It is recorded in many places in the Bible that the actual audible Voice of God was heard by man – these were very special occasions in deed.
Two times it was to acknowledge the authority of His Son Jesus Christ –
(1)  At the Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist – “And suddenly a voice came from Heaven, saying, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17) – and --
(2)  At the Transfiguration – “And suddenly a Voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him” (Matthew 17:2).
The first recorded Voice of God in the Bible is in the Creation story. His first utterance was, “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3), and this has been His proclamation ever since – first for the physical light to illuminate our earthly journey – but more important for the Spiritual Light – His Son Jesus Christ – to show us the way to Eternity in Heaven.
There is recorded in the Old Testament the occasion of God speaking to Moses from the burning bush (Exodus 3:4) calling him to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt.
Most times throughout the Bible it is actually an Angle of the Lord speaking for God to convey instructions for something to be done -- as with Mary, being given the assurance of her baby to be the Savior of the world (Luke 1:11-17).
Today there are many who claim to hear God’s voice in many ways – instructing them to do and say many things. However, God has already spoken to us through His Word and we must respond according to what He has recorded. We are assured, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is Profitable” (Philippians 3:16), this means that God instructed the writers to pen His Words as He spoke to them – making it actually the very “Word of God.”
Perhaps the greatest utterance of God to man was the giving of the Law to Moses which remains the solid rock of guidance for proper living to this day. We narrow it down to the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17), which form the basis for us all to follow for a pure and successful life.
Keep in mind – they are the Ten Commandments given from a heart of Love by the Creator Himself – not just merely “off-the-cuff Ten Suggestions” for us to pick-and-choose from as we do food from a buffet.
God is not just the “old man upstairs” as many refer to Him – not just a Spiritual Santa Claus waiting for us to send Him our “Wish-or-Want-List” – but rather a Loving and Caring Father who wants the very best for His children.
We begin the so-called Lord’s Prayer with the words, “Our Father which art in Heaven” – but is He really “Your Father”? – do you really possess the true intimate fellowship with Him as child-to-father?
We are told in the Book of John, “As many as Received Him, to them gave He Power to become the Sons of God – even to them that Believe on His name” (1:12). Two words stand out in this verse – Receive and Believe – absolutely necessary for the intimate relationship necessary of a father-child claim. Another vital word we find here is Power – the super-natural ability to transform our lives from a hell-bound sinner to a Heaven-bound child of God – with total forgiveness of all past, present, and future sins – WOW – that takes real special Power from God.
Let’s consider these three words more in depth –
RECEIVE – To receive is to fully embrace, accept, and surrender -- to yield – to give up all rights and reservations and to completely give our all. This is absolutely necessary for a true and lasting relationship between man and God!
BELIEVE – To believe is more than mere “mental assent” – it is full heart and life giving of one’s self to fully trust and rely on another for everything. We think of this in the act of marriage – but – too often there is failure in today’s marriages – not so with the commitment between God and man.
POWER – A force beyond anything we can muster up and do on our own. The power exerted in the Creation of the Heavens and the earth – the force to do the impossible – this is what is necessary in the transformation from lost sinner to being a child of God.
“For by Grace you are Saved by Faith – and not of yourselves – it is the Gift of God – not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8,9). Here we find more pertinent words – Grace, Saved, Faith, Gift -- all necessary for us to understand and apply to our quest for really knowing God.
GRACE – God’s Love covering our short-comings with His Goodness.
SAVED – Rescued from hell and promised a home in Heaven.
FAITH – The act of accepting what we cannot see, and fully trusting God in everything.
GIFT – Something presented to us with nothing in return – absolutely free!
REMEMBER – the words of Jesus Christ – “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life – NO ONE comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).
For more information or counseling contact Pastor Bruce R. Burke, Open Bible Ministries, 263 Edgefield Road, Lake Ariel, PA 18436.  Phone (570)698-7890; cell (570)470-3760; e-mail openbiblemin@verizon.net.