Introduction: Heb. 1:1-2 (This passage teaches three important things, God spoke in various ways in the past, God speaks differently now than how he spoke in the past, God speaks in one consistent way now. We will use this as a starting point to study how God speaks to man today.)
1. God Spoke Directly:
A. Adam: Gen. 2:15-17 (God communicated directly to Adam. Adam and Eve were cursed when they disobeyed this direct communication from God.)
B. Noah: Gen. 6:13-21 (God also communicated directly to Noah regarding the flood. Noah and his family were blessed for obeying God s direct communication.)
2. God Spoke Through Prophets:
A. Moses: Exo. 3:15 (God told Moses to tell people he was speaking on God s behalf. God spoke to Israel through Moses.) Exo. 20:18-22 (Israel preferred that God communicate through Moses. They were afraid for God to speak directly.)
B. Samuel: I Sam. 3:20-21 (God later communicated with Israel through Samuel. All Israel knew this and recognized Samuel as God s spokesman.) I Sam. 8:1-7 (Later when Israel rejected Samuel God regarded it as a personal rejection of him. To reject God s message communicated through an indirect means is the same as rejecting God.)
3. God Spoke Through Jesus:
A. Jesus Spoke For God: Jn. 12:49-50 (While on earth, Jesus taught what God wanted him to teach. He began the era of God communicating through his Son.)
B. Must Heed: Jn. 12:48 (We are warned we must not reject God s word given through Christ. Remember, whether God communicates directly or through some other means, it is all equally binding.)
4. God Spoke Through The Spirit:
A. Reminded What Jesus Taught: Jn. 14:25-26 (Jesus promised the Apostles that when he left the Spirit would come and remind them what they had been taught. In this way, God continued to communicate through Christ, through the Spirit, to the Apostles.)
B. Revealed New Truth: Jn. 16:13 (The Spirit would also reveal new truth to the Apostles, portions of the New Covenant not yet revealed.)
5. The Apostles Written Record:
A. The Written Record Inspired: I Cor. 2:13 (The message that Paul and others wrote was written by the direction of the Spirit.)
B. Written To Impart Understanding: Eph. 3:1-5 (The New Testament writers wrote these things so others would understand. The Spirit conveyed the message to the Apostles and prophets. They in turn wrote it down so we could have this communication from God.)
C. Written Equal To Direct: II Thes. 2:15 (Paul said his message was important whether given orally or written down. In either case, it was from God and binding. Remember, whether God communicates directly or through some other means, it is all equally binding.)
D. Must Acknowledge Written Record: I Cor. 14:37 (If we claim to be spiritual we must acknowledge the written message is God s word. This is how God speaks to man today.)
Conclusion: (In the past God spoke to his children in different ways. Sometimes he spoke directly, sometimes through prophets. Today his method of communication is consistent. He speaks to us through his Son Jesus. This word from God is revealed to us in the written form of the New Testament. That is how God speaks to man today.)