Job 38:1
Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
People often say that the LORD spoke to them, but the LORD never speaks without something changing in one's life. For thirty-seven chapters, man spoke to Job, but nothing changed in his life. However, from the moment the LORD spoke to Job, things changed in his life which resulted in four actions; these four actions will happen to anyone to whom the LORD speaks. Let me share these actions that happen when the LORD answers someone.
First, when the LORD answers, you will always see your unrighteousness and His righteousness. Job justified himself and saw how good he was as long as man spoke to him, but he saw his frailty and sinfulness the moment the LORD answered. These religious people who say the LORD spake to them and live their lives during the week like the world are lying because nobody has ever had the LORD speak to them without a realization of their awfulness and sin. When Moses came face to face with God, he never one time saw how good he was, but he saw his sinfulness and God’s righteousness. When Elijah came face to face with God, he saw his wretchedness and God’s righteousness. When Adam and Eve came face to face with God, they saw how sinful they were so much that they hid themselves. Anyone who has the LORD answer them always sees their wretchedness, which will result in something changing in their life.
Second, when the LORD answers, you will always be challenged to get up. When the LORD answered Job, the first thing He said to him was to gird up thy loins like a man. God’s presence in one’s life never causes one to continue to do what they have been doing, but it causes them to get up from apathy and stop feeling sorry for themselves. You want an answer from the LORD, but you don't want to get up from your sin; you cannot have both. When you lay in your sin, you will never have an answer from the LORD; however, when the LORD answers, you will pick yourself up from what you are doing to live a holier life for God.
Third, when the LORD answers, you will always be challenged to help and pray for others. When the LORD answered Job, he got up and prayed for those who maligned him. When the LORD spoke to Moses, he got up and went back to lead Israel out of Egypt. When the LORD spoke to Elijah, he got up from self-pity and went to anoint Elisha. Any time in the Scriptures when the LORD answered His own, they were always challenged to live and pray for others. You can say the LORD spoke to you, but your life says differently when you continue to live for yourself. When the LORD answers, you will see the need of the world and of the LORD’s using you to help reach others.
Fourth, when the LORD answers, you will always be challenged to do something greater than yourself. When the LORD answered Job, he was challenged to make something greater of his life than to lay in the ashes of the past. The LORD’s answer and presence in one’s life always challenges them to do something great by faith. You can live your life of mediocrity and never have the LORD answer you, or you can get the LORD to answer you, and you will be challenged to do something greater than yourself. Why will you be challenged to do something so greatly? Because when you see the LORD, you will see His power and ability to help someone like you do greater and mightier things that He is willing to do through you if you get up.