Introduction: Hearing God's Voice (Part 1)

We live in a culture, especially those who are within the Church today prefer to "literally" hearing God's voice within their own human spirit. Does the Bible clearly teach that the human spirit is the candlestick by which God communicate such biblical truth? What is the basis of such "inward" voice of the spirit? Does such "inward" voice within a person's human spirit validate such truth claim that is outside the boundaries of God's Word? These are a sample of many questions that must be asked concerning those who claim that they can "literally" hear from God. The most distributing of many "Christian" mystics is their determination by convincing the Church today is that what they experience by hearing God's voice are real "authentic" experience by which they have had a conversation with God (Col. 2:18, 19).

  As we begin to look at by studying John 10:4 where it says, "When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice." (NIV)  There is quite a bit within this particular passage of scripture that deserves that of our attention. We must pay attention to every word within that of this particular Bible passage (2 Pet. 1:19b).  These are the words spoken by Jesus Christ by which it is also important to take heed to very word of Christ. In order to understand John 10:4 is to (1) reading properly God's Word. And (2) properly interpreting God's Word in light of scripture (2 Tim. 2:15; 1 Cor. 2:13). So, let's begin by reading slowly that of this particular verse in John 10:4 where it says, "When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice." First, let's begin by looking at the first part of John 10:4 by which it says, "When he has brought out all his own..." Those of us who are chosen by God's election of grace are saved by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ (John 6:38, 44; Eph. 2:8-9). As the "truly" elect God has saved us unto Himself by bringing us out of the world (Jn. 15:1ff).  The Lord knows those who are His. He that name the name of Christ depart from iniquity. Those who claim to receive "special" knowledge or spiritual "revelation are not those who have been "truly" elected by God's election of grace. Such professing believers makes such outward profession of faith by which they personally do not know Savior (Matt. 7:15-20). 

  Also, according to John 10:4b where it also says, "he (Christ) goes on ahead of them,..." Jesus Christ is the True Shepherd to those whom God has chosen unto His election of grace. Christ who is the true Shepherd goes ahead of His sheep by leading them into green pasture. There are many professing Christian teachers attempt is to lead the Church into such spiritual "terrain" by which many of God's people faith have been spiritually shipwrecked (2 Tim. 2:17, 18). False spiritual leaders are wolves in sheep's clothing by which they are presumptuously and reckless as to their moral lives and teachings. Not only is Christ leads that of His sheep ("elect"), but, that His sheep follow that of Christ's lead. As long as the sheep follow Christ they can be protected from the ravenous wolves of false teachers.

  Also, therefore, according to John 10:4c as a result of God's people following the true Shepherd is that as a result they know the Shepherd's voice.  When it comes to hearing the voice of a false spiritual leaders is that according to John 10:5 where it says, "But they will not follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." (Ezek. 34) It is so important for God's elect to know the truth of God's Word so as to detect truth from error (Jn. 18:37; 1 Jn. 4:6). The "truly" elect of God who are saved by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ have a "unction" from the holy One by which they know all things pertaining to the truth of God's Word (1 Jn. 2:24). The "anointing" of the Holy Spirit by which the Spirit indwells all believers is similar to a smoke "detector" by which they are able to detect the truth concerning those who distort the truth of God's Word (1 Jn. 2:24-26).  The Church possess such true spiritual knowledge as oppose to false teachers who possess such "fleshly" knowledge (Col. 1:9-10 in contrast to Col. 2:18, 19).

  There are many professing Christian teachers in the professing church today who have greatly perverted that of John 10: 4 where it says, "they know His voice." Such professing believers interpret this phrase by saying that in order to hear God's voice is to positioned one own self by hearing God's still small voice within a person's spirit. As the Church "meditate" upon God's Word is that God through the Holy Spirit speaks "directly" and clearly so as to hear God's speak through God's Word. The problem with this statement made by those who promote that of hearing God's voice within their human spirit is that (1) such biblical concept as hearing God's voice have been systematically "redefine" within the cultural context of the mystics mystical worldview (Col. 2:8). And, that (2) also have been given "new" concepts and radically different meanings by which it not according to the standard definition of the Bible. In order to strip the Christian mystics of its most powerful arsenal is to insist that they define Christian biblical terminology according to the standard definition of the Bible in light of God's Word (Acts 17:11 with 1 Jn. 4:1). The average churchgoer, Christian, new convert are not skilled in being able to discern the semantic jungle of the play of words, psychological ploy, and manipulation of those who preoccupy the most powerful platform within contemporary evangelicalism (2 Cor. 11:3).
  The widespread concept and teaching of hearing God's voice within a person's human spirit has reached to such epidemic proportion throughout many Christian bookstores, social media, churches, and Faith conventions that has in fact theologically wrecked the spiritual lives of God's people. It is a pancreas that has also infected that of mainstream Christianity and "liberal" mainline denominations with its cult like Gnostic tendencies and inclination (2 Tim. 2:17, 18). It is also a theology that is based upon a "hybrid" of mysticism, irrationality of faith, and the necessity to commit such intellectual suicide at the expense of such reasonableness of the Christian faith. We must love the Lord thy God will all of our mind, heart, and soul; not spirit. The candlestick of a person's spirit is not the avenue by which a person can perceive and understand biblical truth, but, it is the mind that has to be illumined by the Holy Spirit by which we can understand the truth of scripture. The Holy Spirit gives illumination; not revelation, nor inspiration within a person's spirit.
   Many times whenever the Church hear these pseudo teachers who sprout off about their own "new" revelations, personal prophecy, and prophetic utterance is to convince people that what they experience is "authentic" extraordinary experience by which they have had a conversation with God. They believe that based upon them receiving such "direct" divine revelation from God is also based upon humility, but, it is based upon such false humility by which they have seen something when they ain't seen nothing (Col. 2:18). Mysticism, asceticism, and legalism is at the heart of spiritual apostasy. The remedy of apostasy is God's divine judgment (Jude 8-10).
   Whenever professing Christians, the unsaved, and Christians alike persist in the error of their way by wanting to hear God's voice within their own human spirit by which to substitute God's Word is to travel down a dark path of mysticism (1 Tim. 4:1).
   The Church needs spiritual discernment in spiritually deceptive times. We must model that of the Bereans in that "they searched the scriptures daily to see if those things were so." (Acts 17:11)


Rev. Darryl L. Miller is president & Chairman of "Darryl Miller International Ministries" in Atlanta, Georgia and travels extensively throughout the United States and continents. Darryl is the best-selling author of his book, "The Prosperity Gospel: Where Did It Come From? Gnostic Source? Or Spiritual Revelation? He is also the Podcast Host of, "Ask Darryl" which airs regularly 24/7 @ www.spreaker.com/user/bishopoflyons.com. As a apologist, conference speaker, and lecturer he is in great demand both in the United States and around the world.  Darryl lives with his wife Vivian live outside metro Atlanta with their puppy "Little Baby."