“My sheep hear My voice” (John. 10:27). God is still speaking; are we listening? Are we aware that He is speaking to us? Are we sure it is Him?

Many voices are speaking to us in our world today. Whether we hear them or not, what they are speaking about can activate trouble or blessing for us. But of all the voices around us speaking audibly, in digital form, or graphically, it is God’s voice we need to hear. He is always speaking truth and wisdom. His words release power for good that can transform our lives forever.

Back in 2009, the Lord told me, “Teach others how to be with Me and how to hear My voice. If they get to know Me, they will have all they need for this life and the next.”

So let’s begin with this word from Yeshua:

From John 10:2-5, 11, 27, “…he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. ³ To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴ And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. ⁵ Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”

¹¹ “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.

²⁷ “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”

For the next few weeks We will cover:

1. How to Position Yourself to Hear God’s Voice
2. How to Discern when You are Hearing God’s Voice
3. Dreams, Visions, and Journaling

While I’ve had many years of experience in hearing God’s voice, I am NOT an expert. God is the God of surprises and His ability to speak to us in a variety of ways is endless. My prayer is that these posts will encourage you. May they broaden your understanding of how God speaks and how much He wants to communicate with us. And may you see that He’s been speaking to you all along.

This first post will be an introduction to lay some groundwork.   Let’s begin by looking at some of the ways God spoke to people in the Bible:

Deuteronomy 4:10-13, 33 ‘Gather the people to Me, and I will let them hear My words, that they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.’… Did any people ever hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and live?

People who heard God speak:

Noah – Genesis 7, 8 & 9

Abram – Genesis 12:1-3, 7  Now the Lord had said to Abram:

“Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.
² I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.  ⁷ Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land…”

Genesis 13: 14-17  And the Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: “Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are—northward, southward, eastward, and westward; ¹⁵ for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever…

Genesis 15:1-5 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”

Genesis 20:3  Abimelech (a Gentile) — God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, “Indeed you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.”

Genesis 21:17-18  Hagar Then the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said to her, “What ails you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is. ¹⁸ Arise, lift up the lad and hold him with your hand, for I will make him a great nation.”

Genesis 28:12-22 Jacob – in a dream

¹³ And behold, the Lord stood above it and said: “I am the Lord God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants. ¹⁴ Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. ¹⁵ Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.”

¹⁶ Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.”

Exodus 3:2-22 –  the Angel of the Lord appears to Moses in a burning bush and conversation ensues.

Exodus 4 – Conversation between Moses and God

Some samples from the New Testament:

To a crowd – Matthew 3:17; Mark 1:11; Luke 3:22 – This is My beloved Son, in Him I am well pleased. –Voice out of heaven.

Zacharias – Luke 1:18-20 The angel Gabriel – to announce John’s birth

Mary – Luke 1:26-38 The angel Gabriel – to announce Christ’s birth

Joseph – Matthew 2:23 The Angel of the Lord – warning–flee to Egypt

Saul – Acts 9:3-7  God speaks to Saul on the road to Damascus

Paul – Acts 16:9 And a vision at night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”

A Summary of How God Spoke in the Bible:

In the Old Testament:

• God spoke audibly from heaven
• In a still small voice
• Dreams
• Visions
• Visitations – in the form of a man or the Angel of the LORD
• Angels
• Through a Donkey
• The Finger of God
• Out of a cloud or pillar of fire.
• Through prophets

In the New Testament, He spoke in many of the same ways but mostly from heaven or through angels, dreams, or visions.

How about today?

• Angels
• Audibly
• Scripture highlighted
• Inner voice
• Through songs
• Words preached
• Words prophesied
• Words are spoken off-hand by another
• Words heard on the radio
• Words heard in a movie
• Bumper stickers
• Holy Spirit lives IN us now and He is great at point out:
• Street signs
• License plates
• Logos on a delivery truck
• Just one word upon waking
• Numbers
• Fortune cooky messages — Not always from God, but sometimes they are.
• Coincidences–Or should we say, God-incidences?

Signs in nature:

• Lightning & thunder
• Wind
• Flashing light
• Animals or birds
• Butterflies
• Cloud formations
• Parables in living things

This is enough to show you some of the basics. There is much more information to come that will bless you.

Before we close today, here is a word God spoke to me years ago: I work in quiet hidden places away from the crowds and noise.  My ways are just and true.  My ways are found in hiddenness and rest, in waiting and trusting. I’m not a god that shouts but one who whispers My love and gently, meticulously molds your being for My glory.

Some are waiting for trumpet sounds and the roar of a lion.  I am whispering to those with ears to hear.  The stillness is where you will find Me In the quiet, before dawn, I wait for you. Trumpets are for the masses, but whispers are for My Bride.

Come while the dew still clings to the grasses and morning stars watch overhead.  The first bird tweets and a breath of the breeze will welcome your presence.  Sit and wait and listen.

In our world of superstar athletes, musicians, preachers, and politicians who push to be seen and to be known with billboards, internet ads, podcasts, live interviews, baited invitations, God comes in other ways. He whispers in the darkness birthing the light of hope, comfort, correction. direction, encouragement, peace, and love. He loves us and is always available for conversation.

Enter into your secret place and spend time with Him this week. Next week we will talk more about being with Him and hearing Him out of His Word.

Shalom ♥