God's voice comes to us today chiefly through His word, illumined by His Spirit, and confirmed by wisdom and the Body of Christ. His voice never contradicts Scripture, always points to Christ, and produces humility, holiness, and peace. Test every inner impression by the Word and by the fruit it bears, the way the Bereans tested even the teaching of the apostles.
Not a summary of these passages: the passages themselves. Read them, then come back to the study below.
The study
What the Scripture says
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God's clearest voice is His word
If you want to know God's voice, begin where He has certainly spoken. Paul says all Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness. The psalmist calls it a lamp to the feet and a light to the path. And Jesus describes His people as sheep who hear His voice and follow: the Shepherd speaks, God spoke through the prophets, and in these last days He has spoken through His Son.
Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
God, having in the past spoken to the fathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, has at the end of these days spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds.God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
John warns us plainly: 'don't believe every spirit, but test the spirits.' Even in the Old Testament, a prophet who turned the people from God was to be refused regardless of signs and wonders. The Bereans examined the Scriptures daily to check even the apostles' teaching, and Paul said that even an angel preaching a different gospel was to be rejected. Any impression that fights the Bible is not His voice.
Beloved, don’t believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises in your midst you, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, “Let us go after other gods” (which you have not known) “and let us serve them”; you shall not listen to the words of that prophet, or to that dreamer of dreams; for Yahweh your God is testing you, to know whether you love Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul.If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of the mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you any “good news” other than that which we preached to you, let him be cursed.But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
The natural person does not receive the things of the Spirit, for they are spiritually discerned; but the Spirit searches the deep things of God and gives us the mind of Christ. Jesus promised the Spirit would guide His people into all truth and glorify Him. The same Spirit who inspired the word also opens it to us, so that what is read becomes heard.
But to us, God revealed them through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
Now the natural man doesn’t receive the things of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to him, and he can’t know them, because they are spiritually discerned.But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
“For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he should instruct him?” But we have Christ’s mind.For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
However when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth, for he will not speak from himself; but whatever he hears, he will speak. He will declare to you things that are coming.Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
He will glorify me, for he will take from what is mine, and will declare it to you.He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
God's leading is not usually a lone, unverifiable impression. James says if you lack wisdom, ask. Paul tells us not to quench the Spirit, yet also to test all things and hold firmly to what is good. Plan to weigh an impression against the wisdom of mature believers, and notice the fruit: what is true, honorable, and pure, letting the peace of Christ rule in your heart.
But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach; and it will be given to him.If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
Don’t quench the Spirit. Don’t despise prophesies. Test all things, and hold firmly that which is good.Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, think about these things. The things which you learned, received, heard, and saw in me: do these things, and the God of peace will be with you.Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
The Spirit's voice glorifies Christ, and it produces His fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. God's voice never whispers you into pride, fear, or sin; it leads to humble obedience. We know that we know Him, John says, if we keep His commandments. The voice that tells you to walk as Christ walked, toward love and holiness, is the voice worth following.
He will glorify me, for he will take from what is mine, and will declare it to you.He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
he who says he remains in him ought himself also to walk just like he walked.He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Now the natural man doesn’t receive the things of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to him, and he can’t know them, because they are spiritually discerned.But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Don’t quench the Spirit. Don’t despise prophesies. Test all things, and hold firmly that which is good.Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
Beloved, don’t believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.