In this sermon, we continue our series on 1 John by exploring how to discern the voice of the Holy Spirit. 1 John 4:1-6 teaches us the importance of testing the voices we hear in the world around us in order to recognize the voice of the Holy Spirit. John provides three ways to test these voices: First, hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit begins with knowing that we are His beloved, as God speaks to us through the Holy Spirit in the way a father speaks to a beloved child. When we listen for God's voice, are we hearing one of condemnation and rejection, or one of acceptance and love? Second, we must assess whether the voice is consistent with the Gospel, remembering that the Holy Spirit's voice will always affirm Jesus' identity as the Son of God. Finally, we compare what we hear to the voice of God in the Bible; the more we read and listen to Scripture, the more familiar we will become with the voice of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives. All of this is intended to help us enjoy a flourishing relationship with Jesus, as He walks with us daily and speaks to us through the Holy Spirit.
