powerful because God’s words are powerful. The Scriptures present the experience of the revelatory Spirit as central to God’s plan. That truth calls us to listen to what the Spirit is saying to us. Enjoyed the excerpt? Purchase the book here. Subscribe to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode!

Hearing God’s voice may well be the most powerful experience on earth. Think about it. How was the earth created? It began with God speaking (Gen. 1:1). How are people healed? It is the word ‘sent forth’ that overcomes disease and death (Ps. 107:20; Mark 7:34; 9:25; John 11:43). How are people saved? It is made possible through the living Word, Jesus, who became flesh to atone for our sin (John 1:1). This is the pattern throughout the Scriptures. It all starts with God speaking! This episode of the podcast is a special one. It’s the first in a three-part series that features readings from my new book, The Church who Hears God’s voice: equipping everyone to recognise and respond to the Spirit. It’s a little entree before you may choose to enjoy the main meal. In the episode, we learn about <ul> <li>A God-dream that saved a drought-stricken Australian farm</li> <li>The power of hearing God’s voice in biblical history and,</li> <li>The impact of “love energy”: what sociologists tell us about the power of hearing God’s voice in the contemporary church.</li> </ul> Hearing God is powerful because God’s words are powerful. The Scriptures present the experience of the revelatory Spirit as central to God’s plan. That truth calls us to listen to what the Spirit is saying to us. Enjoyed the excerpt? Purchase the book <a href="https://www.godconversations.com/product/the-church-who-hears-gods-voice/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>. <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/god-conversations-tania-harris/id763485403" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode!

(070) Hearing God: The Most Powerful Experience on Earth?

Fascinating interviews, teaching tips and inspirational God-stories.

I love the perspectives shared here on real questions Christians (Christian women, specifically) have regarding culture and Scripture. While she always makes clear that Jesus wants our heart, and addresses heart issues, she also gives practical advice and stories to illustrate what that looks like in real-life.

Real World Stuff

Tania is a great teacher and communicator. I had the privilege to sit under her and glean from her wisdom and knowledge. She is very insightful if you take the time to listen. Her close knit relationship with the Holy Spirit and her sound doctrine enables her to speak effectively and to challenge anyone in their Christian faith.

Tuned to the Holy Spirit

God Conversations with Tania Harris

Yes, the podcast today is for those who can’t find time in their busy schedules to get away for hours and sit cross-legged on a mountaintop! It may be the longest headline ever, but I think it encapsulates what we all long for. The thoughts in this podcast provide some solutions to our busyness problem and how to hear God’s voice in whatever situation we find ourselves.  We start by looking at the introverted practises of the ancient mystics and the paradigms we have about hearing God’s voice as a result. Yes, it’s wonderful to get away, to extract yourself from life’s responsibilities and find a quiet place to clear your mind. But getting away is not always possible when there are toddlers running around our feet, or we’re pressing to meet that work deadline and our annual leave has run out. The good news is that it is possible to hear God’s voice whatever our day to day lives look like. The beauty of the new covenant is that the Holy Spirit will be with us wherever we go, whatever we do. God is with us in the midst of the traffic jam, in the office when the boss is making demands and in the kitchen when there’s flour in my hair. Jesus himself said that it would be better when he leaves (John 16:7), because the Holy Spirit can now speak to me wherever I am. We don’t have to go somewhere; we don’t have to retreat to lonely places to hear from God. A more helpful emphasis to how to hear God’s voice in the midst of busyness is this; Adopt a seeking posture whatever you’re doing. Cultivate your hunger. We do this by:  Asking regularly for God to speak; asking him questions and communicating with him daily. Listening and being inspired by the God-conversations of others. Believing in faith that God will speak to you (Hebrews 11:6).  Then we can express that hunger to hear his voice in accordance with our personality and our lifestyle. We make it a habit to remember him and give our attention to him. Hearing his voice is more about the state of your heart than the state of your body. When we’re listening, his voice is able to find us wherever we are. Subscribe to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode.  Your Thoughts How do you best hear from God? On top of a mountain? In the car? Jogging on a track? Share your thoughts in the Comments below:

Yes, the podcast today is for those who can’t find time in their busy schedules to get away for hours and sit cross-legged on a mountaintop! It may be the longest headline ever, but I think it encapsulates what we all long for. The thoughts in this podcast provide some solutions to our busyness problem and how to hear God’s voice in whatever situation we find ourselves. We start by looking at the introverted practises of the ancient mystics and the paradigms we have about hearing God’s voice as a result. Yes, it’s wonderful to get away, to extract yourself from life’s responsibilities and find a quiet place to clear your mind. But getting away is not always possible when there are toddlers running around our feet, or we’re pressing to meet that work deadline and our annual leave has run out. The good news is that it is possible to hear God’s voice whatever our day to day lives look like. The beauty of the new covenant is that the Holy Spirit will be with us wherever we go, whatever we do. God is with us in the midst of the traffic jam, in the office when the boss is making demands and in the kitchen when there’s flour in my hair. Jesus himself said that it would be better when he leaves (John 16:7), because the Holy Spirit can now speak to me wherever I am. We don’t have to go somewhere; we don’t have to retreat to lonely places to hear from God. A more helpful emphasis to how to hear God’s voice in the midst of busyness is this; Adopt a seeking posture whatever you’re doing. Cultivate your hunger. We do this by: <ol> <li>Asking regularly for God to speak; asking him questions and communicating with him daily.</li> <li>Listening and being inspired by the God-conversations of others.</li> <li>Believing in faith that God will speak to you (Hebrews 11:6).</li> </ol> Then we can express that hunger to hear his voice in accordance with our personality and our lifestyle. We make it a habit to remember him and give our attention to him. Hearing his voice is more about the state of your heart than the state of your body. When we’re listening, his voice is able to find us wherever we are. <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/god-conversations-tania-harris/id763485403" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode.  <h4>Your Thoughts</h4> How do you best hear from God? On top of a mountain? In the car? Jogging on a track? Share your thoughts in the Comments below:

(012) How to Hear from God When You’re Too Busy (God Conversations on a Mountaintop)

Have you ever noticed that some people seem to hear from God every day, while others seldom hear from God? What is happening here? We know that God is talking, but is he talking to one and not the other? In this episode, I talk about these questions by discussing the impact of personality on hearing God’s voice. We’re going to look particularly at how people interpret and discern their experiences differently and how some forms of hearing from God seem to be better suited to certain personalities.  1. Be careful not to attribute everything to God We also talk about:   The different criteria people use to discern their experiences. Some people are more likely to attribute experiences to God than others. More skeptical types are more likely to attribute an experience to coincidence, creative inspiration or intuition or memory recall. In the Catholic tradition, you need some sort of external evidence to know something is from God such as a sign or a miracle! Problems come when we compare our experiences – each one of us has a responsibility to work out our own faith within the reference points of our own personality and the journey we are on. When we do attribute every creative experience to God, we risk diminishing the potential of our human nature. God has gifted us with ingenuity and creativity and given us abilities that we have yet to fully tap into. We do not need to hear from God on every aspect of life. Some studies have linked diminished ego control to an over-emphasis on Spirit-leading. God’s way is friendship and partnership, not dictatorship (John 15:9-15) We need to be approach God-breathed experiences with reverence and be slow to attribute all experiences to God. Sometimes people use the phrase “God said” to sound spiritual or to claim extra authority for their position. Making the claim to “God said” is a serious claim to divine authority – it carries the weight of heaven behind it and demands our attention. God may have spoken, but we must always test our experiences before making emphatic statements.   2. Be open to growing in this area On the podcast we also talk about the need to grow in this area. While studies appear to show that hearing God is an experience that is more readily received by some personalities more than others, it also seems that noticing the voice of a Spirit when he speaks is a skill that can be learned. Prayer training that teaches people ignore the distracting world and to focus on the inner experience has been shown to have positive outcomes. Whatever your personality type, I know you’re going to find this episode helpful. Subscribe to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode! References: Luhrmann, Tanya M, When God Talks Back (New York: Vintage Books, 2012). Parker, Stephen E, Led by the Spirit: Toward a Practical Theology of Pentecostal Discernment and Decision-Making (Sheffield, UK: Sheffield Academic Press, 1996).

Have you ever noticed that some people seem to hear from God every day, while others seldom hear from God? What is happening here? We know that God is talking, but is he talking to one and not the other? In this episode, I talk about these questions by discussing the impact of personality on hearing God’s voice. We’re going to look particularly at how people interpret and discern their experiences differently and how some forms of hearing from God seem to be better suited to certain personalities.  <h3>1. Be careful not to attribute everything to God</h3> We also talk about:  <ul> <li>The different criteria people use to discern their experiences. Some people are more likely to attribute experiences to God than others. More skeptical types are more likely to attribute an experience to coincidence, creative inspiration or intuition or memory recall. In the Catholic tradition, you need some sort of external evidence to know something is from God such as a sign or a miracle!</li> <li>Problems come when we compare our experiences – each one of us has a responsibility to work out our own faith within the reference points of our own personality and the journey we are on.</li> <li>When we do attribute every creative experience to God, we risk diminishing the potential of our human nature. God has gifted us with ingenuity and creativity and given us abilities that we have yet to fully tap into. We do not need to hear from God on every aspect of life. Some studies have linked diminished ego control to an over-emphasis on Spirit-leading. God’s way is friendship and partnership, not dictatorship (John 15:9-15)</li> <li>We need to be approach God-breathed experiences with reverence and be slow to attribute all experiences to God. Sometimes people use the phrase “God said” to sound spiritual or to claim extra authority for their position. Making the claim to “God said” is a serious claim to divine authority – it carries the weight of heaven behind it and demands our attention. God may have spoken, but we must always test our experiences before making emphatic statements. </li> </ul> <h3>2. Be open to growing in this area</h3> On the podcast we also talk about the need to grow in this area. While studies appear to show that hearing God is an experience that is more readily received by some personalities more than others, it also seems that noticing the voice of a Spirit when he speaks is a skill that can be learned. Prayer training that teaches people ignore the distracting world and to focus on the inner experience has been shown to have positive outcomes. Whatever your personality type, I know you’re going to find this episode helpful. <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/god-conversations-tania-harris/id763485403" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode! <h3>References:</h3> Luhrmann, Tanya M, When God Talks Back (New York: Vintage Books, 2012). Parker, Stephen E, Led by the Spirit: Toward a Practical Theology of Pentecostal Discernment and Decision-Making (Sheffield, UK: Sheffield Academic Press, 1996).

(051) The Impact of Your Personality on Hearing God

If I were to ask you, what was the one thing that was stopping you from being successful in your life, what would you say? Often we point to some sort of obstacle in our circumstances – a lack of money, a bad job or a poor turn of luck. But the truth is, the things in our lives that most thwart our progress are the obstacles inside of us. When we change us, we change our world. On this episode, we’re talking about “Growing Pains” – how God speaks to us to change us from the inside out. When we choose to listen to the voice of God, he will call us to grow and change. God starts from the outside in. He calls us to become more like him. And as we do, we will become more fully ourselves.  Unfortunately that process isn’t easy. The greatest obstacles to our success lie within ourselves – feelings of inadequacy, a love of comfort and fears of failure. These are the growing pains each one of us will experience as God speaks and calls us to grow.  But there’s also greater pain that comes when we ignore what he is saying to us. It’s the pain of no growth at all.  On the show, we talk about how God leads us to grow and the process he takes us through. We encourage you to respond to what the Spirit is speaking to you about as you listen. When we follow his lead, we will see how he changes us from the inside out. The result will be the success and empowerment we all long for. Subscribe to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode!

If I were to ask you, what was the one thing that was stopping you from being successful in your life, what would you say? Often we point to some sort of obstacle in our circumstances – a lack of money, a bad job or a poor turn of luck. But the truth is, the things in our lives that most thwart our progress are the obstacles inside of us. When we change us, we change our world. On this episode, we’re talking about “Growing Pains” – how God speaks to us to change us from the inside out. When we choose to listen to the voice of God, he will call us to grow and change. God starts from the outside in. He calls us to become more like him. And as we do, we will become more fully ourselves.  Unfortunately that process isn’t easy. The greatest obstacles to our success lie within ourselves – feelings of inadequacy, a love of comfort and fears of failure. These are the growing pains each one of us will experience as God speaks and calls us to grow.  But there’s also greater pain that comes when we ignore what he is saying to us. It’s the pain of no growth at all.  On the show, we talk about how God leads us to grow and the process he takes us through. We encourage you to respond to what the Spirit is speaking to you about as you listen. When we follow his lead, we will see how he changes us from the inside out. The result will be the success and empowerment we all long for. <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/god-conversations-tania-harris/id763485403" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode!

(055) Growing Pains – How God Speaks to Change us from the Inside Out

“What? You’re a pastor?”  “What do you mean – like in a church?” “Do you think God called you because there was no man available?” “Are you in rebellion?”  These are just some of the responses I’ve received over the past twenty years in ministry when I’ve been introduced to someone for the first time. The next question (if there is one – sometimes people just change the subject or walk away!) is usually: So how does it feel to be a woman in ministry? Even though the denomination I’m ordained in (the Australian Christian Churches) has always held an egalitarian position towards women in ministry, I’m still a bit of an anomaly – both in the church world and more so, in wider society. After sharing my initial journey into ministry on the podcast last year (listen to How it Feels to be a Woman in Ministry Part 1), in this episode, I talk a bit about the responses of others to my being a female pastor – yes, the good, the bad and the ugly(!) – and how I believe God is working in the midst of them. My purpose is not to self-indulge, but to offer some understanding on the challenges we face in the church and how we can work towards the vision God gave us in creation where men and women are pictured working in harmony to steward the earth (Genesis 1:26-28). It’s a podcast about being a woman in church leadership, but it’s not just for women – for whatever happens in the lives of women, radically affects the lives of men! Listen and enjoy! Subscribe to the God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode! So how does someone who thinks it’s heretical for a woman to be a pastor end up becoming one? Listen to Part 1 of How it Feels to be a Woman in Ministry. What about you? What has been your response to the radical changes in gender roles happening in society today? As a man? As a woman? We would love to hear from you below!

“What? You’re a pastor?”  “What do you mean – like in a church?” “Do you think God called you because there was no man available?” “Are you in rebellion?” <a href="https://www.godconversations.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Women-in-Ministry2.jpg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a> These are just some of the responses I’ve received over the past twenty years in ministry when I’ve been introduced to someone for the first time. The next question (if there is one – sometimes people just change the subject or walk away!) is usually: So how does it feel to be a woman in ministry? Even though the denomination I’m ordained in (the <a href="http://acc.org.au" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Australian Christian Churches</a>) has always held an egalitarian position towards women in ministry, I’m still a bit of an anomaly – both in the church world and more so, in wider society. After sharing my initial journey into ministry on the podcast last year (<a href="https://www.godconversations.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/022-How-Does-it-Feel-to-be-a-Woman-In-Ministry_-Part-2.mp3" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">listen</a> to How it Feels to be a Woman in Ministry Part 1), in this episode, I talk a bit about the responses of others to my being a female pastor – yes, the good, the bad and the ugly(!) – and how I believe God is working in the midst of them. My purpose is not to self-indulge, but to offer some understanding on the challenges we face in the church and how we can work towards the vision God gave us in creation where men and women are pictured working in harmony to steward the earth (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+1%3A26-28&amp;version=NIV" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Genesis 1:26-28</a>). It’s a podcast about being a woman in church leadership, but it’s not just for women – for whatever happens in the lives of women, radically affects the lives of men! Listen and enjoy! <a href="http://godconversations.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=cdf3e68bc7fd99f5b60fb217a&amp;id=cd655060d9&amp;e=07f8bd6495" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> to the God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode! So how does someone who thinks it’s heretical for a woman to be a pastor end up becoming one? Listen to Part 1 of <a href="https://www.godconversations.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/022-How-Does-it-Feel-to-be-a-Woman-In-Ministry_-Part-2.mp3" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">How it Feels to be a Woman in Ministry</a>. What about you? What has been your response to the radical changes in gender roles happening in society today? As a man? As a woman? We would love to hear from you below!

(022) How it Feels to be a Woman in Ministry (Part 2)

Loneliness has become the plague of the modern world. Even though our widespread telecommunication systems and sophisticated transport networks make us more connected than ever before, we’re also lonelier than we’ve ever been. Recent sociological studies show that the levels of loneliness in Western urban society today are unprecedented. Last year, the British Parliament even created a new position for a “Minister for Loneliness”! Sometimes people think that if you know the God who speaks back, you shouldn’t be lonely. If God is a God of love, surely he would fill every need? Sadly that’s just not true. We need people. God created us to be in relationship with others. Our heavenly father is not in the doorway to greet you at the end of the day. Jesus does not wrap his arms around you in a bear hug when you’ve just received the worst news of your life. Even though his presence is always with us, the Holy Spirit cannot take you literally by the elbow and escort you to that event you fear. God himself said, it’s not good for people to be alone (Genesis 2:18). In this episode, we’re talking today about what to do when you’re lonely. We’re looking at some of the theology that needs to shape our thinking and the God-given need for intimacy we all share. We’ll look at how God uses people to be his hands and feet, and what practical things we can do in those times of loneliness that are inevitable as we go through the seasons of life. Listen below: Subscribe to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode!

Loneliness has become the plague of the modern world. Even though our widespread telecommunication systems and sophisticated transport networks make us more connected than ever before, we’re also lonelier than we’ve ever been. Recent sociological studies show that the levels of loneliness in Western urban society today are unprecedented. Last year, the British Parliament even created a new position for a “Minister for Loneliness”! Sometimes people think that if you know the God who speaks back, you shouldn’t be lonely. If God is a God of love, surely he would fill every need? Sadly that’s just not true. We need people. God created us to be in relationship with others. Our heavenly father is not in the doorway to greet you at the end of the day. Jesus does not wrap his arms around you in a bear hug when you’ve just received the worst news of your life. Even though his presence is always with us, the Holy Spirit cannot take you literally by the elbow and escort you to that event you fear. God himself said, it’s not good for people to be alone (Genesis 2:18). In this episode, we’re talking today about what to do when you’re lonely. We’re looking at some of the theology that needs to shape our thinking and the God-given need for intimacy we all share. We’ll look at how God uses people to be his hands and feet, and what practical things we can do in those times of loneliness that are inevitable as we go through the seasons of life. Listen below: <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/god-conversations-tania-harris/id763485403" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode!

(050) No, God is Not all You Need: What to Do When You’re Lonely

Have you noticed that God does a lot of talking at Christmas time? The first God-conversation with Mary was the one that started it all (Luke 1:26-33). But then God spoke a second time – to Joseph (Matthew 1:18-21), then a third time to the wise men (Matthew 2:12) and a fourth (Matthew 2:19-21) and fifth time to Joseph (Matthew 2:22). He also spoke to Elizabeth, Anna and Simeon. God speaks repeatedly throughout the Christmas story. But what if the people hadn’t listened? What if they hadn’t followed? What if Joseph had merely written his dream off as the spicy pizza (or lentils), if the wise men dismissed their dream as a paranoid nightmare or if Mary had rejected the words of the angel? Because people heard God speak and because they did what he said, our Christmas cards show Jesus alive in Mary’s arms and we sing songs heralding his birth. Christmas pans out the way it was supposed to. In this podcast, we talk about the five conversations of Christmas and how they shaped the event we celebrate every December. That first Christmas was unique, but God’s pattern of working hasn’t changed. He still speaks to initiate his plan. He still looks for willing people to receive his promise and carry it by faith. He still speaks to see protect his word and he still speaks to announce the time when it will come to pass. The God who spoke then is still speaking today. What is God talking to you about this Christmas? Listen to the podcast: Subscribe to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode!

Have you noticed that God does a lot of talking at Christmas time? The first God-conversation with Mary was the one that started it all (Luke 1:26-33). But then God spoke a second time – to Joseph (Matthew 1:18-21), then a third time to the wise men (Matthew 2:12) and a fourth (Matthew 2:19-21) and fifth time to Joseph (Matthew 2:22). He also spoke to Elizabeth, Anna and Simeon. God speaks repeatedly throughout the Christmas story. But what if the people hadn’t listened? What if they hadn’t followed? What if Joseph had merely written his dream off as the spicy pizza (or lentils), if the wise men dismissed their dream as a paranoid nightmare or if Mary had rejected the words of the angel? Because people heard God speak and because they did what he said, our Christmas cards show Jesus alive in Mary’s arms and we sing songs heralding his birth. Christmas pans out the way it was supposed to. In this podcast, we talk about the five conversations of Christmas and how they shaped the event we celebrate every December. That first Christmas was unique, but God’s pattern of working hasn’t changed. He still speaks to initiate his plan. He still looks for willing people to receive his promise and carry it by faith. He still speaks to see protect his word and he still speaks to announce the time when it will come to pass. The God who spoke then is still speaking today. What is God talking to you about this Christmas? Listen to the podcast: <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/god-conversations-tania-harris/id763485403" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode!

(040) The God Conversations of Christmas: What if Joseph had dismissed his dream as just the spicy pizza?”

How do we get better at hearing God’s voice? The answer doesn’t lie in a formula or a set of rules: “Follow these 3 steps, take time out or spend 15 minutes with God each day.” Hearing God’s voice happens in the context of relationship, so if we want to get better at it, it’s the state of our relationship that becomes the focus. This week on God Conversations with Tania Harris we’re talking about how to get better at hearing God’s voice. It’s one of the most important questions to ask because it lies at the heart of knowing God. We’ll get better at hearing God’s voice by applying the same principles that we use to grow communication in our human relationships. In the podcast, we look at three different principles that apply: 1. Make a commitment to improve your communication Learning to hear God’s voice is a process that develops with time and practise. We learn to recognise his voice. The prophet Samuel was a man who knew how to hear God’s voice. He was the expert. The Bible says of him that not one of his words fell to the ground – they all came to pass (1 Samuel 3:19). In fact Samuel became the prototype for all prophets to come. But he wasn’t always as good as hearing God’s voice. The first time he heard it, he thought it his mentor calling. He heard the voice three times and still he didn’t get it right! (1 Samuel 3:1-15). As we see, Samuel learnt. He got better at hearing God’s voice as he got to know the person behind the voice. So first, we need to understand that learning to hear God’s voice takes time. Then, we need to commit ourselves to learning. We ask God to teach us. We listen for his voice. We ask him questions. Then, when we think we’ve heard his voice, we go back and check. We ask God to confirm. We pray; “Make yourself clear Lord.” We start in the small things and we learn in the same way Samuel did. 2. Learn to trust his communication (as he learns to trust yours) Communication is an issue of trust. We learn to trust that others mean what they say – and they learn to trust that we mean what we say. In the same way, when it comes to hearing God, we need to learn to trust his communication – to learn that he means what he says and that he delivers on his promises (Numbers 23:19). That means when he speaks, we need to act on his words. We need to follow and obey. Then when we will see his faithfulness and trustworthiness, we’ll be able to  continue hearing him speak. When we learn to trust his communication, we will find it easier to hear his voice. But there’s another side to it as well. God also needs to trust our words. So when we say things to him like; “I want to follow you”, he’s watching for our response. When he says, “Ok I want you to do this for me”, will we do what we says? Jesus said that if we love God, we will obey and then he can show more of himself to us (John 4:21). When God sees that we mean what we say, he can entrust us with more. It’s like any relationship we have on earth. We will have clearer and more meaningful conversations when we grow in trust for each other. 3. Become more honest in your communication (as he becomes more honest in his) Finally we get better at hearing God’s voice when we become more honest with God – when we open up our hearts to him in both the good times – and the bad. A close relationship means that we share our true thoughts to God and don’t distance ourselves when circumstances go awry. This principle also means we need to allow God to share his true thoughts to us – to allow him to speak into every area of our lives. We need to be prepared to listen to him no matter what he says. This level of honesty builds relationship and we find ourselves being able to hear more of what God is saying. These are the kind of conversations that change us. They set us free. Jesus said his words are spirit and they are life (John 6:63), that they are bread to our bodies, food to our spirits and life to our souls – that we can’t live without them (Matthew 4:4)! When we learn to communicate with God, we are transformed. We become the people we were born to be. Subscribe to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode!

How do we get better at hearing God’s voice? The answer doesn’t lie in a formula or a set of rules: “Follow these 3 steps, take time out or spend 15 minutes with God each day.” Hearing God’s voice happens in the context of relationship, so if we want to get better at it, it’s the state of our relationship that becomes the focus. This week on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/god-conversations-tania-harris/id763485403" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">God Conversations with Tania Harris</a> we’re talking about how to get better at hearing God’s voice. It’s one of the most important questions to ask because it lies at the heart of knowing God. We’ll get better at hearing God’s voice by applying the same principles that we use to grow communication in our human relationships. In the podcast, we look at three different principles that apply: <h3>1. Make a commitment to improve your communication</h3> Learning to hear God’s voice is a process that develops with time and practise. We learn to recognise his voice. The prophet Samuel was a man who knew how to hear God’s voice. He was the expert. The Bible says of him that not one of his words fell to the ground – they all came to pass (1 Samuel 3:19). In fact Samuel became the prototype for all prophets to come. But he wasn’t always as good as hearing God’s voice. The first time he heard it, he thought it his mentor calling. He heard the voice three times and still he didn’t get it right! (1 Samuel 3:1-15). As we see, Samuel learnt. He got better at hearing God’s voice as he got to know the person behind the voice. So first, we need to understand that learning to hear God’s voice takes time. Then, we need to commit ourselves to learning. We ask God to teach us. We listen for his voice. We ask him questions. Then, when we think we’ve heard his voice, we go back and check. We ask God to confirm. We pray; “Make yourself clear Lord.” We start in the small things and we learn in the same way Samuel did. <h3>2. Learn to trust his communication (as he learns to trust yours)</h3> Communication is an issue of trust. We learn to trust that others mean what they say – and they learn to trust that we mean what we say. In the same way, when it comes to hearing God, we need to learn to trust his communication – to learn that he means what he says and that he delivers on his promises (Numbers 23:19). That means when he speaks, we need to act on his words. We need to follow and obey. Then when we will see his faithfulness and trustworthiness, we’ll be able to  continue hearing him speak. When we learn to trust his communication, we will find it easier to hear his voice. But there’s another side to it as well. God also needs to trust our words. So when we say things to him like; “I want to follow you”, he’s watching for our response. When he says, “Ok I want you to do this for me”, will we do what we says? Jesus said that if we love God, we will obey and then he can show more of himself to us (John 4:21). When God sees that we mean what we say, he can entrust us with more. It’s like any relationship we have on earth. We will have clearer and more meaningful conversations when we grow in trust for each other. <h3>3. Become more honest in your communication (as he becomes more honest in his)</h3> Finally we get better at hearing God’s voice when we become more honest with God – when we open up our hearts to him in both the good times – and the bad. A close relationship means that we share our true thoughts to God and don’t distance ourselves when circumstances go awry. This principle also means we need to allow God to share his true thoughts to us – to allow him to speak into every area of our lives. We need to be prepared to listen to him no matter what he says. This level of honesty builds relationship and we find ourselves being able to hear more of what God is saying. These are the kind of conversations that change us. They set us free. Jesus said his words are spirit and they are life (John 6:63), that they are bread to our bodies, food to our spirits and life to our souls – that we can’t live without them (Matthew 4:4)! When we learn to communicate with God, we are transformed. We become the people we were born to be. <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/god-conversations-tania-harris/id763485403" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode!

(036) How to Get Better at Hearing God’s Voice

How can hearing God’s voice be easy? Admittedly it is a slightly provocative statement designed to get you reading my eBook, The Easy Way to Hear God’s Voice, but there’s also an element of truth in it. Let me explain… Many of us struggle to hear God’s voice and it seems we are not alone. Even in Bible times people experienced the same frustration: Why do you complain to him that he responds to no one’s words? For God does speak—now one way, now another—though no one perceives it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they slumber in their beds… (Job 33:13-15) Though we know these words were spoken by someone who didn’t always have the right advice for his friend Job, they still give us a glimpse of the ancients’ experience in trying to discern God’s voice. God may well have been speaking to them in dreams, but like so many of us, they didn’t notice it. The premise of my book then is, that hearing from God may be as easy as falling asleep – something we can all do! Which then begs the question, if hearing from God was as easy as pulling up a pillow, then why aren’t more of us experiencing this? In today’s podcast, which includes an interview with Clayton Bjelan at 89.9Light FM Melbourne, we look at this question as well as a number other frequently asked questions about hearing God’s voice in dreams. Here are some of them:  Hearing God in dreams seems a bit mystical, fanciful, a bit out there – what would you say to that?   When we say God speaks in dreams, how does he actually do it? How can we know it’s him?   Do you need to be someone special, a certain kind of person to hear from God in a dream? Can we make ourselves more ‘susceptible’ to hearing God in this way?   What have you’ve learnt from listening to the dreams of others?   How do you decipher what a dream means? Is there a way to discern whether a dream is literal or symbolic?  Have you read The Easy Way to Hear God’s Voice? What did you learn about hearing God’s voice in dreams? Share your comments below, and pass the book onto your friends by using the social media buttons below. Subscribe to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode!

How can hearing God’s voice be easy? Admittedly it is a slightly provocative statement designed to get you reading my eBook, The Easy Way to Hear God’s Voice, but there’s also an element of truth in it. Let me explain… Many of us struggle to hear God’s voice and it seems we are not alone. Even in Bible times people experienced the same frustration: Why do you complain to him that he responds to no one’s words? For God does speak—now one way, now another—though no one perceives it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they slumber in their beds… (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job+33%3A13-15&amp;version=NIV" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Job 33:13-15</a>) Though we know these words were spoken by someone who didn’t always have the right advice for his friend Job, they still give us a glimpse of the ancients’ experience in trying to discern God’s voice. God may well have been speaking to them in dreams, but like so many of us, they didn’t notice it. The premise of my book then is, that hearing from God may be as easy as falling asleep – something we can all do! Which then begs the question, if hearing from God was as easy as pulling up a pillow, then why aren’t more of us experiencing this? In today’s podcast, which includes an interview with Clayton Bjelan at <a href="http://lightfm.com.au/shows/in-conversation-with-clayton/author-of-the-easy-way-to-hear-gods-voice-tania-harris/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">89.9Light FM</a> Melbourne, we look at this question as well as a number other frequently asked questions about hearing God’s voice in dreams. Here are some of them: <ul> <li>Hearing God in dreams seems a bit mystical, fanciful, a bit out there – what would you say to that?</li> </ul> <ul> <li>When we say God speaks in dreams, how does he actually do it? How can we know it’s him?</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Do you need to be someone special, a certain kind of person to hear from God in a dream? Can we make ourselves more ‘susceptible’ to hearing God in this way?</li> </ul> <ul> <li>What have you’ve learnt from listening to the dreams of others?</li> </ul> <ul> <li>How do you decipher what a dream means? Is there a way to discern whether a dream is literal or symbolic?</li> </ul> Have you read The Easy Way to Hear God’s Voice? What did you learn about hearing God’s voice in dreams? Share your comments below, and pass the book onto your friends by using the social media buttons below. <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/god-conversations-tania-harris/id763485403" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode!

(021) The Easy Way to Hear God’s Voice

How do you follow God’s voice for your life if there are two of you? What if both of you hear different things? Or what if one person gets the low-down from God while the other doesn’t? How does God lead married couples? On the show today we have some guests who are brilliantly qualified to answer these questions and I know you’re going to learn a lot from them! Brett Ryan is the CEO of Focus on the Family Australia. He’s spent more than 12 years as a Children’s Pastor at Citylife Church Citylife Church, Melbourne, Australia building a significant ministry to over 1,000 children across 3 different church campuses. Brett’s wife Kate has been a PE teacher for the past 24 years, first of all as a Primary teacher and then as a Secondary teacher. Today Kate and Brett work together to serve the community and the church with a heart to see families thrive. In this episode, I talk with Brett and Kate about:  The story of how God led them through the various career changes in their lives What the story of Manoah and his wife (Samson’s parents) in Judges 13 can teach us about hearing God’s voice How to deal with the scenario when one partner has heard from God while the other hasn’t The role of the community in hearing God’s voice Advice for married couples looking to follow the voice of God in their lives  If you’re seeking to move forward together in God’s purpose with your partner, this episode is for you! Subscribe to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode!   To make use of all the resources provided by Focus and the Family, including their free counselling service, click here.   How have you experienced God’s voice in your marriage? Share your comments or advice here!

How do you follow God’s voice for your life if there are two of you? What if both of you hear different things? Or what if one person gets the low-down from God while the other doesn’t? How does God lead married couples? On the show today we have some guests who are brilliantly qualified to answer these questions and I know you’re going to learn a lot from them! Brett Ryan is the CEO of <a href="https://www.families.org.au" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Focus on the Family</a> Australia. He’s spent more than 12 years as a Children’s Pastor at Citylife Church Citylife Church, Melbourne, Australia building a significant ministry to over 1,000 children across 3 different church campuses. Brett’s wife Kate has been a PE teacher for the past 24 years, first of all as a Primary teacher and then as a Secondary teacher. Today Kate and Brett work together to serve the community and the church with a heart to see families thrive. In this episode, I talk with Brett and Kate about: <ul> <li>The story of how God led them through the various career changes in their lives</li> <li>What the story of Manoah and his wife (Samson’s parents) in Judges 13 can teach us about hearing God’s voice</li> <li>How to deal with the scenario when one partner has heard from God while the other hasn’t</li> <li>The role of the community in hearing God’s voice</li> <li>Advice for married couples looking to follow the voice of God in their lives</li> </ul> If you’re seeking to move forward together in God’s purpose with your partner, this episode is for you! <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/god-conversations-tania-harris/id763485403" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode! <a href="https://www.families.org.au" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a>To make use of all the resources provided by Focus and the Family, including their free counselling service, click <a href="https://www.families.org.au" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>. How have you experienced God’s voice in your marriage? Share your comments or advice <a href="https://www.godconversations.com/podcast/025/#comments" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>!

(025) How to Hear God’s Voice as a Married Couple

Last week, a new reality show called Married at First Sight was launched on Australian TV. I have to confess, I’ve been glued to it from the first night and the early episodes have not failed to disappoint. In the series, a man and a woman meet for the first time on their wedding day after being paired together by a group of three experts. There’s a neuropsychotherapist who considers pheromones and ‘chemistry’, as well as a psychologist and relationship expert who draw on personality profiles and extensive interviews to make their best scientific match. Once having participated in a (non-legal) wedding ceremony, the newly married couples spend their first night in a hotel, then leave for the honeymoon. After returning and living together for a month, they make the decision whether or not to continue their relationship. Last year the whole process worked out beautifully for one of the four couples, Alex and Zoe, who are now happily on their way down the non-reality TV wedding aisle. It’s all gripping viewing. For my friends outside of Australia, here’s a moment the producers die for when, at the wedding of the third couple, Jono the groom doesn’t get what he ordered in bride Clare. It may sound like just another one of those awfully sad reality TV shows that happily exploit our voyeuristic tendencies, but as I’m watching the look of utter terror on the brides’ faces as the step out of their limousines, I can’t help but be reminded of the ancient biblical equivalent. Think Jacob meeting the weak-eyed Leah only after he lifts up the wedding veil or Isaac meeting his betrothed in the marital tent after she was chosen for her competency watering camels. Back in those days of course, the pairing was done largely by the parents and was based on the potential for wealth, power and territory rather than a remote notion such as science or even romantic love. The show again begs the age-old question, how do we decide on Mr or Mrs Right? E-Harmony has a survey, Tinder just a photo, but what does God say about the process of deciding who to marry? These are incredibly important questions – one of the most important ones we ask, since the identity of our life partners deeply effects who we are and who we become. Maybe you’re dating and considering the question right now; maybe you’re parents and seeking to counsel your young adult children through the process, or maybe you’re single, widowed or divorced later in life and wondering how to do this well. In this episode of God Conversations with Tania Harris, we’re going to take time to look at these all-important questions. We talk about:  The fact that no one size fits all. While there may be no biblical blueprint for this process, there are a number of sound wisdom principles we can apply. How essential it is to consult God and involve him in the process The challenges involved in receiving guidance in this area and what it means to respond when God says ‘no’. What to do when God doesn’t speak specifically about our marriage partner What to do if God does speak about our marriage partner, and If there’s such a thing as soulmates!  Listen below or subscribe to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode!   Comments Has God ever spoken to you about marriage? What advice would you give to someone who is asking these questions? Share here:

Last week, a new reality show called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Married_at_First_Sight_(Australian_TV_series)" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Married at First Sight</a> was launched on Australian TV. I have to confess, I’ve been glued to it from the first night and the early episodes have not failed to disappoint. In the series, a man and a woman meet for the first time on their wedding day after being paired together by a group of three experts. There’s a neuropsychotherapist who considers pheromones and ‘chemistry’, as well as a psychologist and relationship expert who draw on personality profiles and extensive interviews to make their best scientific match. Once having participated in a (non-legal) wedding ceremony, the newly married couples spend their first night in a hotel, then leave for the honeymoon. After returning and living together for a month, they make the decision whether or not to continue their relationship. Last year the whole process worked out beautifully for one of the four couples, Alex and Zoe, who are now happily on their way down the non-reality TV wedding aisle. It’s all gripping viewing. For my friends outside of Australia, here’s a moment the producers die for when, at the wedding of the third couple, Jono the groom doesn’t get <a href="http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/reality-tv/james-weir-recaps-married-at-first-sight-episode-2-this-isnt-what-i-ordered/news-story/610055c999bc429b3ae8de51bc96525a" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">what he ordered</a> in bride Clare. It may sound like just another one of those awfully sad reality TV shows that happily exploit our voyeuristic tendencies, but as I’m watching the look of utter terror on the brides’ faces as the step out of their limousines, I can’t help but be reminded of the ancient biblical equivalent. Think Jacob meeting the weak-eyed Leah only after he lifts up the wedding veil or Isaac meeting his betrothed in the marital tent after she was chosen for her competency watering camels. Back in those days of course, the pairing was done largely by the parents and was based on the potential for wealth, power and territory rather than a remote notion such as science or even romantic love. The show again begs the age-old question, how do we decide on Mr or Mrs Right? E-Harmony has a survey, Tinder just a photo, but what does God say about the process of deciding who to marry? These are incredibly important questions – one of the most important ones we ask, since the identity of our life partners deeply effects who we are and who we become. Maybe you’re dating and considering the question right now; maybe you’re parents and seeking to counsel your young adult children through the process, or maybe you’re single, widowed or divorced later in life and wondering how to do this well. In this episode of God Conversations with Tania Harris, we’re going to take time to look at these all-important questions. We talk about: <ul> <li>The fact that no one size fits all. While there may be no biblical blueprint for this process, there are a number of sound wisdom principles we can apply.</li> <li>How essential it is to consult God and involve him in the process</li> <li>The challenges involved in receiving guidance in this area and what it means to respond when God says ‘no’.</li> <li>What to do when God doesn’t speak specifically about our marriage partner</li> <li>What to do if God does speak about our marriage partner, and</li> <li>If there’s such a thing as soulmates!</li> </ul> Listen below or <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/god-conversations-tania-harris/id763485403" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">subscribe</a> to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode! <h3>Comments</h3> Has God ever spoken to you about marriage? What advice would you give to someone who is asking these questions? Share <a href="https://www.godconversations.com/podcast/029/#comments" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>:

(029) Hearing God for Mr or Mrs Right

On this week’s podcast, Light FM radio host Clayton Bjelan and I chat about the experiences of listeners from Melbourne (Australia) in hearing God’s voice. We hear from:  Robert who heard God’s voice on one of the worst days of his life. Bernadette who received a vision that helped her avoid a devastating car accident. Ken who received encouragement while waiting for his first child to be born. Marinella who unexpectedly landed the perfect job through following the direction of the Holy Spirit. Jessie who desperately needed reassurance that God was with her in a time of great distress.  Be inspired by their stories as they share of the life that comes when God speaks and how his words can warn and protect us! We learn that truly, God speaks to us for our strengthening, encouraging and comfort! (1 Corinthians 14:3). Subscribe to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode! What’s your favourite God-Conversation story? Share in the comments below!

On this week’s podcast, <a href="http://lightfm.com.au" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Light FM</a> radio host Clayton Bjelan and I chat about the experiences of listeners from Melbourne (Australia) in hearing God’s voice. We hear from: <ul> <li>Robert who heard God’s voice on one of the worst days of his life.</li> <li>Bernadette who received a vision that helped her avoid a devastating car accident.</li> <li>Ken who received encouragement while waiting for his first child to be born.</li> <li>Marinella who unexpectedly landed the perfect job through following the direction of the Holy Spirit.</li> <li>Jessie who desperately needed reassurance that God was with her in a time of great distress.</li> </ul> Be inspired by their stories as they share of the life that comes when God speaks and how his words can warn and protect us! We learn that truly, God speaks to us for our strengthening, encouraging and comfort! <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+14%3A3&amp;version=NIV" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">(1 Corinthians 14:3).</a> <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/god-conversations-tania-harris/id763485403" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode! What’s your favourite God-Conversation story? Share in the comments below!

(015) What Does God Sound Like? Light FM Listeners Share their Stories

“‘In the last days, God says,     I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy,     your young men will see visions,     your old men will dream dreams.” It’s one of the most famous verses in the New Testament and a pivotal moment for the early church. The Holy Spirit ‘fell’ on a group of people as they gathered to worship on the Jewish Day of Pentecost. A number of miraculous phenomena occurred that day, but the Apostle Peter makes note of only one of them. Young and old, male and female – all people would be able to have “dreams and visions” and “prophesy”. But what did Peter mean by that? In this podcast, we talk about the dreams of Acts 2:17 – what Peter meant by them, how we have managed to turn it into something else and in doing so, have missed one of the most powerful ways to hear God’s voice. You may also like to read; Acts 2:17 – A Turning Point, but What Does this Verse Really Mean? Subscribe to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode. Your Thoughts Has God ever spoken to you in a dream or vision? Leave a comment below:

“‘In the last days, God says,     I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy,     your young men will see visions,     your old men will dream dreams.” It’s one of the most famous verses in the New Testament and a pivotal moment for the early church. The Holy Spirit ‘fell’ on a group of people as they gathered to worship on the Jewish Day of Pentecost. A number of miraculous phenomena occurred that day, but the Apostle Peter makes note of only one of them. Young and old, male and female – all people would be able to have “dreams and visions” and “prophesy”. But what did Peter mean by that? In this podcast, we talk about the dreams of Acts 2:17 – what Peter meant by them, how we have managed to turn it into something else and in doing so, have missed one of the most powerful ways to hear God’s voice. You may also like to read; <a href="https://www.godconversations.com/blog/acts-217-a-turning-point-but-what-does-this-verse-really-mean/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Acts 2:17 – A Turning Point, but What Does this Verse Really Mean?</a> <a href="http://godconversations.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=cdf3e68bc7fd99f5b60fb217a&amp;id=cd655060d9&amp;e=07f8bd6495" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode. <h4>Your Thoughts</h4> Has God ever spoken to you in a dream or vision? Leave a comment below:

(011) Acts 2:17. Did We Get This Scripture Wrong?

Our podcast this week is an encore episode from a couple of years ago. Back then it was terror attacks in Paris and Beirut, a devastating earthquake in Nepal, and the Syrian crisis spilling millions of desperate refugees into Europe. Today it’s a virus that threatens the health of millions and the stability of economies all over the world. As Christians, how do we respond when we hear the nightly news? How do we relate from the positions of our comfy lounge-room chairs when we hear about the latest virus statistics? What is God saying to us in the midst of global chaos? On this podcast, be encouraged as we learn from the God Conversations of the early church and how we can apply it to our own global crisis today. Just before Christmas in 2015, I spoke with John Peachey from Rhema’s Morning Show in New Zealand. In this podcast, we talk about some of these important issues by looking at what God has already said. The first century church faced threats of persecution in their day not by terrorists, but by a brutal Roman empire. God’s words came then in the form of a series of symbolic visions via the Apostle John – a message that is still relevant to us in our time. You may never read the book of Revelation in the same way! Our conversation also brings it back to the state of our own hearts and what our response should be, even in the relative safety of the West. We pray it brings you hope and inspiration as well as some tangible strategies to how to respond when you hear the latest news. Here’s Hearing God’s voice in the Global Chaos! Subscribe to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode! Comments What has your response been the turmoil in our world today? We’d love to hear your thoughts here:

Our podcast this week is an encore episode from a couple of years ago. Back then it was terror attacks in Paris and Beirut, a devastating earthquake in Nepal, and the Syrian crisis spilling millions of desperate refugees into Europe. Today it’s a virus that threatens the health of millions and the stability of economies all over the world. As Christians, how do we respond when we hear the nightly news? How do we relate from the positions of our comfy lounge-room chairs when we hear about the latest virus statistics? What is God saying to us in the midst of global chaos? On this podcast, be encouraged as we learn from the God Conversations of the early church and how we can apply it to our own global crisis today. Just before Christmas in 2015, I spoke with John Peachey from <a href="http://www.rhema.co.nz" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Rhema’s Morning Show</a> in New Zealand. In this podcast, we talk about some of these important issues by looking at what God has already said. The first century church faced threats of persecution in their day not by terrorists, but by a brutal Roman empire. God’s words came then in the form of a series of symbolic visions via the Apostle John – a message that is still relevant to us in our time. You may never read the book of Revelation in the same way! Our conversation also brings it back to the state of our own hearts and what our response should be, even in the relative safety of the West. We pray it brings you hope and inspiration as well as some tangible strategies to how to respond when you hear the latest news. Here’s Hearing God’s voice in the Global Chaos! <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/god-conversations-tania-harris/id763485403" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode! <h4>Comments</h4> What has your response been the turmoil in our world today? We’d love to hear your thoughts <a href="https://www.godconversations.com/podcast/027/#comments" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>:

(027) Hearing God in the Global Chaos (Encore)

A few years after starting God Conversations, God spoke to me about a second branch of ministry. Unlike equipping people to recognise God’s voice, this one was just for women. The vision of God Conversations for Women is to help women realise their God-given potential. The goal is to see God’s original plan when he cast both men and women in his image and commissioned them to steward the planet together (Genesis 1:26-27) fulfilled in the 21st century. The question of what a 21st C woman looks like is not an easy one to answer. Once it was simple. Women’s roles in the home, church and community were all very clear. But the feminist movement has changed all that. The last 50-100 years have seen seismic shifts in Western society. Today women can vote and go to university. They can get a job and travel without their husbands. They can fly aeroplanes, join the army, preach sermons and rise to the position of Prime Minister. It wasn’t long ago that all these things were unthinkable. But at the same time, these kinds of changes have deep repercussions for who we are as women. We hear the voices of the secular worlds; the community and the marketplace, but what is God asking of us? What does it mean to be a 21st C Christian woman? We’re going to tackle some of those questions today in one of the most fun and interesting radio interviews I think I’ve ever done. It’s an interview with John Peachey, presenter of the Mornings Show in Rhema Radio NZ and it was done to mark the official launch of God Conversations for Women. I encourage you to have a listen – even if you’re a man! John and I talk about:  How changes in women’s roles effects our men, like who does the asking on a date Why some men (and some women) find it hard to accept women in leadership roles What being a woman in leadership means for femininity The role of the “pastors’ wife” today (and how to pastor a church if you’re not one) How gender stereotypes can be both helpful and unhelpful How God describes his vision for women in the 21st C (and what happens when you quote the Bible at God) Some advice for young women Why there’s so many great single women who can’t find a man and how not to put your life on hold while you ‘wait’!  Subscribe to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode! So welcome to our launch of God Conversations for Women! For more resources on how to be a 21st C Christian woman, subscribe at the blog here. Your Thoughts What do you think is on God’s heart for the 21st C Christian woman? We’d love to hear your thoughts below (and yes, men we’d love to hear from you too!)

A few years after starting God Conversations, God spoke to me about a second branch of ministry. Unlike equipping people to recognise God’s voice, this one was just for women. The vision of God Conversations for Women is to help women realise their God-given potential. The goal is to see God’s original plan when he cast both men and women in his image and commissioned them to steward the planet together (Genesis 1:26-27) fulfilled in the 21st century. The question of what a 21st C woman looks like is not an easy one to answer. Once it was simple. Women’s roles in the home, church and community were all very clear. But the feminist movement has changed all that. The last 50-100 years have seen seismic shifts in Western society. Today women can vote and go to university. They can get a job and travel without their husbands. They can fly aeroplanes, join the army, preach sermons and rise to the position of Prime Minister. It wasn’t long ago that all these things were unthinkable. But at the same time, these kinds of changes have deep repercussions for who we are as women. We hear the voices of the secular worlds; the community and the marketplace, but what is God asking of us? What does it mean to be a 21st C Christian woman? We’re going to tackle some of those questions today in one of the most fun and interesting radio interviews I think I’ve ever done. It’s an interview with John Peachey, presenter of the <a href="http://www.rhema.co.nz" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mornings Show in Rhema Radio NZ</a> and it was done to mark the official launch of <a href="https://www.godconversations.com/women/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">God Conversations for Women</a>. I encourage you to have a listen – even if you’re a man! John and I talk about: <ul> <li>How changes in women’s roles effects our men, like who does the asking on a date</li> <li>Why some men (and some women) find it hard to accept women in leadership roles</li> <li>What being a woman in leadership means for femininity</li> <li>The role of the “pastors’ wife” today (and how to pastor a church if you’re not one)</li> <li>How gender stereotypes can be both helpful and unhelpful</li> <li>How God describes his vision for women in the 21st C (and what happens when you quote the Bible at God)</li> <li>Some advice for young women</li> <li>Why there’s so many great single women who can’t find a man and how not to put your life on hold while you ‘wait’!</li> </ul> <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/god-conversations-tania-harris/id763485403" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode! So welcome to our launch of God Conversations for Women! For more resources on how to be a 21st C Christian woman, subscribe at the blog <a href="https://www.godconversations.com/women/about" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>. Your Thoughts What do you think is on God’s heart for the 21st C Christian woman? We’d love to hear your thoughts below (and yes, men we’d love to hear from you too!)

(023) A Vision for the 21stC Christian Woman

How do we know the will of God for our lives? It’s a question that is often hotly debated with one side emphasising the need for God’s direct guidance for our decisions and the other emphasising human free will (Listen to: Is God’s will a Narrow Path or a 6-Lane Freeway?). In this podcast, John Peachey from the Mornings show at Rhema New Zealand and I take a different tack. We explore this commonly asked question by drawing on the story told in Jessica Kelley’s book Lord Willing. Against the backdrop of her dying 4 year old son’s battle with brain cancer, Jessica challenges the popular idea that God has some sort of master plan where he ordains and controls every decision. In this view, God’s plan did not include her son Henry’s cancer, nor did he even “allow” it. As Jessica so vividly communicates, Jesus came to give abundant life, not to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10), so he could never be to blame for her son’s tragic death. God’s sovereignty does not mean he is a controlling micro-manager (Read: What We Mean When we Say God is in Control?), nor he is never to blame for the evil in the world. Jessica’s conclusions about the nature of God’s sovereignty, the presence of evil and the dynamic of human autonomy help us to better understand how to navigate God’s will in our own lives. If we believe in the so-called ‘blueprint view’, God will always get the blame, ‘everything happens for a reason’ and there is little room for free will. In this way of thinking, we will be paralysed until we hear God’s voice and we will approach decisions with a fear of getting it wrong. But if we understand our world to be a powerful interplay of God’s intervention with the fallenness of humanity, we can be better equipped to navigate the ‘will of God’ in our lives. Subscribe to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode! More about Lord Willing? by Jessica Kelley Does God’s perfect plan really include this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvnDJOx4R98 When her young son was diagnosed with brain cancer, Jessica Kelley couldn’t stomach Christian clichés. God’s will? Divine design? The Lord’s perfect plan? In Lord Willing?, Kelley boldly tackles one of the most difficult questions of the Christian life: if God is all-powerful and all-loving, why do we suffer? For Kelley, this question takes an even more painful and personal turn: did God lack the power or the desire to spare her four-year-old son? For those dissatisfied with easy answers to why evil and tragedy occur, Lord Willing? offers a refreshing, hopeful journey straight to the heart of God. Be prepared for something more beautiful, more pure, and more healing than you can dare to imagine.

How do we know the will of God for our lives? It’s a question that is often hotly debated with one side emphasising the need for God’s direct guidance for our decisions and the other emphasising human free will (Listen to: <a href="https://www.godconversations.com/podcast/06/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Is God’s will a Narrow Path or a 6-Lane Freeway?</a>). In this podcast, John Peachey from the Mornings show at <a href="http://www.rhema.co.nz" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Rhema New Zealand</a> and I take a different tack. We explore this commonly asked question by drawing on the story told in Jessica Kelley’s book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Lord-Willing-Wrestling-Childs-Death/dp/1513800191/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1480297773&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=lord+willing+jessica+kelley" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Lord Willing</a>. Against the backdrop of her dying 4 year old son’s battle with brain cancer, <a href="http://jessicakelley.com" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Jessica</a> challenges the popular idea that God has some sort of master plan where he ordains and controls every decision. In this view, God’s plan did not include her son Henry’s cancer, nor did he even “allow” it. As Jessica so vividly communicates, Jesus came to give abundant life, not to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10), so he could never be to blame for her son’s tragic death. God’s sovereignty does not mean he is a controlling micro-manager (Read: <a href="https://www.godconversations.com/blog/god-in-control/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">What We Mean When we Say God is in Control</a>?), nor he is never to blame for the evil in the world. Jessica’s conclusions about the nature of God’s sovereignty, the presence of evil and the dynamic of human autonomy help us to better understand how to navigate God’s will in our own lives. If we believe in the so-called ‘blueprint view’, God will always get the blame, ‘everything happens for a reason’ and there is little room for free will. In this way of thinking, we will be paralysed until we hear God’s voice and we will approach decisions with a fear of getting it wrong. But if we understand our world to be a powerful interplay of God’s intervention with the fallenness of humanity, we can be better equipped to navigate the ‘will of God’ in our lives. <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/god-conversations-tania-harris/id763485403" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode! More about <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Lord-Willing-Wrestling-Childs-Death/dp/1513800191/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1480297773&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=lord+willing+jessica+kelley" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Lord Willing? by Jessica Kelley</a> Does God’s perfect plan really include this? <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvnDJOx4R98" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvnDJOx4R98</a> When her young son was diagnosed with brain cancer, Jessica Kelley couldn’t stomach Christian clichés. God’s will? Divine design? The Lord’s perfect plan? In Lord Willing?, Kelley boldly tackles one of the most difficult questions of the Christian life: if God is all-powerful and all-loving, why do we suffer? For Kelley, this question takes an even more painful and personal turn: did God lack the power or the desire to spare her four-year-old son? For those dissatisfied with easy answers to why evil and tragedy occur, Lord Willing? offers a refreshing, hopeful journey straight to the heart of God. Be prepared for something more beautiful, more pure, and more healing than you can dare to imagine.

(033) How to Know the Will of God

You don’t need to be a Christian to live a good life. Plenty of my friends live a great life without God. They are well educated, hold successful jobs and live in beautiful homes. For the most part they enjoy happy, contented lives – even with a few bumps along the way.  In our Western world, it’s not difficult to live a good life. There are common sense decisions we can make, self-help books to read and plenty of resources at our disposal. In the Western parts of the world, we are blessed with opportunity and prosperity. Even with a bad start, you can turn things around if you make good choices and work hard.   But God has a very different life for those who choose to follow him. It’s a good life, but it’s more than good. The ‘God life’ is not an ordinary life because it involves walking with a supernatural God. This week on the show, we’re talking about the God Life – and how to live it. The God life involves walking with a supernatural God. It involves living with an expectation of the supernatural intervention of God working through our circumstances. That means our lives will look different. We will make illogical decisions in the face of impossible circumstances. We’ll take risks when there’s not enough resources. We’ll step out into areas of fear just because he told us too. And when we do, we see the miracle working power of God. But the God life also involves our natural selves. Our contribution comes through giving all of our gifts and talents, using all of our resources and working hard to use our creativity and intelligence. We live as full partners in the process and when we do, we’ll realise the full potential of who we were made to be.  Many people get confused over this dynamic. They either become passive and expect God to do all the work for them, or they become reliant on themselves and never follow the leading of the Spirit. But the God life is a partnership not a dictatorship. It’s not 50:50 relationship – it’s 100:100. All of ourselves and all of God. This is the kind of life God has called each one of us to live. Christianity is not a crutch for broken people to walk with – first God heals our legs, then he gives us wings to fly. Subscribe to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode!

<h3>You don’t need to be a Christian to live a good life. Plenty of my friends live a great life without God. They are well educated, hold successful jobs and live in beautiful homes. For the most part they enjoy happy, contented lives – even with a few bumps along the way. </h3> In our Western world, it’s not difficult to live a good life. There are common sense decisions we can make, self-help books to read and plenty of resources at our disposal. In the Western parts of the world, we are blessed with opportunity and prosperity. Even with a bad start, you can turn things around if you make good choices and work hard.   But God has a very different life for those who choose to follow him. It’s a good life, but it’s more than good. The ‘God life’ is not an ordinary life because it involves walking with a supernatural God. This week on the show, we’re talking about the God Life – and how to live it. The God life involves walking with a supernatural God. It involves living with an expectation of the supernatural intervention of God working through our circumstances. That means our lives will look different. We will make illogical decisions in the face of impossible circumstances. We’ll take risks when there’s not enough resources. We’ll step out into areas of fear just because he told us too. And when we do, we see the miracle working power of God. But the God life also involves our natural selves. Our contribution comes through giving all of our gifts and talents, using all of our resources and working hard to use our creativity and intelligence. We live as full partners in the process and when we do, we’ll realise the full potential of who we were made to be.  Many people get confused over this dynamic. They either become passive and expect God to do all the work for them, or they become reliant on themselves and never follow the leading of the Spirit. But the God life is a partnership not a dictatorship. It’s not 50:50 relationship – it’s 100:100. All of ourselves and all of God. This is the kind of life God has called each one of us to live. Christianity is not a crutch for broken people to walk with – first God heals our legs, then he gives us wings to fly. <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/god-conversations-tania-harris/id763485403" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode!

(044) The God Life and How to Live it

Amos Yong

Can anyone hear God’s voice? What about those who don’t know him? Can non-Christians or those who’ve never been to church hear him speak? And what about those from other religions? On this episode, we’re privileged to have the esteemed Dr Amos Yong on the show to talk about some of these questions. Amos is an eminent theologian, a prolific author and researcher with over 20 titles based around the work of the Holy Spirit. They include a theology of disability, interfaith relationships, global theology – even a theology of Down syndrome. The title on this topic is called: Beyond the Impasse: Toward a Pneumatological Theology of Religions.  Amos shares his story of knowing God, and how his most common way of hearing God’s voice is through the Scriptures. We talk about the different ways people use “God-talking” language. His Mum for example, regularly says God speaks to her, but his Dad is more conservative in his use of this language and a lot less likely to attribute his experiences to God. We discuss how the Spirit is working in the lives of those from other faiths, how God is present in the lives of our neighbours and what God may be saying when we learn to love someone else. Subscribe to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode!

Can anyone hear God’s voice? What about those who don’t know him? Can non-Christians or those who’ve never been to church hear him speak? And what about those from other religions? On this episode, we’re privileged to have the esteemed Dr Amos Yong on the show to talk about some of these questions. Amos is an eminent theologian, a prolific author and researcher with over 20 titles based around the work of the Holy Spirit. They include a theology of disability, interfaith relationships, global theology – even a theology of Down syndrome. The title on this topic is called: Beyond the Impasse: Toward a Pneumatological Theology of Religions. Amos shares his story of knowing God, and how his most common way of hearing God’s voice is through the Scriptures. We talk about the different ways people use “God-talking” language. His Mum for example, regularly says God speaks to her, but his Dad is more conservative in his use of this language and a lot less likely to attribute his experiences to God. We discuss how the Spirit is working in the lives of those from other faiths, how God is present in the lives of our neighbours and what God may be saying when we learn to love someone else. <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/god-conversations-tania-harris/id763485403" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode!

(041) Can Anyone (inc. Non-Christians) Hear God’s Voice? with Dr. Amos Yong

What is God saying to us in the midst of our pain? On the show today, we’re talking about the questions we ask when life goes wrong. Some people say you shouldn’t even ask God the why question, but that’s what we’re going to do in this episode. We’re talking about how asking God questions is an act of intimacy, what God’s heart is in the midst of our pain and suffering and what to do when there seems to be no answers at all. There was a song that hit the top of the charts in the early 1980s – first in Australia and then in the US. It was re-released in Australia in 2004 and spent a long time at the top of the charts again, this time hitting the charts in Ireland as well. The song was called what about me? What About Me?  It isn’t fair,  I’ve had enough,  now I want my share… It’s a song that asks a lot of questions from a position of pain. Somehow, the lines of this song resonated with thousands of people around the world – perhaps because when we find ourselves going through hard times, we end up asking the same sorts of questions. What about me? What about God? and What about them? It’s often difficult to hear God’s voice when we’re in pain. His gentle compassionate words don’t always penetrate our moments of agony and confusion. The goal of this episode is to help you to see what God has said to other people in their pain – biblical figures like Job and Joseph – so that you can be open to hearing him in the midst of yours. We’re praying for you even as you listen to this podcast. May you feel the presence, comfort and wisdom of the Holy Spirit and may you be open to hear what the Spirit is saying to you. He may not have direct answers for your pain right now, but he is an expert in knowing how to respond to it, having been there himself.   Subscribe to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode.

<h3>What is God saying to us in the midst of our pain? On the show today, we’re talking about the questions we ask when life goes wrong. Some people say you shouldn’t even ask God the why question, but that’s what we’re going to do in this episode. We’re talking about how asking God questions is an act of intimacy, what God’s heart is in the midst of our pain and suffering and what to do when there seems to be no answers at all.</h3> There was a song that hit the top of the charts in the early 1980s – first in Australia and then in the US. It was re-released in Australia in 2004 and spent a long time at the top of the charts again, this time hitting the charts in Ireland as well. The song was called what about me? What About Me? It isn’t fair, I’ve had enough, now I want my share… It’s a song that asks a lot of questions from a position of pain. Somehow, the lines of this song resonated with thousands of people around the world – perhaps because when we find ourselves going through hard times, we end up asking the same sorts of questions. What about me? What about God? and What about them? It’s often difficult to hear God’s voice when we’re in pain. His gentle compassionate words don’t always penetrate our moments of agony and confusion. The goal of this episode is to help you to see what God has said to other people in their pain – biblical figures like Job and Joseph – so that you can be open to hearing him in the midst of yours. We’re praying for you even as you listen to this podcast. May you feel the presence, comfort and wisdom of the Holy Spirit and may you be open to hear what the Spirit is saying to you. He may not have direct answers for your pain right now, but he is an expert in knowing how to respond to it, having been there himself. <h5><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/god-conversations-tania-harris/id763485403" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode.</h5>

(047) What is God Saying in the Midst of my Pain?

If we can all hear God’s voice for ourselves, do we still need to go to church? The answer is, no. You don’t need to go to church, visit a holy place or listen to a preacher to hear God’s voice. That was how it used to be under the Old Covenant. Back then, the only way to hear God’s voice was via his chosen mouthpieces – the prophets (eg. Numbers 11:24, Jeremiah 1:5,9). After the coming of Jesus, God’s Spirit was sent to all people: “sons and daughters, “young and old” (Acts 2:16,17), so that everyone could hear his voice in the same way the prophets did. Under the New Covenant, the Holy Spirit acts as the continuing voice of Jesus who speaks to us wherever we go. As the Apostle Paul describes it, each one of us is now the “temple” of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). Personally I find God talks to me when I least expect it – when I’m in the shower or brushing my teeth! In other words, we don’t need a worship service, a church steeple or a liturgy to hear from God. This is why the new covenant is so much better than the old (Hebrews 8:6). Everyone who chooses to follow Jesus has access to his voice (John 10:27) regardless of where we are or who we are. However, while you don’t need to be in church to hear from God, it’s far easier to recognise his voice when you are. Remember the church is not a building, but the gathering of God’s people. That means, the more you are in healthy relationship with those who know God, the easier it will be to hear his voice. There’s a couple of reasons for this. Firstly, in church we learn what God is like through the life and teachings of Jesus. This is the purpose of sermons. When we know what God is like, we can more easily discern what it is he is saying to us. Secondly, God uses other people to confirm his messages. Since we can so easily get it wrong, having more than one “witness” provides a measure of safety and accountability. When two or three agree on an issue, it’s more likely that the testimony is true. I can’t tell you how many times, God has spoken to me, then a fellow Christian has called saying: “Tania, I saw this vision about you” and it repeated precisely what I had heard. It is in the community of God’s people that God speaks most loudly and clearly. Jesus called the church to bring his plan to the earth and be the means through which we would follow him (Matthew 16:18). But the church can sometimes be a confusing place. In this podcast, we talk about the nature of church and how God uses it to help us hear his voice. We also discuss a number of different questions people ask about the church: Why are there so many different types?  Can I be a Christian and not go to church?  How do I find the right church for me? and  What if I’ve been hurt by the church? Whether you’re a churchgoer or not, we pray that this episode helps you in your own God-conversations!   Subscribe to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode.

<h3>If we can all hear God’s voice for ourselves, do we still need to go to church?</h3> The answer is, no. You don’t need to go to church, visit a holy place or listen to a preacher to hear God’s voice. That was how it used to be under the Old Covenant. Back then, the only way to hear God’s voice was via his chosen mouthpieces – the prophets (eg. Numbers 11:24, Jeremiah 1:5,9). After the coming of Jesus, God’s Spirit was sent to all people: “sons and daughters, “young and old” (Acts 2:16,17), so that everyone could hear his voice in the same way the prophets did. Under the New Covenant, the Holy Spirit acts as the continuing voice of Jesus who speaks to us wherever we go. As the Apostle Paul describes it, each one of us is now the “temple” of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). Personally I find God talks to me when I least expect it – when I’m in the shower or brushing my teeth! In other words, we don’t need a worship service, a church steeple or a liturgy to hear from God. This is why the new covenant is so much better than the old (Hebrews 8:6). Everyone who chooses to follow Jesus has access to his voice (John 10:27) regardless of where we are or who we are. However, while you don’t need to be in church to hear from God, it’s far easier to recognise his voice when you are. Remember the church is not a building, but the gathering of God’s people. That means, the more you are in healthy relationship with those who know God, the easier it will be to hear his voice. There’s a couple of reasons for this. Firstly, in church we learn what God is like through the life and teachings of Jesus. This is the purpose of sermons. When we know what God is like, we can more easily discern what it is he is saying to us. Secondly, God uses other people to confirm his messages. Since we can so easily get it wrong, having more than one “witness” provides a measure of safety and accountability. When two or three agree on an issue, it’s more likely that the testimony is true. I can’t tell you how many times, God has spoken to me, then a fellow Christian has called saying: “Tania, I saw this vision about you” and it repeated precisely what I had heard. It is in the community of God’s people that God speaks most loudly and clearly. Jesus called the church to bring his plan to the earth and be the means through which we would follow him (Matthew 16:18). But the church can sometimes be a confusing place. In this podcast, we talk about the nature of church and how God uses it to help us hear his voice. We also discuss a number of different questions people ask about the church: Why are there so many different types? Can I be a Christian and not go to church? How do I find the right church for me? and What if I’ve been hurt by the church? Whether you’re a churchgoer or not, we pray that this episode helps you in your own God-conversations! <h5><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/god-conversations-tania-harris/id763485403" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode.</h5>

(048) How Being in Church makes Hearing God Easier

How did John know his Revelation was from God? I wonder how the seven churches of Asia Minor felt when they first received John’s letter. Along with the rest of the early churches, they’d been instructed to ‘weigh up’ prophecy (1 Corinthians 14:29) and ‘test the spirits to see if they’re from God’ (1 John 4:1). Like today, there were many claims to divine revelation floating around. How did they know it was from God? And even more so, how did John know it was from God? We learn from history that the book of Revelation was received eagerly by the church – at first. By the third and fourth centuries, church leaders became sceptical. Some debated its source and you can probably guess why. The book of Revelation certainly has a chequered history. Even today eastern orthodox churches don’t use the book in their liturgies. Like the seven churches of Asia Minor, we are called to test the revelations we receive. The question of course is, how? We can learn from the early church’s example, applying these 3 tests to our experiences: 1. Jesus in the Scriptures This is the first and foundational test. Does the voice I’m hearing sound like the voice of Jesus? Does it sound like something Jesus would say? The “spirit of prophecy is the testimony of Jesus,” the angel says (Revelation 19:10). God’s voice is consistent throughout the ages. In the visions of Revelation, we see that the ‘testimony of Jesus’ clearly lines up with his life and teachings half a century earlier. Jesus is pictured as a sacrificial lamb, a judge clothed in righteous white robes and a leader who fights with the sword of his mouth. The message of Revelation is true to God’s character seen in Jesus. This is the same test we need to apply to our own revelations. We ask, Is what I’m hearing and seeing consistent with the testimony of Jesus? 2. Community The second test is accessed through the community of believers. The Holy Spirit confirms his revelation through his people. We see this pattern operating in the early church. Since the Holy Spirit was given to John as well as the churches of Asia Minor, there is the possibility of agreement in the Spirit. This test is also used in the Jerusalem Council when the leaders were discussing Peter’s and Cornelius’ revelation about the Gentiles. “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us” (Acts 15:28) they concluded. Though we can’t get a glimpse of the discussions that took place when John’s letter was received, we do know that the early church found agreement with its message. History tells us that they heeded the call to lay their lives down as Jesus himself had done, with many testimonies of martyrdom in the early church. We see the church growing not by the sword but by a devotion to the lamb and his ways. We see them ‘clothing themselves with righteous acts’ of generosity and healing, such that in time even the Roman Empire stopped to take notice. 3. Signs The final test is the test of signs. Signs are tangible supernatural indicators that show us that the message is from God. The Father did this for people when Jesus was on earth (signs ‘followed him’ in order to confirm his message (John 6:26)) and he still does this for us today. So God will often package his words with supernatural knowledge (sometimes called ‘words of knowledge’) – so that we can know it’s from him. He speaks to us in such a way that the ‘secrets of our hearts are laid bare’ so we know; ‘it’s really God!’ (1 Corinthians 14:25). We see the possibility of this occurring in the first three chapters of the Revelation as John revealed the heart and motives of the churches he was writing to. God’s message was made personal with specific details – perhaps details that John would not have ordinarily known. In the same way, God often sends a supernatural sign to back up what he is saying. It’s a confirmation of the source. His heart is to help us clearly identify his voice when he speaks. What Did They Do with It? Every word from God will come with a call to action. Our final section of the podcast looks at the application of John’s message, first in the lives of the seven churches and then to us in the 21st century. We talk a little of the misuse of this book over the years, focussing instead on the key messages that God intended to send. History was changed because those early Christians took John’s words to heart and responded to what the Spirit was saying. May we too have the courage to follow where the Spirit leads! Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it… (Revelation 1:3a) Listen to the final message on How to Understand Revelation: Subscribe to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode! How have you tested your revelations from God? What worked for you? How did you know it was God? Leave your comments below:

How did John know his Revelation was from God? I wonder how the seven churches of Asia Minor felt when they first received John’s letter. Along with the rest of the early churches, they’d been instructed to ‘weigh up’ prophecy <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+corinthians+14%3A29&amp;version=NIV" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">(1 Corinthians 14:29)</a> and ‘test the spirits to see if they’re from God’ <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+4%3A1&amp;version=NIV" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">(1 John 4:1)</a>. Like today, there were many claims to divine revelation floating around. How did they know it was from God? And even more so, how did John know it was from God? We learn from history that the book of Revelation was received eagerly by the church – at first. By the third and fourth centuries, church leaders became sceptical. Some debated its source and you can probably guess why. The book of Revelation certainly has a chequered history. Even today eastern orthodox churches don’t use the book in their liturgies. Like the seven churches of Asia Minor, we are called to test the revelations we receive. The question of course is, how? We can learn from the early church’s example, applying these 3 tests to our experiences: <h3>1. Jesus in the Scriptures</h3> This is the first and foundational test. Does the voice I’m hearing sound like the voice of Jesus? Does it sound like something Jesus would say? The “spirit of prophecy is the testimony of Jesus,” the angel says <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+19%3A10&amp;version=NIV" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">(Revelation 19:10)</a>. God’s voice is consistent throughout the ages. In the visions of Revelation, we see that the ‘testimony of Jesus’ clearly lines up with his life and teachings half a century earlier. Jesus is pictured as a sacrificial lamb, a judge clothed in righteous white robes and a leader who fights with the sword of his mouth. The message of Revelation is true to God’s character seen in Jesus. This is the same test we need to apply to our own revelations. We ask, Is what I’m hearing and seeing consistent with the testimony of Jesus? <h3>2. Community</h3> The second test is accessed through the community of believers. The Holy Spirit confirms his revelation through his people. We see this pattern operating in the early church. Since the Holy Spirit was given to John as well as the churches of Asia Minor, there is the possibility of agreement in the Spirit. This test is also used in the Jerusalem Council when the leaders were discussing Peter’s and Cornelius’ revelation about the Gentiles. “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us” <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+15%3A28&amp;version=NIV" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">(Acts 15:28)</a> they concluded. Though we can’t get a glimpse of the discussions that took place when John’s letter was received, we do know that the early church found agreement with its message. History tells us that they heeded the call to lay their lives down as Jesus himself had done, with many testimonies of martyrdom in the early church. We see the church growing not by the sword but by a devotion to the lamb and his ways. We see them ‘clothing themselves with righteous acts’ of generosity and healing, such that in time even the Roman Empire stopped to take notice. <h3>3. Signs</h3> The final test is the test of signs. Signs are tangible supernatural indicators that show us that the message is from God. The Father did this for people when Jesus was on earth (signs ‘followed him’ in order to confirm his message <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+6%3A26&amp;version=NIV" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">(John 6:26)</a>) and he still does this for us today. So God will often package his words with supernatural knowledge (sometimes called ‘words of knowledge’) – so that we can know it’s from him. He speaks to us in such a way that the ‘secrets of our hearts are laid bare’ so we know; ‘it’s really God!’ <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=%281+Corinthians+14%3A25%29&amp;version=NIV" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">(1 Corinthians 14:25)</a>. We see the possibility of this occurring in the first three chapters of the Revelation as John revealed the heart and motives of the churches he was writing to. God’s message was made personal with specific details – perhaps details that John would not have ordinarily known. In the same way, God often sends a supernatural sign to back up what he is saying. It’s a confirmation of the source. His heart is to help us clearly identify his voice when he speaks. <h3>What Did They Do with It?</h3> Every word from God will come with a call to action. Our final section of the podcast looks at the application of John’s message, first in the lives of the seven churches and then to us in the 21st century. We talk a little of the misuse of this book over the years, focussing instead on the key messages that God intended to send. History was changed because those early Christians took John’s words to heart and responded to what the Spirit was saying. May we too have the courage to follow where the Spirit leads! Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it… <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+1%3A3&amp;version=NIV" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">(Revelation 1:3a)</a> Listen to the final message on How to Understand Revelation: <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/god-conversations-tania-harris/id763485403" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> to God Conversations with Tania Harris and never miss an episode! How have you tested your revelations from God? What worked for you? How did you know it was God? Leave your comments below:

(020) How to Understand the Book of Revelation – 5. Testing and Response

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