神はどのように私に話かけるんですか。
神はどのように私に話かけるんですか。
I’ve never actually heard Him.
“Go out; touch no unclean thing.” The voice was insistent; it had authority; it was convincing. Manuel was on his way home when he heard it. He had an important position in a business that paid him very well but was not honoring to God. The voice interrupted his thoughts; it was real. Manuel knew it was speaking, yet he was not sure if he was hearing it with his ears or in his heart. Somewhere he had heard the words before.
Manuel had grown up in a Christian home; he had memories of going to Bible classes as a boy. His brother and sisters all served the Lord, but early in life Manuel had been attracted to the “good life” big money, big houses, and plenty of comfort. And so his life had gone in a different direction from the rest of the family. He had not allowed his conscience to disturb him. He was young, his goals were set, and he was well on the road to “success.” Then this voice. Where was it coming from? Who was speaking? he asked himself.
As Manuel listened, he became sure of one thing: the voice was God’s voice. He remembered the words from stories in the Bible, but this was more than a memory. He completely stopped in the middle of his way home, turned his thoughts toward God, and answered the voice with a dedication of his life.
God does speak. He can be heard. Sometimes it is in the manner that Manuel “heard” Him; sometimes it is in a different way. This lesson will help you discover how God speaks to you.
Ways God Speaks to Us
Some people spend a lot of time worrying about whether God can communicate with them. Can God speak to me? How can He speak? they ask themselves. It is interesting that God, who created us and gave us the ability to hear and to communicate with other people, is often thought to have difficulty speaking himself! But God does speak. He has chosen to use several ways of communicating with us.
God Speaks Through the Bible
The primary way in which God speaks to us is through His written word, the Bible. It seems impossible that a book that was completed almost two thousand years ago could speak to individuals today concerning the will of God for them. But the Bible is more than a book. It is a message to us from God himself. This fact assures us that it can speak to us and that we can understand it.
The Holy Spirit inspired the Bible. He is the Third Person of the Trinity. He is as much God as the Father and Son are God. Every quality the others have He also has, including that of having complete knowledge. He knows everything. He knows the present; He knows the past (He does not forget). He knows the future. He knew you before you were born, before your parents were, or before anyone else was.
He is the author of the Bible. He guided its writing; He made sure of its accuracy (2 Peter 1:19- 21). It is the revelation of God’s design for humankind. Not only is it able to lead you into salvation, but it is also sufficient for further guidance. The Holy Spirit included in the Bible everything you need for a successful Christian walk.
The miracle of Scripture is not just in how it was written, but also in how it is understood. For the Holy Spirit is still alive. He was the agent of the Bible’s authorship; He is the agent of its understanding.
Think of some of the Scripture passages you studied in Lesson 2 which assure us that the Holy Spirit is able to lead us. For example, remember the teaching of Christ in John 14 and 16 concerning the Helper or Comforter who would come the Holy Spirit (John 14:16; 16:12-15). Remember the assurance given in Romans 8:26-27 that the Spirit knows the mind of God and will direct our praying. Christ even said that the Holy Spirit would bring to our mind His teaching (John 14:26). How does the Spirit do this? Through the Word, of which He was the author.
Have you ever read Scripture and suddenly a verse or passage seemed to stand out? It spoke to your need you were not sure why but it gave an answer or a guide point. It may have given assurance. We do not experience this as we seek Scripture verses to support our ideas, but as we seek to know God’s mind through the Scriptures.
Christ was well aware that the Holy Spirit spoke in such a way, for He often quoted Old Testament passages and said that they referred to Him. Without the aid of the Holy Spirit, the truth or direction would have been missed (see Luke 4:18, for example). Others have also experienced this kind of revelation (such as Peter in Acts 2:14-21).
Manuel, whom you read about at the beginning of this lesson, is a close friend of mine. That voice he heard was the voice of God speaking through Isaiah 52:11, though the words there were originally spoken to other people. This is an example of the Holy Spirit using the words of Scripture to speak and making their message understood.
The Holy Spirit will guide us to apply Scripture according to the principles that are clearly taught. He will not contradict himself.
If the principles of Scripture are going to help us follow God’s design, then we should understand how they are given in the Bible. The Bible is not simply a collection of ideas about life. It is the record of God’s speaking to people and their responding to Him. Principles are presented, and we understand their meaning by examining the record of their effect on individual lives. This record shows us how principles are applied and keeps us from becoming unbalanced in our view of them.
For example, Christ taught the principle of the final victory of meekness or humility (Matthew 5:5). But what is humility? We understand how it works in balance with other qualities through studying the life of Moses (see, for example, Exodus 12).
We understand the difference between repentance and sorrow by looking at the lives of David and Saul, two kings of Israel. It wasn’t the greatness of Saul’s sin that caused him to lose the kingdom. It was the fact that he reacted with sorrow but never truly repented and changed his ways. In contrast, David repented with his whole heart. (Compare, for example, 1 Samuel 13:8-14; 15: 17-25; 2 Samuel 12; and Psalm 51.)
God Speaks Through Others
God also uses others to explain His will to us. He may use Christians or non-Christians to do this.
We work and live within structures or relationships based on authority, such as those of our government, family, business, and even church. Each of these is responsible for a certain area of guidance. Scripture recognizes each as a means by which God speaks. For example, parents of young children give them direction, and God’s Word says it is His will for the children to obey (Ephesians 6:1). Rulers of a nation have a right to direct citizens of that nation, and God’s Word says it is His will that the rulers be obeyed (Romans 13:1).
Beyond these kinds of relationships, there are also those we may have with certain people whom God chooses to bring into our lives. They may be wise because of a longtime walk with God; often their advice is priceless because they know the ways of God.
King David, however, fell into sin by numbering the people of Israel because he ignored the advice of Joab (2 Samuel 24:3-4, 10). Jethro and Joab did not have “authority” over Moses and David; in fact, Moses was leader, and David was king. But there was value in counsel. God might even use a test or examination given by your school to show you that He has given you certain gifts or abilities. He can speak through teachers who often recognize special talents. What happens if the advice we receive is not in agreement (as is usually the case)? Some advice should be ignored because it goes against the directions of Scripture. Sometimes we need to consider the person who has advised us: what are his or her intentions concerning us? But with these safeguards against confusion, remember, the confidence is that God can speak clearly and will speak clearly.
God Speaks Through Past Experiences
Past experiences of following God’s direction will help you learn to hear the voice of God more clearly through whatever channel He wishes to speak. As you think back over your life, you will recognize that God has been faithful; He has spoken. Each time you are able to identify His voice or leading in your life, you become better able to recognize it.
In the same way that God worked in people’s lives in Scripture according to certain principles, He will work in your life according to certain principles. You will probably view God’s work in your life as a series of unconnected events at first. Then you will possibly be able to see a pattern. Finally, from your own experience of following God, you will discover the principles by which He is working. The following illustration is an example of this.
When Jim graduated from Bible college, two different churches asked him to come and be their pastor. He prayed, read the Bible, and sought advice from spiritual leaders. Nothing seemed to be clear. No principles of Scripture would be violated if he were to choose one church and not the other. His Bible college teachers advised him to choose one of them; a spiritual elder advised him to choose the other. Finally he could wait no longer and had to make a choice. Almost in fear he made the choice and told the churches. Now he was committed. He had done everything he knew to do.
The amazing thing was that his fear of choosing was replaced by a confidence in his commitment. He became sure he was in God’s will.
Did Jim get lucky and make the right choice? No. His choice was not made by luck . . . it was the result of the direction of God. For along with all his seeking of advice, Jim honestly wanted to do God’s will. He was walking after the Spirit. He had a renewed or changed mind (Romans 12: 1-2). His decision was actually made—without his conscious knowledge of it—in response to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Several years later Jim was called on to make another important decision. Again he sought God, prayed, listened to advice, and looked at the different possibilities. Again there was no voice from heaven. Again he reached a time when he could wait no longer and had to make a decision. He made it, and again his fear was replaced with confidence as he followed God.
Jim began to realize that there was one principle that remained constant in his pursuit of God’s will. When he had been sincere in seeking God, God had led him each time it became necessary for him to make a decision. That principle became the basis of a confidence. He saw that the principle given in Psalm 37:23, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord” (KJV), was being worked out in his own life. He could rely on it. There was never a voice he could identify, yet God was speaking. God was actually speaking in a variety of ways. As they blended, Jim’s decision was actually a response to God.
God May Speak Directly
Besides using His Word, other people, or past experiences to speak to us, God also speaks directly on some occasions. How often does God choose this way? If we include our conscience as representing the voice of God, we could say that God speaks directly to us quite often. If we have in mind just audible words, we would say that God more often chooses to use the Bible. But He does speak. And remember, the message will never be in contradiction to what He has already said in His Word.
あなたが聞いている声が神の声であるかどうかはどうやってわかりますか? 聖書は、互いにバランスをとる 2 つの小切手を与えています。 1つ目は主観的なものです。 羊が羊飼いの声を知っているように（ヨハネ 10:4）、あなたも羊飼いの声を知っているでしょう（ヨハネ 10:14-15）。 神を求め、心を神の言葉で満たし、聖霊に従っていれば、それが神が語っていることが分かる。
2 番目のチェックは最初のチェックを強化します。神の指示は常に神の書かれた言葉と一致します (イザヤ 8:20)。
神の声が聞こえない人がいる理由
人々が神の声や指示を聞き逃す主な理由は通常 2 つあります。 一つは、彼らが神の語り方を受け入れられないということです。 もう一つは、彼らが神がすでに言われたことに従わなかったということです。
神の方法の拒否
まず、神がどのように語らなければならないかをすでに決めている人もいます。 神が別の道を選ぶとき、彼らは準備ができていません。 時々、彼らは神の声を完全に恋しく思います。 場合によっては、媒体 (表示方法) を理由にメッセージを拒否することもあります。
ヘブライ人への手紙 1:1-3 には、神が人類に対する語り口を変えたと書かれています。 キリストの到来に先立って、キリストは父たちや先祖たち、そして預言者たちによって語られました。 しかしその後、神はその話し方に取って代わり、御子を通して語ることを選択されました。 神とは誰であるかというメッセージは、イエス・キリストにおいて完全に与えられました。 しかし、ある人々はその媒体（イエス）を受け入れなかったために、メッセージ（神が誰であるか）を見逃してしまいました。
ナアマンは偉大な将軍であり、すべてにおいて成功しました（列王下 5 章参照）。 しかし、彼の人生には災難があった。彼は恐ろしい皮膚病であるハンセン病を患っていた。 神はさまざまな方法を使って彼に語りかけ、最終的に彼を預言者エリシャのところに導きました。 ナアマンはエリシャ自身が自分に話してくれることを期待していましたが、エリシャの従者が代わりにメッセージを持ってきました（9-12節）。 ナアマンは、その使者が気に入らなかったこともあり、おそらくその使者に問題を抱えていたに違いありません。 しかし、彼がその音信に従ったとき、彼は癒されました（13-14節）。
時々、神は私たちが慣れていない方法で話すことを選択するかもしれません。 それは神の特権であり、神としての権利です。 神が使うかもしれない手段を考えて、神のメッセージを見逃さないでください。
不服従
第二に、不従順のせいで神の導きや声を聞き逃す人もいます。 神の声を聞くためには従順がいかに必要であるかについてはすでに述べました（レッスン 2 を参照）。 しかし、この原則は非常に重要なので、今繰り返します。 神が言われることの多くは進歩的です。 つまり、それは一度に一歩ずつ私たちに明らかにされます。 最初に計画全体が示されるわけではありません。
ギデオンはイスラエルを解放するために軍隊を準備していました。 彼はこれを行う方法について神から命令を受けていました。 もし彼が従わなかったとしたら、神がご自身の行動計画を展開し続けるとは期待できなかったでしょう。 しかし、ギデオンが各ステップを踏むにつれて、次のステップが明確に彼に伝わりました。 ついに彼はそうしました
厳選された300人の部隊が数千のミディアン人を破った（士師記7:1-25）。
ギデオンの経験は、このアドバイスを示唆しています。神からの指示を聞くのが難しい場合は、神の言葉を調べ始めて、神がすでにご意志であると明らかにしたことをどこで実行できていないのかを見つけてください。
神が語られるという確信
神の御心を行いたいと願う人は、神の声が聞こえなくなるのではないかと恐れる必要はありません。 コミュニケーションの力は私たちにではなく、神にかかっています。
神は語ります。 彼はあなたに話しかけます。 これなら自信を持つことができます。 そして神は自分の意見を聞かせることができます。 聖書には、人々が神の声に耳を傾けていないときでも、神が語りかけ、聞かれた例が数多く記録されています（たとえば、ヨナ書 1:3 のヨナと使徒 9:1-6 のサウロを参照）。 彼は聞いている人に必ず話しかけます。