Rare and Infrequent
Have you heard a word from the Lord lately? How about a vision? Have you received a vision of late?
Not me. I have heard nothing audible from the Lord. I have not received a vision of any sort, nothing like Isaiah received in Isaiah 6. Nope. Nothing. Not even a dream like Joseph interpreted that might be interpreted to save a nation.
How about you? Anything?
Probably not. It just doesn’t happen that often. I’ve never heard anything audibly from the Lord. I have never been swept up in a vision. I doubt if you have either. I am not saying that it can’t or won’t happen, but I do get pretty skeptical of people who have or that make it normative to the Christian experience.
Just like in the days of Samuel, they are rare and infrequent.
Now, I’m going to throw you for a loop.
I can get a word from the Lord anytime I want to.
My vision can be fueled at any point.
It’s just not that hard. It’s just that it’s not audible. It’s just that there aren’t many mystical visions.
Here’s how I think it happens. Here’s how I hear the Lord. Here’s how I get a vision from the Lord.
I open up my Bible. I read it. I study it. I meditate on it. I hear what He has said and He still speaks. I see the vision that God laid out for life through His Son. I can do it at anytime. All I have to do is look to His word.
My fear?
A lot of people are sitting around waiting for a word from God and waiting for a big vision from Him.
These have become rare and infrequent.
Why?
They aren’t going to the source.
You want a word? You want a vision?
Open the word.
What do you think? Do you think audible words from the Lord and visions are common or rare and infrequent? Or do you trust in the word that He has given us?
I have never heard God call an audible. i have never seen a vision. I am of the conviction things just don’t happen that way any more. I realize there will be those who will take issue with that, but I believe God has given us His Word to lead us and and show us His way. Am I saying that He doesn’t “speak” or work today? Not by a long shot. But I believe His guidance is Word-guided and directed.
Amen Bill. I won’t argue that point too often with people who do believe that. You just really can’t argue with folks that believe that.
That’s right!
I tell my bible study students that they might not realize it but…THEY ARE PROPHETS! WE ARE PROPHETS!
WHAT? HOW?…
BACK IN THE DAY…THE PROPHETS WERE MESSENGERS OF GOD’S WORD….
AND THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME TO …SUCH AND SUCH….AND IT WAS THERE JOB TO GO TELL ISREAL…OR HIS PEOPLE….
WELL….
WE HAVE HIS WORD NOW…WRITTEN DOWN!!!!! HOW AWESOME!!!
WE ARE HIS NEW PROPHETS TO PROCLAIM HIS WORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AND SEE THE VISIONS HIS WORD BRINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Exactly. Our vision has to come from His word….and we can turn to it constantly ….if we would.
Word!
The still, small voice, and the manual transmission attributes of having to go to the Word are not what modern society wants. Instead, modern society wants to spend entire services “praising” Him with seaweed dances, and wait for some supernatural “word”. If you do get one, you’ll find that it will not contradict what He already said in the Bible. When all the dust has settled, the simple truth will be all that’s left, and all we ever needed. To those who aren’t ready, just don’t come yet. God hasn’t called you. He will, though..if you ask.
“Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”
I can’t say that I’ve heard God audibily, but I’ve “heard” Him through His Word, and I’ve “heard” Him through creation – including through those around me.