Psalm 16:11 English Standard Version (ESV) You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

In my Christian infancy I asked an older man how he knew the right path to follow. His answer was “I know that I know that I know.” To an infant in the Lord that is nothing but confusion. It did not help me at all. I heard then and I still hear today men declare “God told me….” How did God make Himself known? Did He speak in an audible voice?  A voice in their head? How do you know you are hearing God?

Romans 1:17 English Standard Version (ESV) For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith,^[a] as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Footnotes: a Or beginning and ending in faith

A better answer would have been “We live by faith.” That would have led to another conversation about faith. It took me many years to come to a comfortable conclusion about faith. Since we were saved by grace through faith, then faith is vital to our eternal salvation. Yet faith is also important to our daily existence. Without it how can we experience the promises of God? Psalm 16:11 is one of those promises. Walk the path, experience the joy.

The opposite is true also. Stray from the path and we lose our joy. Just how far off the path do we go before recognizing we strayed? That depends on just how in tuned we are with the fruits of the spirit. The first three are the easiest to understand. Love, joy and peace are indicators from the Holy Spirit that we are connected to walking in God’s will.

Think of our peace of God as a direction finder. Stray too far and the Holy Spirit replaces peace with conviction. A good conscience is vital in keeping the peace of God within us.

Use it to help stay the course. Eventually the more successful we are the more we will understand what faith does for us daily. It is a knowing that comes from experience.

Ezra 4:7 English Standard Version (ESV) In the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam and Mithredath and Tabeel and the rest of their associates wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia. The letter was written in Aramaic and translated.

The issue of translations has been going on since the fall of the tower of Babel.

Genesis 11:7 English Standard Version (ESV) Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another’s speech.

This confusion makes it difficult for us to understand each other clearly.

Acts 2:1-6 English Standard Version (ESV)

The Coming of the Holy Spirit

¹ When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. ² And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. ³ And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. ⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. ⁵ Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. ⁶ And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.

God wants all men to come to know Him with understanding without translation. God wants to speak to each of us in our own tongue. Much effort has been made to translate the bible into every language on earth and I am not sure if that has been accomplished yet. What I do know is that God meant to speak to each of us without translation. The power of the Holy Spirit needs no translator for He knows each and every one of us intimately.

It is vital for each of us to hear the Holy Spirit regardless of how the gospel was presented to those who speak another language.

Isaiah 19:21a English Standard Version (ESV) And the Lord will make himself known . . . .