Rhemalight

THIS IS THAT: PART 2-They Shall See Visions (B) Revelations and Visions- You Hear

by Hillary Turyagyenda

The second type of revelation is when one hears. This may take one of two forms - hearing the still small voice or hearing the authoritative voice of the Holy Spirit. Once when Elijah was in a cave there was an earthquake then a fire, and then, as it says, a still small voice (1Kings19:11-13). The Lord was not in the other things but in the still small voice. The still small voice is just that - a voice. It is more definite but also mild and easily missable. If everything were rumbling all around you, it is likely you wouldn’t hear it. One would need to learn to be still more often to hear the still small voice hence the Psalmist says, He leads me beside the still waters…Of course that probably implies rest but it could also mean that He leads where things are still and calm so you can be still and calm.

Another word used for this still small voice is conscience. As someone has said, conscience is the voice of your spirit. Just like the outward man has a voice, the inward man also has a voice. 2Cor.4:16. The inward man knows things that concern you.

1Corinthians 2:

11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

He is in communion with the Spirit so He knows things about you as the Spirit cause him to know them. But the inward man also knows things that you have hidden inside you by your own will. For example vows. If you vowed to do something, whether or not the Lord told you to do it, your conscience will press you to do it.

Conscience is that property of the Spirit by which it judges right from wrong. The three properties of the spirit are: devotion, intuition and conscience. Distinguishing right from wrong is a quality that changes with the amount of light someone has. One who knows only that vegetables are allowed to be eaten is permitted by conscience to only eat vegetables. Rom.14:2. One who knows that all things are lawful is permitted by conscience to eat meat. Rom.14:2. To eat against conscience is sin. To that extent one is doing whatever one is doing without faith. Whatever is not of faith is sin. Rom.14:23.

Paul spoke about walking in all good conscience. Acts 23:1. Also he said that this did not justify him. 1Cor.4:4. He knew His conscience was clear but he also admitted he could nevertheless be wrong. To the degree that he did not have enough light on an issue to that degree there was a possibility he could be in error. A good conscience or a clear conscience is one that does ‘tells’ you there is nothing wrong. Paul also spoke of the possibility one having a seared conscience - one that had been unheeded so much that it had become numb. 1Tim.4:2; Eph.4:19. To keep a tender conscience one has to be quick to repent and quick to forgive.

One who walks like this will easily hear that voice where it relates to a revelation whether for personal guidance or for the purpose of ministry. What once would know by a mere perception may come in this form of something spoken within. As Jesus perceived they thought such and such your spirit might tell you they thought such and such. As Paul perceived the man at Lystra had faith your spirit might say the man has faith. In these cases you are hearing something from within rather than just having a premonition or an urge. The next level of hearing is hearing the authoritative voice of the Holy Spirit. When the Spirit speaks to you directly, to quote the late Kenneth E. Hagin, it sounds audible and it is more authoritative. It is so succinct; it leaves no doubt as to what is said. Again he points out that this kind of spectacular leading often precedes a great test.

Acts 10:10-20

10  And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,

11  And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:

12  Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.

13  And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.

14  But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.

15  And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

16  This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

17  Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate,

18  And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.

19  While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.

20  Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.

This was a bona fide revelation. It shows just how the Spirit speaks authoritatively. Peter had no doubt about what to do because it was definite and straight to the point.

He got revelation that there were men at the door seeking him. He got revelation that they were three in number. He got revelation that the Lord had sent them. He had no other way of knowing this from the natural standpoint other than that the Lord told him. The Spirit told him to go with them doubting nothing. He needed that boldness to take him the whole distance. This was about to turn into a very controversial undertaking. The Jews did not go into the houses of gentiles. Peter was later brought on the carpet to answer for doing this. If the Lord had not spoken to him definitely he was going to find himself in a corner he could not easily come out of.

Acts 13:1-2

1  Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

2  As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

As these believers were waiting on the Lord the Spirit spoke to them. It is probable that one of the individuals heard him and spoke to others and they conferred with what he said in their own spirits. Or maybe He spoke and all heard Him at once. However it brought revelation - they got to know that the Lord had already called these individuals to a special work which He was now separating them to. Again this was so definite that they had no doubt it was God. Of course it says they prayed and fasted some more then laid hands on them; and sent them away.

It is arguable that when it says in the Old Testament that the word of the Lord came unto me saying.., this is the form that it took. It was so clear to them they could not second guess it. That is why they could definitely say it was the word of the Lord. Probably it also sounded audible. We say the authoritative voice of the Spirit ‘sounds’ audio and not that it is literally audible. If it were then other people standing by would also have heard it. They did not.

Jeremiah 2:1-2

1  Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

2  Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.

The word came so surely it was not left to doubt whether he had spoken or not. It is probable it was like that because the prophets had to face much more rejection and testing than today. Often there was one man in a whole nation who was devoted to God. All the rest were in disobedience. The prophets needed to have very definite leadings from the Lord in order to be bold to face the people. In some areas the Lord will also lead us thus to make it easier for us to withstand upcoming tests.