Does God Speak?

I recently listened to a teaching about connecting with God. The teacher said that God doesn't speak to His people except through the Bible. I don't believe this to be true. I wanted the views of those of you who are wiser than me. Will you tell me what you believe?The teacher quoted Hebrews 1:1 as the basis for why God doesn't speak to people anymore.Any input will be appreciated. I am not asking this to cause division, just for more information in case my belief needs to be adjusted. Thanks.

I wonder how he handles the statement of Jesus where he said his sheep hear his voice? It is true however that much of what we recieve from the Lord is from His word, however, He still speaks to His children, always being consistant with His written Word and His character, but at times on a deeper more personal level. I once had a dear Older Brother in the Lord say to me about preachers, that the messages they gave to him was like a T-bone steak, you cut away the fat, remove the bone and then whats left you keep for your use! Huuummmm make me hungry just thinking about it :-) Hang in there us preachers don't know it all!

I appreciate your input. I wonder how a person can take a God that is the same yesterday, today and forever, and say He has changed.

I believe that the following verse should shed some light on the subject.Joh 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. Greg ;-)

I appreciate your input. I believe that we do hear from God through His Spirit.

I am in total agreement. :-)

1 Corinthians 12:8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, How else would one receive these gifts of the Holy Spirit.Thoughout Scripture God's voice is present...to direct the path of those who hear...In ChristJeff

The teacher said that God doesn't speak to His people except through the Bible This sounds like a ceasationist – he probably doesn’t believe in any of the revelatory gifts, or signs, or tongues. He is wrong, and can easily be proven so. You’ve probably heard of the many Muslims who have received Christ through dreams. At this very time, God is speaking directly to his children around the world. Often their very lives depend on their ability to hear him. When I was ill with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, my mind was not working very well (dyslogia). I would forget the obvious, I would get lost on familiar streets, and much worse. God would often help me out by speaking directly to me. But He usually required me to do some thinking myself. For example, one day I drove away from my home and headed toward the wrong town. About a mile out I heard this, ‘Where are you going?” That grabbed my attention and I realized that I was headed in the wrong direction. I likely I would not have realized it in time, and would have been late for my appointment. I could give you numerous examples of where God has spoken directly into my mind, or in dreams and visions – all for my own spiritual growth or to guide intercession. He usually gives me scriptures to accompany the revelatory experiences. God is quite able to give us the exact scriptures we need for a particular situation. For example: One day I prayed for a scripture for a message I was to present in a Sunday morning service. I had been asked to “share”. Anyway, as I prayed I heard, 2 Timothy. So I waited to hear which verse. I read through the book a few times, and was frustrated because God wasn’t giving me the verse. After desperate prayer, I “got it’. He wanted me to apply the overall thought of the entire book. I was to preach the word, never mind just “share”. The reason I had been told to “share” was because I was female., but God would have none of it. I shared but also gave a word as I felt God had lead me. “His sheep hear his voice”. That means he HAS a voice, and we can learn to recognize it. The only way someone is gonna hear from God is to make HIM the priority ALL day long. Pray without ceasing. STUDY the Word, dont just read it. These words cannot be emphasized enough. As our thinking conform to God’s thinking we will be able to hear his guidance, and also discern if an impression or inner voice is from him or not. When Samuel was a young lad, the God’s voice was rarely heard because the nation was apostate. That may very well be the case today in our western society. But most believers today dont hear from God because they are too busy watching TV, working, etc etc I might add, that we have been accustomed to hearing and following our own voices so may not be able to tune in to God’s voice. The spirit is weak. Diane

he wants to test us to see if we'll stay faithful without some 'fanciful' miracle like that. It's sorta like "blessed are they who believe and have not seen Me, for great is their rewards in Heaven".. This is very true. Those who are looking for special experiences in order to validate their Spirit-filled “status” have totally missed the point. They are in danger of turning revelations into idols. And the devil knows that, and can lead them astray. After all, he can mimic a lot of the things God does. There is an OT reference to the false prophets receiving deceiving visions. Please do!! I have been very reluctant to share revelatory experiences or impressions because it can take the focus away from their intention, and their Source. I have noticed that when I share in God’s timing, the intended response is elicited: The revelation is NEVER the center of attention, rather, the conscience is pricked, the person is comforted, assured, or whatever is needed at the moment. It is really the Holy Spirit at work, and I am merely a channel. Here is one example: One night when I was a youth Chaplin at a summer camp I had a dream of a party going on downstairs. I awoke (2 am) and was quite concerned, as I was the only adult there, and was responsible. The Lord restrained me from going downstairs, and after some fretting on my part, I finally let it rest and went back to sleep. The next morning I spoke privately to some of the teens, saying, “Last night I dreamed about a party”. That’s all I said. One youth said, “Oh, I was up late last night with so and so and we were praying and sharing. I could tell that he was not lying. He was a godly person. Then I said it to another youth and she gave me an angry, defensive response and said, “Well, we should have a right to do what we want around here.” (the youth were staff) I learned that she was the instigator of the party. I discovered another more serious offence, and got her fired. God had wanted that, for the protection of the ministry. Diane

hi, i beleive you must hear from God personnally in order to be saved(the Holy Spirit'scall on your heart)there are no examp;es of faith in the bible other than God speaking to an individuals heart to do something specifically. Faith comes from HEARING and hearing from the word of God.you have not chosen Me but Ihave chosen you.God is still God and still speaks in that still small voice.jimpg

i beleive you must hear from God personnally in order to be saved(the Holy Spirit'scall on your heart)there are no examp;es of faith in the bible other than God speaking to an individuals heart to do something specifically.This is where the ceasationists do a lot of harm with their doctrinal position. I use myself as an example. For years I considered myself saved because I followed the voice of man, man's instructions on how to get saved (in four steps) I really relied on man. It was a huge eye-opener to me to know, first of all, that I could seek God myself directly , and second that he could speak so clearly without a mediator (pastor). Hearing God brought me on path to true repentance. Diane

Greetings in Christ Jesus sis. Melissa ...My "life-verse" is Jer. 33:3;"Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not."So it's obvious that i believe our Lord speaks to me/us ...As i've said before ... If it's not the Spirit of God talking to me (within my spirit is how i hear Him) then i'm in need of serious psychiatric help ... Tho i dare say there are many whom i've come in contact with that think it's definitely the latter :-P ...Have a blessed day in the power of the Holy Ghost!Bro. R

KrispyKrittr wrote:God does not give new, extra-Biblical revelation and He does not contradict His Word... but He does speak to us today thru the Holy Spirit. But most believers today dont hear from God because they are too busy watching TV, working, etc etc and not spending any real quality time reading the Word and praying.15 minutes of reading the Bible before you go to work is not "spending time with God". The only way someone is gonna hear from God is to make HIM the priority ALL day long. Pray without ceasing. STUDY the Word, dont just read it.KrispyI completely agree. Thanks for your input, Krispy.

I appreciate your input on this subject.

I appreciate your input on this subject.

KrispyKrittr wrote:God does not give new, extra-Biblical revelation and He does not contradict His Word... but He does speak to us today thru the Holy Spirit. But most believers today dont hear from God because they are too busy watching TV, working, etc etc and not spending any real quality time reading the Word and praying.KrispyI just read the biography of a Korean Christian named Esther Ahn Kim. She was persecuted in Korea by the Japanese before and during WW2. She refused to bow before the Japanese Idols and was eventually thrown in prison for several years. Before she went to prison, she and another Christian went to Japan to warn them that if they did not turn from Idolatry, God was going to send fire from Heaven on them. They believe God gave them the message for the Japanese. Then 6 years later, when they refused to turn from idols, the US dropped several bombs on Japan. They believe this was the fulfillment of that warning of Judgement.Do you think that she heard from God?

I appreciate your sharing with me.

Healingwaters wrote: If He did it than, than He can do it again. Can I hear an Amen?AMEN! Thank you for your input.

I completely agree with you.

I completely agree with you and you have a Blessed day as well!

Brother Jordan wrote:The Holy Spirit has been poured out forth, it was not before thus God did speak audibly. Now he speaks audibly through the Holy Spirit. We don't "need" him to speak audibly to us. It can be something that happens, but it doesn't have to. IMO, he wants to test us to see if we'll stay faithful without some 'fanciful' miracle like that.Jer. 1:4 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: 5 \t“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;\tBefore you were born I sanctified you;\tI ordained you a prophet to the nations.” Jer. 1:6 Then said I:\t“Ah, Lord GOD!\tBehold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.” Jer. 1:7 But the LORD said to me:\t“Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’\tFor you shall go to all to whom I send you,\tAnd whatever I command you, you shall speak. 8 \tDo not be afraid of their faces,\tFor I am with you to deliver you,” says the LORD. Jer. 1:9 Then the LORD put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me:\t“Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. 10 \tSee, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms,\tTo root out and to pull down,\tTo destroy and to throw down,\tTo build and to plant.” By what means did God use to speak to Jeremiah? Did anyone else hear God speaking to Jeremiah? Acts 2:17 \t“And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,\tThat I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;\tYour sons and your daughters shall prophesy,\tYour young men shall see visions,\tYour old men shall dream dreams.18 \tAnd on My menservants and on My maidservants\tI will pour out My Spirit in those days;\tAnd they shall prophesy.These are not miracles this is how one finds faith that has it source as God. In ChristJeff

Healingwaters wrote:Someone said that God only speaks thru the holy Spirit within them. Than I have read from Diane's post that God is speaking thru dreams to Muslims(which is awesome) These Muslims don't have the holy Spirit, so how are they hearing the holy Spirit speaking?Isn't this just another form of limiting God?I believe it was Zac Poonen who asked God if He was real to reveal Himself to him. Zac at this time didn't have the holy Spirit, but God revealed Himself to him. So how could the holy Spirit speak to him when it wasn't in him?All I see in this kind of reasoning is more limitations. If I am being critical than so be it. Judge ye. If God only speaks through His Holy Spirit in us, how does anyone ever get saved? He draws us first. I met a missionary once, who gave his testimony. His wife was saved, he was not. He was in a car accident and he heard God speak to him audibly, it saved his life and he became a believer. He at the time didn't have the Holy Spirit, but his wife was praying for him.Abraham didn't have the Holy Spirit, God spoke to him though. I believe that God is able to speak however He decides is necessary.

John 10:16 " And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd" Does God speak? ALL THE TIME! I refuse to go through one day without fervently seeking the voice of my Lord. I am so ill equipped to carry this battle in my own strength, what kind of foolish commander sends out soldiers without orders? Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever. Two examples from the Gospel of John:1) The man born blind in ch. 9 does not see the man who anoints his eyes with clay, however he does hear the voice of Jesus. After been thrown out of the temple for defending his healer, Jesus SEEKS him OUT. John 9:35-38 Jesus heard they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him " Do you believe in the Son of God?" He answered and said, " Who is He that I may believe in Him?" And Jesus said to him, " You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you." Then he said, "Lord, I believe!" And he WORSHIPPED Him. The Lord sought out the blind man who couldn't have identified the Lord in a line-up but who had heard His VOICE. Is it possible that during the interrogation of the Sanhedrin that the words of the Lord, "Go wash" echoed in his ears over and over? As his own family disowned him and his community excommunicated him the worship had already begun in his heart, "... surely this is a man of God for no sinner could ever work this miracle..." 2) I may not be a preacher per se but the Lord has given me a few messages to deliver. One of the most powerful for me is the moment, at the tomb, when the Lord reveals Himself to Mary. Mary is weeping so hard that her eyes could not see or recognize her Lord; whom she had just witnessed die a horrible, agonizing cruel death. I believe that her walk to the tomb, carrying the spices was one of tears. As she approched her Lord to perform what she believed to be her last act of SERVICE her heart was prepared to say good-bye.However the Lord planned something else; while Mary is weeping, seeking the Lord's body to anoint He SPEAKS to her John 20:16 Jesus said to her, "Mary!" In that moment, for all time, throughout eternity, Mary Magdalene became the messenger to the messengers; the first to witness Christ resurrection. Why her? I have my message, because she served the Lord, no matter what the cost she was prepared to adorn His body with perfume and spices, an act of worship. So what am I saying? Seek, with diligence, to serve and worship your Lord God and surely He will speak to you for what Father have we? The Lord has spoke to me, led me, and wrapped me in His arms, "... my heart greatly rejoices and with my song I will prasie Him " Ps 28:7His,Rich

MSeaman wrote:

I just read the biography of a Korean Christian named Esther Ahn Kim. She was persecuted in Korea by the Japanese before and during WW2. She refused to bow before the Japanese Idols and was eventually thrown in prison for several years. Before she went to prison, she and another Christian went to Japan to warn them that if they did not turn from Idolatry, God was going to send fire from Heaven on them. They believe God gave them the message for the Japanese. Then 6 years later, when they refused to turn from idols, the US dropped several bombs on Japan. They believe this was the fulfillment of that warning of Judgement.Do you think that she heard from God? would someone give me their input on this person's story? What do you think? Thanks.

You gave a lot of good advice and information. I appreciate it.