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.

 

The God who speaks

My mother had the following written in the back of her Bible: 

God said it.

I believe it.

That settles it.

Three times this week I have heard someone say, “We don’t believe the Bible for what it says but for who said it.” Today’s devotional picks three words from the following verse: “He has said…”

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

When I read a verse, I usually analyze what the words say and take for granted that God said it. However, if I had a deeper awareness of who is saying this, maybe I would have less doubt and fear and more faith and courage. After all, it is not a book that promises to never leave or forsake me, but Almighty God. As Spurgeon, the great preacher wrote, “Whether for delight in our quietude, or for strength in our conflict, ‘He hath said!’ must be our daily resort.” 

God speaks and His words are my source of wisdom and comfort. I’m to let what God says “dwell in me richly” as “a well of water, springing up unto everlasting life.” What God says is my weapon against the lies of Satan, the lure of the world, and the lovelessness of sin, not because His words are some sort of magic incantation, but because they are His words. What He says is exceedingly powerful. Here are a few examples.

Creative: God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. (Genesis 1:3) God spoke the world and the universe into existence. “By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible” (Hebrews 11:3).

Powerful: Is not my word like fire, declares the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? (Jeremiah 23:29) 

Effective: 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) 

Exposes human need: For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12) 

Is alive, living: The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14) 

Our source of faith: So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17) 

Only source of eternal life: Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. (John 5:24) 

Cleanses sinners: Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. (John 15:3) 

Yes, there are parts of the Bible that I cannot understand, nor can I understand how it works like it does. But I can accept and trust what it says because it is God-breathed — and God is worthy to be trusted. Along with my mother and countless others, my faith is in the God who speaks.