Alternate Tuesday
7.00 pm to 8.00 pm
Bible Study Time
How to Recognize God’s Voice Pt. 3
Job 33:14-15
14For God speaks in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive it.15In a dream, in a vision of the night. when deep sleep falls on men, while they slumber on their beds, 16then he opens the ears of men and terrifies them with warnings, 17that he may turn man aside from his deed and conceal pride from a man; 18he keeps back his soul from the pit, his life from perishing by the sword.
“For God speaks in one way, and in two…”
Dreams – There are approximately 21 recorded dreams in the Bible given to various individuals through history. In most times it serves the purpose of divine guidance, warnings and prophecy.
I believe God uses dream to communicate to both saved and unsaved humans. As Job’s friend (Elihu) said, its meant to lead us away from danger vs.16-18
Joesph's dream revealed his future (Gen. 37:5-11). Pharoah’s dream revealed and saved Egypt’s future (Gen. 41:1-32).
Dreams are not always literal but packed with divine messages. It comes also with a sense of perceiving and goes through the same check of a greenlight of peace or a redlight of a hunch or restlessness, warning of danger ahead – call to pray.
Some dreams, however, are psychological. Eccl. 5:3�
Visions: The Hebrew verb "chazah" primarily means to see or behold, often with a sense of perceiving or understanding something beyond the physical sight.
While dreams occur during sleep, visions occur while awake.
Ezekiel saw visions of the glory of God, dry bones, and a new temple (Ezekiel 1, 10, 37, 40-48). Daniel saw Visions of four beasts, the Ancient of Days, and end-time prophecies.
Peter saw a vision of the sheet with unclean animals (Gentile inclusion). John saw the most extensive biblical vision, including end-times, heaven, and Christ’s return.
What’s Unique About How God Speaks to Us?
God’s communication methods are varied, personal, and purposeful.
Mary & Joseph – Same tribe, same house, engaged (married) but God communicated differently to them about the circumstances surrounding the birth of Jesus.
He Chooses the Best Method for Each Person
Speaking God’s will, strategies, instructions to foretell God’s plan, judgment and the coming messiah (OT).
Strengthening, encouraging, and guiding the church and revealing Christ as the fulfillment.
Acts 21:8-9 8On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. 9He had four unmarried daughters, who prophesied.
Greek /Prophéteuó/: to speak forth by divine inspiration, to predict. speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, often for the edification, exhortation, and comfort of the church (1 Corinthians 14:3).
Note: Every believer can prophesy – Joel 2:28, Acts 2:17
It is a spiritual gift given to some for the edification of the church
There is a calling to function in the office of a prophet, to foretell and forth-tell. ��Acts 21: 10 10While we were staying for many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘This is how the Jewsc at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’”
Prov.11:14,
"Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.
God speaks through wise counsel and godly advisors. This usually comes through years of experience with God. Seeing the rise and fall of many in the kingdom and advising or warning for the young inexperience one to avert the same danger.
Godly Counselors Bring Clarity in Decision-Making
In Acts 15, the apostles and elders gathered to discern God's will regarding Gentile believers. Instead of relying on a single voice, they sought wisdom collectively—a direct application of Proverbs 11:14.
King Rehoboam rejected wise counsel and chose foolish advisors, leading to the division of Israel (1 Kings 12:6-16).
1Kings 12:6-8
6Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men, who had stood before Solomon his father while he was yet alive, saying, “How do you advise me to answer this people?” 7And they said to him, “If you will be a servant to this people today and serve them, and speak good words to them when you answer them, then they will be your servants forever.” 8But he abandoned the counsel that the old men gave him and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him and stood before him.
10And the young men who had grown up with him said to him, “Thus shall you speak to this people who said to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you lighten it for us,’ thus shall you say to them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s thighs. 11And now, whereas my father laid on you a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.’”
This led to the division of the kingdom. Judah and Benjamin rose to fight with Israel their brother.
Even Paul, after his vision of Jesus, did not act alone—he sought confirmation from Ananias and later the apostles (Acts 9:10-19, Galatians 1:18-19).
Practical Application
1Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. 4Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. 6We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
Prov. 20:18�18Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war. (KJV)