Beth-El Baptist Church

04/03/2011

Greg Tomlinson


How can I hear God?


In the search for truth or wisdom, many people claim to cry out to God and yet according to their understanding God is silent. They cannot hear what God is saying or they cannot hear that He actually exists.


  1. How does God speak?

Exodus 33:11 Numbers 12:5-8

Deuteronomy 18:17-22 Exodus 34:1-2, 27

Isaiah 8:1-4 Jeremiah 30:1-2; 31:31-34

Romans 4:1-3 Luke 16:29-31

Hebrews 1:1-3 John 17:17

Numbers 22:27-28 Psalm 19:1-4


There are multiple ways that God can speak to an individual. He can speak face-to-face, but that would be primarily limited to Moses and Jesus. He can speak through dreams and visions. He can speak through prophets (and other believers). He spoke through His Son Jesus Christ. Today he mainly speaks through His word, the scriptures and those who share the scriptures with others so that they might be able to hear. He also spoke through the mouth of a donkey and in the existence of nature, the created world, itself.


  1. When does God speak?

Amos 3:7 Ephesians 3:1-6

1 Kings 19:8-13 Exodus 3:2-4

Hebrews 1:1-3 Psalm 19:1-4 cmp Acts 14:17


There are several times that God speaks. He speaks when He desires to reveal something about Himself to others. God will speak when he desires to get someones attention. God speaks continually through the existence of the world in order to proclaim His existence.


  1. Why might God be silent to an individual?

1 Samuel 3:7-10; 28:15-18 Amos 8:11-12

Ezekiel 12:1-2 Zechariah 7:9-13

Matthew 11:15 1 Corinthians 2:12-14


God might be silent because the hearer is not listening. Samuel did not hear the speaking of God because He did not listen to the voice of God. God might be silent because the person or persons have so angered God through sin that He will no longer speak to them. God might be silent because the person has refused to listen to God so God refuses to speak anymore to them.


  1. What can I do that I might be better able to hear God when He does speak?

Deuteronomy 4:29-31 2 Chronicles 7:14

Revelation 1:3 John 16:13-14

Acts 3:22-23


In order to hear the voice of God when He speaks, you must read the Word of God, believe the Word of God and obey the Word of God. Jesus is that Word of God that you are to hear and believe.