Learning God's Voice | John F. Hannah | Bible Study Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

Learning God's Voice

New Life Covenant Church Southeast • Oct 8, 2026 • 150 min

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Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.

Summary

In this Bible study, Pastor John F. Hannah teaches believers how to recognize, discern, and obey the voice of God in their daily lives. He emphasizes the importance of having spiritual mentors who point us directly to God, serving and speaking through divine strength rather than human capability, and connecting with Spirit-filled believers who affirm God's promises. Crucially, Pastor Hannah cautions against spiritual manipulation, urging believers to test every spirit against Scripture and never allow human voices or persuasive advice to override God's explicit commands.

Themes

Hearing God's VoiceSpiritual DiscernmentObedience to GodDivine Validation and FellowshipServing in God's StrengthTesting Spirits and Guarding Against Deception

Pastor's Points

1.

1. Ordinary People

2.

2. Preachers

3.

3. Prophets

Key Points

1.
1. Ordinary People
2.
2. Preachers
3.
3. Prophets
4.
True spiritual mentors guide believers toward hearing God's voice for themselves rather than creating unhealthy dependency on human leadership.
5.
Adopting a posture of humble surrender—saying "Speak, Lord, your servant is listening"—positions us to receive divine clarity and direction.
6.
When speaking or serving in ministry, believers must rely on God's supernatural strength to avoid burnout, frustration, and spiritual exhaustion.
7.
God places Spirit-filled individuals in our lives to validate and affirm what He has already spoken to our hearts in private.
8.
The true purpose of prophetic ministry is to strengthen, encourage, and comfort believers rather than manipulate, condemn, or execute judgment.
9.
Believers must test every spirit and compare every teaching or word directly against Scripture to protect themselves from false prophets and deceptive leaders.

Sermon Moments

“"Go lay down. And if he calls you, say these words: Speak, Lord, your servant is listening."”

“"You got to get people who are going to point you to God so that you now can become familiar with his voice for the rest of your life."”

“"If anyone serve, they should do so with the strength God provides. His strength is the supernatural on you."”

“"God will bring some people to get close to you for you to validate what he's about to do."”

“"A prophet is supposed to elevate—strengthening, encouraging, and comforting—not manipulate or condemn."”

“"Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirit to see whether they are from God."”

“"Your blessing is in your obedience."”

“"Consult God's instructions. If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn."”

This Week

Adopt a daily habit of praying, "Speak, Lord, your servant is listening," asking God for clear guidance in your personal and spiritual decisions.

Rely on God's supernatural strength in your daily serving and ministry commitments rather than pushing through in your own human effort.

Seek out spiritual mentors and believers who point you directly to God and His Word rather than building dependency on human leaders.

Test every sermon, advice, or prophetic word against the Scriptures before receiving and acting upon it.

Refuse to compromise on direct instructions God has given you, even when faced with persuasive opinions or spiritual pressure.

Build a personal habit of reading and studying the Bible daily so you can recognize God's voice and guard against spiritual manipulation.

Intercede in prayer when facing spiritual warfare or negative circumstances, standing on God's promises to turn situations around.

Remember This

To walk in spiritual clarity and safety, believers must learn to hear God's voice for themselves, test every teaching against Scripture, and stay strictly obedient to His instructions.

A Challenge for You

Commit to knowing God's Word for yourself, canceling every negative or manipulative word spoken over your life, and stepping forward in humble obedience to God's direct guidance.

These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.