I DON’T THINK IT MEANS WHAT YOU THINK IT MEANS

Misusing John 10:27 as a Proof Text for Hearing God’s Voice

Has someone ever said to you, God told me, and then proceeded to tell you what they supposedly heard from God? A lot of people featured on my channel are claiming in some way that they are hearing the voice of God.

Guys, while I was in prayer this morning, I heard a word from the Lord for you.

In the comment section, this behavior is defended often by people quoting one verse in particular. But are they understanding this verse in its proper context, or are they reading into it their own understanding?

The verse in question is John 10 .27. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. However, it's not the entire verse that is quoted most often, but only the first phrase, and it usually goes like this.

God is always speaking to his children. He says, My sheep hear my voice. So they are taking John to mean the voice of God we hear inside our heads. But considering the context, we notice that Jesus is facing opposition from the Jews who are challenging the claims he's been making about himself.

He is the bread of life that came down from heaven. He's the light of the world. He's the I Am who was before Abraham. He receives worship as the Son of Man. He's the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep.

John has been presenting all of this in the preceding chapters, and then we read in John 10 .24, the Jews were saying to him, How long will you keep us in suspense? Are you the Christ? Tell us plainly.

Well, what should be obvious to the reader at this point is that Jesus has already made his identity abundantly clear. He's already told them, and he says as much in verse 25, I told you, and you do not believe the works that I do in my father's name.

These testify of me. Something we might wonder is if Jesus has been so clear about his identity, and he's already told them, why are they still asking? Why are they still unbelieving? Jesus provides the reason in verse 26.

You do not believe because you are not of my sheep. Now, notice what he doesn't say. He doesn't say that they are not of his sheep because they don't believe, as if it's their unbelief holding them back from becoming sheep.

Rather, the reason they remain in unbelief of who Christ is and the gospel he proclaims is because they are not of his sheep. And now we come to John 10 .27, My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow.

Me.

It should be apparent at this point that Jesus isn't speaking about the voice in your head, but about a person's believing response to the message of Jesus. Those who hear his voice follow him. John 10 .27 is talking about what is known as effectual calling, whereby a man is called effectually by the Spirit of God to obey the voice of Jesus and believe in him.

Now effectual calling is sometimes used synonymously with internal calling, and this in distinction from the external call of the gospel, the proclamation of the word of God indiscriminately to all people.

The effectual calling is accomplished by the external calling being applied to the heart through the Holy Spirit. Those who believe and follow Jesus do so because they are his sheep who have heard the external call of the gospel and are thus effectually called, through the internal application of the gospel, to the heart, whereby their souls turn from a state of alienation and enmity towards God to a new state of faith in and obedience to God.

Because Jesus's opponents were not of his sheep, they are not being effectually called by the Holy Spirit and therefore remain in unbelief. They do not hear his voice. This is the meaning of John 10 .27.

Now before you flood the comments with questions like, so you don't believe God speaks to us anymore, we can talk about that. But all I'm getting at in this video is that John 10 .27 is often taken out of context and misused.

Rather, John 10 .27 is about the sheep of Christ responding to his internal call to faith in and obedience to him as their good shepherd. Is John 10 .27 a proof text for hearing God's voice in your mind?

Nope.

Nuh-uh.

I feel like I'm losing my mind, is everybody in the world blind? Please Lord give me a sign, a sign.