The God Who Speaks

Hebrews 1:1-4

Idols cannot talk (Psalms 115:4-7), but we follow One who does speak. The Lord communicated to saints of both the Old and New Testaments in a variety of ways. He spoke in an audible voice to affirm His Son (Matthew 3:17) and gave direction to Paul on the Damascus road (Acts 9:6). He used dreams to reveal future events (Genesis 37:5-11), and a vision to communicate with Peter (Acts 10:9-16). He sent angels to proclaim His will (Luke 1:26-37), and orchestrated events to communicate His message (2 Kings 5:6-15).

The Lord still speaks today. The written Word of God is our primary source for hearing from Him. Through the ministry of the indwelling Holy Spirit, we receive understanding of scriptural truths and their application to daily living. At other times, the Spirit of God communicates directly with us, strongly impressing our spirit with His message. When this happens, we must carefully verify that what we have heard is correct. If it does not match Scripture, then God did not say it. In addition, the Lord sometimes uses circumstances to confirm what He is already telling us in His Word.

Visions also require our caution. God chooses to communicate this way only rarely, usually preferring to speak by other means. Fleeces such as the one Gideon used (Judges 6:36-40) can be subject to human manipulation and might therefore prove to be unreliable. They are not the best way to hear from the Lord.

Our God has much to say. The question is, how well are we listening?

Daily Devotions with Dr. Charles Stanlley, InTouch Ministries