Hearing God’s voice Introduction
Although the revelation of how the world was created was given to Moses who wrote these matters down on paper which are contained in a book we now call Genesis. However, Job was actually the first book written in our Holy Bible, and in it, Job points us in the following scripture: Job 33:14-18 to the fact that God may communicate with us in a number of ways. But we will focus on how to hear the voice of God.
How to hear God speak. Does God answer prayers? An introduction
How To: Hear God’s Voice
Learning to clearly distinguish God’s voice is invaluable. The Lord constantly speaks to us and gives us His direction. If the Holy Spirit is to teach us everything He must be speaking to us frequently. The following scripture confirms this:
John 14:25-26
These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
Many Christians may question the accuracy of the statement above because this has not been their experiences. It is likely that they just do not recognize what they are hearing as being God’s voice.
Many radio and television stations transmit twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week; but we only hear them when we turn the receiver on and tune it in. Likewise, God is constantly speaking to His children, but not everyone is tuned in.
Hearing God’s voice Lesson 1
Adjust our receivers
We must believe that God is already speaking and start listening. This will take time, effort, and focus. The average Christian’s lifestyle is so busy, that it is not conducive to hearing God’s voice and many give up before the receiver is tuned correctly.
1 kings 19:11-12
And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake:
12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
Psalm 46:10 says,
“Be still, and know that I am God.”
We sometimes mistake the voice of the Lord for our own thoughts. John 4:24 says,
“God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
This is saying that communication with God is Spirit to spirit, not brain to brain or mouth to ear, the way we communicate in the physical realm. The Lord speaks to our spirits.
Hearing God’s voice Lesson 2
Listen carefully to what is said. The structure of the sentence is important
Your thoughts might say for example: “Trust God”
The voice of God will say “Trust Me.”
What is the name of God? Who is God?
“Yahweh” (Sacred) God of Israel (Hebrew) Or Adonai “My Lord”( Hebrew)
“Elohim” God of everyone (Hebrew)
“Jehovah” God (Latin)
Hearing God’s voice Lesson 3
Reflect on the content of what you believe you have heard
You will often be asked to do something that you would prefer not to do.
Galatians 5:17 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
- B) You will normally be asked to do that requires faith
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
- C) Your motive for seeking to hear God must be right.
Matthew 15:6-9
then he need not honor his father or mother.’[a] Thus you have made the commandment[b] of God of no effect by your tradition. 7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:
8 ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And[c] honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. 9 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’
- D) One of the indications that it was God that you heard is the inner peace you have even if your flesh is screaming and you are offended by the injustice of your situation. Jesus was without sin and yet He was crucified by you and I
Hebrews 6:4-7
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they fall away,[a] to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.
Colossians 3:15
“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts.”
- E) Write down what is said so that you do not doubt it later. We are naturally very sceptical.
Habakkuk 2:1-3 I will stand my watch
And set myself on the rampart,
And watch to see what He will say to me,
And what I will answer when I am corrected.
2 Then the Lord answered me and said:
“Write the vision
And make it plain on tablets,
That he may run who reads it.
3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time;
But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.
Though it tarries, wait for it;
Because it will surely come,
It will not tarry.
Matthew 13:17-24
for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
18 “Therefore hear the parable of the sower:
19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.
This is he who received seed by the wayside.
20 But he who received the seed on stony places,
this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;
21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while.
For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word,
immediately he stumbles.
22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
Hearing God’s voice Lesson 4
Test the word that you have heard to confirm that it was God.
i) Check your Bible to see if what you heard lines up with the Bible.
1 John 4:1-4
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist,
whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
H) Join a regular prayer group
As you share experiences in Christ and learn from one another your confidence and development is multiplied and you become increasingly sensitive to the voice and leading of the Holy Spirit.
For example you may hear an alternative protocol for approaching the of grace particularly where the Christian appears to be more spiritually mature than you and “hears God regularly”.
Matthew 18:19-20
9 “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask,
it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name,
I am there in the midst of them.”