Waiting on God...Hearing His Spirit

Do you remember when mom called? I can’t put my finger on it, but when my mom said, “Ronald Keith Rice Jr…,” I knew I was in trouble and I’d better get there in a quick hurry. My mother’s voice is familiar because I’ve heard ever since birth and even before. Even today, she can call me on the phone and I know whose talking. A newborn can be soothed by its mother’s voice even right after the birth. That’s something God has built within each one of us. Somehow our mind can relate an idea with a sound. You’ve probably heard of Pavlov’s dog. He heard the bell and he started salivating. God has placed this same connection within us. We can hear familiar sounds and memories flash through our minds.

Jesus said, “John 10:27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” The first step to hearing the voice of the Spirit is to be a child of God (or to follow Christ’s analogy, a lamb of His fold). Notice Jesus said, “MY sheep…” I’ve heard many today say, “It just feels right.” Or “I just know its right.” At least half the time I’m privy to background information, I find they’re in direct opposition to God’s written Word. They may not even be born again. A trip to the altar or walking the isle doesn’t make your born again. You might have confessed your sins, but is Jesus Lord of your life? Have you made Him, Lord and Master of your destiny? Being born again is more than just forgiveness of sin; it is making Jesus Christ the Lord. Another reason people miss it might be a lack of the knowledge of God because they don’t know God’s Word. And don’t expect to understand the Bible if your not born again. The natural man cannot understand the things of the Spirit (I Corinthians 2:14). Consequently, you can’t hear the voice of the Spirit if your not one of Christ’s. “You must be born again.” (John 3:3)
When God does speak to us, He does it through our spirit man. Our flesh receives sensory information and feeds it to the soul. In contrast, God gives information, but it doesn’t come through our flesh. It’s backwards – He speaks to the spirit. Then if we’re listening, it passes to our soul (mind and heart). So, to understand how to hear His Spirit, we must listen to our spirit man. Can I trust my spirit man, pastor? Oh, yeah! Your spirit man has been born of God and God has given you His Holy Spirit (I John 4:13). I Corinthians 2:16 says, “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ.” What is Paul saying? We already possess the mind of Christ. Do you? Yes. How? By God’s Spirit having birthed Himself in your spirit making us born again. It’s scientifically unexplainable, but it is real. Let me say and be very careful to hear what I mean, I’m not talking about the practices of eastern religions of meditation and emptying your mind. When you empty your mind, it is liable to be filled with all kind of garbage from the flesh or the devil (Matthew 12:43-45). Many have gone down the wrong path because they listen to that “inner voice” and it wasn’t the voice of God.

God wants to speak to us more than we want to hear what He has to say. But too many times there are barriers that are in the way that keep us from hearing Him. So to hear the voice of the Spirit, you’ve got to remove the barriers. What are these barriers? They are things that we put in between God and us. They may be misplaced priorities. They may be material possessions. They may be relationships (good or bad). We must continually guard our relationship with God to make sure we are not allowing barriers to be erected that will hinder our relationship with God. Let me illustrate it this way. God is light and there is no darkness at all in Him first John chapter one tells us. When we erect a barrier or allow a barrier to come between us and God, it casts a shadow on us and we walk in darkness. Our own heart is liable to fall into self-deception thinking we’re in the light but we’re really in darkness. This deception takes place in the mind and all communication to our spirit is blocked. If those barriers exist, ask God to help you remove them and then get rid of the ones you are physically capable of removing. Read and digest 2 Timothy 2:3-7 and see if it doesn’t apply.

The wonderful thing about my parents is that I knew what they wanted me to do. I know this because they told me. Often times I didn’t do it, but that’s another story. Knowing what God wants me to do is another way we can hear His Spirit. To hear the voice of the Spirit, you must know His Word which is God’s divine will. He will never deviate from His Word. He won’t tell you something that is contrary from His Word. Notice Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit…” God’s Word divides the soul and spirit. The Christian doesn’t have to live life on “feelings” or waiting on some prophecy. You can know the voice of the Spirit because He will always lead and guide according to His Word. Do you know His Word, Christian? Do you go to His Word first before seeking external guidance? First, ask for God to speak to you and then get out His Word. His Word is the roadmap and manual to the Christian life.

In conclusion, Jesus’ statement about His sheep hearing His voice also gives us a clue about hearing the voice of the Spirit. The reason I knew my mother’s voice is because I had heard it so much. The reason we hear the Spirit’s voice is because we are consistently listening and obeying it. So to hear the voice of the Spirit, you must be in the habit of listening and obeying what He speaks to your spirit. Now be careful, I don’t know if anyone could ever be “habitual” about listening to the spirit. But I do know that I have to strive and be intentional about it. This battle with the sensory life (soul and body) is a constant battle that will only be overcome when we are released from it through death or rapture. But don’t be discourage, God has given us the power through His Spirit to be pleasing to Him (Romans 8). When I make it a habit to continually listen and obey, I will become more sensitive to even the gentleness of His voice.

Next week, I’ll be talking about Waiting on God…In Brokenness. God Bless you as you Wait on God, Christian.