Lesson 10. Twelve Ways to Hear God. The “How to Hear God” School was held at Father’s Blessing Church. Author: John Paul Jackson. Teacher: Dmitriy Leo
When we focus on hearing God, we need to learn to listen in many different ways. He does not want to limit our listening to our ears alone. God created us with five primary sensory channels, and He can use them however He chooses. We need to learn to develop all five senses. There are at least 12 primary ways through which God speaks to us.
1. God speaks through the written Word—the Bible
(Josh. 1:8) This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, so that you may carefully do everything written in it; then you will prosper in your ways and act wisely.
(2 Tim. 3:15) And how from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, so that the person of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
2. God speaks through dreams and visions
(Num. 12:6) And He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream.”
(Matt. 2:12) And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their own country by another way.
(Matt. 2:19) But after Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Arise, take the Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the Child’s life are dead.”
3. God speaks through visions in our minds (visions in the spirit)
(Acts 2:17) And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.
4. God speaks through visible visions
(Ezek. 1:1) Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the River Chebar, that the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.
(Acts 16:9) And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
5. God speaks through circumstances and events
(Jonah 1:4–6) But the Lord sent a mighty wind on the sea, and there was a great tempest on the sea, so that the ship was about to be broken up. Then the sailors were afraid; and every man cried out to his god, and threw the cargo that was in the ship into the sea, to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone down into the lowest parts of the ship, lain down, and was fast asleep. So the captain came to him and said, “What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God; perhaps your God will consider us, so that we may not perish.” (Luke 21:20) But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near:
6. God speaks through the animal and plant kingdoms
(Num. 22:25) When the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord, she pushed herself against the wall and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall; so he beat her again. (Lev. 26:22) I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children, destroy your livestock, and make you few in number; your highways shall be desolate. (Jonah 4:7) But as morning dawned the next day, God prepared a worm, and it so damaged the plant that it withered. (Lev. 26:20) and your strength shall be spent in vain; your land shall not yield its produce, nor shall the trees of the land yield their fruit.
7. God speaks through objects
(Acts 21:11) When he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit: So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.”
8. God speaks through miracles and signs
(Mark 16:17) And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not harm them; they will place their hands on the sick, and they will recover. (Luke 21:25) There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars, and on the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity; the sea and the waves will roar; (2 Corinthians 12:12) The marks of a true apostle were performed among you with great perseverance, by signs, wonders, and miracles.
9. God Speaks Through Other People
(Ezekiel 3:27) But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you will say to them, “This is what the Lord God says!” Let the one who wants to listen, listen; and let the one who does not want to listen, not listen, for they are a rebellious house. (Matthew 13:35) So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: “I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.”
10. God Speaks Through Our Thoughts
(1 Chronicles 28:19) “All this,” David said, “I have in writing from the hand of the Lord upon me, and He gave me understanding in all the details of the plan.” (Psalm 16:7) I will bless the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.
11. God Speaks Directly to Our Heart, to Our Spirit
(Deuteronomy 6:6) These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. (Mark 2:8) Jesus immediately knew in His spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and He said to them, “Why are you thinking these things?”
12. God Speaks Audibly—Directly into Our Ears
(Acts 9:4) He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?” (Revelation 10:4) And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down.”
The problem with many of us is that we want to hear God only with our ears. This is a sign of immaturity and pride: “I want God to speak to me only in this way.” Many wait for years for God to speak directly into their ears, while He speaks to them every day in other ways.
For example:
Prayer: “God, tell me whether I should buy a new expensive fur coat or not. Or should I buy a cheaper one? Reveal to me what I should do.”
A person walks past a dumpster and sees a hungry child rummaging through it:
“What cruel parents—giving birth to a child and abandoning them. God, bless this child.”
They walk on and pray: “God, tell me whether I should buy a new expensive fur coat or not. Or perhaps I should buy a cheaper one? Reveal it to me.”
God gives them a thought: “Buy a cheaper fur coat, and give the remaining money to the poor. Buy some bread for this child.”
The person’s reaction: “No, most likely the parents sent these children out to beg because they are too lazy to work themselves. Perhaps I need to buy a new fur coat so that I can be the light of the world.”
God is not against new fur coats, but He wants us to be able to hear Him in many ways. By limiting God, we limit ourselves. The goal of our seminars is to develop the skills of listening in every way available to us. If we are open to broad listening, we will hear and understand more of what God is saying.
End of lesson.
Father’s Blessing Church
Author – John Paul Jackson
Teacher – Dmitriy Leo
