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WHEN GOD SPEAKS

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.     Since the dawn of time, God has been speaking (Gen. 1:3).

 

And God said, Let there be light:  and there was light.

 

B.     According to Hebrews 1:1, God has spoken in many different ways to humanity.

 

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in times past unto the fathers by the prophets.

 

C.     In at least 413 verses, the Bible contains the phrase:  “Thus saith the Lord…”

 

D.    Tonight, I want us to think about the topic:  “When God Speaks…”

 

I.             WHEN GOD SPEAKS THE HIGHEST AUTHORITY SPEAKS

 

A.     God is the highest authority that exists in the Universe (I Cor. 11:3).

 

But I would have you to know, that the head of  every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man, and the head of Christ is God.

 

B.     His authority rests in the fact that He is the Creator.  Thus, He has absolute control over His Creation (Isa. 45:9).

 

Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker!  Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth.  Shall the clay say unto him that fashioneth it, What makest thou?  Or thy work, He hath no hands?

 

C.     It is God who ordains every authority that exists on the earth (Rom. 13:1).

 

Let every soul be subject to the higher powers.  For there is no power but of God:  the powers that be are ordained of God.

 

D.    When God speaks, there is nothing more powerful, nothing more authoritative.

1.       The Bible, as the Word of God, is more authoritative than the catechisms, creeds, manuals, and disciplines of man.

2.       The Bible, as the Word of God, holds more authority than the pope.

3.       The Bible, as the Word of God, is more authoritative than the kings, dictators, presidents, and judges of the earth.

4.       The Bible, as the Word of God, is superior to the thoughts and opinions of man, even if they are mine or yours.

 

II.           WHEN GOD SPEAKS TRUTH IS REVEALED

 

A.     Anything that God says is true because His very nature is truth.

1.       Deuteronomy 32:4

 

He is the Rock, his work is perfect:  for all his ways are judgment:  a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

 

2.       The flipside of this is that God cannot lie (Tit. 1:2).

 

In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.

 

B.     In the pages of the Bible, all we find is truth, because these words come from the breath of God (II Tim. 3:16).

 

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God…

 

C.     As we think about this, there are some points we need to remember in our study of truth.

1.       Not all truth is revealed in one passage (Ps. 139:17).

2.       We must rightly divide the truth (II Tim. 2:15).

3.       One passage can modify another passage (Matt.  4:5-7).

4.       There is a distinction between the Old Testament and the New Testament (Rom. 7:4, 6).

5.       The Scriptures only have one correct interpretation (Luke 10:26-28).

 

D.    NOTE:  Man’s rejection and denial of truth does not keep truth from being truth.

 

III.         WHEN GOD SPEAKS DARKNESS IS REMOVED

 

A.     The Scriptures tell us that God’s Word is light.

1.       Psalm 119:105

 

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

 

2.       Proverbs 6:23

 

For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light, and reproofs of instruction are the way of life.

 

3.       II Peter 1:19a

 

We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineeth in a dark place…

 

B.     There is so much darkness that exists in the world:  false religions, immorality, violence, prejudice and racism, materialism, pride, and selfishness, just to mention a few.

 

C.     When God’s Word is shined upon any of these forms of darkness, there is illumination.  Darkness flees from the light (See Acts 23:18).

 

To open their eyes, and turn them from darkness to light…

 

IV.         WHEN GOD SPEAKS THINGS HAPPEN

 

A.     God’s Word is extremely powerful (Heb. 4:12).

 

For the word of God is quick and powerful…

 

B.     Because of the power of God’s Word, things can happen.

1.       Things can be created (Ps. 33:6).

 

By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them.

 

2.       Life can be created (Luke 7:14-15; John 11:43).

 

And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

 

3.       God’s Word can bring death (Matt. 21:19).

 

And when he saw the fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and he said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforth for ever.  And presently the fig tree withered away.

4.       The Word of God can harden the hearts of man (Acts 19:8-9).

5.       The Word of God can spark all kinds of emotions within man.

a.       Fear (Exo. 20:19)

b.      Anger (Acts 7:54)

c.       Sorrow (Matt. 19:22)

d.      Gladness (Acts 2:41)

6.       God’s Word can predict the future (Isa. 47:10).

7.       God’s Word can start a movement that has existed for 2000 years (Matt. 28:18-20).

8.       God’s Word can save the souls of lost men and woman (James 1:21).

 

Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word which is able to save your souls.

 

V.           WHEN GOD SPEAKS MAN HAS A CHOICE TO MAKE

 

A.     God’s Word is primarily designed for the human race.

1.       This Word gives us a standard by which to live our lives.

2.       This Word also provides the means whereby we can live in a covenant relationship with God.

3.       Finally, God’s Word directs our way to heaven in the hereafter.

 

B.     When God says:

1.       “Be ye holy; for I am holy” (I Pet. 1:16), man has a choice to make.

2.       When the Lord says:  “He that believeth, and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16), man has a choice to make.

3.       When the Lord says:  “Seek ye first the kingdom of God” (Matt. 6:33), man has a choice to make.

4.       When the Lord says to love Him supremely (Matt. 10:37), man has a choice to make.

5.       We could take hundreds of statements found in God’s Word, read them, and say:  “We have a choice to make.”

 

C.     Jesus set the two options before us in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 7:24, 26).

 

Therefore whosever heareth these sayings of min, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock…And everyone that heareth these saying of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which build his house upon the sand.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.     God spoke to the Patriarchs directly.  He spoke to Moses through a burning bush.  He spoke to Israel through Moses and Aaron.  He spoke to the prophets through dreams and visions.

 

B.     Today, God speaks to man through His Son (Heb. 1:2), and His Son speaks through the revealed Word of God (II Tim. 3:16-17; I Cor. 2:9-13).

1.       When God speaks, the highest authority speaks.

2.       When God speaks, truth is revealed.

3.       When God speaks, darkness is removed.

4.       When God speaks, things happen.

5.       When God speaks, man must make a choice.

 

C.     My friend, are the choices that you are making wise?  Or, are they foolish?