Hearing God’s Voice God speaks in the Bible God speaks today What is prophetic ministry? God speaks to the boy Samuel Methods of revelation

Hearing God’s Voice A vision of spiritual warfare Hearing a baby cry God’s voice in a splash of water Examples

Methods of revelation Impression A “gut feeling” “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.” Acts 20:22 “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us” Acts 15:28

Internal thoughts Possibly the closest to our own thoughts, so how can we tell the difference? Methods of revelation “If it’s really silly, it’s probably God”

Internal thoughts “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the L ORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 Methods of revelation

Pictures “How do you know me?’ Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, ‘I saw you while you were still under the fig-tree before Philip called you.” John 1:48 Methods of revelation

Pictures But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” Acts 7:55-56 Methods of revelation

Visions Daniel said: ‘In my vision at night I looked, and there before me were the four winds of heaven churning up the great sea. Four great beasts, each different from the others, came up out of the sea. Daniel 7:2-3 Methods of revelation

Trance Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. Acts 10:9-11 Methods of revelation

Dreams For God does speak – now one way, now another. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they slumber in their beds, he may speak in their ears... to turn them from wrongdoing and keep them from pride. Job 33:14-18 Methods of revelation

Dreams But after [Joseph] had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.’ Matthew 1:20 Methods of revelation

Angelic revelation The L ORD appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. Genesis 18:1-2 Methods of revelation

Angelic revelation Then one of them said, ‘I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.’ Genesis 18:10 Methods of revelation

Angelic revelation In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, ‘Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you.’ Methods of revelation

Angelic revelation Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favour with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.’ Luke 1:26-31 Methods of revelation

Audible voice [Saul] fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’ Acts 9:4 Methods of revelation

Scriptures I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the L ORD given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years. So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting... Daniel 9:2-3 Methods of revelation

Other people But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. 1 Corinthians 14:3 Methods of revelation

Other people Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon... and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. Methods of revelation

Other people Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon... and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. Methods of revelation

Other people Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: ‘This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.’ Luke 2:25-35 Methods of revelation

Hearing God’s Voice