Fall 1994

Hearing His Voice
Wade E Taylor

"The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear
the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes
from and where it goes. So is everyone who is
born of the Spirit" John 3:8 NKJ.

The Holy Spirit, described as "wind" moves according to His desire and purpose, independent of human control or intention.

We know when "wind" is present, because we "hear the sound of it." Likewise, we are to "hear" and "follow" the Holy Spirit according to His desire and intention.

Nicodemus had asked Jesus if this experience of being born again could be compared to being "birthed from a womb," which process he understood. Jesus answered, "No, it is like being birthed of the wind." That is, this birthing is in a higher realm which you do not understand, but can enter.

"That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that
which is born of the spirit is spirit" John 3:6.

In John 20:22, we read that Jesus breathed on the disciples and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit." He expected a response in the spiritual, or heavenly realm.

Our spiritual hearing has to do with our ability to respond to this higher moving of the Holy Spirit. Our spiritual hearing is foundational to our communion and on-going relationship with the Lord. We must cultivate this ability to hear spiritually, for it does not come all at once.

No matter how many times we have heard and responded to the voice of the Lord, we always feel that our hearing should be sharper, and more precise than it is. The Lord greatly desires that we clearly hear from Him, whenever He may speak.

"Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of
Thy waterspouts" Psalm 42:7a.

As we develop our ability to hear, this "noise" gradually takes the form of understandable words that communicate information and direction. In the early days of the Pentecostal movement, the idea of worship was that everyone shouted as loud as they could. It was but "noise" to those who did not understand. Any attempt by the Lord to speak was lost in the zeal and volume of that level of worship. There was no harmony or corporate worship as we know it today, which releases His presence and Word.

But how do we begin to hear?

"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man
hear my voice, and open the door ..." Rev 3:20a.

We cultivate our hearing as we respond in obedience to His voice. He is knocking. Our part is to listen and respond. As we do so, our understanding of His voice will gradually become clear until the "noise" has become a song.

"The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the
learned, that I should know how to speak a word
in season to him that is weary: He wakeneth
morning by morning, He wakeneth mine ear to
hear as the learned" Isa 50:4.

Jesus said, "Let him that hath an ear hear." He was not speaking of the natural ear, but of our inner spiritual ear. He is saying that each of us has the potential for spiritual hearing within us, but we must cultivate the ability to hear on this level of spirituality.

This is a gradual process. Thus, "He wakeneth morning by morning, He wakeneth mine ear to hear." In the beginning this hearing may seem as "noise." Because we are not receiving a clear word, it is easy for us to become discouraged and give up. However, the Lord knows that we do not understand, and He will patiently work with us until we begin to hear clearly.

As we continue "morning by morning" in this cultivation process, the voice of the Lord will become progressively clearer and clearer.

This idea of being "awakened" is not like being awakened by an alarm clock (although He does awaken us at times). Rather, it is the gradual awakening of our spirit to respond, hear, and function in the realm of the Holy Spirit. We are being awakened out from the natural functions of life into the spiritual.

If "morning by morning" we continue to wait upon Him, we will begin to hear and understand His voice. Then we will move according to His desire and purpose, as we follow the "wind" of God.