God Speaks Have you ever wanted God to speak to you? Maybe you have hoped for some special time when God would whisper in your ear and tell you something that would give you peace in a troubling situation. Maybe you have hoped for God to take you by the hand and lead you in the direction that He wants you to travel. Perhaps you have felt discouraged or abandoned because God has not singled you out for specific private communication. God is not silent. God does speak to us. From the earliest days of God working through the nation of Israel to build a nation that would provide the frame work and origin of our savior, God laid out certain laws and regulations which governed not only the relationship between God and man but also the interactions and interpersonal relationship between men. In the book of Deuteronomy, we find God intended for these laws and regulations to be lived and taught. We will read a few verses from the 4 th chapter of Deuteronomy. Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I am teaching you to perform, so that you may live and go in and take possession of the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you. You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. (Deuteronomy 4:1-2 If we drop down to the 6 th verse, we learn at least two things we need to remember. So, keep and do them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as is the LORD our God whenever we call on Him? Or 1
what great nation is there that has statutes and judgments as righteous as this whole law which I am setting before you today? Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your sons and your grandsons. (Deuteronomy 4:6-9 The first thing we need to remember is that no other god so near to it as is the LORD our God whenever we call on Him? God hears us and is in tune with our needs and our concerns. The next thing to remember is that God expects us to communicate His laws and all of the things of God. We are charged to make them known to your sons and your grandsons. God has always provided us with everything we need. From the creation through times of trouble and through times of peace and serenity. We have reflected on the fact that God gives us all that we need previously. Today, we will look briefly at Peter telling us the same thing as we read from 2 Peter the first chapter. Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. (2 Peter 1:1-3 God has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness. This is provided through the knowledge of Him who called. If we stop right here, we can draw a corollary with the passage that we read earlier from Deuteronomy. We have received knowledge that leads us to life and godliness. We need to share this with 2
our children and grandchildren. I really don t think that it is too much of a stretch to see that this includes all future generations (even those who are not our progeny). How do we learn of Him? How do we gain the knowledge that will lead us to salvation? We must feed on the word of God. Okay! Read the Bible! I get it! We have and many still do equate the Bible with the word of God. Here we need to understand some basics. First, the Bible is an inspired collection of truth concerning God. From the Bible, we learn many things concerning God s character, God s love, God s sense of justice, and God s mercy and grace. The Bible is inspired. What does that mean? Well, there are two scriptures that quickly come to mind that answer that question. The first one is found in 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Here we find the word inspiration. This word in the original Greek is a compound word: Θεόπνευστος (Theopneustos). This word is made by combining two words Θεός (Theos or God) and πνέω (pneo or breathe out). Let s see what Paul says about scripture (the Bible). All Scripture is inspired by God (lit God breathed) and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 The second scripture is found in 2 Peter 1:19-21. Here again, Peter points to the fact that scriptures are not from human origin but through the direct action of the Holy Spirit. So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. But know this first of all, that no 3
prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. (2 Peter 1:19-21 Yes, we learn a lot from the Bible. However, the Bible (while inspired) is not the word of God. In the Bible we learn about the word of God. In John the first chapter, we are introduced to Jesus. John s introduction does not contain shepherds, angels, magi, or farm animals. John introduces us to a more spiritual concept of the man Jesus. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. (John 1:1-3 Dropping down to the 14 th verse we learn more about the word. And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14 That s deep. The word was with God, the word was God, the word became flesh and dwelt among us. The word of God can only be Jesus. If we wish to hear God speak to us, we need to listen to Jesus. The writer of Hebrews opens his letter with these words: God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. (Hebrews 1:1-3 4
To hear God, we need to listen to Jesus. Jesus (the word) is not an abstract ideal. Jesus (the word) is not an ancient myth or dead concept. We look again in Hebrews the 4 th chapter. For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any twoedged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. (Hebrews 4:12-13 What is God saying to us today? How can we know what God is saying? As we draw this message to a conclusion, let us turn to James the first chapter and read verses 17 through 27. Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures. This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of 5
liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does. If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man s religion is worthless. Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. (James 1:17-27 In this passage, we notice some attributes of the word. First, we Christians have been brought forth by the word of truth. We hear the word and by hearing it we receive the word implanted, which is able to save our souls. When we hear the word, it requires action. If not, why are we told to prove yourselves doers of the word? What is God telling us? The last portion of the scripture that we read in James tells us to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. Yes, it can and does literally mean to visit orphans and widows. It is pointing to a broader mission of helping those who are in need. We are to help those who are not in a position to care for themselves. We are to, in essence, do what we see Jesus doing when He was on earth. While we are doing this, we are to maintain our relationship with God and not be drawn into concerns of this world. God has spoken to us. God continues to speak to us and He is telling us what is important to Him. Often, we are more interested in our own agenda and we fail to hear God when He speaks. 6