GOD SPEAKS

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Key Verse

  • God does speak—now one way, now another— though no one perceives it. Job 33:14 NIV
Other versions
 
  • “For God speaks once, And even twice, yet no one notices it Job 33:14 AMP
  • God speaks in one way and in another, yet no one notices. Job 33:14 BSB
Full Passage 
 

  • For God speaks in one way and in another, yet no one notices. In a dream, in a vision in the night, when deep sleep falls upon men as they slumber on their beds, He opens their ears and terrifies them with warnings to turn a man from wrongdoing and keep him from pride, to preserve his soul from the Pit and his life from perishing by the sword. Job 33:14-18 BSB

We often hear but don't realise it's God

  • Now Samuel did not yet know1 the LORD, nor had the word of the LORD yet been revealed2 to him. 1 Samuel 3:7 NASB
  • Now those who were with me saw the light, but did not understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me. Acts 22:9 AMP

  •  Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd standing there heard it and said that it had thundered. Others said that an angel had spoken to Him. John 12:28-29 BSB

Samuel heard the Lord thrice but did not recognise it was Him speaking.

How does God speak?

1. Directly

  • Moses: “With him I speak mouth to mouth [directly], Clearly and openly and not in riddles; And he beholds the form of the LORD. Numbers 12:8 AMP
  • the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Exodus 33:11 ESV
  • Samuel: Now the Lord had told Samuel in his ear the day before Saul came, saying 1 Samuel 9:15 NKJV
  • Ezekiel: “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me Ezekiel 3:17 NKJV
  • “Now as for you, son of man, I have appointed you as a watchman for the house of Israel; so you will hear a message from My mouth and give them a warning from Me. Ezekiel 33:7 NASB
  • Isaiah: He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple [as One who is taught]. Isaiah 50:4 AMP
  • Believers: Your ears will hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or to the left. Isaiah 30:21 NASB
  • Philip: Then the [Holy] Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot.” Acts 8:29 AMP
  • Peter: the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you. Acts 10:19 NIV
  • The Spirit told me to go with them without the slightest hesitation. Acts 11:12 AMP
Other versions

  • “Son of man, I have appointed you as a watchman for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from My mouth, warn them from Me. Ezekiel 3:17 NASB

2. Through Prophets

  • Prophets: Since the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt until this day, I have sent you all My servants the prophets, sending them daily, again and again. Jeremiah 7:25 NASB
  • I have also sent to you all My servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying Jeremiah 35:15 NKJV 
Examples
 
  • David: “The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me; His word was on my tongue. 2 Samuel 23:2 NIV
  • Jeremiah: If I say, “I will not mention Him or speak any more in His name,” His message becomes a fire burning in my heart, shut up in my bones, and I become weary of holding it in, and I cannot prevail. Jeremiah 20:9 BSB

Other versions

  • Then I said, “I will not make mention of Him, Nor speak anymore in His name.” But His word was in my heart like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, And I could not. Jeremiah 20:9 NKJV
  • Since the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt until this
    day, I have even sent to you all My servants the prophets, daily rising
    up early and sending them. Jeremiah 7:25 NKJV 
  • Also I have sent to you all My servants the prophets, sending them again and again, saying Jeremiah 35:15 NASB 

3. Through People

  • So Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything that he had said. Exodus 18:24 AMP
  • Children, obey your parents in the Lord [that is, accept their guidance and discipline as His representatives] Ephesians 6:1 AMP

How does God's voice sound like?

  • And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. 1 Kings 19:12 KJV
  • His feet were like burnished [white-hot] bronze, refined in a furnace, and His voice was [powerful] like the sound of many waters. Revelation 1:15 AMP
  • And behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east. His voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with His glory. Ezekiel 43:2 NKJV

God still speaks - Promises

  • “I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear [to hear] them now. But when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth [full and complete truth]. John 16:12-13 AMP

Believers will hear from God

Hear = (shall) hear

Ask GOD to speak to you

  • ‘Call to Me and I will answer you, and tell you [and even show you] great and mighty things, [things which have been confined and hidden], which you do not know and understand and cannot distinguish.’ Jeremiah 33:3 AMP

  • So Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and it shall be that if He calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Then the Lord came and stood and called as at the previous times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.” 1 Samuel 3:9-10 AMP

When does GOD speak?

1. During Quiet Time

  • David: In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice; In the morning I will prepare [a prayer and a sacrifice] for You and watch and wait [for You to speak to my heart]. Psalm 5:3 AMP
  • Moses: Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it at a distance outside the camp. He called it the Tent of Meeting, and anyone inquiring of the LORD would go to the Tent of Meeting outside the camp. Then, whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would stand at the entrances to their own tents and watch Moses until he entered the tent. As Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and remain at the entrance, and the LORD would speak with Moses. Exodus 33:7-9 BSB

2. During Worship

  • While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said Acts 13:2 NIV
GOD has many things to reveal to us. The above are just a few specific times that He does. See below

  • “I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear [to hear] them now. But when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth [full and complete truth]. For He will not speak on His own initiative, but He will speak whatever He hears [from the Father—the message regarding the Son], and He will disclose to you what is to come [in the future]. John 16:12-13 AMP

Position yourself to hear GOD's voice

  • I will stand at my guard post And station myself on the watchtower; And I will keep watch to see what He will say to me, And how I may reply when I am reprimanded. Habakkuk 2:1 NASB
“As a watchman goes to a high place to see all around and discern what is
coming, so the prophet places himself apart from men, perhaps in some
secluded height, in readiness to hear the voice of God and seize the
meaning of the coming event… He watches for the inward revelation which God makes to his soul … He waits till he hears God’s voice within him … ” Pulpit Commentary

God may speak after a delay

  • The glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; and on the seventh day He called to Moses from the midst of the cloud. Exodus 24:16 NASB
  • And it came to pass after many days that the word of the LORD came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go, present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the earth.” 1 Kings 18:1 NKJV

Wait expectantly for GOD to speak

  • I will hear [with expectant hope] what God the LORD will say, For He will speak peace to His people, to His godly ones— But let them not turn again to folly. Psalm 85:8 AMP
  • In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice; In the morning I will prepare [a prayer and a sacrifice] for You and watch and wait [for You to speak to my heart]. Psalm 5:3 AMP

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Footnotes

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  1. 3045 ידע [yâda‛] \yaw-dah'\
    A primitive root; to know (properly to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of {senses} {figuratively} {literally} euphemistically and inferentially (including {observation} care6
    recognition; and causatively {instruction} designation6
    {punishment} etc.): - {acknowledge} acquaintance (-ted {with}) {advise} {answer} {appoint} {assuredly} be {aware} [un-] {awares} can {[-not]} {certainly} for a {certainty} {comprehend} {consider} X could {they} {cunning} {declare} be {diligent} ({can} cause to) {discern} {discover} endued {with} familiar {friend} {famous} {feel} can {have} be [ig-] {norant} {instruct} {kinsfolk} {kinsman} (cause {to} {let} make) {know} (come to {give} {have} take) {knowledge} have {[knowledge]} ({be} {make} make to {be} make self) {known} + be {learned} + lie by {man} {mark} {perceive} privy {to} X {prognosticator} {regard} have {respect} {skilful} {shew} can (man of) {skill} be {sure} of a {surety} {teach} (can) {tell} {understand} have {[understanding]} X will {be} {wist} {wit} wot.
  2. 1540 גּלה [gâlâh] \gaw-law'\ A primitive root; to denude (especially in a disgraceful sense); by implication to exile (captives being usually stripped); figuratively to reveal: - + {advertise} {appear} {bewray} {bring} ({carry} {lead} go) captive (into {captivity}) {depart} {disclose} {discover} {exile} be {gone} {open} X {plainly} {publish} {remove} {reveal} X {shamelessly} {shew} X {surely} {tell} uncover.
  3. 191 ἀκούω [A)KOU/W] {akoúō} \ak-oo’-o\
    a primary verb; to hear (in various senses):–give (in the) audience (of), come (to the ears), (shall) hear(-er, -ken), be noised, be reported, understand.
  4. 4487 ῥῆμα [R(H=MA] {rhēma} \hray’-mah\ from 4483; an utterance (individually, collectively or specially),; by implication, a matter or topic (especially of narration, command or dispute); with a negative naught whatever:–+ evil, + nothing, saying, word.