Perry Stone: 5 Unexpected Ways You Are Missing God Speaking to You @PerryStoneMinistries

Overview

Perry Stone argues that God can and does speak to believers today, and that many people miss God’s communication because they cannot discern it. He builds his message around Scripture (John 12:28–29), where a heavenly voice is heard but people interpret it differently—some believe it was God speaking, others think an angel spoke, and others say it sounded like thunder.

Stone uses this passage to explain “levels” of spiritual discernment:

• Some don’t recognize God’s voice at all.
• Some sense God’s presence indirectly.
• Some receive clear certainty that God is guiding them.

Key Arguments

God still speaks—critique of “God no longer speaks” claims

Stone criticizes pastors/ministers who claim God no longer speaks. He argues it is illogical to believe Satan can speak (tempting/inspiring) while God cannot.

He further maintains that if people experience:

• Holy Spirit conviction
• conversion
• answered prayer

then God must be speaking through the Spirit—not only through the Bible as written text.

Avoid overcorrection

Stone warns believers not to swing to the other extreme. While counterfeit miracles exist, believers should not conclude that genuine divine guidance is impossible because fakes sometimes appear.

“Five Unexpected Ways” God Speaks

Based on his nearly 50 years of ministry, Stone presents five unexpected ways God speaks to people:

1. Restlessness Unusual dissatisfaction with normal spiritual routines that prompts deeper searching for God’s purpose.

2. Stirring up the spirit A renewed inner drive to address problems others say are unsolvable—because God wants to reveal His power over the issue.

3. Sudden ideas/plans Inspirational thoughts that arise when facing a challenge, described as Holy Spirit guidance.

4. Obsession with obedience An intense motivation to follow God’s direction even when it costs personally. (He references Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and Daniel.)

5. Opening doors God creates opportunities in stages; believers must act on faith in earlier steps rather than waiting for the full blessing to arrive.

Personal Examples Used by Stone

Stone supports these points with examples from his own life:

• Teen years: God’s call created restlessness until he pursued a plan for outreach.
• Early obedience: He describes printing his first book despite limited resources—trading a drum set to make printing possible—and portrays this as “small beginnings” that God later expanded.
• 1988 insight: He recalls hearing the name/idea “man[n]a-fest” in 1988, which he connects to the later development of the “Manifest” television ministry.
• Revival timing and guidance: He tells of a revival in Alabama where he was instructed not to cancel, later leading to meeting his future wife—linking timing and obedience to God’s outcomes.

Takeaway

The overall message encourages viewers to:

• Listen for Spirit-led signals, including restlessness, stirring, ideas, obedience-driven zeal, and staged opportunities.
• Respond promptly and walk through open doors.
• Recognize that God’s breakthroughs often follow earlier acts of faithfulness.

Presenters/Contributors

• Perry Stone (host/speaker)