How to Hear God’s Voice

Introduction:

Many believers desire to hear God’s voice, to know His will, and to experience His presence. But how does God speak to us? It’s a question that has been asked for centuries. This lesson will explore how God communicates with us through His Word and His Spirit.

1. God Speaks Through His Word (The Bible):

• The Foundation:

  • The Bible is God’s primary way of speaking to us. It’s His written revelation, providing guidance, wisdom, and truth.
  • 2 Timothy 3:16-17: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”  

• How to Listen:

  • Regular Reading: Make time to read the Bible consistently.
  • Study and Meditation: Don’t just read; study and meditate on what you read. Ask God to reveal His meaning to you.
  • Application: Apply what you learn to your life. God’s Word is meant to be lived out.

• Example:

  • When you are in a time of worry, reading psalms can give you peace. When you are in a time of needing direction, reading proverbs can give you wisdom.

2. God Speaks Through His Spirit (The Holy Spirit):

• The Inner Witness:

  • The Holy Spirit dwells within believers, guiding and directing us.
  • John 14:26: “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you.”

• How to Listen:

  • Prayer: Cultivate a close relationship with God through prayer. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you.
  • Stillness: Create moments of quietness to listen to the still, small voice of the Spirit. Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God.”
  • Discernment: The Holy Spirit will never contradict God’s Word. Test what you hear against Scripture.

• Example:

  • The holy spirit can give you a feeling of peace, or a feeling of unease, when making decisions. He can also bring bible verses to your mind, at important times.

How to Forgive Others

Encouragement:

• Be Patient: Hearing God’s voice is a process. It takes time and practice.

  • Explanation:

    • Just like learning any new skill, recognizing God’s voice requires patience. It’s not always a loud, clear command; often, it’s a gentle nudge, a quiet conviction, or a gradual unfolding of understanding.
    • Think of it like tuning a radio: you might have to adjust the dial many times before you get a clear signal.

  • Biblical Example:

    • Consider the prophet Elijah. In 1 Kings 19, Elijah expected God to speak in a powerful wind, an earthquake, and a fire. But God’s voice came as a “gentle whisper” (1 Kings 19:12). This shows that God’s ways are not always dramatic, and we must be patient to hear His subtle voice.

  • Encouragement:

    • Don’t get discouraged if you don’t hear God immediately. Keep seeking Him, keep reading His Word, and keep praying. Over time, you’ll become more attuned to His voice.

• Be Obedient: When you sense God’s leading, obey. Obedience strengthens your ability to hear Him.

  • Explanation:

    • Obedience is like exercising a muscle; the more you use it, the stronger it gets. When you obey God’s promptings, you demonstrate your trust in Him, and He, in turn, reveals more of His will to you.

  • Biblical Example:

    • Noah’s story in Genesis 6-9 is a powerful example. God told Noah to build an ark, an seemingly absurd task. Noah obeyed completely, even when it didn’t make sense. His obedience led to salvation for his family.

  • Encouragement:

    • Even small acts of obedience can make a big difference. When you obey God in the little things, you’ll be better prepared to obey Him in the big things.

• Seek Counsel: Talk with mature believers who can offer godly wisdom.

  • Explanation:

    • God often uses other believers to speak into our lives. Wise counsel can provide clarity, perspective, and confirmation.
    • Proverbs 11:14 “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.”

  • Encouragement:

    • Find people in your church, or christian community that you can trust, and that have a proven walk with God. Do not be afraid to ask for prayer, and for advice.

  • simple explanation:

    • It is like having a guide on a long hike. They have been on the path before, and can help you avoid dangers, and show you the best way to go.

• Recognize God’s ways: God can speak in many ways, through, other people, through circumstances, and through those feelings in your heart that are in line with the bible.

  • Explanation:

    • God is creative and uses various methods to communicate with us. Be open to His diverse ways of speaking.

  • Biblical Example:

    • God spoke to Joseph through dreams (Matthew 1:20). He spoke to Paul through a dramatic encounter on the road to Damascus (Acts 9). And He often speaks through the quiet conviction of the Holy Spirit.

  • Encouragement:

    • Pay attention to the circumstances of your life. Sometimes, God uses them to guide you. But always, always test everything against the truth of His Word. If a “feeling” or “leading” contradicts the Bible, it’s not from God.

  • simple explanation:

    • God can use anything that he created to speak to us. The important thing is that what ever is presented to us, must be compared to what the bible says.

Conclusion:

Hearing God’s voice is a beautiful and essential part of our relationship with Him. By immersing ourselves in His Word and cultivating a sensitive heart to His Spirit, we can learn to recognize His voice and follow His leading. Remember, God desires to communicate with you. He wants to guide you and bless you. So, open your heart, listen attentively, and trust that He will speak.

I hope this lesson is helpful.

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