“He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Matthew 11:15
Discussing how ‘God speaks to us today’ is always interesting. This has been the case in my Survey of Doctrine class at Adelaide College of Ministries, where I ask students to share their views on how God reveals Himself to us. Some have held that visions and dreams are still very relevant; some have held that God spoke to them in an audible voice. Still others, casually hold that ‘God told me’ or ‘God spoke to me’ through an experience or some feeling, which they unintentionally equate with the Word of God in the Scriptures. So how does God speak to us today?
Firstly I will not deny that God does use experience and circumstance in His providential dealings to point us in a right direction. But what is that direction? The providential dealing of God is never an end in it self. It should only ever be seen as His pointer to the clarity of His perfect, instructive, inerrant Word.
So if you want to hear God speak - know what God says, understand His desires for your life - read the Scriptures. Anything else is second rate at best and could well be completely false!
I like what J. MacArthur said at the recent ‘Strange Fire’ conference; “If you want to hear from God, read your Bible. If you want to hear Him audibly, read it out loud.”