If you could ask God anything, what would it be?

If you could have a conversation with Jesus, what would you say?

Who in here ever feels like God is distant? Like you can’t hear God?

Here’s what I want to tell you tonight…God often speaks. We rarely listen.

GOD SPEAKS

God speaks through High Word.

Hebrews 1:1-2 – “1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.”

We see in this passage both the Old Testament and the New Testament referenced. We see that in the past, God spoke. But we see that He speaks in the present as well. How? Through Jesus. But, we can’t talk to Jesus. Do you know the main reason why the books of our New Testament are the ones included in our Bible? They are confirmed to come from those in close proximity to Jesus. When we read God’s Word, God is literally speaking to us.

I want to ask you…if you feel like God is silent, how much time are you spending in His Word? Those who spend time in the Word spend time with God. For many of you, God is distant because you have distanced yourself from His Word.

God speaks through His Spirit.

The main way the Holy Spirit speaks to us is through the Scriptures.

2 Timothy 3:16 – “All Scripture is God-breathed…”

The word “breathed” often is the same word used for Spirit. Just like in the beginning when God formed man out of the dust, He “breathed” life into Him. This same word means Spirit, He breathed His Spirit into him. God’s Word is that same kind of life-giving breath.

So, though the Spirit speaks primarily through the Word, He also dwells within the believer and speaks to us. It is often a “still, small voice.”

1 Kings 19:11-13 – 11 And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke 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. 12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. 13 And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

That voice will never lead us in a way that’s contradictory to God’s Word. So, if you hear a still, small voice that says something contrary to the way God has set forth, that is not God you are hearing, but it’s either your own sinful nature, the lies of the culture, hormones, or Satan himself.

Often, we are not quiet enough to hear the still, small voice. We make our wants and desires known, and we drown out any quietness with busyness and noise. No wonder we often can’t hear God speak. We aren’t quiet long enough to listen.

The most common word my son says is, “What?” Then I have to repeat myself 2-3 more times. Multiple times a day. It’s exhausting, and often I lose my patience. Often, I give up and say, “I’m not saying it again.” I think God sometimes says the same with us. We miss out on opportunities and blessings because we aren’t open, available, and listening. Sometimes I’m more patient and will repeat what I said. I think God is more like that. But my son can’t hear me because of two reasons. 1) He’s distracted by something. 2) He’s so incredibly loud all the time. I think it’s the same way for us.

So, when God speaks, what does He say and how should we listen? We shouldn’t just listen to hear what He says, but we should listen and be open and available for whatever He says.

GOD CALLS YOU TO HIMSELF

God has been calling those who are distant from Him to Himself since the beginning. As soon as Adam and Even sinned, God called out their names. He asked where they were. He knew where they were, and i