The Still Small Voice
We have many voices intruding into our lives today. Cell phones, TV, movies, internet, music, and radio are delivering more voices into our lives than at any other time in history. And as we turn up the volume on those voices we may be reducing the volume of God’s voice speaking within our hearts. Mankind is being trained to listen outwardly. But this is what we have forgotten: God speaks inwardly. And now humanity is seeking outward signs from an inward speaking God.
When the Pharisees challenged Jesus to prove His deity, they asked Him to give them a sign. Jesus replied in Matthew 12:39, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign…” These Pharisees were trapped in their own carnality. They had learned to trust their eyes and faith, in their definition, required a tangible event before they would believe. Jesus called that “evil.” Our generation is no different. Many of God’s own people have swallowed this twisted idea that God is speaking to us through natural circumstances. Yes, we can look upon some natural things and see where God has blessed us. But this natural realm is a poor compass for the future. You cannot discern God’s specific plan for your life by looking at circumstances.
1 Kings 19:11-12 gives us a good look at how God does speak to us. It says, “And behold the Lord passed by and a great and strong wind rent the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, BUT THE LORD WAS NOT IN THE WIND, and after the wind there was an earthquake, BUT THE LORD WAS NOT IN THE EARTHQUAKE, and after the earthquake a fire, BUT THE LORD WAS NOT IN THE FIRE, and after the fire A STILL SMALL VOICE.” This is where we all have missed it at one time or another: We waited for God to give us an “earthquake” or a “wind” or something natural so we can understand His plan. But God isn’t going to speak to you that way. He is going to speak to you in a still small voice.
Small voices and whispers are only understood by those that are close by. If I whisper to you from across the room you won’t hear me. You are too far away. In the same way, God requires you to be close to Him to hear His voice. This is the problem; God’s people don’t fellowship with Him and therefore don’t hear Him. He is talking, but His whisper has been drowned by the multitude of voices in our natural ears.
Your heart, or spirit, is like a radio tuner. It is capable of picking up voices but it must be tuned correctly before the voice becomes intelligible. When I need to make a decision, I don’t look at the natural, I listen for God’s leading on the inside. God’s voice is like wind blowing over hot coals. His voice reacts within my heart and gives me a “burning” of what to do or not to do. Romans 8:16 says, “The Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit…” This is the mark of spirituality: listening and obeying God from within. Don’t become a slave to your senses. That leads to destruction. Trust the guide on the inside.
Pastor Tim
Family Church Jamestown is a non-denominational church located in Chautauqua County in Jamestown between Lakewood and Busti, NY. The senior pastor of Family Church is Pastor Tim Stahlman a native to the Jamestown, NY area.
