Hearing the Voice of God

When someone says, “God told me…” or “The Lord said…” Do you interpret this to mean they audibly heard the Lord speaking? I have used this verbiage with my personal testimony. In 1979, I was sitting in a church pew thinking, “Dad called this guy up and told him everything I have ever done.” Then, in my head, I heard the Lord clearly say, “It's not them, it's me!” His words broke through my stubborn mind, and I realized the Holy Spirit was convicting me of my sin. The words “It's not them, it's Me” are not in scripture, but they supported the message preached from God’s Word. Other times I have heard Him so clearly were related to my call to preach, areas of obedience, and world missions. I say “hear” but not audibly, in line with Scripture. 

As I started reading the Bible as a new believer, the words seemed to jump off the pages at me and were exactly what I needed. My thinking and my life began to change. The Lord began communicating to me from His written Word. As I memorized His word, it became part of my thinking. “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Ps. 119:11). When I ask people if they have heard God speak, most say, “No.” But if they have read or heard God’s Word and responded with obedience, they have heard Him. Yet, are the promptings of the Spirit and the guidance God’s Word gives the same as audibly hearing God speak? No. 

One reason the Lord doesn’t speak audibly to us is free will. His influence would unduly override our free thought. Through Isaiah, the Lord clarified that His thoughts are not ours (Isa. 55:8-9). He said, “…listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live…” (Isa. 55:2). Listening entails more than physical hearing; instead, we listen relationally in surrender and obedience. Attentive to what is being said, not to what we want to hear. Listening to God means we give Him our full attention and seek His will, not our own. Although His words are not audible, they are crystal clear. 

Some use the idea of hearing God directly to elevate their influence. Even the disciples who physically saw and heard the Living Word of God speak did not continue to audibly hear Him after Pentecost. Audibly hearing God is reserved for those whom God chose to establish the authority and culmination of His divine revelation. The apostles had the Old Testament and the guidance of the Holy Spirit to complete the scriptures. The Lord knew some would preach from false motives, make a spectacle of hearing from God directly, and add to the revelation He had already established with signs and wonders. 

Jesus said when the Holy Spirit comes, He “will convict the world regarding sin, and righteousness, and judgment…” (John 16:8-11). He still speaks to the hearts and minds of lost people so they can repent. Jesus said, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh provides no benefit; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit, and are life” (John 6:63). As we share the gospel, we join the Holy Spirit in His work to produce the fruit of repentance in the hearts of the lost. 

In Christ,

Derrick Poston

North American Mission Board

Great Adventure Missions

678-665-8164

Please pray for these needs:

• Pray for good health and wisdom as I lead Great Adventure Missions.

• Pray for me as I preach this summer at Sunrise Baptist Church.

• Be praying for Suwanee Fest September 20 & 21 (Come join us)

• Pray as we plan a community outreach in October with the East Precinct.

• Please pray for the officers' mental and spiritual health and for opportunities to share the gospel with the non-believing officers.

• Pray that the Lord will direct me to new ministry partners.

• Praise the Lord that Mom is doing much better. She is still under home hospice care. She wants to be able to walk to the bathroom. It requires self-guided physical therapy. Pray she can achieve this goal.

• Pray for our GAM missionaries as the area they are in is under attack from another country. Pray for wisdom to make the right choice regarding their safety and safe passage should they need to leave. The Lord is using them, and it is a difficult choice.