HOW DOES GOD SPEAK TO US

"God hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom

he hath appointed heir of all things by whom also he made the

worlds;"(Hebrews 1:1,2).

One of the fundamental differences among professed

believers is over how God communicates His will --whether He

whispers it in our ears, plants it miraculously in our hearts,

reveals it through living men, delivers it through a church,

writes it in a multiplicity of contradictory books, reveals

it through nature or offers it through one book --The Bible.

So long as some claim God speaks only through the Bible,

others through present or recent prophets, others through

personal communications by way of dreams, visions or an inner

voice there can be nothing but confusion as to what the will

of God is.

How does God speak to us? How He speaks -- the channel He

uses, will determine in a very real sense what we believe He

is saying. Each of the channnels say something different. God

cannot be the author of confusion (1 Cor.14:33).

While God has never communicated His will through false

prophets (Deut.13:1-5; Isa.8:19,20; Jer. 23:28-32) He has

spoken to men in various ways.(Heb.1:1,2):

1. God once communicated to men directly:

a. Adam (Gen.2:16,17; 3:3,9-19)

b. Cain (Gen.4:9-15)

c. Noah (Gen.7:1-4; 9:1-17)

2. He once communicated to men through dreams:

a. Abimelech (Gen.20:3-6)

b. Laban (Gen.31:24)

c. Solomon (1 Kings 3:5-15)

3. He once communicated to men through visions:

a. Abraham (Gen.15)

b. Nathan (2 Sam.7:4-17)

c. Daniel (Dan.2:19)

4. He once communicated through angels:

a. Hagar (Gen.16:7-14)

b. Abraham ((Gen.22:11-18)

c. Balaam (Num.22:31-35)

5. Even in New Testament times He communicated through

dreams, visions and angels:(Matt.2:12,22; Lk.1:11-20;26-28;

2:9-15; Acts 8:26; 12:7-10; 27:23,24; 9:10-16; 11:5-9; 16:9;)

The question is not what God did in Bible times, but

whether He speaks to us today through dreams, visions, angels

and living inspired men?

Consider the following:

1. All of God's will harmonizes.

a. God's prophet Moses, delivered the Old Testament law.

From that time until Christ all who spoke had to

harmonize with him. To fail to do so was proof a man

was a false prophet.(Deut.4:2; 13:1-5).

b. God's Son Jesus, delivered the New Testament law (Heb

1:2; 9:15). From that time till the end of the world

no one is to speak to the contrary. To do so is proof

that man is a false prophet (2 John 9). Any dream, or

claimed vision or revelation in our day must be

rejected if it contradicts what Jesus taught.

2. All of God's truth was revealed through Christ and the

apostles.

a. Everything pertaining to life and godliness was

revealed.(2 Pet. 1:3)

b. The scriptures completely furnish us to all good works

(2 Tim. 3:16,17) There is no place or need of more

scripture.

c. Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith (Heb.

12:2). He is the author of salvation to all who obey

him (Heb. 5:9).

d. He promised the apostles they would be guided into all

truth (John 16:13; 14:26). The word they delivered was

the word of God (1Thes. 2:13).

e. If Christ and the apostles spoke the truth then every

claimed revelation since that time must agree with

their statements.

f. If all truth was given pertaining to life and

godliness in the first century there is nothing left

to be revealed pertaining to life and godliness

(2 Pet.1:3).

g. THE faith was once and for all time revealed (Jude 3)

3. The visions, angels and dreams mentioned in the New

Testament helped in preparing for and delivering the

good news announced by Christ and the apostles. The

Bible reveals all there is to know about Jesus and all

there is to know about salvation and about serving God.

There isn't anything more that God has revealed.

4. We have the scriptures. They give all the guidance God

has given. God doesn't send us a knowledge of His will

today through dreams or visions or self-proclaimed

prophets. he revealed His will through Jesus and the

apostles. We have that revelation in the Bible. If Jesus

and the apostles do not teach a given doctrine or

practice then we must have nothing to do with it. The

first step in learning God's will would be to turn back

to see what God's Son says, for God has "spoken unto us

by His Son"(Heb. 1:2)

- Delton Haun -