The Voice Within: Hearing the Holy Spirit
Pastor Victoria Sowell
The idea of hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit is something that has stirred curiosity and longing in countless believers. How do we tune our ears and hearts to the Spirit’s leading? How do we distinguish His whispers from our own thoughts or the noise of the world? These are questions worth wrestling with, because living without the Spirit leaves us in only partial fulfillment of the life God designed for us. Click the link above for the full message.
The Holy Spirit: More Than an Afterthought
The Holy Spirit is not a backup plan or a lesser part of God’s story. He is not Christ’s understudy, waiting in the wings to take on a supporting role. He is fully God, equal in the Trinity, given as a gift so that we can live the life we were created to live.
To live a Spirit-filled life is to live with divine help and power. Without His guidance, we miss much of what God longs to reveal. When we ignore the Spirit, we risk reducing faith to human effort, but with Him, we find strength, guidance, and truth that go far beyond what we can manage on our own.
A Helper for Love and Obedience
Jesus said in John 14:15–17 (NIV):
“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth.”
Love and obedience are inseparable. We cannot claim to love Jesus while rejecting His way. Yet, living in obedience is not something we are expected to figure out alone. The Holy Spirit steps in as our Advocate, Champion, and Defender.
This means:
He empowers us to love when love feels hard.
He protects us from destruction and sin.
He reveals truth when the world distorts it.
The Spirit of Truth is invisible to the world, but always available to us. Instead of relying only on our own abilities, we are invited to lean into His strength.
The Spirit Reveals Jesus to Us
Jesus told His disciples in John 14:18–21 (NIV):
“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you… Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
This promise offers belonging and identity. Through the Spirit, we are not left alone but are folded into God’s family as children and heirs. The Spirit ensures that Jesus is continually revealed to us—not just as words on a page, but as a living reality.
Faith is not meant to remain theoretical. Through the Spirit, it becomes an experience: comfort when we are discouraged, conviction when we are straying, and reassurance when we feel abandoned.
Romans 8:16–17 (NIV) confirms this:
“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ…”
We are not orphans in this faith. We belong.
The Spirit Teaches and Reminds
John 14:26 (NIV) states:
“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
One of the most vital roles of the Spirit is teaching and reminding. Our memories are fragile, easily colored by emotions, pain, or personal narratives. The Spirit corrects distortions, making sure we remember truth as it was given, not as we’ve re-shaped it.
This requires a teachable spirit. If pride or stubbornness closes our hearts, we miss the guidance that could lead us back into truth. Becoming “teachable, healable, and reachable” allows the Spirit to reshape us continually.
Paul affirms this in 1 Corinthians 2:10 (NIV):
“These are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.”
The Holy Spirit draws us deeper, teaching us what we could never discover on our own.
The Spirit Prepares Us for What’s Ahead
In John 16:1–4, Jesus warned His disciples that hardship and persecution were coming. These words weren’t to frighten them but to prepare them. In the same way, the Spirit doesn’t only comfort us in the present—He equips us for the future.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said, “The Holy Spirit makes us certain in the face of uncertainty, preparing us to stand when we cannot see the outcome.”
Faith in Christ doesn’t remove trials. In fact, obedience often brings opposition. Yet, the Spirit whispers courage, strengthens us emotionally, and provides discernment. He gives us a “knowing” that doesn’t always provide details but instills trust that God has already seen what is ahead.
Isaiah 30:21 (NIV) puts it this way:
“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’”
Practical Steps to Hear the Spirit
Hearing the Spirit isn’t about perfection. It’s about daily surrender and creating room for Him to speak. We don’t stumble into this life—it requires intention.
Here are four steps to help cultivate a life attuned to the Spirit:
Create space and slow down. The Spirit speaks in quiet, not in chaos.
Address distractions and input. What voices drown Him out in your life?
Read the Word and discern in community. Scripture and trusted relationships ground us.
Ask and expect to hear. God delights in revealing Himself when we seek Him with open hearts.
The Spirit is faithful to guide when we make room to listen.
Why This Matters for Your Everyday Life
Living guided by the Spirit changes how we approach every moment. Instead of striving in our own strength, we learn to listen, respond, and rest in the presence of God within us. The Spirit leads us into truth, reveals Jesus, equips us for trials, and helps us love and obey with endurance.
What if we started each day with simple questions like, “Holy Spirit, what do you want me to remember today? Where do you want me to walk?” The answer might not come in a dramatic way, but it will come. And often, that gentle nudge is exactly what we need.
Further Reading
Other Links
Want to hear more? Check out last week’s message titled Knowing the Shepherd’s Voice on Youtube.
Explore additional resources for your walk with God at www.viewchurch.co/resources.