Can You Hear Him Now? - Leyff Wenderson

Apr 26, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: When Jezebel’s Messenger Knocks

Elijah stood on Mount Carmel hours after fire fell from heaven. He heard Jezebel’s threat: “By this time tomorrow, I’ll kill you.” Fear gripped him more than 450 defeated prophets. He ran into the wilderness, forgetting God’s power, collapsing under a broom tree. The man who called down fire now begged to die. One lie reshaped his reality. [05:06]

Fear amplifies threats and shrinks God’s faithfulness. Elijah’s legs carried him from Jezreel to Beersheba, but his heart carried Jezebel’s words. God didn’t rebuke him—He sent an angel with bread and a question: “What are you doing here?” Fear’s voice drowns clarity, but God’s whisper restores perspective.

How often do threats hijack your peace? You’ve seen God move, yet one bad report erases miracles. Today, name the “messenger” shouting loudest in your mind. What lie have you allowed to redirect your steps?

“Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, ‘So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.’”
(1 Kings 19:2, ESV)

Prayer: Ask God to unmask fear’s lies and remind you of His past victories.
Challenge: Write down one fear-driven thought. Cross it out and write “God is greater” beside it.

Day 2: Breaking the World’s Mold

Paul warned the Romans: “Do not be conformed to this world.” First-century believers faced cultural pressures to worship Caesar; today’s pressures redefine truth as fluid. The world’s voice never stops—it seeps through screens, songs, and social norms. Like Egypt’s gradual enslavement of Israel, compromise starts small. [13:10]

Culture reshapes values by repetition, not revolution. Jezebel didn’t kill Elijah—her words did. Similarly, the world’s drip-feed of half-truths numbs discernment. Jesus calls us to be preservative salt, not dissolved sugar. Maturity means spotting the pattern, not just the sin.

What cultural “truth” have you absorbed without testing? Does your entertainment normalize what Scripture calls broken? Pause today: Does this align with God’s heart or the world’s echo?

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.”
(Romans 12:2, ESV)

Prayer: Confess one area where culture has diluted your convictions. Ask for clarity.
Challenge: Delete one app or unfollow one account that contradicts biblical values.

Day 3: Right Remembrance, Right Perspective

Asaph cried, “Will the Lord spurn forever?” until he chose remembrance: “I will meditate on all Your works.” He shifted focus from his pain to God’s miracles at the Red Sea. The same God who split waters still parts storms. Past wounds shout, but God’s deeds shout louder. [19:11]

Elijah forgot Carmel’s fire. The woman with the issue of blood forgot her dignity. Yet when she touched Jesus’ robe, her 12-year narrative rewrote in seconds. Right remembrance isn’t denial—it’s defiance. Recalling God’s faithfulness silences despair’s reruns.

What failure or pain loops in your mind? List three times God intervened unexpectedly. How might rehearsing these break your current cycle of doubt?

“I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember Your wonders of old.”
(Psalm 77:11, ESV)

Prayer: Thank God for a specific past miracle. Ask Him to make it fresh today.
Challenge: Text a friend about one victory God gave you—and ask for theirs.

Day 4: The Heart’s Deceitful Whisper

Jeremiah declared, “The heart is deceitful above all things.” Eve’s heart desired wisdom but chose rebellion. The rich young ruler’s heart clung to wealth over Christ. Our hearts rationalize sin as “self-care,” gossip as “concern,” or pride as “boundaries.” [20:06]

God searches hearts to expose motives, not shame us. Elijah’s fear masqueraded as exhaustion. David’s lust disguised itself as love. Invite the Holy Spirit to audit your desires: What looks holy but hides selfishness? What pain are you medicating instead of surrendering?

When did you last let God question your “good” intentions? Are you defending a choice because it’s comfortable—or because it’s Christlike?

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? I the Lord search the heart and test the mind.”
(Jeremiah 17:9-10, ESV)

Prayer: Ask God to reveal any self-justification in your decisions.
Challenge: Fast from one decision today until you’ve prayed, “Search me, God.”

Day 5: Serpent’s Question, Savior’s Truth

The serpent asked Eve, “Did God actually say…?” He twisted “you shall not eat” into “God is withholding.” Jesus countered Satan’s wilderness temptations with “It is written.” Every lie melts when Truth speaks. The enemy still swaps words—calling addiction “freedom” or purity “repression.” [27:08]

God’s voice brings life; the enemy’s brings death. Elijah heard death threats but later heard God’s whisper. The deaf woman heard chaos until Christ said, “Ephphatha.” Your breakthrough starts when you reject the snake’s edits and cling to Scripture’s “It is written.”

What half-truth have you believed about God’s character? Where do you need to replace “Did God say?” with “God says”?

“But the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God.’”
(Genesis 3:4-5, ESV)

Prayer: Rebuke one lie you’ve accepted. Declare a Bible verse that crushes it.
Challenge: Memorize John 10:27 and say it aloud when doubts arise.

Sermon Summary

God speaks through many channels: Scripture, the Spirit, impressions, dreams, divine restriction and permission, other people, spiritual authority, creation, and quiet whispers. Several competing voices interfere with that connection. Fear magnifies threats, minimizes past testimony, and distorts reality so that confirmed promises get sidelined. Culture constantly redefines normal and reshapes values until conviction becomes optional; slow shifts in public opinion can turn blessing into bondage if unchallenged. The past can replay wounds and failures unless remembrance focuses on God’s works rather than personal defeat. The heart and flesh produce strong desires that the mind then justifies, and persistent surrender to those desires dulls sensitivity to divine direction. The enemy works subtly by questioning God’s character, introducing doubt, and recasting obedience as negotiable, then reframing temptation so it looks good, wise, or necessary.

By contrast, God’s voice remains clear, recognizable, and life-giving. The sheep hear, know, and follow that voice; peace from God governs decisions; divine direction guides rather than drives; and spoken truth produces spiritual life. The voice of the Lord proves powerful and majestic, breaking resistance and bringing transformation even in hard places. Hearing God grows through daily dependence on Scripture, disciplined remembrance of God’s works, refusal to be conformed to surrounding culture, and by cultivating maturity that discerns between competing voices. Spiritual maturity does not remove other voices but grants authority to judge which to follow so that transient currents do not determine faithfulness.

Practical pathways toward clearer hearing include silencing fear, renewing the mind with Scripture, refusing to live from wounded memory, testing desires against Spirit-led direction, and engaging community structures that equip believers. Fivefold ministry exists to equip the saints, build unity, and mature the body so that individuals no longer get tossed by every new teaching. Real testimonies of healing and breakthrough illustrate how obedience, faith, and expectant trust in God’s word provoke tangible change. The challenge remains: remove the authority of distracting voices so the voice that truly matters becomes unmistakable and decisive.

Key Takeaways

1. Fear distorts and silences hearing Fear inflates threats until past victories feel irrelevant, and anxiety becomes the loudest authority in decision making. Replacing fear with remembered acts of God restores perspective and prevents retreat from confirmed calling. Practicing specific, scripture-rooted declarations breaks fear’s rhythm and recovers audibility to divine direction. [04:38]
2. Culture redefines truth by degrees Culture reshapes what seems normal slowly enough that moral drift feels inevitable and benign. Discernment requires intentional media and conversational boundaries so slow shifts do not erode biblical convictions. Regular immersion in Scripture counteracts cultural redefinition and preserves a distinct witness. [13:50]
3. Heart deceives; spirit directs truth Desire often initiates action while the mind crafts justifications, so internal sincerity can mask spiritual error. Asking God to search the heart invites corrective revelation rather than self-rationalization. Cultivating the habit of following the Spirit’s convictions protects against well-explained but wrong choices. [19:48]
4. God's voice is clear and life-giving The divine voice brings peace that governs the heart, leads rather than forces, and carries life through spoken truth. Familiarity with God’s tone and priorities makes guidance recognizable amid competing impulses. Persistent listening refines sensitivity so direction becomes a steady, authoritative rhythm rather than occasional impression. [33:55]
5. Maturity anchors discernment and obedience Spiritual maturity equips believers to evaluate every new teaching and resist being tossed by trends or fears. Fivefold ministry and communal discipleship supply the training and accountability necessary to stand firm. Growth shifts decision-making from reaction to rooted obedience in the word of God. [45:28]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:24] - Arrival and Africa update
[01:24] - Prayer and sending heart
[02:16] - Ways God communicates
[04:38] - The voice of fear
[12:19] - Culture's constant pressure
[18:58] - Voices of past and memory
[19:48] - Heart, flesh, and deception
[26:41] - The enemy's subtle tactics
[33:55] - Characteristics of God's voice
[45:28] - Maturity and fivefold ministry
[49:26] - Healings and testimonies
[52:59] - Closing prayer and charge

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
John 10:27 (ESV)
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

Observation Questions

What three effects of fear are described in the sermon (magnifies threats, minimizes truth, distorts reality)? How does this relate to Elijah’s response to Jezebel’s threat in 1 Kings 19? [04:38]
According to Romans 12:2, what does Paul warn believers not to do, and how does the sermon connect this to cultural influence? [13:50]
Jeremiah 17:9 says the heart is “deceitful above all things.” What example does the sermon give about how the heart and mind work together to justify desires? [19:48]
What practical outcomes does the sermon associate with hearing God’s voice (e.g., peace, guidance, life)? How does John 10:27-28 support this? [33:55]

Interpretation Questions

Why might Paul emphasize not conforming to the world in Romans 12:2 instead of merely avoiding obvious sins? How does this align with the sermon’s warning about cultural “slow shifts”? [13:50]
Elijah had just witnessed God’s power at Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18), yet he fled in fear after Jezebel’s threat. What does this reveal about how fear can override even recent spiritual victories? [04:38]
The sermon says, “Feeling right is not the same as being right.” How does Jeremiah 17:9 explain this tension, and why is divine correction necessary? [19:48]
Ephesians 4:11-14 links spiritual maturity to resisting “every wind of doctrine.” How does this connect to the sermon’s claim that maturity grants authority to discern competing voices? [45:28]

Application Questions

Fear “magnifies threats” by making past victories feel irrelevant. What specific promise or testimony of God’s faithfulness in your life could you intentionally recall this week to silence anxiety? [04:38]
The sermon warns that culture “redefines truth by degrees.” What daily habit (e.g., media consumption, conversations) could you adjust to guard against slow moral compromise? [13:50]
When a desire feels urgent, how might you practically test it against the Spirit’s direction (e.g., Scripture, prayer, community) instead of relying on self-justification? [19:48]
The sermon encourages “scripture-rooted declarations” to break fear’s rhythm. What verse or truth could you write down and speak aloud when facing a decision this month? [04:38]
Spiritual maturity requires “refusing to be tossed” by new teachings. What step could you take to deepen your grounding in Scripture (e.g., study group, memorization, mentorship)? [45:28]
The heart often disguises motives. What area of your life feels “sincere but uncertain,” and how could you invite God to search and correct it this week? [19:48]
The sermon highlights testimonies of healing through obedience. What “impossible” situation in your life or community could you approach with expectant prayer this month? [49:26]

Sermon Clips

39s

#MaturityDiscernment

“God is calling us to maturity. And I wrote this. If every voice can move you, no voice is grounding you. Amen. Every voice if a person says something, you believe. That's something. Do you believe? Or if fear says something, you believe. Or, you know, if the past says some and you believe all of that, you're gonna have to believe in something, But, you know, if every voice can move you, there's no voice in is grounding you. This is my last declaration. Maturity is not the absence of voices. It is the ability to discern which one to follow.”

29s

#HearHimNow

“So that's the question. Can you hear him now? Can you hear him now that you've silenced fear? Can you can you hear him now that you've broken the pattern of the culture? Oh, but everybody does it. I know, but that's why we need to break it. Can you hear him now that you've you've you've defined that you're that you're not defined by your past? Can you hear him now that you're not controlled by your flesh? Can you hear him now that the enemy's lies have been exposed?”

32s

#GuardAgainstFlesh

“If you keep following the voice of your flesh, eventually, you will lose sensitivity to the voice of god. Because every time the holy spirit's there, don't do it. No. That's not okay. That's not for you. That will lead to death. That is sin. That is not right. You know? And it's that little voice, and you feel and sometimes God uses people in circumstances. And, I mean, you know, the whole thing. But then it's like if you keep putting that away, sooner or later, you lose the sensitivity.”

35s

#AnchorInScripture

“Before the enemy changes your behavior, he questions God's word. Has God said that? He's not denying it. It's just like introducing a little doubt. Right? Now if he can make you question what God said, he can reshape what you believe. Because most people, they're not gonna think like, well, what does the word of God says about that? Right? And that could be a lot of things. It is like, you know, it's like, what what's the word of God says? I don't know. Well, we should know.”

37s

#FollowSpiritNotFeels

“Now let me give you lie and truth. Right? Because I I I I thought about this, like, a lie that every you know, you hear once in a while. Well, it feels right. Have you ever heard that? So it must be God. The truth is this, feeling right is not the same as being right. Amen. Right? Another lie. Oh, you gotta follow your heart. See, I mean, doesn't that look sounds good? Oh, I gotta follow your heart. The truth is the heart is deceitful. Follow the spirit.”

31s

#ObedienceNotNegotiable

“Or God is limiting you, or God is not fully for you. You know? So it's like when God's character is questioned, obedience becomes negotiable, where it shouldn't be. Right? That's what God said. That's how we do it. That's why we do it. Why? Because God said. But no. There's no buts because that's what he said. Amen? So we don't question, but that's how the enemy does. Now you you gotta remember, can you hear him now with all those things on the way?”

38s

#FeelingsDontEqualGod

“Another lie. Well, if it makes you happy, do it. Oh, I mean, really, this generation now is like, this is it. That feels right, and it makes you happy. Well, if it makes me happy, it gotta be from god. Mm-mm. What feels good in the moment may cost you later. Another lie. I have peace about it. I mean, that's that's borderline. Right? Because you feel like, no. The peace of god and this and that and you know? Yeah. But he says the peace of god, not your peace.”

27s

#ListenForHisWhisper

“Now how we know the word of god? Again, it goes back to the last message, but god will teach us. Isn't that amazing that we can hear god like, no. Don't go there. Don't go this way. Sometimes he does it on purpose. Right? You gotta go a different route, and then later on, you realize there was an accident here. I mean, that's you know? But I do believe we get to the point where you you whispers. No. Don't go this way today.”

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Can You Hear Him Now? - Leyff Wenderson

Devotional

Day 1: When Jezebel’s Messenger Knocks

Day 2: Breaking the World’s Mold

Day 3: Right Remembrance, Right Perspective

Day 4: The Heart’s Deceitful Whisper

Day 5: Serpent’s Question, Savior’s Truth

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Can You Hear Him Now? - Leyff Wenderson

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