Does God Still Speak Today? Grace Community Church 6/4/2006

God Has Spoken 2 Peter 1:19And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. 21For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

How does God speak today? Are there prophets today? Does God speak to us personally today? prophecy. 1a a discourse emanating from divine inspiration and declaring the purposes of God, whether by reproving and admonishing the wicked, or comforting the afflicted, or revealing things hidden; esp. by foretelling future events.[1] [1]Strong, J. (1996). The exhaustive concordance of the Bible

Deuteronomy 13:1-3 1If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a miraculous sign or wonder, 2and if the sign or wonder of which he has spoken takes place, and he says, “Let us follow other gods” (gods you have not known) “and let us worship them,” 3you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Deuteronomy 18:21-22 21You may say to yourselves, “How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the LORD?” 22If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.

Prophet’s Test Do what they proclaim come to pass? Dt. 18:22 Do they represent God or do they promote other gods? Dt. 13:2-3 Applying the test… Jehovah’s Witness Mormonism Islam All three fail…

Does God still speak to us personally? ABSOLUTELY! Questions is not if, but HOW…

New Testament Examples 1. Acted on principles revealed in Scripture… Luke 1:3-4 it seemed good also to me … Acts 15:19 It is my judgment, … 2. Acted on specific and unusual revelation… Acts 11:19 the Spirit said to him… Acts 16:9 During the night Paul had a vision...

Do you want to hear from God? Read His Word. John 15:5-8 Memorize His Word. Psalm 119:9-16 Meditate on His Word. Psalm 119:9-16 Pray according to His Word. Matthew 6:9-14 Obey His Word. James 1:22-25