Communicate 3

God tell us that He communicates with us through -

People and Circumstances             Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit

Communication - People and Circumstances 

God communicates to you and me by speaking to us through people and circumstances in our daily life. People who say genuine words of appreciation and encouragement can often be seen as God nudging us along life's path. Mean people can also be used by God to propel us to run to the Lord God who is never mean.  But no matter who speaks to us, their words should be weighed by the Truth of God's Word. The Bible is the true measure by which we are to learn exactly what God is communicating to us. 

God's Word says "The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.   Prov 15:4 "    The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil. Prov 15:28       Which way does your tongue wag?  For healing or hurting? 

God says to you and me, "Come to me,,, I have loved you with an everlasting love, … Cry out to Me! …   Repent and live a life in accordance with repentance, … Trust in Me, Praise the Lord, … Rejoice in all things!            

God also communicates to us through circumstances. One family was in desperate financial need.  Just as the bottom was falling through, the postman brought an unexpected check.  They recognized that the true Giver was God. 

An elderly lady was feeling lonely and missed her family, and in particular, an assortment of comfort foods.  That morning a neighbor stopped by and told her of how the weekend festivities had left her refrigerator over stocked.  When she opened the package of meals and desserts, the older woman gasped to see that the desire of her heart had been placed in her hands!  She knew that only One Person could know her desire, and she immediately thanked her Father in heaven!   

One little boy also decided to share his lunch - with a whole crowd of people.   God tells it this way -

Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee.  When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?"  He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.  Philip answered him, "Eight months' wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!"

Another of his disciples, Andrew, spoke up, 9"Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?"
Jesus said, "Have the people sit down."      There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted." So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets !!  Jn 6 1-5

This encourages us to give unselfishly to God for He will always multiply our gift for His purpose and glory, and have our joy full!!

How have you seen or heard God communicate with you today?  Have you been looking and listening for His gentle or mighty intervention in your circumstances?  Has someone said something unexpectedly nice to you lately?  Or has that mean person drove you to cry out to God for His immeasurable love? 

How have you responded to God?  Have you thanked Him for what He's done for you?  Have you asked God what He would like you to do for Him?  Is there someone you can shine Jesus to?

Remember, God is as close as your thoughts and He knows them, but He wants your heart.  God who is Love is calling you to Himself today.  What are you saying to Him?

Will you pray? –            Lord God, You alone are Holy and Good.  Thank you for caring for me in so many ways even though I do not see all of them.  Thank you for sending me people to encourage me, situations which help me out or redirect me to Your Way. And thank you most of all for sending me Your Son Jesus Christ to this earth to die on the cross for my own sins.  Please forgive me for all I have done wrong against you, other people, and myself.  Thank you for forgiving me.  Please fill me with your Holy Spirit that I would live for you forever, in Jesus'' Name I pray.  Amen

Additional notes - 

A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin. Prov 26:28
Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment. Prov 12:19
For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. 1Pet 3:10 
The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value. Prov 10:20

 

 

 Communication -  Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit

 God communicates to you and me is through Himself in second and third persons of the Trinity - the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.  Briefly, Scripture says "The Lord God is One."  Yet you can see a division of work and duties.  

 The concept of One God in three persons is called the Trinity. It is derived from what the Bible teaches. Here are just a few of the passages that point to this concept.

 Genesis 1:1-4            The three parts of God are at work together, in unity, in the first three verses. 1) God was in the beginning – ever existing. (Exodus 3:14, Revelation 1:8, Revelation 22:13

2) God the Holy Spirit hovers and renews what it covers. Job 33:4, Ezekiel 36:27, Psalm 51:11

3) The Word is spoken and creation occurs. (John 1:1-2,14, Hebrews 1:3,  Revelation 21:6)

In Genesis 1:26-28 God uses the plural form for Himself when saying “Let us make” .

There is complete equality and intimate unity in pure love within the Godhead.

Jesus answered, “I and the Father are one." John 10:30

 

Jesus said, “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. … "When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. John 14:26, 15:26  

For this reason, the one born again, made a new creature in Christ Jesus, “God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5 

Furthermore -

Jesus Christ is God's only begotten Son.  He came to earth 2000 years ago for two reasons:

First - to teach us. 

Second- to die on the cross taking the punishment that our sins deserved, so that we can become children of God. 

God the Father emphasizes the importance of Jesus Christ to you and me -  He says,  "This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased. Listen to Him!" Mt 17:5; Mk 9:7; Lk 9:35;           

Jesus explains  "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me."  Mt 28:18          "I and the Father are one." Jn 10:30

First - What did Jesus Christ teach?          Jesus told us He was the only way to God and to learn from Him.                Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me. Jn 14:6  "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls"  Mt 11:29,30

While Jesus Christ was on earth, He communicated with us by words and example.

Jesus came to us not as a dictator but as a servant, washing his students' feet.  

Not as a distant lecturer, but as one of us and living with us,   14The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.  Jn 1

Jesus related with us in relationship.  "Come to Me all who are weary,.."

Jesus touched and healed  - "and he healed all who came to him." 

Jesus ate with us -  When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" Mt 9:11

He walked with us -  32They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?" Lk 24

Jesus cried with us - "Jesus Wept."

Jesus died for us - When hanging on the cross, "He said, It is finished, and bowing his head, He gave up his spirit". Jn 19

Jesus forgave those who asked Him,  "Today you will be with Me in paradise."

Secondly, How did Jesus make us able to become children of God? 

By being our atonement sacrifice.     God's Word says "12with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 26He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. Heb 9  

In this way Jesus made it possible for us to become children of God -  12Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God-- 13children … born of God. Jn 3

The second way God communicates with us is through the Holy Spirit.  Jesus said, 16I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-- 17the Spirit of truth. Jn 14

10 days after Jesus ascended into heaven, God explains -  "2Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.  Acts 2        We refer to it as Pentecost. 

The change in the disciples when they received the Holy Spirit was tremendous.  Instead of cowering in the upper room like they had after Jesus was crucified, they were now divinely empowered to be bold in their obedience to the Living God.  Only the indwelling of the Holy Spirit can enable a person to move in Word, thought and deed by God's Spirit and Truth.  Acts 2:1-21

Who does the Holy Spirit communicate with?  The children of God.

The Holy Spirit communicates in many ways - 

The Holy Spirit Anoints:   Calls ; Commissions; Controls:    Convicts:  Counsels and Illumines:  Empowers:   Encourages and Strengthens:   Fills:   Gives Gifts;  Indwells; Inspires; Intercedes; Leads:  Regenerates:   Reveals;  Sanctifies:   Seals:   Speaks; Teaches:  Testifies,  Transforms and much more.    

Referring to the children of God, Jesus testifies to these facts, "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. "  John 10:27-30     Who is a child of God?  Anyone who has confessed their sins directly to Jesus Christ and asked Him to be the atonement sacrifice for their sins, and committed their heart, mind and life to Him.

God explains how to be His child,  "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." Mk 10:15  "Jesus answered, most assuredly I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."… … "unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God."  Jn 3:3,5

So how are you today?  Can you hear the living God Almighty or do you have sin in your heart that is blocking God's voice from you?   God says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." 1Jn 1:9

What have you done with Jesus Christ? Have you accepted Him and taken His Word to your heart?  Will you accept His outstretched hand to you from his cross and realize his immeasurable love for you?       I hope so!  For there is no safer place to be  -  in God's forgiving hand of protection rather than under His curse of judgment.  Jn 3:20.  And there is no sin that God will not forgive. "Everyone who calls Name of Lord will be saved."

Will you pray? -        Lord God, I thank you for having your Son Jesus Christ come to teach me and die for my sins.  I accept your words of Truth, … I come to you as a little child.  Please forgive me for everything that I have done wrong against You, myself, and other people.  Please take my sins and put them on the cross of Jesus.  Thank you for forgiving me and fill me with your Holy Spirit that I would live for you and learn from you forever.  In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.

Additional Notes - 

"[ 21:5 Zech. 9:9] They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. Mt 21:5,7  Jesus washes his disciple's feet.  John 13:1-17

9Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. Jn 14:9


That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Rom 10:9,10

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning.  3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. Jn 1

15Jesus replied to John the Baptist, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness."  Mt 3

12with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 15And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. 26He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. Heb 9   10By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Heb 10

'See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.' Mt 21:5

We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. Jn 1

After Jesus died on the cross, He became alive again, and 40 days later he rose up to heaven.  It is there where He now lives to intercede for those who trust Him with their lives.

 

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