God Communicates

When we moved into this new home, one large piece of furniture would not fit. Where we put it was functional but awkward. I began praying for a solution. Then, last week while visiting our son, he was excited about a small addition to his new home. It didn’t register then, but a day or so later, I woke up praying again about my dilemma and the Lord put two and two together. I was awake and saying “Yes, that’s it!” This woke my hubby and we spent yesterday moving furniture. The dramatic change was celebrated with apple pie and ice cream.

We knew this idea was an answer to prayer. Our son’s actions were part of it, but he had no idea that he was so helpful. What happened is another example of the power of God to communicate answers to prayer in surprising ways.

This is a small example. A bigger one is how He is working in parts of the world where Christianity is a crime and becoming one leads to severe persecution, even death. Those who are free to do so are praying for salvation for those people groups. But how can they be saved if they cannot hear the gospel? Some verses seem to say this is not possible. . . .  

Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; (1 Peter 1:22–23)
Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. (James 1:18)
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17)

Skeptics often ask the same question; what about those who never hear or who cannot read a Bible? God blessed me and my hubby with a clue. We talked with a woman who came from one of those ‘closed’ countries. She told about her family being in the living area of their home one morning. Her father was upstairs. She said when he came down, they knew something had happened. He was glowing, his face shining in great peace. He had experienced an encounter with Jesus Christ, prior unknown to him, and he was transformed. Now a Christian, he took his family out of their home. They fled to a safer country, all becoming believers in Jesus — without a Bible or a sermon.

Since then, we have heard many stories like that. It gives no excuse not to preach or share the gospel, but it does assure us that God is able to reach anyone with truth about Jesus and redemption, with or without us. Some might argue that this cannot be a ‘real salvation’ yet changed lives and a deep love for Jesus say otherwise.

Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit saying, “And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.” (John 16:8) In my first encounter with Jesus, I did not physically see Him, yet I knew He was with me. Others testify to seeing Him, even being hugged by Him. Dare we limit God to what He can do to reach sinners?

Not only that, the NT church did not have the NT! They eventually had Paul’s letters, but none of them were written declaring the gospel until later.

Faith came by hearing — and anyone who knows Christ knows that the Holy Spirit is capable of speaking to the human heart. He convicts of sin, speaks of righteousness, and warns us when we forget or err in what we do. God even speaks of sending His Word to do His will:

So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11)

Again, this is not license to sit back silent and merely pray for the lost, but it is assurance that no one who is chosen by Jesus will be lost. Another truth is also illustrated: when the Spirit speaks to me, I must listen. I have the Word to make sure what I am hearing is written by God also, yet Isaiah tells me that obedience is part of His success in His will being accomplished by those who hear Him.

PRAY: Jesus, Your great power to make Yourself heard makes my ability to listen and obey a partnership with what You are doing. I’m deeply humbled yet must never be speechless. You are the Savior and this is what You want me to say, loudly and joyfully, and deeply in awe. Yet I know that You have the power to speak in other ways besides using my mouth.

 

Hearing what He says

 

 

A video shows small children, even babies, who were deaf and given aids to hearing. For the first time they can hear the voices of their parents and their faces are alive with joy. I’ve also met a child who was kept quiet since a babe because his parents were in hiding. Now free, he can speak but does not know how. I complain at times that I am not heard, but I know nothing about communication problems compared to these little ones.

It is not a surprise that the word for SAY or utter or speak is the most common verb in the OT. God is a communicator and we are made in His image, made to communicate. Even with the disaster of Babylon, the world is involved in learning how to talk to those of other languages. Learning to express our ideas and feelings is a big part of education. Learning the other side of it, to listen, is also a vital part of human life.

“Speak, Lord, for thy servant listens” is an important prayer. Realizing that the writers of Scripture had a commitment and said, “As the Lord lives, what my God says, that I will speak” is also vital. Even more important to all of life is saying this and meaning it: “Whatever the Lord our God says, declare to us and we will do it.” If being heard is important to me, how much more does my Creator want me to do more than merely hear Him but to also do what He says to me.

Think of the power of His words. He said, “Let there be light” and “there was light.” He spoke promises to His people, promises and covenants that have been kept. He warned them of disaster when they didn’t listen and those disasters happened. We humans speak and try to influence others with our words but we do not have the power and control that the words of God have. Compared to Him, we mutter and babble.

In the NT, the word for say and its variations is about expressing oneself orally or in writing, in specific ways and to inform others, even to call or name something. It is about asking and replying and about making declarations. Many times Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you . . . .” to tell His followers something of importance to their lives. Often His instructions were, “But I say to you . . . .” as He showed them the contrast between human and sinful ways of thinking compared to the way that God speaks. For instance . . .

Matthew 5:43–48. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

In this, Jesus is saying that to be a complete person and without defect, I’m to be like Him, like God. The good news is that because He died for my sin and offers new life, His life, to me, this is possible. Faith begins the transformation and even though it will not be complete until I see Him face to face, because of this “Word of God made flesh” I and all of His followers can do what God says. Without Him and the power of His Holy Spirit, this never happens.

GAZE INTO HIS GLORY. Focusing on Jesus is impossible without reading and hearing what He says. His Word is the agent by which He transforms His people. Peter said it well:

1 Peter 1:22–23. “Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God.”

The Bible also says that “faith comes by hearing.” I need to be a good listener to what God says. Also, I know my heart tends to follow whatever my eyes and ears prioritize. Whatever Jesus says is life-changing for those who hear Him, believe Him, and do what He says. These are good reasons to give attention to Jesus, yet the best reason is His love, love expressed in all that He does and every word He says.