HEAR

Your EARS shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left – Isaiah 30:21

Closely-linked with the ability to SEE into the spirit realm is the ability to HEAR; particularly, to “hear what the Spirit” and the Word of God are saying per season. The book of Revelations repeatedly echoes this warning: “He who has an ear, let him HEAR what the Spirit says…” (Rev. 2:29). The eye is the lamp of the body, because it allows light to come in (Mt.6:22-23). In the physical realm, the eye brings in a unique awareness of the reality around us distinct from what is received through the ears. There are things we would rather see than just hear. In the spirit realm however, the eyes and ears are complementary and equally important. A vision may be meaningless or misinterpreted without a voice; while a voice without a vision could lead to deception, as voices could emanate from various personalities or sources: God, your spirit, your mind, your body, other human beings, Satan, demons, spirits of deception and confusion, and lying spirits.

God speaks to human beings. From the beginning He wanted to have a personal, communicative relationship with men: “...they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day...” (Gen.3:8a). This is how He wants to relate to us today as well. He desires to walk and fellowship with His children; and we can know when we hear His Voice: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (Jh.10:27). Communication is the basis of relationship. We get to know a person by communicating with them: talking and listening. Apart from the Voice of God however, there are other voices that try to whisper into our ears. The three main voices that we can hear are: the voice of God, the voice of our own fleshly desires, and the voice of the Devil. But we are assured: “...and the sheep follow Him, for they know His voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers” (Jh.10:4b-5).

Appetites are the voices of the human body, while reasoning, feelings, and affections are the voices of the soul. Satan also feeds the soul with ideas, dreams, visions, and sensational but deceptive experiences. The voice of the human spirit is the conscience. You can train your spiritual ears to recognize God’s Voice above all the satanic deception, carnal confusion, and worldly noise. “But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Heb. 5:14). Although your own flesh can scream pretty loud, especially when you are under pressure, or you want something desperately, by practice and reason of use, you can discern whether what you hear is of God, your flesh, or the Devil – the great deceiver and father of lies. As you grow in God, you can objectively confirm that you are following the Holy Spirit and not another voice. Here are five basic ways to judge what you hear:

Scripture: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17).
The Holy Spirit speaking to your heart: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (Rom.8:14).

The Prophetic: “Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good” (I The. 5:19-21).
Godly counsel or confirmation: “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety” (Pro. 11:14); “…by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established” (Mt.18:16).

The Peace of God: “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful” (Col. 3:15).