Hearing Impaired

by Roger Loomis

God is still speaking to all who choose to listen. You and I can readily approach the throne of God 24/7. Hebrews 4:16 says, “Therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (KJV). Our God has made Himself very approachable. We have direct access because of the precious blood of Jesus. Like you, I don’t want to be hearing impaired when God speaks to me.

I want to remind you about seven wonderful ways God continues to speak to us.

1. Through His Word, the Bible. 

This is His primary way to communicate. He has given us 66 letters to reveal His plan and purpose for mankind and to give us specific guidance. The Bible is God’s revelation to a sin-cursed planet. When we read the Bible, it’s like receiving a personal letter from the Lord. 

Do you remember the letters you wrote to and received from your future wife and/or girlfriend? They were sent and  received with deep love. Your heart felt like it was going to burst when you saw the handwriting on the envelope. That’s the way God wants us to feel when we open His letters to us! Job said, “I have treasured the words of your mouth more than my necessary food” (23:12). Oh, my friend, let’s feast and savor every morsel of God’s Word. The psalmist said, “The word of the Lord is worth more than gold, even more than much fine gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey straight from the comb” (19:10). The apostle John tells us that His words are “spirit and they are life” (John 6:63). When we read His word and open our spirit to receive, He imparts whatever we need at the time. 

Do you need healing? Read the many scriptures on healing. Do you need financial help? Do the same. Whatever you need today, look to His Word. Mix it with faith and watch as the Lord undertakes in your life (Hebrews 4:2).

 

2. By the Holy Spirit

When we place our faith in Christ to save us, His Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us. He becomes our advocate, our teacher, our guide, our comforter, our strength, our Paraclete – the one who is called to come alongside us. He speaks to us! What the indwelling Spirit says will always line up with biblical revelation. He will never counteract His Word. Because He is the Spirit of truth, He guides us into ALL truth (John 16:13). As a matter of fact, the Bible is the only book we read whose author lives inside us. The Spirit and the Word will always agree!  That, you can count on!

3. Through words of wisdom and knowledge

Have you ever received answers to specific problems or questions when you were least expecting them? If we walk in the Spirit, He will often give us answers or solutions from “out of the blue,” Usually, this happens when you’re not particularly thinking about anything or anyone. Maintain a prayerful attitude and know that God will likely give you a word of knowledge or wisdom when you need them the most. He imparts both knowledge and wisdom from above for which none of us can take credit. We’re not that smart! “For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:8). 

4. Through prophetic words

To prophesy means to “speak forth.” Many in today’s church operate in the gift of prophecy, which happens when God wishes to confirm an already given word through another person.  Prophetic words should not be seen as direction. If God wishes to speak to you, He never goes to a second or third party! Although much abuse continues regarding prophetic words, God does on occasion use others to encourage and confirm His word in our lives. Everything spoken must be weighed according to Scripture and time tested. Don’t believe everything you hear. We are living in the end times when many “voices” are clamoring for our attention. A lot of well-meaning believers place way too much stock in prophetic words that seek to over-sensationalize what God is saying. Proceed with healthy caution!

5. Through nature

God speaks through both specific and general revelation. Specific revelation refers to the Word of God. General revelation refers to nature. The psalmist says, “The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words, to all the world” (19:1-4). We note God’s splendor and majesty in nature. 

When I was a young boy, my dad let me clear a small section in our woods to make a get-a-way place. I worked hard clearing the space, making a firepit and building a small shelter. Many hours were spent enjoying the beauties of nature. I remember basking in the presence of the Lord as I stared into the sky, watched the clouds, felt the warmth of the sun, and listened to the gentle breezes as they moved through the trees. And I felt the wonderful presence of the Lord.  Afterall,  He is the God of nature. I encourage you to get away by yourself sometime  in a secluded place. Always worship the Creator, not the creation (Romans 1:25)! Open your heart and allow the Lord to speak to you. 

 6. Through our conscience

I still remember the time when my boys were small – ages 4 and 7 – and I was filling up the gas tank at a service station. I had pre-paid but wasn’t paying attention when I went over five cents. My first thought was, “It’s only five cents!” However, two little boys who had their faces mashed against the car window, saw the whole episode. Immediately, my conscience was quickened, so I went back to the cashier and laid a nickel on the counter. Conscience won the day! As long as we stay in the Word and allow it to “fine-tune” our spirit, we can trust our conscience to guide us along righteous paths.

But we must be careful. The Bible talks about those who stray from righteous living, who allow their conscience to become numb and even dead. This I never want to do. In matters of conscience, we need to always heed the voice of the Lord, so as not to become deaf. The Bible says in Acts 2:37, “Now, when they heard this (Peter’s preaching), they were pricked in their heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Conscience is not one-hundred percent reliable. Only as we stay in God’s Word and allow it to fine-tune our spirit can we sustain a clear conscience. We are told, “Let your conscience be your guide.” Allow the Lord to maintain within you a pure heart that always desires to walk uprightly before the Lord.



7. Through dreams and visions

God still speaks to us through dreams but believers must exercise caution. Reliability is the deeper issue. I dream from time to time but believe me, not everything I dream originates in heaven. My unreliable self-conscious mind comes up with some pretty crazy stuff! I must proceed with caution!

The Old Testament premiere dreamer is Joseph. God gave him a two-part dream (recorded in Genesis 37) that eventually saved not only his immediate family from famine and destruction but entire nations as well. 

Acts 2:17 tells us that  “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.” This verse is a fulfillment of what the minor prophet wrote in Joel 2:28, “It will come about after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and daughters will prophesy, Your old men will dream dreams, Your young men will see visions...”

So, we know that God still uses dreams (and visions) to speak to His people. However, like every other revelation, what we dream must line up accurately with Scripture. They must never be seen as directive, only confirming what the Lord has already spoken in more reliable ways. The big concern with dreams is that types and shadows, metaphors, and stories require private interpretation, and this is where we must exercise caution. That’s why I list dreams lastly. Yes, we do, from time to time, receive God-given dreams but they should be seen as supplemental, and always requiring time-tested authenticity. Remember, it was thirteen years after Joseph received his colorful two-part dream until its fulfillment!