How many ways?

"Be still and know that I am God..." I think God speaks to man by the stillness of the soul. Sometimes we are far too audible to hear what God has to say. There is a still, small voice discernable by the heart, and it speaks volumes if we are prepared to wait on the Lord.

Unlike some, I do not rule out either reason or emotion. These are all part of the human psyche, and God uses all means to reach His people.

Cheers,

Jim

 

God uses all kinds of ways to show me things. Such as clouds, Sunsets, trees, commercials. Yes I said commercials.

He speaks with thoughts, inpressions, through other people, the bible, all kinds of ways. And it can be anytime, anywhere throughout the day!!

Peace,

Tam

 

God speaks to me in many ways. Sometimes, I think I doubt that He would speak a certain way and question if it really Him. I think He is a lot bigger than we allow Him to be.

 

Why does he give different answers to Baptists, Catholics, Methodists . . . ?

 

He doesn't. We search out our differences based on our individual preferences, never mind what God actually says.

 

He speaks to me when I pray.....I need to listen....as Jim says "be still and know Me". Reiterated by music4Him. Thank you for the reminder.

It is that interior silence and stillness that is the key, the frenetic pace of the modern world is the devil at work to block out the faithful attempting to know and love God.

We need only to ask and He will be there always.

 

To All,

bmerr here. Hebrews 1:1-2 says,

"God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son..."

Jesus has not spoken to anyone personally since He gave the Revelation to John, but He has spoken to all men through the Word.

God did speak directly to men in the patriarchal dispensation, and He spoke through the prophets throughout the OT, and into to NT.

But Divine Revelation has ceased. There is nothing more for God to say to man, seeing that we have been given all things pertaining to life and godliness (2 Pet 1:3), and that it is Scripture that is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works (2 Tim 3:16-17).

If there's a good work to be done, the Bible is all one needs to be furnished to do it. That is why we must study to shew ourselves approved unto God, workmen that need not be ashamed (2 Tim 2:15).

I understand that many like the idea of the Holy Spirit whispering in their ear by a "still, small voice", but the Bible does not bear such an idea out.

In fact, this notion is largely to blame for the religious division among "Christians". So many denominations (divisions) all claiming Divine guidance for their diverse doctrines, which results in unbelievers often rejecting Christ entirely.

We've got to be wary of our "feelings", my friends. Feelings are not trustworthy! Remember Isaac, when Jacob came to him disguised as Esau? When Isaac judged by his hearing, he suspected the deception that was being employed. But when he trusted his feeling, he was decieved.

To rightly divide the word of truth, we must have our senses exercised by reason of use (Heb 5:14). Only then can we judge if a doctrine is in accordance with God's word. Lots of false doctrines are held to simply because they make the one who holds them "feel good".

"Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rom 10:17). Nothing about "feelings" there.

In Christ,

bmerr

[ January 13, 2006, 01:57 PM: Message edited by: bmerr ]

 

I feel sorry for those who are so frigid in their faith that they close God off from speaking to individuals. Close the emotions, and religion loses everything. If we cannot feel, we cannot emote what God is saying to us through His word.

Sorry I have no intentions of denuding my Christianity from the bowels of mercy.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Jim,

bmerr here. I'm not opposed to emotion, so long as it's derived from a proper understanding of Scripture. I'm just saying that one's emotions and feelings are not reliable as a source of authority. Worship must be in spirit (emotions) and in truth (in accordance with God's word).

music4him,

Elijah was one of those to whom, and through whom God spoke in the Old Testament. He's one if the guys mentioned in Heb 1:1-2. But in these last days, God has spoken to us by His Son, Whose word we have in the New Testament, and thus we are not still waiting for a "still, small voice" from God.

To wait for such is to deny the all-sufficiency of Scripture, is it not?

Not everything in the Scriptures applies to us today. The still, small voice Elijah heard is of this number.

In Christ,

bmerr

 

I don't think anyone is referring to extra-biblical revelation. They are talking about personal communication. Otherwise, why trouble to pray? Are these empty words bouncing off the ceiling in an echo of nothingness? God not only hears our prayers, but answers them. As I said, sometimes we are too busy talking to hear what God is saying to us.

I have been around long enough to know all the extra ramifications with extra-biblical revelations, and decisions made based on pure emotionalism.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Early in my ministry, I was introduced to the Keswick Movement. It is a deeper life conference, for those uninitiated. It was there I learned to be still and listen to God speak. It was not an audible voice, but a sense of hearing. I just knew that it was God. It is like going to choose a puppy. We see the pup and just know he/she is for us.

I repeat, I am not about to write the 5th gospel. It is a personal thing. It is relational. I would like to believe that my ministry was richer for the experience because it changed me dramatically.

Cheers,

Jim