Does God Speak to Man Today?

This morning, I would like to ask this question – Does God speak to man today?
Does He only speak to people of importance or does He speak to the common person as well?

Most Christians say they believe that God speaks to them, however if they are honest, they will also admit that understanding when and how God speaks is a constant learning process.

For me, it has been a constant learning process to “Recalibrate” my life so that I don’t miss what He may desire to communicate with me. To be honest, I have learned a few “methods” of stilling my soul to hear, but at times I am a very impatient person.

As a former mechanic, we had specialty tools that were used to measure machinery that required specialized tolerances. If the tolerances were adjusted right the machinery worked well, and if wrong, things broke down and cost dearly. By the way, these tools had to be “adjusted” every time they were used, lest we got a false reading.

As a Christian, this so relates to hearing God’s voice and not going on false guidance or assumptions. I can’t tell you how many honest and sincere believers went off on what I call a false “Rabbit Trail” only to discover they were wrong about hearing from God. Sometimes the cost was money and sometimes it was dear relationships that were destroyed because the perceived guidance was incorrect.

In 1 King 19:9, Elijah was in one of those times when he wanted to hear God and God was not speaking like he wanted.

Elijah at Horeb
Then he came there to a cave and lodged there; and behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here?

Elijah wanted and expected God to speak in a certain manner because he thought he deserved it. How often have we complained to God that he is not communicating the way we want? Elijah didn’t want to be questioned about where he was. He wanted God to move in “Signs & Wonder” to prove he was the “Man of God”. He got so bummed out that he got depressed and wanted to end his life.

Later in the chapter the scripture shows what God does to help him. He doesn’t give in to Elijah’s insecurities or fears, but rather forces Elijah to understand that He, God, would speak in the manner he sees best even if that makes Elijah angry at God or not.

[11] So He said, “Go forth and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD was passing by! And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.
[12] After the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing.
[13] When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Elijah was much like us in his expectation of how and why God should speak and he had to “Recalibrate” his soul many times to stay in tune with the Lord.

Here are my thoughts on God’s voice this morning:

1) Realize that God can and will speak to those who listen.

2) He will speak in a manner that not only provides us with answers, but also develops our maturity.

3) Getting mad or depressed because God will not communicate the way we want is a waste of time and energy. Being in such a place just may damage our intimacy with the Lord in ways we least expect.

What to Expect:

1) God wants to communicate with all of us.

2) He longs to be intimate with us more than we want to be intimate with Him.

3) Trust God to speak in whatever way He chooses, knowing He has our best interest in mind, even if it doesn’t feel that way right now.

Pastor Dale