Does God Speak Today?
For a moment today, let us consider God the Father. Do you believe in God? (Psalm 14:1) Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God? (John 10:30-33) Do you believe that the risen Christ is now seated at the Father’s right hand? (Hebrews 1:3-8) Do you believe that Jesus speaks to people today?
Recently, an uninformed member of the ABC news division was discussing the Christian testimony of Vice President Mike Pence. She stated bluntly, “It’s one thing to talk to Jesus, it’s another thing when Jesus talks to you. That’s called mental illness, if I’m not correct.” Sadly, she was incorrect in so many ways.
It was Jesus Himself who said in John 10:27, “My sheep hear my voice.” Hummmm….that seems to settle that issue. But Jesus wanted to make it clear that He speaks to His people. In John 18:37 He says, “Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice.” Let’s make this simple, those who are in the family of Christ, and who live in the truth, will hear the voice of Christ.
Students of the Word, know that God speaks to His people. Since God said, “Let there be light,” he has desired to have communication with His Creation. (Genesis 1:3) After breathing life into Adam, God continued speaking into his life. It was God who called to Adam in Genesis 3:9, “Where are you?” It was God who spoke to Abraham (Genesis 12), Moses (Exodus 3), Samuel (1 Samuel 3), and Solomon (2 Chronicles 7).
Hebrews 1:1 says, “Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets.” Yes, God spoke in the Old Testament and the New Testament, and He still speaks today. Mainly, God speaks to us through His sacred Word. As 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV states, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
While the Word is the primary way God speaks to His people, He can use other means. Why? Because He is God. Nothing is impossible with God. Christ has spoken to many individuals since His death, burial, and Resurrection. The Apostles were frightened after the Resurrection of Jesus. Jesus told them to go into Jerusalem to a specific place, and to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which you have heard from Me.” (Acts 1:4)
In Acts 9, Saul was persecuting Christians. But suddenly, Jesus spoke into his life, and called him into the ministry. Saul became Paul, and he often testified of the voice of Christ in his life. Ananias was going about his business, when Jesus interrupted him, and sent him on a mission. “Arise and go to the street called Straight.” (Acts 9:11) Talk about a specific call. Ananias was even told which street to go to!
In Acts 10, Jesus spoke directly to Peter and said, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” This personal Call of Christ changed the mission and outreach of the Church. You see, Jesus can speak to individuals and make a difference.
In my own life, I received a personal, vocal Call into the ministry while in college. The voice of Jesus totally changed my life. You could never convince me that Jesus cannot speak to people today. Scottish pastor Horatius Bonar wrote over 500 hymns. In 1846, he wrote, “I heard the voice of Jesus say, ‘Come unto Me and rest; lay down, thou weary one, lay down Thy head upon My breast.’ I came to Jesus as I was, weary and worn and sad; I found in Him a resting place, and He has made me glad.”
ABC News was wrong. You can pray to Jesus, and He can speak to you!