I just returned from a mission trip to China and one of the things that I heard a lot from our missionary contacts was the importance of hearing God's voice. Every time they talked about this topic I listened closely to try and get an understanding of exactly what they meant by "hearing from God". I don't think that they did mean that they were receiving new revelation from God that is outside of God's written word but I honestly couldn't quite nail down what they meant.
Does anyone have an idea on what some modern evangelicals mean when they talk about hearing God's voice? I myself have never audibly heard the voice of God. I know Jesus says that "My sheep hear My voice" (John 10:27) and my understanding is that the Lord is speaking of how only His chosen ones will understand what He says and will be guided by His word and by the Holy Spirit given to them. Do you think that this is a right understanding of how we as Christ's sheep hear the voice of our Shepherd?
On the other hand, could it be true that God still speaks to us today, whether in an audible voice or with some other sort of communication? I honestly don't know the answer to this question. Certainly if anyone says they heard God tell them something that runs contrary to holy scripture, than it's safe to say they didn't actually hear from God. But if someone tells you that God told them to be a missionary, how should we understand that, as a direct revelation from God, or the leading of the Holy Spirit?
What is your opinion on this?
Does anyone have an idea on what some modern evangelicals mean when they talk about hearing God's voice? I myself have never audibly heard the voice of God. I know Jesus says that "My sheep hear My voice" (John 10:27) and my understanding is that the Lord is speaking of how only His chosen ones will understand what He says and will be guided by His word and by the Holy Spirit given to them. Do you think that this is a right understanding of how we as Christ's sheep hear the voice of our Shepherd?
On the other hand, could it be true that God still speaks to us today, whether in an audible voice or with some other sort of communication? I honestly don't know the answer to this question. Certainly if anyone says they heard God tell them something that runs contrary to holy scripture, than it's safe to say they didn't actually hear from God. But if someone tells you that God told them to be a missionary, how should we understand that, as a direct revelation from God, or the leading of the Holy Spirit?
What is your opinion on this?