Lesson 98: God The Holy Spirit – Part 3

INTRODUCTION: We have learnt that the Holy Spirit, who is God Himself, is able to comfort, teach, lead and guide because He speaks. But how can we hear Him? The Bible says there are all sort of voices in this world. I Cor.14:10. How can we differentiate the voice of God from the rest? These and other questions we believer God will answer for us tonight in Jesus Name, Amen.
1) THE DEVIL SPEAKS IN TWO PRINCIPAL WAYS: We all hear voices, Divine or devilish. Even before conversion we hear voices e.g. the voice of conscience and the voice of lust. There are two ways the devil can speak (i) the small voice to the spirit of man and (ii) through human beings. Of course he occasionally speaks through dreams. Examples include the decree of Caesar Augustus the advices of Sarai to Abram, Job’s wife to Job, Peter to Jesus Christ and the elder prophet to the younger. Luke 2:1-7, Genesis 16:1-6, Job 2:9, Matt.16:21-23, I Kings 13:11-24.
2) SPEAKS IN DIVERSE WAYS: There are several ways in which God can speak. He might speak (i) in the small still voice to your spirit, (ii) through human beings, when your spiritual ear is deafened by sin, e.g. Nathan to David, Samuel to Eli, Samuel to Saul (iii) by direct confrontation particularly when you are too occupied to listen to the small still voice or you may doubt the prophet e.g. Moses at the burning bush, Joshua before the wall of Jericho, Gideon in hiding, the shepherds watching flocks by night and Saul on the way to Damascus, (iv) through any means in critical situations e.g. Balaam and his ass. I Kings 19:12, II Sam. 12:1-2, I Sam.3:11-18, Exod.3:1-14, I Sam.15:16-23, Joshua 5:13, Jos.6:5, Judges 6:11-16, Luke 2:8-14, Acts 9:1-7, Number 22:28-30.
3) HOW TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN THE VOICE OF GOD AND THE DEVIL’S: The devil’s voice is easy to recognize because it contradicts God’s word. We recognize the voice of God in the following ways: (i) it agrees with the written word of God, (ii) it frightens sinners and (iii) it is a source of joy to believers. To hear God’s voice, if you have been baptized in the Holy Spirit, all you need to do is harden not your heart. John 8:44, John 10:4, Genesis 3:9-10, John 3:9-10, john 3:29, John 16:33, Ps. 95:7-8.