Does God Still Speak Today?!
JJ
Daniel, Washington
“Mommy,
Mommy… where are you!?
MOMMY!!!” – The frantic child screamed,
instantly stopping every caring parent in the store. Each adult forgetting
their shopping list, the time, their schedule and what all the things they
needed to accomplish. Instantly turning their attention to
that desperate child’s voice. Although it probably seemed like an
eternity to that four-year-old, it was just a couple minutes that we heard the
voice of that child’s mother respond… “I’m
here Derrick, right here.”, as she quickly moved to comfort and reassure
her child. The child immediately calmed down, the
moment he heard that familiar, safe voice.
Every time I see or
hear of this happening,
I am reminded of how a child instinctively knows the voice of
their parent - even as an infant. When my Nephew’s daughter was born – daddy’s
voice singing to her - or praying over her instantly brought her peace… and
usually sleep. She was already used to that voice, he’d been talking to her for
nine months.
Sooner or later, in
every believer asks… “Does God talk
today?” – “How can I be sure it is God that I’m hearing!?” I believe knowing the voice of our
Heavenly Father works the same way as knowing the voice of others you love. I
believe that we are each born with an “intuition” or a “God-consciousness” Some
people refer to this as a “feeling” or a “gut feeling”
or… “It just feels right!” Just like
with those you love on earth, the more time you spend with them – the more and
more familiar you are with their voice – and you will have no trouble
recognizing it! When your husband or your Mother call you on the phone… do they have to tell you who they are?
No! Usually with “Hello” –
you know who you’re talking to. You KNOW
that
voice because you’ve been listening to them for years! You’ve been spending time
with them. J
There can be two-hundred
people in a large store… with all kinds of noise and commotion going on,
especially during the harried holidays. But the voice of a child’s Mother –
will travel through the air of that store, and reach
the ears of her child, regardless of all that is going on around her. I believe
it is the same with the child-of-God; no matter what’s going on around us, we
can train our ear to turn inward, and clearly hear His voice. It is The
Father’s desire that we hear and follow His reassuring voice, and if we ask The
Holy Spirit to “turn up the volume” and
“teach us how to listen” – He will be faithful to do that – if we are
seeking to know Him, according to His Word.
Yes, my Heavenly
Father, Jehovah-God does still speak today. He speaks to the hearts of His
children who seek Him.
John 10:27 My sheep
listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow
Me.
.
Isaiah 45:19 I publicly
proclaim bold promises. I do not whisper obscurities in some dark corner. I
would not have told the people of Israel to seek me, if I could not be found.
I, the Lord, speak only what is true and declare only what is right.
.
Not long ago I picked
up a magazine and began to read an article about this very topic. The writer
expressed that “No, God really doesn’t
speak to mankind these days. He only speaks to us through His Written Word.” Well, I am thanking my Father - that the
author of this article came too late to sell that to me! I’ve been hearing the
voice of my Father since childhood, and I am daily thankful that He speaks! I might just die from loneliness, if my Father
didn’t speak to me, through that sill small voice of His Holy Spirit.
Jesus, Himself said
that we, His sheep DO hear Him. That really settles the debate. Doesn’t it?
J
It probably is
easiest to hear Him while reading the letters He left for us – and He
positively does speak through His Word. He also speaks through your Pastors and
teachers, other godly friends, your children, your spouse, and sometimes
through that someone you do not call “friend.” Your
Father knows exactly how He can reach you – and He is faithful to speak to us,
in a way that we will “hear”
what He is saying. He speaks individually… you may never hear His Voice just
like I do – and I may never hear Him just the way that you do; the important
thing is that we do hear Him, He is faithful to communicate with us, when we
are seeking to know Him and recognize Him.
It is vital to our life and to those around
us, that we live our life being “led by The Spirit” – the Bible says this is
the people who have the “power to become the sons of God.”
One thing that
having a busy lifestyle might do is rob us of time to “sit and listen” to Him. We
can talk to Him on the run if we need to – but He seldom speaks to us while
we’re in that busy place. The Bible says
His voice is “quiet” and
“still” and to find Him, you must “seek Him.” (Matt 7 + Isa 55:6)
Something to keep in
mind, as you practice hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit – is that He lives
on the INSIDE of you… He doesn’t usually speak to your
ears (Yes, of course He CAN… He’s GOD!!). Very few people have heard the “audible
voice” of God; it does happen! He is a Spirit who lives in your
spirit – and He speaks to your spirit; you hear Him, when you learn to quiet
your mind and emotions and wait for that sweet quiet voice to make Him-self
known to you. There are many voices in
the atmosphere around you; yes, God does still have angels that He can send
your way… I hear stories to that effect, from time to time. However, your enemy
the devil also has angels, and he definitely sends his angles to deliver
messages to you – “lies!!” So, when you are
depending on hearing Him with your ears – you could hear and act-on something
that didn’t come from your Father. The safest way to “listen” for His voice –
is through His Word and out of your spirit – you’ll find the least amount of
interference there.
I know people who
depend on Him speaking to their “mind” – and He certainly can do that. He is
God, and He can do anything He chooses. The danger in taking your “thoughts” as
the Word from God, is that YOU also think! J We are instructed in God’s Word – to “cast
down vain imaginations” – and to “renew your mind daily in His Word”. Clearly,
we are warned that our thinking is not always God’s thinking.
Sometimes it is easy
to determine that it is YOUR own THOUGHTS that you are
hearing, if you know God’s Word well. Example:
If you are angry with someone and the thought comes… “I’m going to destroy him!!!”
You instantly KNOW that is NOT GOD; because His Word says to “love your enemies and pray for them.” However, if the thought comes… “Move to Nashville” …and you jump on
that thinking it is God – you might find yourself in a desert wondering around
trying to figure out how to get back on-track!!
A safety net – don’t act until you get “two or three witnesses”
(confirmations). You might have heard a commercial or a song that planted that
seed in your mind… might not be God at all! The Bible says there is “Safety in a multitude of counsel.” Proverbs
11:14
The Bible says that
God has given your “Pastors” – “charge over your soul” – it is their job to be
your covering and to serve you, (just as it is your job to pray for them, and
serve them) – seek godly counsel. I
personally believe that seeking counsel from your pastors’ is the best place to
run! (
Psalm
1:1-3 + Proverbs 11:14 )
1. He will never
ever, under any circumstances tell you something that is contrary to His
written Word.
2. Wives, God will
never tell you to do something that your Christian-husband is not in agreement
with. He never causes division!
3. When He speaks,
it comes with a peace and a “knowing”. When you have heard the voice of God, it is
settled in your spirit – and you “know that you know that you know!” and no one can change
what you’ve heard.
The Holy Spirit is “The Teacher” – and He will train
you to hear His Voice, if you are seeking Him. He teaches us by talking to us
about simple little things; …like when the phone rings, and you know who it is
before you pick it up. Or, when you’re going to town to buy a new pair of shoes
– and you just “feel” like
you should go to that store across town, instead of the one you’d planned to
shop at… and there you find exactly what you needed. He trains our ear with small insignificant
things – so that we will clearly hear and recognize His voice when He tells us to
do the bigger, life-changing things.
If you are
struggling and wrestling to hear and know your Father’s voice – STOP!!!
And know that He is on your team!!
He wants you to recognize His voice,
and obey it – more than you do. Ask Him to train you to know Him; seek Him and
His righteousness (Matt 6:33) …He WILL work with you on this!! Relax!! Let go
of the reigns, let Him lead!! J
Shalom! SHINE ON CHURCH!!
JJ Daniel – running after Jesus, and serving His family.
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