Where the Voice Gets Clear: The Word and the Spirit

When I was in ninth grade, I got a very cool gift that I wish I still had. It was a shortwave radio, but it also had tons of other frequencies. I could listen to police and emergency crews, air traffic controllers at a nearby airport, and broadcasts from countries all over the world. I sometimes listened to Radio Moscow at night to hear them twist the day’s news stories into lies. That was eye-opening.

I have to admit, I asked for this radio because my best friend had one and I loved it. He brought his to science class one day and said, “Last night I was able to listen to broadcasts from England, France, and Brazil.” I, because I was soooo funny, said, “That’s nothing. I just stuck my head out my window last night and got Chile!” Chilly, get it? I guess you had to be there. And be 14 again.

It was cool to be able to hear broadcasts from the other side of the world on that radio. And I think that’s how we sometimes think about hearing from God. God is way up there somewhere, and I’m trying to hear him way down here. Given that understanding, it must be difficult to hear God speak. But that’s not the way it is. God is speaking to us, but he isn’t way up there; he’s inside us. As Christians, God the Holy Spirit lives within each of us, and he speaks directly to our hearts. This is especially true as we read the Bible, which he inspired. As we read God’s Word, he speaks to us from within us. You don’t need any special equipment; you only need to listen. The best way to listen is to read the Bible:

For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

For most of us, our minds are filled with lies. We listen to our culture, watch TV, listen to music, or talk to friends, and our minds are filled with lies that have shaped us. As a believer, you must give your mind a steady dose of truth from God’s Word. The Bible isn’t just an ancient book; it’s God’s very own word to you. The Bible is “living and effective.” God’s word is alive, and as you read it, his Spirit speaks to you and, if you allow him to, he will change you into the best you can be.

I don’t believe that just any reading of the Bible will do this. Most Christians don’t even read their Bible regularly. Maybe when they’re in trouble or hurting or worried, they may open it then, but otherwise their Bible sits and gathers dust. Even for those who read the Bible regularly, though, just reading the words on the page so that you can check “Read Bible” off your to-do list won’t necessarily change you.

It’s when we come to the Bible in prayer, humbly admitting that we need God’s help in our reading, surrendering to him, and asking him to show us and teach us anything he chooses, then God will meet us there and speak to us.

Two verses show us how God speaks to us through his Holy Spirit and the Bible. Here’s the first:

Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise — making the most of the time, because the days are evil. So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. And don’t get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless living, but be filled by the Spirit. (Ephesians 5:15-18)

We’re commanded here to be filled with the Holy Spirit. This isn’t a one-time thing, but an ongoing experience. It isn’t that we need more of the Holy Spirit. When we accepted Christ, we received all of the Holy Spirit. So this isn’t a command for us to get more of the Spirit, but for us to allow the Holy Spirit to have all of us. It’s a command to place ourselves completely under the Spirit’s control in full surrender to him.

When we do that, look at the results:

…speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music with your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of Christ. (Ephesians 5:19-21)

When we allow the Holy Spirit to control us, we’re naturally full of praise to the Lord. We’re filled with thanksgiving for all he’s done for us.

Now look at another passage, also written by Paul, and we can see the relationship between the Holy Spirit and the Bible:

Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. (Colossians 3:16)

Notice the similarity in the results of being “filled with the Spirit” and letting “the word of Christ dwell richly” – praise and gratitude. That’s because there’s a direct connection between the two. The Holy Spirit and the Bible go hand in hand.

To be filled with the Holy Spirit, we need to be in the Bible consistently, meditating and applying what we read. As we’re in the Bible, the Holy Spirit applies what we read to our lives, growing our knowledge of God and how he wants us to live. It’s difficult to be filled with the Spirit without consistently being in God’s Word, and God’s Word will have little effect on you unless you’re surrendered to the Spirit and what he wants to teach you.

And that’s the primary method God uses to speak to you: through the reading of the Bible as you’re surrendered to the Holy Spirit in every part of your life.

Remember, God isn’t way up there while you’re way down here. He’s within you. Give him control of your life, and his Spirit will speak to you — especially through his Word.

And that’s much better than any 1970s shortwave radio.