Do People Hear God Speak Today? Psalm 95:7B-9

In ancient times, the prophets heard the voice of the Lord. But is He silent today, or are there some of us who still hear Him speak? Is there some reason we cannot hear Him speak?

THE BIBLE GIVES US SOME ANSWERS

"Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, as you did that day at Massah in the desert, where you tested and tried me, though they had seen what I did." Psalm 95:7b-9. NIV.

IF

The Bible answers the question, 'Does God Speak today?' with the word "if." If sounds like it may or may not happen. We can't make demands on God; it is for Him to decide if He is going to speak or not.

HOW

God may speak in many ways, such as the prompting of the heart, conscience, a sermon, a Bible passage, an opportunity to do good, or the counsel of a godly mentor. (Beware of false "voices" that imitate God's voice. Knowing God's Word keeps us straight since He will never go against His Holy Bible).

THE BIGGER QUESTION

The bigger question is not, "Does God speak to us," but "What do we do with what we have heard?" That answer makes all the difference! We choose either to yield our obedience or to harden our hearts by refusal. If God prompts us to do good work, we should do it. If scripture speaks to give or serve, we should. If we rebel and hold back our tithe or refuse to teach Sunday School when offered or work in the church nursery, then we have begun to harden our hearts.

HARD HEART

Hardening your heart is like Russian Roulette, sooner or later God will act with condemnation. In the wilderness, Israel suffered because they hardened their hearts. They didn't plan to, they saw more of the situation than they did of God, and complained. (Exodus 17:5-7). The lives of the Old Testament people serve as an example to us; we presume on God's grace when we rationalize inaction to His voice.

TO HEAR HIM SPEAK

God may speak, but we gag Him. We drown out His voice by crowding our lives with busyness, entertainment, and career; even good things like church service and family may create a volume that deafens us to Him. Jesus' words, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear," no longer apply to our generation. Let's resolve to live lives free of the complications stifling His voice. Let's seek Him afresh in prayer and His word. May we commit ourselves to obey His still small voice that may whisper in our hearts to do some service, make some sacrifice, or commit some good act in His Name.

(c) Adron 7/28/10

How Your Heart Can Be A Guide, What The Bible Says, Exodus 25:2

People like to say, “Follow your heart,” or “Trust in your heart,” but the heart is fickle and generally a poor guide. So, can the heart be trustworthy guide?

“Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from each man whose heart prompts him to give.” Exodus 25:2. NIV.

PROMPT
The word, “prompt,” can mean to cause somebody to act, or bring about something; it could mean to remind somebody of what they ought to do.

Many people of faith practice a daily worship and prayer time with Bible reading, prayer, and then "wait” in silence for the Lord to prompt them. The prompt may be A thought to encourage someone or an idea to do a service, sometimes it is awareness to forsake sin, and sometimes it is a sense of peace.

FALSE PROMPTING
There is a danger of false prompting because our hearts waver between the old worldly nature and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. People become fools and cause pain by following a longing of the heart that seemed to them like a spirit-led prompting.

PROMPTING IN CHECK
Moses spoke to a pre-Christian people who did not have the indwelling Holy Spirit; or God’s written revelation, the Bible, for guidance. So Moses gave specific instructions as to what to bring, gold, cloth, etc. We have God’s Word and we must weigh the “Prompt” against the Bible. The Spirit of God will never direct us to disobey the Word of God. When you receive a “prompting” ask yourself if there is a verse that supports this action; or one that opposes it? Then pray with thankfulness to the Lord for His leading and ask for His help to fulfill the command.

THE ULTIMATE GOAL
There are no formulas that promise a spiritual reward, instead, we must have a relationship with the Lord. The “seeking- waiting- and listening in stillness” for the prompting of the Lord is part of that relationship experience. May we develop the attitude of always listening for the prompting of the Lord in our hearts, not only in my daily personal morning worship but throughout your day.

(c) Adron 2/17/10