“God DOES Still Speak Today”
Exodus 3
1 Samuel 3
Don’t you wish God would speak to us like that today? The fact is that God speaking in such a spectacular way was highly unusual even in that day. When we read about it in the Bible it appears that God is talking like that all the time. But that isn’t true. It was very rare that God spoke to an individual in such an astounding way. Having said that – I think God still speaks to His people today. I think God still speaks in similar ways today at times – but it is rare.
In my life I have experience God speaking clearly in a similar way very rarely. The first time was when I was a boy – living in the mountains of Montana. It was August 17 at 11:37 pm in southwestern Montana, United States. The 1959 quake was the strongest and deadliest earthquake to hit Montana. When it hit we all ran outside and the ground was moving like waves on the ocean. It was unreal. After the worst was over, we kids went to bed. I slept peacefully until I woke up wide awake. I felt someone watching me. As I looked to the foot of my bed I saw a huge man – which I knew was an angel watching over me with an intent look of concern. I was so scared I covered my head with my sheets and in a sweat never looked up for what seemed hours. I finally fell asleep and in the morning told my mother about the angel visit. Later, when went outside we saw a boulder about the size of a car had rolled off the mountain headed straight for our cabin. There was one lone tree behind the cabin and the boulder hit it and ricocheted off just missing us. The angel didn’t speak but it was the first time I experienced, to my knowledge, divine intervention.
The second divine experience was when I was in Korea, in 1968 or 69. I had been living a sinful and godless life. I came back from the village early one morning after partying hard that night. Before going to bed I headed for the latrine which was about a block away. In good spirits I staggered toward the building when I heard a voice that penetrated my entire being. It was only one word – my name – Andy. It had such love and compassion and disappointment in it. I knew it was a divine voice. At first I thought it was my grandmother who had died that year. Later, I came to realize it was God. He knew what I was to become and the way I was living was very disappointing to Him. Did it change me? No. But God communicated His love and compassion for me.
The third experience was when I was called to preach. I can hardly explain it but I knew God was calling me to be a pastor. First, I ignored it. But the feeling got stronger and my mind became filled with messages from God – sermons to preach and teach. I resisted. I told God I was too shy. I couldn’t speak to 3 or 4 people much less a whole room full of people. The calling got louder and louder until I said, “Stop! I am not going to be a preacher!” I learned that when you say no to God in any area – you are being disobedient. God’s blessing left me and my life fell apart. I blamed God. I was so angry at God. The fourth time was when I was backslidden. I came to realize that my troubles were not of God’s making but from my and other’s choices. But I was too proud to admit wrong doing. I was too stubborn to apologize to God. Then I heard a voice. It seemed to come from everywhere and I heard it, not with my ears, but with my whole being. He said, “Andy, if you don’t come back to me now you never will.”
I fell on my knees with my couch for an altar and told God I was too weak to be a Christian. I knew I couldn’t live a godly life. I tried and I failed. I told God that I would try with everything I had – knowing it would not be enough to succeed and if I failed it would be His fault. That was about 50 years ago. I can testify that His grace is sufficient.
God rarely speaks in that soft, loving voice that seems to come from everywhere at the same time which you hear with your entire body and not just your ears – but He does speak all the time. I think He speaks in a spectacular way to the immature and the baby Christian. As we mature we walk by faith and don’t need God to hold our hands and speak to us is spectacular ways. But He does communicate to us every day.
First, God speaks mostly through His Word – the Bible. When He called me to preach He gave me a Scripture. We were poor. I had low self-esteem.
“He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes, with the princes of his people. Ps. 113:7-8
Another time God spoke to me was just before Monica’s Birth. I was working in on the school paper at Nazarene Bible College where I was the editor when I got a call from the office telling me that Julie had been taken to the hospital with complication due to her pregnancy. I rushed to the hospital and spent all day and the evening with her. I was in a frantic state and prayed and prayed but nothing seemed to be happening. It seemed like God wasn’t listening. The heavens seemed like brass. A little discouraged and down I went home to our lonely apartment. I prayed some more. Nothing. But then, as I crawled into bed I opened my Bible and read and as I did the Holy Spirit spoke to me from the pages of the Scripture. Psalm 128
I believe God mainly speaks to us through His Word. He communicates through the Bible. He has so many promises for us. But we have to accept it and claim it. Few people do that. This pandemic was a wonderful opportunity to put our faith in God. God said,
“Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 8 You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.”
Psalm 91:3-10
Few people put their trust in God. They put it in the government. I think we need to determine if we can put our trust and faith in the Bible or not. If we can’t trust this Scripture – can we trust John 3:16? Can we claim any of God’s promises? How do we know if we are even saved?
God speaks mostly through the Bible today. He reveals His will to us. He gives us promises. He gives us all we need to get from here to heaven. Read God Word and hear Him speak to you. The Bible says,
“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” Hebrews 4:12-13
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” 2 Timothy 3:16
Another way God speaks to us is through His creation. The Bible says,
“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” Romans 1:20
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” Psalm 19:1-4
It was at the end of our first year at DSCS and I was burnt out. I didn’t know if I could continue on. It had been such a busy year. But it was over and we came to Mt. Shasta for a much needed rest. Julie’s parents, Bob and Kate, took us up to the South Fork of the Sacramento River for a picnic. It was a wonderful spot. The creek made a peaceful noise and the family was laughing and loving each other – but I felt dead; burnt out. So as everyone else did their thing I walked up on the side of the mountain in the trees and lupine amidst the singing birds peaceful sounds of nature. I can’t tell you how it happened but God touched me and healed my soul. Psalm 23:3 says, “He restores our soul.” I can vouch for that.
There is another way that God speaks today. God speaks through the still small voice of the Holy Spirit. The Bible says,
“There he (Elijah) went into a cave and spent the night.
And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
1 Kings 19:9-13
Sometimes God speaks loudest in a whisper. You need to train yourself to recognize His voice. Like a baby learns to tell his mother’s voice from all other women – we, too need to be so familiar with God voice we can distinguish it from other voices. Because Satan can speak to us. Our worldly flesh speaks loudly to us. Learn to tell the difference.
Who does God speak to? Everyone. You may be thinking, “God hasn’t spoken to me.” Yes, He has. Jesus said,
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”
Revelation 3:20
God is clearly seen – but only the obedient see. He is speaks but only those who listen will hear His voice. Seek God this week. Ask Him to speak to you. Then listen and do what He says.
Jeremiah 33:3 ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’
