How and Where God Speaks by Os Hillman
http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?blogid=2093&view=post&articleid=70626&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=Os%20Hillman&fldTopic=0
By Os Hillman
How and Where God Speaks
by Os Hillman
"The
hand of the Lord was upon me there, and He said to me, 'Get up and go out to
the plain, and there I will speak to you.'" Ezekiel 3:22
God speaks in
many different ways to His children. He spoke through a bush to Moses. He spoke
through a donkey to Balaam. He spoke through prophets to His kings. He speaks
through other believers. He speaks directly to us through the invisible Holy
Spirit. And He speaks even through circumstances.
When God wants to
speak a very important word directly to us without interruption from the noise
of our busy lives, he will take us "into the plain." The plain is a
place of no distractions and no other persons. It is a place of silence. It can
be a place of great need as it often fails to have the normal provisions we are
accustomed to. It can be a place we go to voluntarily to seek His face, or we
can be moved there without choice by His supernatural ability. More often, it
is the latter method that brings us into the plain. In modern times, it often
means a separation from our normal activities such as jobs or families.
When He speaks, we need to be
able to listen.
The plain can
also be a place where we discover afresh that God's hand has been on us all the
time. When we are so busy with life, we sometimes forget that God's hand is
still there, gently leading our path. When our lives get so busy that we are
not listening or responding to His gentle touch, He must take more aggressive
measures to get our attention. Thus, the plain is one of those appointed times
of one-on-one communication with our heavenly Father. No distractions, no
people, no beautiful surroundings to capture our thoughts. It is a barren place
designed to allow us to seek and hear clearly. When He speaks, we need to be
able to listen. We hear much better in the plain.
Do you need to
hear God's voice today? Is your life such that you cannot even hear His voice?
Each day God calls us to our own mini-plain in order to speak to us and for us
to hear. If we neglect this time of open communication, we may be invited to
His plain in order to hear without distraction. Pray that you might make time
to hear.
Os Hillman
http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?blogid=2093&url=10&view=post&articleid=207579&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=Os%20Hillman&fldTopic=0
"And the Lord said to Joshua, 'This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.'"(Josh 3:7-8). Joshua had been a faithful number two man under Moses for 40 years. Can you imagine serving one man for 40 years? Now that is faithfulness! Even so, when the time came to pass the mantel to Joshua, God knew he needed to be elevated in the eyes of the people in order for Joshua to accomplish his purpose. That is the purpose for elevation - so that you and I can fulfill our purpose and our mission.
http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?blogid=2093&url=10&view=post&articleid=206343&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=Os%20Hillman&fldTopic=0
"Then Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons. Now they took wives of the women of Moab: the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth. And they dwelt there about ten years. Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died; so the woman survived her two sons and her husband." Ruth 1:3-5 Naomi's life was going well. A great husband. Two fine sons who had two wonderful wives. Then the unthinkable happened. Her husband died. A little time later both her sons die. Her and her daughter-in-laws find themselves in the midst of shattered dreams. This isn't how life was supposed to be.
http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?blogid=2093&url=10&view=post&articleid=202592&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=Os%20Hillman&fldTopic=0
"While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, 'Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.'" Acts 10:19-20 Peter had never preached to the Gentiles. In fact, he believed it was against Jewish law to associate with the Gentiles. God needed to change Peter's attitude about this, so God gave Peter a vision that showed him it was permissible to preach to the Gentiles. The Spirit came to Peter and informed him that some men were about to come visit him, and he was to go with them. He went with them, and the Lord did great miracles in the lives of Gentiles through Peter.