God does Indeed Speak

God does Indeed Speak.

In the last week, I have heard several people comment longingly about wanting to hear the voice of God, and similarly heard others say that God talked to them. Hmmm… “God told me not to be with that man,” one woman said.  She listened, and got away from the guy, which as it turns out, was a very good decision.  Another said that God woke him up out of his sleep to show him some things about his life . . . and he was clearly shown some things he needed to come to terms with. Let me ask you something, does God speak to you?  Do you believe he still speaks to Christians today?  I do. 

The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders. . .

The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic. . .

The voice of the Lord strikes with flashes of lightning.

The voice of the Lord shakes the desert. . .

And in His temple all cry, "Glory!"¹

I love what Samuel said to God when he was a boy ~ when he thought he heard God’s voice - "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening."²  If God was indeed speaking, Samuel wanted to hear him. . . to which I say, me too!  The church I attended in my youth taught that God’s voice could only be found in the pages of Scripture; and yet, inside myself, it did not make sense that God stopped communicating his thoughts once the Bible was complete. To be sure, the words of God are found in the Bible, but since the canon of Scripture was closed almost 2000 years ago, does that mean he has nothing to say to us in the 21st century? Hmmm . . . I think not.

"There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful than that of a continual conversation with God. Those only can comprehend it who practice and experience it; yet I do not advise you to do from that motive. It is not pleasure which we ought to seek in this exercise; but let us do it from a principle of love, and because God would have us."³

Do you desire to hear God's voice? I would think you do if you are desirous of a meaningful relationship with him, and get this----that is the whole point of your life!  God spoke to many people in the Bible—all who were seeking the heart of God, [Moses, Noah, Jonah, Mary, Esther, Isaiah, Saul (who became Paul) Ezekiel, and others. . .].

'The ideal for hearing from God is finally determined by who God is, what kind of beings we are and what a personal relationship between ourselves and God should be like.'⁴ From John chapter 10, the shepherd of the sheep calls his sheep by name and leads them out; he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.  "I am the Good Shepherd. I know my own and my own know me . . . My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me."

How does God speak?  Does one literally hear an audible voice….? Not usually quite like that, but ~

~in a still, small voice

~through Scripture

~through other believers - including messages from the pulpit

~visions - when awake

~dreams - when asleep

~circumstances - opened or closed doors; serendipitous meetings

~a "knowing" in our innermost being

When God speaks, he expresses his mind, his character, and his purposes--and his leading will always be consistent with Scripture. He will not shout at us though, in order to get a word in . . .  "we need to give much time to communicate with the Holy Spirit. He will not speak to anyone who is in a hurry.⁵    God is a gentleman and will not break the door down to get our attention, so we do well to obey--

"Be still, and know that I am God." ⁶

Simply … it starts right there ~ be still.

Christine