HOW TO HEAR (RECOGNIZE) GOD'S VOICE.

Hearing God's Voice-Pursuing intimacy with God

In life, there are many voices. Voices from memories, environments, friends, and the last communications we had. All of these voices are coming to us. Even the voice of your own mind. But amidst all of these voices. You've got the voice of God. The question is, how do you recognize the voice of God?

God is a spirit, and He talks to our spirit, not our flesh. Therefore, you can only hear God's voice with your heart (spirit), not your physical ears. God never talks to our physical ears; He talks to our spirit because He is a God of the spirit, not the flesh. God is not a father of the senses. It's not a father of flesh. He's the father of spirits.

When you're born again, the voice of God is recognized by your spirit. No one will ever need to teach you the voice of God. The question is, how do you position yourself to hear His voice? In other words, tune your spirit to God's channel of communication in the midst of many voices.

HOW TO PREPARE TO HEAR GOD'S VOICE / THE REQUIREMENTS FOR HEARING GOD'S VOICE.

1. You Must Be Born-Again

Being born again is to be recreated by the Spirit of God (the Holy Spirit). This is when the Spirit of God recreates your human spirit in God's image and likeness. It is a spiritual metamorphosis that awakens you to the fatherhood of God. So, being born again makes you a child of God. The Bible says in 2Corinthians 5:17, ("Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things have become new"). Jesus says in John 3:7, (“You must be born again.”). And in John 3:3: (“Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”). Being born again makes you a child of God and God gives you eternal life.

Therefore, this is the first and foremost important step.

2. You Must Be Baptized

Water baptism is a symbol of your identification with Jesus Christ. It is your personal identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In Romans 6:3-4; the Bible says: Don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

This is the second most important step.

Hearing the voice of God

3. You Must Be Filled with The Holy Spirit.

This is the indwelling of the Spirit of God (Holy Spirit) in the human spirit. Romans 8:9; "But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ (the Holy Spirit), he is not His." The Holy Spirit comes and dwells in us to carry out His ministry in us and through us.

The Spirit of God (Holy Spirit) is the person who talks to us (talks to our spirit) and He talks to us from within (from inside where he lives). And Jesus Himself tells His disciples, “I will pray for the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever – the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you” (John 14:16-17). Read Acts 1:8; 5:32; John 14:16-20; Acts 2:17; Gal. 3:14

4. You Must Be Prayerful

a) Praying or Speaking in Tongues Frequently:

Praying in tongues is very paramount for a Christian especially if you must hear God's voice and be guided in life. Praying in tongues is a higher level of communicating with the Father (God) and in praying in tongues, we speak mysteries (hidden secretes) which are hidden from the devil. Praying in tongues makes your spirit very sensitive to the voice of God. Praying in tongues edifies or builds your spirit strongly in Christ. Mark 16:17 says. And these signs will accompany those who believe in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues (new languages).

The Bible says in 1Corinthians 14:14-15; ("For if I pray in tongues, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. So, what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind also."). Praying with your spirit is praying in tongues and praying with your mind is praying in your human or the earthly language of understanding. Ephesians 6:18 says. ("Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,"). Read Jude 1:20; 1Corinthians 14:2; 4:2. Acts 10:46.

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b) Praying in human language frequently:

Prayer is a symbol and affirmation of Submission, Faith, and Reliance on the Authority and the Power of God. It is very important as a Christian to have or develop a prayerful life. Prayer establishes a strong relationship between the Christian and the Father (God); and through this relationship with God, he talks to us. Jesus told us in Luke 18:1, ("Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart / not faint / not give up,").

Read Philippians 4:6; Colossians 4:2; 1Thessalonians 5:17; James 5:13; Mark 11:24.

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Keys to hearing God's voice

5. You Must Be God's Word Addictive.

God's word is God's mind, desire, will, and wisdom. The more you study God's word, the more you get acquainted with God and His ways, and the more your spirit grows in the knowledge and relationship with Him (God). God's word is God's will and power. The word of God is the food for our spirit (our spiritual food) and it builds us up. This helps us to cultivate a better understanding of God and His ways, and it enhances our relationship with Him. God's word helps us to be obedient to God since we know what He is instructing us to do and not to do and we function in the light of it (His word).

God's word is God's character and mindset. The more of God's word inside you, the more you will know how to relate with Him. The word of God helps us to live a better spiritual life and fulfill God's dreams and purpose for our lives. God's word is light and a guide. God talks to us through His word. The word of God is the voice of God.

Therefore, studying and applying God's word opens our spiritual ears to hear God's voice audibly. 2 Timothy 2:15; ("Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth"). Then 2 Timothy 3:16-17; ("All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."). Therefore, any voice which is contrary to God's word is not God's voice because God will not say anything in contrast to His word.

Read Joshua 1:8; Acts 17:11; Hebrews 4:12; 2Timothy 3:14-17.

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6. Learn to Keep Your Spirit Quiet.

Keeping your spirit quiet is very important to hear God talking to you since a noisy spirit distracts the hearing of the voice of God. Remember, God, talks to your spirit (heart) therefore you must keep your spirit alert by always being spiritually minded, meditating on God's word or spiritual things. Always engage your spirit (heart) in the things of God. 1Corinthians 2:14 says, ("But the natural man receiveth, not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned"). God talks to you from within (from your inner man/ spirit/ heart) not from outside. That's why you must be quiet in your heart to hear Him.

How to hear God's voice-The complete guide

NOTE: The above steps are just guides to prepare your recreated or born-again spirit to hear the voice of God but the ability to hear God's voice is inbuilt by the agency of the Holy Spirit. Nobody can teach you the difference between God's voice and the voice of your mind. The ability to know the difference is given by the Holy Spirit. When you are born again, the voice of God is recognized by your spirit. Remember what Jesus said in John 10:27, ("My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me")

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