(taken from my Promiselander's Musings)
God, the Great Communicator
God has always sought communications with humans. It was face to face with Adam and heart to heart with Joseph, Moses, Samuel, David, Old Testament Prophets and John the Baptizer. Ultimately He communicates with all believers in Christ through His indwelling Spirit.
2 Peter 1:21
(21) For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
John 16:13-14
(13) Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.
(14) He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.
While we live in a technologically advanced world of communications, God has always been ahead of the curve. Consider some of the present forms of modern communications and remember, God has provided everything we need for first rate connection, but we must stay online with Him if we want to hear from Him.
2 Peter 1:21
(21) For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
James 1:21-22
(21) Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
(22) But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Wireless
Before the internet, television, radio and telegraphy, God's Spirit communicated with His people wirelessly. In the most advanced form it was infallible revelation.
Hebrews 1:1-2
(1) God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
(2) Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
Texting
God texted us long ago through the written revelation given to men like Job, Moses, Joshua, Samuel, David, Solomon, the prophets. Matthew, Luke, John, Peter, James and Paul. We have the whole document in the Holy Bible.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
(16) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
(17) That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
Tweeting
Tweets are short, random, unscheduled and time sensitive communications. Spiritual tweets are God's sudden interventions, intended to lead, inform and encourage us. Though tweets are quick and specific updates from God, they are based on long established truths found in God's revealed text, the Bible. These communications are sometimes called God's leading.
John 16:13-14
(13) Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.
(14) He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.
Romans 8:14
(14) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Audio/Video
Though this is more rare, God sometimes communicates through visions. Visions come in various forms at varying levels, but visions never contradict or add to the body of truth found in the Bible. Visions are not to be confused with trances or occult communications with spiritual beings. Visions from God glorify Christ and build up the believer in the Biblical faith of Jesus Christ. Biblical visions are not to be sought and must be subject to the Word of God.
Acts 2:17
(17) And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
Acts 9:10
(10) And there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.
Acts 10:3
(3) He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.
Acts 16:9
(9) And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; there stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.
Acts 26:19
(19) Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
Social Networking
God provides community/social networks for our inter-action and development. His primary and preferred community is the local church.
Hebrews 10:24-25
(24) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
(25) Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting
MP3
God has given us Christian songs that encourage and edify us. We can call these songs to our memory or He brings these songs to our minds throughout the day.
Ephesians 5:19
(19) Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Colossians 3:16
(16) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Tech Support
God has appointed pastors to answer questions, assist in correcting problems, update and upgrade our accounts.
Colossians 1:25-29
(25) Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God;
(26) Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
(27) To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
(28) Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
(29) Whereunto I also labor, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
Ephesians 4:11-14
(11) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
(12) For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
(13) Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:
(14) That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
A Good Connection
We can either have good or bad communications with God, depending on our connectivity. Our signal depends on our relationship with Him. He always gives a good signal, but we can turn away from Him and miss His enlightenment.
1 John 1:6-7
(6) If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
(7) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Launch Out and Hold Fast,
Pastor David L. Gould
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