Morning Star Lesson #5 in Hearing God's voice

The Voice of God seems like an elusive thing to many. How does one hear God? Let us first understand that God has spoken to Man in the past, and we “hear” Him by reading the scriptures. This is the beginning of hearing God; reading what He has already said to us.

Peter writes about hearing God during the Transfiguration wherein the Father spoke “This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.”(2 Pet 1:17-18). Peter and other disciples heard the audible voice of God. He uses this experience to explain to the saints that he and the rest of the Apostles do not follow “cleverly invented stories” (vs 16) but that they follow the leading of the Lord. Peter is addressing a very real concern many of us have when listening for the Lord to speak to us; are we inventing stories, or listening to our own imagination? How do we know it is God that is speaking to us?

Recently my husband was asked this question, and his answer was “We wait on the Lord.” I would like to expound on that, for it is in the next part of Peter’s writing. Here is the text;

And we have the word of the prophets more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.(2 Pet 19).

The word of God is like a light that shines, whether it is written or spoken. We have no understanding at first and are like the night, or darkness. But we should not let that deter us from paying attention, or holding on to what He is telling us. As the dawn comes, the light grows stronger. It is a time when the morning star may be seen. This illustrates holding onto what the Lord has told you when there has been little light, waiting for more light to come. We see this example in the church at Thyatira as the struggle between spiritual faithfulness and spiritual adultery. Those who overcame were given authority over the nations, and the morning star (Rev 2:26-28). God could trust them to hold onto all that they knew to be true until He brought more light to the subject.

Peter uses the word “until” to indicate that we are waiting for more light. We let our understanding take the back seat to the small amount of “light” we have, holding onto the light and waiting for more light (understanding) to come. The example of the sun rising, to shine on those in darkness, is used to illustrate how Jesus will rise and shine on us to “guide our feet” (Lk 1:78-79). We cannot have the guidance until we have enough light to “see” where we are going. If Jesus is the light, then what is the morning star?

In Revelation 22:16 Jesus tells us that “I am the Root and the Offspring of David (He was before and after David), and the bright Morning Star.” We know Jesus to be the Word of God (Rev 19:13), but here He is referring to prophecy, or the rhema word. We find the clue to what the Morning star is in the preceding sentence; “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches.” The testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy (Rev 19:10), and it is the Spirit of Prophecy which must rise in our hearts to give us understanding of what God says.

Jesus lives in us and certainly speaks to us. He also speaks prophetically to and through us. We must wait on Him for His full understanding. We must not succumb to spiritual adultery . . . being pulled aside by false teachings that would cause us to discard our personal relationship with the Lord . . . for our faithfulness will be rewarded by receiving the Voice of God in our hearts and minds. If we are sincere in our relationship with Jesus, He will share with us, for we are the desire of His heart.