I will give three examples of God speaking to me in his still small voice. This voice was not an audible voice, it was much louder. Hopefully I won't be casting pearls before swine!
- Example 1.
I had been baptized as an infant and confirmed as a teenager. My understanding was that I was a Christian as I attended a Christian Church; however, I was bound for hell. I had had various times where folks had witnesses to me the love of Jesus Christ, and I knew there was truth in what they were saying, but I did not want to change my lifestyle as I was "enjoying life" just as it was. I did not want to begin living like a "perfect, moral person".
At 28 years old, I had heard of a Baptist "Revival" service in the small town of Colcord, Oklahoma. I had always heard of revivals but had never experienced one, so I went home and told my wife about the revival service that night. She agreed that it would be interesting, so we hopped in the truck and drove 30 miles to the church. On the way over to the service I told my wife that these Baptists would expect me to walk down front and do business with God before all the folks there; and that a thousand horses would not be able to drag me up front. I told her that a person can do business with God in the woods, in his own home, wherever; not just in a church.
I walked in with my cross ear-ring, full beard, long hair, flannel shirt, blue jeans, and a big dip of Skoal in my lower lip. I sat in the back pew and listened to the music and to the prayers and to the sermon. After the sermon the preacher asked all heads to be bowed and all eyes closed. He asked a few questions. One question was to those who did not know whether they were saved or not to please raise their hands for the preacher to pray for them. My eyes were closed and my head was bowed. I did not know whether I was saved or not and raised my hand so that the preacher would pray for me. I had a real sense of being humble and honest to myself. It felt like it was just me and God looking at my circumstance right there that night. I had my eyes closed and I had the deep felt impression that God was speaking to me. He was saying that I may never get the opportunity to hear and believe the Word of God in order to become saved. The still, small voice was very real and was speaking items that were foreign to me and my attitude. I humbled myself and become honest before God and myself. The preacher asked another question concerning believers who were not living in obedience to the Word of God. He asked for them to raise their hands if they requested prayer. After a few more questions and prayer, the preacher asked for all those "who were being honest to themselves before God" to come forward and learn how to become saved. I walked up front and confessed a belief that Jesus died for my sins, and that if I were to die that night, based on the Word of God I would go to heaven. That experience was almost 24 years ago.
Example 2:
After being saved for a couple of years my wife and I were having marital problems. She had gone to visit her parents for two weeks and I was home alone going to work. I had backslidden in a couple of areas and was a believer that one could lose their salvation. I quit chewing tobacco again, and began reading the Bible and praying again. I started reading the Bible in Genesis 1:1 and had full direction in my mind to read the entire Bible all of the way through. I read in the morning, I read at work at noon, and I read in the evening. I was still concerned about my salvation as the Hebrews 6 Scripture that said if one has tasted the Word of God, and partakers of the Holy Spirit should they fall away there was no further way to repent as they crucify the son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. [list:2230a]
4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. Hebrews 6:4-6
At work I had reached the portion of Scripture where God led the Israelites by a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day. On the way home I saw a water tower in the distance that appeared as a pillar of cloud since the weather was overcast. I drove toward the cylinder shaped water tower as I prayed concerning my salvation. When I drove to the water tower I continued a little further to a parking area in a state park that was right there. A road circled this hill and I walked around the hill on the paved road praying to God concerning my salvation which I thought that I had lost. After I had walked 3/4 of the way around the hill I spotted a path going up the side of the hill through brush and high grass. I turned to walk up the path when I became deathly afraid that there may be snakes in the brush and grass. I stopped until I had reasoned that I was not a person afraid of snakes. I had handled snakes and had hiked through areas infested with rattle snakes and had never been afraid. I determined that the ole devil had placed that fear in my heart, so I made an audible comment that if there are snakes and I do get bit, then I would die and then know the truth for sure!!!
I walked up the hill, and when I had reached the top, there was a clearing where someone had laid out on the ground numerous large rocks in the shape of a 15 foot cross! I was amazed and a still, small voice spoke to me and said that all of my sins, past, present, and future had been paid at the cross. I immediately started to weep and I dropped to my knees and began giving thanks for God's grace, mercy, forgiveness and truth. I now know that a believer is eternally secure in Christ Jesus.
Example 3:
Just prior to the three year anniversary of my eldest son's tragic death in an automobile accident on his way to work after high school, I had been arguing with God over the following Scripture:
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) 3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. Ephesians 6:1-3
My son, Zachariah, was the most obedient child that I had ever seen in my family and outside of my family. Of all five of my sons, Zachariah was the most obedient, and he honored his mother and me more than could ever be asked. He was the "perfect" son. I argued with God for a couple of weeks concerning this Scripture, and that if I could not believe Him in reference to this Scripture, how could I believe Him in any other Scriptures. I was getting ready to speak at Zachariah's graveside for the three year memorial service, and I did not have a thing to speak on. I was really wrestling with God over Zachariah's death when God promised that those who honored their father and mother would live long on the earth. One afternoon God spoke to me in His still, small voice telling me to read Revelation 21:
1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. Revelation 21:1-7
God showed me that those that honor their fathers and mothers will live a long, long time in the new earth with God Almighty where no more tears, no more death, no more sorrow, no more crying, and no more pain will exist, and that Zachariah was one of his sons!!! That was my sermon on the third anniversary of Zachariah's passing from this earth.[/list:u:2230a]My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: John 10:27
