In the last few posts when answering this question, we have looked at some ways (definitely not all the ways) that God speaks directly to us. However, we do not live alone, and often God uses other people to deliver His message to us.
Starting at the very beginning, God used people to write down His words to make The Bible. We know that Scripture is inspired by God.
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 2 Timothy 3:16 NLT
He chose certain people to internally scribe it, and then others years later to translate it into different languages. This means today we, in Australia, have the blessing of having His truths readily available to us. God continues to use people today to translate The Bible so that it will be available in all languages.
God also uses others to speak to us through what they teach. Praise God for all those people who answer the call to teach God's truth.
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. Matthew 28:20 NKJV
How often have you sat in church, at a conference, or in a bible study group listening to teaching and heard something that resonated with you? And then found yourself meditating on that, completely missing the rest of the sermon. Praise God for those precious times of deeper revelation.
God also uses others to speak to us through the sharing of their testimonies. Jesus encouraged some of those He performed miracles for, to go and tell others what He had done. For example the demon-possessed man who was set free,
However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, "Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you." Mark 5:19 NKJV
Upon hearing the testimonies of others, God can stir up our faith and help us to keep pressing on, trusting and hoping in Him. Five years into our journey with Victoria, I remember listening to a testimony of a man who prayed for His daughter for five years to be healed from tumours, and in the sixth year the healing manifested. As I listened to that testimony I could feel a renewed hope rise up in me.
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Revelation 12:11 NKJV
Often too, God will give others a direct word for us, maybe about our future, some correction or encouragement. I have found these often come when I am struggling with something in my life, and having difficulty discerning what it is God wants me to do. This word, delivered through others provides the clarification I have needed.
In listening to others, we do need to be mindful of God's warnings to us to test what we hear, ensuring it aligns with God's truth.
Test all things; hold fast what is good. 1 Thessalonians 20:21 NKJV
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1 NKJV
So, knowing that God will speak to us through other people, here are a few questions we can ask ourselves to make sure we don't miss out on what He is wanting to say to us:
1. Are we positioned well to hear what God wants to say to us through others?
2. Who are we allowing to speak into our lives?
3. Is our heart open and ready to receive what God wants to speak to us about?
4. How do we know that what we are hearing from others is from God?
Remember, God wants to communicate with us 24/7, and above all His message is that He loves us, we are His children.
Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! 1 John 3:1 NKJV
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