I was asked this question the other day...

**Lordistruth** · Oct 5th 2009, 06:34 PM

A friend of mine was watching a special on Oprah wehre they were talking to some families that had apodted some Liberian children. The woman said that she could hear God telling her that she was supposed to apdot them, but she plugged her ears, shook her head, and and tried to say "no" but God kept telling her and she knew He was right.

He also brought up some times that people we know have moved out of the state, or changed jobs becuase, 'God told them too.'

He asked me the other day, what does God sound like, did they actually hear an audible command, or was it an involuntary thought that entered their head? What do people REALLY mean when they say that they heard God or that God told them to do somehting. How do people know the difference between God and the Devil telling them to do something? How do people know it's not just their own conciousness?

I didn't have any answers so I came here.

***Firefighter*** · Oct 5th 2009, 07:05 PM

Because it is usually something you have no interest in doing...

When God was dealing with me to preach, to say the very least, I was hesitant. the Lord "spoke" to me and it was as clear as an audible voice although it wasn't. I asked God to prove it (fleece theology, don't recommend it

). In the next week three almost complete strangers walked up to me and said the EXACT words at three different time and places that knew NOTHING about what had happened. One of the people I actually named in my challenge to God. After the third time, I have never doubted my calling again.

***Athanasius*** · Oct 5th 2009, 07:07 PM

My experience has been the same as Urban Missionaries. You clearly know when God is speaking, though it's an inaudible, audible voice. You just kinda know.

**Lordistruth** · Oct 5th 2009, 07:14 PM

So when you say 'speaking' we don't mean a verbal command, is it a feeling?

**TarHeelPreacher** · Oct 5th 2009, 11:55 PM

Originally Posted by Lordistruth

So when you say 'speaking' we don't mean a verbal command, is it a feeling?

I would call it more of an impression on your heart. A feeling sounds more "emotion-centered" and emotions can change. To me, an impression is something that God puts on your heart and mind and will not go away. When God "called" me to preach, it was a very strong impression that He validated through the Bible, prayer, and circumstances.

**webhead** · Oct 6th 2009, 12:06 AM

Originally Posted by TarHeelPreacher

When God "called" me to preach, it was a very strong impression that He validated through the Bible, prayer, and circumstances.

This is the correct answer.

If it's not verified through serious prayer and the scriptures, then it's not from God.

And if you are hearing audible voices, then you are very sensational to say the least. No offense meant by this, just the truth. The Holy Spirit is not an audible voice.

***tango*** · Oct 6th 2009, 01:12 AM

Originally Posted by Lordistruth

A friend of mine was watching a special on Oprah wehre they were talking to some families that had apodted some Liberian children. The woman said that she could hear God telling her that she was supposed to apdot them, but she plugged her ears, shook her head, and and tried to say "no" but God kept telling her and she knew He was right.

He also brought up some times that people we know have moved out of the state, or changed jobs becuase, 'God told them too.'

He asked me the other day, what does God sound like, did they actually hear an audible command, or was it an involuntary thought that entered their head? What do people REALLY mean when they say that they heard God or that God told them to do somehting. How do people know the difference between God and the Devil telling them to do something? How do people know it's not just their own conciousness?

I didn't have any answers so I came here.

God speaking could come in any number of ways. Sometimes it might literally be an audible voice (or even more bizarre, like Balaam's donkey in Numbers 22).

It could be a feeling deep inside that you need to be doing something. It could be words running through your head, it could be a succession of concepts in your head, it could be a word from someone else, it could be any number of things. What they will all have in common is a few things.

God will not tell you to do something that is in direct contravention of Scripture. If you think you hear God telling you to leave your spouse then the chances are pretty good that it isn't actually God. If something does appear to contradict Scripture then be extremely careful. It's not entirely unprecedented - Ezekiel was ordered to shave his head (Eze 5:1), in contravention of the law of Leviticus (Lev 19:27), but it's not something that is going to happen as a matter of routing.

It's generally pretty common for something to be confirmed by some other means. As an example you might think God is calling you to serve in the band at church. While you're giving it prayerful consideration someone might come up to you out of the blue and suggest you play in the band. Perhaps someone else says much the same thing.

It's also not uncommon for a calling to be something we don't naturally want to do. If God called someone to be a multimillionaire and spend their days driving exotic Italian supercars and drinking the finest wines it's unlikely they would resist. But often what God wants for us flies in the face of what we want for ourselves. And that's always a good test of where our loyalties really lie. It's also a good place for the devil to attack us - just as he challenged Eve in the garden by asking "Did God really say...?", so he will do the same to us. Does God really want us to leave behind a lucrative career / give our money away / go and work in an orphanage / whatever? What if we give up our safety net and then God lets us down? Can you really trust God?

If you're getting questions like that in your mind that could be a good sign the devil is trying to stop you doing something. And if the devil doesn't want you to do something, there's usually a good reason why.

**webhead** · Oct 6th 2009, 01:48 AM

Originally Posted by tango

Sometimes it might literally be an audible voice (or even more bizarre, like Balaam's donkey in Numbers 22).

In the ancient past, but not in today's dispensation, just to clear things up a bit.

***tango*** · Oct 6th 2009, 03:48 AM

Originally Posted by webhead

In the ancient past, but not in today's dispensation, just to clear things up a bit.

I've never heard a donkey speak and would be surprised if I ever did, but I wouldn't tell God how he may or may not speak to me.

**Denny606** · Oct 6th 2009, 04:30 AM

Gods voice is very audible to who he is speaking but not to those around him it is a very personal moment or impression that if you do as one previous poster said and pray about it,to be sure it is Gods will ,I put no limits on God's power or abilities,but I am also very careful about what Voice I follow after because there are seducing spirits in this world that will try to lead you the wrong way,Prayer and Scripture must confirm what you hear or are impressed upon to do or don't do it.That is just one humble opinion.I 'll end with this John 10 4And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

**webhead** · Oct 7th 2009, 03:38 AM

Originally Posted by tango

I've never heard a donkey speak and would be surprised if I ever did, but I wouldn't tell God how he may or may not speak to me.

You will never hear an animal speak in an audible voice in the 21st century.

God doesn't do this kind of thing in the NT dispensation. This was all OT style stuff.

***Athanasius*** · Oct 7th 2009, 06:14 AM

Originally Posted by webhead

You will never hear an animal speak in an audible voice in the 21st century.

God doesn't do this kind of thing in the NT dispensation. This was all OT style stuff.

Unfortunately, or is that fortunately? You aren't in a position to say such things on how God chooses to act. Unless you can explain to us all this magic formula which relegates things to certain 'dispensations'.

**RoguePastor** · Oct 7th 2009, 07:08 AM

My experience of hearing God speak to me is a bit different. I cal it getting thumped by God. When I read my bible and when I pray sometimes is feel like I just got bopped on the back of my head. Like God popped me one saying get to work. This began after I told God to speak plainly and not to make me guess at what He wants me to do. He took it seriously.

**third hero** · Oct 7th 2009, 03:10 PM

My experience is just like Urban and Xel. Shoerly after I had committed my life to Lord Jesus, THE VOICE, which I like to call Him, spoke to me. The Voice had such power and farmiliarity that I knew that it was God. The feeling I got matched the same feeling I get when I pray to Him with a clear head. The Voice is audible to me, but inaudible to everyone else.

This is why I know that God is real, it's well past belief, beyond faith. It's a reality to me, and I know that those who have had this experience feel the exact same way.