Can we "hear" God today as the Apostles did?

Post by **_brody_in_ga** » Fri May 19, 2006 8:17 pm

Homer wrote:John b,

Quote:
Some would say that hearing from God (or having an experience w/ Him) is equivallent to God's Word - both are God speaking and so the Bible is all good but that is what God has spoken in the past and we should be in on what God is saying today and now as long as nothing is contradictory. So our experiences are really what matter in the long run and where our focus should be beacause He speaks today. After all, Jesus said He had much more to tell the disciples that they were not ready to hear (can't find that verse right now) so there is more Truth out there than just what is written in our Bible.
For what its worth, Mormons claim to know what is truth by a "burning in the bosom experience".

I ate some pizza the other night, and had a simular experience.

Burning in the bosom.

Post by **_john b** » Mon May 22, 2006 7:33 am

..... pepperoni gets me too.

And just for the record - I know alot of people that hold to that view but I personally don't. Seems like putting the cart before the horse to me as well.

Post by **_Homer** » Mon May 22, 2006 9:44 am

john b wrote:

I also agree that God still speaks today. These posts are some good points. However, I have heard some take this issue a little farther.

Some would say that hearing from God (or having an experience w/ Him) is equivallent to God's Word - both are God speaking and so the Bible is all good but that is what God has spoken in the past and we should be in on what God is saying today and now as long as nothing is contradictory. So our experiences are really what matter in the long run and where our focus should be beacause He speaks today. After all, Jesus said He had much more to tell the disciples that they were not ready to hear (can't find that verse right now) so there is more Truth out there than just what is written in our Bible

And Aarondisney wrote:

I would say that whatever God says is just as powerfully true as anything He's ever said.

If it is agreed that God still speaks to us today, in the same way and as "powerfully true" as anything He ever said, how would we prove the Catholics wrong when they have added to that which is in scripture, as long as it doesn't contradict what has previously been spoken? If God has been continually speaking to men for the past 2000 years, by what method or means do we determine the cut-off point where what was spoken before is "scripture" and what was spoken after is not?

1. But His revealed Word is the framework by which He speaks and He will never go beyond that, 2. or give us more information pertinent to the entire universal Church, 3. but will speak directly to us as to the direction He wishes us to go.

How can we prove the three assertions in this statement are true?

So far on this thread we have made several statements supported by nothing more than opinions and personal experiences, with not one scripture cited as support for anything. Catholics, Mormons, &c have their experiences, visions, God speaking and so forth also. How do we determine ours are legitimate and theirs are not? How do we know He isn't talking to them?

Post by **_AARONDISNEY** » Mon May 22, 2006 11:57 am

Hello Homer,
I think that the Mormons, Catholics, etc. are adding things to the Bible and taking things from the Bible. Mormons are adding different levels to hell and heaven. I belive there will be worse punishment and greater reward in either place, but to make 6 distinct eternal places (I believe I've represented their assertions right) is contradicting God's revealed Word......
He said that hell will be cast into the lake of fire (one place)
He said that where He is we shall be also, as followers of Him (one place)
So they are adding to the Bible.

The Catholics believe that Mary is a co-redeemer (so it seems) that we can pray to her, but Paul said there is ONE mediator between God and man - the man Christ Jesus....
The Catholics also insist on confessing to a priest your sins for forgiveness...I also believe that's true, but the priest is not a man you or I will see here today. He is at the right hand of the Father. He is our great High Priest..

You get the drift - I could go on and on...The way I figure out what's from God or not - is by establishing what He's stated in His Word and comparing what has been claimed to be spoken by God with that...If it doesn't match up - it's false. Also I pray to get the wisdom that is from above, to know and discern what is a true word from God and what is meant to be a deception.

Post by **_Homer** » Mon May 22, 2006 12:43 pm

Aarondisney,

The way I figure out what's from God or not - is by establishing what He's stated in His Word and comparing what has been claimed to be spoken by God with that...If it doesn't match up - it's false. Also I pray to get the wisdom that is from above, to know and discern what is a true word from God and what is meant to be a deception.

But if God is still speaking to men (women included) the same as He has in the past, without interruption, how do we differentiate between what is "in His word" and what is spoken by Him and yet is "not in His word"?
What is in the bible and what was excluded from the canon of scripture was determined by fallible men. If there was no interruption, where is the line to be drawn?

Sidney Rigdon was a preacher in the early 19th century who began speculating that there might still be more revelation forthcoming from God. Along came Joseph Smith with that claimed revelation and Rigdon bit "hook, line, and sinker", and away he went with the Mormons.

Seems to me the safe ground is to believe He speaks to us through the scriptures with the Spirit.

Blessings, Homer

Post by **_AARONDISNEY** » Mon May 22, 2006 1:02 pm

Homer,

I must admit a little bit of laziness on my part to understand how the canon came into being. But from what I understand they made a few questions that had to be positively answered about each book and if they passed that test, they were in. That may sound simple but the tests for canonicity were very rigid and it would have been nearly impossible for them to make it if they all did not interconnect perfectly.

I would also assume that much prayer went into pulling that needle out of the haystack of so called inspired writings.

I fully trust the canon I have in my good ol' Bible.

When God speaks to me He speaks within the framework of the Bible. If God were to tell me to give 100 dollars to my friend that's struggling, that would be within the framework of "Give and it shall be given unto you" or "sell all that you have and give to the poor" or "it is more blessed to give than to receive"...So therefore I can trust that the Lord Himself is speaking to me. Now if that were to occur I've learned I must still pray about it to make sure it's God's will, and when I feel that He has intended I do so, I do it without reservation.

Now, if God told me to steal and apple from the applestand on the corner, when the owner isn't looking and give it to the homeless man down on the other corner, I know it isn't of the Lord. It may seem like a good Robin Hood type deed but God's Word claims - Thou shalt not steal...so I don't do it.

I don't believe that God has any new revelation for His Church, but as a loving Father, and as our Counsellor, I don't see any way possible that He would not want to speak with us.

Post by **_Homer** » Mon May 22, 2006 9:57 pm

Aarondisney,

You said:

When God speaks to me He speaks within the framework of the Bible. If God were to tell me to give 100 dollars to my friend that's struggling, that would be within the framework of "Give and it shall be given unto you" or "sell all that you have and give to the poor" or "it is more blessed to give than to receive"...So therefore I can trust that the Lord Himself is speaking to me. Now if that were to occur I've learned I must still pray about it to make sure it's God's will, and when I feel that He has intended I do so, I do it without reservation.

Now, if God told me to steal and apple from the applestand on the corner, when the owner isn't looking and give it to the homeless man down on the other corner, I know it isn't of the Lord. It may seem like a good Robin Hood type deed but God's Word claims - Thou shalt not steal...so I don't do it.

I don't believe that God has any new revelation for His Church, but as a loving Father, and as our Counsellor, I don't see any way possible that He would not want to speak with us.

I can't disagree with a thing you said there!

A retired Nazarine pastor I know said that when he was a young preacher, a woman told him God had told her that he (the preacher) was to go to Africa to be a missionary. When he got home he told his wife "if God wants me to go to Africa He will tell me, He's not a gossip".

Post by **_SoaringEagle** » Sat Nov 17, 2007 4:42 am

Suprised by the Voice of God by Jack Deere would bring clarity and understanding to this subject.