The coming of the Lord is closer than we realized. All these happenings on earth today are really a wake-up call for the church. What is happening now is just a wake-up call to believers—to repent, to live the Christian life with holiness, to live a holy, faithful life to the Lord with intense love for Him. It is time we also learn to hear the voice of the Lord for our lives and for people who have not yet come to Christ.
1) Live a Life of Praise
John 10:27 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”
Praise removes our earplugs. Praise takes away the distractions all around us. We are not to know the voice of the enemy; we are to know the voice of the Lord. When I hear Christians say, “You know, the devil says this, and then also that,” it gets me thinking, “Wait a minute, we’re to hear the Lord’s voice, not the devil’s voice, and not the world’s voice.”
A lot of people are not able to hear the Lord’s voice because they are so wrapped up in the world and so wrapped up in the things of this life. Instead of praising God, they spend all their lives complaining and pursuing many worthless desires.
Isaiah 55:3 “Incline your ear, and come unto Me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.”
God commands us to hear His voice. When we do not hear His voice, we sin.
2) Exercise your spiritual senses through meditation, mental purity, sound doctrine etc.
Many Christians are dull of hearing because they have not exercised their hearing. People who have not become accustomed to the voice of the Lord — how will they hear it?
Hebrews 5:14 “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
So, to hear the voice of God, you and I need to train our senses. God is looking for a spiritual ear, and you can give Him that through a life of continuous praise.
2) Withdraw from All Worldly Distractions
Isaiah 30:15 “For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.”
Isaiah 30:21 “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.”
You cannot hear the voice of God if you are distracted by things outside. You cannot hear the voice of God if you are full of worries, problems, or if you are listening to other voices.
You cannot hear the voice of God if you speak to someone before you talk to God. For example, if you are on the phone with someone in your office first, and then you talk to God, God will never speak to you.
The first voice God wants us to hear is His voice, not someone else’s. That means when you wake up in the morning, shower, lock yourself somewhere, and let God talk to you. But if you speak to a human being first, whoever they are, God will say, “Okay, you put someone ahead of Me, so I won’t speak to you.” Whoever you speak to first could distract you from hearing the voice of God.
The first voice that you must hear daily is the voice of God. That’s why the Lord Jesus would wake up early in the morning and go to a mountain before anyone was awake so He could hear the voice of His Father.
Once you are with God and hear His voice, go and do the things you need to do in life — with your job, your family, and your friends. I would advise you to get up when everyone else is sleeping and be alone with the Lord so He can talk to you. That’s why the Lord Jesus said, “Shut the door. Enter your closet and shut the door.” Let nothing distract you. Shut the cell phone. Make sure you shut everything so the enemy cannot come through.
Read more on “Hearing the Voice of God”
3) Let God Hear Your Voice
Luke 3:21-22 “When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heavens were opened. And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, ‘You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.’”
Let God hear your voice, and you will hear His. In verse 21, Jesus prayed, and in verse 22, God spoke to Him.
Christians should not just throw words into the air when they come into the place of prayer. They have to pray with faith, with love, and with humility. God cannot hear the voice of a man who prays in the flesh. You can pray loudly or quietly, but those positions do not matter to God. What matters is the posture of a man’s heart.
The fact that your voice is shouting does not mean God hears you. Someone could be silent, but his voice in the spirit is louder. Silence does not mean brokenness. Tears do not move God. Sometimes, Christians want to blackmail God with emotions, saying, “God, hear me so that my enemies will know You are God.” Enemies or no enemies, He is still God. You cannot live your life any which way, and when problems arise, you begin to cajole God to prove Himself. God does not have to prove himself to be God. It is the humility, the purity, and the loving kindness of your heart that speak louder to God.
4) Seek the Will of God
John 5:30 “I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.”
God speaks to those who seek His will, not their own will.
It is possible to come to God’s presence with our own answers and suggestions. For example, instead of praying for a life partner, you pray for God to help you marry one brother or sister you saw in the choir. That is not the way God wants us to pray.
Most people believe God can do it, but they do not believe He will. And so, they have a backup plan if God does not show up. They seek the will of God with their little “will” stuck in their pockets. Be all in with God or be all out. Do not be halfway in and halfway out.
5) Fear the Words of the Lord
Isaiah 66:5 “Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.”
God speaks to those who tremble at His word. He speaks to those who have a broken heart. God will not speak to people who are proud and arrogant.
Wherever we use His word or name, we must use it in a way that inspires and not in a way that demeans. Whether in comedy or TV shows, the use of His word should not be for people to laugh, but must follow a biblical way of inspiring and uplifting the lives of believers and calling sinners to repentance. In our walk with God, we should develop an indignation for those things that despise and use the name and word of God carelessly, as seen in this age on social media, where people use His word and name for ill purposes and laughter.
I pray that God will bring you into a place where His voice will be so clear every day you live that not one day will pass without you hearing the sweet voice of Jesus.
Inspired by Benny Hinn Sermon
Read more on “Hearing the Voice of God”
