Foundational Principle #3 -God Speaks to Man

Part 5 – BILBLICAL WORLDVIEW FOUNDATION #3 – God Speaks to man

God Speaks (Communicates)

Gen 1:27-30 And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. ²⁸ God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that creeps on the earth.” ²⁹ Then God said, “Behold, I have given to you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has the fruit of the tree yielding seed; it shall be food for you; ³⁰ and to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to every thing that creeps on the earth which has life, I have given every green plant for food”; and it was so.

So far, our worldview consists of God is/God created and man created in his image.  Today is the third element in a biblical worldview.  God’s speak. God, through his word God has spoken and still speaks.  In His word we have all we need to live godly lives.  See 2 Tim 3:16-17 and 2 Pet 1: 3-4

You might say we already knew that God speaks from Gen 1:1. However this is much different as it is God directly communicating (speaking) to Adam and Eve.  God blessed them and gave them his words of direction.  God still speaks as He has provided us with his inspired words. 

God sets out the importance of reading and hearing his word early in the Old Testament.  Deut 4:1-9.

God speaks through Moses, follow the text to discover these wonderful truths

• Listen to the statutes and judgments which I am teaching you to do – Deut 4:1
• Knowing these texts are important for them to live and take possession of the land – Deut 4:1
• Do not add a word or take away a word from his instructions – Deut 4:2
• We are to keep and do the commandments – Deut 4:2
• Keeping and doing the commandments is where we get wisdom and understanding – Deut 4:6
• Reading and listening will make us know God is nearby. – Deut 4:7

Importance of hearing, doing and teaching God’s word. – Deut 6:4-9

• Hear, O Israel! Yahweh is our God – These words tell us who God is – Deut 6:4
• His words call us to love God with all our hearts, soul and might  – Deut 6:5
• We are to – Keep the words on our hearts – Deut 6:6
• We shall teach them diligently to our sons – Deut 6:7
• We shall speak them when in our house – Deut 6:7
• We shall speak them as we walk along the way – Deut 6:7
• We shall speak them when we lie down and when you awake – Deut 6:7
• We shall have them with us always – Deut 6:8
• We shall write them on the doorposts of our house and our gates – Deut 6:9

The instructions to Kings – Duet 17:18-20

• The King shall write a copy of the law in the presence of priests – Deut 17:18
• This copy will be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life – Deut 17:19
• This copy is where he will learn to fear Yahweh – Deut 17:19
• This copy is where he will learn to observe these precious words – Deut 17:19
• This copy will keep his heart humble – Deut 17:20
• This copy will keep him from turning aside – Deut 17:20
• This copy will assure him prolong days in the kingdom – Deut 17:20

Well, how does this impact us.  We are not kings so do we get a pass.  NO!

• Because we also have been made Kings and Priests according to his word. – Rev 1:6
• He made us to be a kingdom of priests to our God, and we will reign upon the earth – Rev 5:10
•  

We therefore are included and required to have the scriptures present, to read them, to learn to fear and love God, the scriptures will keep us humble and from turning aside from God.

In the knowledge of God through his word we have grace, peace, everything pertaining to life and godliness, and all his promises. 

2 Pet 1:2- 4 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the full knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; ³ seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the full knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. ⁴ For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.

Christ’s words are spirit and life: John 6:63 – ⁶³ The Spirit is the One who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.

The 3^rd element of a worldview is God still speaks through scripture.  We must take time to open the book, read and hear his words then keep and do them. Because the words God to us changes our hearts and minds so we are able to live our lives in accordance with His will.

God still speaks through His son:

Heb. 1:1-3   God, having spoken long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, ² in these last days spoke to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds, ³ who is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power;

We might say, the creator has spoken, and he knows how we are to live and function.  When we are obedient to the King and fulfill/serve him by following his words we are truly blessed.

• His sheep hear – John 10:27-28 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
• Faith comes from hearing – Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
• Word of God is living and active – Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
• If we call he hears and will answer – Jeremiah 33:3 Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.
• His word accomplishes its purpose – Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
• All God’s word is inspired and guides us  – 2 Tim 3:14-17

All throughout the old and new testaments we have God guiding and speaking to his people.  God himself speaks to Adam, Noah, Abraham and Moses.  God also spoke through the prophets to his people.  He has spoken to us through Jesus Christ who walked this earth for over 30 years and has left us with his words.  These words have been communicated through the Apostles and Prophets. These words are recorded for us to read and believe.

John 20:30-31   Therefore many other signs Jesus also did in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; ³¹ but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

Rom 15:4: For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through the perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Why open the scriptures?  Because it is in them, we meet our God and Savior, and it is them where we hear him speak to our hearts and minds.

Read Psalm 119 as it reveals the grandeur and glory of God’s word

Summary Table:  God makes the rules

God Speaks – Gen 1:26	Nothing is Silent
God speaks creation into existence – Gen 1:1-29 Heavens and Earth, light, God’s words make the land and the seas, the sun, moon and stars, sea life, Plants, land animals and man.	Silence – If Nothing created then you are just a product of nothing leading to nothing with no end reason or purpose.
God created man and spoke to them and blessed them –Gen 1:26-30	Silence – No reason for man
God spoke to man and gave man a purpose – Gen 1:26-30	Silence – we are on our own
God speaks to man and gives instructions – Gen 2:15-16	Silence – No right and wrong
God seeks out man and speaks to him even after they rebelled – Gen 3:8-19	Silence – Man on this Journey alone
God speaks to man and restores but also removes him from greater harm by removing him from the garden- Gen 3:20-24	Silence – Big bang/Evolution created the beginning and the end.
God communicates with man throughout the pages in the bible.  The scripture is how God now speak to us. – 2 Peter 1:3-4	Nothing is deadly silent