Sunday Morning, February 21, 2010,

This morning Sis Debbie brought a lesson on Knowing God’s voice, something every Christian wants to learn.  John chapter 10 says “My sheep hear my voice, and they follow me”, but is this something we automatically know when becoming Christians, or is it an acquired skill?

Starting off in the natural sense, we discussed how a person comes to know or recognize another person’s voice by having some association between the voice and the name.  Usually we come to know someone’s voice by having spent time with them, as opposed to hearing a stranger over the telephone and having no face to place with the voice.  A similar concept applies to God.  We come to recognize his voice over time, by spending time with him.  With his voice comes assurance that we are hearing from him.  His wisdom is “peaceable, gentle, and easily entreated”.  He speaks to us both directly and indirectly.  Generally, it is not an audible voice that He uses, but a gently “knowing” inside of us to lead us down the right path.  He uses four methods to get His will across to us.  First of all, He speaks through His Word.  Any voice that contradicts the Bible is not the voice of God.  Several other indirect methods we can rely on are the tone of the voice talking to us, circumstances, and common sense.  God’s voice brings encouragement to us.  He never depresses us or makes us feel burdened.  If, by obeying the voice, you feel weighted down, you can rest assured it was not God.  The Bible says to try the Spirits and see what the “fruit” of following the voice brings.  If the fruit is not “joy, peace,…gentleness, etc” it is not from God.   Next, God uses circumstances to show us His will.  He will either close doors or open them as we walk through life, if we stay committed to His will.  Finally, when all the rest is silent, He allows us to use our common sense.