I have, in times past, waxed eloquent on my position that there is no magic to faith. Faith is not something we well-up, or work-up, by hard believing. It is, in fact, not initiated by, or within, us or of our own making. It is initiated by God and His speaking to us. As such, it is a response to hearing His voice.
I have also shared my conviction regarding a Kingdom principle I see from Genesis to Revelation in the scriptures in men/people of faith. The outworking of hearing or revelation is faith/the outworking of faith is obedience/the outworking of obedience is seeing the fulfillment of that which He has spoken to you about or that which He has revealed.
Abraham is a prime example of this principle. He didn’t dream up leaving where he was and going to any place. He didn’t dream up sacrificing Isaac. He heard God speak and He moved. When he tried to work out his own fulfillment of promise or revelation in the flesh, he created Ishmael’s and problems. Over 25 years or so, at the end of his flesh’s capability, he saw the fulfillment of Isaac come to pass as the seed of God’s spoken promise. And, over another 12-18 years he learned to be immediately obedient to the Lord, even when what He spoke didn’t make sense requiring the seed of promise to be sacrificed. He rose up early the next morning to go obediently to do what God spoke to him, but telling his servants “I and the boy will go and worship and WE will return to you”, because he understood both the voice and promise of God.
Simply put if God has spoken there is faith. If He hasn’t there isn’t. Romans 10:17 is the only verse in all of scripture that identifies how faith comes.
[Romans 10:17 NASB95] 1
7 So faith [comes] from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
You see faith is the conviction of the truth of anything, resulting in action or trust. It must have a source or initiator. In this case, it is the word of God. Or literally here, the word of (concerning/regarding) Christ. I’m not a Greek scholar and don’t like delving into dissecting the original language often. But here the Greek is “rema” (some say rhema). Only important in that rema is a spoken revelation.
From Strong’s: rema: that which is or has been uttered by the living voice, thing spoken, word
- any sound produced by the voice and having definite meaning
- speech, discourse
- what one has said
- a series of words joined together into a sentence (a declaration of one’s mind made in words)
- an utterance
For most, if we go to our salvation experience – being born again, we will find in some way God spoke to us revealing the fullness of His love for us in Christ Jesus. Yes, it may have been through a preacher/person sharing the gospel. Nevertheless God spoke and revealed. The first few chapters of Romans make it clear that He can speak in a number of ways, but primarily through three witnesses. Creation, The Law/written word, and Conscience. For many today, the issue or problem is that once He has spoken in that initial salvation experience, they stop listening, or simply think He doesn’t speak any more. I personally think He speaks much more than we choose to listen, and is speaking all the time.
When I share this, it inevitably leads to the question “well how do you hear God”. Of course, by far and in large part, I’m not hearing His audible voice, although I would not rule that out. He once said from heaven… “this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased”. (Matthew 3:17 and 2nd Peter 1:17) and again “This is my beloved Son LISTEN TO/HEAR HIM“ (Matthew 17:5 and Mark 9:7) But I often hear Him in my consciousness or conscience giving guidance and direction in situations or simply revealing Himself, His purpose, His love. Sometimes, it is just in the moment of a situation or circumstance, or an encounter with someone (even strangers). Sometimes, it is the study/meditation on His written revelation or in prayer. Often it is through others in the Body of Christ (sometimes it’s even through a Preacher/Teacher… imagine that! But mostly through brothers just sharing their life in Him as we fellowship and encourage one another walking with Jesus.)
I really think, most often, hearing Him is a matter of simply knowing Him, and that He is ever present, engaged, and speaking. And, of course, being still enough from my busyness, outside influences, and self-interest to have, what the scripture calls, an ear to hear, which is closely linked to a heart to understand. The heart to understand is one that acts on what is heard or revealed. To manifest understanding is to move, act, (or sometimes be still if directed). It is where faith results in obedience and the revelation of His love and purpose move us to do, not something we have dreamed up, but to co-labor with Him in what He is doing and has spoken/revealed to us.
John 10:27 adds some clarity to our comprehension of hearing and knowing Him as the place of walking by faith.
[John 10:27 NASB95] 27 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;
Those that are His sheep; being cared for, fed by, led and directed by Him as their Shepherd HEAR HIS VOICE. They are used to hearing Him, knowing His voice and they follow Him. Where he goes they go. Whatever He is doing they are there with Him. And, perhaps most importantly, they are, by inference here, able to hear His voice because He knows, is intimately acquainted with, them.
And, earlier in this passage John makes it clear that they know their Shepherd’s voice and simply will not follow another’s voice.
[John 10:2-4 NASB95] 2 “But he who enters by the door is a 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 “When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.
The relationship between knowing and hearing Him is critical, and imperative, if we are to follow. So much here to consider in reference to His Lordship and leadership/headship of the Body and our need to know, hear, and follow His voice if we are to be safe, secure, fed, cared for,… and co labor in what He is doing. (save that or another time)
But this all speaks to the fact of what I shared above; that hearing Him comes from knowing. Not to wax too ethereal here, but It is not so much hearing an audible voice, as it is knowing Him. And, in that, just KNOWING He is speaking to the innermost man or being, giving direction in a situation, or revelation and encouragement to you personally.
The prophet Isaiah encouraged the people of God although they had eaten the bread of privation and drank waters of oppression, that He would reveal Himself and speak to them so they could hear Him giving clear direction.
[Isaiah 30:20-21 NASB95] 20 Although the Lord has given you bread of privation and water of oppression, [He,] your Teacher will no longer hide Himself, but your eyes will behold your Teacher. 21 Your ears will hear a word behind you, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or to the left.
God still reveals Himself as our teacher. And, He still speaks, like a loving Father behind a child, giving clear direction about where to go and what to do. If we will just listen, we can find ourselves walking by faith and accomplishing much in Him. Hearing His voice and responding in obedience. And, see the fulfillment of His purpose in us, without creating Ishmael’s.
Never underestimate His desire to speak to you and use you, through your hearing anytime and anyplace.He will speak to you even in your sleep, and sometimes awaken you to hear.
[Isaiah 50:4-5 NASB95] 4 The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of disciples, That I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word. He awakens [Me] morning by morning, He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple. 5 The Lord GOD has opened My ear; And I was not disobedient Nor did I turn back.
My interpretation – So that I can disciple and encourage others He will awaken me and awaken my ear to listen to Him as His disciple. And in obedience to what He speaks, I will not turn back, so I can sustain the weary as He then speaks to them through what He gives me to share with them.
[Psalm 16:7 NASB95] 7 I will bless the LORD who has counseled me; Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night.
The term “my mind” here is literally “my inner man” instructs me. As I said before, He is speaking all the time, perhaps even in our sleep. Listen Up!
May the LORD truly give us ears to hear, the ability to know and discern His voice. And, a heart to understand…manifesting understanding through obedient action (or sometimes inaction in the flesh), and being built up by His personal encouragement in love as He reveals Himself to us.