• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Anchored in Christ

KevinHalloran.net

  • Home
  • About Me
    • Contact
  • Popular Posts
  • Speaking
  • Resources
    • The Gospel
    • Free Prayer Tools
    • 100+ Book Recommendations for Christians
    • 100+ of the Best Christian Biographies
    • 250+ Free Online Seminary Classes, Courses, Programs, and Book Recommendations
    • Accessible Theology Book Series
  • When Prayer Is a Struggle
  • Videos
  • Español

Kevin / February 7, 2014

How to Hear the Holy Spirit: Voice of God or Something Else?

how-to-hear-the-holy-spirit-john-piper

The Bible makes it clear that God has a plan for our lives and promises to guide us. Sometimes His guidance comes through the Scriptures, through other people, and sometimes by hearing directly from His Spirit. Isaiah 30:21 describes God guiding His people through the Spirit:

And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.

This is an amazing promise: God wants to guide us in what we do, how we live, and where we go. But how can we be certain that the voice we hear is the Holy Spirit and not our own? And how can we discern the Spirit’s voice in a group setting?

In A Hunger For God: Desiring God Through Fasting and Prayer, John Piper encourages readers to emulate the prayer, worship, and fasting of the disciples in Acts 13:1-4. Paul and Barnabas were worshipping with some brothers and the Spirit directly spoke, sending Paul and Barnabas out to the mission field. The idea of the Spirit’s leading is an encouraging one, but also one that has the potential to be abused.

How can believers test subjective impressions of the Spirit like this one? John Piper shares a few thoughts:

a-hunger-for-God-desiring-God-fasting-prayer-John-PiperFirst, we observe that in Acts 13:2 the Spirit spoke to five teachers and prophets as a group. Of course, the Spirit could speak to one person alone. But it would seem wise to say, where more people are obliged by a word from the Spirit, more people are informed about it by the Spirit…

Second, the normative guidance in the New Testament follows the pattern of Romans 12:2, “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” This need not rule out the unusual impulses and impressions from the Lord, but it does suggest that the renewed “mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16), shaped by the word of Christ, and permeated by the Spirit of Christ will hold sway in the interplay of subjective impression vs. spiritual reflection.

Third, the claim to have an impression from the Lord would need to conform to the teaching of Scripture, either to specific texts if any is immediately relevant, or to the tenor, spirit, and trajectory as a whole…

Fourth, the misuse of Scripture to support otherwise biblical impressions will give sober Christians pause…[The Spirit] inspired the Scriptures and would, it seems, handle them according to the meaning that he gave them in the first place…

Fifth, the larger track record of the person speaking is relevant. How accurately and helpfully has he or she discerned with such impressions before?…How stable and reliable is the person in general?
(pages 113-114)

Print Friendly, PDF & EmailPrint Friendly

Related Posts

  • What are the Five Most Important Issues of Worldview Thinking?What are the Five Most Important Issues of Worldview Thinking?
  • Top Articles of 2018Top Articles of 2018
  • 6 Effective Approaches to Evangelism6 Effective Approaches to Evangelism
  • A List of Sermons in the Book of ActsA List of Sermons in the Book of Acts
  • Getting Beyond the Kind of Bible Reading That’s a Complete Waste of TimeGetting Beyond the Kind of Bible Reading That’s a Complete Waste of Time

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Print

Filed Under: Prayer

Primary Sidebar

Let’s Connect

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Now Available in Paperback, Kindle, and Audiobook

Recent Posts

  • When You Fear God Doesn’t Hear Your Prayers
  • Top Links for January 2022
  • God’s Sovereignty Should Fuel Prayer, Not Hinder It
  • The Best of 2022
  • What does “the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective” mean?
  • Top 10 Books I’ve Read in 2022
  • A Free Worksheet to Organize Your Prayer Life
  • Pray the Bible: A Free Video Course on Prayer
  • Recommended Links for November 2022
  • Book Briefs (Fall 2022)

Blog Sponsors

Blog Categories

Bible & Theology Books & Reviews Christian Living Culture Evangelism Humor Leadership Life Links Marriage & Relationships Ministry Missions Prayer Quotes Resources Social Media & Technology






Footer

About Me

I serve with Open the Bible. I wrote When Prayer Is a Struggle: A Practical Guide for Overcoming Obstacles in Prayer (P&R). Learn more about the book.

Learn More

Let’s Connect!

Follow me on Facebook

Follow me on Twitter

Follow me on Instagram

Subscribe to my channel on YouTube

Videos: When Prayer Is a Struggle

FTC Disclosure of Material Connection: I sometimes share affiliate links, meaning if you make a purchase through a link, I make a small commission at no extra cost to you to cover blogging expenses.

Copyright © 2023 · Digital Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

 

Loading Comments...
 

    loading Cancel
    Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
    Email check failed, please try again
    Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.