The Holy
Spirit’s
‘Still Small Voice’
Rex Rouis
I was reminded of a story from a minister friend, told to me
many years ago. It is appropriate for today and everyday:
I was
in my car pulling out of a tight alleyway in a downtown area. Cars were parked
on either side of the alley exit and I could not see the oncoming traffic well.
Once I thought I was clear I started to pull out. But, deep inside, I heard a
soft inner voice telling me to, “Stop, don’t pull out.” It was faint and easy
to miss. I did notice and I stopped.
Immediately,
a delivery truck rushed by directly in front of the alley, exactly where I
would have been. If I had pulled out, I would have been hit and instantly
killed. It shook me. I could have just died.
I
thought about that soft voice that saved my life. I thought about how soft it
was and how easily I could have missed it. It started to make me angry – “That
is not loud enough! Why could not God speak louder than that?” I even said
so to God.
Then,
I felt God’s awesome presence fill my car and the Holy Spirit spoke very
forcefully to me. He said, “Yes, it is a soft voice, and yes it is possible to
miss it if you don’t pay attention, but THAT IS ALL YOU ARE EVER GOING TO GET.”
Wow,
now I was really shaken. I cried out in heartfelt repentance, “Lord, I am so
sorry. I thank you for your still small voice, I appreciate it and I am
thankful for it just the way it is.”
And yes folks, that is all we are ever going to get. God
said as much to Elijah.
So He said, “Go
forth and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” And behold, the
LORD was passing by! And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and
breaking in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind.
And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. And after
the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the
fire the sound of a low whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face
in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, a
voice came to him and said, “What
are you doing here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19:11-13)
– Note – And after the fire – a soft, murmuring sound,
or, a still small voice (verse 12).
God usually does not speak in a loud voice; people with
real authority do not have to. His is the type of voice that one must get close
to to hear. “Incline your ear,”
He says, Incline your ear, and come to me; hear,
that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my
steadfast, sure love for David. (Isaiah 55:3)
Most everything in God comes down to hearing His
voice.
That is why the doctrine that says that God does
not speak today is so insidious and dangerous. It attacks the very heart of our
walk with God.
So He said, “Go
forth and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” And behold, the
LORD was passing by! And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and
breaking in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind.
And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. And
after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the
fire the sound of a low whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face
in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, a
voice came to him and said, “What
are you doing here, Elijah?” (1 Kings
19:11-13)
If God does not speak then faith, specific obedience, and
His direct involvement in our lives all falls apart.
Faith, the Bible says, comes from hearing, and hearing
comes from someone speaking, and that Someone is God.
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the (spoken)
word of Christ. (Romans 10:17)
The word for ‘word’ in the above verse indicates a spoken
personal type of communication; a person-to-person communication. A communication from the heart of God
to the heart of man. A word that can only be heard with the heart – a hearing
heart.
“Yes, it is a soft voice, and yes it is possible to miss it
if you do not pay attention, but THAT IS ALL YOU ARE EVER GOING TO GET.”
It is not a hearing of the mind, nor it is of the
intellect. This kind of hearing does not come from reading. It does not come
from someone else speaking – even if they are speaking from the written word of
God.
It comes directly
from Christ Himself. Jesus told us that He would speak to us through the
Holy Spirit, and that is exactly what it is. This word and this hearing are the
basis of faith.
Hearing from God is
more of an art than a science. Hearing from Him must be valued and practiced.
It is a lifelong lifestyle and walk.
God is a living
Person and not an inanimate force. He can we wooed and He can be grieved. He
can be received and He can be shunned.
He can be valued
and he can be rejected. He looks at it all. You need to listen to Him before
you pull-out in life.
Would you want to
have a deeper relationship with God?
God has made it
possible for you to know Him and experience an amazing change in your
own life by receiving His Son, Jesus Christ, and have eternal life.
Say the following
prayer:
“Heavenly Father,
I admit that I am a sinner and my sins have
separated me from You. I now want to turn away from my past sinful life and
begin a new life with You.
Please forgive me. I now receive your Son, Jesus
Christ as my Savior, my Master and my Lord. I believe and confess that Jesus
Christ died for my sins, was buried, and rose from the dead.
I want to receive all
that Jesus Christ has provided for me as my Savior. Your Word says, ‘Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord
shall be saved’ (Romans 10:13).
I believe and confess that Jesus Christ is the
Way, the Truth, and the Life, and no man comes unto the Father, but by Him.
Lord Jesus, I pray and ask You, to come into my
heart and be Lord of my life. I thank You that you have given me eternal life,
and according to Your Word, I am born again.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of the
Holy Spirit Who is in me now. I surrender my life to You.
Use me for Your glory.
In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”
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“SURELY THE PRESENCE”
LANNY WOLFE
lyrics
SURELY THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD
IS IN THIS PLACE
I CAN FEEL HIS MIGHTY POWER AND HIS GRACE
I CAN FEEL THE BRUSH OF ANGELS WINGS
I SEE GLORY ON EACH FACE
SURELY THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD IS IN THIS PLACE
In the midst of His children
The Lord said He would be
It doesn't take very many
It can be just two or three
And I feel that same sweet Spirit
That I've felt oft times before
Surely I can say
I've been with the Lord
There's a holy hush around us
As God's glory fills this place
I've touched the hem of His garment
I can almost see His face
And my heart is overflowing
With the fullness of His joy
I know without a doubt
That I've been with the Lord
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