What topic could possibly deserve more of our attention than listening to God? When the Source of all life and wisdom speaks, those who would be wise, listen. The foolish either don’t care or don’t learn how to listen. — Dutch Sheets

3 big questions:

1. Does God Still Speak?

2. Can I Hear God?

3. What Does God Sound Like?

John 15:15

I don't call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn't know what his master is doing. But I've called you friends because I've made known to you everything that I've heard from my Father.

Jesus calls us friends!

Romans 5:1–2

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have also obtained access through him

Because of Jesus—we’ve been given access.

Access into God’s presence. Access into relationship.

Real relationships involve real communication.

It is in the heart of God to be known, to be near, and to be heard. Communion with God is not an occasional luxury—it is the daily necessity of the spiritual life. Do not imagine that God has spoken only in the past. The great tragedy of modern religion is that we are content with the testimony of yesterday. But God is speaking today. The Spirit is given that we might live in constant communion with the living Christ. — Andrew Murray, The Inner Chamber

If God doesn’t speak today, then the greatest disservice we could ever do to people is to tell them they can have a personal relationship with God. You don’t have a personal relationship with someone who doesn’t speak to you. — Dallas Willard

2. Can I Hear God?

Hearing God is not something you do, it's a part of who you are.

John 10:1-4

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.

“voice” - phōnē—spoken voice or sound made by the mouth.

John 10:11

I am the good shepherd.

Ok, so In these verses Jesus is differentiating between Himself as the good shepherd, and Satan, the thief, and the robber.

So Jesus is the shepherd.

Satan is the thief.

Who are we?

“Christian” literally means a follower of Christ…

John 10:4

and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

You are a sheep…

John 10:3

…the sheep hear his voice;

John 10:4

the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

John 10:27

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

If you belong to Jesus, according to Jesus you are a sheep and sheep hear the shepherd.

The soul that loves Jesus is like a sheep that not only knows the Shepherd’s voice but delights to hear it. It is not a question of ‘Can you hear?’ but ‘Do you belong?’ If you are His, you will hear Him—because His voice awakens what He has placed within you. — Charles Spurgeon

3. What Does God Sound Like?

God is a spirit

John 4:24

For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.

Romans 8:16

The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.

Testifies- He speaks the truth

The Spirit of God does not speak to our feelings, nor does He argue with our intellect. He speaks directly to our spirit—deep calling unto deep—and from there the soul is enlightened. — Watchman Nee

Where does God speak? God speaks spirit to spirit.

What does God sound like? God sounds like what He wrote.

If you want to hear God’s voice—You’ve got to get into God’s Word.

God’s voice will always align with His perfect Word

Proverbs 30:5

Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

Psalm 119:160

All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.

John 17:17

Your Word is truth.

Word - logos—God’s written, authoritative truth.

If you want to grow in your ability to hear God’s voice, grow in your ability to know His Word.

Psalm 119:105

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

If you're going to fulfill your God-given assignment— you’re going to have to hear the voice of God.

Even Jesus was lead by the voice of God.

John 5:19

Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by Himself; He can do only what He sees His Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.

“sees” - discernment, insight, perception.

John 5:30

I can do nothing on My own. I judge only as I hear, and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will but the will of Him who sent Me.

hear”  akouō— to listen attentively. To perceive a message. To receive communication.

Matthew 16:22

Never, Lord! This shall never happen to You!

Matthew 16:23

Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.

Because Jesus heard the Father, He knew His mission. And because He knew His mission, He wasn’t thrown off by voices that didn’t understand it. Even when the voice sounded familiar—even when it came from someone He loved—He could still discern the difference.

You were designed to carry light and power into a dark world. But you can’t fulfill your assignment without the voice of the One who sent you.