God has something to say to you

Listen along here:  https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/42ca3c4d/god-has-someth...

God wants to talk to you...did you know that?

I know you're busy and everything, Doctor, but he really does--  God really does want to talk to you. This is one of the things that sets Christianity apart from every other religion. Our God is alive, he is relational, and he wants to talk to us.   

Not long ago we looked at Acts chapter 10, when God significantly expanded Peter's territory, what we would call 'his influence today. Until then, the Christian church was comprised of Jews only; but then God informed Peter in several ways, that his grace was for all people, not just the Jews. God spoke to him in a vision and also in a quiet voice ... again, Acts 10. Just one of the places, a couple of the ways God speaks in Scripture.

Now I did not grow up in a faith that taught that God still speaks, but as the years have gone by, my relationship with the Lord deepened, study of his Word intensified, I do indeed believe that God speaks ... today.   

When I teach on hearing God's voice, the looks on faces are really telling--thinking of it now makes me smile. Some people just can't believe that anyone could 'hear' from God, and that if folks say they do, well, they might be a little strange or possibly hearing voices which they want to think came from God, but really did not. After all, we live in a day and time that has cultivated the notion that the skeptical person is always smarter than the one who believes. Ha, you can almost be a cabbage and be respected, as long as you doubt.1  Isn't that the truth?

But once again, as with most things in our lives, it goes back to what you and I believe about God, and who he is. God is relational; he created us for communion with him. Relationships of any sort involve communication--two-way communication. So Friend, don't you see?  God speaks to those with whom he has relationship.

Therefore, we seek to hear from God because we long for closeness with him; hearing from Him is a by-product of our relationship with him. Our desire to hear his voice is evidence of our love for him. One can easily see into the heart of Brother Lawrence who said,         

 "There  is  not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful                      

     than that of a continual conversation with God. Those only can comprehend it who practice and experience it; yet I do not advise you to do from that motive.

It is not pleasure which we ought to seek in this exercise; but let us do it from a principle of love, and because God would have us." 2

Communication with my friends, family and colleagues takes place through conversations, voicemail, e-mail, text-message, knowing facial expressions, eye contact, emotions, letter writing, and physical contact like hugs, pats on the back and kisses. God also uses different forms of communication, like Creation itself. Paul wrote, "What may be known about God is manifest [made known] in them, They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God." 3

The psalmist talks further about the heavens declaring God's glory - that is, speaking to us about the nature of the Creator. 4

God revealed himself through the birth of Jesus Christ. Is there any louder statement than the giving of his only Son to communicate to mankind? No indeed not. Oh, how I love him! Therefore it is to be expected, given the revelation of God in Christ, that if he wants us to know something, he will be both able and willing to communicate it to us plainly, just as long as we are open, able to hear .... 

God wants to talk to you ...

           Are you prepared to hear him? Do you have relationship with him?

                       He will talk to you from the pages of his word as you read~

                       He may speak to you in a dream~

                       He has certainly revealed his great love for you in a very

                                   loud statement named Jesus!

God wants to talk to you . . . he really does.

Song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=es8KfGbTKkE&list=RDes8KfGbTKkE&a...

Christine

PastorWoman.net

1 - Hearing God, Dallas Willard - brilliant!

2 - Brother Lawrence, Practicing the Presence of God

3 - Romans 1.19-20

4 - Psalm 19.1-4