At Advent we talk a lot about how God came to live amoung us in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. We believe that Jesus was both Human and Divine and spoke with God’s “voice” to us. He was saying and doing the things his heavenly Father wanted him to do and so we got a very clear message from God the Father through him. This helped us to know more accurately who God was and what he wanted from us. Jesus helped us put the correct spin on our understanding of the teachings of the Old Testament. We moved away from understanding God as a “God of Laws” to a “God of Grace”. God wasn’t out to just control us, but to help us find a better way to live so that we could enjoy the fullness of life. Ever since Jesus left the earth over 2000 yrs ago the Church of Jesus Christ has spent considerable time trying to listen for the true, clear voice of God on an ongoing basis. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to guide, comfort and strengthen our faith. The Holy Sprit helps us to know what God wants for us in your day and age. But have we all been able to hear the messages of the Holy Spirit? Many times in the past we have had a hard time tuning in. Especially when the spirit’s message went contrary to our expectations or norms.

In Advent we proclaim that God not only came in Jesus and comes now to us through the Holy Spirit, but that He will also come again on some future date. This time to judge how well we did at following all the guidance that we have been given. It is therefore important, for all those who want to please God, to listen and carefully follow the teachings of Jesus and the leading of the Holy Spirit. This advent, during worship, we will be thinking about how we can hear and more clearly interpret the messages that come to us now. What are the most common ways that God speaks to us? How can we know for sure that what we are thinking comes from God? How do we “test the Spirit” to determine the good from the bad? How safe is it to listen to dreams or visions? Does the Church have a role to play in the continuing dialogue between God and his People? These are some of the questions we will be trying to address.

We believe that God does still come to individuals to answer prayers and to guide them when we are feeling lost or uncertain. If you would like to know more. If you would like to learn more about how to listen for God’s voice. Then come and join us this advent as we seek together to look for the coming of the Lord into our lives. Don’t be like one of those who missed the babe in the manger because they were too busy and deaf to the voice of the angels. It was an earth changing event. Even if you don’t believe in him, you have to admit that he did make a difference.. Countless of lives have been changed by God’s great message. Learn how to listen for God’s messages to you now... for he created you, loves you, and wants you to have life in all its fullness, both now and eternally.

Rev. Tijs, at St. Giles Presbyterian Church.

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