Results 1 - 5 of 5
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | How does God speak to us? | Ps 119:105 | Radioman2 | 85813 | ||
How does God speak to us? 'I am a bit distressed even talking about this issue because my comments are meant to try to rein Christians in a little bit, to keep them off of the fringe... 'But whenever I have to rein Christians in a bit and talk about this kind of thing I feel badly because I realize that some people are straining at the bit for the best of reasons and with the best of intentions...They want to experience more of the working of the Holy Spirit in their life. And here is Koukl coming in, apparently throwing cold water on the whole operation. 'I feel bad about that because I have no intention of quenching the work of the Holy Spirit. My entire goal is to be very, very careful and look closely at the specifics of what's being held to be true to see if they do, in fact, line up with the directives given in the Scriptures. Or, are we drawing some wrong conclusions that cause us to go over the edge and maybe do some spiritual damage to ourselves and others?... 'I think I'm somewhat of an evangelical iconoclast because I'm always breaking up people's parties, so to speak. An iconoclast is an image breaker, someone who kind of attacks, to some degree, cherished notions. Sometimes that bothers people and I 'm sorry about that. I don't mean to cause trouble for the sake of trouble, but I do mean to force people to think clearly and Biblically, even about those ideas they cherish the most. And, to many of us, the thing that we cherish the most is this idea that we have a personal hotline to God and we ought to expect Him to speak to us about our decisions. 'I had a very stimulating conversation last week about this. I talked about it on Sunday in some detail, and then a friend of mine wrote me a note and offered me eighteen references from the book of Acts that seem to contradict my point of view. So what I want to do for just a few moments is to talk about these particular references and see if they do contradict what I was saying last weekend. 'I have to make clear what my point of view is so that it's not misunderstood. Let me capsulize it for you very quickly. My point of view is basically four quick points: 'First of all, learning to hear the voice of God is not taught as a Christian discipline that we must learn in order to live the optimal Christian life. This is the "hotline to God" view in which we get specialized and tailor-made instructions for our personal lives. That is not taught in Scripture. 'Secondly, God sometimes does give specialized instructions, so I'm not saying that God can't do that and I'm not putting God in a box. He does sometimes give specialized instructions. He did in Biblical times and He does in the present. But when we read in the Bible especially in the New Testament, which is what our discussion is about today when He has done it, such specialized instructions are clear first of all. They are not mumbled. They are not whispered. They are not nudged. And they are, almost without exception in the New Testament, a sovereign intrusion by God into the circumstances rather than something that is first sought by a Christian. 'Thirdly, God's intrusion in these cases is sometimes through special gifts in the body that I believe are in full operation today, but are by very nature individual. In other words, every person has his own gift and each person does not have every gift. So this working through gifts can't be a means of every Christian hearing from God. In other words, sometimes God intervenes with a prophetic word, but since prophetic words only come through those people who have the gift of prophecy, it's not the kind of thing we all have to cultivate, to learn to do. 'Finally, there are clearly workings of the Spirit in the area of teaching, conviction of sin and comforting of individual Christians. I admit that those workings are private, individual and tailored to individual people. Those kinds of things are not in question here. 'We're going to do a little Bible study. We're going to look at eighteen references suggested in the letter to me that was an attempt to offer contrary evidence from the Scriptures to the point of view that I just described for you. All of these references come from the book of Acts. We will see if these references actually undermine the basic point I have been making or not. In a sense, I hope the Bible study will go beyond just the meaning of the passages because what this will do, as we walk through it, is help us to learn how to be more precise and particular about our Bible study and not draw conclusions hastily or inappropriately from the Scriptures. But take a close, methodical look to get a clear idea of what is actually being averred here about Christian disciplines and God speaking.' ____________________ Acts and the Voice of God by Gregory Koukl To read more go to: (www.str.org/free/commentaries/theology/actsvoic.htm) |
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2 | How does God speak to us? | Ps 119:105 | Mommapbs | 86353 | ||
Greetings Radioman2! After reviewing my last post to you and then reading this web site, I am wondering what YOUR position is on what you have posted. I concurr that hearing God's voice is NOT a discipline to be "learned." Indeed, God finds who He wants . . . He even chose to use a donkey once! I would be suspect of anyone who claimed to have a "hotline" to God! Most of my personal experiences in "hearing" God's voice have been "intrusions", yet He has responded directly, and very immediate on two ocassions that were characterized by fervent prayer. I realize that God does not speak to everyone in the same manner, but He is speaking! While we can't undergo some training program to develop our listening skills, we can choose to desire to "hear" Him. I believe that God will honor such a desire, but in a way that encourages the individual and edifies the body. Comments? mommapbs |
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3 | How does God speak to us? | Ps 119:105 | Radioman2 | 86362 | ||
Mommapbs: First let me say, I have followed your posts since you first started here on the forum. I respect and appreciate your Christian spirit and your participation in the forum. Thank you for replying to my post. To answer your question: please note first of all that I definitely believe the gifts of the Spirit are still in operation today. (I do NOT believe in the cessation of the gifts.) And all of us would do well to heed 1 Corinthians 14:40. When the whole church be come together into one place, "Let all things be done decently and in order." 1 Corinthians 12:1-14:40 instructs us in spiritual gifts and their use in love. (I'm sure you are familiar with these Scriptures -- I only refer to them here for the benefit of readers who may not be familiar with them.) After reviewing the posts in this thread, I must say that my position on what I have posted is that I agree with it. Also, I agree that God will lead, guide and direct us, "but in a way that encourages the individual and edifies the body," as you have said. Here's what I believe: New Living Translation James 1:5 If you need wisdom – if you want to know what God wants you to do – ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking. NASB James 1:5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. Grace and peace, Radioman2 |
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4 | How does God speak to us? | Ps 119:105 | Mommapbs | 86404 | ||
Good morning! Thank you for your reply and clarification. God is at work in you for me - THANK YOU. I was raised in a fellowship that does not believe that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are in operation today, so I'm sure you can understand and appreciate my struggle with the way that God has "shaken me up"! Doubt was a driving force for a LONG time. The fellowship I am currently joined to MAY recognize the gifts(at least selectively), but has been a poor steward of them . . . not allowing the body to function, focusing more on control, etc. As a result, the gifts members bring to the body are often overlooked or even rejected by not allowing their expression. For me, it has been difficult to separate personal rejection under these circumstances(true confessions!), but God is still working on me here . . . Right now, I've been set aside, but God has allowed this experience for MY benefit. First of all, He led me to this Forum, where I could explore and develop an understanding of how others respond to Him and His Word. I have been challenged to dig into God's Word to support what I believe to be True. I believe that my job is to be faithful to what HE has given me, to use His gifts and not withold them because I "feel" rejected, discouraged, ridiculed,or frustrated. Yet,I also believe it is appropriate to "shake the dust" off my sandals and walk away at times. How long I will remain in the wilderness is up to God, but for the present time, I KNOW that HE is preparing and equipping me for every good work. (Eph 2:10) I can say with confidence that God has gifted me by His Spirit to hear His voice, through His Word, through circumstances, through other believers, and through prayer. I covet this for others and am continually amazed that so many believers "don't get it." I feel like a harping parent or a frustrated teacher at times, communicating the Truth over and over to "deaf" ears. As frustrating as this is, I know that God's Word is active and living; it will not return to Him without accomplishing what HE intends. Thank you for your encouragement from James 1:5. I am asking, and yet I also recognize that I must clear my ears of some wax! (If I allow feelings of "personal rejection" to rule, then I will not "hear" the call of God when it comes to "re-engage" in the local body.) Blessings on your day, mommapbs |
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5 | How does God speak to us? | Ps 119:105 | Radioman2 | 86408 | ||
Mommapbs: I, like you, continually dig into God's Word regarding what I believe -- i.e., "whether those things are so." Occasionally they aren't. :-) Grace and peace be multiplied to you, Radioman2 |
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