Bible Only? God Speaks Only Through Scripture?

[diamondminer]

Hi there, first post. But anyways to try and answer your first question- Isn't it true that the holy spirit was poured out once Jesus left this earth giving us the chance to receive His Spirit which is actually inside us. That's pretty intimate. I don't believe the Jews had the spirit just because they were Jews, they had to receive it, so they weren't privileged there. They had God's glory among them at times but we will see him face to face, and although they saw his glory they didn't necessary have an intimate relation with God. Now some did but guess what they did what we would do as well if God were to show himself in any way to us on earth and God certainly has the right to withdraw his glory until he wishes because look how we treated him the first time. What do you call intimate, face to face, we will have that soon were here for a blink of an.. that fast and you know what God appreciates the faith we have for waiting much more than if we say we can't wait or that he must prove himself(which you might not be talking about) but anyway I don't believe he should come talk to me down here, it's complete filth do you think he would set foot now without judgment. O sorry rant, friends ok, later.

[Slug1]

Hi Slug,
Actually Paul recieved the teachings and revelations of the Gospel through a supernatural revelation of Christ himself but Paul chose not to go into too much detail regarding it.

Gal 1:11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel.
Gal 1:12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
Gal 1:13 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it.
Gal 1:14 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers.
Gal 1:15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace,
Gal 1:16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone;
Gal 1:17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.
Gal 1:18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days.
Gal 1:19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother.
Gal 1:20 (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!)
Gal 1:21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia.

and Paul had been given special revelation by Jesus regarding his ministry to the Gentiles.

Eph 3:1 For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles--
Eph 3:2 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you,
Eph 3:3 how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly.
Eph 3:4 When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ,
Eph 3:5 which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.
Eph 3:6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

Hey, thanks for this scripture...

[VerticalReality]

And how much more available is God to us today since the curtain was torn in two and the way to God made more open through Jesus Christ!

AMEN!!!

That's the most mind-boggling thing about the doctrine that God no longer speaks anymore . . .

Jesus dying and raising again was supposed to bring us as close to God as possible while on this earth. Reading about Him only in a book is not nearly as close as what Jesus' work allowed.

[Slug1]

AMEN!!!

That's the most mind-boggling thing about the doctrine that God no longer speaks anymore . . .

Jesus dying and raising again was supposed to bring us as close to God as possible while on this earth. Reading about Him only in a book is not nearly as close as what Jesus' work allowed.

Yeah, so many read the Bible and settle for all they learn "about" God but hesitate to "KNOW" God. Maybe it's the fact He will talk back to you and some don't want or know how to handle that

[VerticalReality]

you mean to tell me you hear the audible voice of God speaking and communicating with you??!? what does he tell you?

Joh 10:25 Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me,
Joh 10:26 but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock.
Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

The verse is not talking about a literal hearing of an audible voice, but believing his witness about himself and obedience to his commands.

This is a faulty view of the entirety of Christian history. Few people have EVER heard an audible voice from God. His Spirit communicates with ours.

The scripture I'm referencing does speak of a literal voice.

[Brother Mark]

Jack Deere has two excellent books on this issue. One is called "Surprised by the Voice of God" and the other is called "Surprised by the Power of the Spirit". He was a staunch defender of "God does not speak today". The books are about how he changed his mind and came around to a different way of thinking. He uses plenty of scripture to back up his change in belief on the issue. I highly recommend the books to those who either 1. are on the fence concerning the issue, 2. to those who want biblical confirmation of their beliefs, 3. to those who wish to know why there are folks out there like me and VR and Slug and others who believe God still speaks to us today. The books are full of scripture.

Grace to you.

Mark

[VerticalReality]

Well I readily admit my lack of experience. I have never heard God's audible voice. Neither do I know anyone who has.

However, what we desire and what God chooses to do are two distinct issues. Just because we desire to hear his voice and deem that to be more intimate does not mean that God needs to comply with our wishes.

If you claim to be able to hear God's audible voice, then I have nothing more to say, although I have my reservations and doubts obviously.

I don't suffer from any intimacy issues with God even though he doesn't speak to me audibly. I pray and talk to him, and he speaks to me through his written word, the Bible. In fact I feel very intimate with him as I read about the promises he has for me, and the plan which he's laid down for the Church in eternity, and I understand the great love of Christ Jesus for us that is beyond knowledge, from reading his revealed word.

If you were married and you never heard your spouse speak to you . . . would you say you have an intimacy issue?

[VerticalReality]

Jack Deere has two excellent books on this issue. One is called "Surprised by the Voice of God" and the other is called "Surprised by the Power of the Spirit". He was a staunch defender of "God does not speak today". The books are about how he changed his mind and came around to a different way of thinking. He uses plenty of scripture to back up his change in belief on the issue. I highly recommend the books to those who either 1. are on the fence concerning the issue, 2. to those who want biblical confirmation of their beliefs, 3. to those who wish to know why there are folks out there like me and VR and Slug and others who believe God still speaks to us today. The books are full of scripture.

Grace to you.

Mark

I have read both of those books, and yes I agree they are good . . .

[Slug1]

Jack Deere has two excellent books on this issue. One is called "Surprised by the Voice of God" and the other is called "Surprised by the Power of the Spirit". He was a staunch defender of "God does not speak today". The books are about how he changed his mind and came around to a different way of thinking. He uses plenty of scripture to back up his change in belief on the issue. I highly recommend the books to those who either 1. are on the fence concerning the issue, 2. to those who want biblical confirmation of their beliefs, 3. to those who wish to know why there are folks out there like me and VR and Slug and others who believe God still speaks to us today. The books are full of scripture.

Grace to you.

Mark

Mark, I'm gonna ask this here in the open... has the Lord ever allowed you to "feel" His emotion when He's speaking to you so you not only hear, but feel the words and their meaning as well?

[Brother Mark]

Mark, I'm gonna ask this here in the open... has the Lord ever allowed you to "feel" His emotion when He's speaking to you so you not only hear, but feel the words and their meaning as well?

I'll give you an example. My brother was lost and was on my heart. One Sunday morning, I woke up and asked God to help me pray. I get to church and the pastor preaches on "It takes more than religion". I began to cry and I cry through the whole service. I was under the burden of the Lord. It was, I am sure, only a part of what the Lord was feeling. At the end of the service, I was led by the Holy Spirit to ask the church to pray for my brother. I just wept while they prayed. Our assistant pastor is a man of about 75 years old. He just smiled and laughed, put his arm around me and said "the same thing happened to me for each of my brothers before they got saved". A couple of months later, my brother called me one night to tell me the got saved at church that morning!

Perhaps that's not exactly what your asking. But it is close.

[notuptome]

Yeah, so many read the Bible and settle for all they learn "about" God but hesitate to "KNOW" God. Maybe it's the fact He will talk back to you and some don't want or know how to handle that

You cannot know God apart from the word. It is incomprehensible to suggest that a believer can learn too much about God from His word and not know God in a real sense.

The word of God is nourishment for the soul. The word of God when taken in causes growth and spiritual prosperity in the soul.

For the cause of Christ
Roger

[Slug1]

I'll give you an example. My brother was lost and was on my heart. One Sunday morning, I woke up and asked God to help me pray. I get to church and the pastor preaches on "It takes more than religion". I began to cry and I cry through the whole service. I was under the burden of the Lord. It was, I am sure, only a part of what the Lord was feeling. At the end of the service, I was led by the Holy Spirit to ask the church to pray for my brother. I just wept while they prayed. Our assistant pastor is a man of about 75 years old. He just smiled and laughed, put his arm around me and said "the same thing happened to me for each of my brothers before they got saved". A couple of months later, my brother called me one night to tell me the got saved at church that morning!

Perhaps that's not exactly what your asking. But it is close.

Hooah! I got a similair testimomy then... I was having a very tough day awhile back. Seems that the enemy was on a full frontal assualt and the initial attack knocked me down and it was hard to get back up as I faught on my back it seemed that entire day. I finally reached a point I was standing and had my feet spread for balance and then I went on the offensive agianst all the emotion that was pounding me.

Later I get to church as it was a Booster Service night and the pastor takes me to the side and says, "Ken, the Lord told me of your battle today and that I was to pray for you, but then he allowed me to feel what He was feeling because of the pain you were in"... he interceeded for me that day until the Lord released him which was about the time of the day I felt I was balanced for battle and I went on the offense against satan's attack.

That portion of a Word I received, that I PMed you last night... well, a portion was the Lord talking about the sacrifice of His Son and when God was speaking to me and I was writing all He was saying I felt His sorrow as He spoke about the crucification of Jesus. As I wrote the crying I did was uncontrollable and once I could write again, I actually wrote (The Lord is crying) and then He continued and I continued to write.

Just one of a experiences I've had where I felt the Lord's emotion as He spoke or ministered to me.

[Brother Mark]

You cannot know God apart from the word. It is incomprehensible to suggest that a believer can learn too much about God from His word and not know God in a real sense.

The word of God is nourishment for the soul. The word of God when taken in causes growth and spiritual prosperity in the soul.

For the cause of Christ
Roger

No one is arguing against reading the word nor is anyone saying it is unimportant. I think everyone in the thread agrees that the scriptures are our standard for knowing God and knowing about Him.

[Slug1]

No one is arguing against reading the word nor is anyone saying it is unimportant. I think everyone in the thread agrees that the scriptures are our standard for knowing God and knowing about Him.

Hooah, understanding of the foundation we have in God and in Christ, we continue to develop the relationship we have in God as He speaks to us and ministers to us as His children.

[notuptome]

No one is arguing against reading the word nor is anyone saying it is unimportant. I think everyone in the thread agrees that the scriptures are our standard for knowing God and knowing about Him.

Not directly but too much emphisis on emotion is not good. Much gets lost when we are swept up in feelings and emotions. Our reasoning becomes clouded when our emotions become enflamed.

We have the word of God to keep us from being swept away by every wind of doctrine. Emotion must be channeled through the word of God by the Holy Spirit that Christ is glorified and not the flesh.

For the cause of Christ
Roger