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Prairiehiker -> God speaking to individuals.. (5/9/2008 10:59:17 AM)

I often hear people how GOd spoke to them, or revealed to them about cetain things, decision, future events, etc. I have a hard time truly believing people when they say this because often times, I don't know in which manner God spoke to them. I guess God could speak to us invidividually if he chose to. But is this really biblical? I'm from the camp that believed God gave us his instruction for living and decision making through the bible, but why do a lot of people have to ask God to speak to them, or give them a personal revelation? And how would God do this? How would we know it's God? This is somewhat new to me.



McFatty -> RE: God speaking to individuals.. (5/9/2008 11:03:30 AM)

I don't question God's ability to do this and I don't question a professing Christian's word, so when people say this, I, personally, can't brush it off as a lie, so long as the message is not contradictory to the message in the Holy Bible. I don't know why God would talk to someone personally, but the Bible says He has before, so I can't assume He won't again.



lovejoylynn2 -> RE: God speaking to individuals.. (5/9/2008 12:51:02 PM)

Dear Prairehiker,
Just read your post and maybe we are using the wrong terminolgy. I know I have, at times. There are sometimes when the Holy Spirit will make an unusually strong impression for me to do/say/pray something and I have often said "the Lord led me to do thus and so or God told me to do.." It is of course, the indwelling Holy Spirit speaking to my heart Not that I'm any expert or theologian. Just my personal experince.
Blessings in your walk with Him!
Dawn



CherishedbyGod -> RE: God speaking to individuals.. (5/9/2008 1:17:26 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Prairiehiker

I often hear people how GOd spoke to them, or revealed to them about cetain things, decision, future events, etc. I have a hard time truly believing people when they say this because often times, I don't know in which manner God spoke to them. I guess God could speak to us invidividually if he chose to. But is this really biblical? I'm from the camp that believed God gave us his instruction for living and decision making through the bible, but why do a lot of people have to ask God to speak to them, or give them a personal revelation? And how would God do this? How would we know it's God? This is somewhat new to me.


Why, dear soul, He speaks to me all the time. Usually it is through Scripture; either when I am reading/studying or He will bring a scripture to my mind that is perfect for my situation.

He speaks to me through other believers, through nature, through circumstances. He speaks to me through Pastors as they bring the message. I remember, years ago, hearing Dr. Stanley say to always go into church with a piece of paper and a pen ready because you never know when God might say something life-changing to you. So, I do that and God always speaks to me through gifted teachers!

He speaks to me through gifted people on these forums.

When I started recognizing God's speaking voice, my Christian journey changed radically for the better.

I say all the above in all humility because God was speaking to me a long time before I even heard Him speaking[8|]



earthless -> RE: God speaking to individuals.. (5/9/2008 1:20:22 PM)

Awesome post, Cherished. [:)]



faithfulservant_ -> RE: God speaking to individuals.. (5/9/2008 2:11:48 PM)

quote:

original: Prairiehiker

I'm from the camp that believed God gave us his instruction for living and decision making through the bible


You and I must be from the same camp..............[;)]


Through the Bible



mvic -> RE: God speaking to individuals.. (5/9/2008 5:56:25 PM)

Hi Prairiehiker,

You ask some very deep and thoughtful questions. Let's try and answer them from a different perspective.

How would you feel if the phone rang and the voice at the other end said "It's God here?"

Would you be frightened? Shocked? Would you think it's a joke? What if the voice told you things about yourself that only you knew about ... would you be convinced it is God? Would you tell others about the call? Or would you feel too frightened of ridicule?

In the Old Teastament God spoke directly to people like Moses, Abraham etc ... We can only guess what their first reactions must have been.

Today though ... well, we've become more cynical haven't we? A lot of people don't believe at all. Most of those who say they believe probably aren't too sure in what they believe; or are probably trying to believe and meet up with confusion and doubts in their every day lives.

So God speaks to us in different ways. Through the Bible - yes, you're right there. But also He speaks to people through sermons they might hear, through articles they might read, through the voice or actions of other people. He speaks to people alright - in more ways than we can imagine.

The question is: are we tuned in to listen?



CherishedbyGod -> RE: God speaking to individuals.. (5/9/2008 7:08:16 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: earthless

Awesome post, Cherished. [:)]


Thank you, so much. Your post is the nicest thing that happened to me this week!

I was a little concerned that I would come across as puffed-up. But it took me almost 20 years before I really could begin to recognize His speaking voice...

A.W. Tozier says it so much better than I:

"The Bible is the written word of God, and because it is written it is confined and limited by the necessities of ink and paper and leather. The Voice of God, however, is alive and free as the sovereign God is free. `The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.' The life is in the speaking words. God's word in the Bible can have power only because it corresponds to God's word in the universe. It is the present Voice which makes the written Word all- powerful. Otherwise it would lie locked in slumber within the covers of a book."

For the remainder of the book, please click below:

http://www3.calvarychapel.com/library/Tozer-AW/PursuitOfGod/0.htm



Prairiehiker -> RE: God speaking to individuals.. (5/9/2008 9:13:13 PM)

So, what would you say to that bishop that is strongly asserting that God told him this is the right thing to do....to marry his gay lover? What would you say to people who says God told him to leave their spouse, or that God promised them that they will be married, or that their kids will be a preacher someday? Isn't all this talk about God speaking to them in a tiny voice just a little too subjective? How many people bashed John Eldredge for writing things about how God speaks to him through various ways, nature, songs, movies, etc?

I believe that God does speak to us through various means, like messages, or biblical verses that suddenly comes alive to us. What I don't get is people use "God spoke to me" to justify their actions when they are clearly against scriptural teaching. It's like the impressions they get from various sources, which are mostly feelings driven, have more weight than what the bible say.



map4 -> RE: God speaking to individuals.. (5/9/2008 9:44:48 PM)

I would say that if what God "told" them goes against scripture, then it wasn't God talking to them.

The Word and The Spirit always agree.



bob97 -> RE: God speaking to individuals.. (5/10/2008 12:32:32 AM)

quote:

I say all the above in all humility because God was speaking to me a long time before I even heard Him speaking


Great insight Cherished, I believe God is communicating with us all the time; it’s just that very few know how and take the time to listen.

Do we ever hear the words of God…well I believe we do but it very well might be by means of His messengers, the Angels; Heb 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

Bob
.



faithfulservant_ -> RE: God speaking to individuals.. (5/10/2008 2:37:49 AM)

quote:

original: map4

I would say that if what God "told" them goes against scripture, then it wasn't God talking to them.


Many people don't realize that satan can also speak to them. I can quote you verses after verses about how the devil lies to people. But I am not going to because I don't have enough space in this thread. I would recommend everyone to please stick with the bible. Like my pastor once said "Don't believe everything I say, but go home and make sure it is sound biblical doctrine."



CherishedbyGod -> RE: God speaking to individuals.. (5/10/2008 4:23:34 PM)

Even Jesus spoke to people through nature. ~Consider the lilies~ He said. ~ Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they~

He encouraged us to ponder nature because much in nature can teach us about God and "speak" to us. The verses above are, IMHO some of the most beautiful verses in the Bible. They show such tenderness, such loving-kindness of our Heavenly Father.

It saddens me that some people do not allow God to speak to them through nature. When I drive up to the top of the mountains I live in, the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range I see such a power display of God in those majestic peaks! To think, with one word He spoke and those mountains came into existence is totally mind-boggling!

Oh yes, He speaks through nature!



Ezra -> RE: God speaking to individuals.. (5/18/2008 2:48:32 PM)

God speaks to His children in a variety of ways, but primarily through His Son:

"God, who at sundry times, and in divers manners, spake in time past unto the fathers [Hebrew patriarchs and ancestors] by the prophets, hath IN THESE LAST DAYS, spoken unto us by His Son..." (Heb. 1:1,2).

The words of Christ are God's words to us. The words of the apostles are God's words to us. The words of the prophets are God's words to us.

However, we cannot and should not limit God in any way. He spoke to Elijah through "a still small voice" and He also spoke to men through thunder.

Those who speak lies claiming that God has spoken to them or through them must be examined in the light of Scripture, and rejected.

That, in no way, prevents us from hearing God's voice through many other means, including other believers, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. But primarily through His written Word empowered by the Holy Spirit.



MusicianDad -> RE: God speaking to individuals.. (5/19/2008 12:50:28 PM)

I like what John MacArthur said regarding this, "what did He sound like". I think the phrase God spoke to me is way over used and often in a self-serving way. God is sovereign. He can choose to speak to whomever He likes, however He likes, as often as He likes. He can also choose a time span of a billion years between revelations, if He so chooses. The Bible tells us over and over how believers will be misled by those posing as believers, yet some folks still get their panties in a wad when they claim to speak for God and are not believed. I tend to put my faith in Jesus, not in other believers.



hairgal -> RE: God speaking to individuals.. (6/14/2008 9:57:15 PM)

Hello,

God will not tell anyone to do anything contrary to his word. Sometimes people want to do their own thing so badly they dont hear God or even the enemy for that matter, they hear what they want to hear in their own heart and our hearts are not always a monitar of right or wrong. "The heart is decietful above all things" and beyond cure, who can understand it?" Jer. 17:9 niv

I have a very good friend who does not paticularly like it when I say the lord told me or anything like that..I think the poster who said it is the Holy Spirit that speaks to us is a great way to help explain how God speaks..If you have a chance to take the bible study Experiencing God I think you will be blessed and gain a wonderful knowledge of this subject.
]
The topic of God speaking to someone about future events can be troubling and a very deep subject. When someone says they have been promised a certain thing to happen, we can only wait and see if that happens. I will give you an example..I have a very good friend who wanted desperately to be married and have a family. She told me the lord had impressed to her that she would one day have what she wanted. When she was in her late 30's a man began to persue her, she did not respond to his persuit. Later in her 40's he once again began to persue her, this time she paid more attention..eventually they married..she wanted desperatly to hold to Gods promise she would have a child, the age she was when they married and health problems hindered this from happening..Did she hear wrong? Did God promise her a child?...or was simply God did plan that for her and she missed the first persuit of her husband when she was younger..? Only God knows..but she held faithfully to the promise she felt God had given her for a family..and she has a family..perhaps not with the child she had hoped but a family. I can give you example after example of people praying and God responding with a word or impression what ever you want to call it..does it happen often, I dont know..but it does..and all we can do is take care of our own life and pray for those who say they have heard from God and it is not scripturely sound.

One of the areas I am growing in is the fact that God wants a relationship with us..A relationship consist of communicating both to him and from him, yes we have the word to lead us and the word is used to speak to us. I would like to encourage you to pray and ask the lord to show you the truth on this subject in his word. You obviously trust in his word and trust him he wants you to have his truth.

Be Blessed



4ChristisLove -> RE: God speaking to individuals.. (6/15/2008 4:46:54 PM)

God can definitely speak to you! I would have questioned this too as little as a year ago. But, 2008 has been a new and amazing year for me with my relationship with Christ. It started with digging in the Word and spending a lot of time in it. God began to reveal things to me in scripture, but also through music, sermons and the most amazing way in my spirit. It's as if my spirit is talking to my mind. And some of this has been the gift of prophesy. So YES God does speak to his children. But, like others said, it has to line up with His Word.



CherishedbyGod -> RE: God speaking to individuals.. (6/15/2008 5:49:15 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: 4ChristisLove

God can definitely speak to you! I would have questioned this too as little as a year ago. But, 2008 has been a new and amazing year for me with my relationship with Christ. It started with digging in the Word and spending a lot of time in it. God began to reveal things to me in scripture, but also through music, sermons and the most amazing way in my spirit. It's as if my spirit is talking to my mind. And some of this has been the gift of prophesy. So YES God does speak to his children. But, like others said, it has to line up with His Word.


That is wonderful for you! It is when our walk with God really comes alive[:)]



Heavendweller -> RE: God speaking to individuals.. (6/15/2008 6:10:15 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: CherishedbyGod
Oh yes, He speaks through nature!

Indeed! The first time I saw the Grand Canyon, tears filled my eyes. What a wonderful artist our Heavenly Father is!

Heavendweller



Liveloved -> RE: God speaking to individuals.. (6/15/2008 7:42:42 PM)

quote:

So, what would you say to that bishop that is strongly asserting that God told him this is the right thing to do....to marry his gay lover? What would you say to people who says God told him to leave their spouse, or that God promised them that they will be married, or that their kids will be a preacher someday? Isn't all this talk about God speaking to them in a tiny voice just a little too subjective? How many people bashed John Eldredge for writing things about how God speaks to him through various ways, nature, songs, movies, etc?

I believe that God does speak to us through various means, like messages, or biblical verses that suddenly comes alive to us. What I don't get is people use "God spoke to me" to justify their actions when they are clearly against scriptural teaching. It's like the impressions they get from various sources, which are mostly feelings driven, have more weight than what the bible say.


You've said a mouthful here. With the examples you have given, the bishop marrying a gay lover or spouse leaving their spouse, it is clear WHO they are listening to and it is NOT GOD. What do you say? Probably nothing because they aren't listening. I had the opportunity to ask questions of a United Methodist bishop one time regarding some material that I had read as a part of the UM Disciple Bible study. She had not read the material and it clearly departed from biblical/gospel truth. When I asked her at a public meeting about Jesus being THE way of salvation, she responded, "He is the best way." Did my question change her? I doubt it. But it might of influenced some others.

That said, though, I totally agree and experience God speaking directly, personally to me. Usually it is through His word. Sometimes through other people. And, yes, sometimes through His voice directly in my ear. However, if you know Him, it is consistent with His revelation of Himself. You know Him. You will not be misled. And as others have emphasized, He does not contradict Himself. He will not say something in my ear that is not consistent and true to the revelation within scripture.



Lufia -> RE: God speaking to individuals.. (6/15/2008 8:36:51 PM)

I've got a way of knowing if it is from God: when the answer is not from you. I'll explain by examples

A guy had just accepted Christ in his life feeling great love for God. The guy ask God what he can do for Him. The answer, Forgive your father what he has done to you. the guy answer: please God, no you cannot ask me that i can't do that please. I do think that it is an answer from God. And it is a true story ...

An example from me: right after i accepted Jesus ( 3 months ago) i was told to stop saying the name of the Lord in vain. For me it was nothing to swear, not an important thing ... But i stopped, as best as i can. Then yesterday i learn that it is the 3rd commandment!!! Yeah i know it's a shame, i don't even know the 10 commandments. I know 7 of them sorry.

So when the answer is a surprise for you, i really think it is from God ( according to his word)



hellohellohi -> RE: God speaking to individuals.. (6/16/2008 12:34:33 PM)

Yeah, I agree with the above.

Here's a further way to think about it:

God is a loving God and there is nothing He would conceal from us that we ought to know. Therefore, anything that we could be asking God -- that is, anything that is unknown to us -- is something that we have concealed from ourselves and that we have plugged our ears to. God has already been telling us! Thus, there will always be a moment where one can sense that one's resistance and one's love of lies will melt away. The truth may not be what we had wished for or what we could have formulated -- and it may involve the "scales" being removed from our eyes! -- but we will also gain a sense of coming "home," like the prodigal son. While in Christ everything is made new, what we are leaving behind is the changeability of lies and the banally diverse examples -- the multiplicity, as it were -- of sin. So, there is the comfort of coming to realize that God has known us all along, but a newness in grace that can be represented by the wayward son returned to a home in a new way, in that he no longer takes it for granted. We might constantly "surprise" ourselves by sinning in new ways that we formerly didn't think ourselves capable of, but the sensation is one of heightened banality. But when God demonstrates to us that He has always known our hearts, the Truth that we had been denying will not only be a revelation but will strike us as a home-coming.



soma77 -> RE: God speaking to individuals.. (6/21/2008 3:05:09 PM)

I think when when God speaks to us individually it is the genius. The geni in us. He whispers to us in music, dew on grass, friends, problems and teachers. Christian Mysticism is the practise of conversing with God.



Doc65 -> RE: God speaking to individuals.. (6/21/2008 9:51:09 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: soma77

He whispers to us in music, dew on grass, friends, problems and teachers. Christian Mysticism is the practise of conversing with God.


St. Bonaventure wrote at length regarding this. His book "Mind's Road to God" is often regarded as a "mystical treatise" but he writes how God speaks to us. It's not an easy read, even in modern translations, but well worth the time and effort. [8|]



Leo71 -> RE: God speaking to individuals.. (6/23/2008 1:35:22 PM)

Alright, so this is an awesome place to be. I love it already, and am now wondering why I never found it or searched for it before. I guess you could say I'm a bit of a prodigal son, to put it mildly...

At any rate, I too have a capacity to "tune in," as it were, to that soft-spoken voice within my spiritual being. Having been born and raised in the Church, I've been subjected to God's will and His teachings for most of my life. Yet I've fallen into sin over and over, even knowing God's word, as well as His voice which convicts me of sin beforehand. Even so, that voice has remained true to the Word of God, in that it has "never left me nor forsaken me" at any time!

That being the case, I sometimes feel overwhelmed with a sense of unworthiness. But when you think about it, NONE of us are truly worthy of His blessings and/or mercies. For one thing, that's the whole premise of mercy, to begin with: undeserved favor from the Lord! The thing is, we as true believers should always recognize the fact that God loves all of us unconditionally.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. This Scripture is true without exception. Otherwise, there would've been no reason for God to send His Son down here in the flesh to die for our sins, if there were some of us who were capable of conquering it altogether on our own; I imagine He'd simply shout down from the Heavens something like: "HEY, ALL YOU HUMANS DOWN THERE! WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU DOING? RAISE YOUR RIGHT HANDS AND SAVE YOUR OWN SOULS, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!"

Yeah.. something like that. lol. But I digress.

Anyway, the point of all this babbling is that God does speak to us, and in more than one way. Like Cherish said, He speaks to us through other people. I myself have experienced a message or two displayed on a billboard while deep in contemplation, from time to time. Also, there have been timely programs on television; dreams with significant clarity and meaning that have stayed with me from early childhood.

My own father will call me sometimes and reprimand me for things he couldn't possibly have known I was doing at the time! Man, there's just so many ways He talks to us that it's practically impossible to count them all. Seriously.



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