HEARING THE VOICE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Since we have the Holy Spirit living inside us, it would seem that we should hear God’s voice. Why can’t we? We often look to have a relationship with God now that He has promised for the future. One aspect of that future reality is hearing God just like He hears us.
I want to suggest that the primary purpose in our life is to learn to live by faith in God. We can see this expressed in many ways in the Bible. The Bible tells us to “wait on the Lord” (Lamentations 3:24-25, Isaiah 64:4, Micah 7:7), to rejoice in the testing of our faith because it produces endurance (James 1:3), and that our faith is more precious than gold (1 Peter 1:7). How can we love God if we do not have faith? How can we love our neighbor as we should if God does not change our natures through faith? How can we hope without faith in what we hope for? Pride declares that we do not need God’s strength because we have sufficient strength for what we desire—it leaves no need for faith in God (Psalm 10:4).
Because faith is so essential for these reasons, it makes sense that the writer of Hebrews (11:6) tells us, “And without faith it is impossible to please Him . . .” (Hebrews 11:6) If during this life, we can hear God’s voice as clearly as He hears us, then there is no more need for faith. For the time being, we do not hear God directly--He is hidden as if in a thick cloud (Psalm 97:2). However, we do hear God in other ways because He can do all things—including leading us into truth and the way we should go by subtle direction in our spirit (Isaiah 30:21 & 48:17, John 14).
In John 17: 20-23, Jesus prayed for a oneness in the Church that would be like the oneness that He shared with the Father—a supernatural oneness—so that the world would believe.
If you believe that God calls pastors, missionaries, and other people to special tasks, then you will have no problem believing God can call someone to work to fulfill the great request Jesus made. I did not hear the voice of God or an angel, but God has confirmed His call to me over and over.
Perhaps God is calling you to support this effort. You could be part of this legacy that begins anew the oneness that will empower the Church to be the witness that God has called us to. If you hear God’s subtle voice calling us to oneness, or you understand what John 17:20-23 says and believe the Bible, please let me know.