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Whisper A Roar... A 2x4
There is no doubt that when God needs to get our attention He will speak to us through the scriptures, through other people, and through our own conscience. God has His own way to make Himself known when He wants us to listen. He has a way to get our attention first with a whisper, then with a roar, and if that does not work, He breaks out the 2x4. (That's usually when someone hits rock bottom in their life). Many time it takes the two by four to get someone to listen.
God whispers to Elijah: After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. After the fire came a gentle whisper. (1 Kings 19:11-13). The "still small voice" is none other than the Word of the Heavenly Father, the Messenger of God, the voice of the Lord. The "still small voice" in another way of referring to the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ the Messiah.
There is silence in God's voice as the psalmist describes. "My soul, wait in silence for God only. For my hope is from Him. (Psalm 62:5). Silence allows a connection to God beyond what words can express. God knows your heart.
The Holy Spirit (voice of God), is described in the scriptures as being neither loud nor harsh, not a voice of thunder, neither a voice of confusion, but rather as a voice of perfect mildness, as if it had been a whisper from God.
God is gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest in Him. (Matthew 11:28-30). God will always speak to you first as a gentle whisper when He has something to say, but you better listen, because if He needs to repeat Himself a second time, it may be in a coming roar.
The lion has roared; who will not fear? The Sovereign Lord has spoken; so who can refuse to proclaim His message? (Amos 3:8). The Lord has spoken and warned us. Don't refuse to deliver His message. The coming judgment is right in front of us to understand. Amos couldn't keep quiet. (Acts 4:20). The apostles could not stop telling about the wonderful things they saw Jesus do and heard Him say. We should follow their footsteps, plant a seed, and talk about the Lord when it is possible. But don't become a fanatic when planting seed, it drives people away. Learn how to fish when planting seeds of truth, then leave it up to God if they will take the bait or not. When the Lion roars, listen!
Now we come to the tough love part of God's message when we do not listen and just ignore His gentler warnings. In the Old Testament book of Proverbs it says. My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those He loves, as a father the son he delights in. (Proverbs 3:11-12). The Heavenly Father only wants the best for you when you follow His wisdom and love towards others. He delights in you as your own earthly father does as a good son or daughter.
When we mess up God lets us know. For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. (Hebrews 12:6). The Lord disciplines who He loves as His children. "Just as parents should discipline their children if they truly love them."
God treats you as one of His own children. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? (Hebrews 12:7). When God disciplines you, He is treating you as His own children. What father would not discipline his child who needs it? To many "time outs, redirects" and not enough "slaps on the butt" in today's world. That is why the youth of today are so spoiled, disrespectful, and get their way with parents and elders.
No pain, no gain. But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. (Hebrews 12:8). If God does not discipline you when you need it, it means that you are not one of His chosen children at all.
We need to respect the Heavenly Father. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? (Hebrews 12:9). If we respect our earthly father when he disciplines us, we should respect our Heavenly Father even more when we are disciplined.
Share in God's Holiness. For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. (Hebrews 12:10). Our earthly father can only discipline us till we grow up, but our Heavenly Father can discipline us till we die, so that we might share in His Holiness. "You better watch out, He is watching."
From pain to peaceful easy living. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. (Hebrews 12:11). Discipline can be painful at times, but afterward it gives you peaceful living the right way.
A little correction at times can help get your act together. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees. (Hebrews 12:12). Stand up and get a new grip on life. "You have God on your side." It's your choice to listen to God or not; however if God wants your attention, He will get it with a whisper, a roar, or a 2x4.
Keep The Faith,Barton