Revival Week 4

Personal revival requires a living, active relationship with God. If we want to grow closer to Him, we must learn to recognize His voice and respond when He speaks. God is not silent. He desires to guide His people, and Scripture gives us several ways we can recognize His direction in our lives.

1. God Speaks Through His Word

The primary way God speaks to us is through the Bible. The more familiar we become with God's Word, the more familiar we become with God's voice, His character, and His ways. When we spend time in Scripture, we begin to understand how God thinks and what pleases Him.

The book of Ephesians is a great example. God speaks to us about who we are in Christ, how we should live, how we should treat others, and how we can stand strong spiritually. God knows us personally, and through His Word He speaks truth to us in ways we can understand.

If we want to hear God's voice more clearly, we need to spend more time in God's Word. The better we know His Word, the better prepared we are to recognize His voice.

2. We Hear His Still, Small Voice

God also speaks personally to our hearts. Sometimes it is that quiet, still, small voice that directs us, corrects us, warns us, or encourages us to make the right decision.

However, God's voice will never contradict God's Word. The Bible becomes our standard for discerning what we believe we are hearing. If a thought or direction contradicts Scripture, it is not from God.

As our relationship with God grows, we become increasingly sensitive to His leading. Personal revival means slowing down enough to listen and being willing to obey when God speaks.

3. God Speaks Through Wise and Godly Counsel

God also uses other believers to provide wisdom and direction. Proverbs repeatedly teaches the importance of seeking wise counsel. Proverbs 11:14 teaches that there is safety in having many counselors, and Proverbs 15:22 tells us that plans can fail for lack of counsel but succeed when there are many advisers.

We should not isolate ourselves when making important decisions. God may use a pastor, mature Christian, spouse, friend, or other trusted believer to confirm something He is already showing us. Godly counsel should also agree with the principles of God's Word.

4. God Speaks Through His Peace

Another way God directs us is through His peace. Colossians 3:15 says, "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts." The idea of God's peace "ruling" carries the sense of allowing His peace to govern or guide our hearts. There are times when circumstances may be confusing and we do not have every answer, yet God gives us peace about the direction we should take. At other times, a lack of peace may cause us to slow down, pray more, and seek additional direction before moving forward. God's peace does not replace Scripture, prayer, or wisdom. Instead, it works together with them as we seek God's direction.

Hearing God Leads to Revival

Personal revival is not simply about hearing God—it is about responding to God.

God speaks through His Word.

God speaks through His still, small voice.

God speaks through wise and godly counsel.

God guides us through His peace.

But when God speaks, we have a decision to make: Will we obey?

Revival begins when we draw close enough to God to hear Him, become humble enough to receive what He says, and become obedient enough to act upon it.

Read His Word. Listen for His voice. Seek godly counsel. Follow His peace. And when God speaks—obey.

The more time we spend with God, the more familiar His voice becomes. And the more readily we respond to His voice, the more our lives can experience the personal revival God desires for us.