Jesus said …
My sheep hear My Voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. John 10:27
God’s Voice…
The voice of the Lord is powerful;
the voice of the Lord is full of majesty. Psalms 29:4
How does one hear His Voice today?
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. John 14:26
Who immerses you with the Holy Spirit?
John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He (Jesus) will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Luke 3:16
What does this baptism do?
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. Romans 8:14
But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. 1 John 2:20
Anointed = unction (Greek word Chrisma) [This anointing functions through faith (pístis), i.e. God inwardly persuading the believer of His preferences.] This anointing in the OT times was smeared on, an ointment, usually prepared by the Hebrews from oil and aromatic herbs. Anointing was the inaugural ceremony for priests, kings, and prophets.
How does this work now?
By the baptism of the Holy Spirit. We then ‘know’ Him inwardly, in our hearts and minds. Can you hear Him? It’s His ‘knowledge’ and inward Voice that should lead you.
So then what is the “Word” of God?
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Romans 10:17
Here the ‘Word’ is the Greek word Rhema. Rhḗma (from /rhéō, “to speak”) – a spoken word, made “by the living voice”. Rhḗma (“spoken-word”) is commonly used in the NT for the Lord speaking His dynamic, living word in a believer to in-birth faith (“His inwrought persuasion”).
Rhema and Logos have different nuances of meaning. When you read the word “Word” in scripture know which one is being used.
This is the Voice of God THROUGH the Holy Spirit which indwells within us when we are baptized with the Holy Spirit by Jesus.
The word “Word” can also be Logos= a word, speech, divine utterance, analogy. This is what we now commonly refer to as scripture / the written Word / what we now think of as the printed Bible.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Real unity in the Body of Christ can ONLY come through the Holy Spirit. This means EVERYONE listening to Him and not human voices for instructions. So when the ‘pastor’ or spiritual leader becomes the source of teaching and the one giving instructions it SHOULD be confirmation from what the Holy Spirit has ALREADY been saying to the Body of Christ each individually. If the ekklesia (members of the congregation) aren’t hearing the Rhema Word for themselves — then they are not being led by the Spirit of God. Unfortunately this is the case in most institutional American Churches today.
This is why the spiritual immaturity and lack of intimacy with the Holy Spirit has made the American Church anemic and weak, and why the Church now bows to the government (501c3) and culture. They compromise thinking money is more powerful than the fear of God. SO many spiritual leaders now worship money and power more than God. But this is not new, as it has been a strategy from the enemy since the beginning. See the Church as the building not the people in it. See the spiritual leaders as ABOVE the followers, not as one of them.
When all of face our final judgment before God — we will have no excuses. We will not be able to point to anyone else — as we had the final choice as to whom to follow and listen to.
Who will you listen to today? What is the Holy Spirit saying to you? What is He asking you to do today? What’s your real priority? What should it be?