Do you believe God speaks through people? Or do you believe that when anyone speaks, they are only giving their own opinion? I was watching a video series by John Osborne that dates back twenty years. He said the biggest danger facing the church is rationalism — the belief that there is no absolute truth, and that human beings become like God, deciding truth and changing truth whenever it fits them.
It is incredible to see that twenty years later, we are watching this be fulfilled to an alarming degree. It is so troubling to me that in most churches I visit, most Christians I talk to no longer believe that God speaks through people. It has become so severe that some would even persecute or grow angry when someone dares to say that God speaks through certain people. What do you think? Does God speak through people?
This is a life-or-death question. Because if God does speak through people and you refuse to believe it, you fall back and become separated from God — and unbelievers cannot enter heaven. If you are a Christian who spends their life giving people only your own opinion, and you cannot believe that God speaks through people, then you are spending your life sharing words that will have no power to save anyone. You are wasting your whole Christian life.
Does God Speak Through People? Only God Reveals the Truth
1 Corinthians 2:14: “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” This verse says human beings cannot understand the Bible and spiritual things on their own. The things of God can only be spiritually discerned. Another verse says no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God — meaning only God can reveal any Bible truth to anyone. Anyone who has ever understood Bible truth, or anyone who carries a message, could only understand it through the Holy Spirit’s revelation.
1 Corinthians 2:11: “For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.” Another verse says God locked up the understanding of prophecy until the time of the end — God sealed the understanding of Bible prophecy for 1,260 years. We learn from this verse also that only God is truth, and only God can reveal Bible truth.
“But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” Daniel 12:4 (KJV)
Does God Speak Through People? Human Beings Cannot Create Truth
2 Peter 1:21: “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” God reveals the truth. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Human beings are not truth. Humans cannot decide what truth is, and humans cannot change the truth, for God is the truth.
Matthew 23:34: “Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city.” This verse makes it clear that God speaks not only through prophets but also through wise men and scribes. A wise man can only receive wisdom from God, since human wisdom is foolishness. Would God call someone wise who possesses only foolishness? No.
1 Corinthians 3:19: “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.” What society has created is one of the most offensive things a person can do: to make himself as God and think he is above God. Does God speak through people?
When a person — Christian or non-Christian — thinks he can interpret the Bible by himself and only listens to people’s opinions, or believes he can explain the Bible entirely on his own understanding, he is committing one of the most offensive acts possible: putting himself above God. People choose the world over God through such things. Because nearly everyone today is blasphemous and insolent in this way, does that make it acceptable to follow the crowd? No.
Exodus 23:2: “Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment.” The “coolest” thing one can do today is follow the crowd, but the Bible warns that if you do so, you will one day be cast into the fire of hell. This message is life or death.
This is a complex chain of interlinking sins — pride, insolence, unbelief, following the crowd, wanting to be “cool” and a Christian at the same time — while remaining totally unconverted. What a messed-up society and church we have today; it is beyond belief. No wonder the Bible calls it “the mystery of iniquity.” Most people don’t see themselves as sheep following the crowd, not realizing that God cares little for what society as a whole decides and does. God cares for those who follow Him, even when it goes against general opinion.
Does God Speak Through People? Opinion or God’s Words?
Hebrews 1:1: “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets.” We see here that God speaks through prophets. People often ask me, “Are you a prophet?” The Bible says God also speaks through wise men and scribes — they are not prophets, but messengers of God. Wise men receive wisdom from God and give God’s words to people. Scribes spend their time studying the Bible and receive God’s words for the people.
Amos 3:7: “Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.” God tells prophets what will happen. God chooses a select few on earth to speak through. Not every Christian speaks the words of God. In fact, most Christians, churches, and pastors today only share opinions and speak their own words. God cannot work through people who: 1) think they can understand the Bible by themselves, 2) put themselves above God, or 3) think their own opinions will save others. They are wasting their time.
Jeremiah 1:9: “Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.” God gave Jeremiah the words to say.
Exodus 4:12: “Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.” God gave Moses the words to say — a consecrated man of God. Prophet Ellen White says God speaks only through consecrated workers, though not everything they say is inspired. If they say, “Pass me the salt,” or “Do you have a toothbrush?” — that is not inspired.
Luke 10:16: “He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.” Why would Jesus say that those who reject you reject Him, if these people were merely speaking their own words? It is because those consecrated workers are speaking the words and messages of Jesus. When someone rejects their words, they are rejecting Jesus.
We saw earlier: 1) It is impossible to understand anything in the Bible without the Holy Spirit revealing it to us. John 16:13: “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” 2) Human reasoning cannot create truth. Human beings cannot change truth. God has created truth; God is truth. For humans to put themselves above God and change what God has established is one of the most offensive things they can do.
2 Corinthians 5:20: “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” We represent Jesus, and He places His word in us. When I believe people are only speaking their own words: 1) my ministry is a waste of time, 2) going to the movies would have the same effect as Bible study, and 3) human opinions have never converted anyone.
Does God Speak Through People? The Rebellion Against Moses
Numbers 16:1–3: “Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men: And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown: And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?”
These 250 men were leaders in the church. What was their sin? Why did they rebel against Moses? These men believed that God was not speaking through Moses. They believed that when Moses spoke, he spoke only his own words. They believed Moses, out of pride and insolence, had put himself above others.
Why was God angry with them? Because they did not believe that Moses was led by God. Because they did not believe that God could speak through people. Be very careful before quickly deciding that someone is not a messenger of God — the curse of God could fall upon you.
Numbers 16:31–33: “And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them: And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.”
Why is it such a serious matter for humans to 1) put human opinion above God’s words, and 2) refuse to believe when someone is sent by God? Because they are rejecting God. The flood came because one man spoke for God — Moses. Jerusalem was destroyed because Jesus and a few men spoke. The Middle Ages Inquisition happened because some men dared to speak for God.
Does God Speak Through People? To Reject God’s Servant Is to Reject God
Ellen G. White — Gospel Workers, p. 13: “God will make His ministers a blessing, if they will not interpose self between Him and the people… He will speak through them words that will be a power unto salvation.” God speaks through servants — not all Christians are God’s servants.
Gospel Workers, p. 150: “When a man is laboring under the influence of the Holy Spirit, he will speak as God directs; and his words will be as the words of God to the people.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 6, p. 413. A consecrated servant speaks as God directs him — whether he is a prophet or simply a regular Christian, he speaks the words of God to the people.
“When the servants of God speak under the influence of the Holy Spirit, their words are not the words of men, but the words of God.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 9, p. 143. The words of God’s consecrated servants are as the words of God to the people.
“The Lord speaks to His people through His appointed agencies, and all should give heed.” Evangelism, p. 680. Rejecting the words of God’s servants is rejecting Jesus.
If a Christian only ever shared his own words and opinions, there would be no judgment for refusing to heed human words. If Noah and Jonah had spoken only their own words, the flood would not have come, and Nineveh would not have been spared.
“Christ speaks through His servants… It is His voice that addresses the people through them.” Selected Messages, Book 1, p. 28. God’s voice speaks through consecrated servants.
“Those who are truly servants of God will speak the words given them by the Holy Spirit.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, pp. 234–235. Consecrated servants receive and speak God’s words.
“When you despise the counsel of the servants of God, you despise not man, but God, who has sent him.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, p. 66. Rejecting the words of a consecrated servant of God means rejecting Jesus. Once we reject truth and light from heaven, we may still call ourselves Christians, but we have fallen away from God. Even if we continue attending church and reading the Bible, we are in a fallen state, separated from God. Revelation 21:8 says that all liars and unbelievers have their part in the lake of fire — the KJV says “unbelievers,” while the French Bible says “liars.”
“God has given me a message for His people… Those who despise the warnings will be left without excuse.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 3, p. 258.
“If you lose confidence in the testimonies you will drift away from Bible truth.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 4, p. 180.
“Those who slight the counsels given of God are rejecting the means which Heaven has ordained for their salvation.” Selected Messages, Book 1, p. 43.
“If you lose faith in the testimonies you will drift from Bible truth… God gives sufficient evidence for the candid mind to believe; but he who turns from the weight of evidence… will be left in darkness.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, p. 97. These four statements tell us that if we reject Ellen White’s writings — the Spirit of Prophecy, the Testimonies of God — we will end up giving up on and disbelieving the Bible altogether.
“Those who reject the light which God sends… are rejecting Christ.” The Great Controversy, p. 597.
“Those who reject the truth… will be left to receive strong delusions and to believe a lie.” When we reject new messages and new light, we reject Jesus. We fall back into the hands of Satan and are no longer in favor with God.
Repeat: Father God, please forgive my sins, provide for all my needs, help me to follow the truth, and take me to heaven, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
2 Chronicles 36:16 (KJV): “But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy.”
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