Does God Still Speak Today?

"Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world." (Heb 1:1-3 ESV)

Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me" (John 10:27-28 ESV). He also said to Born-Again Christians, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me" (Rev 3:20 ESV).

God has never ceased speaking. Contrary to the teaching of cessationists, God is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb 13:8). The supernatural gifts He has give to the Church are available to every Born-Again Christian to build up, edify, encourage, strengthen, and restore (1 Cor 12:1-11). To deny their use today is to deny Jesus, the give of the gifts.

The Holy Spirit was given to help lead and guide us each day as we walk through this world (See Matt 10:19-20; Mark 13:11; Acts 16:6-7; 1 Cor 2:13). The Bible tells us that when we hear His voice, we should not "harden" our heart (Heb 4:7).

“I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.” (John 16:12-15 ESV)

How does He speak to us?

I often hear people say one of two things; that God speaks to them, or they wish God would speak to them. Those who say God directly speaks to them often pull the 'god card' to validate something they have done, or a message they have given, or the way they have interpreted (eisegeted) the Bible.

There is a teaching in the church today that the Greek word 'rhema' is the spoken Word 'from' God to people today, and the Greek word 'logos' is God's written Word as we have in the Bible. This generation is made up of biblically illiterate people who are imposing the "rhema" words of NARcissistic "spiritual" leaders who will not be questioned as they build their religious caste system from the top down.

This lazy illiteracy has caused the belief that a 'spoken' word through prophecy, dreams, visions, or a Word of Knowledge is 'fresh revelation' that is greater than, and supersedes, the written Word, the Bible. This belief is being used to validate and justify teaching that is contrary to traditional orthodox Christianity. A simple word study of the original Greek language used in the New Testament (NT) quickly reveals that there is no major difference between the words' rhema' and 'logos.'

The Septuagint translates both 'logos' and 'rhema' from the Hebrew word 'dabar,' which means 'that which is uttered in speech, or writing; speech, discourse, the subject matter of speech; a minimal unit of discourse, a single word, a focus on the content of the communication.

The words "rhema" and "logos" overlap in their definitions. The actual difference between the words is simply a matter of writing style and expression. The word "logos" occurs 330 times in the NT. The word "rhema" occurs 70 times in the NT. There are 218 times when the word "logos" occurs and it is translated simply as "word."" Rhema" is translated 56 times as "word." The word "logos" occurs 50 times and is translated "saying." Nine times "rhema" is also translated as "saying." The words "logos" and "rhema" are equally associated with "word" and "saying."

The Greek word 'logos' refers to a word, decree, the act of speaking, teaching, reason, account; first sense of collection, counting, conversation; expression of thought, statement; thoughts expressed in words, relates to speaking and thinking, a divine declaration recorded in the Old Testament (OT); systematic and formal treatment of a subject, the content of what is preached'; pertaining to matter.

Jesus spoke the 'logos,' and all that exists came into existence (John 1:1-3). Both 'rhema' and 'logos' are meant to be synonyms and are equated with each other (2 Pet 3:5). The word 'rhema' can be seen referring to what was written. Although the prophets' spoke' words from God, they were written to the people (1 Pet 1:25; 2 Pe 3:2,5; Heb 12:19,11:3; Jude 1:17).

'Logos' also refers to the Gospel as preached by the Apostles, and not to all the Scriptures (Acts 4:4). It is used regarding the supernatural gifts of prophecy, wisdom, knowledge, and tongues (1 Cor 12:8, 14:9). The 'logos is also 'spoken' by angels (Heb 2:2, 12:19) and also refers directly to Jesus (John 1:1,14).