"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork.
Day unto day uttereth -speech-, and night unto night sheweth -knowledge-.
There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. "
- Psalm 19:1-3
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Does God still speak today ...??
This is a common question, and is typically asked from a couple of perspectives:
1. Can an individual today, have a 1/1, human-like, PERSONAL hearing experience from God ... like we see in the Old and New Testaments? ... For new believers, this is a key question.. how do I hear from God so that I can run my life the way He wants me to?
2. Does God speak today in the same way He spoke to Abraham, Moses, the disciples of Christ, and the way the disciples prophesied through the Spirit? ... this is a question for the church ... some denominations will say there is no more "need" for God to say anything, the canon of scripture is closed, and so, looking for "new" revelation is to be discouraged.
Well, as our text this week says, God's voice is all around us...we are just not tuned to His channel!!!
Look at nature --- when you look at the care an animal has for its young, appreciate that mankind had NO hand in that whatsoever! We did not teach, or educate the animals to do anything that they "naturally" do!
Look at our lives -- we are completely dependent on the resources of this planet, and its happy position in the universe, that ensures our physical existence. We had no hand in creating or putting in motion, any of that --- atheists will say, of course, we have evolved to fit our environment... sure, except that, as far as we can see, this happy set of circumstances we call intelligent life, has not yet manifested itself in this universe (which was around a long time before we arrived ... per their worldview).
As we have pointed out in this study on speech, God spoke the universe into existence, He spoke His Laws into the ears of His people, and then through His Son, and HIs Spirit, is speaking to the whole world through His Word.
So the answer to both the questions that we started with is ... God has never stopped speaking, and is still doing it, to this very day.
To the new believer --- God will speak to you audibly and visibly IF IT IS NECESSARY ... like He did in the OT,in the NT to Paul on the road to Damascus, in visions and dreams even... BUT... He has given all who seek Him, enough of His Word so that you can hear His voice inside of you, once you have "eaten" and "digested" it!!
To the cessationists... please note that the work of the disciples was --contingent--- on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. For themselves, on the day of Pentecost ... and then those who believed in Christ through their word.
This work of the Spirit has not changed since then, and MAN has no power over this work. We do our part, but it is God who wills to grant life! So, having begun in the Spirit, we should not think that our flesh will get us the rest of the way --- stop being a robot church, going through the motions, and get the infilling of the Spirit which will enable you to be fruitful!
God's word came first to His people, the children of Israel. The promise that He would be a God not only to them, but to the whole world was given to Abraham long before Christ and the Spirit flung open the doors of the knowledge of the ONE TRUE GOD to all humanity!
"And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,
As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.
And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.
Gen And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, ---to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee----. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; ----and I will be their God. " - Gen 17:3-8
The Torah (or the 5 Books of Moses) were the only Bible David/Solomon had. Gods word to the nations of Israel and Judah through the prophets were written down, and the history of the nation itself chronicled, by 500 BC.
There was a 500 year period of silence till God spoke again through Christ, but by 150 AD, all the books of the NT were complete and available, and by 500 AD had been translated into over 500 languages.
Unfortunately, a war on the Word ensued, with the Catholic church forbidding the Bible to be written in any other language than Latin, and having it be read and exposited, only by the clergy. This went on for about a 1000 years!!! The Gutenberg Bible (in Latin) was the ----first book ever to be printed---- in 1450 AD...
The Tyndale/Coverdale in English, was published in 1525 AD to very few people.... but from the beginnings of those efforts, and those of other martyrs ... now... , the Bible is available in print and electronic form, in every LANGUAGE under heaven, worldwide, instantaneously, and has been since the Internet in the 2000's.
We are in the last days of His patience...... God has been, and is --always--- speaking... will man listen, will he be wise and think about his own speech?
We leave you with the text of Psalm 19, to have the final words on this topic.
"The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul:
the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart:
the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever:
The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
Let the ----words of my mouth----, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer."
- Ps 19:7-14
Hallelujah!