Hearing God’s voice!   By James Lantz

       When God spoke to the children of Israel from the mount that trembled and burned with fire they were afraid and moved away from God. They told Moses, you listen to God and tell us what he says, lest we die.  Ex. 20:18&19  And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.  And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.  (Also Deut. 4:12)  God’s desire was for all to hear his voice but while Moses drew near, the people drew back. Some say that you can not hear God’s voice today in this new covenant. It is true that very few people ever hear the audible voice of God speaking today like some, who heard the voice of God when Jesus was baptized with the Holy Spirit.  Luke 3:22  And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.  God is a spirit and His most chosen method of speaking to us is to our spirit. Since he is the all knowing God, our creator, he will certainly speak to his creation in the way that is best for us. Jesus is the good shepherd and his sheep hear his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but flee from him, because they know not the voice of a stranger.  John 10:27&28  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they 

Jesus said, My people hear my voice and do what I tell them.

shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.  (also John 10:3&16)   God has in times past spoken to people in many different ways at different times by His prophets. In these last days he has spoken to us by His Son.  Heb. 1:1&2  God . . . hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds   The Holy Spirit will at times dispatch angels to bring a message from God to people. Gods angels are not commissioned to preach the gospel, but rather to serve God and His man. Our decreeing the word of God in faith brings angelic help on the scene bringing God’s word to pass in our lives.  Heb. 1:14  Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?  (see also Ps. 91:2, Isaiah 55:10&11, Acts 10:3)   Heb. 2:2&3  For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him.   Those that heard him would be the original disciples as well as those of our generation who heard his voice. The Apostle Peter reminds us that he personally saw His majesty, Jesus our Lord, glistening as white as the noon day sun, and heard the voice of the Father on the holy mount. The Father said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased! Peter went on to say that the word of God is to be relied upon even above what he saw and heard.  2 Pet. 1:19-21  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.  Jesus is called the Word of God. Jesus is the Word.  John 1:1-4  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.  The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. John declares that he saw his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. A huge way that God speaks to people is through his anointed word being preached by his anointed ministers.  Rom. 10:14  How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? The word of God is the miracle working power of God that brings salvation and deliverance to everyone who believes! When the anointed preacher preaches or teaches the anointed word of God there is additional giftings at work. Of course, God, through the Holy Spirit, will enlighten and speak to people when they are alone as well.  John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. Two very important parts before we can receive from God by faith is a willing heart and hearing ear. If you will look in the scriptures for the words hear, heard, voice, spoke, you will find the Bible has a lot to say about hearing God’s voice. Jesus said that not everyone who calls him Lord will enter into the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do what he tells them. In order to do what he says we must first have a willing heart and a listening ear.  Mt. 7:24&25  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; 

Get willing, hear from God, do what He says, and the blessing is yours!

and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.  You might think that if only God’s people knew what to do they would succeed but lack of knowledge is only half of the verse.  Hosea 4:6  My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I also will forget thy children.  When the light comes and you refuse the light of the truth of God’s word, what else is there but darkness. Jesus responded to his disciples question of why do you speak to the crowds in parables. He said, these people are the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy, because though seeing they see not, and though hearing they hear not.  Mt.13:15  For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. God is awesome, He is so merciful, so kind and good, so far different than many people. His forgiveness is not based on making you suffer a while or earning a right standing with Him. God receives everyone who believes that His Son Jesus, paid for their sins and acknowledged their sin (confessed it to Him) and turned from it that they immediately qualify for all His benefits. God is speaking to every heart. God is speaking to every sinner through His word, saying, receive my Son, and I will receive you and you will be treated special as one of my sons. You must respond by faith because that is the only way to enter into the kingdom of God and the only way any of us continue to receive anything from God. When the light (truth) of your need and God’s gracious offer is revealed to you, you must respond before you receive from God. Jesus is knocking on the door of every christian’s heart, let me have access to every part of your life and allow My power to bring blessing to every part of your life.  Rev. 3:20  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.  These words are spoken to encourage repentance by those in the church who are stubbornly refusing to submit to the will of God and the ways of the kingdom of God. Jesus is saying, I have grace for you to be an overcomer, if you let me help you. God leads us through our conscience, through the inward witness, and sometimes by the voice of the spirit. Quit demanding that God lead you by putting out a fleece. It is possible that God will speak to the unlearned and dull of hearing through outward manifestations, but in this new covenant God speaks to us from the inside where He lives in our spirit. The devil can get involved with outward manifestations but we have a more sure way by following the written word of God and the Spirit of God within. 

       The prophet Isaiah mentions that God will speak to people through tongues and it will be a help in entering into His rest. Isaiah 28:11&12  For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.  God has said that he will speak to us through tongues and the interpretation. The tongue being interpreted is God speaking to us bringing revelation and is equivalent to the gift of prophecy. (1 Cor. 14:5&6)  God saw fit to include these two signature gifts to bless the church (body). Remember, God is a spirit and he speaks to our spirit. His Word is spirit and life! We can not pick up an FM station on a AM band. The Masters voice is picked up on the willing band! Here is God’s number  –  Jeremiah 33:3  Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.  Call upon Him!