Guest speaker Yan Hadley spoke tonight on the voice of the Lord, taking a reading from Ps 29:3-9. God’s voice is a dynamic power which has been heard by His people throughout history: from Adam and Noah through to the book of Revelation, God has been speaking to people. This is not just reserved for ‘special people’, but all can hear His voice (see Jn 8:47, also Jn 10:27). Just as analogue radio stations had to be ‘tuned in’ to correctly hear what was being broadcast,however, we need to spend time with God to hear Him and must respond to His voice.
There are many ways in which God speaks to us, including:
- through our conscience, which convicts us of sin and speaks to us of eternal matters (see Jn 16:13, Eccl 3:11). We are urged not to harden our hearts when we hear God’s voice (Heb 3:15,18), but need to deveop a tender, sensitive and responsive conscience, shaped by God’s word.
- through creation, which speaks of God’s glory and magnificence (see Ps 19:1-2, Rom 1:19-20).
- through Scripture, which is a living word that can come alive to us through the revelation of God’s Holy Spirit.
- through other people, who can speak God’s word into our lives (through preaching, the gifts of the Spirit or even through ordinary conversations.)
- through a variety of circumstances, with God being able to bring good from even uncomfortable, unusual and dangerous circumstances (see Rom 8:28).
- through sovereign power, reminding us that what God opens or closes cannot be closed or shut by anyone else! (Rev 3:7) Jonah is an example of how God’s sovereign power can turn rebellion into repentance, using the most unlikely circumstances of a storm, a great fish and a minute worm! Saul of Tarsus is also a powerful reminder to us that no one is beyond God’s grace, for this hardened, hostile man who persecuted Christians was won to God by His sovereign power.
- through prayer (see Jer 33:3, where God urges us to call to Him in the security that He will answer.)
We must, of course, use caution and wisdom when discerning the voice of the Lord, for the enemy can deceive us (see 1 Jn 4:1). We have to match what we believe we are hearing from God with His Word (Ps 119:105 reminds us that His word will light our paths and any ‘voice’ from God must not contradict Scripture) , with the witness of His Holy Spirit (Col 3:15) and with counsel from spiritual, wise and trusted friends. (Prov 11:14) We must also eagerly desire to hear God’s voice, asking Him to unblock our ears and help us to hear that still, small voice which speaks hope and peace to all.