Lesson 7 is devoted to understanding what God has said. The “How to Hear the Voice of God” school was held at Father’s Blessing Church. Taught by Dmitriy Leo.
Lesson 7. How to Understand What God Has Said
Sometimes God speaks in language we understand, and it is no trouble for us to write down and fulfill what we have heard. But at times God’s messages are such that people either do not realize at all that the word came from God or do not understand what the Lord has told them. Some believers do not even realize that God may speak to them in a way they do not expect.
From previous lessons, we have already learned that God can speak to us clearly and directly, without omissions. However, sometimes the Lord uses figurative language.
God May Speak Figuratively
The word “figurative language” itself contains a clue: God may say one thing while meaning something entirely different. He encodes information. That is why believers often complain: “I pray and pray… and receive various dreams… and visions… But I still cannot really understand anything.”
By studying the Bible, we can discover that symbolism is God’s language. It is better for you to agree with this and accept it. Instead of saying, “God, I do not understand this language! Speak so that I can understand!”, begin studying the figurative language God uses when speaking with you.
And all the trees of the field shall know that I, the Lord, have brought down the high tree, exalted the low tree, dried up the green tree, and made the dry tree flourish. I, the Lord, have spoken and will do it (Ezek. 17:24).
Obviously, figurative language is used in this passage, so it is not immediately clear what God wants to say. There are many such examples in the books of the prophets. And if we look at the Book of Revelation, it is easy to see that almost the entire book consists of symbols!
It is not difficult to recognize when God is speaking directly and when He is speaking figuratively. If you clearly understand what God has said and know how to apply it, then this is a direct answer from God—a direct revelation, instruction, or guidance.
But if, after receiving a vision, dream, prophecy, or word of knowledge, you do not understand what it means or what to do with it, this can be classified as figurative language.
Why “can be classified”? Because it may also turn out to be empty. In previous lessons, we examined how to determine whether a message is from God or not.
What do most people do with figurative messages? They pray: “Lord, reveal what this means. (They wait a minute, then another…) No, I don’t know! I don’t understand!” Then they pick up their phone: “Brother, I had a dream. Can you interpret it for me?”
It is important to understand that the Almighty Creator is speaking specifically to YOU! If God wanted to speak to your brother, He would tell him: “Go to such-and-such a person (that is, you) and tell him this…” If you were hard of hearing, He would send a prophet to you and release a word for you. But if God is speaking personally to you, that means He is demanding your attention! The Lord wants a contact, a chain, a connection to form between you and Him. He deliberately encodes the information to intrigue you. And only the One who encoded the message can decode it.
God does not want you running everywhere in search of an interpretation. He wants you to come to Him for the code. This is one reason the Lord may speak not directly, but figuratively. The time will come when God reveals it to you. It is important for you to receive the interpretation personally, not through someone else. This is how Joseph interpreted dreams that even Pharaoh’s priests could not interpret, and as a result quickly rose to a leading position in Egypt.
But the idea that you should turn to interpreters such as Daniel or Joseph for explanations belongs to the Old Testament. At that time, the Holy Spirit came upon only certain people. The entire New Testament is permeated with the idea that God wants to communicate personally with every believer. He personally gave each of us the Holy Spirit so that we might know what has been given to us by God and know the mysteries—what is on God’s heart. Therefore, New Testament Christians must change their thinking. Do not look for Daniels or Josephs of our time; seek God instead, so that you can understand the code He placed in a vision, dream, prophecy, or revelation. You may turn to an interpreter when you have already uncovered the essence of the message and want confirmation.
Such people will be better off than those who, after unsuccessful attempts, ask not God but people: “Tell me, what do you think about this dream? What do you think? And you?” God says to such people: “It does not matter to Me what others think. Understand: I am speaking to you. I am knocking at your door! I want to communicate with you!”
Figurative language is one way God can speak to you. Therefore, do not reject it, but pay close attention to it!
What should you do when you receive a figurative message?
I strongly recommend writing down what you have received. First, do not rely on your memory. Time will pass, and the details will be forgotten. It is better to write the prophecy down on paper. Devices and software change, phones break. In the end, even digital information can disappear. Paper is the most reliable option.
If God has given you something in coded form, this does not mean that He will interpret everything for you at your first request. Keep in mind that you may receive the answer the next day—or five years later. God knows the right time to reveal His message to you. Sometimes people are unable to comprehend or accept what God has said, and He waits until they are ready. For example, I am only now beginning to understand some messages I received long ago. It is good that I have developed the habit of writing down and recording everything I receive!
Tune yourself to wait for an answer from the Lord no matter what. Therefore, be sure to write everything down and ask the Lord in prayer for the interpretation. If you have spent an hour or an hour and a half listening to God and reflecting on the message without receiving an answer, return to this subject in a day or two. If you still have not received an interpretation, return to this question again after some time. If you persistently seek the answer to a figurative message, you will receive it. Many people only persevere once, after which they give up.
Believe me, much of what is said in the Bible and what you read has still not been decoded. To this day, theologians wrestle with the mysteries of Scripture. In every century, God reveals something new from the books of the prophets, the Book of Revelation, and so on. Very deep truths or revelations are hidden there, relating to a particular time.
For example, Joseph received dreams that truly showed him part of the picture of his future: how his brothers, mother, and father would bow down to him. Another part was hidden from him until the proper time, because he did not need to know it.
Therefore, resolve to go all the way and receive the answer, rather than play around and give up. God is not limited by time. We cannot control Him by saying, “God, I only have an hour, so speak to me during this time.”
Do not think that you can set conditions for God: “I am going into seclusion now, and You must give me the interpretation!” We are the ones who must humbly submit ourselves to God, waiting for Him to tell us something.
If we develop the habit of communicating with God—and this is hard work!—if we overcome laziness and indiscipline and stop living with a “fast-food” mindset, then believe me, we will indeed learn to hear Him. This will open up a broad, visible road before us. We will know where we are going, and no one will knock us off this path. This road will be so clear that neither fog, bad weather, nor darkness will be able to hide it from us. It will always be before our eyes!
Unfortunately, most believers receive only fragments, small, faded pictures, and then do not know where to go at all. If we conducted a survey among Christians now, asking, “Tell us what God will do in your life over the next 10 years. What do you need to do? What actions should you take?”, I guarantee that 90 percent of those surveyed would say, “Well, I don’t really know, but I believe God will do something good!” This means these people do not have the clearly drawn line, road, or action plan that God should reveal to them.
God may set conditions
Everything you receive—any message, prophecy, dream, or vision—examine carefully for conditions. Why? If you overlook a condition, you will not receive the solution either!
Many people, hearing prophecies such as “You will carry an apostolic ministry!”, “You will have a prophetic ministry!”, or “You will lead a church!”, seize upon them, begin thinking about them and living by them, without taking into account the conditions God has set. Here is a story about this.
For many years, one woman interceded for her unbelieving husband and children because God had given her a word that she would have a great prophetic ministry, that her husband would minister as a prophet alongside her, and that her children would become well-known ministers. The woman stood on this word for many years, but her husband remained an alcoholic. One day he got so drunk that he died. Her children went out into the world. This woman began asking God, “But I stood on Your word—why did You not fulfill Your promise?” She became very offended with God! But when she “dissected” this prophecy, it turned out that it contained conditions she had ignored.
Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is Mine… (Exodus 19:5 5)
And I will establish his kingdom forever, if he remains steadfast in keeping My commandments and My statutes, as he does to this day (1 Chronicles 28:7).
If we focus only on the highlighted text, the conditions for this promise to be fulfilled will be overlooked. Unfortunately, that is often how we read!
And I will establish his kingdom forever, if he remains steadfast in keeping My commandments and My statutes, as he does to this day (1 Chronicles 28:7).
There are certain conditions for God's word to take effect: “If he continues to do as he has done to this day, I will establish his kingdom forever. If not, I will not do so.”
Today, theological debates arise: can God say something and not do it? Yes, He can! He made promises to many kings, but when they turned away from His statutes, God revoked what He had previously said and made a different decision. Saul is a clear example.
There are also opposite cases.
And the Lord said to Moses, “How long will this people provoke Me? And how long will they not believe Me, despite all the signs that I have performed among them? I will strike them with plague and destroy them, and I will make from you [and from your father’s household] a nation greater and mightier than they” (Numbers 14:11–12).
God had already released His judgment and made His decision. But Moses began pleading with God to have mercy on the people:
“Pardon the iniquity of this people, according to the greatness of Your mercy, just as You have forgiven this people from Egypt until now.” And the Lord said [to Moses], “I have pardoned them according to your word…” (Numbers 14:19–20)
Thus, God changed the frightening word He had already spoken. A similar story happened with King Hezekiah when he was on his deathbed. God sent a prophet to him with the words: “You will die.” Hezekiah cried out to the Lord, and the prophet had to return to the king with a new word from God: “You will live for another 15 years!” God can change His word!
So how can we avoid confusion and discern whether God will change His word or not?
Pay attention: if God has spoken a word to you through prophecy or a vision and has not revoked it, it will remain in effect.
However, always pay attention to whether the message sent by God contains certain conditions for its fulfillment. And as you walk with God, be sure to pay attention to whether He has changed the prophecy He gave you earlier. The Lord may simply be moving you into a different season of your life or ministry.
When I was 20, I clearly heard a prophecy from God: “You will work with young people.” And I ministered to young people for many years, but that was not God’s plan for my entire life. The Lord did not tell me then what I would do later, so I thought I would always be in youth ministry. And what else could I have thought at 20?! But time passed, and God said, “That’s it—your mission among young people is finished! You will be a pastor of a church.” In other words, God ended one ministry and gave me another.
This is a challenge for each of us. If you have received prophecies from God in the past, then all the more you now need to develop your ability to hear the voice of God, so that you can understand what season you are in. Perhaps you are stuck in an old season because you no longer hear God as clearly as you once did. Maybe there was a time when you often went to prayer and worship, withdrew, soaked, and waited on God. Then new circumstances entered your life: business, family, children, debts, and loans—and you no longer had time to listen to God! You no longer hear His voice and are living by old prophecies received twenty-five years ago, wondering why they are not coming to pass. But it turns out that you have long been in a different season, and you need to receive a fresh word from the Lord!
God says to you: “My son, the old has long since passed away, and I had a new plan for you. But you missed your opportunity, and your place has already been taken.” — “Why didn’t I know about it?” — “You were too busy, son!”
In conclusion
Of course, we all want to receive clear, understandable messages without any conditions. But it is God’s way to encode information. He speaks in symbols and figurative language intentionally, because this is the secret language of the Spirit. No one understands it except you and God. The Lord does not want His enemies to know what He is saying to you. No priests or magicians will decode what God is saying to you, but you will decode it and rise to the top! In other words, knowing this language is for your benefit. Do not diminish these visions, these dreams, or these images! Do not complain that the vision is so vague and unclear. On the contrary, seek to understand and develop this language. Spend more time with God, and He will reveal to you what these “ears of grain,” “cows,” and other things mean. He will decode everything for you.
We also learned that prophecies may contain conditions for their fulfillment, and these conditions must never be ignored. If you quote verses from Scripture, saying, “God, You said…,” first look to see whether there are conditions under which this word will come to pass. Keep in mind: if the instructions are not followed, there will be no answer either! Remember? “If you do everything as you have done to this day, I will establish your kingdom forever…” But if not—sorry!
Depending on how you respond to God’s message and how you fulfill it, God may either leave everything as it is or change His decision. This leads us to even greater humility and reverence for the Lord!
If God has told you, “You will have a great ministry if you do this and this!” then seize that word and start acting! And do not think that you have simply gotten lucky: God gave it, and no one can take it away! Saul and many kings may have thought the same, but they failed to consider the conditions set by God and therefore lost all their blessings. But if you act as the Lord said, then truly all God’s promises will be “yes” and “amen”!
Perhaps, while studying these lessons, you received more challenges than answers. And that is good, because you should develop a desire to hear God and an understanding that this will require considerable effort on your part!
