6. New Testament Walkers and Talkers

1.. The Gospels - Matthew

Thinking

There are very few instances in the Gospels when God spoke to people in the same way that he did in Old Testament days. The likely reason is that mankind was being blessed with the physical presence of our Lord Jesus Christ. A message was sent to Joseph through an angel on three occasions (Matthew 1: 20, 2: 13 and 2: 19), to Zechariah (Luke 1: 11-20), to Mary (Luke 1: 28-38), and to the shepherds in the fields (Luke 2: 8-14). An angel was also sent to announce the good news at the resurrection of Jesus (Matthew 28: 5-7; Mark 16: 6; Luke 24: 5-7, and John 16: 6-7). These seem to be rare events for special purposes. While messages from angels may still happen to day, we have now been blessed further by the gift of Holy Spirit. For us today, this seems to be God's preferred route of communication - either directly, or indirectly through a preacher or other person. We see this illustrated vividly in Luke's Gospel (1: 42-43), where Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, greets the pregnant Mary to bring her the blessing from God. "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!" Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied (Luke 1: 68-79). Simeon was too (Luke 2: 29-32).

We must assume that John the Baptist heard God's word to his soul, and that this empowered him to prophesy (Matt. 3: 3, Mark 1: 7-8, Luke 3: 4-6, and John 1: 15-26).

Praying

Lord, I now want to work through the Gospels and collate words that jump out at me together with my response. Lead my thoughts, and stop me when I go too fast. And Lord, already, I sense that much of this is going to become a conversation with you as the person of Jesus. Is that alright?

Listening

Yes, my son. Remember that the Father and I are as one.

Thinking

The voice of God as Father was heard from heaven at the time of the Jesus' baptism (Matthew 3: 17, Mark 1: 11 and Luke 3: 22). This was also a very special event for a particular purpose - to affirm the beginning of Jesus as the Son walking amongst us.

While it is somewhat distant from the purpose of this study of the way God speaks to us, it is useful to note the conversation with Satan as recorded in Matthew 4: 1-11 and Luke 4: 3-12. This is a reminder that a conversation with a metaphysical power is indeed possible - and that there are other powers as well as God. This matter is addressed later, but the immediate lesson is that a word heard may need to be tested to ensure that it is indeed from God. Satan is the great deceiver. Whether he is permitted to present himself directly to us as God is unclear. I suspect that he may not be allowed to do this, but he seems quite capable of engineering the environment so that we jump to that conclusion.

We need to respect the power of the evil one, but not hold him in awe. We must always remember that God in Christ is the victor, and is supreme.

During Jesus' earthly ministry, there seems to be little evidence of God speaking directly to people but Jesus taught that this would happen. In Matthew 10: 19-20 we read the words of Jesus. "But when they (the Gentiles) arrest you, do not worry about what you will say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of the Father speaking through you." This teaching, which is also reported in Luke 12: 11-12, is a special promise that needs to be grasped in faith and confidence.

Listening

My son, remember that my words will never pass away. This teaching about the Spirit speaking through you applies to you all of you today just as it did in former times.

Praying

Thank you, Lord. I think that I needed to be reminded about that. Help me to trust you and never doubt this precious word.

Thinking

Jesus continued as recorded in Matthew 10: 27. "What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops." This is a clear instruction, but it has a parallel with some of the prayer-psalms of David. In Chapter 4, I noted that David poured out his soul to God in the night; this seems to be the time that God spoke to him. God continues to "whisper in our ear" in the night. We need to take note of this, perhaps write the words down, and proclaim them later (This matter is discussed further in Chapter 12).

In Matthew 11: 25-30, there is recorded one of the several prayers that Jesus prayed to the Father. This is very much in a conversational style. "Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure" is very intimate (V.26.). This is an example that we can follow in our own devotional life. A second more profound example of intimate conversational prayer is found at Gethsemane (Matthew 26: 38-44). In the depths of the greatest agony, God wants us to prostrate our humanity before him - and talk with him - following the example of Jesus.

Jesus also taught us how to pray in what we know today as the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6: 9-13 and Luke 11: 24). Today we often use this more in formal or liturgical prayer or even (beautifully) set to music. But when Jesus taught it to his disciples, it was very much in conversational form. (see Chapter 8 where I have responded in more intimate detail to the Lord's Prayer)

In Matthew 16: 13-20 (also Mark 8: 27-30 and Luke 9: 18-21) we read of Peter 's confession. Jesus himself said, "This was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven" (Matthew 16: 17). Peter doesn't seem to have heard a voice from heaven or in his ear, but his thoughts were shaped by God, and he put words to them. Here in the teaching of Jesus we have a lesson of how God speaks to people. The purpose of this book is to explore how it happens today, and how we can become more proficient in hearing God's word to our souls.

Matthew 17: 5 (also Mark 9: 7, Luke 9: 35) reports the second time that God spoke as Father and spoke as a voice from a cloud. The first was at Jesus' baptism; this second time was at the transfiguration. "This is my Son whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" A third occasion is reported in John 12: 27-28. Jesus was beginning to prepare himself for death and says, "Father save me from this hour? No, it was for this very reason that I came to this hour Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again." These are super-special events that required supernatural authority. It is hard to conceive of this happening again before the Second Coming of the Lord. On that occasion, God's word will be embellished with trumpets (Matthew 24: 31).

At the trial of Jesus, Pilate's wife reported a dream that must come close to hearing the God's voice. Perhaps she did not recognise the source, but she was able to put words to her experience. "Don't have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him" (Matthew 27: 19). Hearing God's voice requires awareness of his presence. If Pilate's wife had had a knowledge and experience of walking with God, perhaps she would have been more effective in communicating the revelation given to her.

The death of Jesus was not a time for conversation. Our Lord sensed the absence of God. "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27: 46 and Mark 15: 33). This is an experience that we do not need to have today. For the believer and follower of Jesus, death becomes the climax of a life of conversation. We can be absolutely confident of hearing the greeting, and the welcome from the Lord himself - the one who said, "I will be with you always" (Matthew 28: 20).

Copyright Howard Smith 2002. All Rights reserved.

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