How does God speak? I was once in an abnormal psychology class and my professor, Dr. Scott was asked how you could really know someone was mentally ill and needed treatment. He answered by saying that if a person was hearing voices that this was a good indication. Then, he paused and said, "But if you talk to any Baptist Deacon they will tell you that they hear the Voice of God." I'm not sure if Dr. Scott's personal opinion was that every Baptist Deacon is crazy or that they could be excluded from his definition of the truly mentally ill. But I believe that not only every Baptist deacon, but every preacher and every Child of God should be able to hear the Voice of God.

In the Old Testament in 1 Kings we have the great encounter of Elijah with the prophets of Baal. The result was the that the prophets of Baal were destroyed. Queen Jezebel was a little upset by this and sent a messenger to Elijah and the message was this, "So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time." When Elijah heard this he ran for his life and even though God had just demonstrated His power in a mighty, mighty way on Mount Carmel Elijah became depressed. Here is what happened next:

"And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God. And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?"

"And He said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away."

"And He said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; bu the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice."- 1 Kings 19:8-13.

In 1979 after the birth of our second son, Nick, with Down Syndrome I began to question why I was working in the oilfield. Was there not more to life? Was there not something that would give satisfaction? I believe God was setting the stage for what happened next. My wife and I had the opportunity to go as sponsors for our church youth group to Falls Creek. Falls Creek is one of the largest if not the largest youth church camp in the world. I was not prepared and Jeanie was not prepared for what happened there at camp. I rode with our pastor at the time, J.R. Sammons, and listened during the four hour trip to some of the adventures and tribulations of being a pastor. But never did anyone ever say anything to me during the week about the possibility of my being a preacher. It didn't matter because whether I was in the evening preaching service or I was in the church cabin or out walking around I could hear God's Voice. God's Voice was continuous and He was calling me to preach His Word. I couldn't escape it.

On Thursday night, after nearly four days of hearing God's Voice I went forward during the evening invitation to make a commitment to preach God's Word. The preacher of the evening message preached a message about salvation. The invitation was a call to Christ. But I, along with thirty or forty others, heard a call to service. The missionary that counseled with me warned me that before I left that place the devil would attack me. Little did I know!

Later, after returning to the cabin, I shared with Jeanie the commitment that I had made. I was not prepared for the response. Her response was why had I not talked with her about it before making such a commitment and that many people who come to camp the first time become emotional and make commitments because of the excitement. At that point I began to question what I had done, maybe I was just emotional wanting to serve God more. Jeanie pointed out that I had never mentioned being called by God to preach before and that I seemed to have very limited abilities that would enable me to do such a thing. She was right! I did have very little speaking ability at that time and I was introverted and did not really even enjoy being around people. How could I possibly think that I could be a preacher?

From that point I became very depressed and for the next several weeks remained so. It was one of the most miserable times in my life. Why was this happening? In 1 Thessalonians 5:19 the Bible says, "Quench not the Spirit." That was exactly what I was doing. God had spoken and I had even said yes but now had backed out on doing what He wanted. Throwing water so to speak on the fire of God in my life. The depression that I was experiencing was the result of another way that God has of speaking. The depression was a different tone of God's Voice, it was not a still, soft voice.

In Colossians 3:15 we find the Bible giving direction for knowing whether we are in the will of God, "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful." The peace of God was definitely not ruling in my heart! Jonah had a somewhat similar experience:

"Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord." - Jonah 1:1-3.

Eventually there came a storm and Jonah was thrown overboard in order for the rest of the people on the ship to live. God had prepared a great fish which swallowed Jonah. At this point you can begin to see that God is using a tone of Voice with Jonah similar to what I was experiencing:

"Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish's belly. And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and He heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice." (This is not a happy camper!) For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me. Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple. The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head. I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O Lord my God. When my soul fainted within me I remembered the Lord: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple. They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy. But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord. And the Lord spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land."

Jeremiah experienced something similar, "O Lord, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: thou are stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me. For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the Lord was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily. Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in His name. But His Word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay (Jeremiah 20:7-9)."

Remember the call of Moses? He finally goes but not before:

"And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The Lord hath not appeared unto thee. And the Lord said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod. And He said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it. And the Lord said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand: That they may believe that the Lord God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of jacob, hath appeared unto thee. "

"And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. And the Lord said unto him. Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say. And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses...."

Jonah had a change of heart, as did Jeremiah, and as did Moses. They decided that whatever God wanted was what they were going to do. I wasn't quite to that point but I did publicly rededicate my life at our church. The first time that I remember doing that but it wasn't the last. I began to serve the Lord in our church. I taught a youth Sunday School class and then an adult Sunday School Class. I served as Sunday School Director and was ordained as a deacon. But God was not finished with me yet, and we know that God was not finished either with Jonah after the fish spit him out on the shore.

God is most likely not finished with you either. I believe that every born again believer has the call of God upon their lives. God has a plan, a purpose, thoughts toward your life. The most miserable people I know are those who have heard God call and have tried to turn away from that call, from that Voice. "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not (Jeremiah 33:3)." Why be miserable? Call upon the Lord and He will show you what He wants.

Can you hear God calling? "And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no open vision. And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see; And as the lamp of God went out in the temple of the Lord, where the Ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep; That the Lord called Samuel: and he answered Here am I. And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I ; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down agian. And he went and lay down. And the Lord called yet again. Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I ; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again. Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither was the word of the Lord yet revealed unto him. And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the Lord had called the child. Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place."

"And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth (1 Samuel 3:1-10)." Is the Lord calling you? Can you hear Him speaking your name? The still, small voice of God? Why not say, "Speak for thy servant hearth." Why not say with Isaiah, "Here am I; send me (Isaiah 6:8c)."