DOES GOD STILL SPEAK TODAY?

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For many believers, one of the most important questions in their walk with God is this: Does God still speak today? It’s a question born from longing — the desire to know God personally, to hear His guidance, to sense His nearness in the middle of life’s noise. And it’s a question often shaped by uncertainty, because while Scripture is filled with stories of God speaking, many Christians wonder whether that same voice is still active in the world now.

The good news is this: God has never stopped speaking. From Genesis to Revelation, God reveals Himself as a communicating God — One who speaks, leads, warns, comforts, and invites His people into relationship. His voice is not a relic of the past. It is a present reality for those who belong to Him.

God’s Voice Begins With His Word

The clearest and most foundational way God speaks today is through Scripture. The Bible is not a silent book. It is the living Word of God, breathed out by Him and preserved for every generation. When we open its pages, we are not simply reading ancient stories or moral lessons; we are encountering the heart and mind of God Himself.

Hebrews 4:12 describes the Word as “living and active,” meaning it continues to speak with power and relevance. A passage written thousands of years ago can suddenly pierce our hearts, answer a question we’ve been wrestling with, or bring comfort in a moment of deep pain. That is not coincidence — that is God speaking through His Word.

Scripture is God’s primary voice, the standard by which all other impressions or experiences must be measured. God will never contradict what He has already spoken in His Word. If we want to hear God clearly, we must begin by immersing ourselves in Scripture regularly and expectantly.

The Holy Spirit Still Speaks to God’s People

While Scripture is the foundation, God also speaks through the Holy Spirit in ways that are personal and timely. Jesus promised that the Spirit would guide us into truth, remind us of His teachings, and reveal what we need to know. This guidance is not mystical or strange — it is the natural result of walking with a living God.

The Spirit speaks through gentle impressions, convictions, warnings, and moments of clarity. He may bring a verse to mind at just the right moment. He may nudge us toward a decision that aligns with God’s will. He may give us peace about a direction or unrest when we’re drifting from His path. These experiences are not random; they are the Shepherd guiding His sheep.

However, the Spirit’s voice is always consistent with Scripture. He does not add new doctrine or reveal new truth outside the Bible. Instead, He applies God’s eternal truth to our present circumstances.

God Speaks Through People and Circumstances

Another way God speaks today is through the people He places in our lives. Wise counsel, godly mentors, pastors, and fellow believers can all be instruments of God’s voice. Sometimes a single sentence from a friend can confirm something God has already been stirring in our hearts. Other times, correction or encouragement from a trusted believer becomes the very voice of God calling us back to Him.

God also speaks through circumstances. Open doors, closed doors, unexpected opportunities, and even trials can all be ways God directs our steps. This does not mean every event is a direct message from God, but it does mean He is sovereign over our lives and uses circumstances to shape us, guide us, and draw us closer to Him.

Why Some People Struggle to Hear God

If God still speaks, why do so many believers feel like they never hear Him? Often the issue is not God’s silence but our spiritual noise. We live in a world filled with distractions — constant information, endless entertainment, and the pressures of daily life. God rarely shouts over the noise; He often speaks in a still, small voice.

Hearing God requires stillness, attentiveness, and a heart that genuinely seeks Him. It requires time in Scripture, space for prayer, and a willingness to obey whatever He reveals. God speaks most clearly to those who are ready to listen.

Hearing God Is About Relationship, Not Technique

Ultimately, hearing God’s voice is not a skill to master but a relationship to cultivate. Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” Sheep recognize the shepherd’s voice because they spend time with him. They walk with him daily. They trust him.

In the same way, the more we walk with God — through prayer, worship, Scripture, and obedience — the more familiar His voice becomes. Over time, we learn to distinguish His leading from our own thoughts, fears, or desires. We begin to recognize the tone of His voice: gentle, truthful, loving, and always aligned with His Word.

God Is Speaking — Are We Listening?

So, does God still speak today? Absolutely. He speaks through His Word. He speaks through His Spirit. He speaks through His people and through the circumstances of our lives. The real question is not whether God is speaking, but whether we are making space to hear Him.

If you long to hear God’s voice more clearly, start by opening His Word daily. Invite the Holy Spirit to guide you. Surround yourself with godly voices. Slow down enough to listen. And trust that the God who spoke the universe into existence still delights in speaking to His children today.

Jesus is returning soon. How good it will be if you have already developed a close relationship with Him. Will you be ready to rule and reign with Him in Jesus Millennial Kingdom? If you want to know more about what is next on God’s agenda for planet Earth go to http://www.millennialkingdom.net

BIBLE SALES ARE SKYROCKETING: WHY?

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God’s truth is reaching new eyes, with Bibles reportedly flying off shelves. In fact, Bible sales were up 22% for the year through to the end of last October when compared to the previous year’s sales, according to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ). And here’s why this figure matters. U.S. book sales were up less than 1% during that same period, meaning the Bible’s growth in sales far outpaced what was happening more generally in the print literary space. The WSJ crunched the numbers and found Bible sales increased from 9.7 million in 2019 to 14.2 million in 2023. In the first 10 months of 2024, 13.7 million copies were sold, with still two months left to count. So, why the increase? It seems that chaos and uncertainty in the world, among other factors, could be turning people back to the Lord. “People are experiencing anxiety, and they’re worried for their children and grandchildren,” Jeff Crosby, president of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association, told the WSJ. “It’s related to artificial intelligence, wars and rumours of wars, election cycles…and all of that feeds a desire for assurance that we’re going to be OK.”

One bookstore manager told the outlet she’s seeing many first-time buyers come in looking for the Scriptures — people she said are on a quest for “hope.” Young people, in particular, could be looking for answers to some of life’s tough questions, especially as cultural confusion grows. And with new editions and versions of the Bible hitting the market, there are more options than ever for these individuals to engage in Scripture. Some of the other potential reasons for the increase mentioned by the WSJ are celebrities speaking out about faith and influencers on YouTube, TikTok, and other platforms sharing their beliefs with new audiences. As reported in 2023, research backs the idea young people have a growing curiosity about faith. The “State of the Bible 2023” report released at the time did reveal that 44% of Gen Z adults between the ages of 18-26 were either very or extremely curious about Jesus and/or the Bible.

And nearly half of Gen Z said the Bible has transformed their lives. Among older Gen Z adults aged 18-21, 49% reported this transformation, with 52% of those aged 22-26 stating the same. Months later, Dr. John Plake, chief program officer at the American Bible Society, said 21% of Gen Z adults claimed in his organization’s 2024 “State of the Bible” survey — the wave that followed the 2023 data — that “they’ve actually increased their use of the Bible within the last year.” “They’re leaning into the Bible,” Plake said. “They’re really trying to engage in their faith, and they are kind of a bright hope for us as a young generation of American adults.” This fits with my recent posts reporting revivals on university campuses.

TRANSFORMING POWER OF THE BIBLE

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Despite the lack of Scripture engagement among America’s youth, about half of Gen Z respondents in the American Bible Society’s State of the Bible USA 2023 study agreed with the statement that “the message of the Bible has transformed my life.” Among Gen Z adults between the ages of 18 and 21, 49% agreed that the Bible had a transformative effect on their lives. That number rose to 52% among Gen Z respondents between the ages of 22 and 26.

Reacting to the findings of the research in a statement, American Bible Society’s Chief Ministry Insights Officer John Farquhar Plake described Gen Z as “a generation struggling to find their footing with faith.”

After noting that “scripture engagement rates for Gen Z have been on a steady decline over the past three years,” he expressed gratitude that “this generation still shows significant interest in the Bible and the message of Jesus.”

“Ministry leaders may be surprised to find how open Gen Z adults in their communities are to discussion about God’s Word,” he added. “And if the trends we’re seeing continue—it’s crucial to be having those conservations now.”

We are fast approaching the last seven years prior to Jesus’ return to rapture the Saints and pour out His wrath upon an unrepentant world so we need to share the Gospel message with as many people to whom we are led by the Holy Spirit. He will guide and direct our steps if we allow Him to do so. Jesus knows who will respond to the Gospel message and who will not so it is imperative that we follow the Holy Spirit’s lead. Jesus’ instructions to the 72 disciples He sent out ahead of Him into every town and place where he himself was about to go (Luke 10:1-12) is helpful.

“But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’” Luke 10:10-11

“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, Peace be to this house!’ And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick in it and say to them, The kingdom of God has come near to you.’” Luke 10:2-9

It is important to know what the 72 said when they returned after having been sent out “as lambs in the midst of wolves“.

“The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:17-20