To hear some folks talk, you'd think God is impersonal. He sits upon His throne above and lets us all run around like ants at a picnic--each racing over the pages of His inspired Word in search of satisfaction. I wonder. Does He give out gifts of the Spirit and then say, have at it?
No. God sent us His only begotten Son so that we might see the Father through Him. Then Jesus went on to Heaven because in His physical flesh He could not be with all those who believed in and relied upon Him. So He gave us His Holy Spirit to live within us--to direct, guide, comfort, teach, console, counsel, convict, remind us of His commands and fill us with Himself so that we never walk alone. We dwell in Him and He in us. Make no mistake that when John told us "In beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word is God", that he meant the Word (Logos) would remain silent within our soul and spirit as He walks alongside us through life. Jesus Himself says, "He who is able to hear, let him listen to and heed what the Holy Spirit says to the assemblies." Revelation 3:22
Jesus told his disciples, "What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered in the ear, proclaim upon the housetops." Matthew 10:27
He sent his disciples out to witness of Himself. He told them they would hear whispers in their ears to proclaim upon rooftops. Jesus also said that what his disciples did is nothing compared to what those who never saw Him will do through Him.
Folks who say we cannot hear God today, give me great pause to think God looks down from His lofty grandeur and says, "Lean not to your own understanding. But don't turn to Me for direction because I ain't talking to you. Just read the scripture and figure it out for yourself. Be kind...love others as yourself...avoid sin and the appearance of sin. Obey your parents and those in authority over you. Be holy as I am holy. Resist the devil and he shall flee. You're in a war-zone, so put on your armor. If you get in trouble and don't know what to do, just do what you want to do. I gave you a brain; use it. Mess up? don't fret...I'm your clean-up man. Read, child, read! Read my Word. Be still and KNOW...but remember when you pray, you don't have to listen...'cause I'm not speaking. If you think you hear My voice over your right shoulder...you just need to lay off the bacon. Don't expect to see Me in the darkness, or feel My calming presence in your moments of terror; or feel My peace when you walk through the valley of death; or feel My comfort when you mourn the loss of a child; or feel My strength when you are weakest; or sense my assurance when you're walking in the right direction. When I move in your life, you don't sense anything. If you do, then you should probably check the expiration date on your milk carton."
Sorry, folks. I can't buy that. I fellowship with the Most High God who says He inclines His ear to me. He doesn't sleep nor slumber. He speaks in the heart-piercing splendor of His Spirit, and His Word. He uses each of us to convey His messages of encouragement, edification, reproof, and admonition. He speaks to me in the stillness of the night, and the upheaval of life's storms. If I can't hear Him, it's because I'm not listening.
A reading of John 10 shares an example of the wicked who could not hear Jesus because they chose their own way. They were Pharisees, well-learned men of scripture. Yet they did not know the Master's voice when He spoke. They ignored Him again and again because they wanted to do what they wanted to do. Some folks are doing this today. They lead the hungering and thirsting to disregard the discerning voice of God imparted by the Holy Spirit. It's non-existent. They tell us we are no different than the Israelites of old--who had to go to the priest to hear the message of God, to prophets who spoke directly from God, to apostles who wrote the Words of God, to the Bible of which has many translations, interpretations, and doctrinal bends. I think the reason I bristle at the words of such voices is because they are strangers. The Shepherd is Who I hear. From all others I tend to run. selahV
"...his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” John 10:4b-5.
"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." John 10:27