Subject: Is speaking in tongues for today? |
Bible Note: Dear John: I attended a very interesting Bible Study once where they asked the question: How does God speak to you? The women were separated from the men and were asked the same question. And notes were compared when the two groups came back together. This was not a pentecostal group. It was, believe it or not, a Luthern group. The men were a bit reluctant to share this experience. But little by little as each man opened up they all began to relate a similar account. My answer then, as it is to you now, explained that when God speaks to me I feel a still small voice in my heart. It is not an audible voice. And the experience is hard to explain. How do you feel speech? Yet this is the best way to describe it. And I think it is in keeping with, 1 Kings 19:11-13, which says: 11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: 12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. 13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah? The next question, how do I know it is the Lord speaking to me? John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: Why does the Lord speak to me? 1. To warn me of danger 2. To tell me to give someone a message 3. In answer to prayer 4. To reveal understanding of His Word. When does the Lord speak to me? Usually when I speak to Him. But sometimes when I am not speaking to Him Most of the Lutherns in the study group described experiences that were very similar. I suppose each man hesitated because of the stigma that is associated with hearing voices nowadays. Most of these men were professionals, engineers, doctors, authors, etc. And it was very humbling for them to open up their hearts under the circumstances. I hope you asked for the same reason we all shared with each other. To confirm your own experience with hearing God speak to you. |