We Hear the Voice of God | In This House | Pastor Jerry Lawson | Daystar Church

Jan 11, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus' Sheep Hear His Voice and Follow

The foundational truth is that God desires to speak to you, and you are equipped to hear Him. As followers of Jesus, we are His sheep, and He knows us intimately. He speaks to us out of a deep, relational knowledge of our lives, addressing our thoughts, fears, and questions. His expectation is clear: He speaks, and we follow, not as a life coach offering suggestions, but as a loving Shepherd guiding His flock. [10:42]

John 10:27-28 (ESV)
"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand."

Reflection: In what area of your life do you most need to hear the Shepherd's voice, and what does "following" Him in that area practically look like for you this week?

Day 2: Unconfessed Sin Separates Us from God

A primary barrier to hearing God's voice can be unconfessed sin. Just as unresolved conflict can strain human relationships, our iniquities create a separation between us and God. He is entirely holy, and our sin grieves His heart, hindering our ability to perceive His voice. Bringing these hidden areas to light through confession is crucial for restoring the health of our relationship with Him. [13:32]

Isaiah 59:1-2 (ESV)
"Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear."

Reflection: What specific area of your life might be creating a separation between you and God's voice, and what is one step you can take towards confession and reconciliation?

Day 3: Obedience and Stillness Open Our Ears

God often waits for our obedience to the last thing He told us to do before speaking further. Delayed obedience is disobedience, and this can hinder our ability to hear His next instruction. Furthermore, in our busy and distracted world, we must intentionally create quiet time. Jesus Himself taught us to enter a "secret place" to pray, shutting out distractions to be present where God is. [16:35]

Matthew 6:6 (ESV)
"But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you."

Reflection: Considering the pace and pressure of your daily life, what spiritual practice could you adopt to create more space to recognize God's presence and hear His voice more clearly?

Day 4: God Whispers and Makes His Word Alive

God doesn't always speak in dramatic, loud ways; often, He communicates through a "still small voice" within us. This inner whisper from the Holy Spirit will always be consistent with Scripture and bear the character of Jesus—full of grace and truth. Additionally, God speaks through His written Word, the Bible, when it comes alive to us as a "right now" word, deeply resonating with our current circumstances and providing specific guidance. [28:04]

1 Kings 19:11-12 (ESV)
"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."

Reflection: When you read Scripture, how can you intentionally create space for a "right now" word to come alive, connecting it to a current situation in your life?

Day 5: Peace and Godly Counsel Guide Our Steps

God provides guidance through the peace of Christ, which acts as an umpire in our hearts, helping us discern His will. This inner sense of peace can affirm a path that may not make logical sense or caution us against a seemingly good option. Furthermore, God speaks through other godly believers. Seeking a "multitude of counselors" provides safety and wisdom, as iron sharpens iron, helping us to see ourselves and our situations more clearly. [33:37]

Colossians 3:15 (ESV)
"And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful."
Proverbs 11:14 (ESV)
"Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety."

Reflection: In what decision-making process have you recently felt a lack of peace, and who is one godly person you could seek counsel from to help discern God's will?

Sermon Summary

Daystar opened with a direct call to discipleship, urging members to step into leadership through small groups as the primary means of making disciples. The church celebrated an energetic season of prayer—highlighting twenty-one days of prayer and a notable surge of Gen Z involvement—framing this momentum as the stirrings of revival. The core teaching unpacked how believers can discern God’s voice by addressing three common barriers: unconfessed sin, rebellion or delayed obedience, and the busyness that crowds out quiet. Using Scripture as the foundation, the talk emphasized that hearing God is rooted in relationship—Jesus’ claim that “my sheep hear my voice” demonstrates that God speaks to those who listen, are known by him, and who follow.

Four practical channels for God’s guidance were presented. First, the “still small voice” of the Holy Spirit often speaks gently rather than dramatically. Second, the living text becomes personal when the written Word (logos) ignites into a timely, present word (rhema) for a specific situation. Third, an inward sense of peace functions like a spiritual umpire, guiding decisions where logic alone cannot. Fourth, faithful counsel from other believers serves as a safeguard, because wisdom in community reduces the risk of error. The address balanced conviction with compassion—insisting truth must be paired with grace—and concluded with an invitation to repentance and renewed relationship, encouraging listeners to remove obstacles and intentionally cultivate silence, Scripture, obedience, and holy community to better discern God’s voice.

Key Takeaways

1. Making disciples is the primary mission Discipleship is not optional or peripheral; it is the strategic heart of Christian work and the context where transformation happens. Leadership in small groups trains people to live out the disciplines of faith and creates the relational spaces where spiritual growth is practiced and reproduced. Stepping into leadership is framed as an act of spiritual discipline and obedience that advances the kingdom more effectively than isolated programs. [01:09]
2. Unconfessed sin blocks hearing God Sin severs intimacy rather than God’s capacity to speak; separation arises when unrepented patterns hide God’s face. Particular sins—unforgiveness, sexual compromise, corrosive speech—function like static, dulling spiritual receptivity and closing the relational channel with God. Confession and repair restore ears to hear and hearts to receive counsel. [11:47]
3. Obedience unlocks future revelation God often waits for the next step of faithfulness before giving further direction; delayed obedience becomes a stumbling block to continued guidance. Returning to the last known word of God and acting on it clears rebellion and reopens conversation. Obedience is not merely moralism but the practical rhythm that sustains prophetic listening. [14:05]
4. Quiet cultivates the Spirit’s voice The Spirit frequently speaks in a low whisper, and creating a secret place—shutting the door to distractions—allows that still, inward guidance to be heard. Regular, undistracted engagement with Scripture increases the frequency of “rhema” moments when God’s written word becomes a present word. Silence is a skill that sharpens discernment more than noise ever will. [16:35]
5. Community provides godly confirmation Wisdom is safer when multiplied—proverbs and experience show a “multitude of counselors” brings clarity and protection. Small groups and trusted mentors act as reality checks against self-deception and cultural echo chambers; they help distinguish conviction from wishful thinking. Iron-sharpening relationships expose blind spots and accelerate maturity. [33:24]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:33] - Discipleship: Lead Small Groups
[02:31] - Twenty-One Days of Prayer
[03:45] - Gen Z and Revival
[04:55] - Learning to Hear God
[09:30] - Jesus: “My Sheep Hear My Voice”
[11:47] - Barriers: Sin and Separation
[14:05] - Obedience and God's Timing
[16:35] - Prayer: Shut the Door
[18:16] - The Still, Small Voice
[25:09] - Rhema: The Right-Now Word
[28:59] - Peace as Spiritual Umpire
[33:24] - Counsel and Community
[37:50] - Prayer of Repentance (Closing)

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading

John 10:27-28 (ESV)
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.”

1 Kings 19:11-12 (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.”

Observation questions

According to John 10:27, what are the three specific actions or characteristics that define the relationship between the shepherd and his sheep? [09:30]
In the account of Elijah in 1 Kings 19, what were the three dramatic physical manifestations that occurred where the Lord was notably absent? [18:16]
Based on Isaiah 59:1-2, what is the specific barrier that creates a separation between people and God, preventing them from being heard? [11:47]

Interpretation questions

Jesus describes the relationship with His sheep as one where He "knows them." How does this personal, relational knowledge change the way we should expect God to speak to us compared to a "life coach" who just gives good advice? [10:17]
The "still small voice" suggests that God often chooses to whisper rather than shout. Why might God prefer a whisper over a dramatic display like fire or an earthquake when communicating with His children? [21:08]
Colossians 3:15 tells us to let the peace of Christ "rule" in our hearts, acting like an umpire. How does an umpire function in a game, and what does that imply about how spiritual peace helps us make difficult decisions? [29:26]

Application questions

Discipleship is rooted in discipline, and leading a small group is a primary way to practice that discipline. What holds you back from stepping into leadership or helping others grow in their faith? [01:09]
Unconfessed sin, like unforgiveness or corrosive speech, can act like "static" that blocks our spiritual ears. Is there a specific area of your life where you feel "clogged" or unable to hear God clearly right now? [13:11]
Sometimes God is silent because He is waiting for us to obey the last thing He told us. Is there a "last known word" from God—perhaps a step of faith or a change in behavior—that you have been delaying? [14:05]
Finding God in the "secret place" requires us to "shut the door" to distractions. What are the biggest "noises" in your daily routine—social media, work, or entertainment—that make it hard to find that quiet space? [16:35]
A "Rhema" word is when a written scripture (logos) suddenly comes alive for a specific situation. Can you share a time when a Bible verse felt like a "right now" word that answered a problem you were dealing with? [25:09]
Safety is found in a "multitude of counselors." Who are the godly people in your life that you trust to tell you the truth, even when it’s uncomfortable, rather than just giving you "worldly affirmation"? [33:37]

Sermon Clips

28s

#GodsInvitation

“don't see this as God's anger or condemnation. See it as God's invitation. See it as God saying, hey, I wanna be in relationship with you. I wanna show you what to do. I wanna give you advice for every direction for every area of your life. I love you. I you know, Jesus died for your sins. I I absolutely want to be close to you, but you gotta make some changes. He's calling you to a deeper relationship. If you're not hearing his voice, this may be why.”

40s

#quietRoomListen

“A few years later, we found out that young man was living a double life. He was hiding a horrible sin that was harming a lot of people. I'm so thankful that we were walking close enough with the holy spirit. He could speak to us. Amen. I'm so thankful that we went in the quiet room and we shut the door where Jesus is. He says, I'm in there. If you come in this room and you'll talk to me, I'll speak to you. Hey. He knows everything about everything going on in your life, but you gotta slow down, get quiet, and listen to what he has to say.”

25s

#discernGodsVoice

“she thought she heard from God. You know, there's been a lot of people who thought they heard from God. And they confuse what they wanted to do, what they were feeling on the inside with what God had said. Now you probably got an experience with that in your own life. Maybe not as grand as that young lady's was, but you've got your own questions about how do I know if I've heard from God?”

21s

#GenZOnFire

“Gen Z. The data shows if don't know who Gen z is, it's people like older teenagers and younger 20 years old. Those are the people that are the most on fire. I was reading that article this week and then I was showing up every morning for 6AM prayer and we're being flooded by young people in prayer. That so energizes me.”

46s

#checkThePeace

“there's a young boy that was in my youth group many, many years ago. And he he became a preacher later. He's very successful. Preached all over the world. Wrote best selling, a best selling book. It's it's kind of a big deal. And when I reconnected with him, he heard about Daystar. He won't be on the staff here. Won't be one of the pastors. Everything said, we ought to do that. That kid's got the charisma. He's got the talent. He's got the experience. He's got a platform. But when Leslie and I talked about it, something to check-in our spirit said, I can't get peace about this. In fact, that holy spirit umpire said, absolutely not.”

31s

#seekGodlyCounsel

“And listen to me, when people don't have godly counsel in their life, look what they do. They fall. You see it all around you. And and they don't need one or two. You you say, well, listen. All the small group people go to church, which by the way is not true. We have a lot of people in our small groups that don't go to our church. But you might be thinking, they go to church, they got the pastor. You know? They got their campus pastor. They they got other people. But here's what the Bible says. We need how many counselors? Multitude. That's why God's calling you to step up.”

25s

#wantOrWord

40s

#holySpiritIntervention

Ask a question about this sermon

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How does unconfessed sin block hearing God?

What distinguishes Rhema from Logos in Scripture?

How should godly counsel influence spiritual decisions?

We Hear the Voice of God | In This House | Pastor Jerry Lawson | Daystar Church

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus' Sheep Hear His Voice and Follow

Day 2: Unconfessed Sin Separates Us from God

Day 3: Obedience and Stillness Open Our Ears

Day 4: God Whispers and Makes His Word Alive

Day 5: Peace and Godly Counsel Guide Our Steps

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

We Hear the Voice of God | In This House | Pastor Jerry Lawson | Daystar Church

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