God Speaks!
Hebrews 1:1-2
In my earlier days as a Christian, I was
unpleasantly surprised on two occasions by two men that I admired, when they
forcefully demanded an answer to the question, What do you mean, God speaks to
you!?
These reactions, frankly, surprised and confused me.
Why should it be a strange thing that God would speak to His people? The Word
of God plainly declares in Hebrews 1:1,2:
1 In the past God spoke to our
forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways,
2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom
he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. (NIV)
HOW
GOD SPOKE
The
Lord has spoken through:
ANGELS Genesis 16
VISIONS Genesis 15
DREAMS Genesis 28
A BURNING BUSH Exodus 3:2
SYMBOLIC ACTIONS Jeremiah
18: 1:10
A WHISPER 1 Kings
MIRACLES Exodus 8: 20-25
The fact is, God can, and does, communicate with
people in countless ways. We would be unwise to limit Him to what He has said.
This is not to say that there are new truths that He must convey beyond what He
has already said. The Bible is complete and needs no correction or amendments.
The Lord, however, can and does speak to us about our specific situations in
order to give us direction in the multitude of decisions that we must make
everyday. His guidance never contradicts His written Word.
HOW HE NOW SPEAKS
It is less important for us to know how God
speaks, than to know that He speaks, and that those to whom He spoke in
the Old Testament knew that it was He who was speaking.
The truth is that the Father spoke through Jesus the
Son, and Jesus now communicates to us through the Holy Spirit. It began at
Pentecost, and continues to this very day.
In John 14:26, Jesus instructed the disciples
in this way: But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father
will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to
your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (KJV)
ARE WE LISTENING
Some of us tend to feel that God is in the business
of keeping secrets from His people, and requiring us to figure things out all
by ourselves.
There is a great possibility that you may not be
hearing from the Lord because you are not listening. It could also be that you
are just not sure what it means to hear Him, or what you should listen for.
Maybe youve been much too busy to take time to
listen for His voice.
God longs for you to hear from Him and to walk in
close fellowship with Him.
If you really think about it, why would God require
you to talk to Him, and not choose the option of speaking back to you?!
The key in this whole process is to wait on His
timing. In His own way, He will speak His heart, His wishes, and His direction
to you, His very own child.
The psalmist says,
Psalms 130:5-6
5 I wait
for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope.
6 My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the
morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning. (NIV)
