Lecture Notes: Hearing God's Voice

Introduction

• Four Voices We Hear
  • Our voice
  • God's voice
  • The devil's voice
  • People's voice
• Focus: What to do when hearing God seems impossible

Key Principles to Hear God's Voice

1. God Can Speak Without Your Effort

• God can speak even if we resist or are not listening
  • Example: Saul's conversion
  • Example: Balaam and the donkey
• Ideal Way: Align with God’s will without resistance

2. Be Filled with the Word of God

• God's voice does not contradict His Word
• Familiarity with Scripture enhances discernment of God's voice

3. Proximity to God

• Key Verse: "My sheep hear my voice"
• Usually, God speaks in a still, small voice
• Importance of being near God's presence

4. Lower the Noise

• Solitude and Silence: Necessary for hearing God
  • Silence: No external noise
  • Solitude: No internal noise
• Seek solitude in nature or quiet places

5. Be in the Spirit

• Being in the spirit enhances ability to hear God
• Methods include prayer, worship, and spiritual engagement

6. Open to God's Direction

• Avoid preconceived ideas of what God should say
• Importance of coming with a clean slate

7. Obedience to God's Known Will

• Obedience clears the way for hearing God further
• Disobedience can mute God’s voice

8. Seek God More When Silent

• God's silence can strengthen faith or indicate unconfessed sin
• Persevere and seek earnestly

9. Discern the Ways God Speaks

• Main Ways:
  1. Creation
  2. Wise Counsel
  3. Visions and Dreams
  4. Conscience
  5. Peace
  • Be open to various forms of communication

Conclusion

• Trust in God’s Willingness to Speak: God desires to communicate
• Live by Scripture, Led by the Spirit
• Encourage openness to different forms of God’s communication

Call to Action

• Partner with the ministry to help spread God's word
• Opportunities for donation and support are available