Experiencing God's Presence #185

Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said.

1 Thessalonians 5:20-21

God speaks. Always has, always will. A lot of Christians don’t believe that, assuming that once Scripture was complete, He had said all He would ever say. But that idea defies the content of Scripture itself, which portrays a God who loves to communicate with His people and gives no indication He will stop. He won’t establish any new or contrary doctrines, but He certainly still guides, comforts, corrects, and encourages. He speaks to us individually because . . . well, we’re individuals.

That was certainly true in the early church, which seemed to have a vibrant, member-to-member prophetic ministry. People listened to God’s voice on behalf of each other and shared His words. And Paul told the Thessalonians not to scoff at such prophecies. We know he wasn’t talking about the Old Testament prophets—an instruction not to scoff at Scripture would be ridiculously unnecessary. He was referring to the kind of interpersonal ministry he mentioned in 1 Corinthians 14:3: “One who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them.” Christians need to be able to hear God—for themselves and for each other—not dictating intrusive guidance but strengthening, encouraging, and comforting. Having contempt for such words is forbidden by Scripture.

Hear God’s heart: “You cannot sense My closeness without believing that I speak and minister to you personally. It’s impossible to know My touch if you think I only speak generally or have confined My words to the past. Many of My people are starved for My voice today while simultaneously having contempt for anyone who claims to have heard it. Speak it to them anyway. And hear it for yourself. I am speaking to you if you will listen.”

Lord, I believe You speak, and I’m listening. Let me hear Your heartbeat. Open my ears. Help me hear Your voice so I can encourage, strengthen, and comfort others, and let me hear it for my own needs.

From the book