This is the third part of our series on” God is that you?” People will say God is far off and that He is uncaring and indifferent. That He is unapproachable. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The Word of God tells us to bodily come to His throne of grace. ( 1 Peter 5:7, Heb 4:15, Heb 4:16). The early disciples had an intimate relationship with Christ. They walked with Him, spoke, and listened to Him. They heard His voice and listened to His teaching. Apostle John brings this out in 1 John 1:1-4 (NKJV)-1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life–2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us–3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full. Christ now lives in us by the Holy Spirit, and we can have unending fellowship with God. (Gal 4:6). We have access to God the Father through the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. ( Rom 5:1-2). What a joy that is! Look at 2 Corinthians 5:16 (NKJV)-16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Apostle Paul tells us that we have this fellowship by the Spirit not just physically knowing Christ. Sometimes we say, “I wish I could have been there with the disciples and walked with Jesus.” That would have been great. In this New Covenant, we have a better way of knowing God. It is by the Word and by the Spirit.
Did the early disciples have an advantage over us because they were there physically with Jesus? I don’t think God sees it that way and we shouldn’t. John 14:23 (NKJV)
23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. It is Christ in us the hope of glory. ( Col 1:27). 2 Corinthians 6:16 (NKJV)-16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them.I will be their God,And they shall be My people.” We read in the Gospel of John John 14:17-18 (NKJV)-17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
We are not fatherless, or parentless! Greater is God in us than he, the Devil that is in the World (1 John 4:4).
Knowing that God lives in us by His Spirit is a game changer. We can hear the voice of God today in our hearts. This is much different than those who lived under the Old Covenant. Look at Deuteronomy 5:23-24 (NKJV)-23 “So it was, when you heard the voice from the midst of the darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire, that you came near to me, all the heads of your tribes and your elders.24 And you said: ‘Surely the LORD our God has shown us His glory and His greatness, and we have heard His voice from the midst of the fire. We have seen this day that God speaks with man; yet he still lives. God hasn’t changed His mind when it comes to communicating with us. In that day His voice came from the mountain. He spoke primarily through the prophets and priests. Now He speaks through His Word and by the Holy Spirit within. We have to believe this by faith. We have to expect that this is God’s desire.
God speaks with man!
The Apostle Peter recounts his experience on the Mount of Transfiguration.(Mark 9:2). That he heard the audible voice of God talking about Jesus. 2 Peter 1:17-18 (NKJV)-17 For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”18 And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. Apostle Peter thought this was great. It was wonderful to experience such an important event in the physical. He goes on to tell us that the prophetic scriptures are a confirmation of what took place in the natural. We are to take heed not just to experiences but take heed to the scriptures. 2 Peter 1:19 (AMP)-19 And we have the prophetic word [made] firmer still. You will do well to pay close attention to it as to a lamp shining in a dismal (squalid and dark) place, until the day breaks through [the gloom] and the Morning Star rises (comes into being) in your hearts. It is Christ, the Morning Star, the Word made flesh! (Rev 22:16, John 1:1, John 1:14). The inward voice of God, physical manifestations, and spiritual experiences are wonderful but the most important thing is the Word of God. The safest thing is to stay with the Word of God. In a world filled with digital information, how-to, and self-help. All sorts of people’s experiences and how they define truth, let us stay with the truth of the Word of God. His Word endures forever! ( Matt 24:35 ).
The World is a dark place and thank God for the light of God’s Word. Many voices are beckoning and competing for our attention. The voice of the media, false prophets, false teachings, etc. Let it be the voice of scriptures to lead and guide us. Let us search the scriptures diligently when we listen to a preacher or a teacher of God’s Word. Acts 17:11 (NKJV)-11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Let us thank God for that “still small voice within”. The Holy Spirit of truth! Psalm 119:105 (NKJV)-105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. (Prov 6:23, Isaiah 9:2). Romans 8:14 (NKJV)-14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. Let us always test and judge what we hear every day and let it line up with the Word of God. Psalm 119:129-130 (NKJV)-129 Your testimonies are wonderful; Therefore my soul keeps them. 130 The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.
As we have gone through this series I wanted to stress the importance of God’s Word. I also wanted to teach how important it is that God still speaks today. That we have the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us into all truth. ( John 16:13-15). John 17:17 (NKJV)-17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. How wonderful it is to be in fellowship with our Father God. That He is a present help in times of trouble. He always wants to express His love and care to us. Let us be like David and long for the courts of our God. To be in His presence, to share our love and hearts with Him. To hear His Word and His voice and learn to obey the promptings of the Holy Spirit. To grow in our understanding and confidence that He lives big in us and wants to communicate with us! God still speaks today!
Song of Songs 2:14 (NKJV)-14 “O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, In the secret places of the cliff, Let me see your face, Let me hear your voice; For your voice is sweet, And your face is lovely.” ( Jesus, lover of my soul)!
In Christ’s Love;
Brent and Linda Bushen
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