True/False God can ONLY "Speak" Today in the Holy Bible!

[JesusFan]

That either He will always and only 'speak" to us by the Bible when we hear/read the Word, or can He still at times use say dreams/Visions/promptings by the Holy Spirit etc?

Essentially, do we see God as closing down all spiritual ways outside of the Bible today or not?

 

[Tom Butler]

That either He will always and only 'speak" to us by the Bible when we hear/read the Word, or can He still at times use say dreams/Visions/promptings by the Holy Spirit etc?

Essentially, do we see God as closing down all spiritual ways outside of the Bible today or not?

A good question.

As a general rule, God has revealed his will to us through the Scriptures.

However, that does not explain how God calls men and women into special service.

Those of you whom God has called to preach, to evangelize, to missions or other service, help us out. How did you ascertain God's will?

Was there a prompting by the Spirit; an inner urgency; an audible voice of God; a set of circumstances; the welling up of an intense desire?

Then there's the question of God's will for our lives in general. Has God revealed his will regarding, say, a career path. a change in jobs, a major purchase; or, say, if God is moving you to a new pastorate?

Okay, release the hounds.

 

[convicted1]

A good question.

As a general rule, God has revealed his will to us through the Scriptures.

However, that does not explain how God calls men and women into special service.

Those of you whom God has called to preach, to evangelize, to missions or other service, help us out. How did you ascertain God's will?

Was there a prompting by the Spirit; an inner urgency; an audible voice of God; a set of circumstances; the welling up of an intense desire?

Then there's the question of God's will for our lives in general. Has God revealed his will regarding, say, a career path. a change in jobs, a major purchase; or, say, if God is moving you to a new pastorate?

Okay, release the hounds.

Well, as for me, when in regards to God calling me to the ministry, it was more of a "knowing" than anything else. Some of you on here may not eat this, but what I am about to tell you is the complete truth. I had a feeling for years that if/when God saved me, that I'd be a preacher. I would driving along, thinking, and I could see myself behind a pulpit preaching, and this was when I was a sinner. Mom told me numerous times, that if God saved me, I'd make a preacher....this is totally a true story. The morning I went to mom and dad and told them God had saved me, mom told me later that after I left to go home, mom said that dad looked at her and said, "He'll be preaching in no time." So, I know that we each have a different story to tell on how God called us to what we do, but its all the same conclusion, God calling us to do that job.

Now, the first time I took the stand, I had told my moderator the week before that God wanted me to preach His Word. That morning at our business meeting, he called on me to preach the opening sermon. He told the church that there was someone there who had told him that God had called him to preach, and I just broke down right there. I was SCARED to death of this. I wasn't scared when I told my moderator, but that morning, when I made my first "offering", that was a completely different feeling, altogether. I still have that "fear" when I approach the stand, because I don't know what God has in store for me at that time. Sometimes I have been on top of the mountain, and sometimes, I couldn't have told you my name.

 

[JesusFan]

A good question.

As a general rule, God has revealed his will to us through the Scriptures.

However, that does not explain how God calls men and women into special service.

Those of you whom God has called to preach, to evangelize, to missions or other service, help us out. How did you ascertain God's will?

Was there a prompting by the Spirit; an inner urgency; an audible voice of God; a set of circumstances; the welling up of an intense desire?

Then there's the question of God's will for our lives in general. Has God revealed his will regarding, say, a career path. a change in jobs, a major purchase; or, say, if God is moving you to a new pastorate?

Okay, release the hounds.

This is one of my "areas of Concern" within baptist Circles...

Are we SO concerned with upholding the canon is closed, which it is, and that we cannot allow for the cultic/frindge/ not scrpitual aspects of modern pentacostalism in our our ranks...

that we face a real and present danger of if we don't watch it, and keep a balnce, that we might become so"doctinal" pure that NOTHING God can do outside the Bible being preached/teached/taught is allowed, assumed to be "evil/satanic:...

Again, also see the hangup with sematics/terminology at times...

If I say the Holy Spirit "prompting" me to come to you and give siome advise, or to pray for you, is that not a working of the Holy Spirit?

One can say God "led me" to speak to you, to meet a need in your life, called it guidance or promptings, but isn't the danger unless in the Bible, He can no longer directs/guide today apart from the Bible, period?

Will He still be able to lead/guide/empower even IF Bible not present, not in the Church pew?

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

I would not limit God to anything.... Thats quenching the HS!

 

[JesusFan]

I would not limit God to anything.... Thats quenching the HS!

I honestly see the dangers with allowing "too much" as was raised a pentacostalist before converting to baptist...

but also been in and around baptists who unless you are reading right form the bible...

NOTHING can happen today!

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

I honestly see the dangers with allowing "too much" as was raised a pentacostalist before converting to baptist...

but also been in and around baptists who unless you are reading right form the bible...

NOTHING can happen today!

Who is doing the allowing......Man or God. LOL

 

[Van]

Reply to Jesusfan,

That either He will always and only 'speak" to us by the Bible when we hear/read the Word, or can He still at times use say dreams/Visions/promptings by the Holy Spirit etc?

Essentially, do we see God as closing down all spiritual ways outside of the Bible today or not?

The Biblical evidence is more nuanced than your formulation, Jesusfan. If we accept that the Bible is a closed book, a view I accept, then there are no more people speaking God's word for others to accept. No one can turn to the last page of the Bible and start writing new scripture. So, like many others, I am what is termed a cessationalist, there are no longer apostles and prophets, that foundation has been laid and there is no need to lay another foundation.

But that does not preclude God's Spirit from enlightening us, by helping us understand the message of scripture. Scripture says that without the aid of the indwelt Spirit, we cannot understand some spiritual things, the solid food spiritual things, but only the milk. So either no one is maturing, or God is providing insight in a way other than a fallen man gets by reading the text.

P.S. I see I left one point out, (1) God speaks to us through the Bible, and so if a "commentator" enlightens us with stuff that does not fit with the Bible, that "spirit" is not of God.


Now as for "how" our Holy Spirit provides that insight, I see nothing to limit the revelatory grace to "aha" moments during eyes closed prayer, so we might wake up with an idea or feeling of peace over something that was on our mind when we went to sleep. My Dad told me of a "dream" he had during a "near death" moment where he was walking near a stream. For the last year of his life, he was at peace with the world, knowing (at least in his mind) that the gates of heaven were standing open to him. Praise God.

 

[preacher4truth]

That either He will always and only 'speak" to us by the Bible when we hear/read the Word, or can He still at times use say dreams/Visions/promptings by the Holy Spirit etc?

Essentially, do we see God as closing down all spiritual ways outside of the Bible today or not?

God speaks to us by bringing to our remembrance what He has said to us through His Word, just as to the apostles. John 14:26 where remembrance means to "remind quietly." This comes to us in several ways; convicting us, prompting, and bringing comfort and peace to our minds and hearts.

He also guides us into all truth. John 16:13. Somehow we just know it is Him. I think also, some become fearful and second-guess this, asking if it is from God many times.

How can we know it is from Him? We get acquainted with His Word, and as true sheep, we hear His Voice, and follow Him.

I haven't had God speak to me in any other way than according to His Word. If we want to seek dreams and interpretations, I would avoid that altogether. It's not but a half step from occultic practices in my opinion.

Many many times those who have dreams and say these dreams are from God, come forth as contrary to His Word. That means it was not of God, no matter how good it may have made one feel (or bad.) I align it with seeking signs. I believe God will say "OK, that's what you want?"..then allows certain to go down such a road.

 

[JesusFan]

God speaks to us by bringing to our remembrance what He has said to us through His Word, just as to the apostles. John 14:26 where remembrance means to "remind quietly." This comes to us in several ways; convicting us, prompting, and bringing comfort and peace to our minds and hearts.

He also guides us into all truth. John 16:13. Somehow we just know it is Him. I think also, some become fearful and second-guess this, asking if it is from God many times.

How can we know it is from Him? We get acquainted with His Word, and as true sheep, we hear His Voice, and follow Him.

I haven't had God speak to me in any other way than according to His Word. If we want to seek dreams and interpretations, I would avoid that altogether. It's not but a half step from occultic practices in my opinion.

Many many times those who have dreams and say these dreams are from God, come forth as contrary to His Word. That means it was not of God, no matter how good it may have made one feel (or bad.) I align it with seeking signs. I believe God will say "OK, that's what you want?"..then allows certain to go down such a road.

Agree with you on the certainity of Bible being always a direct and true 'word from God" to us today...

Haven't you ever though being compelled/led by the HS to witness to someone out of the blue, to give someone something they needed, to pray spefically for someone etc?

 

[JesusFan]

The Biblical evidence is more nuanced than your formulation, Jesusfan. If we accept that the Bible is a closed book, a view I accept, then there are no more people speaking God's word for others to accept. No one can turn to the last page of the Bible and start writing new scripture. So, like many others, I am what is termed a cessationalist, there are no longer apostles and prophets, that foundation has been laid and there is no need to lay another foundation.

But that does not preclude God's Spirit from enlightening us, by helping us understand the message of scripture. Scripture says that without the aid of the indwelt Spirit, we cannot understand some spiritual things, the solid food spiritual things, but only the milk. So either no one is maturing, or God is providing insight in a way other than a fallen man gets by reading the text.

P.S. I see I left one point out, (1) God speaks to us through the Bible, and so if a "commentator" enlightens us with stuff that does not fit with the Bible, that "spirit" is not of God.


Now as for "how" our Holy Spirit provides that insight, I see nothing to limit the revelatory grace to "aha" moments during eyes closed prayer, so we might wake up with an idea or feeling of peace over something that was on our mind when we went to sleep. My Dad told me of a "dream" he had during a "near death" moment where he was walking near a stream. For the last year of his life, he was at peace with the world, knowing (at least in his mind) that the gates of heaven were standing open to him. Praise God.

that is nature of the OP...

KNOW Bible is the sure word from/of the Lord to us today, but can we allow also for the HS to be able to guide/led/prompt us through out our walk in Christ?
taht he just might led us to give someone else needed wisdom, meet and provide resources etc without actually knowing of the need until that very moment?

 

[Van]

A spirit not from God would say "God told me you should.... A spirit of God would say, scripture says you should study His word, pray about your decision, and seek the counsel of mature Christians you know and trust. Then make your decision, doing your best to abide in His will.

 

[JesusFan]

A spirit not from God would say "God told me you should.... A spirit of God would say, scripture says you should study His word, pray about your decision, and seek the counsel of mature Christians you know and trust. Then make your decision, doing your best to abide in His will.

Then you believe that God CANNOT do anything in our lives apart from the Bible today?

 

[Van]

reply to Jesusfan,

Then you believe that God CANNOT do anything in our lives apart from the Bible today?

I believe you are not making much of an effort to discuss my view.

Scripture says God does as He pleases, and He is sovereign, and He fulfills His prophecies. So God can make us well, make us sick, end our life, give us a new life, and so on.

Everyone believes this, so what did you mean? Did you mean God will not speak to us differently than He spoke to us in scripture? Yes I agree with that.

Did you mean God does not reveal stuff to us that is applicable to our lives? No, God does reveal stuff to us apart from the general information found in the bible. When we seek His wisdom through prayer and study and the advise of fellow believers, I believe God enlightens us. For example, say I read a passage and prayerfully come up with an understanding. Might be right, i.e. partly the work product of the Holy Spirit, or it might be misguided, reflecting my error. But then as I study more and find the same idea in other passages, by other authors, I grow confident that I have indeed discerned the Holy Spirit's guidance. Now this idea, might be applicable to my life, i.e pray more and spend less time on the BB, and is not directly from the Bible, but it is consistent with all scripture. But if through the same process, I think God guided me to tell you, Jesusfan, to pray more and spend less time on the BB, I am misguided.

 

[SBCPreacher]

I believe that God can use anything He wants to get our attention. He can speak to us within our spirits. But whatever He says will agree with what He has already given in Scripture. I do not believe that he has modern-day apostles giving new truth that is to be added to Scripture (like the LDS and others do).

When God called me to preach, I was absolutely positive (although I fought it as hard as I could). I didn't open my Bible and read, "Gary, I want you to preach My Word" (that would have been nice!), but His calling was still just as clear.

 

[MB]

Then you believe that God CANNOT do anything in our lives apart from the Bible today?

Any speaking to our heart apart from scripture had better agree with scripture. If it doesn't, it isn't God speaking to your heart. What we can't learn from scripture will be taught to us once we are with Christ. There isn't any new revelations from God that contradicts the Bible.
MB

 

[JesusFan]

Any speaking to our heart apart from scripture had better agree with scripture. If it doesn't, it isn't God speaking to your heart. What we can't learn from scripture will be taught to us once we are with Christ. There isn't any new revelations from God that contradicts the Bible.
MB

Agreed..

Not talking about ANY new revealtion from God...

Just asking if God can be permitted to still be able to lead/guide/prompt enable us at times apart from the Bible?

The HS can lead you to meet needs of another without you knowing what they are, you can be prompted to speak to someone about a situation having God given wisdom and insight for example...