How God Speaks Through Other People and How to recognize When He does.
God speaks through other people more often than we may realize, but how can we recognize when someone’s words are actually a message from Him?
Have you ever had someone say something to you that you knew was more than just their words?
Perhaps they gave you encouragement at exactly the right moment. Maybe a sermon seemed as though it had been prepared specifically for you. Or perhaps a friend said something in an ordinary conversation that suddenly became extraordinary.
You walked away thinking, “That is exactly what I needed to hear!”
Perhaps God just spoke to you through that person.
God Uses People to Speak to His People
Scripture is filled with examples of God using people to communicate His message to others.
In 1 Chronicles 21, God sent Gad to speak to David. Verse 19 says, “So David went up at the word of Gad, which he had spoken in the name of the Lord.”
David recognized that Gad was speaking on behalf of the Lord. So he responded and obeyed as though God Himself had spoken.
God also used Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, to give him some desperately needed wisdom. (See Exodus 18.) At the time, it may have seemed like ordinary common sense. But Jethro’s counsel provided wisdom that helped Moses and the children of Israel learn how to share the workload and responsibilities of leadership.
In Acts 15, we find the account of the first major council meeting of the early church. During the discussion, several individuals spoke, including Peter, Barnabas, Paul, and James.
At the end of their meeting, they reached a conclusion. But notice how they described their decision: “For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us…” (Acts 15:28).
The Holy Spirit had been leading and directing them through their discussion and counsel.
Another important principle is found in Proverbs 11:14:
“Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.”
God often uses pastors, friends, spouses, teachers, mentors, prophetic words, and sometimes even unexpected people to speak to us.
How Can We Recognize When God Is Speaking Through Someone?
When it comes to God speaking through other people, we have a responsibility to discern whether what we are hearing is actually from Him.
How can we recognize the difference between someone’s personal opinion and a message from the Lord?
Here are four questions to consider.
1. Does it answer a question or address an issue I have been praying about?
Many times, we are praying and asking God for wisdom, direction, or help. Then He sends someone into our lives who speaks directly to the situation.
The person may not even know what we have been praying about. Yet their words seem to answer the very question we have been asking God.
The voice may be human, but the message may be divine—straight from the Father’s heart.
2. Does it line up with the teachings of Scripture?
God will never contradict the principles of His written Word.
This is one of the most important tests we can apply. No matter how impressive, encouraging, or spiritual someone’s words may sound, they must agree with the truth of Scripture.
The Holy Spirit will never lead us contrary to the Word He inspired.
3. Does it bear witness with the Holy Spirit within me?
Sometimes, when someone speaks, there is an immediate recognition within our spirit.
We experience that “Aha!” moment.
There is simply a sense of agreement, an inward witness, or a deep assurance that what we are hearing is from the Lord.
As we discussed in our previous blog, we can learn to recognize the inner witness of the Holy Spirit. However, that inward impression should always be tested alongside Scripture and godly wisdom.
4. Is there confirmation?
There is an important biblical principle concerning the testimony of two or three witnesses. (See Deuteronomy 19:15 and 2 Corinthians 13:1.)
God may use more than one person, a passage of Scripture, or other circumstances to confirm something He is speaking to us.
We should never be afraid to prayerfully examine what someone says rather than immediately accepting it as a word from God.
What If God Wants to Speak Through YOU?
But let’s turn things around for a moment.
What if God wants to speak through YOU to someone else?
We spend a lot of time asking, “God, would You please speak to me?”
Perhaps we should also be praying:
“Lord, is there someone You want me to encourage today? Put Your words in my mouth for someone else, and help me recognize the opportunity when it comes.”
We should remember the biblical principle, “Give, and it will be given to you.” (See Luke 6:38.)
As we make ourselves available to encourage and strengthen others, we also cultivate hearts that are attentive to the Holy Spirit.
Never underestimate what God can do through one Spirit-prompted word spoken at just the right time.
Your encouragement may be the confirmation someone has been praying for.
Your phone call may arrive on the very day someone is ready to give up.
Your simple words may carry the Father’s heart to someone who desperately needs to hear it.
God speaks through people—and sometimes the person He wants to speak through is YOU!
Remember what Proverbs 25:11 says:
“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”
What a beautiful picture of the value of words spoken at just the right time!
Keep Your Spiritual Ears Open
So, tune in with your spiritual ears.
Sometimes God is speaking TO you through someone else.
And sometimes He may be speaking TO you about what He wants to say THROUGH you to someone else.
The important thing is to remain sensitive to His voice and available for His purposes.
You never know when an ordinary conversation may become an extraordinary opportunity for God to touch someone’s life.
Personal Reflection and Application
Take a few moments to prayerfully consider these questions:
- Can I remember a time when God spoke to me through another person? What did they say, and how did I recognize that God was speaking?
- Am I willing to receive God’s wisdom through others? Or do I sometimes overlook His voice because the message comes from an unexpected person?
- How do I test what others say to me? Am I comparing their words with Scripture, the inner witness of the Holy Spirit, and wise counsel?
- Is there someone God may be prompting me to encourage today? What simple step could I take to communicate His love to that person?
- What would happen if I began each day with this prayer: “Lord, speak to me today, and if You desire, speak through me to someone who needs to hear Your heart”?
Coming Soon: When Prayer Feels Stale
Have you ever felt like your prayer life has become dry, routine, or disconnected?
I’m preparing a free resource called When Prayer Feels Stale: A 6-Day Prayer Renewal Journey to help you rediscover the joy of spending time with God.
Through Scripture, personal reflection, and practical prayer exercises, we’ll explore how to move beyond routine prayers into a deeper, more personal relationship with Him.
Watch for more information about this upcoming free resource from Pen and Sword Ministry.
My prayer is that you will not only learn more about hearing God’s voice, but that you will experience the joy of recognizing His voice in your everyday life.
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