IS GOD TALKING? by Paul M Hanssen

IS GOD TALKING?

By Paul M Hanssen

The LORD does whatever pleases him,

in the heavens and on the earth,

in the seas and all their depths.

He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth;

he sends lightning with the rain

and brings out the wind from his storehouses.

(Psalm 135:6-7 NIV)

God speaks through His Word, Spirit, servants, people, circumstances, surroundings, and nature. God is always speaking. There is never a season, day, or time when He is not talking to His beloved creation. God desires to make Himself and His purpose known unto the flesh and blood He has placed on earth.

There is only one problem: humankind has become desensitized to His voice. God can scream, but few hear; he can wave red flags of warning, but man carries on. He shakes, moves, and works all manner of miracles to grab man's attention, causing him to position himself before His throne where he belongs—a place of repentance, surrender, and succumbing to His will, purpose, and desire. Yet, as in the days of Noah and Lot, humankind continues to go about his busy, preoccupied life with little or no regard for God.

Most people will stop reading this article around here! That’s because you are one of those who are deaf and refuse to bow their head and put their ear to the ground to hear the footsteps of God walking in your garden, the footsteps of God’s voice speaking first to you but also to those around you.

Over the past seven days, our planet has witnessed 13,424 earthquakes, with almost 1,000 quakes measured over five on the Richter scale. Three earthquakes have been above seven in magnitude, bringing devastation and destruction to many people’s lives. Major storms carrying strong winds, hail, and tornados have ripped through the USA, and more are coming. The United Nations has published that since its creation in 1963, never have so many been suffering from famine and hunger as today. Over ten countries are experiencing severe famine, with millions of people dying from starvation. War and the talk of conflict (rumors of wars) are on the lips of world leaders as countries up their military capabilities in anticipation of a worldwide military conflict. As of the writing of this article, thirty-four countries are currently at war. Twelve of these countries have lost an estimated 150,000 people to war over the past few years.

What is mentioned above is only a tiny glimpse of what the inhabitants of Earth are facing today. While all of this is going on, the Church stands idly by with no or little regard for the footsteps of the voice of the LORD God, sounding His Word among us. Instead of responding, we are as guilty as Adam and Eve, who ran and hid from the presence of God when His voice came walking among them in the cool of the day (Genesis 3:8). However, as with Job, God is demanding a response. Please take a minute to read the following words from the book of Job.

God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend. For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength. He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work. Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places. Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north. By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened. Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud: And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth. He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy. Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God. (Job 37:5-14)

Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. Job 38:1-3)

Is God speaking to us in and through the perils we are facing? If so, then He is also demanding a response. What should our response be? Do we simply continue with our lives as usual, disregarding His loud and impressionable footsteps walking through the earth, or do we respond with humility, repentance, and awareness, bowing before Him, declaring Him as King and acknowledging that the Kingdom, the power, and the glory belong to Him, not to us?

Wake up, people of God! Wake up! There is no time for games, church politics, dead religion, frivolity, lukewarmness, and apathy. God is indeed speaking - the question is, are we listening?

And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. (Romans 13:11-12)

NOW IT IS HIGH TIME (meaning the season) TO AWAKE OUT OF SLEEP. I refuse to be an end-time statistic of “the days of Noah,” not taking heed to the prophetic call to prepare myself for the day that His heavenly ark of safety will cause the overcomers to rise above earth’s calamities into His glorious presence!