God's audible voice in modernity

AVL1984,

In the case of my children's father - it was a mental disorder. After a car accident which resulted in a traumatic head injury he was diagnosed with multip mental illnesses including psychosis, mild skitzophrenia, major depressive disorder, and obessive-compulsive disorder.

 

One time there was an audible voice. Whether it was God or not, I don't know, but I know it was from Him.

After Scott was born I could not have more children, but we wanted more. Abortions were legal and all 'my' babies were being killed. The years passed and Scott was almost five years old. It was September of 1978. My Dad was in the hospital dying and life was a little grim.

I was doing dishes one morning, hubby at work and Scott in kindergarten, and I HEARD "I have something to say to you." I stopped what I was doing and looked around and no one was there and so I went back to dishes, wondering what tricks my mind was playing or how vivid an imagination I had.

Again I heard, "I have something to say to you." I stopped doing dishes again and stood there, waiting and wondering if I was going nuts, and then started doing dishes again.

A third time, audibly, "I have something to say to you."

And so I stopped the dishes, dried my hands, sat down at the kitchen table and opened my Bible and said, back, audibly, "If that's you, Lord, I haven't the slightest idea where to look here so you will have to do something."

Psalms is in the middle of the Bible and there is where I opened up. About Psalm 110 as I recall. I started reading. Lovely, but nothing 'hit' me. Psalm 111. Psalm 112. Psalm 113. Then I got to the end of Psalm 113 and it didn't just hit me, I felt totally stunned:

"He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from teh ash heap;
he seats them with princes, with the princes of their people.
HE SETTLES THE BARREN WOMAN IN HER HOME AS A HAPPY MOTHER OF CHILDREN."

"Children" that was plural. Was it a promise? I felt excited and hopeful. Would we end up with more than one?

Julie was born in Taiwan on April 19. On April 22, we got the phone call saying we had a baby daughter if we wanted her.

About the time I read that Bible verse, Julie's mom was just finding out she was pregnant. After Julie we ended up adopting four more. Children was indeed a plural word!

Nothing like that has ever happened again in terms of my outward senses. But I will never forget that time.

Since then, yes, I am aware of the quiet urging inside or the thought that intrudes on my normal thinking, or the Bible verse that 'hits.'

This I do know, and for a fact -- that God will do what a person needs. Sometimes, rarely, it may be audible or visual. But, like my time, the direction will always be back to His Word.

Do dreams from God happen? Yes, they do. He does communicate to us through various ways, but never apart from exactly what His Word says about Him, and that is what we have to let us know whether or not our own imagination or some nastier influence is at work in our lives. God, first and foremost, stays true to Himself.

But He touches each of us individually.

 

Awesome Helen!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Helen thanks for sharing that. I agree.

My mother shared with me that at a very dramatic moment in her life the Lord spoke audibly to her and she had absolutely no doubt it was the Lord.

He does touch and work with us each individually.

 

I don't know if God spoke to me or an angel spoke to me (didn't even hear a voice) but one time at work all of a sudden I felt a need to call my brother. Other events occurred after that and my brother is still alive and I believe it was a miracle from God.

 

Helen that was awesome! God is so neat!

 

Concerning prophecies, dreams, visions and other ecstatic experiences: If they agree with the Scriptures, they're needless, if they don't, they're false.

I believe Helen's story, and have heard many like it. The common element in them all is one of uncommon travail. God in His mercy and care that not one of His should perish often condescends and speaks in an uncommon way so that the bruised reed will not break, and the smoking wick will not be quenched.

But these are the exceptions, not the rule.

The Bereans were more noble and searched the Scriptures to verify Paul's message. They are the more sure word of prophecy 1 Peter 1:19-21. Those who are slothful in their approach to Bible study or lukewarm in their pilgrimage can expect no direction by any other means.

 

Does God speak through tradition? Icons? Or are you going to put God in a box and say that He can't? I know you think you have an open mind and a big view of God, but you really have a small view of the Scriptures.

A couple years back I stated on this board that it wouldn't be long before there was no difference between the SBC and Pentecostalism, and you've provided more evidence of that.

 

Sola Scriptura!

 

I'm gonna "ditto" Bro. Aaron here!

The Apostle Peter states in his epistle---1Peter 1:19-21 that:

as sure as he was 100% positive that it was God's voice that was heard on the Holy Mount---

there is a "more sure word"(voice) than even the audible voice of God---and its the Holy Scripture you have before you!! The Bible is "God talking"---even MORE reliable than even the audible voice of God----even if someone today was absolutely and positively certain----100%---beyond a shadow of a doubt--that it was the audible voice of God that they heard and not any other voice but the audible voice of God---even when they are that certain----we can be "More certain"---"more sure" of what Scripture says!!!---even beyond the audible voice of God!!! Sola Scripture!!!!

Bro. David

 

I have already stated that I think we need to test things against God's word, and we need to pray. That said though - if I understand some of you correctly, you're saying there is never any reason for God to speak aloud.

I know a person who was about to enter an intersection when they heard a voice they believe was God telling them to stop. They did, and the front end of their car was clipped by a car that ran a light. Had they ignored the voice, they would have been broadsided where their child sat.

There is no scripture in the bible that says, "Stop! There is a drunk about to run a light and hit you!" Even if there was a scripture, it isn't likely the person was reading the bible while driving down the road.

Stay close to God, and of course to the scriptures, so if/when the voices speak, you'll know if they are of God.

 

That is quite the stretch....

 

Helen that is absolutely awesome. I love happy endings...er beginnings, or whatever you want to call them!

guitar...that was hilarious!

I think it would be a closed minded person to believe that God cannot speak to us.

 

Helen, than you for that testimony.

 

God does speak to us----in a more reliable way than audible---He speaks to us through Scripture---Scripture IS God speaking!!! Scripture is Jesus talking!!!

But lets just suppose that the audible voice that you just heard WAS God---the audible voice said:

"So & So! This is God speaking! I want you to ______________!"(fill in the the blank)

The audible voice would not be profitable

for any kind of doctrine

for any kind of reproof

for any kind of correction

for any kind of instruction in righteousness


The audible voice of God---is not able to move you to perfection and cannot move a person to be furnished unto all good works.

2Timothy 3:16-17 says, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."

I have not sinned if I am moved to "doubt" the audible voice---or what is taken as the audible voice---of God!!! I have not sinned if I am moved to disobey the audible voice---or what is taken as the audible voice--of God!!

But I have sinned if I am moved to doubt the written word of God! I have sinned against God when I am moved to disobey the written word of God!

We move to a dangerous position in our lives as 21st Century believers when we begin to equate what we believe is the audible voice of God with Holy Scripture! Holy Scripture is not "proved" by any audiblitiy---which moves into the realm of LDS blasphemy----Holy Scripture must stand alone as the inspiration of God!!

Bro. David

 

blackbird, I believe many people believe that God uses other ways of speaking to us in support of His Word. Kinda like teachers who teach us His Word.

How would you explain what happened to me or others on here? Thanks.

 

I don't need to explain what happened to you nor to the others---I know where I stand! Rather on the other hand---you and the others must show burden of proof---beyond a shadow of a doubt---your dependablilty on the audible voice of God verses your dependability on the sole reliablity of the written Holy Scripture---unless the voice of God comes from Holy Scripture---it cannot be totally reliable and cannot be passed as truly the voice of God.

Again---to equate what may or may not be the audible voice of God---or what is passed as such---with what is seen and read as Holy Scripture--falls along the line of LDS heresy and blasphemy.

Your friend,
Bro. David

 

Thank you for your kind words Sir. I really don't have to prove what happened to me. You have to prove it wasn't God. I know you are not saying the devil would have done it so that my brother's life could be saved.

 

Thank you for your kind words Sir. I really don't have to prove what happened to me. You have to prove it wasn't God. I know you are not saying the devil would have done it so that my brother's life could be saved. </font>[/QUOTE]All I am saying is what I have already said---the audible voice of God---or what is passed as the audible voice of God---cannot---must not---be equated with what is already written in the written Holy Scripture!----and don't misquote me---I am not saying that the voice you or your relatives heard may have supposedly been the voice of the devil---I am not saying that---but neither am I saying that the voice you may have heard was truly truly the audible voice of God and not human instinct, or intellect, or intuition.

What I am saying is----sola Scripture! The only infallable, inerrant, inspired word(voice) of God we have!

Your friend,
Brother David