Sermon Notes:

Series: The Holy Spirit: Power-Presence-Voice

July 12, 2026 "Hearing the Voice of the Spirit" 

By: Pastor Allison Otwell


Consider this...

Imagine drinking salt water when you are desperately thirsty. Instead of quenching your thirst, it intensifies it, leaving you more dehydrated than before. In our hyper-connected, hyper-noisy world, we often gulp down the "spiritual salt water" of constant media, cultural anxieties, and internal fears, wondering why our souls still feel so parched.

We expect God to match the volume of our loud world, to shout above the chaos through an earthquake or a fire. But the profound truth of 1 Kings 19 is that God’s voice chooses a different frequency: a low whisper. It does not demand attention through force; it invites attention through intimacy. Learning to hear the Holy Spirit isn’t about waiting for a dramatic, mystical lightning bolt; it is about training our spiritual ears to recognize a specific tone. If a thought or impression brings an unmistakable sense of deep peace, grounded confidence, quiet joy, and goodwill, it bears the signature mark of Jesus. If it breeds frantic anxiety, condemnation, or chaos, it’s just more salt water. The human heart was engineered for the whisper. The question is, have we quieted our lives enough to hear it?


  • Simple Daily Meditation Practice: "Spiritual Breathing"

    Because the Holy Spirit is as close to you as the air in your lungs, use this physical and spiritual rhythm every morning this week to practice being filled (pleroo) by His presence.

    Sit quietly for two minutes, slow your physical breathing, and pray these distinct movements:

    • The Exhale (Confession & Surrender): As you breathe out deeply, consciously release your self-reliance, your hidden anxieties, and any known sin. Pray silently: "Lord, I exhale my need to control. I let go of my worry, and I empty myself of my own agenda for today."

    • The Inhale (Receiving & Filling): As you take a deep breath in, welcome the personal presence of the Advocate to influence your mind and behavior. Pray silently: "Holy Spirit, I inhale Your life. Fill me afresh right now. Take control of my thoughts, my tongue, and my next meeting. Propel me into Your mission

  • Identifying the "Salt Water": What is the loudest source of "spiritual salt water" in your life right now (e.g., social media, workplace gossip, internal perfectionism, news)? How is that noise distorting your ability to hear the quieter impressions of the Spirit?


  • Recognizing the Tone: Think of a time you felt a strong inner prompting to do or say something. Looking back, did that prompting carry the "unmistakable mark of God’s loving character" (peace, joy, goodwill), or did it feel driven by fear, guilt, or ego? How does that help you discern its source?


  • Creating the Quiet: God often speaks in a low whisper, which requires proximity to hear. What is one practical boundary you can set this week to create a "quiet space" in your daily routine so you aren't forcing the Spirit to compete with the noise?

What's Coming Next in our teaching series on the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is God, and He wants to be known by you personally. Many of us live with a disconnect between the mighty power of the Spirit we read about in Scripture and the subtle presence we encounter in our daily lives. Jesus promises that for those who believe, 'rivers of living water will flow from within them' (John 7:38). Yet, our souls remain spiritually thirsty.


This series, The Holy Spirit, exposes the 'spiritual saltwater' we turn to bitterness, worry, and power that only leaves us drier. We will first establish Who the Holy Spirit is, seeing His essential role from Creation to Christ as the divine thread uniting all of Scripture. We will then dive into the personal reality of His presence, revealing that God now dwells in us, not in a building, making every believer where heaven meets earth. This transformation is coupled with a call to power and trust (faith), showing us how the Spirit empowers us to enact goodness and redemption in a broken world. 


Finally, we will learn the vital skill of discerning His voice in the 'low whisper,' so we can stop drinking the world's salt water and follow the unmistakable, loving character of God. This is an invitation to move beyond confusion and truly know the person of the Holy Spirit.

  • Join us for...

    Week 1: 6/21 "Holy Spirit 101" by Pastor Joel Philbrook

    Week 2: 6/28 "By the Power of the Spirit"  by Pastor Kristi Cooper

    Week 3: 7/5 "In the Presence of the Spirit" by Pastor Joel Philbrook

    Week 4: 7/12 "Hearing the Voice of the Spirit" by Pastor Allison Otwell


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