How does God speak to you? - Part 4

How does God speak to you?

In the last few posts when answering this question, we have looked at some ways (definitely not all the ways) that God speaks directly to us. However, we do not live alone, and often God uses other people to deliver His message to us.

Starting at the very beginning, God used people to write down His words to make The Bible. We know that Scripture is inspired by God.

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.  2 Timothy 3:16 NLT

He chose certain people to internally scribe it, and then others years later to translate it into different languages. This means today we, in Australia, have the blessing of having His truths readily available to us. God continues to use people today to translate The Bible so that it will be available in all languages. 

God also uses others to speak to us through what they teach. Praise God for all those people who answer the call to teach God's truth. 

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. Matthew 28:20 NKJV

How often have you sat in church, at a conference, or in a bible study group listening to teaching and heard something that resonated with you? And then found yourself meditating on that, completely missing the rest of the sermon. Praise God for those precious times of deeper revelation.

God also uses others to speak to us through the sharing of their testimonies. Jesus encouraged some of those He performed miracles for, to go and tell others what He had done. For example the demon-possessed man who was set free,

However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, "Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you." Mark 5:19 NKJV

Upon hearing the testimonies of others, God can stir up our faith and help us to keep pressing on, trusting and hoping in Him. Five years into our journey with Victoria, I remember listening to a testimony of a man who prayed for His daughter for five years to be healed from tumours, and in the sixth year the healing manifested. As I listened to that testimony I could feel a renewed hope rise up in me.

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Revelation 12:11 NKJV

Often too, God will give others a direct word for us, maybe about our future, some correction or encouragement. I have found these often come when I am struggling with something in my life, and having difficulty discerning what it is God wants me to do. This word, delivered through others provides the clarification I have needed.

In listening to others, we do need to be mindful of God's warnings to us to test what we hear, ensuring it aligns with God's truth.

Test all things; hold fast what is good. 1 Thessalonians 20:21 NKJV

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1 NKJV
 
So, knowing that God will speak to us through other people, here are a few questions we can ask ourselves to make sure we don't miss out on what He is wanting to say to us:

1. Are we positioned well to hear what God wants to say to us through others?

2. Who are we allowing to speak into our lives?

3. Is our heart open and ready to receive what God wants to speak to us about?

4. How do we know that what we are hearing from others is from God?

Remember, God wants to communicate with us 24/7, and above all His message is that He loves us, we are His children.

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! 1 John 3:1 NKJV

How does God speak to you? - Part 3

In the last couple of posts I have shared about how God speaks through His word, times of praise and worship and through His Holy Spirit. Today I am going to share about a couple of ways God has spoken to me through dreams. 

The Bible has many examples of God speaking to people through dreams and visions. One of the most well known is Joseph and his dreams about his future and his brothers bowing down to him. Joseph hear from God about the meanings of dreams, and we read about him doing so for the chief butler, baker and Pharaoh.

Joseph answered Pharaoh, It is not in me: God [not I] will give Pharoah a [favourable] answer of peace. ..... Then Joseph said to Pharoah, The [two] dreams are one; God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do. Genesis 41:16,25 AMP

Sometimes God gives us warnings through dreams, as He did with the wise men after they had seen Jesus. The wise men were planning to return to Herod and report on the location of Jesus, the new King. But God spoke to them in a dream, warning them not to go back to Herod ....

And on going into the house, they saw the Child with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshipped Him. Then opening their treasure bags, they presented to Him gifts - gold and frankincense and myrrh. And receiving an answer to their asking, they were divinely instructed and warned in a dream not to go back to Herod; so they departed to their own country by a different way. Matthew 2:11- 12 AMP

Most mornings when I wake up I have no idea what I have dreamed through the night. However, there have been about five occasions since I became a Christian that I have woken during the night in response to a dream. These dreams have all been dreams of warning and instruction. Three of them I still don't fully understand, but two of them were very clear in their meaning.

The first dream happened soon after Ken and I were married. It was late one evening and we'd had an argument. I can't remember what the argument was about. We were unable to resolve it so Ken had gone for a walk. We lived in inner Sydney and walking around at night was very common. I was exhausted from my day at work and the emotional drain of arguing, so I went to bed. I don't think I had been asleep long when I had this dream, that I still remember so vividly ...

There was a bed, I was lying on one side of the bed, there was a huge snake in the middle of the bed, and Ken was on the other side of the bed.

I woke up abruptly, immediately phoned Ken and among tears said, 'You need to come home now, I have just had this dream. We are under spiritual attack. You need to come home straight away.'

And he did. We said sorry, forgave each other and prayed. That dream was an intense reminder that there is one who is trying to destroy marriages. 

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). John 10:10 AMP

I am grateful that God gave me that warning so early on in our marriage. The intensity of that dream has stayed with me, and when there have been other arguments, I often think about that dream and what is happening in the spiritual realm.

Last year I had another dream in which God showed me that I needed to stop going to a particular place. Again it was a very disturbing dream, but for different reasons to the snake dream I have just shared about. It was disturbing, in that it felt like a test of obedience, would I have the courage to do what God was asking me to do, or would I cower and retreat? After the dream I had a few conversations confirming with God if that was really what He wanted me to do. The answer kept coming back, 'Yes'. So I did what He asked me to do, even though it was extremely uncomfortable emotionally.

However, within a week of being obedient, things in our family started to change, when we weren't even aware that these changes were needed. It was as though in my obedience, the scales had been lifted from our eyes in certain areas of our lives. Again, another huge lesson for me. This simple act of obedience, which was not simple for me to do, had opened the door to freedom for other members of our family. Yes, God's ways are higher and He alone has the big picture.

Questions for today, do you remember your dreams? Have you had dreams that you know were from God, and if so, do you know what He was wanting to show you? Don't discount your dreams. If you are unsure about what God is saying, ask Him, He wants to get His message through.

And it shall come to pass in the last days, God declares, that I will pour out of My Spirit upon all mankind, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy [telling forth the divine counsels] and your younger men shall see visions (divinely granted appearances), and your old men shall dream [divinely suggested] dreams. Acts 2:17 AMP

 

How does God speak to you? - Part 2

How does God speak to you?

In the last post I shared how God speaks to me through His word and through times of praise and worship. Today I am going to share about a couple of ways the Holy Spirit communicates to and through me. I am not a bible scholar, but God is continually revealing more and more of His truth to me, and my daily life experience is that the Holy Spirit desires to speak to us and through us. If this type of communication is something new to you, my prayer is that this post will be read with an open inquiring mind and heart, and a desire to have all that God has made available to you.

God said, Let Us [Father, Son, and Holy Spirit] make mankind in Our image, after Our likeness, and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the [tame] beasts, and over all the earth, and over everything that creeps upon the earth. Genesis 1:26 AMP

The Holy Spirit is part of the Us, along with the God the Father and Jesus the Son. He is the One that Jesus said would come after He left earth, to be with us, teach us and help us.

I have told you these things while I am still with you. But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you. John 14:26 AMP

Jesus tells us that the Holy Spirit will speak to us ...

I have still many things to say to you, but you are not able to bear them or to take them upon you or to grasp them now. But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future]. He will honor and glorify Me, because He will take of (receive, draw upon) what is Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you.  John 16:12-14 AMP

Sometimes that transmission takes place via the speaking in tongues, sometimes referred to as your heavenly language.

Soon after I became a Christian I learned about speaking in tongues. The whole concept sounded very strange to me, and even more odd when I heard people praying in tongues. I can't begin to imagine how it would have been for those people there on the day of Pentecost ...

And they were all filled (diffused throughout their souls) with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other (different, foreign) languages (tongues), as the Spirit kept giving them clear and loud expression [in each tongue in appropriate words]. Acts 2:4 AMP

But I was eager to have all that God had on offer to help me live my life the way He wanted me to live. I knew I would have to lay down my rational, need to understand everything mind, and open my heart this type of God's communication method.

I have learned over the past 20 something years of speaking in tongues that it is like learning anything else, it needs to be practiced regularly and there is always room to develop and grow in confidence.

As I said before I started speaking in tongues soon after I became a Christian. My 'preschool' of speaking in tongues was walking to work by myself, quietly making these sounds, while telling my mind to settle and go with it. This was the start of my learning about speaking in tongues for the edification, starting to understand first hand what a great comforter that the Holy Spirit is.

Over the years I have learned that when I am distraught about a circumstance and don't know what to pray, it is really helpful to pray in tongues. The Holy Spirit intercedes for me.

So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance. And He Who searches the hearts of men knows what is in the mind of the [Holy] Spirit [what His intent is], because the Spirit intercedes and pleads [before God] in behalf of the saints according to and in harmony with God's will. Romans 8:26-27 AMP

After speaking in tongues, I receive wonderful peace and often get a revelation about the circumstance. That revelation may be greater understanding about what is going on from a spiritual perspective. It may be a practical instruction on what I am to do next. Usually it always includes a deep reassurance that God has got this under control. 

Over the years God has been teaching me how to use the gift of tongues to bring His encouragement to others. Again, this has been, and still is a journey of learning. 

For me, it normally happens this way, God may put a person on my heart, or I will be praying for sometime face to face. I will start to pray in tongues and God will give me a scripture or a word for that person.

And as Paul laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spoke in [foreign, unknown] tongues (languages) and prophesied. Acts 19:6 AMP

It is a stepping out in trusting that you have heard from God, as you are about to speak something into someone's life. In the beginning when I was learning to discern that I had received something God wanted to say, I could feel myself getting hot,  it was as though the Holy Spirit was saying, 'Yes, this is from me, speak it out.' And every time I was obedient and did speak it out, the receiver confirmed that the word resonated with them.

As my relationship with God has become more and more intimate, so too has my trust in what I hear during those times of speaking in tongues. The confirmation from the receiver of the scripture or word has also served to increase the confidence I have in God speaking through me. What a beautiful thing it is to know that God is using you as His vessel to bring encouragement to others. I often find myself in tears.

So, speaking in tongues is another way to hear what God wants to say to you, and also to others. Remember, let's always ask God for His wisdom and timing in encouraging others. He has the big picture and He knows what is going on in other people's lives.

Question for today, what do you believe about speaking in tongues? If you are unsure, why not ask God to reveal His truth to you today.

Paul put his hands on their heads and the Holy Spirit entered them. From that moment on, they were praising God in tongues and talking about God's actions. Acts 19:6 The Message

How does God speak to you? - Part 1

'How does God speak to you specifically and why do you think He speaks to you in this way?'

I was asked this question a month ago. After some thought I came up with at least six ways that God speaks to me about things for myself, and encouragement for others. Today I am going to share about the first two on the list.

Firstly, through His word. The Bible is not just a book of stories and instructions, it is God-breathed.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16 NKJV

Over the past six years I have found that every time I have opened my Bible (I am now using the Olive Tree Bible Apps), something that I have read has spoken directly to my heart. It is like a little light bulb going off in my head and/or heart. Sometimes, though it is like a very big spotlight! A lot of the time it has been encouragement, a reminder that God loves me and He is with us. Sometimes it is reproof, showing me that a realignment in my thoughts and actions is required.


For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 NKJV


When I read my Bible now, I read with an expectancy that God will speak to me.  And I am never disappointed. I look forward to that time each morning, knowing that I will hear directly from my loving Heavenly Father.

The second way that God speaks me is in times of singing praise and worship to Him. Sometimes it takes a couple of verses of singing for me to put aside the thoughts about what has been happening prior to the time of worship, and fully focus on Him and Who He is. 

Oh come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. Psalm 95:1-2 NKJV

During these times of worship God speaks to me in a different way that when I read His word, it is more of an overwhelming sense of His love for me and a deeper appreciation of what Jesus has done for me. For example, those lines in Amazing Grace...

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now am found

They always remind me that God loves me and thought I was worth saving. And He thinks the same of you. So often I find myself in tears in times of worship, so overcome with His love and grace.

In some of the darkest moments of the past six years, there have been times in worship where it has been as though God has deposited something in me, causing me to rise up. I remember being at the Hillsong conference in 2012 when the Cornerstone album was released. We had found out two weeks prior that the tumour in Victoria's brain had re-grown by 40% and that she would be starting chemotherapy treatment when we returned from the conference. Every time I sang the words of Cornerstone, it was a if God was reminding me that He was there in the midst and He is Lord, reminding me to keep my eyes focused on Jesus.

Christ alone; cornerstone
Weak made strong, in the Saviour's love
Through the storm, He is Lord
Lord of all

Question for today, how does God speak to you? I pray that what I have shared today will remind you that your Heavenly Father wants to speak to you, and He has many different ways of telling you how much He loves you. In my next post I will share the some other ways God speaks to me. 

Cause me to hear Your loving-kindness in the morning, for on You do I lean and in You do I trust. Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk, for I lift up my inner soul to You. Psalm 143:8 AMP

What are you focussing on?

Right now, what are you focusing on? 

Are you thinking about a problem in your life? Are your thoughts about it lining up with what God says about it? Or are your thoughts filled with your human expectations and fears? These are some challenging questions that I have had to ask myself on many occasions.

In Hebrews, Paul tells us what we are to do with that wrong focus, a weight that slows us down and trips us up.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won't become weary and give up. Hebrews 12:1-3 NLT

Yes, we are to keep our eyes on Jesus. But what does that mean in practical terms? The Message Bible says this ...

Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed - that exhilarating finish in and with God - he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honour, right alongside God. Hebrews 12:2 The Message

Study how he did it. 

How can we study how Jesus did it? For me, there are a couple of ways we can study how Jesus finished the race He was destined to run.

1. Read God's word to learn about what Jesus did here on earth and His relationship with His Father. As you read, ask the Holy Spirit to give you fresh revelation about Jesus character, focus and willingness to submit.

2. Interact with Jesus, talk to Him, ask Him what He would do with this problem. Ask Him to show you what is distracting you from keeping your eyes on Him.  He is the Leader, Source and Finisher of our faith.

Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. 

He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2 AMP

Jesus is ready and available to help bring our faith to it's maturity. But He can only do that if we have our eyes fixed on Him and are not distracted by other things. 

Why to do we need mature faith? Because then we can fully do what God has called us to do, being His ambassadors on this earth.

[That it might develop] until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the [full and accurate] knowledge of the Son of God, that [we might arrive] at really mature manhood (the completeness of personality which is nothing less that the standard height of Christ's own perfection), the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ and the completeness found in Him...... let our lives lovingly express truth [in all things, speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly]. Enfolded in love, let us grow up in every way and in all things into Him Who is the head, [even] Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). Ephesians 4:13, 15 AMP

Question for today, what are you focusing on?  Is that focus leading you to Christ and maturing your faith? If not, why not take some time to read more about Jesus and talk to Him about helping you to change your focus, and become all that He has called you to be.

The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind - just as you, Father, are in me and I in you. So they might be one heart and mind with us. Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me. 

The same glory you gave me, I gave them, so they'll be as unified and together as we are - I in them and you in me. Then they'll be mature in this oneness, and give the godless world evidence that you've sent me and loved them in the same way you've loved me. John 17:21-23 The Message 

What, or who, have you fixed your hope on?

What, or who, have you fixed your hope on?

There are many options in today's world, spouses, friends, doctors, bosses, governments. Yes, many, many options. But for me, there is only one option - Jesus, my Lord and Saviour.

With a view to this we toil and strive, [yes and] suffer reproach, because we have [fixed our] hope on the living God, Who is the Saviour (Preserver, Maintainer, Deliverer) of all men, especially of those who believe (trust in, rely on, and adhere to Him). 1 Timothy 4:10 AMP

Who is Jesus and why do I choose to fix my hope on Him?

He has given me eternal life.

Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9 AMP

He bears my burdens and carries me day by day.

Blessed be the Lord, Who bears our burdens and carries us day by day, even the God Who is our salvation! Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! Psalm 68:19 AMP
 

He is on my side.

What then shall we say to [all] this? If God is for us, who [can be] against us? [Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?] Romans 8:31 AMP

He is my source of comfort.

For just as Christ's [own] sufferings fall to our lot [as they overflow upon His disciples, and we share and experience them] abundantly, so through Christ comfort (consolation and encouragement) is also [shared and experienced] abundantly by us. 2 Corinthians 1:5 AMP

He hears me.

I sought (inquired of) the Lord and required Him [of necessity and on the authority of His Word], and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:4 AMP

He gives me victory.

Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us. Romans 8:37 AMP

So my question again, What, or who, have you fixed your hope on? Can it or they provide all things that Jesus provides?

For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 AMP 

 

Be vigilant

Did you know that there is one who is roaming around trying to take you off course and infiltrate your thought life?

Yes, Peter reminds us of this truth ....

Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour. 1 Peter 5:8 AMP

On Sunday night Victoria and I were in Sydney and took the opportunity to go to a church nearby where we were staying. The service was great and I felt during the sermon that God was confirming a lot of what He has been talking to me about over the past couple of months. 

At the end of the sermon there was a video clip about an upcoming conference. A woman was giving a testimony of her past year. She starting talking about losing her Dad, saying something about him losing his fight for life. 

'Okay', I thought to myself, 'What is coming next?' And sure enough, the words, 'brain tumour' came out.

Here, next to me, was this beautiful little girl who just moments before had stood praising God, half listening to a sermon about the protective hand of God while playing on her iPad, excited about the State swimming competition the next day, now being reminded of what she lived with and overcame every day, in Jesus Name. 

It certainly played on my mind as the service finished and we walked out of the church. I guess it played on her mind too, as we chatted a bit and then she asked me when her next scan was. 

From that moment on it has been a case of consciously taking those words we heard and doing exactly what Peter said in the previous verse..

Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about your watchfully. 1 Peter 5:7 AMP

And taking those thoughts captive ...

And we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). 2 Corinthians 10:5 AMP

So yesterday, when walking with Victoria to the marshalling area, I found myself reminding her that she is 'more than a conqueror' not only in swimming but in all areas of her life.

Question for today, is there an area in your life that victory is being questioned by that voice that roams around trying to cause havoc and take you off course? If yes, then let's choose to do what Peter said, Stand, and continue to stand in Jesus Name.

Withstand him; be firm in faith [against his onset - rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined], knowing that the same (identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world. After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace [Who imparts all blessing and favour], Who has called you to His [own] eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely, and strengthen and settle you. To Him be the dominion (power, authority, rule) forever and ever. Amen (so be it). 1 Peter 5:9-11 AMP

How did that situation improve?

Have you every looked back at a situation and thought to yourself, How did that situation improve? I didn't do anything differently.

And you realise that there was Someone else involved.  Someone Who was there all the time, waiting for His perfect timing to bring things together to bring change. It is the moment when you get greater revelation of truths like ...

His grace is sufficient ...

But He said to me, My grace (My favour and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me! 2 Corinthians 12:9 AMP

That we just need to keep turning up, not giving up ...

But as for me, I will look to the Lord and confident in Him I will keep watch; I will wait with hope and expectancy for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me. Micah 7:7 AMP

That He was the One giving you the strength to keep going ...

The Lord will give [unyielding and impenetrable] strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace. Psalm 29:11 AMP

That He is the One Who shows us the Way, is the Truth and brings Life...

Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me. John 14:6 AMP

And that He wants everyone to live in the freedom that only He can give ...

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I cam that they may have and enjoy life and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). John 10:10 AMP

So let's give thanks to a Heavenly Father Who loves us, doesn't leave us, and Who has a plan and a hope for our future.

Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will]. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 AMP