Prophets
One of the ways God speak to people is through the ministry of Prophets. Prophets are regarded as God’s mouth-piece, implying that whenever God wants to communicate to people on the earth one way He would use to do so is by a Prophet. The book of Hebrews 1:1, says “God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets…” prophets are a good guide to people, since they receive from the Lord. Hosea 12:13 has this to say: “By a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved”. Also, a true prophet is not to take reported speech; not even from another prophet to declare to others, as God’s word, (see I kings 13: 11-24).
It is worthy of note that in the old testament, the ministry of the prophet was the primary way God used to instruct and lead his people, but in this new testament era, prophets are installed to confirmed to people the way and mind of God, since the spirit of God is already at work in those people. For instance when a renowned prophet named: Agabus met Paul, demonstrating and prophesying that Paul would be bound in Jerusalem, it didn’t came as a shock to Paul, he too had a witness in his spirit. That is why it is not out of place to discard a word from a “prophet” if the spirit of God in you does not agree with such. In most cases, for the Child of God whose spirit is alive, anytime a true prophet of God reveals a direction or word, ever before he settles, the individual already understand what to do, and in most cases would confess of having similar promptings already to go the way the prophet has revealed.
Dreams
This is another way the LORD speaks to his people. It may interest you to know that the Lord is constantly desiring to communicate with man, but by reason of work and much busy schedule, this seems difficult to achieve. but God by virtue of His love go as far as bringing the word in the night when man is resting. In Job 33:14-16 it says “For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction”. When the Lord was leading Joseph to depart to Egypt, for the preservation of Boy Jesus, it was through dream,(see Matthew 2:13). Also, when the lord was giving direction to a nation-Egypt concerning famine, it was through a dream. Though the King of the nation needed an interpreter, since he wasn’t filled with the spirit of the living God. All through the scriptures, there are countless instances where the Lord was giving instructions to people through dreams, and He still does that even today.
Holy scripture
The bible is the compilation of God’s word, which is profitable unto man for reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness (II Timothy 3:16). One of the prime reason God speaks to man is to deliver him from destruction (see Job 33: 14-16). The scripture which is the word of God in script form, is package to offer life and direction to mankind. That is why the Psalmist is not afraid to say: Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a lamp unto my path (Psalms 119:105). Very many times, people receive clear and specific direction while they read or study the bible. This is because the word of God also comes in the “Rhema” form apart from the “Logos”. God through his word in Hebrews 1:1 made us to understand that in the last days, his frequent channel of communication will be by his son Jesus; and we know that Jesus is the word. In John 1: 14, It says: “and the word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,(and we beheld his glory as of the only begotten of the father,) full of grace and truth”. In the Old Testament one could see frequently the clause: “and the word of the LORD came”. These words came to guide a group of people, and the word of God is ever-valid, relevant at all times and to all ages. Therefore, we are certain that the word of God (as available in script form) still offers direction and guide to people even till today.
Visions
Although there are many conceptions as to what constitute vision; for instance, many think of vision as a goal-setting or plans and programs arranged to be executed in the future. For the purpose of this article we will focus on divinely granted sight received during daytime while at rest. In this context vision comprises of images, videos and various scenes with sound effect delivered to someone as message or revelation. The duration of a vision could last for one minute, one hour, 10 hours or more depending on the depth and intensity of such vision. Also, a vision received in the night can be rightly termed: “dream”. In the scripture, dreams and night visions are used interchangeably. In Genesis 15:1 God appeared unto Abraham in a vision, He spoke to Israel in the vision of the night(Genesis 46:2), God spoke to Ananias in a vision (Acts 9:10), When God was speaking to Paul about his ministry to the Macedonians, it was through vision (Acts 16:9), John the beloved received abundance of revelations through Vision(Revelation 9:17).
Trance
I had initially considered putting trance and vision together as one of the ways God speak to people since there is but slim difference between the two. However, it is important to separate each since they are not altogether the same. Trance is a divinely granted appearances basically with images or scene without sound effect, one would need to ponder on them to really understand what they mean. While a vision may require that one be at rest, trance happens even when one is at work; one could even be communicating with another and suddenly it shows up (See Numbers 24:4). It is also important to note that the duration of a trance may not exceed 10 seconds. Sometimes in just 3 seconds of trance, one could receive revelations that if it is to be written down it may take 24 hours to pen it down, and may require volume of script as bulky as complete book. Often times, people receive trance while they are praying. Paul had a trance while praying in the temple, see Acts 22:17 “And it came to pass, that when I was come to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance; and saw him saying unto me, make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive your testimony concerning me”. God spoke to Peter through trance, informing him to take the gospel to the house of Cornelius the centurion (see: Acts 10: 10-20).
Still small voice
This is perhaps the most subtle way God speaks to His people, since it may not be loud or accompanied with outright physical signs. In fact, to really detect and not miss the voice, one would need to be stationed in a quiet, serene environment, or possibly position in a secluded place where there are not people, since they could constitute a distraction. Jesus in His earthly ministry used to depart to a solitary place from time to time; to hear clearly from His father. The boy Samuel was called three time through this medium. At the apex of Elijah’s ministry, it is through the still small voice that God used to speak to him when he was seemingly confused and afraid. In I kings 19:12-13 the scripture says “and after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, what doest thou here, Elijah?”
Inward witness
In this way the Spirit of the LORD delivers a signal to the human spirit signifying whether to proceed over a thing or not. It is likened to your spirit being a traffic light and at some point your spirit either receives a green-light signal or the red-light signal. For those familiar with how the traffic signal operates, we understand that whenever the red light shows up it is danger, similarly when the green light shows up it is an approval to proceed. Understand also that the spirit of man is the candle of the LORD (Prov. 20:27), so it is not strange for our spirit to be working in this manner. In the book of Acts 27:10, Paul perceived that their voyage will be with hurt and much danger; the perception there is regarded as Inward witness.
The inward witness as one of the ways God speaks, can best be explained if we take a close look at how our conscience operates. Every man has a conscience, but a lot of people are very insensitive to their conscience; that is why Paul admonishes that we should exercise our self to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men (Acts 24:16). So every time we move towards evil, our conscience will prick, but when we set to the right path then we experience bliss. In Romans 2:15, we understand that in everything we do our conscience either accuse us or excuse us. It reads “…and their thoughts the meanwhile accusing or else excusing one another”.
The voice of the Holy spirit
So many will be amazed to hear that the Holy Spirit still speaks to people. In reality we are in the dispensation of the Spirit of God working on the earth with diver signs and wonder. In the book of Acts 13:2, the Holy Ghost said: “separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them”. So the Spirit of God is active and He’s speaking expressly to His people who are attentive.
God told Samuel in the ear before he first met Saul, that it was him that should be anointed to be King over Israel. I Samuel 9:15 has this to say: “Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying, tomorrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the Land of Benjamin, and thou shall anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me. Someone may ask, how do we know it was the voice of the Holy Spirit? The answer is simply this: God is a Spirit (see John 4:24).
To differentiate between the voice of the Holy Spirit and the still small voice may sometimes be a sensitive task. But, one thing is certain, the voice of the Holy Spirit authoritative, firm and full of majesty. The voice comes with strong vibration to the hearer, such that one’s spirit, soul and body will receive the impact of His voice.
It was the voice of the Holy Spirit that Philip heard when he was told to join the chariot of the Ethiopian eunuch. In Acts 8:29 “Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot”. The scripture is filled with instances of the Holy Spirit speaking to people and today He has not stop doing so.
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