In a world filled with countless voices—both external and internal—it is crucial to discern which ones are truly from God. Many influences, whether from media, culture, or even our own doubts, can drown out the gentle, loving voice of the Lord. Scripture calls us to “test the spirits,” recognizing that not every message or prompting is from God, even if it sounds spiritual or uses religious language. By measuring what we hear against the truth of God’s Word and the confession of Jesus Christ, we can avoid deception and follow the true voice of our Shepherd. [38:23]
1 John 4:1-3 (ESV)
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.
Reflection: What is one “voice” or message you’ve recently heard—whether from media, others, or your own thoughts—that you need to test against God’s Word today?
Not everyone who uses the name of Jesus or does impressive things in His name truly knows Him. There are those who may appear spiritual or even perform miracles, but their hearts are far from God, seeking personal gain or acting out of deception. Jesus warns that only those who do the will of the Father and have a genuine relationship with Him will enter His kingdom. It is not outward actions or spiritual-sounding words that matter most, but a life aligned with God’s will and a heart that truly knows Him. [42:04]
Matthew 7:21-23 (ESV)
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”
Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to move from outward religious activity to a deeper, genuine relationship with Jesus?
God’s voice is often not found in the dramatic or the loud, but in a gentle whisper that can be easily missed if we are not spiritually attentive. Like Elijah, who experienced wind, earthquake, and fire but only recognized God in the still, small voice, we must learn to quiet our hearts and listen beyond the chaos of life. Spiritual listening requires us to tune out distractions and be sensitive to the subtle ways God communicates, trusting that He is present even when His voice is soft. [54:10]
1 Kings 19:11-13 (ESV)
And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
Reflection: When was the last time you intentionally set aside time to be still and listen for God’s gentle whisper? How can you do that this week?
God has not left us alone to figure out His will; He has given us the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, who lives within us and guides us into all truth. The world may not recognize or accept the Spirit, but as believers, we can trust that the Holy Spirit will help us discern God’s voice, reveal what is from Jesus, and lead us in the right direction. Our relationship with God deepens as we rely on the Spirit’s guidance, learning to recognize His promptings and trust His leading in every area of life. [57:48]
John 14:16-17; 16:13-14 (ESV)
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
But when the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
Reflection: What is one decision or situation where you need to pause and ask the Holy Spirit for guidance today?
Hearing God’s voice and responding in faith go hand in hand; as we listen to God’s Word and trust that He hears us, our faith grows stronger. Sometimes God answers our prayers immediately, sometimes after a delay, and sometimes in ways we may not see in our lifetime. Yet, we are called to keep praying, keep listening, and keep believing that God is at work. Even when answers are slow or seem absent, faith means trusting that God hears every prayer and will respond in His perfect timing. [01:04:10]
Romans 10:17 (ESV)
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Reflection: Is there a prayer you’ve been waiting on God to answer? How can you choose to trust Him and keep listening in faith, even if the answer hasn’t come yet?
Today, we took time to recognize and appreciate those who serve behind the scenes, especially our audio and video teams, whose faithful work allows us to hear and see clearly, both in person and online. This led into a reflection on the importance of hearing—not just with our physical ears, but with our spiritual ones. In a world filled with noise, distractions, and many competing voices, it is easy to miss the gentle, loving voice of God. We often focus on talking to God in prayer, but it is just as vital to learn how to listen for His voice.
Listening for God requires discernment. Not every voice that claims to speak for God is truly from Him. Scripture warns us to “test the spirits,” because there are many false voices—even those that use the name of Jesus or quote Scripture for selfish gain or out of deception. The true voice of God will always align with His Word and will always point us to Jesus as Lord. We must be careful not to accept every spiritual-sounding message at face value, but to weigh it against the truth of Scripture.
God speaks to us in many ways: primarily through His written Word, but also through the Holy Spirit, through dreams, circumstances, songs, and even a gentle whisper. I shared personal experiences where God spoke to me—once through a dream that marked a turning point in my life, and another time through a prompting in prayer that led to a meaningful encounter. These moments remind us that God is active and personal, but we must be attentive and open to His leading.
The story of Elijah on the mountain is a powerful reminder that God’s voice is often not in the dramatic or the loud, but in the quiet, gentle whisper. In the midst of chaos, storms, and even spiritual activity, we must learn to quiet our hearts and listen for God’s gentle guidance. The closer we draw to God, the more clearly we will recognize His voice and distinguish it from all others.
Faith and listening go hand in hand. We must believe that God desires to speak to us and that He hears every prayer. Sometimes His answers come immediately, sometimes after a long wait, and sometimes in ways we do not expect. Our part is to keep praying, keep listening, and trust that God is at work, even when we cannot see it yet.
1 Kings 19:9-13 (ESV) — > There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
1 John 4:1-3 (ESV) — > Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.
John 10:27 (ESV) — > My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
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