Standing orders
His last orders remain what we should do until He tells us otherwise.
Lesson 11 · Course 65
Why Can’t We Hear The Actual Voice Of God?
Why God may be silent — and how He still speaks through Word, Son, nature, and standing orders.
At a glance
Summary
God may be silent for many reasons, but He always speaks through His Word and spoke most clearly through His Son. Silence can be a test; His last orders are standing orders. Claims of hearing God’s voice must be tested. We are not responsible for what God keeps secret, and He never promised to always explain what He is doing.
Quiz 11: 10/10 (100%), 6m 2s, cmid 1201 / attempt 101997. Essays Complete/Not graded (Q11–Q13 verbatim).
Big ideas
What to teach and remember
- Many reasons God might be silent — silence can be a test.
- False that God never speaks through the natural world; True that He always speaks through His Word.
- God spoke most clearly through His Son.
- When silent: last orders are standing orders.
- God can do whatever He wants because He is God.
- A claim to hear God’s voice must be questioned — not automatic truth.
- God never promised always to explain what He is doing; we are not responsible for His secrets.
Key terms
People, places, and words that matter
Silence as a test
God’s silence can itself be a test of faith and obedience.
Clearest speech
God spoke most clearly through His Son.
Test the spirits
Claims of hearing God must be questioned and measured by Scripture.
Structure
Outline / timeline
- Why God may be silent
- How God speaks (Word, Son, nature, Spirit, providence)
- Standing orders when silent
- Testing claims of an audible voice
- Secrets and unexplained providence
Must remember
Facts to keep straight
| Quiz 11 | 100% (10/10), cmid 1201 |
|---|---|
| Always speaks | Through His Word |
| Most clearly | Through His Son |
| When silent | Last orders = standing orders |
| Voice claims | Must be questioned / tested |
Compare
Side-by-side contrasts
Normal speech vs claimed audible voice
- Normal: Word, Son, Spirit, providence, believers
- Audible claim: not automatic; may be mistake, deception, illness, lie, or demonic — test by Scripture
For the pulpit
Sermon hooks
- Preach the Word as God’s normal, reliable voice for every believer.
- Comfort the silent season: last orders still stand; hope in God like David.
- Warn against untested “God told me” claims without crushing genuine guidance.
- Hold sovereignty: God need not explain every secret.
Quiz drill
Quiz drill / review · open to practice · 10 items
Quiz score: 100% · 1 attempt
1. There are many reasons why God might be silent.
TrueMany reasons.
2. God never speaks through the natural world.
FalseHe can speak through nature.
3. God always speaks through His Word.
TrueAlways through Scripture.
4. God spoke most clearly through His Son.
TrueClearest revelation.
5. The silence of God can be a test.
TrueSilence as test.
6. When God is silent remember that His last orders are standing orders. That is what we should do until He tells us otherwise.
TrueStanding orders.
7. God can choose to do whatever He wants to do because He is God.
TrueSovereignty.
8. Because a person says they have heard the voice of God means they have, and this should never be questioned.
FalseClaims must be tested.
9. God never promised that He would always explain what He is doing in our life.
TrueNo promise of full explanation.
10. We are not responsible for the things God chooses to keep secret.
TrueSecrets remain His.
Essay themes
If you preach or review
Ways God has spoken / how we hear today
God has spoken in many ways: through creation and the natural world; through Scripture, His breathed-out Word; through judgment and the Holy Spirit’s conviction; through miracles and signs; and at times through an audible voice. He has also guided people without words, through His Spirit, through circumstances or providence, and ultimately through Jesus Christ, the clearest and fullest revelation of God. The Bible and the life of Christ remain the reliable message we are to hear today.
Seven situations when God seems silent — and how to respond
The seven situations are: God is not ready to speak; He is testing me; He has already talked to me; He wants me to make an important decision; He knows I will not listen; I have forgotten what He said; or something is hindering my ability to listen. I should not panic or invent a new message. I should treat His last orders as standing orders, remember clearly what He has already said, stay in prayer and Scripture, examine what may be blocking my hearing, and wait faithfully. Like David, I should hope in God and learn to listen through the sounds of silence.
Why audible voice is not God’s normal way today (Towns)
Dr. Towns says God can speak audibly because He is God, but He has chosen not to make that His normal way of speaking today. During the age of grace, God does not show partiality: Christ has made access to God available to all, so a private audible message to one person would raise the question of why not everyone. God has already spoken fully through His Son, Jesus, and has recorded everything necessary in the Bible. The written Word is consistent, reliable, and available to every believer; the Holy Spirit helps us understand it, and Christians should study it together and test claims against Scripture. People who claim an audible message may be mistaken, self-deceived, mentally ill, lying, or hearing something demonic, so the spirits must be tested. Even an audible voice would not guarantee faithfulness, guidance, character growth, or doctrinal truth. God is not silent—He speaks through His Word, prayer, circumstances, and other believers.