12 WAYS WE CAN HEAR GOD’S VOICE gregsimas.org/six-ways-we-can-hear-gods-voice/ . I want to give you twelve ways God talks to us. These ways are by no means exhaustive because God can get our attention in hundreds of different ways. Yet, these are what I would consider both normative and foundational. . 1. THE BIBLE – HEBREWS 4:1 . The primary way God speaks to us is the Bible. The Bible is the ultimate revelation of His voice. It’s the “litmus test”, “anchor”, the “filter” to measure all other things we feel the Lord might be saying to us. Though I believe God will never contradict His Word, I do believe He is bigger than it. . 2. VISIONS – ACTS 2:17, 2 KINGS 6:14-17 . The word vision means “to see”. Visions from God are heavenly scenes supernaturally imposed on the eyes and mind while one is awake. A scene you can see with the natural eye. The event found in 2 Kings 6:14-17 is an amazing example of an open vision. . 3. DREAMS – ACTS 2:17 . Dreams are a series of images and ideas that occur during sleep. Spiritual dreams originate in the Spirit and carry specific messages from the Lord. An encountering spiritual dream is where God speaks directly to the person in the dream (Genesis 31:24; Matt. 2:13). Another type of dream is where there is no direct voice and it needs to be interpreted (Daniel 2:27-28). . 4. MENTAL IMAGES – JOHN 1:48 . Mental pictures are images that occur in the mind while awake. They are snapshots from God that often come without warning or forethought. They often come when the gifts of the Spirit are in operation but are not limited to just the gifts. Like visions and dreams, mental images need to be prayed over before they are acted upon. . 5. AUDIBLE VOICE OF THE LORD – MARK 1:11, ACTS 9:3-6 . The audible voice of the Lord comes to us while we are awake and it sounds as if someone is talking to us directly. It can be heard clearly and carries with it a realm of God’s presence. Both Jesus (Mark 1:11) and Paul (Acts 9:3-6) experienced the audible voice of the Lord. . 6. STILL SMALL VOICE – 1 KINGS 19:11-13 . The “still small voice” is sometimes called an “inner voice” where God speaks through the inner declarations by His Spirit to yours. This often comes to us when we slow down enough to listen. A busy mind is a hindrance to hearing the still small voice of the Lord. . Let me say something here. People begin to freak out when we discuss ways of hearing God’s voice outside of reading the Bible itself. What I am saying here is that all of these are found in the Bible and the voice of the Lord will not contradict His Word. I believe we need to raise up a people who, like Eli, trained Samuel (1 Samuel 3:9-11), to pay attention and hear Gods voice. . -------------------------------------- . 6 MORE WAYS TO HEAR FROM GOD gregsimas.org/6-more-ways-to-hear-gods-voice/ . It’s only through relationship that we develop an “ear” for those we do life with. Because God can speak to us on so many different heavenly frequencies, we need to train ourselves to tune in and hear His voice. Understanding how He speaks is the first step, then seeking to discern His voice daily needs to follow. . With that said, let’s look at six more ways God speaks to us. . 1. ANGELS – LUKE 2:10 . Angels are divine couriers sent to us from heaven to instruct and inform us. We see them often in the New Testament breaking into the earthly realm to serve believers. Hebrews 13:2 says that we entertain the angelic without even knowing it. . Angels are found in key times in human history releasing the voice of the Lord (Luke 1:11-17; Luke 1:26-33; Matthew 28:5-7; Acts 10:3-8) . 2. PHYSICAL SENSES – PSALM 119:67 . Feelings are the voice of the human body. God can use both pain and suffering in our lives to speak to us. When these things happen to us it’s important to go to the Lord and squeeze out the lessons He might want to teach us in the process. . Also, there is a growing number of people who are receiving Words of Knowledge through short bursts of pain in their bodies. This is usually seen in a church meeting or even in the marketplace. God’s voice is being felt and these Words of Knowledge are being released and people are receiving healing. . 3. COINCIDENCE AND CIRCUMSTANCE – JUDGES 6:36-40 . Both coincidence and circumstances are what I consider remarkable events or occurrences that take place in our lives that are more than just happenstance. These are noticeably recognized within us as something that God is directing and putting together. We sense the presence of the Lord around these events that take place. . When these events occur, it’s important to make sure they stay securely in the banks of the Word of God. These are never meant to replace the leading of the Holy Spirit nor should negative circumstances deter us away from accomplishing God’s will. . 4. SIGNS AND WONDERS – JOHN 10:37-38 . Every miracle, sign and wonder declares something about God’s nature and releases His voice. Jesus said that if the religious community did not believe what He said, at least believe Him based on the miracles that were done. The miracles speak of who God is. . Gideon’s request in regard to the fleece released miracles that confirmed God’s voice (Judges 6:36-40). Moses also received confirmation of God’s voice through miracles (Exodus 4:3-7). The Apostle Paul’s conversion is surrounded by miracles and the voice of the Lord (Acts 9). . 5. INTUITION, PERCEPTION AND IMPRESSIONS – MARK 2:8 . All of these have to do with an internal Spirit-led ‘heightened awareness” or a “gut feeling” that cannot be ignored. It’s out of relationship with the Lord that we develop this sensitivity and recognize the inner impressions and nudges of things unknown to us at the time. . This is one of the main ways the Lord speaks to me. As they come I have learned to recognize and respond to them. . 6. THE PROPHETIC – ACTS 2:17 . To prophecy means simply, “to declare”, “announce” or to “foretell” under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. God will often speak to us through others to release His voice. The gift of prophecy is given to encourage, edify and comfort (1 Corinthians 14:3). The voice of the Lord comes to call out the treasure in others, building up and strengthening them. . We must never value prophecy above the Word of God nor should prophecy ever contradict God’s Word. It should come to bring both confirmation and hope. . Let me say that first and foremost the Lord will speak to us by His Word in communion with His Spirit. I set this as my number one priority. But He has spoken to me, by His Spirit, in the many of the ways I have shared. . I would urge you to lean into His voice. Learn how He speaks and pay attention! The good news is that He wants to speak with you more than you actually want Him to. Enjoy the journey of hearing His voice in developing an eternal friendship with God. He delights in making Himself known on every frequency of heaven.
Posted on: Tue, 28 Oct 2014 11:58:44 +0000
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