FreshWater is the pastors mentoring fellowship God has given us to oversee here at Calvary. I meet once a month with pastors that come from Beaumont, Centerville, Austin and from around the Houston area. At our last session, I taught 14 ways that God communicates with human beings. It was suggested that I place this on my blog for others to be equipped in hearing the life-giving voice of God. These are ways that the Bible teaches us that God speaks to us. I pray they will help you become more aware of his presence and more attuned to his voice (John 10:27).
1. Circumstances / providence
a. Jonah
b. Luke 2:1-7 Joseph and Mary
c. Acts 16:7 “…they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them”
2. Counsel
a. Proverbs 22:19-20
b. Acts 15:19, 28-29
3. Conscience
a. Rom. 2:14-15
b. 1 Tim. 1:19
4. Prayer
a. James 1:5
5. People
a. Acts 10:19, 33 Peter comes to Cornelius’ house
b. Prophets
c. Ananias (Acts 9:17)
d. Personal words (1 Corinthians 14:3)
6. Spiritual encounters / dreams and visions
a. Dreams: Solomon, Jacob, Joseph, Peter, Paul
b. Gen. 28:12-16 Jacob’s ladder
c. Acts 10:10-13 Peter’s trance in Joppa
7. Thoughts
a. Amos 4:13 God makes known his ways to us through our thoughts
b. The Devil can do this also (2 Timothy 2:23-26; 2 Cor. 4:4)
c. Not all thoughts are from God and must be discerned
8. Creation and natural manifestations
a. Psalm 19:1-6 heavens
b. Romans 1:20 nature
c. John 12:28-29 thunder
9. Supernatural manifestations
a. Burning bush
b. Flood of Noah; flood over Egyptian army
c. Paul on the road to Damascus, a bright light
10. Bible
a. Romans 10:17 “…hearing comes through the Word of God”
b. 2 Tim. 3:15-17 the Word of God speaks to us for various purposes
11. Whisper / still small voice
a. 1 Kings 19:12-13 Elijah
b. Is. 30:21
12. Incarnation
a. Heb. 1:1-3 different ways God speaks, best through his Son
b. John 12:49 Jesus: My Father told me what to say
13. Spiritual gifts
a. 1 Cor. 12:8-11 words of knowledge, wisdom, prophecy, etc..
b. 1 Peter 4:10-11
14. Spiritual leaders in authority
a. Hebrews 13:7, 17
b. 1 Thess. 5:12
c. 2 Cor. 10:8
d. 1 Cor. 16:15-16
