Hearing God "Speak"
I was somewhat shocked by the confidence with which the speaker made
his declarations based on the premise “God spoke” these promises to him. I
asked my wife when we got in the car, “What happens when 2020 arrives and these
things have not happened?” Here we are.
2020. And the vision God “clearly” provided that day in the woods? Unfulfilled - almost every component - unfulfilled. What happened? Did God change his mind? Or maybe the listener who was
so confident and clear on what God was saying missed it or misheard God or
heard some other voice? And if he did not hear the voice of God that day, how
can his listeners be confident of the other hundreds indeed thousands of times
this type of “God told me” language is employed to put forward the next “God-given”
vision or mandate to the church?
On a side note: Scripture is clear true God-called prophets
and spokespeople do not “miss” it or “get it wrong.” If they do speak fallaciously in the name of
God, they are labeled “false” prophets and we are instructed to avoid them.
I am not a complete cessationist (the belief supernatural
gifts ceased after the Apostolic Age of the Early Church) for two
primary reasons: 1) I do not find it taught clearly in Scripture and 2) I
refuse to put boundaries I don’t find in Scripture on how a sovereign God does
or does not reveal Himself in His creation. With that being said, I believe we must
be guarded when speaking on behalf of the Almighty in areas where He has not
already clearly spoken in His inspired Word. Some have labeled this position cautious continuationism (the spiritual gifts continue but must be exercised with caution and in submission to Scripture).
God is not a genie to be manipulated nor a
pawn to be used with our natural tendency to shine the spotlight on
ourselves even when evoking the name of God.
We must proceed with caution when we make use
of language that claims the authority of a God who is unable to misspeak or
mislead. We need to be hesitant to use the phrase “God told me” and more inclined to
base our assertions on what God has already said clearly in His
word. Words of knowledge and prophetic utterances
should always be weighed in light of what God has already said and affirmed by
other leaders in the church who spend consistent time in God’s word.
I believe God speaks. I believe God the Spirit lives inside
of us and points us to the truth. I believe God illuminates our minds and
hearts as we ingest His inspired Word. I believe God works through experiences
and situations and relationships and history and gospel proclamation and other
Jesus followers and everyday life to point us to Jesus and to remind us of who
He is and who we are in Him and of our absolute dependence upon Him. I believe God is active in our world so we need to pay attention.
It seems clear in the New Testament that as the dust settled
after Pentecost and the Early Church was birthed that God’s methods of revealing
Himself once again evolved (see Heb 1:1-2). It is also evident that the
writers of the later New Testament books & epistles recognized this shift.
Paul encourages his protégé Timothy to focus on preaching the Word (which he argues
is competent for equipping). The apostle emphasizes again and again to the
fledgling faith communities in specific cities to stay centered on the message
of the cross – to protect, preserve, proclaim, and pass on the Gospel. His
instructions on how to live out the Christian faith are grounded strictly on
the finished work of Jesus. And by the time we reach the final words of what
became the New Testament canon, we are warned of the danger of adding to or
taking away from God’s already spoken Word.
For these reasons alone we must proceed with caution when
speaking on behalf of God especially if what we are claiming is “from God” is
not already found in Scripture.
Do I hear God “speak” to me? Absolutely. Let me provide some examples.
When I behold His creation, I hear God speak of His glory
and the work of His hands.
When I fall more deeply in love with my wife, I hear God
speak of His church as a bridegroom that He will present holy and blameless.
When I hear my children laugh, I hear God speak of the
unconditional love our Heavenly Father has for His sons and daughters.
When I watch the birds of the air, I hear God speak of how
much more His provision is for me.
When I participate in genuine fellowship with other Jesus
followers, I hear God speak of how the unity of His people stands as a testimony of His goodness.
When I read of His sovereignty, I hear God speak of how we
are chosen from before the foundation of the world and how He is reconciling
the world to Himself.
When I enjoy a meal with family or friends, I hear God speak
of how He provides our essential needs day in and day out.
When I hear stories of radical grace, I hear God speak of a
grace that is bigger than our sins.
When I experience and exercise forgiveness, I hear God speak of how we
are able to forgive because we have been forgiven so much.
When I watch someone come to faith in Christ, I hear God
speak of His invitation to come and believe.
When I struggle, I hear God speak of coming before His
throne to find grace to help in my time of need.
When I doubt, I hear God speak of His faithfulness.
When I stray, I hear God speak of His mercies that are new
every morning.
When I sleep, I hear God speak how He is near even when we
lay our heads down at night.
When I weep, I hear God speak of how Jesus wept and grieved.
When I hurt, I hear God speak of His compassion and
kindness.
When I suffer, I hear God speak of how it is through the road
of suffering that Jesus was glorified and we are refined and matured.
Do I hear God speak? Every day in almost every way … as I pause to behold the bigness of our God, as I am drawn
into communion with Him through the work of the Holy Spirit, and as I am engaging the
living and active word of God that pierces and refines my soul. He is speaking.
Be encouraged Jesus follower who feels inadequate because you do not “hear from God"
like those standing on the stage. Be encouraged – He is speaking – we just need
to stop, lean in and listen. Stop waiting for
visions in the woods and open your Bible (God's breath on a page). Ask the Holy Spirit to awaken
your spiritual eyes and ears. Pay attention to what is around you. And soon
you will learn God is speaking in more ways than we can comprehend.
One final story: during a season of extreme brokenness and
restoration in my life, I was wrestling one morning with the labels people were
pinning on me based on my own failures and sins (liar, manipulator, sinner …
you get the picture). My heart was heavy and I was reading Romans 8 when God spoke
to me from this verse: “There is therefore now NO condemnation for those who
are in Christ Jesus.” The Holy Spirit brought a freshness in those words I had
never experienced. It was as if God were saying to me: “Devin, why are you so
consumed with the labels everyone has for you when I have labeled you NOT condemned? You are in Christ Jesus. Now live like it.” I wept. God spoke to me in that moment
through His living and active word to remind me His labels for me are the only ones that matter and He has
declared me Not Condemned. That moment
was a milestone in my path of restoration.
Did I hear God speak? Absolutely. His truth became clear and
made real to me through the Holy Spirit. So be cautious when speaking on behalf of
God – what you say has lifelong and eternal implications.
Let those who have ears hear.
