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How Does God’s Audible Voice Really Sound? Insights from a Modern-Day Encounter

Some people talk about hearing the audible voice of God. What does that sound like? And should we expect to hear it? 

On this episode of the God Conversations podcast, we’re talking about the “audible” voice of God, why God rarely speaks this way and what our expectations should be for how the Spirit speaks.

Our guest has heard the audible voice of God five times and has plenty of insights from his story. Patrick Hegarty is a pastor of a church in Brisbane, Australia but also heads up a a national church planting organisation. He’s also authored several books on spiritual formation and renewal. 

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Patrick’s back story, raised in an atheist environment and becoming a Christian at age 19. After 20 years of working in business and “avoiding God’s call,” Patrick changed careers and became a full time minister.

• Patrick’s experiences of God’s audible voice. Patrick describes it as feeling “almost normal,” since it involves the God you know in everyday life. When God speaks out loud, it is almost like the Spirit is shouting in the moment, but as you reflect, you realise no-one else heard it.

“God’s voice is normally very disruptive. I’ve never found God to speak at a convenient time!”

• The God conversation that inspired Patrick’s book on leadership and discipleship such that he finished 90,000 words in just three weeks.

• Patrick’s God conversation in Kenya. Patrick was on a ministry trip surrounded by poverty and devastation in the biggest slum in Africa when God spoke out loud: “I remember these people, I want you to remember them.” In Patrick’s words, it was like “listening to heaven while looking into hell.” As a result, Patrick started a charity in the area that continues to this day. 

As I was looking down in the valley – the biggest slum in Africa – I saw toddlers looking in a stream of rubbish and sewage for food. I had my ears listening to heaven and my eyes looking into hell. Suddenly I heard the out loud voice of God. Everything else went quiet. “I remember these people, I want you to remember them.”

• The difference between God’s “quiet” voice and God’s “loud” voice. Patrick sees the audible voice as God’s way of making a point that would otherwise be difficult to make. At the same time, the out loud voice is not necessarily the preferred form, since God wants to speak in our everyday moments. The quieter voice also tends to call us to actively seek and listen to God. Like a game of spiritual hide and seek, it’s in the seeking that we build the spiritual muscles we need. The outside voice has to be the exception, while a quiet voice is a mark of intimacy.

We should always seek the person not the experience. 

• Advice for hearing God’s voice. Patrick says with a smile, “buyer beware.” God’s voice calls for transformation and action!

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About Patrick Hegarty

Patrick has worked for over 20 years in a broad range of Christian movements. Having authored several books on formation and renewal, led and planted churches, and taken over 10,000 people through courses and spiritual retreats, he has seen God do many incredible things across the globe.

Patrick leads Kenmore Church in Brisbane, founded the Connexa development incubator, and is currently launching M4 Australia, a national church planting organisation. Find out about his work on spiritual formation at thegrowthtrack.com.au.