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NASB | Matthew 7:16 "You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 7:16 "By their fruit you will recognize them [that is, by their contrived doctrine and self-focus]. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? [Luke 6:43, 44] |
Bible Question: A certain well-known TV preacher in his address to a very large congregation related his conversation with God concerning some question that he, the preacher, had. In telling of the experience, the preacher repeatedly sprinkled his narrative with "God said (so and so) and I said (so and so). Then God said (so and so) and I said (so and so)." Thus he continued on and on with his account of his conversation with God. My question is, Is this the way God communicates with man today? Do Hebrews 1:2, 2 Timothy 3:16 and, for that matter, the entire Bible, have any relevancy in our time? Or can we, like the preacher reportedly did, strike up a conversation with God as we would with our next-door neighbor and get from Him personalized and instantaneous answers to our every question without having to bother to search the Scriptures? What does Scriptue say about how God communicates with man and man with God? --Hank |
Bible Answer: Dear Hank, Is Scripture alone insufficent? Does it not provide us with all we need to grow in Christ and to perservere until the end? I believe that God communicates to the saints through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, who illuminates truth through the Scripture alone. I also think it is unsriptural to claim private revelation by the means of an "still, small voice". In my opinion, it is pure mysticism and is not founded on the Bible. The statements which I have made were not whispered to my heart by God, but are based on the foundation laid by the apostles in God's Word. 2 Pet 1:19 "So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts." Peter said "we" referring to those who were eyewitnesses of the risen Christ; those whom God had ordained to write New Testament. I do not doubt the religious fervor of many of those who claim to speak special and extra-biblical revelations, but, to place one's faith in this form of emotionalism is dead wrong and extremely dangerous. Every cult I can think of began with extra-biblical "revelations". Eph 4:17 "So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind," Those who proclaim that "God told me to tell you...", whether they realize it or not; whether they are sincere or not; operate without the authority of Scripture. If someone were to tell me that "God said" (that I should do this or not do that have) take upon themselves the authority of God Himself! If I believe this sort of thing then I am obliged to do whatever I am told by whoever it is that tells me "God told me to tell you...". For instance: If a person, who I believed to be a christian, told me that God told him that I must leave my family and start a mission in Antartica, then I would be obliged to obey God. How am I to know if this man is right or wrong? God is not the author of confusion! John |