Are We Listening to God?
The word “listen” is only found once in the King James Bible. This does not mean that the idea of listening to God is not found within His Word. By definition, the word listen means “to give ear”, or to hear. God has used words and phrases such as “give heed”, “attend”, and “hear” in His Word to convey the idea that He wants His people to “listen” to Him.
Many in the world today fail to understand that God does not speak to man as He once did while His plan for humanity was being implemented and first begun to be carried out. There are those in the world even today that claim to have “heard” from God. This has been described as a “still small voice” or something like that. Some claim to hear God in nature, others in dreams, visions and in various miraculous ways. However, one cannot find or produce any evidence to support their claims that God has spoken directly to them.
God once spoke directly to men. He did so in the Garden of Eden. He did so to Noah, to Abraham, and to many others. He did so to direct them as to how they were to serve Him and to give them a choice. Man has always had the choice whether or not to listen to, or follow God. God talked to His people Israel through Moses and he passed God’s spoken Word to them. God continued to deliver His Word through the prophets (spoken and written) to tell His people Israel what to do, and how to do it. Often, they failed to listen to Moses, Joshua, the judges, the kings and the prophets, or others to whom God sent His Word.
Through the prophets, the Spirit wrote to Israel in that day, while God’s Law to them was in effect. He also wrote to His people, the church, when that New Law was decreed and put into effect. God’s Word to the church was not written until the gospel was preached at Pentecost and the church began. Therefore, the New Testament was written to Christians. Are we listening to God?
All of this is basically re-stated in Hebrews 1:1-2 as the Spirit, through the penman to the Hebrews Christians, tried to prevent them from becoming apostate in returning to Judaism. God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; This also explains how God is speaking to His people today.
In John 14:16 Jesus told His chosen apostles that He would provide them with something that would abide forever. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Many think this is the presence of the Spirit. However, if we look at what Jesus said to them in John 14:26 we can see they would be taught “all things” as well as be able to remember everything Jesus had said to them. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Compare this to 2Peter 1:3 which is a part of a general epistle to the church and tells us what we (Christians) have been given. According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Then as we read 2Peter 1:4, surely we understand that it is God’s Word which tells of the promises He has made to those that love Him, serve Him and follow His Word. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. It is within the Word and through the Word of God that His promises are given.
This is evidenced as that first gospel sermon in the New Testament age was preached in Acts chapter 2. Those that were gathered there were God’s physical children under the previous Law – the Law of Moses. They were now being given a choice to become “spiritual” children of God. In Acts 2:37 they were “pricked” in the heart by the message and had asked what they were to do. In Acts 2:38 they were told what to do. Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Then in verse 39 we see the promise made to them and to all that were afar off. That promise was that God would speak to, and save all who would “hear” and “heed” to and obey the voice of God, His Holy Word. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 2Thessalonians 2:14 also tells us how God “calls us”. Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. God will not speak to us as we speak to one another. He does not speak to one in a different way that He does to another as Acts 10:34 points out. God does not respect one’s person. Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: Therefore His message is the same to all. All have the same opportunity to hear and obey and all who do not will suffer the consequences and spend eternity in condemnation, separated from God. Shouldn’t we all want to “listen” to and obey God?
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
