The Bible records God speaking audibly to people many times.
(Exodus 3:14; Joshua 1:1; Judges 6:18; 1 Samuel 3:11; 2 Samuel 2:1; Job 40:1; Isaiah 7:3; Jeremiah 1:7; Acts 8:26; 9:15 – this is just a small sampling).
(God calling Samuel the Prophet when he was a little boy)
There is no biblical reason why God could not or would not speak to a person audibly today.
With the hundreds of times the Bible records God speaking, we have to remember that they occur over the course of 4,000 years of human history.
God speaking audibly is the exception, not the rule.
Even in the biblically recorded instances of God speaking, it is not always clear whether it was an audible voice, an inner voice, or a mental impression.
God does speak to people today.
First, God speaks to us through His Word.
(2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Isaiah 55:11 tells us,
"So is my word that goes out from my mouth: it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."
The Bible records God's words, everything we need to know in order to be saved and live the Christian life.
Second Peter 1:3 declares,
"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by his own glory and goodness."
Second, God speaks through impressions, events, and thoughts.
God helps us to discern right from wrong through our consciences.
(1 Timothy 1:5; 1 Peter 3:16).
God is in the process of conforming our minds to think His thoughts (Romans 12:2).
God allows events to occur in our lives to direct us, change us, and help us to grow spiritually (James 1:2-5; Hebrews 12:5-11). First Peter 1:6-7 reminds us, "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed."
(God speaking to Moses and Apostle Paul)
Finally, God may sometimes speak audibly to people.
It is highly doubtful, though, that this occurs as often as some people claim it does.
Again, even in the Bible, God speaking audibly is the exception, not the ordinary.
If anyone claims that God has spoken to him/her, always compare what is said with what the Bible says.
If God were to speak today, His words would be in full agreement with what He has said in the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
God does not contradict Himself.
When I first met Christ
It seemed as though life was rather like a bike ride,
But it was a tandem bike,
And I noticed that Christ
Was in the back helping me pedal.
I don't know just when it was that
He suggested we change places,
But life has not been the same since.
When I had control, I knew the way,
It was rather boring, but predictable...
It was the shortest distance between two points.
But when He took the lead,
He knew delightful long cuts,
Up mountains, and through rocky places,
At breakneck speeds,
It was all I could do to hang on!
Even though it looked like madness,
He said,
"Pedal"
I worried and was anxious and asked,
"Where are you taking me?"
He laughed and didn't answer,
And I started to learn to trust.
I forgot my boring life
And entered into the adventure.
And when I'd say, "I'm scared,"
He'd lean back and touch my hand.
He took me to people with gifts that I needed.
Gifts of healing, acceptance, and joy.
He said, "Give the gifts away;
They're extra baggage, too much weight."
So I did, I gave them to the people we met,
And I found that in giving I received,
And still our burden was light.
I did not trust Him, at first, In control of my life.
I thought He'd wreck it;
But He knows bike secrets,
Knows how to make it bend to take sharp corners,
Knows how to jump to clear high rocks,
Knows how to fly to shorten scary passages.
And I am learning to shut up
and pedal in the strangest places,
And I'm beginning to enjoy the view
And the cool breeze on my face
With my delightful constant companion, Jesus Christ.
And when I'm sure I just can't do anymore,
He just smiles and says...
"Pedal."
The word Bible comes from the Greek word "Biblos," which is translated "book."
The original manuscripts of the Bible were kept in the synagogues. Those who had custody of the manuscripts first used the Greek word to describe the collection, which later became known as "the Book."
The Bible is comprised of 66 books with two major divisions:
the Old Testament (39 books) and the New Testament (27 books).
The Old Testament has four major divisions:
(1) the Law - 5 books; (2) History - 12 books; (3) Poetry - 5 books; and, (4) Prophecy - 17 books.
Similarly, the New Testament has four major divisions:
(1) the Gospels - 4 books; (2) the Acts of the Apostles - 1 book; (3) the Epistles - 21 books; and, (4) the Revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ - 1 book.
The Bible is far more than a compilation of books; it is the inspired word of God.
(2 Timothy 3:16)
It is read and understood to be God's instructions and revelations to the individual members of Christ's church and to the Body of Christ, as a whole.
The Bible not only instructs Christians on how to relate to one another and those outside the church, but reveals how we are to relate to our Heavenly Father.
More importantly, it paints a clear portrait of God's love for us and how He longs to relate to us. Clearly, since the beginning of time we have spurned His love. . .yet He continues to reach out to us.
An individual can only relate to God the Father by believing and confessing that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind.
The result of believing that Jesus Christ died to save you from your sins and confessing your belief publicly is known as "salvation."
So where did the word "Bible" come from?
It came from the heart of God, the author of our lives, who has written the definitive book on us all.
