Does God Still Speak to His Children?

That’s really a great question. I have been involved in a number of conversations about this topic recently. No doubt in my mind that God is still speaking today. The question is, am I really listening to what God has to say or am I tuning it out because God may be asking me to do something that may take me out of my comfort zone. We may not hear an audible voice, but God is speaking through a number of different sources. With the help of a great resource (gotquestions.org), here are a few thoughts that will help you and me as we try to answer the question, does God still speak to His children.

The Bible records God speaking audibly to people many times

Exodus 3:14 – God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.”

Joshua 1:1 – After the death of Moses the Lord’s servant, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’s assistant:

1 Samuel 3:11 – The Lord said to Samuel, “I am about to do something in Israel that everyone who hears about it will shudder.

2 Samuel 2:1 – Some time later, David inquired of the Lord: “Should I go to one of the towns of Judah?” The Lord answered him, “Go.” Then David asked, “Where should I go?” “To Hebron,” the Lord replied.

Jeremiah 1:7 – Then the Lord said to me: Do not say, “I am only a youth,” for you will go to everyone I send you to and speak whatever I tell you.

Acts 9:15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is my chosen instrument to take my name to Gentiles, kings, and Israelites.

++ this is just a small sampling

  • There is no biblical reason why God could not speak to a person audibly today.
  • With the hundreds of times the Bible records God speaking, we have to remember that they occur over the course of 4,000 years of human history.
  • God speaking audibly is the exception, not the rule.

The answer to the question…God is still speaking to people today!

God speaks to us through His Word  

  • 2 Timothy 3:16–17 – All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
  • Isaiah 55:11 tells us, “So is my word that goes out from my mouth: it will not return to me empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
  • The Bible is God’s Word, everything we need to know in order to be saved and live the Christian life is found in scripture.
  • Second Peter 1:3declares, “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”

God can also “speak” to us through events

  • God helps us to discern right from wrong through our consciences
  • 1 Timothy 1:5– Now the goal of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.
  • God is in the process of conforming our minds to think His thoughts
  • Romans 12:2 – Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
  • God allows events to occur in our lives to direct us, change us, and help us to grow spiritually
  • James 1:2–5Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials,because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing. Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him.
  • Hebrews 12:5–11And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: My son, do not take the Lord’s discipline lightly or lose heart when you are reproved by him, for the Lord disciplines the one he loves and punishes every son he receives. Endure suffering as discipline: God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline—which all receive—then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had human fathers discipline us, and we respected them. Shouldn’t we submit even more to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time based on what seemed good to them, but he does it for our benefit, so that we can share his holiness. 11 No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
  • First Peter 1:6–7 reminds us, “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

God may sometimes speak audibly to people

  • It is highly doubtful, though, that this occurs as often as some people claim it does.
  • Again, even in the Bible, God speaking audibly is the exception, not the ordinary.
  • If anyone claims that God has spoken to him or her, always compare what is said with what the Bible says. If God were to speak today, His words would be in full agreement with what He has said in the Bible.
  • 2 Timothy 3:16–17 – All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
  • God does not contradict Himself.

So, what’s God saying to you? Pay attention and don’t miss God’s voice in your life this week.