There are many things in scripture which would might help someone understand better about hearing from the Holy Spirit directly. Perhaps the story of Elijah Not hearing from God in the wind, or the earthquake, or the fire... but hearing it rather in a "still small voice" is one of the best ones. [from I Kings 19:11-12]. God certainly can and does speak to people in any one of those elements and others, but too many people are simply not really listening or their hearing is simply too dull:
"For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them." Matt 13:15