Isaiah 30: 21 ESV And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it”
What does it mean, to hear from God? Is it possible in today’s chaotic world to hear Him to speak to us? What does God’s voice sound like, thunder or a still, soft, whisper? Is there anything we must do to hear God’s voice?
Here’s what got me thinking about this. Yesterday, i recently heard a Pastor make this statement, “We do things in the name of God, but rarely AT THE WORD OF GOD."
Meaning, we humans excel at taking things into our own hands, instead of relying on God to lead us. However, relying on someone else to lead, means we need to be able to hear their instructions, right?
That’s where I think many fall short. Most people don’t know how to hear God. So, I dug through my old notes and found this study I had done on this subject and a recent story of how God worked this through me.
God invites us to listen for His voice. God created us for communion with Him – this includes conversation. He wants to talk with us, just as He walked and talked with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. He invites us to listen for His voice, and then to respond to it. Revelations 3:20 tells us that he knocks at the door – if anyone hears his voice and responds, God will commune with them. So, first, God reaches out to us – knocks on the door of our heart – and waits for us to respond. If we hear the knock (his voice) and respond to it, He walks and talks with us.
The Word also teaches that if we call to Him, He will answer us and tell us great and hidden things (Jeremiah 33:3). We must listen and come to Him, so that our soul may live (IS 55:3), and He will speak peace to His people (PS 85:8).
So clearly, God is beckoning us to engage in this verbal dance with Him. But - He always takes the lead.
Who can hear the voice of God?
Scripture is clear on just who can hear God speak - his kids! John 10:27 tells us that if we’re a child of God, we will know His voice and will naturally (actually I should say, supernaturally) follow Him. In turn, He will know who we are. The Father knows His kids - His kids know the Father.
To hear God, we must listen with our Spiritual ears. Only Spirit can communicate with Spirit. Corinthians 2 tell us that the natural man cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God – nor understand them. These spiritual truths can only be spiritually discerned (ie. communicated) from God’s Spirit to ours.
To know the spirit, we must have faith in God’s Word and that faith comes through hearing God’s Word (ie. which includes reading, discipleship, sitting under sound teachers) (Rom 10:17). That means that only the born-again man/woman, can hear the voice of God.
John 5:25 ESV “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.
Revelations 3:22 further tells us that IF we are a child a God, we’re part of the corporate church and that the Spirit speaks to the church body. As Psalms tells us “Deep calls to deep” – meaning those who have THE spirit, bear witness to one another by the Holy Spirit. I have found that when God is speaking to me about a specific subject, if I pay attention, I’ll soon learn that He’s also speaking the same message to others around me – His spirit bears witness between my spirit and other believers.
How does God speak to His children?
In the Old Testament, God would send His Spirit in the form of an angel (Gen 18:2-15, a messenger), or as a voice emanating from fire (Deut 4:12), or as a small, still, voice on the wind (1 Kings 19:12).
In modernity, the born-again child of God, has God himself, resident in our Spirit. And His Spirit will teach us all things and cause us to remember what God’s Word tells us (John 14:26). It is God’s spirit alone that will guide us into all truth – He speaks – He declares – things that are to come (John 16:13).
Hebrews 1:1-5 ESV Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.
Prepare your mind to hear God speak.
Hearing God requires preparation. First in line is FAITH – we must choose to believe.
Galations 3:2 tells us that we do not receive the Spirit by law, but by HEARING with FAITH. We must believe that God wants to commune with us. This is a decision of our will. When we read God’s Word, He begins to transform our mind – He renews our thinking.
Prayer is the second step in preparing our minds to hear God. Scripture tells us John 16:13 “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come”. We often hear God clearest when we honestly talk with Him – laying out our heart, our worries, our troubles, our joys – at His feet. And when we silence ourselves before His throne, He will often whisper truths and direction into our heart and soul.
One of the surest ways to hear God is to pray scripture. God’s word is divine and I’m convinced He pays attention especially to prayers that are declaring the promises He has already given us.
Pray this simple prayer:
Father, Your son Jesus said in Matthew 7:7-8 “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened”. The desire of my heart is to hear Your voice, Abba. To have faith and to obey. Open the eyes of my heart to know you deeper and to hear you.
How to know God’s voice.
As we immerse our mind in God’s world, His spirit bears witness with our spirit (Rom 8:16) and tells us what is good and acceptable, and most importantly, what is God’s will (Rom 12:2). This is what I refer to as a “knowing” deep inside, that the message you’re getting is from the Holy Spirit.
This message will NOT conflict with the Word of God – which means you need to be familiar with, or get familiar with, scripture. Don’t act on these internal promptings until you’ve tried the spirit (1 John 4:1) and the best way to do this is to 1) pray and ask God to bring revelation, 2) bounce it up against the Word of God (study, study, study) and 3) seek counsel from a trusted teacher.
As we mature in the faith, discernment increases. We can also pray specifically for God to increase our discernment. But we must also train ourselves to pay attention to when the Holy Spirit pricks our conscious, as to whether something is right or not. Often, we get a Holy Spirit nudge to move or even not move, but we often suppress it out of fear of making a mistake, or more usually, ignorance.
One way to discern God’s voice is to check your motive. Are you looking to hear from God with a true desire to do His will? Most of us want to hear from God, but then when He gives us an assignment we don’t like, we shrink back, either from fear of what man will think or because what God has told us to do is an inconvenience.
John 7:17 ESV If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.
What Stops us from hearing God?
The scripture is clear that unless you are born again, you cannot hear God’s words. That means that even if an unsaved person reads God’s Word, it will not make sense to him. It falls on spiritually deaf ears (John 8:47) and they reject the Word.
Jeremiah 6:10 ESV To whom shall I speak and give warning, that they may hear? Behold, their ears are uncircumcised, they cannot listen; behold, the word of the Lord is to them an object of scorn; they take no pleasure in it.
Another way that we will not hear from God is if we are consistently disobedient. I remember in my early days, I’d pray for discernment and to hear God speak. He’d respond by giving me an assignment that I preferred not to do – so I’d just ignore Him. Then I’d scratch my head and wonder, “why isn’t God talking to me anymore!?!”. Obedience to God’s prompting is critical to continued flow of communication. Sometimes, He won’t let us advance, until we’ve done what He’s told us to do before.
Luke 11:28 ESV But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
Finally, we don’t hear from God because we harden our hearts towards His instruction. Hebrews 3:15 tells us that to hear God’s instruction and to refuse it, is rebellion against God. If you find yourself consistently rebelling against God, it’s time to do a spiritual checkup – something inside you is not right.
1 Samuel 15:23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination
Proverbs 17:11 Evildoers foster rebellion against God
A Real Life Example
Here’s an example of how God has used these truths in my own life. After church, yesterday, I had to drive from North Carolina to Ohio. As I travelled I was meditating on the message and reflecting on the times in my past that God has spoken directly to me. Several of those times, I detailed in my book “Faith & Forgiveness”. Particularly about how God moved me and my family from Ohio to NC. He spoke directly to my spirit and guided me each step of the way.
As I was reflecting on God’s goodness and on a conversation that Terri Broome and I had (“Be the miracle”), He challenged me again to listen and follow His lead. So, I agreed. I had been thinking of stopping to get myself some lunch. I pulled off at a familiar exit with the intention of stopping in at a sandwich shop I’ve frequented on past trips. But this time, I felt the Spirit nudge me to go the opposite direction at the light. I complied. I drove for a piece and then He nudged me to turn into a Burger King.
At first site of the dilapidated building, I did what most humans do - I questioned God. Seriously Lord – you want me to eat here (ugh)? The outside appearance left me very concerned about the prospects of an edible meal. But I knew in my spirit that’s exactly what He wanted me to do. Somewhere in this rundown building, God had an assignment for me.
I decided to visit the restroom to wash my hands. Believe me, I wished I hadn’t. It was nasty – I literally walked in and back out as quickly as I could. I thought for sure I misheard the Lord. So, I prayed and asked Him to confirm in my spirit. And He did – I knew in my gut that He had something for me to do. I started to go to the counter, but again, He nudged me to go back to my car and go through the drive-thru. It didn’t make sense - but then it’s God! His ways are not our ways – His thoughts are not our thoughts.
I pulled up – bravely placed my order and pulled up to the window. The girl in the window announced my total and took my card. As she returned it, I looked her in the eyes and asked her, “How are you today?” She shrugged and said, “Ah - ok --- I guess”.
As she went to retrieve my food, I asked God – “What is it you want me to say or do?”. Just then I reached over to put my card in my wallet and my hand brushed a copy of my book laying on the seat. Keep in mind, I don’t normally keep copies in the front of my car, but I had dropped off a couple copies to friends that morning at church and this was an extra that I had in my hand as I got in my car.
I knew immediately in my spirit that God wanted me to give the book to this woman. So, as she handed my food to me, I extended the book to her. I said to her – “It’s a gift”. I smiled at her and pulled away. As I whipped my car around, I looked back and saw her reading the back cover of the book. Her brow was furrowed as she studied it, but her co-worker who had been looking over her shoulder, was smiling – actually beaming - directly at me.
I have no idea what this woman’s story is. But God knows and He guided me to that place. My gut tells me that God will use my story to minister to this woman and that’s why He led me there. As I continued on my journey, enjoying my Jr Whopper and diet coke (that oddly tasted like Dr Pepper) – I trusted fully that God would keep my body well and that He would use His Word and my story to help make her well!
Verses Referenced:
Revelation 3:20 ESV Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
Jeremiah 33:3 ESV Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.
Isaiah 55:3 ESV Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.
Psalm 85:8 ESV Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints; but let them not turn back to folly.
John 10:27 ESV My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
Corinthians 2:14 But the natural [psuchikos - Greek] man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him: nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned (spiritually communicated).
Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God
Revelation 3:22 ESV He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”
Deuteronomy 4:12 ESV Then the Lord spoke to you out of the midst of the fire. You heard the sound of words, but saw no form; there was only a voice.
1 Kings 19:12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
John 14:26 ESV 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 that I have said to you.
John 16:13 ESV When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
Galatians 3:2 ESV Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?
Romans 12:2 - And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Romans 8:16 ESV The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
John 8:47 ESV Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”
Hebrews 3:15 ESV As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”
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