Is God Still Speaking Today – and If So, How?

It’s amazing that such a little question can create such great division among God’s people. But it does! Here’s how it unfolds. 

There are some among the family of God who tell us that the only way that God speaks today – absolutely the only way – is through the Bible. Full stop. End of discussion.

Then at the opposite end of the spectrum, we find Christians who claim to have seen signs and wonders, to have had so-called "words of knowledge" and "prophecies" over their lives. 

And in the middle of all this, there’s little old you and me!

If you’re anything like me, deep inside there’s a desire that burns for God. And that’s why we’re exploring such a controversial question in this reading plan. 

Because if God is indeed God, if He truly loves us, then surely… surely… He wants to speak to us. Any relationship that means something, that has value to it, is based on two-way communication, right?

So, does He speak, or not? And how are we supposed to know?

Well, fortunately, God gives us clear guidance through His Word as to how to handle this sometimes confusing and often divisive issue. This is what He has to say: 

“Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5:19–22)

In other words, if you think the Holy Spirit is speaking to you, don’t ignore Him! But, at the same time, He’s telling us to be discerning; to sift what we see and hear, to test people and prophets and experiences that claim to be God-sent.

Over and over again, God’s Word tells us that He speaks with us (the sheep hear his voice, John 10:3), that we’re called to be discerning and recognise the voice of God (the sheep follow him because they know his voice, John 10:4) and that the Holy Spirit has been given to us so we can hear the voice of God (John 16:13).

Is God still in the business of speaking to His people through His Spirit? Are we meant to hear the voice of Jesus Christ, and discern His voice? Absolutely!

And together, you and I are going to explore the Bible to see how we can do it.

LIFE APPLICATION QUESTIONS 

• Have you ever stopped and wondered whether God speaks to His people today? Where do you stand on this controversial question?
• Can I encourage you to read again, slowly and carefully, through Jesus’ words to His followers in John 10:1–18. What is He saying here about His followers hearing and recognising His voice?
• Take a moment to reflect on your own walk with Jesus. Have you ever heard someone claim a word from Him, or have you ever had one yourself? How did you know it was, in fact, from God?
• What steps can you take today to be more open to the Spirit’s leading, and to balance that with a healthy level of discernment, so that you can test everything, as Paul encouraged us to do in 1 Thessalonians 5?