SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES
(Jeremiah 33:3) “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”
(1 Kings 19:11-13) [12] “And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still, small voice. [13] And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?”
(Isaiah 30:21) “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.”
(John 10:27) “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:”
PROLOGUE
As I was writing another message, I felt an undeniable urging from the Spirit of God to address the profound importance of hearing the gentle whisper of God’s voice. This has consumed my thoughts. I have struggled to organize my reflections in a way that will resonate with others and ignite a passionate revival in their hearts.
Many individuals have approached me throughout my ministry after witnessing the remarkable ways God works during our miracle services. They sincerely desire to connect with Him more deeply and hear His voice.
In response, I always emphasize that God is eager to communicate with us; however, it is crucial to cultivate a heart willing to listen and spend time with Him in solitude, prayer, and studying His Word.
Listening requires intentionality and openness. We must quiet the noise of our busy lives and become attuned to God's subtle ways. This is why it is essential to recognize that the Holy Bible is God's Word, and to understand His message, we must know His Word.
How can we lead a successful life rich in meaning and purpose if we struggle to hear and recognize God’s voice? The Holy Bible provides insight into this matter in John 10:27, stating, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”
This verse emphasizes the profound relationship between God and those who seek Him. To truly understand and embrace God's secret things, we must cultivate the ability to hear His voice directly. Importantly, when we engage with His voice, we can trust that it will always be consistent with His Word and teachings.
Reflecting on critical questions that can ignite our awareness and readiness is beneficial for effectively positioning ourselves to hear His voice. As we look to Scripture, we recognize that, as His sheep, we possess the capacity to discern His voice. Furthermore, John 10:5 reassures us that His sheep will not follow strangers, highlighting the importance of familiarity with His voice.
God is actively communicating with us, but the question remains: Are we truly willing to listen? Is our heart receptive and open to hear His voice? When we think we are hearing what may be His voice, it is essential to examine whether it aligns with His Word. We must ask ourselves if our understanding resonates with the teachings found in Scripture.
In John 14:16, the Lord Jesus makes a powerful declaration about the role of the Holy Spirit, indicating that He will send a Comforter to be with His followers for all eternity. This Comforter, also known as the Holy Spirit, is called the Paraclete, a Greek term that means "one called alongside to help." This title underscores the intimate, supportive relationship the Holy Spirit maintains with believers, offering reassurance that they will never be left alone in their spiritual journey.
Jesus highlights the continuous presence of the Holy Spirit in believers' lives, ensuring that they have a constant source of guidance and companionship. The Holy Spirit provides comfort, strength, wisdom, and direction, empowering individuals to live according to God's will. This empowerment is essential in challenging times, as the Holy Spirit helps believers navigate difficulties and make decisions that align with their faith.
Further reinforcing this message, Jesus states in John 16:13, "When He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come."
This verse illustrates the active role of the Holy Spirit as a divine messenger who communicates God’s truth to His people. It emphasizes that the Holy Spirit does not act independently but operates in perfect harmony with the Father and the Son, revealing God's plans and insights to help believers understand His purpose for their lives.
In conclusion, let me say that the Holy Spirit is a vital presence in the life of a Christian, playing a crucial role in discerning God’s messages. By guiding, comforting, and reassuring His people, the Holy Spirit ensures that their hearts and minds remain aligned with what has been revealed in Scripture, that God’s purpose and will may be accomplished in their lives.
"CULTIVATING A LISTENING HEART."
Developing a listening heart is essential to truly understanding and embracing God's guidance in our faith journey. Cultivating a listening heart involves intentional practices such as prayer, meditation, and thoughtful reflection. These practices enable us to quiet the distractions of daily life and become more attuned to divine whispers.
By nurturing a deeper relationship with God, we open ourselves to receiving wisdom and direction, allowing His voice to shape our decisions and inspire our actions. Cultivating a listening heart transforms our spiritual walk, deepens our connection with God, and enriches our lives with purpose and clarity.
It is crucial to recognize that the more time we spend in His presence through prayer, meditation, and study of His Word, the stronger and more resilient we will become in our Christian Walk. As we engage in the various ministries and missions God has called us to, we must remind ourselves of the profound truth that God loves us unconditionally.
God’s love is not contingent upon our actions or achievements, but a steadfast assurance that remains constant regardless of our circumstances. Understanding this unwavering love empowers us to serve others with grace, confidence, and compassion, knowing that nothing we can do would ever diminish His love.
This message focuses on hearing God’s voice and cultivating a heart receptive to His guidance. We can reflect on several thoughtful questions to strengthen our relationship with God and deepen our ability to listen for His voice.
These questions can help us become more attuned to His presence and better understand His will for us.
1. Am I truly open to hearing His voice? To do so, I must consciously set aside preconceived notions,
biases, or distractions that may distort my perception. It's essential to approach this with a clear
mind and genuine willingness to listen.
2: Is my heart hardened by past hurts or disappointments? Have I, perhaps unknowingly, allowed these
painful experiences to build barriers that distance me from God? Reflecting on my emotional
wounds can help me determine if they hinder my relationship with Him.
3: Am I too busy to listen to His guidance? In our fast-paced lives filled with constant demands, I must
intentionally carve out quiet moments for reflection and prayer. These moments of stillness can
provide the clarity and insight I need to be receptive to His voice.
4: Do I operate under the assumption that I know enough to navigate life independently? This belief can
lead to isolation and a lack of guidance. Recognizing that I still have much to learn can help me
remain open to wisdom and support from God and others.
5: How much does God's Word influence my heart? God's Word should significantly impact our hearts.
We should strive to understand and apply His teachings, allowing them to shape our desires and
emotions.
"GOD IS SPEAKING, BUT ARE WE LISTENING?"
Psalms 25:9 emphasizes that God guides the humble, teaching them His divine ways. This guidance is not just a one-time event; rather, God speaks to them consistently through His Word and the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
Many may listen to His voice and feel inspired, while some may forget these teachings, especially as they encounter life's challenges. As their faith weakens, they become more vulnerable, allowing the devil to come in and take away the precious truths that had been planted in their hearts.
God's voice helps us overcome the obstacles we often perceive as insurmountable mountains. When genuinely listening to and embracing His message, we find the strength and clarity to navigate our challenges. By acting on what we have heard and trusting in this divine guidance, we empower ourselves to move forward, unhindered by doubts or fears, knowing that no barrier can stand in our way.
A compelling illustration of hearing God’s voice can be likened to my preaching on a radio station. When I broadcast my message, listeners within the designated area can tune in and hear my voice clearly, absorbing the teachings and insights I share. However, those outside that listening range encounter difficulties; they may start to pick up signals from a different station, disrupting my message.
This situation highlights an important truth: just because my preaching continues uninterrupted does not mean everyone can receive it. The lack of connection prevents those beyond the signal's reach from fully experiencing what I have to say. In this way, the effectiveness of the message is dependent not only on the speaker but also on the listener's ability to stay tuned into the right frequency.
When God speaks, the Holy Spirit helps us align our hearts and minds with His written word, establishing a solid foundation for discerning His voice. This alignment is crucial, enabling us to understand and interpret the messages He communicates to us. True deliverance begins to unfold when we read the words and listen for the deeper voice or the whisper that resonates behind the word, which gives the word life and meaning.
In conclusion, let me say that the Holy Spirit guided us towards all truth, offering wisdom, clarity, and direction in our spiritual journey. However, for Him to effectively lead us, we must be receptive and attentive to His voice. This means cultivating the ability to listen deeply, not just with our physical ears, but with the ears of our heart. By doing so, we can better discern the messages God imparts to us, enabling us to align our lives more closely with His will and purpose. Through this attentive listening, we can genuinely experience the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
"THE DIFFERENT WAYS GOD SPEAKS TO ME."
Romans 10:17 declares, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” To better understand this verse, we can say that our faith blossoms when we listen to a sermon from someone led by God’s Holy Spirit, which allows us to receive divine revelation of what is being said.
One effective way to discern God’s voice is through praying in the Spirit. This practice deepens our connection with Him and fosters spiritual growth and strength. As we engage in Spirit-led prayer, we open ourselves to His guidance and clarity, allowing us better to understand His will and direction for our lives. It enhances our ability to listen and respond to God’s promptings, ultimately leading to a more profound and meaningful relationship with Him.
God began speaking to me when I was about eight years old. It all started after I listened to my grandfather preach on Revelation 17:9, which describes the city on seven mountains, referring to Babylon the Great. At that time, I didn’t know much about the town I lived in, let alone about a city thousands of miles away.
One night, lying in bed, I picked up my Bible to read the passage he had preached. Suddenly, I heard an unseen voice say, “That is Rome, Italy.” That was my first encounter with God, and the moment I realized I could listen to His voice.
As the years passed, I frequently found myself in challenging situations that felt inescapable. During those moments of uncertainty and stress, I heard a whispering voice within me, offering guidance on navigating my way out. This voice, calm yet assertive, provided insights that seemed almost uncanny, helping me make the right choices when I felt lost.
The mysterious voice would warn me about people's hidden intentions and actions, even alerting me to conversations about me behind closed doors. This voice seemed to understand my struggles intimately, protecting me from potential betrayals and guiding me toward safer paths.
After entering the ministry, I found that God often gave me specific words targeted at needy individuals. These messages were usually personal and known only to Him and the recipient. This divine communication between me and God has prevented suicides and even mended broken marriages.
The Lord communicates with me in various ways, including whispers, direct commands, vivid visions, enlightening dreams, and at times, through an overwhelming inclination to take action. When He speaks to me in a whisper, it can often catch me off guard because it feels as if He is standing right next to me, intimately close.
I have vivid memories of ministering in truck stop chapels where His whispering voice was so distinct that I would often open my eyes, half-expecting to see an Angel standing before me, delivering these heavenly messages. The messages are usually a warning or an exhortation to encourage someone that God is working on their problem.
There have been instances when I would hear his voice rebuking an evil spirit as if He is angry, and there have been times when this occurs that it feels like a rush of wind blows by me. Additionally, some musicians have informed me that it felt like someone sprayed them down with a spray bottle, like one would use to dampen a fire in a grill.
I have noticed a shift in the past three years of living and ministering alongside my wife in the Philippines. The whispers of God’s voice have begun to come to me in broken phrases rather than complete sentences, creating an air of mystery and inviting me to seek more profound understanding.
My pastor, Brother Bryan Henson, who leads Miracle Life Church in Fortune, Venezuela, Philippines, once shared insight with me that has resonated deeply. He explained that God had me on "milk" before, nurturing my early spiritual development. However, just as a mother gradually weans her child, God is guiding me to comprehend that even if it feels like He is distant, like a mother in another room, He is always nearby. This realization brings comfort, as the weaned child knows its mother is always close by and will never truly abandon it.
Beloved, I pray that I can hear His voice even more clearly. He knows I cherish my relationship with Him. He also knows that I do not walk in miracle ministry promoting Jerry. Still, I have a deep desire not only to fulfill what He wrote in His book concerning my life and ministry but also to experience Him now, in this life, walking and healing His people.
In conclusion, I would like to say that writing this message has been a blessing to me, and I wish to leave something with new ministers, especially those called to special ministries. In that case, my advice is that when you minister to a church body and hear the inward voice of God’s Holy Spirit, say only what He says and do not attempt to figure it out. Only say what He says. Please do not attempt to add to it or make it make sense. He has a reason for saying the words that you are hearing, and I assure you that it will accomplish where it is sent.
MY CONCLUSION
This message, centered on hearing and obeying the voice of God, aims to uplift your faith and introduce you to a beautiful being who loves you deeply. He planned your life before bending down to sculpt Adam from the dust of the Earth and knew your life's end from the beginning for his divine cause and purpose. (Jeremiah 29:11) “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
I have witnessed things I would have trouble believing without seeing them with my own eyes. Recently, while conducting a revival in Occidental Mindoro, Philippines, an elderly lady approached me one night during the service. She used hand gestures to convey that she desired prayer because she couldn't speak or hear. God granted her request that night, and the entire Mangyan tribe turned to God.
As we conducted another service the next day, people from that tribe walked out of the mountains to join us. They claimed that "Jesus had appeared to them in dreams and visions" after he had healed the elderly lady in their tribe.
My wife and I prayed for a young lady on the way to our service who had been dealing with a blood issue for more than a month, similar to the woman who touched the hem of Jesus' garment. During the meeting, the young lady came forward for prayer, and the power of God in that corporate anointing healed her of that disease.
There are many more stories I could tell you, such as the time God healed the father of Pastor Joseph Dunn, who was suffering from lung cancer in one of our Virginia miracle services. The miracle happened when he entered surgery to have his lung removed. However, when they opened him up, the doctors could not find the cancer. Beloved is still alive today, over 70 years old, testifying about how God spared his life when medical science had given up on him.
I'm glad that God knows those who are His, which gives us hope. The Holy Bible calls this hope “An Anchor of our soul.” We can be assured that if this Earthly house is dissolved (meaning our earthly body is made of flesh), we have a house in the heavens not made with hands. The child of God may leave their body, but they will never lose consciousness at death. God states in His word that the death of His saints is precious in His sight.
International Evangelist
Jerry W. Hulse, Ph.D.
Miracle Life Church International
