Hearing God, Jesus the Counselor 

John 10:1-6

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

Isaiah 9:6 

What are the qualities of a good counselor? 

They ask good questions. 

They listen empathetically. 

They engender openness. 

They know you intimately. 

They know your big-picture story.

They create a context for you to apply Scripture at your unique point of need.     

How does Jesus embody the qualities of a good counselor? 

The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.  

John 10:3 

So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. If anyone's will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.”

John 7:16-18 

I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.

John 10:14-15 

How do we recognize Jesus’ voice?

Quality 

Spirit 

Content 

Perhaps the rough distinction is this: the voice of the subconscious argues with you, tries to convince you; but the inner voice of God does not argue, does not try to convince you.  It just speaks, and it is self-authenticating.  It has the feel of the voice of God within it. --E. Stanley Jones 

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

James 3:17

Those who had seen Jesus had truly seen the Father, who shared the same Spirit.  It is the Spirit that marks the voice of God in our hearts.  Any word that bears an opposite spirit most surely is not the voice of God.  And because His voice bears authority within itself, it does not need to be loud or hysterical.  --Dallas Willard  

In summary, then, what we discern when we learn to recognize God’s voice in our heart is a certain weight or force, a certain spirit and certain content in the thoughts that come in God’s communication to us.  These three things in combination mark the voice of God.  To those well experienced in the way of Christ, these give great confidence and accuracy in living day to day as friends of Jesus and co-laborers with God in His kingdom. --Dallas Willard 

Application Points

1. Read the Bible Vertically

2. When reading the Bible, begin by inviting God to speak

Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
I Samuel 3:9

3. Reframe your purpose and language from the activity of Bible reading to communion with God

4. Don't rush through Bible reading; learn to slow down and be still

5. We must invite God to be our counselor; to shepherd our souls

6. Deconstruct the false voices in your mind