How to Hear the Voice of God
God speaks to us daily with instructions concerning our families, nations and the continents of our world, but more often than not, we ignore Him; either because we are not familiar with His voice, or we are too busy to listen. We live in the milieu of the massive stream of constant stimuli that vie for our attention such that heavens communication gets too easily lost in the static. Most of the problems and temptations many people go through could be avoided if they had heard the voice of God. I would like to take you through an adventure on how to hear the voice of God.
The Still Small Voice
The commonest way God speaks to us is through the still small voice. The first time the Bible made mention of the ‘still small voice’ was in 1 Kings 19:12, When God spoke to Elijah. Even Elijah, being a major prophet of God was anticipating to hear God’s voice in a spectacular way. I suppose he was disappointed when he heard God in a ‘still small voice’. One would expect that a miracle working God will speak in a notable and a spectacular way. Perhaps, a speech preceded by a mightily rushing wind, or a consuming fire. However, contrary to our expectations, God often speaks to us by the still small voice.
To be able to hear the still small voice of God concerning a situation, while in prayer, we need to empty our minds of any pre-conceived notions, opinions or mentalities concerning that situation. The still small voice will be evident in our spirits, sometimes as a fresh thoughts, ideas or images in our minds.
The Bible
“Behind and beneath the Bible, above and beyond the Bible, is the God of the Bible”. The Bible is God’s written revelation of His will to humanity. Its controlled theme is salvation through Jesus Christ. From cover to cover, the Bible is made up of the mind of God. To seek God’s opinion concerning a decision or a situation can simply be done by reading and meditating His word. If you want to hear God’s word concerning an issue, research through the Bible, as it already has Gods opinion in relation to that issue. What the Bible says about it is undoubtedly what God says. This is because the Word of God is God. And God will never contradict His word.
The Audible Voice of God
This is when we hear God’s voice audibly through our natural ears. In 1 Samuel 3:1-8, God called Samuel audibly such that he thought it was his spiritual father Eli. God seldom speaks to us with the audible voice. He uses this to communicate issues of great importance. Often times, before He speaks to us with the audible voice, it is most likely that He spoke to us with the still small voice, yet we couldn’t hear him.
Dreams
Whenever God speaks to us about something very important and we do not hear Him, He finds an alternative way to communicate the message to us. An alternative way of communication can be through dreams. Job 33:14-18 says
For God does speak—now one way, now another—though no one perceives it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they slumber in their beds, he may speak in their ears and terrify them with warnings, to turn them from wrongdoing and keep them from pride, to preserve them from the pit, their lives from perishing by the sword.
Read more on dreams
The Prophet Ministry
The prophetic ministry is one of the ministry extensions of Jesus Christ. It is part of the five fold ministries (Ephesians 4:11).
God sometimes speaks to us through His prophets. Over the decades, the prophetic ministry has seen such a dreadful controversy so much so that, many people have lost interest in it. There is a school of thought, that says God used to speak to people through the prophets only in the old testament, and that in the new testament, He no longer speaks to us through prophets. That teaching however, is erroneous and demonic. God still speaks to us through His prophets. Ephesians 4:11 reads “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers”. Again, Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 14:1-5
Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. For anyone who speaks in a tongue[a] does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. I would like every one of you to speak in tongues,[b] but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues,[c] unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.
Preaching
God can speak to us through the preaching of His word in the form of audios, videos, Gospel books, journals and blogs. In this day of social media, God can speak to us through a blog shared on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp, etc.
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