God moved me. God told me. God led me.
The Spirit spoke to me.
Words that could be understood correctly, if with these words a person means that while reading his Bible he found a verse giving certain guidance or clear comfort. The Spirit speaks through the Scripture. In fact, the words of Scripture are the very words of the Holy Spirit.
But does the Spirit speak to people directly, apart from the Bible? This God never promises us.
He did make this promise to some. Hours before his death, Jesus told his disciples, “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:26). The Apostle Paul describes the fulfillment of this promise: “This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words” (1 Corinthians 2:3). The Apostle Peter also describes this work of the Spirit. “Men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21).
God assures us that the Spirit’s voice speaks in the Scriptures.
But do we long for more? Do we desire special messages, guidance beyond what God has given in the Bible?
We all at times are tempted to think that God hasn’t told us enough.
Be encouraged. God has told you everything you need to know in the Scripture. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Every good work. In the Bible you have everything you need to know for every good work. Nothing is missing.
At the heart of what we need to know is the Law, which reveals our sin. This is the voice of the Spirit. “When [the Counselor] comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin” (John 16:8). At the heart of what we need to know is the Gospel, which shows our Savior. This is the voice of the Spirit. “Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow” (1 Peter 1:10-11).
This is the voice of the Spirit.
All other claims for the Spirit’s voice are at best uncertain and at worst deception.
The Lord directs us to place our confidence neither on things uncertain nor on things deceptive. Rather, “We have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it” (2 Peter 1:19).
Read those words. Then say with joy, “The Spirit spoke to me.”