Discerning the Voice of God

And when the blast of the trumpet sounded long and became louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by VOICE. - Exodus 19:19

"God spoke" - direct mentions in the Bible

We see several instances in the Bible where God spoke to people by His Voice, some of them are:

• Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” And there he built an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him. - Genesis 12: 7

• Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your family, and I will be with you.” - Genesis 31: 3

• And God spoke to Moses and said to him: “I am the Lord. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name Lord I was not known to them. - Exodus 6:2,3

• So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. - Exodus 33:11

• Now the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” - 1 Samuel 3: 10

God spoke to Moses 'multiple' times indicating that a person may continue to have direct encounters of God several times in their lifetime if he/she continues to maintain relationship with God - (Exodus 33:11 So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.)

God spoke through ---- prophets, apostles, servants of God

God revealed His heart, nature, thoughts, plans, purposes, prophecies, warnings, judgement, mercy, etc., through various servants of God throughout the Bible and He continues to do so even today.

Amos 3:7 Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.

"Thus says the Lord..." - quoted in the Bible, hundreds of times through Prophets and servants of God where they addressed to people whatever Lord was revealing to them either in visions, dreams or through audible voice. The context of those references are not limited but spread across various purpose of revelations - Declarations, Warnings, Call for repentance, Call for restoration, Call for reconciliation, Instruction to children of God, Outlines for building Temple, etc.

Below are few verses which you may meditate upon to understand the heart of God behind using the Anointed vessels, though He could directly speak to those people. God has His own ways of manifesting His glory to His people, it's His decision and there's always a reason behind why God does what He does, though people may not comprehend it fully, they're to trust in His Word whether or not they're scholars.

• Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

• Hebrews 1:1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets

• 1 Corinthians 12: 28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.

• 2 Kings 14:25 He restored the territory of Israel from the entrance of Hamath to the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word of the Lord God of Israel, which He had spoken through His servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet who was from Gath Hepher.

• Ezra 1:1 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom

• Luke 10:16 Jesus said, "He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.”

God sent His messengers / Angels ---

Continuing on the "God spoke" references from the Bible, God not only uses men but also angels to minister to His people. Few of such rare instances are gathered below:

• Hagar in the wilderness - Genesis 16:9-12 The Angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hand.”

• Samson's birth announced - Judges 13: 3 And the Angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Indeed now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and bear a son.

• Zechariah, announcement of birth of John the Baptist - Luke 1:19 And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings.

• Announcement of birth of Jesus to Mary - Luke 1:30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

• Joseph was warned - Matthew 2: 13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.”

• Peter rescued from prison - Acts 12:8 Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.”

• New Testament approving the ministry of angels - Hebrews 2:2-3 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him

God showed

For the sake of faith of the believers God shows Himself through His Spirit in the end times as well. This gives us hope that the miracles and manifestations of the power of God are not limited to Old Testament times before Jesus was born, it is evident even today through the Anointed servants of God. There is no limitation of "time" for God to show His power to His children, we're not in a time where God is absent or silent. Jesus already promised the ministry of Holy Spirit to us when He walked on the face of earth.

Acts 2: 17 ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams.

God manifested

God speaks to people not only through His audible voice but He manifests His glory and power. This proves to us that signs and wonders are not a myth, God reveals Himself in various ways. So encounters of God are not limited to a "feeling" but also in physical manifestations of nature of God.

• Exodus 3:4 When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.”

• Exodus 19:9 And the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I come to you in the thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and believe you forever." So Moses told the words of the people to the Lord.

• Exodus 19: 18,19 Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the Lord descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain trembled violently. As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him.

• Job 40:6 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said...

God answered

We see several instances in the Bible where God answered to people's questions, cries, requests, worship, prayers. This gives us hope that God loves conversations, He's so eager to speak to His children. Our God loves to have relationship with us based on communication and mutual trust, rather than the "dictatorship" version of false gods.

• Job 40:6 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said...

• Exodus 19:19 As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him.

• 1 Chronicles 14:14 ...so David inquired of God again, and God answered him, “Do not go directly after them, but circle around them and attack them in front of the poplar trees.

God responded in action

God's ways of responding are not just in voice, but also in action. We worship the God who acts instead of the blind, false divinity created by man.

Psalm 115:4-8 Their idols are silver and gold, The work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they do not speak; Eyes they have, but they do not see; They have ears, but they do not hear; Noses they have, but they do not smell; They have hands, but they do not handle; Feet they have, but they do not walk; Nor do they mutter through their throat. Those who make them are like them; So is everyone who trusts in them. 

When Moses was leading the people of Israel in the wilderness, the Israelites complained about God's provision constantly instead of being grateful to God, even after seeing His goodness and faithful during the long journey. They stirred up the anger of the Lord and God's wrath fell upon the rebellious people who praised gods of Egypt and desired slave land more than the promises and provisions of the true Living God who brought them out of Egypt from the cruel Pharoah, remembering the covenant given to their forefather Abraham. And God acted.

[ Exodus 16: 11-13 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “I have heard the complaints of the children of Israel. Speak to them, saying, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. And you shall know that I am the Lord your God.’ ” So it was that quail came up at evening and covered the camp, and in the morning the dew lay all around the camp. ]

Paul's encounter - Acts 9

Paul on his travel to Damascus had an encounter of Jesus's light and he heard Jesus voice which his fellow travellers did not listen, ( v6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” ) Now God was preparing His anointed servant Ananias and clarified to him the repentance and salvation of Paul to avoid fear and confusion. (v13 Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. v15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. v16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” ) Then Ananias obeyed the Lord and did what God instructed him to do. He received Paul and imparted the anointing of the Holy Spirit to him, leading to Paul's restoration of vision (v18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.)

"It is written"

The Eternal Word - John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

• Deuteronomy 29:27 Then the anger of the Lord was aroused against this land, to bring on it every curse that is written in this book.

• 1 Kings 2:3 And keep the charge of the Lord your God: to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn;

• John 6: 45 It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.

• Acts 23:5 Paul repents as he remembers God's word (Then Paul said, “I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’ ”)

Positioning yourself before God to hear from Him

1. Repent of sins, receive Salvation through Christ

   Isaiah 59: 1,2 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.

   1 John 3:6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.

2. Crucify your flesh - its desires, thoughts, mindset

   Galatians 5:24-25 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

   Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

   Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

   Matthew 5: 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

3. Surrender fully to God

   Job 22:21-22 “Now acquaint[surrender] yourself with Him, and be at peace; Thereby good will come to you. Receive, please, instruction from His mouth, and lay up His words in your heart.

4. Walk in obedience to God according to scriptures

   Deuteronomy 5:33 You shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess.

5. Meditate God's Word more to know the heart of God

   Psalm 119: 11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.

6. Know the law of God and live accountably

   Psalm 119: 166-168 I long for your rescue, Lord, so I have obeyed your commands. I have obeyed your laws, for I love them very much.Yes, I obey your commandments and laws because you know everything I do.

By doing above steps you're already listening to God by obeying to chose God above yourself, this is first will of God over your life that you become His disciple, and above are characteristics of a disciple of God

A practical way to receive revelation from God:

John 4: 23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.

Praying in the Spirit is the main key to hear from God instead of uttering pointless statements and list of prayer points without carrying the desire to seek God's wisdom, guidance and His will over your life which is above your own selfish desires and having more focus on materialistic blessings rather than seeking spiritual gifts. You're communicating to God directly whenever you allow the HolySpirit to take control over your mind and prayer as it is written in Romans 8: 26-27 "Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God." Clean your mind & stop thinking while you start your prayer. Meditate on His name, praise attributes of God, take help of scripture to do so. Be Kingdom minded and ask the Lord to speak to you. Then wait patiently until you start recognising the voice of the HolySpirit in your day to day life. John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

DONT'S

---> Don't copy others and do not take the scriptures out of context and challenge God to do what He has done in the Bible times. Deuteronomy 6:16 You must not test the Lord your God as you did when you complained at Massah.

---> Don't only expect supernatural ways of encountering God, and ignore the small still voice of the HolySpirit. 1 Kings 19:12 And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper.

---> Don't imagine or expect God's words in your mind before asking Him to speak to you. This way you're not fully opening up yourself to God but expecting God to fit in your box. It is also harmful if you already have a perception of God's will over your life without initially enquiring of the Lord, even when the Lord reveals His Will, you may not be able to receive it since it is not something you expected.

---> Don't prepare a conversation in your head before praying, God may be wanting to address a different issue when you're asking confirmation about purchasing a car or asking God for your birthday present, don't decide the topic of prayer by yourself all the time. Allow the Lord to fully take over your life rather than only approaching Him for confirmations on big decisions.

---> Don't depend on HolySpirit voice alone. Always check with scriptures for confirmation.

God's Voice is NOT

----> God's voice does not promote sin - James 1:13 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and He never tempts anyone else.

----> God's voice is not against His nature/character

----> God's voice does not contradict scripture

----> God's voice does not cause confusion - 1 Corinthians 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

----> God's voice is never changing

----> God's voice is not always audible voice

----> God's voice is not always comforting

----> God's voice does not destroy a person

----> God's voice is not condemning, is not without love

----> God's voice doesn't align with human fleshly desires

INTIMACY WITH GOD

John 10:27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

• Desire God everyday of your life

  • Psalm 27:8 When You said, “Seek My face,” My heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.”

• Desire Him more than anyone or anything

• Always love to be in HIs presence

• Talk to Him all the time

• Seek to hear His voice always

• Make sacrifices to be in His presence alone

  • Psalm 84:10 For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.

• Intimacy with God cannot grow in your pride and rebellion

Intimacy with God is NOT a public spectacle

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