God is Speaking

Have you ever had a Scripture jump off the page right into your heart? I’m sure you have! In theological terms, we refer to those times as “Kairos” moments. A “now word” from God. A word in time. A word from the throne, a promise for whatever you’re experiencing at a precise moment in time. During this pandemic, I believe God wants to give a “now word” to keep His people in check.

Recently, Matthew 8:8 spoke powerfully to me: ”And when Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, imploring Him, and saying, ‘Lord my servant is lying paralyzed at home, fully tormented.’ Jesus said to him, ‘I will come and heal him.’ But the centurion said,, ‘Lord, I am not worthy for you to come under my roof, but just say the word and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go, and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.’”

“Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, ‘Truly I say to you, I have not found such greater faith with anyone in Israel’....And the man was healed that very moment.” (Matthew 8:5-10, 13).

When God speaks, things happen! Four words invaded my spirit when I read this passage. I too marveled at the centurion’s faith -- “Just say the word…” My faith was elevated when I was reminded that God is still speaking today in the middle of this Coronavirus pandemic. Like you, I need all of heaven’s encouragement I can get!

“Just speak the word…” This same God, who spoke the worlds into existence during creation, still speaks today. His creative Word formed the sun, moon stars and everything else we see. In Genesis 1, we read nine times where “God spoke.” And every time He spoke, He formed something out of nothing.

I love what the centurion said: “Just speak the word…” He evidently had seen Jesus speak other miracles into being. The spoken word in that very moment healed the centurion’s servant! This same God wants to speak into our lives today.

You too may need healing. You may wonder how you’re going to fare financially. The needs are incredible at a time like this. I need the Lord to speak into the uncertainties of my life. I want to be like Samuel, who while being mentored by the High Priest, Eli, said, “Speak Lord, your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:10).

This is a world-wide pandemic.  I believe God is speaking to responsive hearts all over the earth. Just as the Holy Spirit hovered at creation, so God is hovering over the earth, waiting with great anticipation to speak to those who fear Him. The nations seem to be reeling under fear and great anxiety.  Governments remain uncertain regarding right decisions. But God is speaking. Daniel’s God is still on the throne of the universe. Daniel, an obscure man in Nebuchadnezzar’s court, was raised up to speak to the nations, and I believe God is still raising up accurate prophetic voices to guide today’s dilemma.  

But understand something.  You too can hear from God. He’s speaking to the world, to nations, to states, to communities, and TO YOU!  Just as Jesus commanded turbulent waters to calm, he desires to speak peace into our individual lives during this time of turbulence.  We have never navigated the present troubled waters -- no one has! We’re all in the same boat! And we need Jesus to speak peace. He spoke healing over the centurion’s servant and He spoke peace over the panicky disciples, and He wants to speak peace, provision, or whatever into your life today.  Ask Him!

Coupled with Matthew 8:8, the Lord alo spoke Isaiah 30:15 into my spirit.  This was a “now Word” for me, and I want to pass it along to you. “For thus the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has said, ‘In repentance and rest,  you will be saved, in quietness and trust is your strength…” During Israel’s turbulent days, the prophet addressed the nation as a whole, but also directed his remarks to individuals. 

Pandemic storms may rage, but we as followers of Jesus Christ are promised peace in the midst of tumult.  He wants to give every believer -- that means YOU -- a “now Word,” one that will hold you steady during these uncertain times.

Our medical profession has asked us to practice social distancing.  When in groups less than ten, to practice the “six-feet rule.” Crowds of more than ten are strongly urged not to gather.  I can’t help but feel God is using these dynamics to draw us away from others into His presence. The Lord is asking for an audience of one!  God wants to give YOU a “now Word.” You need one! He’s still speaking and He has a message crafted specifically for you!  

I appreciate what our government is doing, and I pray earnestly for our President and the many other front-liners, so I beg you, don’t waste your time wasting time!

Use this interruption to get before the Lord .  Open His Word with a humble, searching heart. Like Isaiah suggested, “Seek repentance and rest.” You will be saved (from external stimuli) that threatens your peace.  Cultivate a daily quiet time with the Lord and place your trust in Him. He wants to keep you strong!

Listen intently and honestly as you search the Scriptures.  What is the Lord asking you to change in your life? Do you continue to harbor secret sins?   Have you grown complacent in your Christian life and service? What attitudes have you fostered that are counterproductive to your spiritual well being?  Are you angry? Is there someone you need to forgive? Do you struggle with sexual lust? The Lord wants to speak specifically to you! He will lovingly confront you, convict you, and by His grace show you a better way!  Isn’t He wonderful?

During this pandemic, I remain committed to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.  I remain “confident of this one thing -- that “He who began a good work in me (over 49 years ago), will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6). 

God is speaking.  Listen!  

That Night

When life knocks me down and threatens to overwhelm me, I look to a fixed point in time that lifts me up.  I’ve learned that perspective is everything.  During those times I must look at things the way God does. 

He shows all of us His perspective in the Bible. We have to keep our focus in the right direction.  Billy Graham once said:

1.  If you want to be distressed, look within.

2.  If you want to be defeated, look back.

3.  If you want to be distracted, look around.

4.  If you want to be dismayed, look before.

5.  If you want to be delivered, look to Christ.

6.  If you want to be delighted, look up!

When I feel like giving up, when tragedy strikes, when sickness goes long term, when financial setbacks occur, or when facing problems in general, I have an anchor.  It keeps me from throwing in the towel. 

I often look back to the night when my life was forever changed.  I have never been the same since August 4, 1970, when I said “Yes” to Jesus Christ while at summer camp in Big Prairie, Ohio.  I repented of my sins and accepted Him as my personal Savior. That same night I was called to preach!  I felt like a thousand-pound weight had been lifted off my shoulder.  My conversion was a very emotional experience that ran deep.  I was a changed young man! 

One of my favorite chapters in the Gospels in John 6.  Large crowds to that point gladly followed Jesus.  He had changed the water into wine, healed their sick, walked on the water, and fed the multitudes.  He also provided a veritable outdoor smorgasbord.  Who wouldn’t want to follow the itinerant teacher/preacher from Galilee? 

Then Jesus began to teach on total commitment versus a casual relationship.  Perhaps you remember the infamous cartoon from years ago which featured a picture of a chicken and a pig.  The caption read (with the pig talking): “For you it requires only a contribution, for me it’s total commitment.” 

Likewise, Jesus exposed the true motivations of the peoples’ hearts in verses 25-26: “When they found Him on the other side of the lake, they asked Him, ‘Rabbi, when did you get here?’  Jesus answered, ‘I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.’”

Jesus began to require commitment based on WHO He was, not what He did.  He said, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.  Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise Him up at the last day” (verses 53-54).  Obviously, theological treatments of the passage differ; however, I believe Jesus was asking the multitudes and specifically His disciples, to enter into a reckless abandonment to God. 

Verse 60 says, “On hearing it, many of His disciples said, ‘This is a hard teaching.  Who can accept it? From this time many of His disciples turned back and no longer followed Him.’”  Jesus then looked at the Twelve, perhaps staring intentionally at Peter. He said, “You don’t want to leave too, do you” (verse 66)?  I love Peter’s response, and I’ve embraced it as my own: “Lord, to whom should we go?  You have the words of eternal life” (verse 67).  Some translations say, “You alone…”

When difficult days come, I look back to that night almost fifty years ago when Jesus touched me and reversed the course of my life.  During these times He renews my thinking and therefore my perspective. 

Remember, perspective is the way you look at things.  It’s determined by the way you think.  My conversion has kept me anchored when life’s difficult days threatened to batter me.  Jesus remains my one Constant and Keeper in the day of tribulation. 

He has kept me in the day of adversity.  The preacher warned us that “If we faint in the day of adversity, our strength is small” (Proverbs 24:10).  The New International Version renders it this way: “If you are slack in the day of distress, your strength is limited.”  I wish to remain strong in my resolve to serve God. And I know you do too!  How I praise Him!