How do we hear God's voice? Andrew and Alicia have a conversation about what scripture says about the ways God speaks to us, how we can know it's Him, and what barriers we may face when hearing His voice.

Notes:

• Does God really speak, does He want to speak to me?

  • It appears that one of the defining characteristics of the God of the bible is how much He does speak
  • According to scripture,
    • He spoke the the world into existence - Genesis 1
    • Jesus is referred to as the “WORD” - John 1
    • Jesus promises that the Holy Spirit would tell us what He hears from Jesus - John 14
    • Of the 9 gifts of the spirit listed in 1 Cor 12, 5 of them involve speaking.
      • Words of wisdom, knowledge, prophecy, speaking in other languages, and interpretation of other languages
  • Speaking to us seems to be God's desired default rather than a special exception
  • Jesus the Good Shepherd - John 10:2-15 NLT

  2 But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. 5 They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.”

  14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, 15 just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep….They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd. * God wants to speak to us personally - "calls them by name" * God wants to lead us - "he walks ahead of them, and they follow him" * God wants us to recognize when voices aren’t his - "they won't follow a stranger" * How does he speak to us? + Leading of the Holy Spirit - Romans 8, Eph 5, Gal 5 - Living by the spirit, walking in the spirit, being led by the spirit - Acts 8, 9, 10, 16, 18 Philip, Ananias, Peter, Paul

• His Word

• • 2 Tim 3:16-17 - 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true...17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
• • Heb 4:11-12 - The word of God is living and active
• • Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path

• Other ways

• • Prayer - Listening
  • Biblical/Godly Preaching, Teaching, Writing
  • GODLY, Wise counselors mentors -
  • Supernatural gifts of the spirit - 1 Cor 12
  • Dreams & Visions/images/pictures- Peter in Acts 10, Apostle John in Revelation, Paul sees a vision of the Macedonian man in Acts 16, Daniel has dreams, Isaiah has dreams, Joseph
  • Divine manifestation/vision or audible voice (one of the least common, even in scripture) Paul in Acts 9, Voice from Heaven in the gospels when Jesus is baptized, Moses & the burning bush

• How do I know it’s Him and not just me?

  • He won’t violate his word or expressed will in scripture.
  • Godly counsel can be really helpful.
    • “I think God might be saying _____” what do you think?
  • Inner peace

• Why doesn’t he speak to me like he does to others?

• • God speaks individually to each of us.
  • Has the person you wish you could hear God like been walking with God a long time?
  • He knows your wiring.

• What are the barriers to hearing His voice?

• • Distraction
• • Divided Loyalties - James 1:5-8 (NLT) 5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. - Everything has to be on the table
• • Unrepentant sin - Sin creates separation from us and God - Adam and Eve hide - Gen 3:8 - God says he’ll turn us over to our selfish desires - Romans 1:24