The Journey to Hearing God’s Voice

Bible Study Notes | July 15th, 2020

When God speaks to us usually the clouds don’t roll back and we hear this loud booming voice from the sky. It is a quiet voice that we hear inside of our soul, however it is not always easy to hear. We have to really tune in and listen to hear from God.

Have you ever used a radio before? Sometimes it is nice to listen to the radio because there are all kinds of music and shows on the radio, but what do you have to do to listen to it? You have to tune in!

As you see there are many different voices on the radio, some are good and some are not so good. You have to tune in to the good voices, the ones that you want to hear.

We all want to hear from God, but a lot of the times we are actually listening to the wrong voices. There is so much noise in our life, and so much static that it is really hard to hear what God is trying to say to us. What do we need to do? We need to tune our lives to God and be quiet so we can actually hear Him.

In John 10:27 it says that God’s sheep know His voice. That means we are tuned to hear it. Just like a sheep can know their shepherd’s voice we can learn God’s voice. If a stranger comes up and tries to lead the sheep somewhere bad do you think they will follow? No! Because they know their shepherd’s voice.

How do we tune in and start hearing God’s voice? We learn God’s voice by reading the Bible, memorizing and meditating on it. When God speaks to us it will usually be through His Word, and it will never go against what it says in the Bible. The more we learn about God’s Word the more we learn to hear His voice.

God spoke to man in an audible voice in the Old Testament beginning with Adam. Accounts of God speaking to man continued with Noah, Moses, and beyond. In the New Testament, God spoke through Jesus, visions, and dreams. Today, God continues to speak in a variety of ways.

How does God speak? First you should know that God is not limited in how he speaks, God is sovereign. Sovereign simply means that God can do whatever He wants to do. So, be careful not to confine Him to a box.

These are some of the ways in which God speaks to you.

  1. Circumstances – God is always at work around you and uses events and situations in your life to reveal His purpose and plan to you. When you find yourself in a challenging situation, ask God to help you see it from His prospective. See 2 Kings 6:15-17
  2. Angels – An immortal Heavenly being seen in the Old Testament, and in the New Testament. Angels were used as messengers from God. Many Christians today have also seen angles. See Zechariah 4:4, Genesis, 16:9, Matthew 28:5, Luke 1:11, Act 8:26,
  3. Visions – These are images, scenes, or events supernaturally seen that convey a message regarding present or future events. Visions occur when a person is fully awake. See Genesis 15:1, Acts 9:12, Acts 10:10-17, Acts 16:9, Joel 2:28
  4. Dreams – These are images, scenes, or events seen while we are sleeping that give insight to present or future events. (NOTE: Not all dreams are God inspired.) See Genesis 42:9, Joel 2:28, Matthew 2:12
  5. Prophets – Those chosen to speak the thoughts of God to people on behalf of God. The office of Prophet was active in the Old Testament, New Testament, and is active today according to Ephesians 4:11.
  6. Miraculous Signs – Things that happen that only God could have done. Miracles are seen all throughout the Old and New Testament, and are still seen today.
  7. The Word of God – The Bible is the inspired Word of God. God’s road map and directions for our lives. Anytime we need to know God’s heart on a matter, we can go to the Bible to hear a word from Him. See 2 Timothy 3:16
  8. Audible Voice – In the Old Testament it was common for God to speak in an audible voice. Today some believers have also experienced God speaking to them in this manner. See Genesis 8:15, Exodus 6:2, Matthew 3:17
  9. The Holy Spirit – Jesus promised to send us the Holy Spirit before He was crucified. The Holy Spirit comforts, leads, guides, and reminds us. If you are born again, you were given the Holy Spirit when you accepted Christ. See John 14:26
  10. Other People – Sometimes God will use ordinary people to speak a word into our lives or to confirm something He has already spoken to us.

“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26)

The Holy Spirit communicates the heart of God to us. It is through the working of the Holy Spirit that we are being transformed daily and given the mind of Christ.