Overview:
God often gets blamed for things He didn’t do. But more times than not, He doesn’t get credit for the things He does accomplish. So much of what God does in our lives is not carried out with fanfare—blowing trumpets and exploding fireworks—but in subtle, unheralded ways. But how do we hear that small, still voice within us? How can we be sure it’s God’s Spirit speaking to us?
Message Summary:
Message Key Facts:
- Defining UIPs: Swindoll coins the term "Unidentified Inner Promptings" to describe the subjective, extra-sensory ways the Holy Spirit guides believers—often dismissed as mere intuition, hunches, or feelings [15–16].
- The Image of God (Imago Dei): Swindoll differentiates humans from animals based on Genesis 1. While animals have instinct, humans have the "image of God," which includes a spirit capable of receiving communication from the Lord. Although sin defaced this image, it did not erase it [19, 23–25].
- Elijah’s "Gentle Rustling": analyzing 1 Kings 19, Swindoll corrects the common phrase "still small voice," noting the Hebrew is better rendered as a "gentle rustling" or "light whisper." This illustrates that God’s most profound leading often comes in quiet moments rather than spectacular displays of power [39–41].
- Paul’s "Perception": In Acts 27, Paul warned the sailors of disaster not because he was a mariner, but because he "perceived" it. Swindoll identifies this as a UIP that allowed Paul to have peace and leadership during a crisis [52–53].
- Contentment with Weakness: Using 2 Corinthians 12, Swindoll explains that God sometimes uses inner promptings to tell us "No" regarding the removal of pain (the thorn in the flesh). The Spirit reassures us that "God's grace is sufficient," allowing believers to be content even in weakness.
- The "Back Off" Rule: Swindoll offers a safety check for subjective feelings: if a prompting contradicts the written Word of God or feels demonic, one must immediately "back off" and reject it.
- The Story of Charles McCoy: Swindoll closes with the true story of a pastor forced to retire at 72 who followed an "impulse" to preach in India. Despite losing his trunk and wallet, he ended up preaching to mayors and military academies, proving that following God's promptings can revitalize a life at any age [64–71].
Message References:
- Genesis 1:26–27: The creation of humanity in the image and likeness of God.
- Psalm 139:1–14: David’s prayer acknowledging God’s intimate knowledge of his paths, thoughts, and inward parts.
- 1 Kings 19:11–12: God revealing Himself to Elijah not in the fire or earthquake, but in a "sound of a gentle blowing."
- Acts 20:22–24: Paul describing himself as "bound in spirit" to go to Jerusalem, despite the Holy Spirit testifying that afflictions awaited him.
- Acts 27:10: Paul’s warning to the sailors: "Men, I perceive that the voyage will certainly be with... great loss."
- 2 Corinthians 12:7–10: Paul’s prayer to remove the thorn in the flesh and God’s answer: "My grace is sufficient for you."
