Tag: vision

12. “For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told”

Habakkuk 1:5  “‘Look, you scoffers, be astounded and perish. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told. For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, who march through the breadth of the earth, to seize dwellings not their own. They are dreaded and fearsome; their justice and dignity go forth from themselves. Their horses are swifter than leopards, more fierce than the evening wolves; their horsemen press proudly on. Their horsemen come from afar; they fly like an eagle swift to devour. They all come for violence, all their faces forward. They gather captives like sand. At kings they scoff, and at rulers they laugh. They laugh at every fortress, for they pile up earth and take it. Then they sweep by like the wind and go on, guilty men, whose own might is their god!”

Ezekiel 12:25-28    For I am the LORD; I will speak the word that I will speak, and it will be performed. It will no longer be delayed, but in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak the word and perform it, declares the Lord GOD.”  And the word of the LORD came to me:  “Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, ‘The vision that he sees is for many days from now, and he prophesies of times far off.’  Therefore say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: None of my words will be delayed any longer, but the word that I speak will be performed, declares the Lord GOD.”

Daniel 9:12    He has confirmed his words, which he spoke against us and against our rulers who ruled us, by bringing upon us a great calamity. For under the whole heaven there has not been done anything like what has been done against Jerusalem.

Acts 13:40-41    Beware, therefore, lest what is said in the Prophets should come about:  “‘Look, you scoffers, be astounded and perish; for I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you.’”

Look at these words; “For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told”, “I am raising up”, “For I am the LORD; I will speak the word that I will speak, and it will be performed.  It will no longer be delayed, but in your days, O rebellious house”, “None of my words will be delayed any longer, but the word that I speak will be performed, declares the Lord GOD.”, “He has confirmed his words, which he spoke against us and against our rulers who ruled us, by bringing upon us a great calamity”, “‘Look, you scoffers, be astounded and perish”.   Pride has a way of blinding people from their sin and the need for Jesus Christ the Redeemer.  Their hearts are hardened and their reliance is in the might of their rulers boasting and perceived power.  They scoff at God and willingly choose to defy Him.  They deny He is all-powerful, all-knowing, and ever-present.  They trust in worldly things and what the world has to offer without giving thought to the consequences of their actions before God.  It is easy for us to call out their disrespect for God.  Are we guiltless?  Do we lean more toward what society is approving and calling out things that are alright to do but God’s Word clearly speaks against?  Do we listen to worldly wisdom over the wisdom and truth in God’s Word?  Do we pretend we are alright before God?  Do we perform acts, not out of faith but rather out of hoping it will make our lukewarm neglectful complacent lives right before God?  Oh, that our hearts and minds sought after God with all our soul and strength.  Oh that our hunger and thirst for His Word would be exponentially greater than the time and energy we spend seeking after what this world has to offer.  Oh, that our eyes would be opened to see the difference and our ears would be opened to clearly hear Him speak into our lives.  We are not guiltless unless Jesus Christ is our Savior, Redeemer, and King of our lives for every minute of every day.  Live to honor and glorify the KING OF KINGS.

11.j. “People are like fuel for the fire”

Nahum 1:1 An oracle concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh.

Zechariah 9:1   For the LORD has an eye on mankind and on all the tribes of Israel,

Isaiah 9:16  for those who guide this people have been leading them astray, and those who are guided by them are swallowed up.  Therefore the Lord does not rejoice over their young men, and has no compassion on their fatherless and widows; for everyone is godless and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly. For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still.  For wickedness burns like a fire; it consumes briers and thorns; it kindles the thickets of the forest, and they roll upward in a column of smoke.  Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts the land is scorched, and the people are like fuel for the fire; no one spares another.

When Jonah preached repentance on the streets of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, the people responded and were spared. A century later, sometime between 663 and 612 b.c., Nahum preached in a time when Nineveh would not repent. Nineveh, which had destroyed Israel’s northern kingdom in 722, itself fell to Babylon in 612—just a few years after Nahum’s warning. The Assyrians were notorious for the brutality of their treatment of other nations. Nahum declared, however, that God is sovereign: he punishes whom he will, and they are powerless to stop him. Much of Nahum’s prophecy was directed to the people of Judah, who could rejoice at the good news (1:15) of Nineveh’s impending fall.

10.c. “Not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord.”

Amos 8:11  “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord God, “when I will send a famine on the land— not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro, to seek the word of the Lord, but they shall not find it.

1 Samuel 3:1    Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD in the presence of Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision.

Ezekiel 7:26    Disaster comes upon disaster; rumor follows rumor. They seek a vision from the prophet, while the law perishes from the priest and counsel from the elders.

Romans 11:7-10    What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened,  as it is written, “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day.”

Isaiah 30:20-21    And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher.  And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.

2 Timothy 3:7     always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.

“Behold, the days are coming”.  Amos proclaimed a day when there would be a famine of hearing the words of the Lord.  A day when the people were hardened.  A day when the Teacher does not hide and ears will hear Him speak to their heart, mind, and soul.  They will hear “this is the way, walk in it”.  Don’t you wonder if people will listen  and walk in it?  Or will they harden against it?  “And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and water of affliction” they will either listen or not.

I am sooooo tired of hearing people blaming China, the President, governors, mayors, and anyone else for the current pandemic.  As if they could do anything to stop the spread of this.  If we do not see God sovereign over this bread of adversity and water of affliction then I guess you end up looking for someone to blame.  Could God be speaking to the world one last time before the end of days.  Could He be graciously reaching out through this to call the hearts, minds, and soul of man to Himself.  How long will He wait?  I wonder how many during this time will reject His calling out.  I wonder for how many this will be their last chance to hear His calling.  We never know when our last day is.  We never know the moment we will enter into eternity.  Life never gives us a heads up.  Hear today and all is good and then bam, eternity.  Know this there is no second chance apart from while we are alive on this side of eternity.  Sin must be recognized and owned or there will never be seen the need of Jesus Christ, redemption, forgiveness, salvation, and repentance.  As the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ perishes from a society, nation, and culture there will be no hope, peace, or rest for the people.  Come to Him, confess your sin, repent and turn away from it, and believe in the work Jesus Christ did on the cross to redeem you.  Follow, trust, and obey Him.  Eternity is nearer than you think.

9.f.  For the day of the LORD is near upon all the nations.

Joel 2:1   Blow a trumpet in Zion; sound an alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming; it is near

Isaiah 2:12    For the LORD of hosts has a day against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up—and it shall be brought low;

Ezekiel 7:5-7    “Thus says the Lord GOD: Disaster after disaster! Behold, it comes.  An end has come; the end has come; it has awakened against you. Behold, it comes.  Your doom has come to you, O inhabitant of the land. The time has come; the day is near, a day of tumult, and not of joyful shouting on the mountains.

Ezekiel 7:10     “Behold, the day! Behold, it comes! Your doom has come; the rod has blossomed; pride has budded.

Ezekiel 7:12     The time has come; the day has arrived. Let not the buyer rejoice, nor the seller mourn, for wrath is upon all their multitude.

Obadiah 1:15    For the day of the LORD is near upon all the nations. As you have done, it shall be done to you; your deeds shall return on your own head.

Malachi 4:1      “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.

1 Thessalonians 5:2     For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night

James 5:8     You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

1 Peter 4:7     The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.

Ezekiel 12:23     Tell them therefore, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: I will put an end to this proverb, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel.’ But say to them, The days are near, and the fulfillment of every vision.

There is a difference between “Day of the Lord” and “Coming of the Lord”.  “The Coming of the Lord” is the day the Lord comes back like a thief in the night.  He is not a thief to those who are expecting His return.  He is a thief to those who remain.  He comes to take His bride out of the coming of the “Day of the Lord”.  We know this as the rapture of all believers, dead or alive, to be changed and bodily be in His presence forever more.  These believers are those who came to an understanding of the gospel, their sin and separation from God, confessing and repenting of their sin, repenting and turning away from their  sinful nature, and expectantly looking too, trusting in, and relying on salvation through Jesus Christ.  This is not just words on their lips but deep in their heart, soul, and mind.  They are changed from the inside and live to humbly serve, honor, follow, trust, obey, and look for the “Coming of the Lord”.

There are those who reject their sin, sinful nature, and the need for redemption through Jesus Christ.  They find all they want in this world and do not look for the coming of the Lord.  They do not live to honor Him.  They live self-centered, self-reliant, and self-satisfying lives.  It is hard for them to see any need of Jesus Christ for their eyes are fixed on what this world offers and makes them happy.  Day after day they chase after that which can never satisfy their soul and they jump from one thing to another in hopes of finding inner peace, rest, and joy.  Their heart is hard to things of God, His Word, and the need for Jesus Christ.  There is no looking for the “Coming of the Lord”.  For them is reserved the “Day of the Lord”.  This is not going to be a time anyone would want to go through.  War, famine, disease, plagues, fires, earthquakes, floods, and the wrath and anger of Jesus Christ.  The “Day of the Lord” will surely come and will follow the “Coming of the Lord”.

Now is the time of Lord, the time of grace, mercy, hope, peace, rest, and a life with assurance of eternity in heaven.

6.b. Though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

revelation 2:8   “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life. “‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’

Habakkuk 2:3   For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

Matthew 10:22     And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Matthew 10:28    And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Luke 12:4-7     And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.  But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

The Church of Smyrna was located within a city that worshipped the emperor and second, pagan gods.  They were mocked for believing.  They were living in poverty for believing.  They suffered for believing.  In this prophetic letter, written to them, they were told some of them would suffer prison and other testings/tribulations.  Some of these testings/tribulations would lead to or end up in the death of the believer.  “Do not fear what you are about to suffer” are the words of Jesus Christ to them.

Do we suffer at all for our beliefs?  Are we persecuted for our belief?  I really don’t think we are.  In fact, we may just be on the other side of this altogether, where we are blessed beyond all measure.  Where suffering and persecution are put aside and God’s protection against these types of trials keeps them away.  What kind of a believer would we be if this life of blessings was removed and suffering, trials, persecution, and tribulations were allowed into our life?  Would we stand firm?  Would we cling to, rely on, and trust in Jesus Christ.  The Church of Smyrna was not warned about anything related to their conduct and lives as believers, their walk was firm.  Their belief was firm.  Their trust in Jesus Christ was firm.  Their hope was firm.  They were encouraged to stand firm and not be fearful of what was coming.  It is one thing to stand firm when you live in times of blessings and altogether different when living in a time of persecution, trials, suffering, poverty, and tribulation.  We would do well to learn to cast all worldly trusts aside and walk in humble service to Jesus Christ, with our eyes focused on Him not what the world has to offer.

158. The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit

1 Kings 18:1  After many days the word of the Lord came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go, show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain upon the earth.” So Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. Now the famine was severe in Samaria. And Ahab called Obadiah, who was over the household. (Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly, and when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave and fed them with bread and water.) And Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go through the land to all the springs of water and to all the valleys. Perhaps we may find grass and save the horses and mules alive, and not lose some of the animals.” So they divided the land between them to pass through it. Ahab went in one direction by himself, and Obadiah went in another direction by himself.

And as Obadiah was on the way, behold, Elijah met him. And Obadiah recognized him and fell on his face and said, “Is it you, my lord Elijah?” And he answered him, “It is I. Go, tell your lord, ‘Behold, Elijah is here.’” And he said, “How have I sinned, that you would give your servant into the hand of Ahab, to kill me? As the Lord your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my lord has not sent to seek you. And when they would say, ‘He is not here,’ he would take an oath of the kingdom or nation, that they had not found you. And now you say, ‘Go, tell your lord, “Behold, Elijah is here.”’ And as soon as I have gone from you, the Spirit of the Lord will carry you I know not where. And so, when I come and tell Ahab and he cannot find you, he will kill me, although I your servant have feared the Lord from my youth. Has it not been told my lord what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of the Lord, how I hid a hundred men of the Lord’s prophets by fifties in a cave and fed them with bread and water? And now you say, ‘Go, tell your lord, “Behold, Elijah is here”’; and he will kill me.” And Elijah said, “As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself to him today.” So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him. And Ahab went to meet Elijah.

When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is it you, you troubler of Israel?” And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father’s house, because you have abandoned the commandments of the Lord and followed the Baals. Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”

Ezekiel 3:12-14     Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me the voice of a great earthquake: “Blessed be the glory of the LORD from its place!”  It was the sound of the wings of the living creatures as they touched one another, and the sound of the wheels beside them, and the sound of a great earthquake.  The Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness in the heat of my spirit, the hand of the LORD being strong upon me.

Ezekiel 8:3   He put out the form of a hand and took me by a lock of my head, and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and brought me in visions of God to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the gateway of the inner court that faces north, where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provokes to jealousy.

Acts 8:39    And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.

Ezekiel 37:1    The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of the valley;

2 Corinthians 12:2-3     I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows.  And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—

Ezekiel 11:24     And the Spirit lifted me up and brought me in the vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to the exiles. Then the vision that I had seen went up from me.

John 3:8  The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

I like what Obadiah said to Elijah; “And as soon as I have gone from you, the Spirit of the Lord will carry you I know not where.” You can hear Obadiah speak out of frustration concerning how the Spirit of God just up and takes Elijah away.  You are here and then you are gone.

Having visions or being carried away happened but that does not mean they happen to everyone.  It is not as though we can put our self into a trance and will this to happen.  It is of the Spirit of God.  However, we can be used by, moved by, spoke to by, and lead by the Holy Spirit of God.  Our thought ought not to be carried away physically or by vision but rather to be used by the Holy Spirit.  When we have our heart, mind, and soul fixed on humbly serving, honoring, following, trusting, and obeying God then we are in the right footing to be moved, lead, spoken to, and used by the Holy Spirit.

It seems as though our culture of easy access to information has led us down a path where we do not have to put in the time of learning all of the ins and outs of some tasks because we can just google it or find step by step on youtube.  We don’t really have to memorize maps and how to get somewhere because we have the directions at our fingertips and spoken to us as we drive.  I think this leads many into thinking that we can take a short cut to God’s word.  Scriptures say to write His word on our heart, mind, door posts, and speak of it in the morning, during the day, and in the evening.  Yet, somehow I think we fall into the trap of thinking we can just Google it.  When something happens I will just type it into Google and find the scripture, then claim it and move on.  Just because we can type it in and find it does not mean there is a foundation for being led by the Spirit of God in this.  Where is the discipline, commitment, setting aside time, seeking, and desiring God’s Spirit to lead you so that your honor and glorify Him?   Where is the time set aside to be with God’s word?  Where is the denying self, other “Stuff” that occupies time so that we can be disciplined in His Word?

Do you want to know what I fear?  I fear that my life will be seen by others as an example of what it means to follow God with my whole heart, mind, and soul and I know that is not true.  I allow other things to occupy my time and can go hours without giving thought to God. If they pattern after my example will they even come close to catching a glimpse of God and the love of Jesus Christ?  Oh, Holy Spirit fill, lead, guide, and speak into my life for the honor and glory of God through Jesus Christ.

97. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days

1 Samuel 3:1   Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision. At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am!” and ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down. And the Lord called again, “Samuel!” and Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.”

1 Corinthians 12:6-11     and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.  To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.  For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit,  to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,  to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.  All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

Can you imagine what it would be like to to have the word of God almost not available?  Days, weeks, and months would pass by without reading or hearing His word.  Hebrews 4:12–13 says, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”

We know the Bible to be the true Word of God and seek to align our lives to what it says. We also have the indwelling Holy Spirit who is transforming us to be more like God. As we grow in our walk with Christ, we bear fruit. This fruit has an impact on those around us. As the Bible influences us, it influences society.  Likewise, if the word of God is not active, desired, needed and intentional in our daily life, then the reverse happens.  We are influenced by society rather than by the word of God.   Somehow we seem to have come to an understanding of service to God to mean we attend church.  It is not as though we thought about it and said: “this is what it means to serve, honor, follow, worship, and obey God.” More than likely busyness of life, technology, family, work…. all have taken their part into our lives, pushing out the word of God and by result our influence on family, friends, society.

The word of God will never influence the life of the person who spends no time in it.  Is it possible we have chosen to only have enough of God’s word in our life to feel good but not enough of it to transform, lead, instruct, convict, and empower us to hear it speak to our heart and mind?  Choosing to be in His word with desire to know and be known by God is an active and intentional choice.  No one at the end of their life has said: “I spent too much time in God’s word and in service to Him.”  Many have said I wish I had spent more time on the important (knowing and being known by God) and less on everything else that I thought important.

Daily commitment to time in God’s word is never a waste of time.

22. Do not punish us because we have done foolishly and have sinned.

Numbers 12:1  Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married, for he had married a Cushite woman. And they said, “Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?” And the Lord heard it. Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth. And suddenly the Lord said to Moses and to Aaron and Miriam, “Come out, you three, to the tent of meeting.” And the three of them came out. And the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud and stood at the entrance of the tent and called Aaron and Miriam, and they both came forward. And he said, “Hear my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the Lord make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream. Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house. With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?” And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them, and he departed.

When the cloud removed from over the tent, behold, Miriam was leprous, like snow. And Aaron turned toward Miriam, and behold, she was leprous. And Aaron said to Moses, “Oh, my lord, do not punish us because we have done foolishly and have sinned. Let her not be as one dead, whose flesh is half eaten away when he comes out of his mother’s womb.” And Moses cried to the Lord, “O God, please heal her—please.” But the Lord said to Moses, “If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be shamed seven days? Let her be shut outside the camp seven days, and after that she may be brought in again.” So Miriam was shut outside the camp seven days, and the people did not set out on the march till Miriam was brought in again.

We all can have temptation to see things and question the hand of God in them.  We all can have the temptation of seeing ourselves much higher and better than we are.  Here we see Aaron and his wife wanting to be recognized for being ones whom God used for speaking His message to the people.  They spoke badly of Moses to lift themselves up.  Do you ever wonder why God would include these aspects of history in His word?  Could it be to give us insight into human nature and how easy it is for us to get sideways in our thinking?

We get thoughts that come into our head and if they are not recognized for what they are there is a good chance for them to take root.  Once they have taken root they seem to grow and produce fruit that is not God-honoring.  In fact, they produce works of sinful desire, greed, pride, lust, hate, prejudice, and love of self.

We can recognize these thoughts for what they are when we spend time in His word each day seeking God to speak to your heart and mind on how we might honor, serve, glorify and obey Him.  It is not rocket science to know that what we spend feeding our mind will eventually come out “whatever a man sows so shall he reap”  Good or bad.

Remember it only takes one conscious decision to commit to reading His word, and likewise, it only takes one to neglect it.

He opens the ears of men

Genesis 20:1   From there Abraham journeyed toward the territory of the Negeb and lived between Kadesh and Shur; and he sojourned in Gerar. And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.” Now Abimelech had not approached her. So he said, “Lord, will you kill an innocent people? Did he not himself say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this.” Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I did not let you touch her.

Genesis 31:24    But God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream by night and said to him, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.”

Genesis 37:5    Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more.

Genesis 40:8    They said to him, “We have had dreams, and there is no one to interpret them.” And Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Please tell them to me.”

Matthew 1:20    But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying,

Matthew 2:12-13    And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

Matthew 27:19     Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.”

Job 33:15     In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, while they slumber on their beds, then he opens the ears of men and terrifies them with warnings, that he may turn man aside from his deed and conceal pride from a man; he keeps back his soul from the pit, his life from perishing by the sword.

A great perspective How does God speak from IBLP:

Our creative God is not limited to one form of communication. He is all-powerful; He is omnipresent; He is sovereign. The Bible is filled with accounts of God speaking to individuals, to families, and to nations. In the past He spoke in many different ways, and that is true today as well.

God speaks to all men through creation “Romans 1:20  For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.” Psalms 19:1   The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. and in the past, God has communicated in various ways, including angels, His chosen spokesmen (prophets), dreams, visions, miracles, and even through a donkey that He enabled to speak as a man speaks!

When Jesus was on the earth, God spoke to us through Him, and when Jesus returned to the Father, the Holy Spirit was sent to lead us into all truth—to be our “communicator” from God.

If you are a believer, the Holy Spirit dwells within you, but it is still necessary to nurture your relationship with your heavenly Father in order to learn how to be attentive to His voice. As you grow in faith and mature as a believer, you will learn to hear God speak. Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27).

The Bible is an absolutely essential part of your walk with God. You must not neglect His Word. It is one way that He speaks to you personally, powerfully—today. God’s Word is alive and can be active in our lives.

Honoring and obeying God’s Word is a key to hearing God’s voice. Through obedience, we demonstrate our love for God, and failure to obey is a reflection of a rebellious heart. If we resist His Word, our fellowship with God will be limited. Jesus said, “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”  “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me. If you are not hearing God’s voice, examine your heart.

If you reject what the Bible says, then it is likely that you will be unable to hear God speak, because of your unbelief.

God Often Speaks in a “Still, Small Voice” – “Through others” – “Through circumstances” – “Through His word” – “Through Dreams” – “Through the Holy Spirit” – “Through Creation” – “Through Jesus Christ” – “Through Prayer”

There is no shortcut to learning to recognize God’s voice, just as there is no shortcut to mature from infancy to adulthood—it takes time. Do you want to hear God’s voice? Then spend time with Him. The more you are with Him, the better you will know His voice.

That I may live and keep your word.

Psalms 119:17  Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word.  Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.  I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not your commandments from me!  My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times.  You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from your commandments.  Take away from me scorn and contempt, for I have kept your testimonies.  Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes.  Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors.

Isaiah 29:10-12     For the LORD has poured out upon you a spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes (the prophets), and covered your heads (the seers).  And the vision of all this has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed. When men give it to one who can read, saying, “Read this,” he says, “I cannot, for it is sealed.”  And when they give the book to one who cannot read, saying, “Read this,” he says, “I cannot read.”

Isaiah 29:18     In that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see.

Isaiah 32:3     Then the eyes of those who see will not be closed, and the ears of those who hear will give attention.

Isaiah 35:5     Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped;

Matthew 13:13     This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.

Matthew 16:17    And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

John 9:39     Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.”

Acts 26:18    to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

2 Corinthians 3:14-18     But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away.  Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts.  But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.

Ephesians 1:17-18     that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,  having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

This is true  a love of God not desiccated by study but refreshed, informed and nourished by it.”

The Psalmist didn’t need new revelation; he needed to see the revelation that was already given. He didn’t need new eyes; he needed to see with the eyes he already had.

“In order to keep God’s word, must we not pray to understand it? What then is this prayer? Not – give me a plainer Bible – but open my eyes to know my Bible. Not – show me some new revelations beside the law – but make me behold the wonders of the law.” (Bridges)

There are wondrous things in Scripture; but they can only be seen when the eyes are opened by God.

It also means that not everyone sees the wondrous things in God’s word, but that when one does see them, they should regard it as evidence of God’s blessing and favor.

God has given man a sense of wonder, and there are certain things that prompt it. The new and unexpected can cause wonder; the beautiful and great and cause wonder, and the mysterious and unknown can cause wonder. We can say that God has provided for this sense of wonder by giving us His word. The Holy Spirit can make us alive to the Bible, and constantly see things that are new and unexpected; things that are great and beautiful; things that are mysterious and unknown. It is a shame to many Christians that they look for their sense of wonderful to be satisfied without looking to the Word of God.

Think of all there is in the Bible that you don’t see. Think of all the wonder, all the treasure that is there, but you don’t see it. You can see such things, though you can’t see everything, and sometimes you will think you see things that are not really there. Yet those who see more than you are not necessarily smarter or better; their eyes are just more open.

“If we want to see wonderful things in the Scriptures, it is not enough for us merely to ask God to open our eyes that we might see them. We must also study the Bible carefully. The Holy Spirit is given not to make our study unnecessary but to make it effective.” (Boice)