INTRODUCTION
Every normal natural baby born into the world with a natural ability to hear the voice of the parents. Even though he cannot understand or differentiate between the meanings of words, yet possesses the physical apparatus (inner and outer ear) for collecting and interpreting sounds as words. All that the baby needs is to grow and learn and soon, the baby will not hear his parents well, the baby will also understand the peculiar meanings of his own parents manner of talking.
In the same way, those who are born of the Spirit are born with all it takes to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit. However, hearing God is an art that is dependent on growth and learning; learning comes from an increasing knowledge of the Word of God, while growth comes from personal practical experiences of God’s leadings. John 10:1-5,14,27; Psalms 112:4.
In this study, we will be trusting God to introduce us to the basic concepts of hearing from God, as well as the practical ways that God communicates with his people. It is our prayer that you will not only be exposed to God’s ways of leading His children but you will yourself begin to experience His voice in a greater dimension in Jesus Christ name. Amen.
QUALIFYING TO HEAR HIS VOICE
Even though God loves to talk to men, yet He always speaks with a purpose and speaks to people by choice. There are certain characteristics in the life of a man that either provokes God to speak to him or constrain Him into silence as far as his issues are concerned. To be qualify therefore to hear God on a regular and continuous basis, a man must:
a. BE BORN AGAIN: John 8:47, 10:4; John 3:3-8; Mark 4:11-13.
Goats talk to goats; birds communicate with birds. Even among birds, only those of same species can communicate effectively. To hear God, you must possess the same nature as God. You have been born of natural parents, so you hear and understand them when they speak. You must be converted and become an offspring of God before you can hear God speak to you, or else you will have to depend on others.
b. FORSAKE ALL SINS AND IDOLS: Ezek 14:3-4, 1Sam 28:6,15-18.Sins have an effect of separating us from God – Isaiah 59:1. God detests the disobedient and idolatrous as if they were witches and hence cannot relate with them. 1 Sam 15:22-23. Idols have an effect of diverting our worship and devotion from God. Anything that takes God’s place effectively takes over in directing our actions. If you must hear God speak to you on issues of your life, then you must maintain a godly lifestyle or else the only message you can ever hear from him is “repent”.
HEARING FROM GOD
c. MAINTAIN A CORRECT HEART:
God primarily speaks to the heart or spirit of the New Testament Christian; therefore, certain wrong heart dispositions will disturb our hearing God. A wrong heart limits what God can speak to us or even prevent Him from speaking at all. Psalms 95:7-8, Psalms 27:8, Jeremiah 29:13. Anxiety, worry and a clustered heart muddles God’s voice. Mark 4:18-19, 1 John 2:15-17; other issues and worldly passions in the heart can successfully drown God’s voice even when God has spoken. Will your heart allow you to hear God should He speak to you now? Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God – Matthew 5:8.
D. MAINTAIN AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
Every relationship thrives on intimacy. To understand a man’s deep thoughts, you must have been with him. The closer we are to God, the more we hear Him speak and the clearer we understand His dark speeches – Numbers 12:6-8, James 2:23, Gen 18:17, Exodus 33:11. A personal, private, functional and growing relationship is a definite requirement for hearing God speak. How close are you to God?
e. KEEP GROWING SPIRITUALLY.
As a child grows, he learns to understand more and more the words of the parents has always been speaking. So it is with God. To grow in hearing Him, we must keep growing in the things of God – 1Sam 3:1,7,19,21. Every child of God can hear God speak but definitely will not understand everything God speaks depending on his age, so you cannot remain a baby spiritually and hope to hear God accurately (1 Cor 3:1, 1 Cor 13:9-11).
f. MAINTAIN A HUMBLE DISPOSITION TO GOD’S WORD – ISAIAH 66:2.
No one likes talking to a proud man, not even God. Yet God can identify a proud heart from afar (Ps 138:6). God takes it upon Himself to speak to the humble at heart (Ps 25:9). Check the state of your heart and cry for His help today.
g. FREQUENTLY SEEK TO HEAR GOD SPEAK –
God is neither talkative not yet a babbler. He speaks to interested men who are ready to hear and obey; those that seek Him finds Him. Isaiah 50:4, Ps 27:4, Gen 25:22-23, Daniel 10:12, Prov 8:1,17.
