How God Speaks

How does God speak to you? With Jeremiah, God spoke to his heart. "Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: 'Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations'" (Jer. 1:4-5). Did God speak to him verbally? It could be that He did. Many people certainly assume so. What the text says is "the word of the LORD came to me," not "and the LORD said to me." So it may be that God's word was quietly placed upon Jeremiah's heart and mind, not unlike how God often speaks to us today. "A still small voice," like the voice Elijah heard.

Then there was Balaam, prophet for hire. When he was not listening to God, at just the right moment, God spoke to him through a donkey—that's right, a donkey! (Note: Num. 22:22-33). Can you imagine? Balaam had to be beside himself, thinking he was out of his mind! It certainly got his attention. His story is found in Numbers 22 through 24.

Balaam did not run and hide, but he did stray from God. He sought to do his own thing for the sake of money, but God pursued after him to stop him from violating God's trust. God made certain that Balaam did as He instructed, not as Balak wished. In the end, Balaam found that he could not curse Israel as king Balak hired him to do, but instead, he could only bless the people of Israel as God instructed. Offering to turn back (Num. 22:34), "the Angel of the LORD said to Balaam, 'Go with the men, but only the word that I speak to you, that you shall speak'" (v. 35).

During the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, when the Pharisees complained about the many disciples declaring Jesus as the Messiah, Jesus said, "I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out" (Luke 19:40). Nothing is too much for God. Stones are inanimate objects. At least Balaam's donkey was a living, breathing, beast of burden! God used the donkey to get his attention. And it certainly worked. As mysterious as it was, God was calling. And suddenly, Balaam was listening.

Lately in this blog, our Bible Insights have been all about hearing the call of God on your life. Do you hear His call? Do you understand His purpose for your life? When God speaks, are you listening? From the day you are saved to the day you die or are raptured and go to heaven, God's call is on your life. Hearing His call in every area of life is what is important. Be still and listen for God's "still small voice." Amen.

Forever Changed!

Consider the story of the Apostle Paul's conversion. His original name was Saul. He is first introduced to us at the stoning of Stephen in Acts 7:58b, where we are told that, "the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul." The next thing we hear about Saul is found in Acts 8:3, which says, "As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison." The disciples scattered and "went everywhere preaching the word" (v. 4). And Saul was never far behind.

In Acts 9:1-2, the persecution begins to escalate: "Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem." Then the fireworks begin!

"As he journeyed, he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?'" (vv. 3-4). The Lord certainly had his attention! "And he said, 'Who are You, Lord?' Then the Lord said, 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting…' So he, trembling and astonished, said, 'Lord, what do You want me to do?' Then the Lord said to him, 'Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do'" (vv. 5a, 6).

Now things really get interesting. "And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one" (vv. 7-8a). Saul was blinded by the bright light of Jesus, so his men "led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank" (vv. 8b-9).

"Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias" (v. 10a). Then in a vision, the Lord said to Ananias, "Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight" (vv. 11-12). After some discussion because of who Saul is, the Lord said to Ananias, "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake" (vv. 15-16).

Ananias went and laid his hands on Saul saying, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit" (v. 17). And the Lord worked a miracle. "Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized" (v. 18). The Lord had Saul's attention and changed his life. "So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus" (v. 19).

That is how the Lord works. He does whatever He has to do to get your attention, and then He works a miracle in your life to accomplish His purpose. As with Saul, He wants you to trust Him by faith and receive Him as your Lord and Savior. Then He will lead you in the way He wants you to go. Have you trusted Jesus with your life? Are you following Him in whatever way He is leading? I pray you are. Amen.

When God Speaks

Hebrews 1:1-2a says, "God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son." Just as God spoke "in various ways" through the prophets, so He speaks in many different ways to us today, placing His call upon our lives. Scripture reveals that all Christians receive the call of God on their life in some manner. Not all are called into fulltime ministry, but all are called. A walk through the Bible will show God calling His people "in various ways."

God told Elijah to stand before Him on the mountain: "And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces 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; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave" (1 Kin. 19:11b-13a).

God was in the "still small voice,” and He was calling. God used the "great and strong wind," the "earthquake," and the "fire," to get Elijah's attention, but God spoke through none of them. Those things merely got Elijah to be still and listen. It was then that he heard that still small voice of God speak inwardly to his heart and mind.

Hymnist William Cowper, in his hymn, wrote the title line, "God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform" (William Cowper, 1774, Copyright: Public Domain). Indeed He does. God speaks to us in many ways. When He wants to get our attention, He will get our attention. But when He speaks to us and calls us it is always for the purpose of performing His wonders. It is always to accomplish His purpose in you and to bring glory to Himself.

Isaiah was called by God through a vision, smoke, and the voice of God: "In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said: 'Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!' And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke (Is. 6:1-4—the vision and the smoke).

Realizing he had seen the Lord, Isaiah continued to describe the vision: "Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth with it, and said: 'Behold, this has touched your lips; your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged'" (vv. 6-7). Then Isaiah added, "Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?' Then I said, 'Here am I! Send me'" (v. 8—the voice of God and the response).

Was the voice of God speaking verbally or was the word simply laid upon Isaiah's heart? Could be either. But one thing we know is that the word of God was spoken through the vision Isaiah saw. This vision certainly got his attention. Then, through the vision, God spoke to Isaiah.

With Jeremiah, God spoke to his heart: "Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: 'Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations'" (Jer. 1:4-5). Did God speak to him verbally? It could be that He did. Many people certainly assume so. What the text says is, "the word of the LORD came to me," not "and the LORD said to me." So it may be that God's word was quietly placed upon Jeremiah's heart and mind, not unlike how God often speaks to us today. A "still small voice," like the voice Elijah heard.

I believe the Lord still speaks to us today. But as with Elijah, Isaiah, and Jeremiah, He speaks quietly to our heart and mind. Like the prophets before us, we must be still and listen for that still small voice of God. And when you hear Him speaking to your heart, follow what He tells you. Amen.

All Are Called!

Hebrews 1:1-2 says, "God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son." Just as God spoke "in various ways" through the prophets, so He speaks in many different ways to us today, placing His call upon our lives. Scripture reveals that all Christians receive the call of God on their life in some manner. Not all are called into fulltime ministry, but all are called. A walk through the Bible will show God calling His people "in various ways."

Remember when God told Elijah to stand before Him on the mountain? "And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces 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; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave" (1 Kin. 19:11b-13a).

God was in the "still small voice," and He was calling. God used the "great and strong wind," the "earthquake," and the "fire," to get Elijah's attention, but God spoke through none of them. Those things merely got Elijah to be still and listen. It was then that he heard that "still small voice" of God speak inwardly to his heart and mind.

God speaks to us in many ways. When He wants to get our attention, He will get our attention. But when He speaks to us and calls us, it is always for the purpose of performing His wonders. It is always to accomplish His purpose in you and to bring glory to Himself.

Trust Him. Let Jesus have all of you. Place your life in His hands and let Him accomplish His purpose in you. If you do, you will experience the Lord's power, strength, and beauty as never before. And may your life bring glory to Him. Amen.

Fulfilling His Purpose

God speaks to you because He "desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Tim. 2:4). "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him" (James 1:5). When you ask God for His guidance, He reveals His truth to you through His Word, but He also speaks through His people. "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise" (Prov. 12:15). And again, "Without counsel, plans go awry, but in the multitude of counselors they are established" (Prov. 15:22).

As a believer in Christ, God's call is on your life. He purposes to know you as His child and to empower you for His service. He wants you to fulfill His special purpose in life for His glory. He calls you to repentance and faith. He calls you to sanctification and holiness. He calls you to be faithful to Him. He calls you to serve Him and to build one another up in Him. And eventually, He even calls you home to spend eternity with Him. Who you are in Christ and everything you do in Christ is according to God's calling. When you live by faith and follow His call, you will find yourself fulfilling His purpose.

Psalm 138:8 says, "The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands" (ESV). This is the psalmist's way of saying that God has a purpose, a plan, for your life and He will accomplish it. He will perform His will for your life. He will fulfill His purpose in you. Amen.

Intended for Fellowship with the Lord

In the midst of the spiritual battles that we face each day, the Spirit of God speaks to us and gives us guidance and victory: "The Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified" (Rom. 8:26-30).

We see from the greater context of this passage in Romans 8 that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us in ways we cannot even fathom. He intercedes for all who believe in Christ according to God's will for your life. And so He provides guidance for us as the Father responds and speaks His will to us through His Word and by the still small voice of the Spirit within us. In this way, He works all things together for our good according to His purpose. And that purpose is that we "become conformed to the image of His Son" (Rom. 8:29a) Jesus Christ. God's purpose is for us to become Christlike, living a life of righteousness, as He is righteous. So He called us according to His purpose that we would be justified in Christ by faith and that ultimately we would be glorified in Him for all eternity.

"The LORD has made all for Himself, yes, even the wicked for the day of doom" (Prov. 16:4). God made you for Himself. He made you to have fellowship with Him. Therefore, He speaks to you and calls you to Himself for the pleasure of His fellowship. God loves you and wants to fellowship with you through the power of His Spirit who indwells all who believe in Christ. He saved you to be with you for all eternity, as was His original design.

God speaks to you to teach you His will. "Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is" (Eph. 5:17). To be wise is to hear God calling and to listen to what He is saying. To be wise is to understand His Word and to live by His Word. And it all comes down to hearing God. He wants you to be still and listen for His voice so that He can teach you the plans He has for you, and He can lead you in the way you should go. And remember, His will is "good and acceptable and perfect" (Rom. 12:2). Amen.

God Wants to Show His Power in You

David declared, "My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them" (Ps. 139:15-16). Before you were born, God knew you and your days were "fashioned." God set forth a plan in eternity just for you. He speaks to you and calls you for that purpose.

"But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth" (Ex. 9:16). God speaks to you because He wants to show His power in you and declare His name to the world through you. Isaiah adds: "The LORD of hosts has sworn, saying, 'Surely, as I have thought, so it shall come to pass, and as I have purposed, so it shall stand: That I will break the Assyrian in My land, and on My mountains tread him underfoot. Then his yoke shall be removed from them, and his burden removed from their shoulders'" (Is. 14:24-25). As it was for the breaking of Assyria's yoke for Israel, so it is for us. God intends to accomplish His purpose in us, so He speaks to us and leads us in the way should go.

God also declared through Isaiah, "Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure'" (Is. 46:9-10). Isaiah responded, "O LORD, You are my God. I will exalt You, I will praise Your name, for You have done wonderful things; Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth" (Is. 25:1). Understanding this truth, we should do as Isaiah did and give praise to God, knowing that He speaks to us to accomplish His pleasure.

God speaks to us and calls us to rely on Him in all things. When David fled from King Saul and hid in the cave, he said, "I will cry out to God Most High, to God who performs all things for me" (Ps. 57:2). To that David adds, "You have tested my heart; You have visited me in the night; You have tried me and have found nothing; I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress" (Ps. 17:3). When we trust in Christ in all things, God speaks to us to prove our faithfulness. When we hear God's call and listen to His voice and do the things He asks us to do, living by His truth, He gives us the victory in Christ over Satan and sin. Amen.