When The Spirit Speaks Series

Throughout the Bible, we see a consistent truth: God speaks. He speaks through creation, through His Word, and through His Son. But one of the most profound ways God communicates with us today is through the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God, living within each believer, is actively speaking, guiding, and leading us in our daily lives. Yet, many of us still struggle to hear Him clearly. We wonder how we can recognize when the Spirit speaks, and what steps we need to take to follow His voice.

In Acts 13:2, we read a powerful moment when the Holy Spirit spoke to a group of believers as they fasted and prayed. The Spirit gave them a clear direction, saying, “Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.” This wasn’t a random thought or a vague impression; it was the voice of the Holy Spirit, speaking clearly and specifically. This is the kind of relationship God desires for all of us—a relationship where we hear His Spirit speaking and know how to respond.

In today’s sermon, we’re going to explore how the Holy Spirit speaks, how we can recognize His voice, and how we can respond in obedience. The Spirit is always speaking, but the question is: Are we listening? Let’s open our hearts and minds to hear the voice of the Spirit today.

1. The Role of the Holy Spirit in Speaking to Us

To understand how to hear the Holy Spirit’s voice, we first need to understand His role in our lives. Jesus made it clear that the Holy Spirit would be our guide, our teacher, and our counselor. In John 16:13, Jesus said, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”

The Holy Spirit is not just an abstract force or a feeling. He is a person—a member of the Godhead—who speaks to us and leads us into all truth. He reveals the heart and mind of God to us, helping us to understand His will and His purposes for our lives. When we receive the Holy Spirit at salvation, we are given access to a direct line of communication with God. The Spirit is always present, always speaking, and always ready to guide us.

But for many of us, the challenge is not understanding that the Spirit speaks—it’s recognizing when and how He speaks. The Holy Spirit speaks in a variety of ways, and if we’re not attuned to His voice, we can easily miss His guidance. Just as in the days of the early church, the Spirit continues to direct, comfort, correct, and empower believers for the work God has called us to do.

Consider the example of Philip in Acts 8:29. The Bible says, “Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.” Philip was sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit, and because he responded in obedience, he was able to share the gospel with the Ethiopian eunuch. This encounter wasn’t random; it was divinely orchestrated by the Holy Spirit, who spoke to Philip and directed him at just the right moment.

The Holy Spirit’s role is not limited to just giving us occasional direction. He is actively involved in every area of our lives—guiding our decisions, convicting us of sin, and comforting us in times of trouble. He speaks to us through Scripture, through prayer, and even through the circumstances we face. But we need to be spiritually sensitive to recognize His voice and respond when He speaks.

2. Recognizing the Voice of the Holy Spirit

One of the most important aspects of hearing the Holy Spirit is learning to recognize His voice. Many believers struggle with this because they aren’t sure how to distinguish the Spirit’s voice from their own thoughts, feelings, or the influence of others. So how can we know when it’s the Holy Spirit speaking to us?

First, we need to understand that the Holy Spirit will always align with Scripture. The Word of God is the ultimate authority, and the Spirit will never lead us in a way that contradicts what is written in the Bible. In John 14:26, Jesus said, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” The Holy Spirit reminds us of the words of Jesus and helps us understand and apply Scripture in our lives.

When we are faced with a decision or a prompting, one of the first questions we should ask is, “Does this align with God’s Word?” If it contradicts Scripture in any way, it’s not from the Holy Spirit. But if it aligns with God’s truth, we can trust that the Spirit is speaking and leading us in the right direction.