Why do Christians think God talks with them?

[Imalive]

Now that I'm at it..

John 14:26New King James Version (NKJV)

26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

 

[Imalive]

Luke 12

11 “Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. 12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

 

[Imalive]

John 16:13New King James Version (NKJV)

13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

 

[Imalive]

1 cor 12

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

 

[Imalive]

And to answer the 'has tongues vanished' question from the other thread, this is about the church, it doesnt say the first century church until the apostles die:

And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.

 

[MennoSota]

Thanks for all the Bible verses. All the ones from the gospels do not refer to God speaking so I find they do not address this issue. But, the verses on prophecy are worth consideration and can be used as an argument for God speaking today.
In that light, would you say the Canon of Scripture is not yet complete, meaning there may be more books God is authoring in revelation of himself?

 

[Josiah]

John 16:13New King James Version (NKJV)

13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

The "you" is in the plural.... it doesn't say anything about any single, individual person, church, denomination, sect or cult - even if the self same alone insists such for the self same exclusively.

We are also told to "test" things, for not every "voice" is that of God.

Some thoughts...


1. Experience is always very difficult to evaluate..... I don't deny that God CAN "speak" directly and individually to people (there are biblical examples.... and I tend to hesitate to declare what God cannot do). But just because He has and can doesn't mean He did and does. IMO, the "proof is in the pudding" in most cases; I'd tend to evaluate things in terms of what is CLAIMED was "said." Example: Those girls and their vision and message from Mary. Can I prove it didn't happen? Nope! Does that mean it did? Nope! But the "message" seems harmless.


2. I think individual persons, churches, denominations, cults, etc. tend to do this to evade accountability. "God only (or especially) leads ME!" (with "me" being that individual person, church, denomination or cult). "God told ME (just little ole special ME) and now I'm insisting that I'm the Mouth of God and I'm telling you - thank me very much." It's a pretty big red flag or me.....


3. Now, all that said (and meant).... I separate that from what I refer to as "leanings." There are times when, in my heart and soul, I "felt" God leading me - in my doing and (very rarely) in my thinking. But I "take" that as a personal thing, God "leading" me - and that has no significance to anyone else (thus, not need to share it), and I certainly don't "take" that in any dogmatic sense (cuz I've been wrong about God's leading before!).


Just my fairly worthless half cent.


Pax Christi


- Josiah


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[Imalive]

The "you" is in the plural.... it doesn't say anything about any single, individual person, church, denomination, sect or cult - even if the self same alone insists such for the self same exclusively.

We are also told to "test" things, for not every "voice" is that of God.







.

Oh. How does He do that? Talk to a whole bunch at once? By telling the preacher maybe? Anyways I just showed that He still talks. Of course you must test it always.

 

[psalms 91]

The "you" is in the plural.... it doesn't say anything about any single, individual person, church, denomination, sect or cult - even if the self same alone insists such for the self same exclusively.

We are also told to "test" things, for not every "voice" is that of God.







.

Then you acknowledge there is a voice (not every voice is of God)

 

[faramir.pete]

Let me pose another question here, what evidence did the first century Christians have that Christ had in fact risen from the dead?

Now let me answer that, they had the word of people that had experienced and seen him dead and alive again.

But those first believers did not have any empirical evidence of the statements made because Christ ascended too.

So why did they believe, indeed why do we believe, what these people said?

We believe because the Spirit quickens our spirit and it rings true in our hearts. The same thing is true for those of us that believe we have heard God speak to us.

I and all the others have no empirical evidence, but I and they believe He has and does still speak.

You may choose to refuse to accept my testimony, many people refused to accept the early Christians too, it did not and does not make the testimony false just because there is no empirical evidence.

You all have the right to choose what you believe, as for me I choose Him.


Pete from Peterborough UK

 

[MennoSota]

Let me pose another question here, what evidence did the first century Christians have that Christ had in fact risen from the dead?

Now let me answer that, they had the word of people that had experienced and seen him dead and alive again.

But those first believers did not have any empirical evidence of the statements made because Christ ascended too.

So why did they believe, indeed why do we believe, what these people said?

We believe because the Spirit quickens our spirit and it rings true in our hearts. The same thing is true for those of us that believe we have heard God speak to us.

I and all the others have no empirical evidence, but I and they believe He has and does still speak.

You may choose to refuse to accept my testimony, many people refused to accept the early Christians too, it did not and does not make the testimony false just because there is no empirical evidence.

You all have the right to choose what you believe, as for me I choose Him.


Pete from Peterborough UK

Why would God need to give a new and added message that he hasn't given in the Bible?

Is the Bible incomplete or insufficient?

 

[faramir.pete]

Why would God need to give a new and added message that he hasn't given in the Bible?

Is the Bible incomplete or insufficient?

Do you think God has stopped being involved in His creation then? Surely our good and loving God would want to communicate with us. Why would He remain silent for thousands of years?


Pete from Peterborough UK

 

[Imalive]

Why would God need to give a new and added message that he hasn't given in the Bible?

Is the Bible incomplete or insufficient?

He even talks to you when He lets a Scripture text pop up in your heart. You just don't notice and think it's your own thought.

 

[MennoSota]

Do you think God has stopped being involved in His creation then? Surely our good and loving God would want to communicate with us. Why would He remain silent for thousands of years?


Pete from Peterborough UK

God is Sovereign over all. He is active in all parts of his creation.

Is God's revelation in scripture incomplete? Does he need to give more revelation to his children?

 

[Imalive]

Why would God need to give a new and added message that he hasn't given in the Bible?

Is the Bible incomplete or insufficient?

If He wants you to pray for someone why can't He just tell you? Does He have to put that in the Bible? I want that MennoSota prays on september the how muchth is it for ..
Hey did you like my texts? Want some more? LOL.

 

[MennoSota]

He even talks to you when He lets a Scripture text pop up in your heart. You just don't notice and think it's your own thought.

He doesn't audibly talk.

The Bible is a living sword. It pierces to our heart as we read what God reveals.

Do you have any evidence from scripture of anyone hearing God speak from a scroll, papyrus or stone tablet?

It seems that we personify our own thoughts and claim them as God speaking.

 

[MennoSota]

If He wants you to pray for someone why can't He just tell you? Does He have to put that in the Bible? I want that MennoSota prays on september the how muchth is it for ..
Hey did you like my texts? Want some more? LOL.

He gave me a mind. I can pray as I wish. Prayer isn't for God anyway. He already knows all things. Prayer changes my attitude as I ponder God's goodness. What I don't hear is any voice or voices.

 

[Imalive]

He doesn't audibly talk.

The Bible is a living sword. It pierces to our heart as we read what God reveals.

Do you have any evidence from scripture of anyone hearing God speak from a scroll, papyrus or stone tablet?

It seems that we personify our own thoughts and claim them as God speaking.

I just posted the texts. The Holy Spirit will teach you everything and what I've told you, so He gives you texts, not when you read em, just when you get one. He would even reveal mysteries. I have to look that one up. Hm cant find it. This is a good one too.


I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.

Sometimes we personify our thoughts and sometimes people can think it was their own thought, but it was Him.

 

[MoreCoffee]

He doesn't audibly talk.

The Bible is a living sword.

"The word is living and active and sharper than any two edged sword" not "The scriptures ..." you're misquoting and misusing the scriptures so it is no wonder that the theology created from misquoted and misused scripture is bad theology. Go back and read the holy scriptures again. The Word of God is not a book.

It pierces to our heart as we read what God reveals.

Do you have any evidence from scripture of anyone hearing God speak from a scroll, papyrus or stone tablet?

It seems that we personify our own thoughts and claim them as God speaking.

 

[MennoSota]

"The word is living and active and sharper than any two edged sword" not "The scriptures ..." you're misquoting and misusing the scriptures so it is no wonder that the theology created from misquoted and misused scripture is bad theology. Go back and read the holy scriptures again. The Word of God is not a book.

Thanks for calling out scripture. What does Hebrews 4 say and does it apply to God speaking today?

Hebrews 4:9-16
[9]So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God.
[10]For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world.
[11]So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall.
[12]For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.
[13]Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.
[14]So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe.
[15]This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.
[16]So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

You contend that the writer is not referring to the Bible. Would this mean you don't consider the Bible to be God's word?

Or do you contend that the Bible is not enough and we need more?

What does this passage say we will find at Jesus throne? Is it a word of knowledge or is it mercy and grace?