Understanding the power of His voice
by Glenn Miller
Amos 3:7 Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.
God is a God of relationship. He desires open communication with mankind and He wants to involve people in working out His purpose and will on this earth. The almighty, sovereign God is not in any way obligated to share His plans, however He chooses to communicate to the one who has an ear to hear. “Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7). The Greek word for “reveal” means “to make known, show, reveal, to disclose, to unveil, to lay bare.” God wants to make known, what He is about to do. He will not do anything unless He has spoken it first.
What are the implications of this truth on the life of the believer?
God wants to move in and through the lives of his people to reveal His glory and to bring about kingdom purposes. God has good plans for everyone. He promises: “I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jer. 29:11).
How does He reveal His plans?
When entering a dark room or driving at night, we turn on the light. Light is needed to see the way ahead. The same is true for walking through life. God offers a light: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.“ (Psalm 119:105).
God's word is like a lamp. It brings understanding to your present momentary life situation. It is also a lamp, that shines light on the path you are supposed to go. God's word brings revelation about the present and the future. Without his word, his direction, you cannot walk out God's destiny for your life. His word unlocks your future: “And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.” (Is. 42:16).
God's word will make a way, where there seems to be no way. His words are full of power to give direction and understanding. He reveals His plans through a revelatory word.
How do you get a word?
Isaiah 40:3-5 says: The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert, a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth; the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
John cries in the wilderness. He could have chosen the marketplace or the city gate as a location. The wilderness, however, has special significance. Wilderness represents a place of lack, dryness and barrenness. The wilderness in your life is a place of unfruitfulness, dryness, lack, pain and challenges.
Difficult seasons, wilderness seasons are not meant to turn you away from God in frustration and resignation, but are opportunities to hunger and thirst after a word from the Lord.
“Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance. Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live.” (Is. 55:1-3)
“Incline your ear..., hear”. God wants you to turn your attention to him, listen to him and hear his voice. The answer in your wilderness is a word from the Lord.