The Joy of Communication with God!
The Joy of Communication with God!
I was in the middle of my YMCA workout this morning. The clock showed me 6:33, and at the same time, Jesus’ words came into my heart: “Seek you first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). I remember the exact moment because I was praying at that very moment for someone dear to me. As I prayed and interceded for that special person in my life, I heard the Holy Spirit's prompting in my ears: “I have kept your life as an example of your family!” I heard this very special message of assurance three times. I started crying. I said to the Lord: “Lord, I am not worthy. I am a poor example. You are my Hero. You are my Lord and the Lord of all my family.” I heard the assurance again.
God wants to have fellowship and communicate with His people. In fact, God created Adam and Eve on the sixth day of creation to rest with Him on the seventh day and have fellowship with Him. God made him the ruler of all things and gave him dominion.
After the fall of man, with Jesus coming to choose a people, the Church, communication has become an integral part of the church with God through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Jesus’ relationship with the Believers!
Apostle Paul writes: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:25-27).
In using Jesus as an example to husbands, he emphasizes the following three points:
1) Christ loved the church (believers) and offered His life for the church!
2) Christ washes the church (believers) by communication through the Word!
3) Christ values the church (believers) as a valuable gift, not having a spot or wrinkle or any such thing!
Do you see how important communication is? Communication edifies, and godly communication sanctifies a believer worthy of the gift they are to God.
God can speak to you privately in a crowd. Here is an example of how God selectively communicates with His chosen ones.
Example: The Apostle Paul!
“Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. As he journeyed, he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ And he said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ Then the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ So, he, trembling and astonished, said, ‘Lord, what do You want me to do?’ Then the Lord said to him, ‘Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.’ And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened, he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank” (Acts 9:1-9).
Jesus communicated with Saul of Tarsus by very specially admonishing him for what he was doing against His people, the church, while Saul’s people did not have a clue as to what was happening. Saul heard the communication, but his men did not.
The greatest joy of being a believer is to communicate with God and hear God on a regular basis. Religions of the world do not have the privilege of hearing from God, the Living God, as much as a believer in Christ because Christ, as the Head of the Church, communicates with His loved ones.
The Secrets of God!
“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law” (Deuteronomy 29:29).
God’s law and His Word unlock the secret of God that God has intended for us to know: “The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, and He will show them His covenant” (Psalm 25:14).
“For since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen any God besides You, who acts for the one who waits for Him” (Isaiah 64:4).
And yet, we know of examples of those in Scripture who knew the heart of God and acted according to His instructions:
· Abraham had communication of admonition, assurance, and instruction from God. He believed in Him and obeyed Him!
· Noah received the design to build the ark that saved him and his family from the wrath of God!
· Joseph, while he did not hear directly from God, received wisdom to interpret dreams and visions and offer wise counsel to the king of Egypt!
· Moses: “(God) made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel” (Psalm 103:7). Moses received the plans while the children of Israel saw the wonderful acts of God!
· David inquired of the Lord on numerous occasions, and God directed him!
The Best is Saved for Believers in Christ by the Holy Spirit!
Apostle Paul, who heard the voice of Jesus on the way to Damascus, writes of the revelation by the Holy Spirit to every believer who waits on God: “But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’ But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God” (I Corinthians 2:9-12).
· God has revealed the unknown by the Spirit of God!
· The Holy Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God!
God’s Voice Vs World’s Noise!
Here are some of the things that can take us away from hearing God:
1) Sin: “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear” (Isaiah 59:1-2).
2) The Enemy’s Voice: Satan contradicted God’s command to correct the fellowship God created Adam and Eve for. Here is the account: “Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, ‘Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?’ And the woman said to the serpent, ‘We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ‘Then the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil’” (Genesis 3:1-5). Satan won that day until Jesus came to defeat him on the cross of Calvary! Do not listen to the enemy discrediting you for your past that you have repented of. Don’t fall to the wiles of the devil.
3) The World: The Apostle John warns us: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever” (I John 2:15-17). One of Jesus' temptations on the mount of temptation was the enemy showing Him the kingdoms of the world and promising to make Him their ruler. Jesus rejected Satan and yielded to the Father, who will give Him the eternal kingdom: “Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!’” (Revelation 11:15).
4) Evil Company: “Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits’” (I Corinthians 15:33). Most of the world is miserable, and misery loves company. Don’t be drawn into bad, toxic relationships that consume your life without yielding to the exciting times with the Lord.
Long for God and His Communication!
1) Keep yourself pure to hear the voice of God. You must prioritize and schedule a time of fellowship, intimate fellowship, with God.
2) Your church and the fellowship groups can only stimulate the flame of God in you, but you must individually seek to hear from God. If you are not even showing up in your church or fellowship group, you are deliberately avoiding the flame and the revival by the Holy Spirit in your life.
3) Avoid the noises of this world. When a pilot lands an airplane with an Instrument Landing System (ILS), he/she must pick the exact frequency from the airport to land the plane in the correct location, or else he/she is lost.
4) Tune to God’s frequency to hear him. God does not have to compete with the frequencies of this world to get through to you. You must diligently strive to hear Him.
5) Do not discard God’s mail in the “Spam Folder” or as part of the junk mail you have piled up on your desk. Throw the junk out of your life and check your “Spam Folder” so you do not allow the devil to hide you from hearing God.
6) Search the Scripture daily and pray before searching for God to reveal Himself to you in His Word, help you to do His will, and guide you through the decisions of the day.
7) Avoid Envy and Bitterness Corrupting You: “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled” (Hebrews 12:14-15).
8) Do not, please do not, miss out on hearing from God. That is the most exciting and exclusive privilege of a believer in Christ!
Communication Leads to Communion with God!
“You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11).
God chooses and separates you for His communication!
God’s communication is the beginning of edification and sanctification!
God’s communication brings you into full transparency with Him!
Transparency leads to holiness!
God’s communication brings you into communion!
You are then walking with God!
You are enjoying the fullness of God!
You will dwell in the house of God forever: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever (for the length of days)” (Psalm 23:6).
Prayer
“Heavenly Father, I love You and adore You and bow down before You. Lord, help me hear Your voice and hear it continuously from Your word and through the power of the Holy Spirit. I am Yours, O Lord, forever. Amen!”
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John Jeyaseelan
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