Hearing the Voice of God by His Holy Spirit
by Pastor Jim Feeney, Ph.D.
Summary: 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. This sermon will show you how to hear from God.
- •• Let’s 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.
- •• The Holy Spirit’s voice will always be true to the Word of God, the bible.
- • Sadly, I recall three of my former bible college students from the 1970s. They had embraced some heretical teachings, which they assured me were directly from the Holy Spirit. Unfortunately, they were not able to be persuaded by God’s Word, the bible, that these were false doctrines. They continued to hold these demonic teachings, falsely attributing them to the Holy Spirit’s voice speaking directly to them, despite the fact that the bible said otherwise.
• The bible, God’s holy word, is always the final arbiter of truth. The voice of God's Holy Spirit will always line up with the revealed Scriptures.
- •• Don’t try to prethink or outthink the Holy Spirit. His message may not be what you might think.
- • Let it “not be you speaking, but the Spirit.”
• Let the voice be born of the Spirit, not the flesh.
- •• We hear the voice of the Spirit of God “in [the] spirit.”
- • As we grow in genuine, biblical spirituality, we attune ourselves to hear the Holy Spirit’s voice more precisely.
- •• The Holy Spirit and His voice are consistently JESUS-oriented.
- • I recall meeting some Christians in the early 1970s. They were traveling around “preaching the Holy Ghost” (their words). Although well-intentioned, they were overlooking Christ’s words telling us that the Holy Spirit’s intent is not to testify about Himself, but to testify about Jesus Christ.
• You will find the genuine voice of the Holy Spirit consistently pointing you to Jesus.
- •• Speaking in tongues helps us learn by experience to hear and articulate what the Holy Spirit speaks.
- • Tongues are words “enabled” by the Spirit. As you speak in tongues in your personal devotional times, you are learning to hear the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
- •• Expect precise information from the Holy Spirit, not just vague “inklings” and imaginings. God's voice is not obscure or mysterious.
- • For example (Acts 8:29, KJV): “Philip, go near, and join thyself to THIS chariot.” That was very precise, no-guesswork leading by the Spirit. Ask God, by His Spirit, for clear discernment of the Holy Spirit’s clear leading.
- •• The Holy Spirit often speaks during times of worshiping or fasting or prayer — that is, while we are waiting upon the Lord.
- • I often receive God’s leading for my upcoming Sunday sermons during our weekly, multi-church pastors’ prayer meeting. The prayerful, worshipful atmosphere is spiritual and very conducive to hearing the voice of God by His Spirit.
- • And God will not necessarily speak to you loudly or forcefully (although He might). I find in most cases that His leading is gentle and quiet, like the "still small voice" by which God spoke to Elijah in the cave (1 Kings 19:12, KJV).
- •• Desire, expect to be “led by the Spirit of God.” Be active in this; seek to hear the Holy Spirit’s guidance.
- •• Again, the Holy Spirit is heard, not by natural wisdom, but by spiritual discernment.
- • The apostle Paul said, “I’ll go preach in Bythinia.” But the Holy Spirit said, “No, I want you to go preach in Macedonia” (my summary of Acts 16:6-10). And Paul allowed his spiritual discernment to turn him from his own conscientious, but naturally-chosen, plans to follow the plans and voice of God.
- •• It is vital that we be often “in the Spirit.”
- • That’s when John heard the voice of the Lord.
- •• A closing question: How often do you deliberately try to be “in the Spirit”? At church services only? In times of prayer or bible reading only?
- • Or do you seek to be “in the Spirit” often, every day? If so, you will find yourself increasingly sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit of God.
- • Determine to “hear what the Spirit says..."
• Compare everything you hear to the final standard of truth — the bible.
• Seek to hear the voice that is “born of the Spirit,” not of the flesh.
• Remember that the Holy Spirit’s intent is to point people towards Jesus Christ.
• Pray in tongues often. It will give you ongoing opportunities for discerning the voice of God's Holy Spirit.
• Expect to hear precise, clear information — not just “inklings” — from the Holy Spirit.
• You may hear God's voice especially clearly during times of worship, fasting, prayer, or bible reading.- • Be alert and listen for the gentle, quiet, "still small voice" of God.
• As a Christian, expect to be “led by the Spirit of God”.
• The voice of God is “spiritually discerned”, not by our “natural” abilities or nature.
• Seek to be often “in the Spirit”.
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