Ways God Speaks

In this series we will look at some of the primary ways God speaks to us, including verbal and non-verbal communications.

As we begin, let’s establish the foundational truth that God wants to speak to all of His people. Yes, this includes you and me. Without this understanding and assurance, it will be difficult to hear Him or receive His guidance.

Jesus said His sheep hear His voice.

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2) But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3) To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 

4) And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5) Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." John 10:1-5

He then went on to say,

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. John 10:27 

You might think by reading these passages that followers of Christ are the only ones who hear His voice, but in order to hear His voice and follow Him, you first must hear from the Father.

44) No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. 45) It is written in the prophets, 'AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT BY GOD.' Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me. John 6:44-45

When we read this passage, we may think, “Wait a minute. I am a follower of Jesus Christ, but have never heard the voice of the Father!”

Hopefully, before this series is over, we will be able to clarify some of the ways the Father speaks and illustrate how we have often missed His communication or shrugged it off as something else because it was not always verbal or audible.

Most of the time when we think about hearing the voice of God, we envision the following.

13) Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14) And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?" 15) But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him. 

16) When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17) And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Matthew 3:13-17

Of course, this was a specific event that was historical, unprecedented, pivotal, and revolutionary. It kicked off the beginning of the greatest and most consequential moves of God the world had ever seen. It announced the transition from the Mosaic Law to a New Covenant of grace. It was the dawn of a new day on the Father’s timeclock.

Although the Father can speak audibly, as illustrated in the passage above, it is not the most common way He communicates or reveals His purpose to us. The scripture repeatedly says, “the just shall live by faith.” (Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38). This includes hearing the voice and direction of the Father.

In our next post we will begin to dive into the many ways the Father and the Lord Jesus speak to us on a consistent basis, and how important it is for us to hear.

Until then, may God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ richly bless and keep you!

James Brown CST

05/19/2025