🛑Do People Really Hear God Or Are They Just Making It Up?

By Bishop Elijah H. Hankerson III, BA, MA, DD

(Unless otherwise stated, all Scripture quotations are from the New International Version)1

GREETING

Psalm 134:1-2.¹ Behold, bless ye the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord, which by night stand in the house of the Lord.² Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

1.         Life Center Service Tonight. 7 pm.

2.         Please register for the International AIM Convention under “COGIC Department of Evangelism.” July 1-5, Tampa, FL.

3.         Missouri Midwest Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Holy Convocation 4th Annual Holy Convocation July 21-26. In 2020 I will be celebrating 5 years as a jurisdictional bishop. Special guests include: Bishop Paul S. Morton, Bishop J. Drew Sheard GBM, Dr. Joyce Rodgers, Bishop Todd Hall and many more!

4.         Coming to a city near you: Houston, TX; Trotwood, OH; Wichita, KS; Washington DC; St Louis, MO; Racine, WI and Minneapolis.

LESSON NOTES

I.                 WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS LESSON?

This lesson is designed to bring some kind of balance to the belief that God is yet speaking. Yes, He is yet speaking, but probably not as often as people would lead us to believe.

Also, the written Word of God is God’s ultimate statement. So much so that Jesus is the Word incarnate (John 1:1, 14; 1 John 5:7). It is hard to believe someone is constantly hearing from God; if they are not a student of Scripture.

II.            IS GOD DOING AS MUCH "SPEAKING" AS PEOPLE SAY?

A.             There are seasons and times where God does not speak as much as at other times.

1 Samuel 3:1. The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions.

B.             But, God is doing a lot of speaking EVEN NOW through the “preached Word.” Any preaching or teaching should exalt Jesus Christ and be Scripture based. It is through the teaching and preaching of God’s Word that lives are changed; because God confirms and affirms the preached Word.

Acts 8:30-31. ³⁰Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. "Do you understand what you are reading?" Philip asked. ³¹"How can I," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?" So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

Hebrews 1:1-2. ¹In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, ²but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.

Romans 10:14-15. ¹⁴How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? ¹⁵And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

1 Corinthians 1:21. For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.

Mark 16:20. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the LORD worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.

1.               It is the Word that tells us that we already have the “mind of Christ.” With that status we can know His voice and what is NOT His voice.

1 Corinthians 2:16. for, "Who has known the mind of the LORD so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.

John 10:2-5. ²The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. ³The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. ⁵But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice."

John 10:27. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

C.             The Word says that the Holy Spirit will speak to God’s people. This is a fact that is recorded in Scripture.

John 16:13. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

1.               Guide defined (from the Greek word hodegeo).[1] [2] To lead the way, guide, explain or instruct.

2.               Speak defined (from the Greek word laleo).[3] [4] To speak or talk. The Spirit’s authority is the same as that on which Jesus has relied in all his teaching (John 3:32; 7:16-17; 8:26; 12:49; 14:10).The Spirit will continue and complete the training of the twelve.[5]

D.             The Word says that Holy Spirit will lead God’s people.

Romans 8:14. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.

Galatians 5:18. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

1.               Led defined (from the Greek word ago). [6] [7] To bring, carry, or lead, as a command. Or voluntary subjection of the will to the Spirit.[8]   

III.        IS HEARING GOD'S VOICE A RARITY; OR SOMETHING THAT WILL HAPPEN MULTIPLE TIMES IN A DAY?

A.             There is not one set answer. That all depends upon what God has called a person to do. For some it may be necessary for Him to speak regularly. For others it may not.

However, due to the fact that we only know in part; it is hard to believe that He is speaking as often as people may portray (for example, some claim to hear God every few minutes). We must stay in balance.

1 Corinthians 13:9-12. ⁹For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. ¹¹When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. ¹²For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

B.             God speaking in the Bible was not always as mystical as you might believe.

1.               In the Old Testament the Urim and Thummim were used.

Exodus 28:30. Also put the Urim and the Thummim in the breastpiece, so they may be over Aaron's heart whenever he enters the presence of the LORD. Thus Aaron will always bear the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the LORD.

1 Samuel 28:6. He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.

a.               Urim and Thummim described.

i.                  These Could Have Been Lighted Letters. [9] This was a part of the High Priest’s breastplate. The name Urim means “light.” This is because this accessory worn by the High Priest was designed to cause individual letters (of the tribal names) to light up. Turmim means, “completeness.” This was because if the letters were read in proper order, they would present a complete and true answer to questions that people would ask God.

ii.              Or They Could Have Been Two Stones.[10] The Urim and Thummim was also possibly two small, carved or marked stones worn in a pouch over the High Priests heart, under the frame of the breastplate. The would be used as sacred lots, consulted when the priest wished to understand God’s will under certain circumstances.

2.               In the Bible, at times lots were cast to determine God’s will.

1 Samuel 14:41. Then Saul prayed to the LORD, the God of Israel, "Why have you not answered your servant today? If the fault is in me or my son Jonathan, respond with Urim, but if the men of Israel are at fault, respond with Thummim." Jonathan and Saul were taken by lot, and the men were cleared.

Acts 1:23-26. ²³So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. ²⁴Then they prayed, "LORD, you know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen ²⁵to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs." ²⁶Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

C.             God did speak to “Bible heroes” regularly and clearly. But, these were people that had special assignments. It does not appear that God was merely having idle conversation; or discussing things that had no major influence or impact in the Kingdom. He spoke on a regular basis to people of influence in the Kingdom, regarding major Kingdom agenda items.

1.               How did God speak to our Bible heroes?

a.               Abraham was the “father of faith.” But, God rarely spoke to him. However, the times that God did speak to him were powerful times that; which impact has lasted for generations.

i.                  How many times did God speak to Abraham? According to Genesis 25:7, Abraham lived 175 years. During that time God spoke to him only seven times (found in Genesis12-13,15, 17-19, 21-22).

b.               God spoke to Paul in various ways.

i.                  The Lord spoke audibly to Paul.

Acts 9:3-6. ³As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. ⁴He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" ⁵"Who are you, LORD?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. ⁶"Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."

Acts 9:7. The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone.

Acts 26:13-15. ¹³About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. ¹⁴We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.' ¹⁵"Then I asked, 'Who are you, LORD?' " 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,' the LORD replied.

ii.              The Holy Spirit spoke to Paul.

Acts 16:6-7. ⁶Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. ⁷When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.

iii.           God used an angel to speak to Paul.

Acts 27:23-24. ²³Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me ²⁴and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.'

iv.            God spoke to Paul through a Prophet.

Acts 21:10-11. ¹⁰After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. ¹¹Coming over to us, he took Paul's belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, "The Holy Spirit says, 'In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.'"

c.                God stopped speaking to King Saul altogether.

1 Samuel 28:5-7. ⁵When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror filled his heart. ⁶He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets. ⁷Saul then said to his attendants, "Find me a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her." "There is one in Endor," they said.

d.               God spoke to Moses on a regular basis. More times than we are able to record.

Exodus 33:11. The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.

IV.        WHAT HAPPENS IF "GOD TOLD" TWO PEOPLE TWO CONTRADICTING THINGS; IS THAT REALLY GOD?

A.             Contradictions are going to occur. Because even with all of the Word and revelation we have; we still DO NOT know it all.

1 Corinthians 13:12 New Living Translation.[11] Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.

1 Corinthians 13:12 Contemporary English Version.[12] Now all we can see of God is like a cloudy picture in a mirror. Later we will see him face to face. We don't know everything, but then we will, just as God completely understands us.

B.             It is possible for people to speak when God has not really said anything.

Lamentations 3:37. Who can speak and have it happen if the LORD has not decreed it?

C.             “Words” from God should come to pass.

Deuteronomy 18:14-22 Contemporary English Version.[13] ¹⁴ You will go in and take the land from nations that practice magic and witchcraft. But the Lord your God won’t allow you to do those things. ¹⁵ Instead, he will choose one of your own people to be a prophet just like me, and you must do what that prophet says. ¹⁶ You were asking for a prophet the day you were gathered at Mount Sinai and said to the Lord, “Please don’t let us hear your voice or see this terrible fire again—if we do, we will die!”¹⁷ Then the Lord told me: Moses, they have said the right thing. ¹⁸ So when I want to speak to them, I will choose one of them to be a prophet like you. I will give my message to that prophet, who will tell the people exactly what I have said. ¹⁹ Since the message comes from me, anyone who doesn’t obey the message will have to answer to me. ²⁰ But if I haven’t spoken, and a prophet claims to have a message from me, you must kill that prophet, and you must also kill any prophet who claims to have a message from another god. ²¹ You may be asking yourselves, “How can we tell if a prophet’s message really comes from the Lord?” ²² when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.

D.             The easiest way to determine what is really God is if something succeeds of fails. This was the principle used when the religious leaders told the apostles to stop preaching and the apostles refused to stop by saying they were “obeying God.”

Acts 5:28-29. ²⁸"We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name," he said. "Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood." ²⁹Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than human beings!

Acts 5:38-39. ³⁸Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. ³⁹But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God."

E.             We must avoid speaking on behalf of God out of “self.” Perhaps we are close to someone and wish the best for them and give them “a word” based on that. Or we are angry at someone and are wishing for judgment to be upon them and pronounce “a word” against them. Furthermore, people can hear gossip and regurgitate what they have heard as a “word from the Lord.”

2 Peter 1:17-21. ¹⁷He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." ¹⁸We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. ¹⁹We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. ²⁰Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation of things. ²¹For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

F.              Remember: A true “word” from God will draw you closer to God and His will.

Jeremiah 23:21-22. ²¹I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with their message; I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied. ²²But if they had stood in my council, they would have proclaimed my words to my people and would have turned them from their evil ways and from their evil deeds.

V.             ARE THE REVELATORY GIFTS (WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE, PROPHECY) ON THE SAME LEVEL AS SCRIPTURE? 

A.             Scripture is “perfect,” so the revelatory gifts are not on the same level as Scripture.

Psalm 19:7-11. ⁷The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. ⁸The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. ⁹The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the LORD are firm, and all of them are righteous. ¹⁰They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. ¹¹By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

2 Timothy 3:16-17. ¹⁶All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Romans 15:4. For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

Joshua 1:8. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

B.             Jesus valued Scripture. His entire ministry was not based on revelatory gifts; it was based on fulfilling Scripture.

Luke 24:44-47. ⁴⁴He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms." ⁴⁵Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. ⁴⁶He told them, "This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, ⁴⁷and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

John 10:35. If he called them 'gods,' to whom the word of God came-and Scripture cannot be set aside-

C.             Since revelatory gifts must be judged; they cannot be on the same level as Scripture. Scripture judges us; we do not judge Scripture.

1 Corinthians 14:29 New Living Translation.[14] Let two or three people prophesy, and let the others evaluate what is said.

1 John 4:1-3. ¹Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. ²This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, ³but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

VI.        WHEN IT'S SAID "I HEARD GOD," ARE PEOPLE HEARING AN AUDIBLE VOICE?" To hear God audibly is when you hear Him with your natural ear.

A.             Elijah heard it and it appeared to be a rarity.

1 Kings 19:10-13. ¹⁰He replied, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too." ¹¹The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by." Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. ¹²After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. ¹³When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

B.             The Bible records three times that God spoke audibly to Jesus. Perhaps there were more times. But, only three instances are recorded. If, Jesus is the Son of God and only three times are recorded of an audible voice; I doubt whether anyone else is hearing the voice more than Jesus did.

Matthew 17:5. While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!"

Mark 1:11. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."

John 12:28. Father, glorify your name!" Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again."

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[1] Strong, James. The Strongest Strong’s. Zondervan: Grand Rapids, 2001.

[2] Vine, W. E. Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. Nelson: Nashville, 1996.

[3] Strong, James. The Strongest Strong’s. Zondervan: Grand Rapids, 2001.

[4] Vine, W. E. Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. Nelson: Nashville, 1996.

[5] Buttrick, Arthur George. The Interpreter’s Bible Vol. VIII. New York: Abingdon, 1955.

[6] Strong, James. The Strongest Strong’s. Zondervan: Grand Rapids, 2001.

[7] Vine, W. E. Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. Nelson: Nashville, 1996.

[8] Buttrick, Arthur George. The Interpreter’s Bible Vol. IX. New York: Abingdon, 1955.

[9] Scherman, Rabbi Nosson. The Chumash. Mesorah: Brooklyn, 2003.

[10] Miller, Madeleine S. Harper’s Bible Dictionary. New York: Harper, 1952.

[11] Holy Bible. New Living Translation. Tyndale: Carol Stream, 2004.

[12] Holy Bible. Contemporary English Version. ABS: New York, 1995.

[13] Ibid.

[14] Holy Bible. New Living Translation. Tyndale: Carol Stream, 2004.