(HOME)--(WHO I AM)--(WHAT I BELIEVE)--(MY COMMISSION)--(CONTACT US)--(MESSAGES)--(LITERATURE)

“GOD IS SPEAKING – ARE YOU LISTENING”

READ IN THE BIBLE (JOHN 12:48)

There are many doubters and unbelievers in the world today that deny the existence of God. To any who are in this category, God has provided at least a three-fold proof that He is the living God and that He does indeed exist. Notice the following:

1. THERE IS A GOD – SAY’S MAN’S CONSCIENCE – There is the witness of God to man because man has been endowed with a God given conscience. God has given to man a moral sense, a knowledge within of what is right or wrong. “Conscience is the mental faculty by which man judges his actions and passes sentence thereon. It bears witness to the fact that man lives in a moral universe and is ultimately answerable to God” (Phillips – Exploring Romans.)

2. THERE IS A GOD – SAY’S GOD’S CREATION – (Psalm 19:1) “The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament sheweth his handiwork”. This scripture is saying to us that the heavens are the revelation of God’s glory. The firmament, the great expanse of those heavens, is the revelation of his handiwork or his hand-work. It say’s further in, (Romans 1:19, 20) “That which may be known of God is manifest to them: for God hath showed it into them”. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead: so that they are without excuse”. The witness of God is his wonderful creation and man is without excuse if he rejects it. Both CREATION and the WRITTEN WORD (The Bible) are the result of divine speech. We read in, (Psalm 33:6) “By the Word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of His mouth all their host”.

3. THERE IS A GOD – SAY’S GOD’S WORD (The Bible) – It says in, (2 Timothy 3:16) “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness”. This verse is saying to us that “Every scripture is God-breathed and is profitable for instruction, for reproof, and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience and for training in righteousness (righteous living).

God not only exists but God is also speaking. He has revealed Himself to mankind, not only by conscience and creation but also by the holy scriptures, the Word of God, the Bible. We read in, (Hebrews 1:1,2) “God who at sundry times and in diver’s manners spake in times past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son”. It is saying to us that God spoke in past days (the Old Testament scriptures) unto the fathers (Israel) in many separate revelations each setting forth a portion of truth. God is now speaking in these last days (the New Testament scriptures) by His Son or “in Son” (in His Son). The words spoken by the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, are the Words of God and the wise person will listen and take heed to those words.

GOD IS SPEAKING. ARE YOU LISTENING. There are many voices you will hear in this world and in your lifetime. There is no other voice you will hear that is more important than God’s voice. It is God who is speaking to you through His Word, the Bible. Your eternal destiny depends on you hearing his voice and obeying his Word. Let’s consider now some of the important words that God has spoken through His Beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ and why you must hear and obey:

1. THE WORDS OF GOD ARE UNIQUE – There were some in the days the Lord Jesus was here that heard Him speak and in response they said, (John 7:46) ‘Never man spake like this man”. There was something different about this man called Jesus and about the words He spoke. It say’s in (Matthew 7:28, 29) “The people were astonished at his doctrine (teaching)”. “For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes”. The words of the Lord were spoken with authority because of who He is.

2. THE WORDS OF GOD ARE JUDGING WORDS – (John 12:48, 49) “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day”. “For I have not spoken of myself: but the Father which sent me, He gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak”. These words of the LORD are most important because they were uttered on one of the days of the last week before He was crucified. There was no further public teaching given in John’s Gospel after these words were spoken. Dear Reader, will you receive His warning about coming judgment and be prepared for that day? If you reject Him and His Word, then the very message you have heard will be brought against you in judgment in that coming day.

3.THE WORDS OF GOD ARE FOR THIS PRESENT TIME – (Hebrews 1:1,2) “God hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son” (the LORD Jesus Christ). The “last days” refer to the New Testament times as opposed to the phrase “time past” which are the Old Testament days. The “last days” refer to this Church age and the 2000 years since the Lord’s crucifixion. This, then, includes this present time and whatever time remains until the LORD returns according to his promise. In other words, God’s spoken words through the Lord Jesus Christ are for our time, the time in which we now live.

4.THE WORDS OF GOD ARE ETERNAL WORDS – (Mark 13:31) “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away”. This statement of the LORD Jesus shows that His words are eternal, and every detail of His predictions and promises will surely come to pass. This includes His promise in (John 12:48), mentioned above, when He said, “The word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day”. When this heaven and earth are no more, His Word will remain.

5.THE WORDS OF GOD ARE MIGHTY AND POWERFUL – (Luke 4:32) “They were astonished at his doctrine (teaching): for his word with power”. The Lord Jesus amazed the people who heard His teaching and the authority with which He spoke. Three examples might be considered that demonstrate the awesome power of God’s words:

A.THE MIGHTY POWER OF HIS WORD IS SEEN IN CREATION. It says in, (Psalm 33:6, 9) “By the word of the LORD were the heavens made: and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth”. “For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.” In the Genesis account of creation, we read “And God said … and it was so” until all his creatorial work was completed. What was the origin of this vast and wonderful creation? Was it the “Big Bang Theory”? NO. God spoke it into existence. Well might men fear, with a reverential awe. God could speak a world into being out of nothing.

B.THE MIGHTY POWER OF HIS WORD IS SEEN IN SALVATION. It says in, (John 5:24, 25) The Lord Jesus Christ said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation: but is passed from death unto life”. Verily, verily, I say unto you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead (spiritually dead) shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live”. Dear reader, have YOU heard His voice offering you salvation? Have you listened and obeyed? Are you saved?

C.THE MIGHTY POWER OF HIS WORD WILL BE SEEN IN RESURRECTION. It says in, (John 5:27, 28, 29) The Father hath given to the Son, “Authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man”. “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in graves shall hear his voice”. “And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation”. (Judgment, or condemnation). Notice, all that are in the graves SHALL HEAR HIS VOICE. This verse teaches us that there will be two resurrections for two different reasons. They will not occur at the same time. (See Revelation 20:5). There is no such thing as a general resurrection of all people at the same time. The “resurrection of life” refers to the resurrection of all who have “died in Christ”, those who are saved (born again by the Spirit of God). This will occur at the rapture of the Church. (1 Thessalonians 4:16) ‘The dead in Christ shall rise first”, i.e. (before those who are alive when the rapture occurs). All who die in their sins, unsaved, will hear the voice of the Lord Jesus and will be called out of their graves to face the judgment of God described in (Revelation 20:11-15) and (21:8).

These are the days of the Lords Patience not the days of His power. In patience he waits, giving man every opportunity to come to Him in faith and be saved. It says in, (2 Peter 3:15) “The longsuffering of our Lord is salvation”. He bids men to come to Him for salvation. It says in, (Matthew 11:28, 29)” COME unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest’. The Saviors offer goes out to all who feel the heavy burden of sin in their life. He offers rest to all who come to Him. You should know that the Lord Jesus Christ “Is longsuffering to us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance”. (2Peter 3:9). Notice, He is not willing that YOU should perish. The question is, are YOU willing to be saved? Have you repented of your sins? Repentance in scripture means to “change your mind”, to “think differently” about your sinful condition. In true repentance, there is an element of remorse for sins that leads to a definite change of attitude and action. Repentance is the vital bridge that must be crossed before a person can be saved by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Twice the Lord Jesus said in, (Luke 13:3, 5) “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish”.

In closing, I urge YOU to take advantage of this present time while you can and repent of your sins and receive the Lord Jesus Christ as your own personal Savior. Remember, you are traveling the “highway of life”, passing through a very brief time on the way to eternity. There are only two destinations before you. It will either be eternal joy in heaven or eternal sorrow in hell. Now that you have read this message you have come to a “crossroad” on your life’s journey. Which way will you go? Scripture tells of two kinds of followers of the Lord Jesus who reacted very differently to the Word of God they heard. It says of the first group in, (John 6:66) “From that time many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him”. Does this describe You dear reader? When you heard or read about the Gospel you were willing to learn for a season but then returned to continue your life unsaved? Peter and the other disciples of the Lord were there that day and had a different response to the Lord’s teaching. Peter said “Lord, to whom shall we go? THOU HAST THE WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of Living God”. Dear reader, which one of the two reactions describes you? One of the most important questions you can ask in your life is found in scripture in, (Acts 16:30) “What must I do to be saved”? The answer to this question is found in the next verse. (Acts 16:31) “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved”. Will you believe in Him and by a definite act of faith, receive the Lord Jesus Christ as your own personal Savior? Please give this matter your most serious attention. Your eternal destiny depends on your decision. GOD IS SPEAKING ARE YOU LISTENING?

Christian Messenger.