God Speaks to Who You Are

I remember hearing my first prophetic utterance in church over 25 years ago. I was left with a sense of awe. The words that were spoken were lofty and in King James English. I got the feeling that God spoke only in King James and was always above my understanding.

After believing that lie for a few years, I learned that God actually speaks our own language and uses words that we use. 

In my experience, He’s even used mathematics, imagery, and 3-dimensional modeling to communicate to me (all three of these things I’ve been given talent to clearly understand).

God will speak to you according to who you are, your talents, and according to the condition of your heart towards Him.

Notice how Jesus spoke to these people:

The Pharisees

The Pharisees were a group of hypocritical religious leaders that were noted for their self-righteousness and their pride. Their hearts were far from God and close to their own gain. They placed unreasonable and heavy burdens on men that they themselves would not do—all in the name of the holy scriptures and using the letter of the law.

Jesus was attacked by the Pharisees more than any other group of people.

They often quoted the law to Jesus. In response, Jesus spoke to them with the law—the spirit of the law. He rebuked them more than anyone else. He called them what they were: blind guides, hypocrites, whited sepulchers, vipers, serpents, and fools.

(The heathen might crucify you, but religious people will attack you more than anyone else.)

The Multitudes

The large groups of people that followed Jesus had hearts desirous of learning and they left their daily activities to be with Him. Jesus fed them as a shepherd would feed his flock. He fed them spiritual food and physical food. He tended to them with care and compassion.

The Mother of James and John

Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.

"What is it you want?" he asked.

She said, "Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom."

"You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said to them. "Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?"

"We can," they answered.

Jesus said to them, "You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father. (Matthew 20:20)

Standing in the midst of a mother and her two sons, Jesus explained a spiritual truth using the symbolism of something that is common in their relationship—a cup. This mother cleaned and used cups to nourish her sons daily.

Peter and Andrew

As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him. (Matthew 4:18–20).

Jesus used Peter and Andrew’s understanding of fishing to help them understand why they should follow Him.

Matthew

As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. (Matthew 9:9)

Matthew was a publican by profession and an officer for gathering taxes for the heavy-handed Romans. His own nation treated him as though he was a heathen (Matthew 18:17). Being in a no-nonsense profession, Matthew thought in black and white, yes or no, with no gray, middle ground.

Jesus simply said to him, “Follow me.” Matthew needed nothing more than those two simple words.

Nicodemus

Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin. He came to Jesus discreetly at night to ask Him some sincere and heart-felt questions (John 3:1–21).

In the four gospels, it is recorded that Jesus spoke more words to this man than to any other person outside of His twelve disciples. Jesus knew Nicodemus was a scholar in the scriptures. Jesus spoke a lot of significant truths to him, such as:

That one must be born again (v.3)

That the birth is of the Spirit (v.5)

Those that are born again move with the Holy Spirit (v.8)

As Moses lifted the snake in the desert, so shall the Son of Man be lifted up (v.14)

Believers in the Son are not condemned, but unbelievers are already condemned (v.18)

That Jesus is the Light and that evil men love darkness (v.19)

Evil men avoid the Light for fear that their deeds will be exposed (v.20)

Those that live by the truth come to the light because what they do is done through God (v.21)

What gives added dimension to Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus is that Nicodemus appears two more times in John’s gospel. In 7:50–52, he calms the furor of the Sanhedrin towards Jesus by reminding them of their law about not condemning a person without first knowing what exactly they have done. And in 19:39, Nicodemus helped with the preparation of Jesus’ body for burial. In other words, it took time for Nicodemus to become a believer. He wasn’t like Peter that dropped everything at Jesus’ two words, “Follow me.” Jesus took the time to talk extensively with Nicodemus because Nicodemus needed time to make the decision to become a believer.

Martha

Martha allowed herself to be troubled about earthly, temporary things. She even went so far as to ask Jesus, “Don’t you care that my sister doesn’t care about all the things I have to do all by myself? I mean, if you care, tell her to help me.” (paraphrased, of course.) In Martha’s mind, it’s all about the doing of things and caring about Martha.

Jesus started his response with, “Martha, Martha”. There is only one other recorded incident where Jesus spoke someone’s name twice: Luke 22:31. Jesus tells Peter one of the most significant personal revelations that Satan is asking to have him. Speaking someone’s name twice precedes a very important personal message. Jesus most certainly had Martha’s attention at this point.

Jesus then gently tells her what her problem is and what the truly important thing is that she should concern herself with (v. 41–42).

The Twelve

No individual or group of people received more direct words from Jesus than did His own twelve disciples. They were with Him 24/7. They left their families and jobs to be with Him.

What and how Jesus spoke to these men was much more intimate and revelatory than anyone else He spoke with. These men are an example of the intimate communication that we can have with Jesus.

Jesus spoke to the twelve with parables and with plain speech.

He explained the meaning behind His parables.

He gave them a greater understanding of the kingdom of God. 

He gave them specific instructions—things to do for Him and for the kingdom.

He rebuked them.

He gave them power over the enemy.

He gave them power to heal the sick.

He told them of His death and resurrection.

He revealed the future to them.

He showed them His glory.

We can see examples in the natural realm of how God speaks to who we are. A mother uses simple words and simple sentences when she talks to her toddler. A father uses higher-level words and complex sentences when he talks to his college-bound son. A counselor uses gentle, reassuring words when ministering to the hurting person. And so on.

“To the faithful you show yourself faithful,

to the blameless you show yourself blameless,

to the pure you show yourself pure,

but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.” (Psalm 18:25–26)

It is my prayer for you that Father will continue to help you to hear His voice, and more and more frequently.

With God’s grace and in His peace,

Gary

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Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

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