Some people believe that God only speaks to a special few. But the Bible reveals that God spoke to saint and sinner alike.
God is always speaking. Are we able to hear?
God wants us to recognize His voice so we can hear what God is saying to us and to the Church. God speaks to us because God loves us.
This series will lead you into understanding how God speaks to us today.
God is a communicator
Communication is a primary part of God’s nature. Jesus is the “exact representation” of the Father (Heb. 1:3), and He is called “the Word of God” (see John 1:1; Rev. 19:13).
“The Mighty One, God, the LORD, speaks…” (Ps. 50:1 NIV).
Sin has damaged our ability to hear
God originally intended to have a personal relationship marked by intimacy and fellowship with everyone born on this planet. This relationship was broken by sin.
7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves.
8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden.
9 But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?”
10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”
–Genesis 3:7–10 NIV
Although open communication with God has been damaged by sin, God still wants to communicate. God sent His only Son, the Word, because He loves us and wants to restore that fellowship so we will not be afraid to converse with Him.
7 for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if you hear his voice,
8 do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah…
–Psalm 95:7–8 NIV
Even Old Testament believers could hear His voice.
God is a shepherd, and His people are the flock under His loving care. To shepherd us, He will speak to us as a flock as well as individually.
Hearing God requires a proper heart attitude
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”
–John 10:27 NIV
Jesus is the Good Shepherd. This verse is the New Testament counterpart to the Psalm 95 passage. Goats are stubborn and don’t listen, but sheep listen for His voice, recognize it, and follow His leading.
Hebrews 4:7 says: “…‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts’ ” (NIV). Hearing God’s voice is still for today, and it’s still conditional.
If our hearts are right toward God, we will be able to receive His direction. But if we harden our hearts, we won’t be able to hear God.
Having a receptive heart attitude is necessary to hear God’s voice and move in the gifts of the Spirit.
Next issue, we’ll learn why God communicates with us. Stay tuned.
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Lee Allen Howard 
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