What does God’s voice sound like? We all crave for that audible voice thundering down from heaven in a boisterous, “Thus sayeth the Lord!” kind of way. But according to Scripture, God’s voice comes to us via the Holy Spirit.
The Bible tells us that since Jesus came, died and rose again, giving us His Holy Spirit, is is that Spirit of God and our human spirit that are able to communicate with each other very directly. Let us look how Paul explains it:
“However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”– the things God has prepared for those who love him—10 these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.
1 Cor. 2:9-13
This verse is about direct interaction between the Spirit of God and our spirit. It forms the basis from which all other communication from God can come.
David Takle’s book Whispers of My Abba, says this Spirit to Spirit communication,
“…is the means by which we can engage with God at the deepest levels of our soul and receive his words of life directly into our heart and mind.”
James Bryan Smith of A Good and Beautiful God series says that every activity we engage in in our seeking to hear God,
“…would be of no value if it were not for the work of the Holy Spirit. When we open the Bible and begin to read slowly and listen for God, the Spirit illuminates our mind and gives us a direct word from God….when we come to a new discovery or awareness during our time in prayer or reflection in our journals, once again it is the Spirit who is whispering truths that transform us.”
It is from this deep awareness of who the Holy Spirit is and how He operates that will unlock for us a life that isn’t just a one-way direction to God, but develops into a beautiful and life-giving two-way street.
How do we begin to receive his words of life directly into our heart and mind? What are we listening for?
In my own life, I have found it helpful to learn about the nature and function of the Holy Spirit to understand further his influence within us. Take a look at all these Scripture verses describing the Spirit’s activity in our lives:
- Helps us obey God – to know and carry out God’s will (Ezekiel 36:26-27)
- Makes God’s presence evident in us (John 7:38-39, 14:23)
- Offers guidance into Truth (John 16:13) and tells us what is ahead (John 16:13)
- Reminds us of Jesus’ words (John 14:26)
- Gives us power beyond our own human strength (Luke 24:49, Romans 8:11)
- Enables us to be witnesses carrying out Jesus’ ministry of healing the sick and setting the captives free (Acts 1:8)
- Gives us special gifts to build up the Church and to be the Church to a lost and broken world (Acts 2:17-18, I Corinthians 12:8-10, 28-30, Romans 12:6-8, Ephesians 4:11, 1 Peter 4:11)
- Fills us with the life of Christ (Romans 8:11)
- Transforms our character into the image of Christ (Galatians 5:23-24, 2 Cor. 3:18)
- Serves as a Comforter, Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate and Strengthener that will remain with us forever (John 14:16)
Now that we know more about the Holy Spirit and how he might operate within us, how do we position ourselves to hear? That is the subject of Part III.