Hearing from God

Many people claim to have heard from God. Often these people are claiming God told them things that completely contradict Biblical truth. It is common for people to project their own desires and thoughts upon God and claim God has endorsed their wrong beliefs. Many people hear from their own heart and mistake that for the voice of God. However, Jesus says in John 10:27, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” So how do we hear correctly and accurately from God today? He speaks through the Holy Spirit that Jesus has sent to live in all true believers.

When we speak of hearing from the Holy Spirit, please understand that you will never hear anything from the Holy Spirit that conflicts with the written word of God. The Bible will never be outdated by anything “new” you believe you hear or see from the Holy Spirit. Also, something you hear personally from the Holy Spirit is not to be held to the same authority as the Bible. The Bible has been tested and verified for centuries and is for all mankind for all time.

If a person believes they hear from the Holy Spirit something that contradicts the clear teaching in the Bible, they have heard incorrectly, or perhaps heard from a source other than the Holy Spirit. God does not contradict Himself. God never has any need to correct Himself, since there is never nor will ever be a time when He is wrong. He is God. He knows all things, has all wisdom and is perfect in all His ways and thoughts. He cannot be improved upon by anything we think we hear now. There is no room for improvement in perfection.

John 16:13 states, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.” (NLT) The written word of God is truth. The Holy Spirit will only guide you to what is true. He will help you understand the truth of God’s word but will never direct you to alter it or vary from it.

So the first step to hearing from the Holy Spirit is to study and know His holy word, the Bible. Everything else you believe you hear must go through the filter of the written word of God. That is the only sure way to know we are hearing correctly.

The next step to hearing from God is to believe He speaks directly to His children and relax into it. When my earthly father was alive, I would ask him questions, then wait expectantly for an answer. I didn’t have to try hard to hear him or go through rituals to hear his voice. I just asked and waited in faith that he loved me and wanted to speak to me. How much more our Heavenly Father who loves us perfectly! Do you want to hear from Him? Just ask! You have not because you ask not. Don’t beg. That shows your faith is more in your performance rather than His goodness. Just ask, then wait in faith and joyful anticipation of

His answer. He wants to speak to you, but you must give Him space in which to speak. Come boldly, ask, then wait. We can’t listen while we are still speaking. He doesn’t shout over us, but He whispers into our silent waiting in faith.