Hearing and Obeying the Voice of God
Study Text: 1 Samuel 3: 1 – 14
Introduction:
- One of the greatest benefits of our salvation is hearing God speak to us personally. There can be no intimate relationship with our heavenly Father without it. But, as easy as it is for us to speak to Him, the average Christian has a hard time hearing His voice. This is not the way the Lord intended it to be.
- Samuel could not recognise the voice of God, and mistaken it for the voice of Eli. But was guided by Eli to recognise and to respond to the voice of God. There are many “voices” speaking in the human heart: the devil, the world, our imaginations, our flesh, other people, and God.
- Many Christians want to know how to hear the voice of God, and distinguish it clearly and unambiguously among all the competing voices speaking to us. The word of God is full of examples and has clear guidelines to help us in discerning God’s voice.
- A great disaster awaits those who fail to apply God’s Word, the Bible, to what they think is the voice of God speaking to them. An absolute requirement in learning how to hear from God is to be convinced that God’s leading will always line up with the principles of the Bible.
- Since God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, you will feel abiding peace in your heart if you are hearing from God. Otherwise, you will experience some confusion within, perhaps in the form of doubts, questionings, and fear.
- We shall discuss the topic under three sub-headings:
1. The Salient Profits of Hearing and Obeying the Voice of God
2. The Scriptural Principles in Hearing and Obeying the Voice of God
3. The Specific Patterns of Hearing and Obeying the Voice of God
1. The Salient Profits of Hearing and Obeying the Voice of God.
- The Lord constantly speaks to us and gives us His direction. It is not that the Lord is not speaking, but it is us who are not hearing.
- Jesus made some radical statements about hearing His voice in John 10:3-5. He was speaking about Himself as the Shepherd of the sheep and the only way to enter the sheepfold.
- Our lives and situations can be radically transformed by hearing the voice of the Lord correctly. The worst marital problem can have a total turnaround by hearing a word from the Lord. If you have sickness or disease, one living word from the Lord will instantly heal you. If you are in financial crisis, the Lord knows exactly how to turn your situation around just by hearing His voice. Now let's look out some benefits we tend to gain when we hear and obey God's Voice.
1. It Gives us Wisdom:
- Proverbs 2 vs 6 says For the Lord giveth wisdom, out if his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
- God is able to give us wisdom, knowledge and understanding if only we trust him enough to ask him in prayers.
- James 1 vs 5 says If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not and it shall be given him.
2. It Gives us Godly Prosperity and Good Success:
- Joshua 1:8 says; This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein; for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous and then thou shalt have good success.
- The word of God came to Joshua to instruct about the importance of desiring and obeying the word of God which is able to give not only prosperity and success an but a "good success".
3. It Gives us Right Guidance and Directions:
- Paul was on his way to Damascus when he encountered God. God changed his direction from a killing spree mission to a life changing one.
- In Acts 9:11, The Lord said unto him, Arise and go into the street which is called Straight and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus for behold he prayeth. God is able to give us direction of life and thereby given your life a meaningful impact.
- Believers should seek to get spiritual clarity through prayer as they listen for God to speak to them. We should prioritize our need to hear God’s voice. In doing this, we can receive spiritual guidance and clarity regarding His direction for our lives.
- It can be easy for an individual to be stuck or static because of the difficulty we often face as we fight spiritual battles and face the opposition of the enemy. God wants to guide us through His Word and the leading of the Holy Spirit.
4. It Gives us Power:
- The Bible made us understand in Luke 4, how Jesus went to the synagogue to teach the gospel and in verse 32 it says; And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power. The voice of God is filled with power.
5. It Gives us Assurance:
- Genesis 15:1 says; After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision saying Fear not, Abram I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward. What a word of assurance that we like to hear and know about that God is assuring us not to fear in the midst of trials, temptation and uncertainty.
6. It Gives us Life:
- Jesus told his disciples in John 6:63: It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life.
- Simon Peter, a disciple of Jesus was also knowledgeable enough to admit this fact in John 6:68: Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. We affirm that there is no other person or means to eternal life except the words of God.
7. It Gives us Great Blessings:
- Abraham not only enjoyed a wonderful relationship with God, he also enjoys His blessings which we as believers are currently manifesting in our lives.
- Genesis 12: 2-3 God blessed Abraham and said: And I will bless them that bless thee and curse him that curseth thee and in there shall all families of the earth be blessed.
- In giving God our attention, He can speak to our minds and hearts, giving us direction for our unique circumstances. When we position ourselves through prayer to hear God’s voice, He gives us spiritual direction in our thinking, spiritual power in our obedience, and spiritual victory in our battles.
2. The Scriptural Principles in Hearing the Voice of God
- The biggest problem in hearing God’s voice is knowing for sure that it is His voice that we hear. Maybe we are only hearing self-talk or just our imagination. Jesus says, “listen to (the shepherd’s) voice…his sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will never follow a stranger…because they do not recognize his voice”. (John 10:2-5).
- Jesus is the Shepherd. Believers are the sheep. Believers will listen to and recognize the voice of the Shepherd. They will also know that certain voices are not his and will flee from them.
- Learning to clearly distinguish God’s voice is invaluable. Instead of going through life blindly, we can have the wisdom of God to guide and protect us.
- God speaks to us through His Spirit, and the following principles as revealed in the scriptures can guide us in recognising His voice accurately:
1. The Holy Spirit’s voice will always be true to the Word of God, the Bible.
- The Bible, God’s holy word, is always the final guide on the truth. The voice of God's Holy Spirit will always line up with the revealed Scriptures. Matthew 10:19-20.
- What ever revelation, vision, prophecy or teaching that contradicts, or has no basis in the word of God can never be the word from God, and must never be received as such.
2. The Holy Spirit’s voice will not be premeditated.
- Don’t try to pre-think, pre-empt or out-think the Holy Spirit. His message may not be what you might think. Let it “not be you speaking, but the Spirit.”
- What ever is previously premeditated, planned or arranged by the human mind on any matter, apart from the already revealed will of God in the Bible, cannot be the voice of God concerning the matter.
3. The Holy Spirit’s voice will be heard in the Spirit.
- As we grow in genuine, biblical spirituality, we attune ourselves to hearing the Holy Spirit’s voice more precisely.
- It may not be fathomable with the human mind or be in agreement with the human knowledge or feelings, but a revelation and a perception in the spirit.
4. The Holy Spirit and His voice are consistently Jesus-oriented.
- You will find the genuine voice of the Holy Spirit consistently pointing you to Jesus. Acts 2:4.
- His main mission is to remind us of what Jesus taught us and to glorify Jesus in our lives. Any guidance that is not in line with what Jesus will do must not be received as the voice of God.
5. The Holy Spirit’s voice will not necessarily speak to you forcefully.
- In most cases His leading is gentle and quiet, like the "still small voice" by which God spoke to Elijah in the cave (1 Kings 19:12).
- Desire, expect to be “led by the Spirit of God.” Be active in this; seek to hear the Holy Spirit’s guidance.
6. The Holy Spirit’s voice is heard, not by natural wisdom, but by spiritual discernment. 1 Corinthians 2:14
- The example of apostle Paul (Acts 16:6-10). Paul allowed his spiritual discernment to turn him from his own conscientious, but naturally-chosen, plans to follow the plans and voice of God.
3. The Specific Patterns of Hearing the Voice of God
- There are several ways by which God speaks to us as revealed in the Scriptures, some of which include the followings:
1. Through the Scripture: (II Timothy 3:16-17).
- The Bible is our blueprint. It is the primary way that God speaks to us
- The Written Word: The logos (the Bible) is a main way God speaks today but it is not the only way. The logos is God’s general Word for everyone. God speaks to us when we read the Bible on nearly every issue that applies to modern living. Jesus, the Bread of Life, taught us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread” (Mt. 6:11). God has fresh spiritual manna to share with us every day if we will take the time to read His Word.
- The Living Word: Jesus said, “The words [Greek: rhema] that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (Jn. 6:63). The rhema Word is a specific message the Holy Spirit inspires to you personally. It is a specific word for a specific time and for a specific need. It occurs when the written or spoken Word comes alive with special meaning in your situation.
2. Through the Holy Spirit Speaking to Our Heart (Hebrews 8:10-11).
- Elijah was camping in a cave on Mount Sinai when God manifested Himself. Elijah saw a powerful wind, a mighty earthquake and a fierce fire, but God wasn’t in any of them. Instead, God spoke to him in a “still small voice,” also translated “a gentle whisper” (1 Kgs. 19:9-12). God often speaks to us by the inner witness of the Holy Spirit to our spirit (Rom. 8:14-16).
3. Through the Revelation Gifts (word of knowledge, word of wisdom, personal prophecy (1 Thessalonians 5:19-21).
- God uses human channels to speak words of prophecy, tongues and interpretation and words of wisdom and knowledge (1 Cor. 12:8-10). God also expresses Himself through human vessels to distribute His message in anointed sermons, songs and writings
4. Through Godly Counsel. (Proverbs 11:14).
- In the Bible, we see that God loves to use people to give instruction, warning, and direction to others. For instance, Jonah warned the people of Nineveh, to turn from their wicked ways.
- Likewise, God uses individuals in our lives to address certain issues that we may or may not be aware of. Proverbs 19:20 says “Listen to counsel and receive instruction, That you may be wise in your latter days.”
5. Through Confirmation by Other People: (Matthew 18:16).
- “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God” (1 Pt. 4:11). An “oracle” is an “utterance, a spokesman or mouthpiece.” God speaks through preachers and teachers, but He can also speak through our spouse, kids, friends and even enemies.
6. Through the Inner Peace of God: (Colossians 3:15).
- God made us with an inner awareness of what is right and wrong with an inclination to do right. When taking a step in the will of God, He will make His peace to rule our hearts without any iota of fear or doubt.
7. Through Circumstances (Acts 18:1-3)
- God is not limited concerning the way He speaks to us, and he often uses circumstances as teachable moments. Although these experiences may be trying; God uses them for our good, to edify and lead us in the right direction. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose”. Romans 8:28.
8. Through Audible Voice:
- Though seemingly rare, God has and still can speak audibly. Adam and Eve heard God’s voice in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:8). God spoke audibly to Moses from the burning bush (Ex. 3:4-6) and to all Israel from Mount Sinai (Ex. 20:1-22).
- In the New Testament, the Father endorsed Jesus at His baptism and His transfiguration with a literal voice. Saul saw Christ in a blinding light and heard His voice (Ac. 9:3-7). God is sovereign, and He can speak however and whenever He wants.
9. Angelic Visitation:
- Angels are agents on assignment—God’s messengers sent to minister to heirs of salvation. There are numerous instances in Scripture where angels informed, warned or conveyed divine messages to individuals. They are still on the job.
10. Visions and Dreams:
- Dreams and visions is another way that God may speak to some Acts 2:17 says. “And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.”
- A vision is an inspired appearance (something you see literally with your eyes or in your mind or spirit). A dream is something seen in your sleep or something you imagine doing, a goal or an aspiration. God can insert images and ideas into our minds whether we are conscious or not.
- There are several examples in the Bible where God spoke to His people in visions and dreams. Also, there are several testimonies in our days, where great revelations have been given to His people through visions and dreams.
- Many times, the Lord will confirm His direction to us through three, four or more of these ways, especially when we are in the process of making an important, life-changing decision.
The bottom line is that we should be committed to fervent prayers over every matter requiring divine direction. In other words, as we humble ourselves before the Lord, seek His guidance in our lives, the Good Shepherd will be faithful to lead us, "…in paths of righteousness for His name's sake" (Psalm 23:3).
Conclusion:
- God will speak to us more often as we learn to recognize His voice. We expect to hear from Him at church, but God doesn’t just speak on Sundays. He wants to speak to us all through the week. Jesus indicated, “My sheep hear My voice” (Jn. 10:27). God is still speaking; are we listening?
- The voice of God can be heard and understood if we apply certain biblical principles to hearing what the Holy Spirit of God is saying. Revelation 2:7a
- Let us be people who are able to sort out the voice of the Holy Spirit from all the competing voices. God is talking to us, the devil is talking to us, our own carnal nature is talking to us.
- The bible gives us practical principles for discerning the voice of God spoken by the Holy Spirit. Isaiah 8:20
