HOW DOES GOD SPEAK TO US

         "God 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;"(Hebrews 1:1,2).

         One of the fundamental differences among professed
         believers is over how God communicates His will --whether He
         whispers it in our ears, plants it miraculously in our hearts,
         reveals it through living men, delivers it through a church,
         writes it in a multiplicity of contradictory books, reveals
         it through nature or offers it through one book --The Bible.
         So long as some claim God speaks only through the Bible,
         others through present or recent prophets, others through
         personal communications by way of dreams, visions or an inner
         voice there can be nothing but confusion as to what the will
         of God is.

            How does God speak to us? How He speaks -- the channel He
         uses, will determine in a very real sense what we believe He
         is saying. Each of the channnels say something different.  God
         cannot be the author of confusion (1 Cor.14:33).

            While God has never communicated His will through false
         prophets (Deut.13:1-5; Isa.8:19,20; Jer. 23:28-32) He has
         spoken to men in various ways.(Heb.1:1,2):

             1. God once communicated to men directly:

                a. Adam (Gen.2:16,17; 3:3,9-19)
                b. Cain (Gen.4:9-15)
                c. Noah (Gen.7:1-4; 9:1-17)

              2. He once communicated to men through dreams:

                 a. Abimelech (Gen.20:3-6)
                 b. Laban (Gen.31:24)
                 c. Solomon (1 Kings 3:5-15)

              3. He once communicated to men through visions:

                  a. Abraham (Gen.15)
                  b. Nathan (2 Sam.7:4-17)
                  c. Daniel (Dan.2:19)

              4. He once communicated through angels:

                 a. Hagar (Gen.16:7-14)
                 b. Abraham ((Gen.22:11-18)
                 c. Balaam (Num.22:31-35)

              5. Even in New Testament times He communicated through
              dreams, visions and angels:(Matt.2:12,22; Lk.1:11-20;26-28;
              2:9-15; Acts 8:26; 12:7-10; 27:23,24; 9:10-16; 11:5-9; 16:9;)






              The question is not what God did in Bible times, but
           whether He speaks to us today through dreams, visions, angels
           and living inspired men?

           Consider the following:

             1. All of God's will harmonizes.

               a. God's prophet Moses, delivered the Old Testament law.
                  From that time until Christ all who spoke had to
                  harmonize with him. To fail to do so was proof a man
                  was a false prophet.(Deut.4:2; 13:1-5).
               b. God's Son Jesus, delivered the New Testament law (Heb
                  1:2; 9:15). From that time till the end of the world
                  no one is to speak to the contrary. To do so is proof
                  that man is a false prophet (2 John 9). Any dream, or
                  claimed vision or revelation in our day must be
                  rejected if it contradicts what Jesus taught.

             2. All of God's truth was revealed through Christ and the
                apostles.

               a. Everything pertaining to life and godliness was
                  revealed.(2 Pet. 1:3)
               b. The scriptures completely furnish us to all good works
                  (2 Tim. 3:16,17) There is no place or need of more
                  scripture.
               c. Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith (Heb.
                  12:2). He is the author of salvation to all who obey
                  him (Heb.  5:9).
               d. He promised the apostles they would be guided into all
                  truth (John 16:13; 14:26). The word they delivered was
                  the word of God (1Thes. 2:13).
               e. If Christ and the apostles spoke the truth then every
                  claimed revelation since that time must agree with
                  their statements.
               f. If all truth was given pertaining to life and
                  godliness in the first century there is nothing left
                  to be revealed pertaining to life and godliness
                  (2 Pet.1:3).
               g. THE faith was once and for all time revealed (Jude 3)

             3. The visions, angels and dreams mentioned in the New
                Testament helped in preparing for and delivering the
                good news announced by Christ and the apostles. The
                Bible reveals all there is to know about Jesus and all
                there is to know about salvation and about serving God.
                There isn't anything more that God has revealed.

             4. We have the scriptures. They give all the guidance God
                has given. God doesn't send us a knowledge of His will
                today through dreams or visions or self-proclaimed
                prophets. he revealed His will through Jesus and the
                apostles. We have that revelation in the Bible. If Jesus
                and the apostles do not teach a given doctrine or
                practice then we must have nothing to do with it. The
                first step in learning God's will would be to turn back
                to see what God's Son says, for God has "spoken unto us
                by His Son"(Heb. 1:2)
                                           - Delton Haun -