As I have endeavored to share the things I’ve discovered along my spiritual journey, perhaps nothing has stirred up more resistance than the use of phrases like, “I feel like God told me” or “I feel like God said”. It seems as though the concept of direct communication from God tends to make people uncomfortable; even Christian people. To some extent, I understand their concern. When I first became serious about a life of faith, I began to hear people using this kind of terminology and I remember thinking, “You hear God speak?” Though I’d grown up with the idea of praying, I’d not run into many people who claimed to have heard something back. My initial reaction to such people included a healthy dose of cynicism; but as I began to read the scripture, I was confronted about my unbelief. Despite the fact that I’d heard some doctrinal teaching that seemed to want to make a case that God doesn’t communicate directly anymore, I found the written evidence in the Bible compelling in its case that He does. This was a difficult conclusion to draw, since as far as I knew, I’d never experienced it myself. Once I resolved that God does in fact “speak” directly to His children, I began to pray that I would hear from Him. Though it took some time, I slowly became aware that God was in fact communicating with me and came to the realization that He had been for quite some time. I guess I expected a booming voice from heaven, not a still small voice from within. It was confusing because His voice filtered through my spirit sounded an awful lot like a thought in my head. I guess it shouldn’t have been all that surprising since that’s how the voice of the enemy works. Its taken years, but I’ve learned (and am still learning) to differentiate between His voice, my voice and the voice of the enemy. Since they’re all filtered through my soul, they all sound like me, but I’ve come to understand that His voice is very distinct in how things are expressed; there is a perfection and a resonance that my own thoughts and expressions lack. His voice always substantiates the things He’s said in His word and they always move me closer to Him.
There are those who would rightfully point out the danger in this. I remember some years ago, hearing an internationally known Pastor say that he wasn’t comfortable with “God said this” or “God told me that”. He shared stories of the outrageous things that people had claimed to have heard from God. His conclusion was that the whole idea that we’d act based on something we thought God told us was too dangerous and that we just needed to make our decisions based on scripture. While I certainly wouldn’t argue the application of scripture, I found myself somewhat appalled by the idea that we’d ignore the voice of God. One need only watch the nightly news to hear stories of people who claim that God told them to shoot an abortion doctor or to drown their children; but are we to live our lives in fear of this, or by what the word of God says. Jesus said that His sheep know “His voice”, that they listen to that voice and that they follow it. He says that “He who belongs to God, hears what God says”. He goes on to say that, “The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God”. These are pretty strong statements, but they’re right there in the Gospel. Sure there is a danger that we may wrongly discern what God is saying, but it is no greater than the danger that we will wrongly interpret His written word. There are whole main-line denominations making a mockery of His written word and yet we’re not tempted to discount personal Bible reading in response to that problem. While I have no trouble in acknowledging the danger of misinterpretation or manipulation of Gods words, I would submit that there is even greater peril if we don’t hear His voice. In the book of Revelation, we see God confront the end time churches, as He repeatedly says, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches”. In one of his letters to Timothy, Paul warns that in the end times people will have a form of godliness, but that they will deny the true power of God. It would seem in these perilous times, we need to hear His tangible voice more than ever.
It is amazing to ponder what happens when God does speak. In Genesis we see Him speak the world and mankind into existence. When the Father sent His Son, He said that He was the embodiment of the “Word” of God. While on earth we see Jesus speak healing to the sick, peace to the raging storm and life into His dead friend. When Jesus left this earth, He promised that the Holy Spirit would be our Comforter, our Counselor and teach us all things. When we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us through the scripture, it once again becomes the “Living Word” of God. It seems that across time God has continually endeavored to communicate with His people and He never changes. He says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in…”. John the Baptist used a parable of a bride and a bridegroom; he said that the friend of the bridegroom listens for Him and is filled with joy at the sound of His voice. If we are the Bride, then how much more joy should there be for us at the sound of His voice. Let us remember that, “Today if you hear His voice, harden not your hearts”.
Bjcorbin's Blog 
Hey Bryan, I might be somewhat on the other side of the spectrum on this one from you. I agree totally, that hearing God’s voice is the normal privilege of any child of His. Hearing God is spiritually normative. I also understand that trial and error, making mistakes, that is “learning” His voice, are all part of the growth process. I also understand that the remedy for abuse is not disuse, but correct use.
However, my experience has been almost universally negative within the “charismatic” apostolic/prophetic church on this issue, and gets more negative by the day.
It has reached a point of mania and mental disorder. God gets identified for any notion that pops into someone’s head. It is subjectivity gone to seed under the banner of “God told me.” The lack of solid biblical understanding and a seeming inability or unwillingness to exercise any discernment at all, has loosed a host of deluding spirits into the church (and I am not prone to hyperbole) not the least of which is unrestrained, neo-Gnosticism in beliefs and practices. If you get to Charlotte, I have some stories to tell you. Heart-breaking, saddening, gut wrenching, and sobering . . .
To me, the trick is to help folks understand that the voice of God is not equivalent with our conscience or own soul, and that the Word of the Cross, administered by the Holy Spirit, is the frequency of the voice of God.
Indeed, his sheep hear his voice and the frequency of the voice is Calvary. That’s where we need to dial in our tuners.
Our slightly difference perspective might be related to differences in “fields of endeavor” and calling. I seemed to be constantly injected into “spiritual climates” that are aberrant, or badly in need of a Christ -centered realignment, so that I am exposed over and over again to things that are crooked. I can understand that if someone has been in a dry/arid atmosphere of virtual worship of the Bible, that emphasizing hearing God would be very necessary.
I certainly don’t go looking for this (one would have to be crazy to want to do this!), and understand I am not God’s little sheriff, yet I just have to admit to a 36 year reality. That is the way it has been . . . for me.
Dear Steve – As always, you bring a host of experience and sanity to the conversation. I don’t doubt for a second that it has been as bad as you’ve described; in my limited experience I’ve already become saddened and sickened by the things I’ve seen. I guess I wasn’t really thinking of it from the corporate perspective as much as from the personal one. Sensing His presence and recognizing His voice have been absolutely life giving to me and I couldn’t imagine a day without that. When I’ve heard people teach that those things are no longer attainable, it makes me crazy. Is it even possible to have a personal relationship if there isn’t some sort of two way communication? All the things you’ve mentioned make a mockery of the notion and yet God still speaks. For all of our sakes, I pray that we would hear Him. God bless you my wise friend.
Hi Bryan!
SO glad to read this message today as I took “Labor Day” off literally. I had one thing I needed to do was call someone back because I promised o do that last week. However, that still small voice called me into a “noise fast” for the day. The small voice said, “don’t break the silence” I “knew” this to be a sweet invitation to bask in the Lord’s presence today, ignoring the phone, not speaking out loud, even to our dog. My husband was working so this was a great opportunity to climb into Papp’s lap and commune with Him.
I would not give up the intense healing and understanding that comes from times like these. I am a preacher and teacher and know that the thought of not speaking for 8 hours was not my own, nor was the devil inviting me to commune with My God, but the loving voice of my Beloved lover of my soul calling me to rest.