RECOGNIZING GOD’S VOICE

Posted on by

Recognizing the Voice of the Shepherd

One of the most comforting truths Jesus ever spoke is found in John 10:27: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” With these simple words, Jesus reveals something profound about the relationship He desires with His people. He is not a distant ruler or silent observer. He is a Shepherd who speaks, leads, and calls His sheep by name. And His sheep — those who belong to Him — can learn to recognize His voice.

Yet many believers struggle with this. They wonder, How do I know if God is speaking? How can I tell His voice apart from my own thoughts, fears, or desires? These questions are not signs of weak faith; they are signs of a heart that longs to walk closely with God. Recognizing the voice of the Shepherd is not about spiritual talent — it is about relationship, trust, and familiarity.

The Shepherd’s Voice Is Rooted in Scripture

The first and clearest way to recognize the Shepherd’s voice is through His Word. Jesus is the Living Word, and Scripture is the written expression of His heart, His character, and His truth. God will never speak in a way that contradicts what He has already revealed in Scripture. His voice is always consistent with His Word.

This means the more we immerse ourselves in Scripture, the more familiar we become with the tone, rhythm, and nature of God’s voice. Just as a child learns a parent’s voice by hearing it day after day, we learn the Shepherd’s voice by spending time in His Word. When we read Scripture regularly, we begin to recognize the difference between God’s truth and the enemy’s lies, between God’s peace and our own anxieties, between God’s wisdom and the world’s noise.

If you want to hear God more clearly, start by opening your Bible. The Shepherd speaks most clearly through the Word He has already given.

The Shepherd’s Voice Reflects His Character

God’s voice always sounds like God. That may seem obvious, but it is one of the most important principles of discernment. The Shepherd’s voice carries the qualities of the Shepherd Himself — love, truth, gentleness, conviction, wisdom, and peace.

God’s voice does not condemn; it convicts. Condemnation pushes us away from God with shame. Conviction draws us toward God with hope and repentance. God’s voice does not create fear; it brings courage and clarity. God’s voice does not confuse; it brings understanding and direction. God’s voice does not flatter; it speaks truth in love.

When you sense a prompting, impression, or inner nudge, ask yourself: Does this reflect the character of Jesus? Does this align with who God has revealed Himself to be? If it does, you are likely hearing the Shepherd. If it doesn’t, it is not His voice.

The Shepherd’s Voice Produces Peace, Not Pressure

One of the most recognizable marks of God’s voice is peace. Not necessarily the absence of difficulty, but the presence of calm assurance. When God speaks, even if His words challenge us or call us to change, they carry a sense of steady confidence. His voice leads us forward without panic or confusion.

Pressure, urgency, chaos, and fear are not the marks of the Shepherd’s voice. They are often signs of our own anxious thoughts or the enemy’s attempts to distract and discourage us. God may call us to act, but He does not drive us with fear. He leads us with peace.

If a thought or prompting feels frantic, condemning, or fear‑filled, pause. The Shepherd does not speak that way.

The Shepherd’s Voice Is Recognized Through Relationship

Sheep recognize the shepherd’s voice because they spend time with him. They walk with him daily. They learn the sound of his call, the rhythm of his footsteps, and the tone of his voice. Recognition comes through relationship.

The same is true for us. The more time we spend with Jesus — in prayer, worship, Scripture, and quiet moments of listening — the more familiar His voice becomes. Hearing God is not a technique to master; it is the fruit of a growing relationship. As we walk with Him, we begin to sense His leading more naturally. His voice becomes clearer, not because He speaks louder, but because we have learned to listen.

The Shepherd’s Voice Is Confirmed in Community

God often uses the voices of other believers to confirm what He is speaking to us. Wise counsel, godly mentors, and spiritually mature friends can help us discern whether what we are sensing truly reflects God’s heart. The Shepherd leads His flock, not isolated individuals. Community is one of the ways He protects us from deception and strengthens our ability to hear Him.

If you believe God is speaking something significant, share it with a trusted believer. The Shepherd often confirms His voice through the unity and wisdom of His people.

Learning to Listen With Expectation

Recognizing the voice of the Shepherd is a journey. It takes time, practice, and patience. But the Shepherd is faithful. He wants to be heard more than we want to hear Him. He is not hiding His voice from His children. He is inviting us to slow down, draw near, and listen.

Make space in your life for quiet. Open your Bible with expectation. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you. Pay attention to the gentle nudges, the Scriptures that stand out, the peace that settles in your heart, and the wise voices God places around you.

The Shepherd is speaking. And as you walk with Him, you will learn to recognize His voice with growing clarity and confidence.

Jesus is returning soon. How good it will be if you have already developed a close relationship with Him. Will you be ready to rule and reign with Him in Jesus Millennial Kingdom? If you want to know more about what is next on God’s agenda for planet Earth go to http://www.millennialkingdom.net

TRUE SPIRITUAL AWAKENING

Posted on by

Two of my most favoured ministers of God. Dr. John Lennox and Dr. James Tour speak on Scripture Meditation & God’s Voice. You will be blessed greatly by this conversation. Both share their life experiences getting to know God and how He speaks to us through His Word.

My own experience with God and His Word: I am challenged to ask God to speak to Me every time I open the two bibles which I believe God gave to me. When I do, the Holy Spirit always reveals something new.

I received my first bible from God in the UK, It was the New King James (The Open Bible) Expanded Edition by Thomas Nelson Publishers. I was in England at the UK Christian Booksellers Association Convention in 1985. I had purchased Christian Press Pty Ltd in 1983. It was the distributor of Thomas Nelson books and bibles in Australia. Thomas Nelson launched The Open Bible at that convention.

My youngest son Scott was with me, he was 17 at the time and had just finished the High School certificate and we had agreed he would attend Capernwray Bible College in the UK for 6 months rather than go direct to university to study economics. I knew Major Ian W. Thomas the founder of Capernwray Bible Colleges as we distributed his books in Australia. I had mentioned to him that I was concerned that Scott was too young emotionally to go to University and he suggested he attend his Bible College in Lancashire and then spend time with Scripture Union in London. Scott was more that willing to go along with this plan.

At breakfast on the first day of the CBA Convention we were sitting at a table with Arthur Farstad, Consulting Editor of the Open Bible. He heard Scott speak and asked me if Scott would read a passage from the Open Bible at the launch of the Open Bible the following night. He liked Scott’s Aussie accent and he wanted to get a number of people to read sections from the Open Bible to show that it retained the poetry of the King James version. Scott was delighted to do it and we both were given an Open Bible Expanded Edition which is a study bible (1403 pages + Concordance and maps). We both were blessed to receive it and are still using it today. The second bible I consider God gave me is the ESV Study Bible. It was given to me at the Christian Booksellers Convention in the USA in 2008 at the launch of the ESV Study Bible produced by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Scott was also with me on this occasion only now he was working with me at Care & Share Products, a ministry of Christian Press Pty Ltd. We were not the distributor of Crossway but went to the ESV Study Bible launch. Almost 2,000 people attended. Each person was asked for their business card which was put in a bin and after the launch they picked out one card and that person was to be given a leather covered ESV Study Bible. I was the lucky person to receive that ESV Study Bible. Both Scott and I were astounded when they called out my name. I have cherished it and use it alongside my Open Study Bible.