The Lord's Speaking to Us vs. Our Hearing the Lord's Voice

 

The Lord's Speaking to Us vs. Our Hearing the Lord's Voice

Eph. 5:26 "That He might sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing of the water in the word"

S.S. 8:13 "You who dwell in the gardens, my companions listen for your voice; let me hear it as well"

 

Analysis Item	The Lord's Speaking to Us	Our Hearing the Lord's Voice
Basic Definition	The Lord Christ as the life-giving Spirit actively speaks to us the instant, present, living word (rhema)	We actively and continuously listen to the Lord's voice, maintaining fellowship with Him
Nature & Characteristics	Active, divine, life-giving, cleansing	Passive, responsive, yearning, listening
Source	The indwelling Christ as the life-giving Spirit	The spirit of those who love Christ and seek Him
Purpose	To sanctify, cleanse, and transform us into His bride	To maintain fellowship with the Lord and receive revelation and guidance
Spiritual Significance	The washing of the water in the word, metabolic cleansing	Maintaining life fellowship and receiving heavenly revelation
Life Function	Washing away the old and replacing with the new, producing inward transformation	Receiving life supply and guidance for work
Process Characteristics	Continuous sanctification process	Continuous listening attitude
Result	Becoming a holy, beautiful bride manifesting God	Growing in life and accomplishing God's will
Primary Distinction	God's active work	Man's responsive attitude
Temporal Aspect	The instant word (rhema) - present speaking	Continuous listening - always listening
Direction	From God to man	From man to God
Function	Washing, cleansing, sanctifying	Receiving, responding, obeying
Daily Example	In morning revival, the Lord enlightens us about a weakness through His word	We wait upon the Lord in prayer, yearning for His guidance
Meeting Example	In meetings, the Lord speaks to us through hymns or messages	We focus on listening to the Lord's voice in meetings
Life Example	When facing decisions, the Lord speaks through inner feeling	Before making decisions, we first seek the Lord's heart
Service Example	The Lord speaks to us through circumstances or brothers and sisters	We seek the Lord's guidance and commission in service
Personal Application	Daily coming before the Lord, letting His word wash us	Cultivating a listening spirit, constantly fellowshipping with the Lord
Corporate Application	Experiencing the Lord's speaking in church life	Listening together to the Lord's voice in meetings
Service Application	Making the Lord's speaking the basis of our service	Constantly seeking the Lord's guidance in service
Life Application	Making the Lord's word the standard of our living	Practicing walking with the Lord in life
Primary Scriptures	John 6:63 "The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life" Rev. 2:7 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches" Matt. 4:4 "Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out through the mouth of God"	Heb. 3:7 "Therefore, even as the Holy Spirit says, Today if you hear His voice" 1 Sam. 3:9 "Speak, Jehovah, for Your servant is listening" Luke 10:38-42 "Mary has chosen the good part"
Related Scriptures	John 7:37-39 "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink" Rev. 22:17 "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come!" Eph. 6:17 "The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" 1 Cor. 10:4 "And they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ" Rev. 7:17, 21:6, 22:1 "The river of water of life"	Isa. 50:4-5 "The Lord Jehovah...He awakens my ear" Psa. 95:7-8 "Oh that today you would hear His voice!" 1 Sam. 3:21 "And Jehovah appeared again in Shiloh" Amos 3:7 "Surely the Lord Jehovah will do nothing unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets" Exo. 21:6 "Then his master shall bring him to God and shall bring him to the door or to the doorpost, and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl; and he shall serve him forever"
Basic Principle	The Lord's speaking is the Spirit and is life	Obeying is better than sacrifice, and hearkening, than the fat of rams
Important Principle	Rhema (instant word) is more direct than logos (constant word)	Be quick to hear, slow to speak
Key Principle	The Lord's speaking is the presence of the life-giving Spirit	The believer's entire life depends on the Lord's speaking
Ultimate Principle	Through the washing of the water in the word, becoming the glorious bride	Preparing ourselves as the Lamb's wife, waiting for the Lord's return
Old Testament Type	The washing of the bronze laver  (Exo. 30:18-21, 38:8)	Samuel hearing God's voice in the temple (1 Sam. 3:1-21)
New Testament Fulfillment	Christ cleansing the church with the washing of the water in the word  (Eph. 5:26-27)	The disciples following the Lord and hearing His teaching  (Luke 10:38-42)
Ultimate Realization in Revelation	The bride has made herself ready  (Rev. 19:7-9)	The Spirit and the bride say, Come! (Rev. 22:17)
Mutual Relationship	These two form a complete spiritual cycle: The Lord speaks → We hear → We are transformed → We yearn more to hear His voice
Ultimate Goal	To prepare the church as Christ's glorious bride, waiting for His return  (Rev. 19:7-9, S.S. 8:14)
Practical Exercise	Day by day, morning and evening, we need to come to the Bible and be cleansed through the laver of the washing of the water in the word	Learning to take a listening attitude, being quick to hear and slow to speak, because our life depends on the Lord's teaching and our work depends on the Lord's command
Spiritual Value	Only His speaking within us has real spiritual value	Real growth in life depends on our receiving word directly from God
Present Significance	The Lord still speaks to us intimately and directly today	What matters for each of us is: Does God speak His word to me today?

  

Conclusion: 

Both "The Lord's Speaking to Us" and "Our Hearing the Lord's Voice" point to the same ultimate goal: preparing the church as Christ's glorious bride, waiting for His return (Rev. 19:7-9, S.S. 8:14). The Lord's speaking to us is for cleansing us, and our hearing the Lord's voice is for responding to Him. Together, these constitute a complete spiritual experience that enables us to grow and be transformed in life continually, ultimately becoming the glorious bride He desires to gain.

  

*Please refer to the 2025 Memorial Day Blending Conference. General Topic: Preparation of the Bride. Chapter 4 The Beauty of the Bride