Peace to you!
This thread has been prompted by questions asked by another who loves Christ... and rather than derail someone's thread, I created a new thread. I do not mean to have yet another debate upon whether or not Christ and God exist... this thread is about whether or not Christ speaks, and if so, how?
Does Christ speak?
Christ is the LIVING WORD of God. How can a living WORD... not speak?
Christ Himself says,
"My sheep hear my voice."
Christ Himself calls,
"Come out of her my people."
Near the end of Revelation, we are told that the Spirit (and the Bride) says "Come!... take the free gift of the water of life." We are also told that the one who hears should also say, "Come!"
Christ says that the Spirit of Truth (He is the Spirit... He is the Truth) will teach and guide us into ALL truth.
There are also numerous examples of Christ speaking, and just from what IS written.
Christ spoke to Peter in both a vision AND in words. (Acts 10:9-23)
**
About noon the following day as they were approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. he became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while hte meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. he saw heaven opened and somethin like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. it contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. Then a voice told him, "Get up, Peter. kill and eat.'
"Surely not, Lord!" Peter replied. 'I have never eaten anything impure or unclean."
The voice spoke to him a second time, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean."
This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken basck to heaven. While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the man sent by Cornelius found out where Simon's house was and stopped at the gate. They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there. While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them."
**
First Peter receives the vision and hears a voice in the vision (which voice he calls, Lord). Then as Peter is thinking ABOUT the vision afterward, The Spirit says to Him, "Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them."
Christ also spoke to Paul on the road to Damascus... (Acts 9:4-9) He also told him to leave Jerusalem (Acts 22:17-21) and then Paul learnd from the Spirit.
Christ spoke to Phillip, guiding Him to the Ethopian. (Acts 8:29) The Spirit told Phillip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it."
Christ spoke to John, granting John words to say to the seven churches, as well as giving Him the revelation.
Christ spoke to Ananias in a vision also, about Paul (then named Saul) (Acts 9:10-19)
Then of course there is Moses, Abraham, Noah, Cain (and of course Abel... if God spoke to Cain... would He not also speak to the one upon whom He looked with favor?), all of the prophets, etc.
How does the Spirit (who is Christ) speak?
Christ is Spirit and so speaks as a spirit, to the spirit that WE also are, on the inside. There are some examples above as well.
Sometimes He speaks in words (a voice speaking words that you hear withing you); sometimes in visions (like Peter's); sometimes in dreams (like a vision except you are asleep; sometimes we can hear in a dream what we may not have heard by listening when awake.); sometimes in understanding granted (you 'hear' something, a truth, perhaps during a discussion; and know that it IS truth and from Him); sometimes in reminders about something previously read or heard (including scripture)... sometimes (most often in my experience) those reminders of scripture are merely helpin you to hear what the Spirit is trying to tell you. Sometimes, until we learn to put faith in Him and recognize His voice, we need to see something backing up what He is saying.
Sometimes we may hear in the spirit, truth from the Spirit that someone else may have shared, and every part of us... blood, bone, spirit... sings out 'yes', including for things that the Spirit (who is Christ) gives/reveals to us. So that we may know that such is true.
His voice is quiet, calm, sure. Often asking questions. Always speaking truth.
If we do not want to hear the truth... if we do not speak the language OF truth (we may lie to ourselves and to others to avoid truth)... then we probably will not hear Him. Because we will not WANT to hear Him. Christ does not force anyone to hear Him or to hear the truth, and even with audible voices of people physically with us, we can tune out that which we do not want to hear. Dismiss it, forget about it, convince ourselves we never heard to begin with.
To help some see this, my Lord reminds me that we do the same thing with our eyes. We do not see what we do not want to see. Until our eyes are opened. How many of us saw what the wts wanted us to see while we were in... ignoring truths that would have shown the wts for the false christ that they are... until after we left? Even though the same words were there all along?
This is what is meant by,
"Though seeing, they do not see. Though hearing, they do not hear."
But we can ASK for ears to hear; and eyes to see. Then listen. Be willing to follow HIS voice over any other voice; including the voice that you hear from your particular religion/church/pastor/priest/whomever; including what man has taught you ABOUT Christ and truth, and God. We can ASK that our ears be OPENED ("my ears you have pierced"), and once you ask in faith... then put faith that your prayer has been heard by God, and will be answered.
You also do not need to take my word for ANY of this, but can and should go to Him to know the truth of this or any matter. Do not follow men. Follow CHRIST.
I hope that helps, and may you and anyone who wishes, be granted to hear the Truth, and to also hear as the Spirit (who is Christ)... and the Bride (who are those who belong to Him and also hear Him)... say,
"Come... take the free gift of the water of life!" May the one who hears also say, "Come!" Let anyone who seeks, and anyone who thirsts, "Come! And take the free gift of the water of life!"
Peace to you!
Your servant in Christ,
tammy