Is God Still Speaking Today? A Country Preacher's Thoughts on Dreams, Visions, and Hearing the Voice of God

One of the questions I hear more often these days is, "Does God still speak to His people?" My answer is simple: Yes, God still speaks, but we had better know who is speaking.

From the very beginning of the Bible, God has revealed Himself in many different ways. He was never limited to one method of communication. He spoke according to His purpose and according to the needs of His people.

God walked with Adam in the Garden of Eden.

"And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day..."
Genesis 3:8 (KJV)

He appeared to Abraham and spoke with him as a friend.

He gave Jacob dreams that revealed His promises.

Joseph received dreams that foretold the future.

Moses met God at the burning bush, heard His voice upon Mount Sinai, and later spoke with Him face to face.

"And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend..."
Exodus 33:11 (KJV)

Throughout the Old Testament, God spoke through prophets by dreams, visions, and the direct word of the Lord.

Then came the greatest revelation of all.

"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son."
Hebrews 1:1-2 (KJV)

Jesus Christ is God's final and complete revelation. Everything that claims to come from God today must point us to Christ and agree with the Scriptures.

On the Day of Pentecost, the Apostle Peter quoted the prophet Joel and declared that the last days had begun.

"And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh... and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy... your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams."
Acts 2:17 (KJV)

I believe we are living in those last days. Around the world, there are testimonies of people having dreams that lead them to search for Christ. Missionaries have shared stories of men and women in countries closed to the gospel who first became interested in Jesus because of a dream or vision. God is certainly able to work in whatever way He chooses.

But before we become too excited about every story we hear, let me offer a word of warning.

Not Every Voice Is God's Voice

One of the greatest dangers facing the church today is that many Christians are willing to believe every dream, every vision, every prophecy, and every voice they hear without ever comparing it to the Word of God.

The Bible never tells us to accept every spiritual experience. Quite the opposite.

"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God..."
1 John 4:1 (KJV)

That verse ought to be underlined in every Christian's Bible.

Not every dream comes from heaven.

Not every voice comes from God.

Not every vision is inspired by the Holy Spirit.

Satan is a master deceiver. He knows how to imitate the things of God.

The Apostle Paul warned us plainly:

"And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light."
2 Corinthians 11:14 (KJV)

If Satan can appear as an angel of light, then he can certainly produce counterfeit spiritual experiences. His purpose has always been to deceive. If he cannot keep someone from being religious, he will try to lead them into false religion. If he cannot stop someone from reading the Bible, he will try to convince them that their feelings are more important than the Scriptures.

That is happening in many churches today.

People are chasing experiences while neglecting the Word of God.

They are following personalities instead of Jesus Christ.

They are accepting prophecies without examining whether they agree with the Bible.

That is dangerous ground.

The Bible Is Our Final Authority

Every dream, every vision, every prophecy, and every voice must be tested by the Word of God.

God will never contradict Himself.

He will never give a revelation that disagrees with the Scriptures He has already inspired.

If a dream tells you something contrary to God's Word, it did not come from God.

If a vision diminishes the Lord Jesus Christ, it is false.

If a prophecy encourages sin or denies biblical truth, reject it immediately.

The Holy Spirit always magnifies Christ, never man.

The Spirit of God always leads us toward holiness, repentance, obedience, and truth.

A Country Preacher's Heart

After nearly sixty years of ministry, I have learned that God still directs His people. Sometimes it is through the quiet conviction of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes it is through His Word. Sometimes through circumstances. Sometimes He may even use a dream or a vision.

But I have also seen people led astray because they followed an experience instead of following Christ.

Friend, do not build your faith upon dreams.

Do not build your faith upon feelings.

Do not build your faith upon the latest prophet on the internet.

Build your faith upon the unchanging Word of God.

When God speaks, His voice will always agree with His Book.

As these last days grow darker, deception will increase. Jesus warned us that false prophets would arise and deceive many. That is why every believer must stay close to the Scriptures.

Keep your Bible open.

Keep your heart humble.

Keep your eyes upon Jesus.

And remember, the safest Christian is not the one who has the most dramatic experiences, but the one who faithfully obeys the Word of God.

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."
Psalm 119:105 (KJV)

May God give us ears to hear His voice, wisdom to discern the spirits, and courage to stand upon His eternal Word until the Lord Jesus Christ returns.

Forgiveness: The Foundation of the Christian Life

 One of the greatest truths found in all of Scripture is the truth of forgiveness. Without forgiveness, there is no salvation, no peace with God, no hope of eternal life, and no fellowship with our Heavenly Father. The Gospel begins with God's willingness to forgive sinful men through the sacrifice of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Yet I have often wondered why forgiveness is one of the most preached subjects in the church and one of the least practiced. We enjoy hearing that God has forgiven us, but we struggle when He asks us to forgive those who have wounded us. We gladly accept mercy from Heaven while holding bitterness in our own hearts.

Friend, it simply does not work that way.

Our Christian life does not begin with our goodness. It begins with God's forgiveness. Every believer has stood guilty before a holy God. Every one of us deserved judgment, yet Jesus stretched out His hands upon the cross and paid our debt in full.

The Apostle Paul reminds us:

Ephesians 1:7 (KJV)

"In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;"

Think about that for a moment. Our forgiveness was not cheap. It cost the precious blood of Jesus Christ. If God was willing to forgive us at such a cost, how can we refuse to forgive someone who has sinned against us?

Jesus gave one of the strongest warnings found anywhere in the Bible concerning forgiveness.

Matthew 6:14-15 (KJV)

"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

Those are not my words. Those are the words of Jesus Himself.

Many people try to explain away this passage because it makes us uncomfortable. Yet the Lord leaves little room for misunderstanding. A heart that continually refuses to forgive reveals that something is spiritually wrong within.

Forgiveness is not an optional part of Christianity. It is the very evidence that Christ has changed our hearts.

Paul writes:

Ephesians 4:32 (KJV)

"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

Notice the order. We forgive because God has already forgiven us through Christ. We are not earning God's favor by forgiving others. We are reflecting the mercy already shown to us.

I have lived long enough to see what bitterness can do to a person. It will rob you of your joy. It will steal your peace. It will poison your relationships. It will affect your health. I have seen people carry offenses for twenty or thirty years. They could tell you every word spoken against them decades earlier, as though it happened yesterday. The person they refused to forgive often went on with life, while the offended person remained imprisoned by anger.

That is one of Satan's greatest victories. He convinces Christians that holding onto bitterness somehow punishes the offender, when in reality it punishes the one carrying it.

The writer of Hebrews warns us:

Hebrews 12:15 (KJV)

"Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;."

Notice that bitterness never stays contained. Like a weed in a neglected garden, it spreads its roots until it affects marriages, families, churches, friendships, and even entire congregations.

Forgiveness does not mean we pretend the wrong never happened. It does not mean we call evil good. It does not always mean trust is immediately restored. Some wounds take time to heal, and wisdom may require healthy boundaries.

Forgiveness means we surrender our right to revenge and place the matter into God's hands.

Paul reminds us:

Romans 12:19 (KJV)

"Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."

When we refuse to forgive, we attempt to become both judge and executioner. God never intended us to carry that burden. Justice belongs to Him because He judges righteously. Our responsibility is to obey Him.

Jesus demonstrated forgiveness while hanging on the cross.

Luke 23:34 (KJV)

"Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."

Imagine that. Nails through His hands and feet. Soldiers mocking Him. Crowds rejecting Him. Yet instead of cursing those who crucified Him, He prayed for their forgiveness.

Stephen followed the same example as stones crushed the life from his body.

Acts 7:60 (KJV)

"And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep."

That is the spirit of Christ living within a believer.

Forgiveness is not weakness. It takes far more strength to forgive than to seek revenge. Anyone can become bitter. Only a heart controlled by the Holy Spirit can truly forgive.

As a country preacher, I have discovered something over many years of ministry. Some of the happiest Christians I have known were not those who had the easiest lives. Many had buried children, battled cancer, lost spouses, been betrayed by friends, or suffered great injustice. Yet they chose to forgive, and because they forgave, they walked in freedom.

On the other hand, I have seen people who attended church faithfully but carried an old grudge for years. Every sermon, every song, every invitation seemed unable to penetrate a heart that had become hardened by unforgiveness.

The choice is ours.

Will we hold on to yesterday's hurts, or will we release them into the hands of our Savior?

The Lord has forgiven a debt we could never repay. Surely we can forgive those who owe us far less.

If we truly desire spiritual growth, peace in our hearts, joy in our worship, and power in our prayers, forgiveness must become more than a sermon we hear. It must become a way of life.

May we be known as people who forgive because we have been forgiven.

Colossians 3:13 (KJV)

"Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye."

That is not only the foundation of Christianity.

It is the evidence that Christ truly lives within us.

Why I Believe Turkey May Lead the Final Coalition Against Israel

 Over the years, I have come to hold an opinion about Bible prophecy that differs from the view taught by many dispensational teachers. I do not present this as settled doctrine or claim that every Christian should accept it. I ask that you consider the Scriptures and compare them with the events unfolding before our eyes.

My opinion is that modern Turkey will become the leading political power that unites much of the Muslim world against Israel, bringing about the final conflict described by the prophets. I believe the Lord Himself—not the military strength of Israel nor the intervention of another nation—will come to the aid of a devastated Israel and establish His kingdom.

My reasoning begins in the book of Daniel.

Daniel saw the great image composed of gold, silver, brass, iron, and, finally, feet and ten toes, composed of iron mixed with clay (Daniel 2). Later, in Daniel 7, he saw those same world empires represented as beasts. The beasts represented kingdoms and governments that would rise one after another.

When John wrote the book of Revelation centuries later, he described a beast that combined the characteristics of Daniel's lion, bear, and leopard (Revelation 13:2). To me, this indicates that the final world empire possesses the characteristics of those earlier kingdoms.

Daniel and John could not have written the word "Islam," because Islam did not exist until centuries after their deaths. God revealed visions through symbols, not through modern political or religious names. Just as Daniel never used the words "Greece" or "Rome" in describing every detail of the future, John described what he saw without identifying future movements by the names they would later receive.

As I compare Scripture with today's world, I see modern Turkey standing at the crossroads of biblical prophecy. The seven churches of Revelation were located in what is now Turkey. The message to Pergamos speaks of "Satan's seat" (Revelation 2:13). The territory once controlled by successive world empires eventually became the center of the Ottoman Empire, which ruled much of the Middle East for centuries.

I also see significance in Daniel's feet and ten toes. The kingdom is partly strong and partly weak. Iron and clay exist together, yet they do not truly adhere to one another.

In my opinion, this pictures a divided coalition rather than a unified empire. I believe the divisions within the Muslim world, particularly between Sunni and Shia Islam, illustrate this principle. They share many common objectives, yet they have never achieved lasting unity. They stand together in some matters while remaining deeply divided in others. Like the iron and clay, they exist together but "shall not cleave one to another."

From this understanding, I believe Turkey could emerge as the political leader of a final coalition that unites much of the Muslim world against Israel. Such a conclusion does not follow from the traditional dispensational interpretation, which looks for a revived Roman Empire centered in Europe. Instead, I believe the center of the final conflict may arise from the lands that once formed the eastern portion of the old empires described by Daniel.

If this understanding is correct, the last great battle will not end because Israel possesses greater military strength. It will end because God Himself intervenes on behalf of His covenant purposes. The prophets repeatedly declare that when Israel has exhausted its own strength, the Lord will fight for His people and establish the reign of His Messiah.

Whether my interpretation proves correct or not, my confidence does not rest in my ability to identify every prophetic detail. My confidence rests in the certainty that Jesus Christ will return exactly as the Scriptures declare. Until that day, our responsibility is to remain faithful to His Word, to walk in holiness, and to keep our eyes fixed upon the King who is coming again.

When God Directs Your Life

 I have never fully understood how God works in my life, but I trust His faithfulness to guide me in the way He wants me to go, which I hope encourages you to trust His guidance in your own life.

Let me try to explain. I never wanted to be a pastor. I had a front-row seat to how pastors are treated. My father and father-in-law were both pastors. Being a pastor can be a very difficult ministry when people do not want the truth. That being said, I had no desire to go that direction. In August of 1967, I was working in Evansville, Indiana, as a local delivery truck driver. A friend got me the job, and we shared a two-room apartment on Garfield Street.

One night, kneeling at the old sofa, I felt a strong sense that God wanted me to go as a missionary to the American Indians. I did not understand why, but I sensed this was His calling for me, and I hope sharing this helps you feel the importance of listening to God's voice. 

Central Yealing Meeting of Friends was holding its annual meeting that week, and Sunday afternoon was missionary service. When the call was made for those willing to become missionaries, I felt a sense of community and support as I went forward, knowing others were praying for me and for God's direction in our lives. 

The year at UBS deepened my desire to understand God's message in scripture, and this hunger for knowledge has only grown, encouraging me to encourage others to seek continuous spiritual growth.

In 1971, we moved to the Wind River Indian Reservation. It was here that God taught me how to live by faith. I don't understand why, but after a while, the door began to close, and we moved back to Indiana. Arcadia Friend needed a pastor, and I was asked to fill in until they could find a pastor. I agreed. Two years later, Hazel Dell Friends at Windfall called me to pastor. We were there for four years. By now, I am wondering why I am doing what I did not want to do. 

Sugar Plain called me to come, pastor. We were there for two years when the Central Yearly Meeting Superintendent asked me to go to Gateway Friends in Kokomo. We were there for four years. I was discouraged and felt I was wasting my time. I resigned, and we moved to Indianapolis. We started attending East Lawn Wesleyan Church on Post Road. I taught a Sunday School class and held a revival meeting there. It looked like my days of being a pastor were over. A friend who was going to be the pastor of Sugar Plain was killed in an auto accident. While attending the viewing, we were asked to come back to Sugar Plain as pastors. We returned in  1987 and have been here since then.

I have never felt that I have been the ideal pastor. I have often questioned my approach, trying to do a ministry I am not yet strong in. I have not inspired the men to become leaders in the Church; I have worked to unite the Church despite persistent, unaddressed issues. I am wondering what the LORD has planned for me in the next few years. 

I was going to stop writing my blog early this year, but something happened: I went from a few hundred views a month to forty thousand, to fifty-one thousand, to sixty thousand views a month. 

I never want to stop sharing the gospel. And if the LORD wants me to share his word through a blog, then I am ready.

When God Answered a Frightened Young Missionary's Prayer

 There are moments in a minister's life that are forever etched upon the heart. They become reminders that God's power is never limited by our weakness. Looking back over fifty-eight years of ministry, I have often returned to one such memory from my days as a young missionary on the Wind River Indian Reservation in Fort Washakie, Wyoming.

I was serving among the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho people when the Lord placed an elderly man in my life named Tom Wesaw. Tom was the leader of the American Indian church, and his son, Delmar Wesaw, had founded the mission where I was serving.

I never called him Tom. To me, he was simply "Grandpa."

He was about the same age as my own Grandpa Truitt, and for reasons known only to the Lord, he adopted me as though I were one of his own sons. Wherever he wanted to go, I drove him. Wherever he wanted to visit, I accompanied him. He introduced me to people by saying, "This is my son."

One day he presented me with one of his most treasured possessions—the armbands he had worn at his first Sun Dance. To an outsider they might have seemed like simple pieces of metal bands to him they represented his past and his people. It was his way of telling me that he trusted me and had accepted me into his family.

As we spent countless hours together, Grandpa taught me much about the traditions of the American Indian people. He carefully explained the difference between the old Indian religion and the Christian faith.

He once warned me, "Never attend the Indian ceremonies. The spirits there are not the same Spirit that lives in you."

He spoke openly about the spiritual world he had known before. He said there were things those spirits could do and things they could not do. Even then, although he had not yet fully trusted Christ, he recognized there was a power greater than anything he had ever experienced.

Then came the day that changed my understanding of faith forever.

Grandpa came by the mission and said, "Get in the car. We're going to the hospital."

As we drove, he told me his grandson was dying. The doctors had given him only a few hours to live.

Then Grandpa looked at me and calmly said, "You're going to pray for him. You're going to anoint him, and he's going to live."

I nearly panicked.

I had never prayed over someone for healing.

I had never anointed anyone with oil.

I didn't even own any oil.

My heart was racing. I kept thinking, Lord, I don't know what to say. I don't know what to do. What if I don't have enough faith?

The only example I had was my father. I had watched him pray for the sick. When he anointed someone, he poured the oil generously until it ran down over their head.

Before we reached the hospital, I pulled into the Safeway grocery store. They had only large bottles of olive oil. I bought one, feeling more than a little embarrassed. Imagine carrying a full-sized bottle of olive oil through a hospital while everyone looked at you wondering what in the world you were doing.

When we entered the room, many family members were gathered around the bed. The doctors had said there was no hope.

His grandson looked as though he had already slipped into eternity.

Without hesitation, Grandpa turned to the family and said, "Everyone leave the room."

When the door closed behind them, he looked at me and simply said,

"Now pray."

There I stood—a frightened young missionary holding a large bottle of olive oil and wondering what to say.

I opened the bottle.

To this day, I honestly cannot remember the words of my prayer.

I only remember pouring the oil over that young man's head until it ran down his face, just as I had seen my father do years before.

Then I said the only words I clearly remember:

"In the name of Jesus, receive healing. Amen."

That was it.

No thunder.

No lightning.

No dramatic feeling.

No voice from heaven.

As soon as I finished praying, Grandpa smiled and said,

"Let's go home. He'll be all right."

The next day his grandson walked out of the hospital.

I sat in amazement.

That experience taught me one of the greatest lessons of my ministry.

The miracle was not in my prayer.

The miracle was not in the olive oil.

The miracle was not because I possessed extraordinary faith.

The miracle was because God always remains faithful to His own Word.

The Scriptures declare,

"Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up..." (James 5:14–15, KJV)

Notice carefully that James does not say the oil heals.

He does not say the preacher heals.

He says, "the Lord shall raise him up."

That day I learned another precious truth:

"God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise." (1 Corinthians 1:27, KJV)

God often works through people who know they are weak, uncertain, and completely dependent upon Him.

Grandpa's faith also left a lasting impression on me. Although he had not yet surrendered his life fully to Christ, he believed there was a power greater than every spirit he had ever known. He trusted that the name of Jesus was above every other name.

Years later, before Grandpa passed into eternity, he placed his faith in Jesus Christ.

I have often wondered if that day in the hospital helped prepare his heart for the Savior.

Only heaven will reveal all that God accomplished through that simple prayer.

As I look back over the many years, I smile when I remember that frightened young missionary carrying a quart-sized bottle of olive oil through the hospital.

I thought God needed someone stronger.

Someone wiser.

Someone with greater faith.

Instead, He reminded me of another promise that has carried me through fifty-eight years of ministry:

"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:5–6, KJV)

The Lord was never looking for a perfect servant.

He was simply looking for a willing one.

And I have found Him faithful every step of the journey.