Last
month we talked about talking to God and hearing from God. This month we’re
going to look at some specific ways God speaks to us. Most importantly, we have
to be willing to listen. It all starts with listening to Him.
Have you
ever noticed that your days often start out with a quick prayer as you’re headed to the coffee pot and then you drink
the coffee and move on, not even thinking about God again as you go throughout
your day. Can you imagine a man and wife who had that kind of relationship? Their
relationship would become weak and meaningless. This is what can happen to our
relationship with God. To prevent this, we need to make our relationship
stronger and closer, to try to love Him the way He loves us. To show that we
love Him for his great sacrifice. Not only taking the time to pray,
continuously, not five seconds in the morning, but taking time to listen to
what He has to say to us. And, yes, He tells us over and over He wants to speak
to us.
James
1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers
only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the
word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a
glass:24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and
straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.25 But whoso
looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a
forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his
deed. Mark 7:14 tell
us to Sit down and pay attention to Him:14 And when he had called
all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you,
and understand:
Isaiah
1:18 18 Come now, and let us reason
together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as
white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
James
4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye
sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
Hebrews
4:1616 Let us therefore come boldly unto the
throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of
need.
First, God
speaks to us through His Word. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 16 All
scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:17 That
the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. Psalm 119:130 130 The
entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. Psalm
119:105 105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my
path.
Second,
God speaks to us through the Holy Spirit. Acts 16:6-9 6
Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were
forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,7 After they
were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered
them not.8 And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.9
And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and
prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.
Third, God speaks to us through
a small still voice. 1 Kings 19:7-127 And the angel of the
Lord came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat;
because the journey is too great for thee.8 And he arose, and did
eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty
nights unto Horeb the mount of God.9 And he came thither unto a
cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he
said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? 10 And he said, I have
been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have
forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with
the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.11
And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold,
the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake
in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and
after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake:12
And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after
the fire a still small voice.
Fourth, God speaks
to us through prayer.Romans 8:26-28 26 Likewise the Spirit
also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we
ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which
cannot be uttered.27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what
is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints
according to the will of God.28 And we know that all things work
together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according
to his purpose.
Fifth, God speaks to us
through our circumstances. There is one caution. God will never speak to
us through our circumstances in any way that contradicts His written Word. The
Bible should be our first source of information. Psalm 119:67-68 67
Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.68
Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.
Sixth, God speaks to us
through people. God does speak through other people, but like circumstances,
this method of communication issecondary to God’s message that comes directly
to you through the reading of His Word. I have seen people run from person to
person, searching for answers to a problem, when the first step should have
been to pray and read their Bible to find answers.
God wants to hear from you, and He
wants to speak to you. Are you listening to Him today?
Paul
Brow, Haven of Rest
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