Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
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: Hank Let me add I do not believe any valid conversation with God will take outside the boundaries already established by the Bible. In others words I do not think is God is going to give us a revelation that will take us beyond what the Bible has already revealed. It is used for encouragement, edification, exhortation. It's primary use is to give direction inones life to accomplish God's will. How else does one know he has the call of the Lord upon his life unless God communicates that call? Scripture very clearly says we will hear the Shepherd's voice and we need to know it so as not to be decieved by those that claim to be our shepherd, but are false shepherds. EdB |