Looking to God

How did God speak in the Old Testament?

How did God speak during the Life of Christ?

Hebrews 1:1–2 (NKJV)

1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,

2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;

In the O.T. (“time past”), how and through whom did God speak? - The Prophets

In the N.T. times (“these last days”), how did God God Speak? - Through Jesus

John 14:26 NKJV

26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

Whom did Jesus promise the Father would send in His name? - The Holy Spirit

John 16:13–14 NKJV

13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.

What is the work of the Holy Spirit as described in John14:26 & John 16:13-14?

Teach you all things, bring to your remembrance all Jesus said.

Guide you into truth, inform you of God’s Will.

John 8:47 NKJV

47 He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.”

Who hears what God says? - He who is of God.

What does John 8:47 say about a person who does not hear what God says? - They are not of God.

How does God speak to us today?

We will look at this in more detail in the weeks ahead.

God speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, Prayer, Circumstances, and the Church to reveal Himself, his purpose, and His way. There is no set formula to know for certain God is speaking to you. In Scripture when God chose to speak to people , they knew it was God, and they knew what He was saying.

John 10:2–4 NKJV

2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

John 10:14 NKJV

14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.

The Key to knowing God’s voice is not a formula or method. However, it does come out of relationship. The closer you grow in your relationship with God the more intimately you know Him the clearer His voice will be.

You will not be able to rely on other people’s walk with God. You will have to depend on God alone. Your relationship with Him is crucial.

Example:

Person A: Will you do x?

Person B: I need to play about it?

Person A: You don’t need to pray about it I already have.

That does not equal the voice of God that is the voice of man.