Methods and means by which God speaks- Posted on Thursday, March 19, 2009
God wants to speak to you through your renewed spirit. It is in His nature to want to communicate His plans and purpose to you.
Now you will study the means through which God reveals himself to His people and how He communicates with you. There are three ways through which we perceive Him:
· Hearing
Hearing implies to hear spiritually, not physically. Your spirit has a spiritual ear just as your body has a physical ear. Listening with your spiritual ears is one way God speaks to you.
“13So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’" 1 Kings 19.13
· Seeing
Seeing in the spirit means that the Lord is allowing you to see into the spiritual realm. When this happens, you are able to see mental images, visions and dreams.
“47Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, ‘Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!’ 48Nathanael said to Him, ‘How do You know me?’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you’." John 1.47, 48
· Feeling
Feeling is a perception, an intuition of the Holy Spirit within you; it is not knowledge having to do with the physical or carnal senses, but a testimony, an impression within your spirit.
“23…except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. 24But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 20.23, 24
Believers should familiarize themselves with the way God speaks to them. As for me, God usually speaks to me through impressions and sight, but God speaks to believers in different ways.
How can you be sure it is His voice you hear?
It is impossible to recognize a counterfeit one hundred-dollar bill if you have never seen the real thing. The counterfeit bill can only be detected if you are familiar with the real thing. This same principle can be applied when you know God’s voice. It is easy to identify the voice of the enemy because you are familiar with the voice of God.
“3To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." John 10.3‑5