Does God audibly speak to people today? I know I've heard people say, God told me to do this, or God told me to do that. It's never happened to me, so I can't give a first hand account. It's just that when someone tells me that God "spoke to me", I have this uncontrollable, automatic reflex involving one of my eyebrows raising up higher than the other.
To those who have heard voices, I guess the question is, was it real or imagined? Was it actually God's voice that they heard? Or was is the voice of some other spirit? Perhaps it was an angel, or maybe the Holy Spirit. Or perhaps it was a hallucination - a sensation that appears real but is created by your mind. Hallucinations involving the hearing of voices are the most common type.
To those who have heard voices, I guess the question is, was it real or imagined? Was it actually God's voice that they heard? Or was is the voice of some other spirit? Perhaps it was an angel, or maybe the Holy Spirit. Or perhaps it was a hallucination - a sensation that appears real but is created by your mind. Hallucinations involving the hearing of voices are the most common type.
I recall one person told me that God told him to quit his job, sell his house, and move to Chicago, a city where he had no connections at all, and no job lined up either. Hmmm. That was a little too much for me, so I didn't stick around long enough to extend the conversation too far.
It would be awesome though, if God could speak to me and I could hear His voice. Unless of course, it was only at times of scolding and rebuking me for every sin I committed. No thanks. But it would be nice to get some great advice from God's own mouth on occasion. Just think how amazing it was for people like Moses and the Patriarchs and the Prophets to hear God speaking to them. It actually did happen! The God of the Universe, Creator, Almighty God talking out loud. Wow.
In the New Testament, there are only 3 times where God the Father actually speaks out loud from the invisible realm. All involved Jesus. Now there are several instances in the New Testament of angels speaking to humans, people being told in visions and dreams what to do, the Spirit guiding people, and even the case of Jesus talking to Saul on the road to Damascus in Acts 9. But as far as God the Father's voice, there are 3 instances in the New Testament.
THE THREE TIMES GOD THE FATHER SPOKE
1. The Baptism of Jesus
As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:16-17)
The Father in heaven talks to Jesus, the Son of God! What great encouragement for Jesus! What son does not want to hear those words from his father? Obviously, this was confirmation of the relationship Jesus had with His Father in heaven, and that He was doing the right thing.
2. The Transfiguration of Jesus
Jesus took Peter, James, and John, to a high mountain to be alone. As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. It was like His spiritual state, His real spiritual identity, started to show through His physical body. Perhaps He was in the spiritual realm and in the physical realm at the same time! As this change of form, or transfiguration was occurring, Peter began speaking to Jesus. However, Peter was interrupted by guess who? God the Father!
But even as he spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.” The disciples were terrified and fell face down on the ground. (Matthew 17:5-6)
3. The Final Days of Jesus
Just after Jesus made His last triumphal entry into Jerusalem for His last Passover feast, Jesus knew His time was at hand, and shared that with His disciples. Then the Heavenly Father once again spoke out loud.
“Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine". (John 12:27-30)
Here's the question. Are we living in times that God is silent? But why would He be? His presence, providence, and influence is definitely real, and we are in reciprocal relationship with Him. Now, I may not have heard God talk, but I'm sure of this...God does speak to us today.
It would be awesome though, if God could speak to me and I could hear His voice. Unless of course, it was only at times of scolding and rebuking me for every sin I committed. No thanks. But it would be nice to get some great advice from God's own mouth on occasion. Just think how amazing it was for people like Moses and the Patriarchs and the Prophets to hear God speaking to them. It actually did happen! The God of the Universe, Creator, Almighty God talking out loud. Wow.
In the New Testament, there are only 3 times where God the Father actually speaks out loud from the invisible realm. All involved Jesus. Now there are several instances in the New Testament of angels speaking to humans, people being told in visions and dreams what to do, the Spirit guiding people, and even the case of Jesus talking to Saul on the road to Damascus in Acts 9. But as far as God the Father's voice, there are 3 instances in the New Testament.
THE THREE TIMES GOD THE FATHER SPOKE
1. The Baptism of Jesus
As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:16-17)
The Father in heaven talks to Jesus, the Son of God! What great encouragement for Jesus! What son does not want to hear those words from his father? Obviously, this was confirmation of the relationship Jesus had with His Father in heaven, and that He was doing the right thing.
2. The Transfiguration of Jesus
Jesus took Peter, James, and John, to a high mountain to be alone. As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. It was like His spiritual state, His real spiritual identity, started to show through His physical body. Perhaps He was in the spiritual realm and in the physical realm at the same time! As this change of form, or transfiguration was occurring, Peter began speaking to Jesus. However, Peter was interrupted by guess who? God the Father!
But even as he spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.” The disciples were terrified and fell face down on the ground. (Matthew 17:5-6)
3. The Final Days of Jesus
Just after Jesus made His last triumphal entry into Jerusalem for His last Passover feast, Jesus knew His time was at hand, and shared that with His disciples. Then the Heavenly Father once again spoke out loud.
“Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine". (John 12:27-30)
Here's the question. Are we living in times that God is silent? But why would He be? His presence, providence, and influence is definitely real, and we are in reciprocal relationship with Him. Now, I may not have heard God talk, but I'm sure of this...God does speak to us today.
HOW GOD SPEAKS TO US TODAY
1. Through His Word
Certainly the Bible, the inspired word of God, is a powerful way that God speaks to us today. You want to hear what God has to say? Start reading the Bible everyday and you will come to know more fully who God is, what He does, and what He expects from us.
"For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)
2. Through Our Conscience
Now this is where it gets interesting. Yes, the Word of God infiltrates us and affects us, but there's more. That's because, as Christians, we have the gift of the Holy Spirit. To me, one of the obvious ways that the Holy Spirit works is through our conscience. I believe everyone is born with a conscience - a guide to what's right and wrong. The problem is, without God, everyone does what is right in their own mind. However, for Christians, the Holy Spirit uses our conscience to guide us. And I know this, once you sin, you know it!
3. Through the Spirit's Nudging
A nudge is a gentle push, especially in subtly trying to get someone's attention. I believe another way God speaks to us is through spiritual nudges. Something like a conviction - maybe to talk to someone, to help someone, or to make a decision. Something like an intuition. After all, His Spirit is in us.
1. Through His Word
Certainly the Bible, the inspired word of God, is a powerful way that God speaks to us today. You want to hear what God has to say? Start reading the Bible everyday and you will come to know more fully who God is, what He does, and what He expects from us.
"For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)
2. Through Our Conscience
Now this is where it gets interesting. Yes, the Word of God infiltrates us and affects us, but there's more. That's because, as Christians, we have the gift of the Holy Spirit. To me, one of the obvious ways that the Holy Spirit works is through our conscience. I believe everyone is born with a conscience - a guide to what's right and wrong. The problem is, without God, everyone does what is right in their own mind. However, for Christians, the Holy Spirit uses our conscience to guide us. And I know this, once you sin, you know it!
3. Through the Spirit's Nudging
A nudge is a gentle push, especially in subtly trying to get someone's attention. I believe another way God speaks to us is through spiritual nudges. Something like a conviction - maybe to talk to someone, to help someone, or to make a decision. Something like an intuition. After all, His Spirit is in us.
So, those are 3 ways God speaks to me today, but you can be sure of one thing - if God does speak to me with words that I can hear, I will certainly let you know right away.
No comments:
Post a Comment