How To Hear The Voice Of God For Yourself And Others

 

One of the old testament parts of scriptures that accurately captures how God speaks to man is found in Job 33:14-18. Let's take a look at that passage from The Message translation:

"God always answers, one way or another,
even when people don't recognize his presence.
"In a dream, for instance, a vision at night,
when men and women are deep in sleep,
fast asleep in their beds—
God opens their ears
and impresses them with warnings
To turn them back from something bad they're planning,
from some reckless choice,
And keep them from an early grave,
from the river of no return." (Job 33:14-18, The Message translation)

An eternal truth found in this passage of the Bible, is the fact that God speaks to everyone. Including people who have issues recognizing His voice. He doesn't fail to SPEAK.

Again, we see the patterns through which the old testament folks received His words- DREAMS, VISIONS and IMPRESSIONS.

The goodnews is, even a new testament believer can hear the voice of God and receive His leadings via these same methods. However, in a much more amplified tone.

This is because the Spirit of God now lives on the inside of Him, helping him receive much more clarity in His dealings with God.

As a believer in Christ, it is very important you pay attention to your dreams, visions and impressions when asking God for directions on any matter. Not all of them are ordinary. Especially now that you are in Christ.

Act 2:17-18 KJV And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.

Did you notice that one of the dimensions of the manifestations of the Spirit of God prophesied in the old times, is prophetic dreams, visions and impressions. The apostles had to quote that verse in the book of Acts to show you that the reality of that promise is for us today.

Go through the scriptures, the examples of God leading the new testament believers via dreams, visions and impressions are all there for us to see and learn from today. We'll see some of these as we proceed.

How God Spoke To The Disciples Via Dreams And Visions

God has always spoken and led man via dreams and visions. Whether in the old or new testament. The change of testaments didn't change God nor His ways of doing things.

The change of testaments rather changed man's understanding of God which enabled him to relate better with his creator.

Take a look at the following scriptures and see how the apostles were led by dreams and visions.

Act 9:10-12 KJV (Ananias receiving an instruction from the Lord Jesus via a vision)

"10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. 11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, 12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight."

Act 16:9-10 KJV (Paul received a direction, a leading via a night vision. That night vision is a dream)

"9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. 10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them."

Act 18:9-10 KJV (The Lord Jesus again spoke to Paul the apostle via a vision at night)

"9 Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: 10 For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city."

From observations, we see that the prophetic dreams and visions come mainly when we are calm and asleep. Therefore they cannot be relied upon for instant answers, directions and leadings. That is the purpose the supernatural impressions serve. They're for instant answers, directions and leadings.

Below is how supernatural impressions work.

How God Speaks Via Supernatural Impressions

Supernatural impressions are one of the most powerful ways to hear God speak to us about ourselves and others.

The Impressions has to do with your heart and therefore don't need you to go sleep or take a nap before you get them. The Spirit of God can drop them in your heart at any time, anywhere.

The way it works, you just sense or know something supernaturally. Without having any information about them prior to that moment. Things that have happened before, the ones happening now and the ones that are about to happen.

It may come to you like pictures, words, sounds and sometimes like ordinary thoughts.

You may even carelessly dismiss them thinking they are just your imaginations. But they are not. Though they can come in such ordinary ways that they may look like they are just your imaginations, they are actually supernatural impressions sent to your heart by the Spirit of God.

Let's see some examples of these from the scriptures.

Act 27:9-11 KJV (Paul speaking to the crew in a ship)

"9 Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them, 10 And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives. 11 Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul."

Did you notice that Paul didn't say he dreamed or saw a vision here?

He simply said he perceived. That perception he was talking about here is an impression dropped in His heart by the Spirit of God.

Now pay attention to that verse 10 again. 

Notice he said "I PERCEIVE that this voyage WILL be with hurt" not "may be with hurt." That is to show you he wasn't just guessing like people do naturally. 

He was definitely sure of what he was saying. Even when the circumstances around there journey looked opposite.

As a matter of fact, the people doubted Paul in that verse and paid heavily for it. Because everything happened exactly as he said it.

That's one of the ways the Impressions work. You just supernaturally know things that are bound to happen before they do, without any prior hint of it.

It could come as a loss of peace when you are thinking of going somewhere or doing something. It could also come "spiritual dryness" or a lack of desire or passion for something.

These are practical ways God leads you personally and you need to start paying attention to them.

Other ways such as the use of fellow believers, church leaders and even angels (who most times appear in human form) are usually for confirmation of His impressions in your heart.

They are not His primary ways. He uses these mediums (dreams, visions and impressions) to speak with you one on one and then uses the Bible, fellow believers and so on to confirm it.

We see this also play out between apostle Peter and Ananias in Acts 5.

Act 5:3 KJV But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

How did Peter knew Ananias and the wife lied? He certainly didn't have a dream or vision at that moment. There was no record of such. He simply knew it supernaturally. The Holy Spirit impressed it in his heart.

Don't let anyone cut you short of these blessings. God still speaks via these ways today. All you need do is pay a little more attention to them.

Finally

One of the most remarkable things about our Father (God) is that He doesn't mind coming down to your level and speaking to you in ways you can understand.

He doesn't want you to go through life confused and wandering around the earth without directions.

He wants to lead you. He wants to speak to you. He actually takes pleasure in doing that. And some of the ways He does that are via your dreams, visions and impressions.

Have you been trusting God for directions on any matter?

Pay attention to these three things and you would be just fine.

I hope this blesses you. Lift your hands to the Father of Lights and thank Him.