The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum Audible voices

What do you say to someone who tells you that God is speaking to them in an audible voice?<br><br>The other night as I was cleaning up after a lecture at my Church a couple of ladies approached me with some questions about theophanies. (They could obviously tell by the way I handled a broom that I was an astute theologian). I didn't really know where they were going with the question so I more or less answered that I thought the next physical appearing of God will be when Jesus comes back. One of them got a little irate and wanted to know why I thought God would not bless a person by spending time with them personally. I told her that God does just that with every believer since they are actually indwelt by the Holy Spirit. <br><br>They then insisted that there is nothing in Scripture that says God doesn't continue to speak to people today just as He did in the Bible. When I said I thought the Bible was God speaking since it is "living and powerful", they said that I was putting God into a box. <br><br>The one lady said that God had spoken to her audibly (told her to leave the RCC).<br><br>I was wondering if any of you have run into anything similar and how do you handle it? Also when Paul says in 1 Corr 13:10, "But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away." Do any of you believe the "that which is perfect" is the canon of Scripture? If not then what is the "that"?<br><br>Stucco

Stucco,<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>[color:"blue"]What do you say to someone who tells you that God is speaking to them in an audible voice?</font><hr></blockquote><p>There's an article here on the Highway that addresses this very topic.<br><br>Does God Speak Today Apart From The Bible?<br><br>I hope you find it helpful.<br><br><br>Wes

Stucco,<br><br>The simplest answer I would give someone who claims to hear "voices" which are claimed to be God speaking to them, is to take them to Hebrew 1,<blockquote>Hebrews 1:1-2 (ASV) "God, having of old time spoken unto the fathers in the prophets by divers portions and in divers manners, <span style="background-color:yellow;">hath at the end of these days spoken unto us in [his] Son</span>, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds;"</blockquote>Show them that in Christ, the fullness and end of God's revelation to man was complete; i.e., with the written Word, the Scriptures, God spoke His final word.<br><br>You might also want to read these articles:<br><br>Does God Speak to Us Today Apart From the Bible? by R. Fowler White.<br><br>The Speaking Voice by A.W. Tozer.<br><br>What is the Word of God? by Louis Berkhof.<br><br>In His Grace,

Stucco,<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>[color:"blue"]Paul says in 1 Corr 13:10, "But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away." Do any of you believe the "that which is perfect" is the canon of Scripture? If not then what is the "that"?</font><hr></blockquote><p>In this passage Paul shows how much better it will be with the church hereafter than it can be here. A state of perfection is in view (v. 10):When that which is perfect shall come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When the end is once attained, the means will of course be abolished. He says there will be no need for tongues, and prophecy, and inspired knowledge, in a future life, because then the church will be in a state of perfection, complete both in knowledge and holiness. God will be known then clearly, and in a manner by intuition, and as perfectly as the capacity of glorified minds will allow; not by such transient glimpses, and little portions, as here.<br><br>The difference between these two states is a comparison of childhood to manhood. The present state is a state of childhood, the future that of manhood: (v. 11) When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child;, I thought, as a child; but, when I became a man, I put away childish things. Such is the difference between earth and heaven. What narrow views, what confused and indistinct notions of things, have children, in comparison of grown men! And how naturally do men, when reason is ripened and matured, despise and relinquish their infant thoughts, put them away, reject them, esteem as nothing! Thus shall we think of our most valued gifts and acquisitions in this world, when we come to heaven. We shall despise our childish folly, in priding ourselves in such things when we are grown up to men in Christ.<br><br><br>Wes<br>

Wes,<br><br>So Paul is talking about the church now as compared to the church in glory. I can see that. I appreciate your answer. I was kind of leaning towards thinking that Paul was talking about the miraculous spiritual gifts that were given as signs of authority in order to help establish the NT church passing away once the actual recording of God's revelation to the Apostles were complete. In other words, once the Church had it all in writing.<br><br>Taken in the context of the rest of the chapter though, (especially verse 12) I can see how your application fits.[img]http://www.the-highway.com/w3timages/icons/bingo.gif" alt="bingo" title="bingo[/img] <br><br>Mucho Gracias,[img]http://www.the-highway.com/w3timages/icons/thumbup.gif" alt="thumbup" title="thumbup[/img]<br>Stucco

Pilgrim,<br><br>Now why didn't I think of that?[img]http://www.the-highway.com/w3timages/icons/stupidme.gif" alt="stupidme" title="stupidme[/img]<br><br>Thanks for the references. I'll get reading. Btw, Fowler White sometimes attends this same lecture series and has been one of the speakers in the past. Since I am a man of such high esteem on the programs committee, (OK, I'm the one who brings refreshments and cleans up) maybe I should suggest we have him speak again on this very topic.[img]http://www.the-highway.com/w3timages/icons/idea.gif" alt="idea" title="idea[/img]<br><br>Stucco

Stucco<br><br>As a former Pentecostal, I can say that I know many people who claim to have had God speak directly to them, my own mother being one of them. Also knowing these people personally, I know that they are not lying, but that doesn't mean that these voices were actually God speaking. <br>Too me this is just too subjective and I would rather rely on what the Word of God actually says. <br>In the case you mentioned where the woman was supposedly told by God to leave the Roman Catholic Church, though it isn't bad advice. <br>It doesn't mean that it was actually God talking; as a matter of fact I have heard it said that Satan will tell a thousand truths just to make someone believe one lie.<br>If Satan can get our minds off of the objective Word of God and on something else entirely, then He has accomplished His goal.<br><br>Tom<br>

Tom,<br><br>I agree. I don't think this lady was lying. I also believe she is a Christian woman. She did sort of put me on the spot though in the way that she waited for me to state my views before informing me of her experience. I might have been able to phrase things a bit more gently had I known this from the start. It felt a bit like an ambush.<br><br>As far as backing up her claim from Scripture she just basically argued from the negative, saying that the Bible didn't specifically speak against such conversations. I did point out that 2 Tim 3:17 tells us that the Scriptures are sufficient to make the man of God complete and thoroughly equipped for every good work. If this is so, then what would the purpose be of these additional one on one revelations. I think Hebrews 1 (as Pilgrim pointed out) would have been the better way to go. Maybe next time.<br><br>I just see a lot of problems that could crop up from that line of thinking. Seems a bit like gnosticism.<br><br>Thanks for the input.<br><br>Stucco

<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>[color:"blue"]I just see a lot of problems that could crop up from that line of thinking. Seems a bit like gnosticism.</font><hr></blockquote><p> Many problems do creep in this way. False advise, as if it is coming from God himself, turns people from God. It is adding to Scripture for one is say, "thus sayeth the Lord." As far as this ladies argument-[img]http://www.the-highway.com/w3timages/icons/puke.gif" alt="puke" title="puke[/img] The Bible does not specifically speak against French kissing frogs, but that does not mean we do it--well most of us at least [img]http://www.the-highway.com/w3timages/icons/rofl.gif" alt="rofl" title="rofl[/img]<br>

<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>[color:"blue"]The Bible does not specifically speak against French kissing frogs, but that does not mean we do it--well most of us at least [img]http://www.the-highway.com/w3timages/icons/rofl.gif" alt="rofl" title="rofl[/img]</font><hr></blockquote><p><br><br>Some princesses apparently do. [img]http://www.the-highway.com/w3timages/icons/rolleyes.gif" alt="rolleyes" title="rolleyes[/img]

Stucco,<br>I would alse have difficulty believing in the lady's audible voice account. God does speak to us through His Word.<br>God has spoken to me very specifically through his Word at times. One such time was when someone, a family member had spead a very destructive lie about me and I was very wounded. I was reading the Bible late one night and felt that God was telling me "There is something on this page for you." I kept reading and found nothing and was thinking, "No there isn't" and then there it was!<br><blockquote>Proverbs 6: 16 There are six things that the Lord hates,<br>seven that are an abomination to him:<br>17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue,<br>and hands that shed innocent blood,<br>18 a heart that devises wicked plans,<br>feet that make haste to run to evil,<br>19 a false witness who breathes out lies,<br>and one who sows discord among brothers.</blockquote><br><br>I was very comforted by those words in Proverbs. I'm sure many others have had similar experiences to that. That is not the only time something like that has happened to me. But something even more unusual did happen once. I'm not a Charismatic, but almost 17 years ago I am convinced that 'God spoke to me". I was quite ill and I was crippled by a strange immune system disease. I was unable to sleep and in a lot of pain and was very afraid because I kept getting worse and was unable to walk except with much difficulty, holding on to a cane. I was going to go to a specialist the next day. I am certain that the Lord 'spoke to me' that night. I felt a great peace and stillness and I sensed that God was telling me in a very clear way but not audibly, "I will be with you." And I know that He was with me. The next day was the most painful day of all, but those words helped me trememdously. After that I gradually started to improve until I was finally in full remission. All thanks and praise to our merciful God! <br>Neither of these two things added to or took away from the Word of God, so I believe that God did really speak to me through those two experiences. <br><br><br>Susan<br><br>

Susan<br><br>My wife had a similar circumstance (about 22 years ago) when her car broke down on a highway (Hope Princeton). Normally this would be quite a scary circumstance for a young woman alone broken down. But she got a sense of calm that told her that God was in control and as it turned out it was correct.<br>There is a lot more to that story, but I think that shows the gist of it.<br><br>Tom