Hearing God’s Voice

4 week Course

Objectives:

Week 1.) Knowing Him and Hearing His Voice

Week 2.) How to hear the right voice.

Week 3.) Testing Your Words - Accountability

Week 4.) Practice Run: Sharing What We Are Hearing from God

Week #1 - Knowing & Hearing The Voice of God

On Sunday, Zach preached last Sunday using John 10: 1-27, a passage where Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees, which highlighted, among other things, hearing the voice of God:

The Lexham English Bible (John 10: 1-5)

John 10: 1-2 “Truly, truly I say to you, the one who does not enter through the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up at some other place—that one is a thief and a robber. But the one who enters through the door is the shepherd of the sheep. For this one the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear (akouo- G191) his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

Definition of “Hear”

The word for “hear” is the word akouo meaning to hear with ear of the mind; to hear effectually or so as to perform or grant what is spoken (cf John 9:31 “We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him.”, John 11:41 “So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.” and to obey (cf John 8:47 “Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God”; 1 John 4:8 “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

Definition of “Know”

John 10:5 “Whenever he sends out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him because they know (oido) his voice. And they will never follow a stranger, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.”

Those who were truly His sheep - in covenant relationship with God - know him - so much so that they are only familiar with His voice and not of strangers. In the Old Testament, Israel “heard God’s voice” when they obeyed the “law and his message through his prophets”.”

The word for “know’ is G1492, oido: to perceive with the outward senses, particularly with physical sight; perceive with the mind, understand; to experience, such as death, corruption, grief; be acquainted with as a person; esteem, regard, acknowledge, own; to know how implying both knowledge and inclination; consider; converse with; to perceive, know intuitively.

English Standard Version (John 10:14-16)

14 I am the good shepherd. I know (ginosko)my own and my own know me. 15 just as the Father (ginoskso) knows me and I (ginosko) know the Father;

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Jn 10:15.

The Greek word for “know” here is ginosko (Gr 1097): to know experientially as contrasted to oido (to know intuitively); to know; to perceive; to know be acquainted with a person; to know, be conscious of; discern, distinguish; approve, acknowledge with approbation (approval or praise); to think, be aware of; thinking, reflecting upon, being mindful of (Romans 6:6 “We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.” and 2 Peter 1:20 “knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation.”

The Old Testament often described Israel’s covenant relationship with God as “knowing” Him, which meant having an intimate and obedient relationship with Him (cf Jeremiah 31:34 “And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”” and Hosea 6:6 “For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.” (Keener, Craig S, “The IVP Bible Background Commentary” Second Edition, 2014.

15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.

16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. The root of true unity is therefore when each of us who are in His sheepfold [who are saved] knows God and knows His voice and obeys His voice. In addition, it is our mission to bring others who are not of our fold into the fold so that they too can listen to His voice; so that there will be ONE FLOCK, ONE SHEPHERD (Unity).

English Standard Version (Chapter 10:27)

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28

Question: How many of you hear the voice of God? How does He speak to you?

It’s important for us to know the voice of God. Here’s the reason why:

English Standard Version (Chapter 14)

Prophecy and Tongues

14 Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. 2 For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. 3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. 4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. 5 Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.

6 Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? 7 If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? 8 And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? 9 So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air. 10 There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, 11 but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. 12 So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 1 Co 14:1–25.

Several points are noted in this passage.