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Jesus answered and said
unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee,
Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given
thee living water. – John 4:10
At this point in the conversation the woman had no idea who it was that was
speaking to her. As far as she was concerned He was just another man. She
was somewhat shocked that He would speak to her since she was a Samaritan
and He was a Jew. Her social status was far below his and she wasn’t used to
being noticed by these people. That was not something that happened often
and it was especially unusual considering her character and the low life she
was living. It wasn’t long before she realized that it was more than just
another a man who was speaking to her.
People sit in church every time we have a service and are just like this
woman. God is speaking, but they do not recognize his voice. They think it
is the preacher speaking, or the Sunday School teacher speaking. They think
they are just being subjected to the opinions of other men, but God is
speaking to their heart and they fail to recognize Him.
Jesus said that if she knew who it was that was speaking to her she would
have asked and He would have given her living water. It is surely that way
now – if they ever realize that it is God himself that is speaking to their
heart they would run to the altar and …ask.
They have ears to hear, but do not hear. God is faithful and he is the
“light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” (John 1:9) The
grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared unto ALL men …” (Titus
2:11) God speaks – we just don’t listen, and we don’t recognize who is
speaking to us.
All of us who are saved could testify that we remember many times when God
spoke to our hearts before we were saved. Hindsight is always 20-20 and we
recognize now that it was God speaking, but at the time we ignored it and
didn’t realize that it was God. Every man will give account in the Judgement
for every time God spoke and he didn’t listen. It is only when we realize
that it is the very voice of God speaking TO ME that we are willing to
surrender to Him.
I remember when God spoke to me and I recognized his voice. I had one of
those narrow escapes where I could have been killed instantly but was
spared. My mind immediately thought of the careless way I was living and the
emptiness of my soul, and God said to me “thou fool!” It couldn’t have been
more real to me if it had been an audible voice. I knew it was God speaking.
Who else would say something like that to my heart. The devil surely
wouldn’t say that to you while you are living for him. That was the turning
point for me.
When you go to church remember that the pastor has prayed and sought God for
a message. He has studied and prepared. There are people of God there who
have also prayed and asked God to meet with them. It is the time appointed
and God is surely going to speak through the preaching of the Word of God
and the singing. Listen for his voice! Realize who is speaking to your heart
and obey what He says. Look around and notice those who are carelessly
sitting in church and not listening for the voice of God, and pray for them.
Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,
8Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in
the wilderness: Heb. 3:7-8
My sheep hear my
voice, and I know them, and they follow me: John 10:27
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