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If one is to turn over his life to God, how does one know what God is saying?  When he spoke to Moses at the bush, I am sure it was difficult for Moses to miss the message.  Obviousy Saul of Tarsus also received a very clear message.  It seems God's messages are a bit more subtle these days--at least his messages to me seem to be so subtle, I am not sure I am even receiving them.  How does He speak to you? How does one recognize His voice?

I believe that God's word is still alive today; it is not just a history book written thousands of years ago. I do not go to it nearly enough, but when I do, I find answers that I have been seeking, as well as some I'd never thought of asking for. I also feel (sometimes) His Spirit in me, gently prodding me towards what would be pleasing in my Father's sight. (I fail miserably sometimes.)

God may not be speaking in an audible voice; but the God who created the ear is the same who created our eyes, hearts and minds, so why should He not speak to us through these as well?

This is a very good question. We actually discussed this in bible study on Wednesday. In the OT, the holy Spirit had not yet entered the earth. It was only given to certain people directly from God. According to OT people who heard specific messages, they either heard an audible voice or sensed a commanding presence or heard a whisper. Today, since Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit to reside on us, each person senses it uniquely and i believe it is sometimes difficult to sense what is from God and what is not. Clearly whatever agrees with scripture is from God but i also believe that God allows us to do whatever we are led to do, even if it's wrong, in order to teach us. All of us can only respond out of our maturity level and we will act accordingly.

The Word of God itself produces hearing and hearing the Word of God produces faith.

Note:

Rom 10
17  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Gods Word says, he made man, with a conscience to accuse him, or excuse him.

So ingrained into the nature of each person is the ability to
distinguish right from wrong, and then He gave His  commandments that any man who is interested in kinowing were He stands with God, can examine himself.

By the way the commandments were not given that any man by keeping them could be saved, even if one could them perfectly.

So in order to no whether one has sinned against God, he must be willing to listen to what Gods word says, this is why Jesus said;

Mat 11
15  He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

And He wasn't talking about spiritual ears herein because at this passage he is speaking of John the Baptist and the message he was procaliming.

So Gods Word when listened to by sinners, can be heard and trusted upon, and when men put this trust unto action God the Holy Spirit is able to produce results in this persons life.

Consider Gods own words;

Isa 55
11  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

So, Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.


Blessings,

Petro

One day i was crying, whinning, you know the general complaining. " Why does GOD not talk to me HE does this and that for so 'n' so etc." I was rambling on and on  a wise old woman said.  " Why dont you shut upand listen?"

 i said "Thanks Mom"

In agreement Willowbirch

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God speaks to us by His 'inspiration'! 66 Books of the Master's WORD TO US. (see 2 Tim. 3:16) This is not a one time statement that we can forget, for we have it ALL written down! Isa. 8:20 gives the TEST for us to know for SURE if what man says is LIGHT or darkness. (God or 's'atan)
One part covers all of mans wordings to define what the Holy Spirit inspired THEM to pen. ('their' testimony) But NOTICE the other part of the verse to test LIGHT by? The Law of God is the ONLY part of Scripture that He Himself wrote!

And what has man done with this EVERLASTING COVENANT? (see Heb. 13:20) Check Dan. 7:25! One thing FOR SURE, God STATES FLAT OUT THAT THEY ARE LIGHTLESS! Now for your question? Could GOD 'SPEAK' any more plainly to you in person???

Still not sure? Wow!! Read 1 John 2:4 then. Here we see that for one to say that they know (or love) Christ, yet reject keeping His Commandments [IS A LIAR, AND THERE IS *NO TRUTH IN him]! Sounds like V-E-R-Y straight TALK FROM THE MASTER, to me!

Reading the Word of God is hearing God's voice. But of course, you must be one of His to hear.

"To him the doorkeeper opens and the sheep hear His voice; and He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out. And when He brings out His sheep, He goes before them; and the sheep follow Him, for they know His voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." John 10:2-5

Heidi,

The Holy Spirit has always been....Just as Jesus has always been.

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And DO NOT TAKE YOUR HOLY SPIRIT FROM ME."  Psalm 51:10-11

Psalm 119

Many times we have these that just plain give us the answer and they line up with scripture.

The INNER WITNESS is used by God on occasion s well. I like Col 3:17 t let the peace of God rule in your heat deciding with finality all questons that arise in your minds.

I think we should also know that many times the voice sounds like our own since His Spirit bears witness with our spirits.

aw

btet...

How do you "know" anything that you are about to do??

Somebody put those thoughts there.


Unless you think that YOU originated those thoughts.


  (hehe)

     :-X

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Is there ever a time that God does not speak to man at the start? (one who accepts or 'one' that does not) How does any come to Christ then if He is not taking the 'lead'?

But your post is a very 'spiritual' one. Thanks! :)

"WE are of God: he that knoweth God, heareth us: he that [is not of God] heareth not us. Hereby [know we the Spirit of Truth, and the spirit of error." 1 John 4:6

Lets have the forum take the test of Rom. 2:14-15 & see if they can understand how these Bible uneducated Gentils were saved?? they had never even seen Christ, or had never even heard His 'written' Word preached or taught by 'man', yet, there is VITAL EVIDENCE that they knew the Master and His 'Epistle' (character) of 2 Cor. 3:3 & were Born Again, says Paul! But HOW?? Surely the previous verse from 1 John 4:6 must apply for this knowledge!

Does the forum possess this knowledge? Lets ask?

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Hi again:
Was not the Holy Spirit active in creation? He moved upon the waters. After Christ went back into heaven He sent the conforter back to UPLIFT HIMSELF, right? (among other things) Surely ALL agree that while on earth, Christ had all power at His command, and the Holy Spirit's GodHead power was fullfilled in and by Christ? What more was needed before Christ left earth??

In the Old Testament God (Christ to be) was continually with His called ones! In a cloud by day & a pillar of fire by night! The leadership (high priest & Prophets had access to His 'speakings'! See 'Thummin & Urim' (Ex. 28:30 & Lev. 8:8 for Judgements, i think?)

Yes, it was not until Christ sent the Holy Spirit back after His Atonement that Christ was omnipresent in worldwide completeness. Up until that time, His past denomination were to draw ALL of the world to them by their [conditional] prosperity & blessings.

---John

Romans 10:13.  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
 14.  How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
 15.  And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
 16.  But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
 17.  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

God calls and speaks to us through the preacher and the true preacher of God today relates to the hearer the word contained in the Bible. One must study the Bible to be sure the things the preacher preaches are according to God. There are no miracles today to show the preacher is of God. Today his word must be compared with the written word to know, "thus saith the Lord."
 The Bible is complete in God's will for man and miraculous visions, dreams and mind revelations are not necessary today to reveal God to us. God calls and speaks to us through His inspired word given to us through the Holy Spirit to and penned by Holy men of God. It is the Bible.  It is the only authority and revelation of God that is needed. Man tries to add to it and distort it and that leads many down the wrong pathway because they do not take the time to find out for themselves if it be of God or not according to His word in the bible. Many times they go on feelings created in them by the preacher.

But i do think there are many times in life where it's difficult to know what God wants us to do. An example is my 25 yr. old daughter who has been in college majoring in Art for 6 years. She is always broke because she doesn't have time to make enough maoney on the side to support herself. It's hard for me to know if God wants us to keep giving her money or let her find the time to support herself. I will get as many opinions on this from Christians as there are christians. Also, many people have wanted to borrow money from me. I have no problem with loaning them money but what is good for them? Again, there are no clear cut answers from scripture. I think there are a lot of similar situations in life where it's not easy to discern what God wants us to do.

(hehehe) ;D This world needs more mothers.

Yes John God did physically write the 10 commandments.
God also controlled the words that came out of peoples mouths.

Exodus 4:15  And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.
Isaiah 51:15  But I am the LORD thy God, that divided the sea, whose waves roared: The LORD of hosts is his name.
Isaiah 51:16  And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people.
Jeremiah 1:9  Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.

There are many more examples. All of the bible is Gods commandments. There is no indication we are to raise any part of it above another.
You gave a reference to 2 Tim. 3:16. Look at what it says:

2 Timothy 3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Those 6 words, is given by inspiration of God, come from one Greek word, theopneustos.
The first part of the word comes from the word, theos, it means God.
The second part of the word comes from the word, pneo, it means breath.
All scripture is God Breathed.
The 10 commandments were written by the hand of God. But the entire bible is God breathed, it is in breathing we have life.
Yes God used all sorts of amazing methods to show HE HAD AUTHORITY. There is no indication, that I know of, other than the visions of a false prophet or two, that any method was more important than another.
You did not quote 1 John 2:4 accurately. Let me put it in context we are told to examine ourselves, test whether we are saved or not:

2 Corinthians 13:5  Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.

God does not leave it to us to figure this out. Our hearts are so corrupt that they will deceive us.

Jeremiah 17:9  The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

So God gives us A TEST. So we can examine ourselves.

1 John 2:3  And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
1 John 2:4  He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

Will we keep Gods commandments perfectly? NO! Read Romans 7:22 - 25.
However if we are born again it should be our desire to keep Gods commandments, ALL OF THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE BIBLE. When Christ fulfilled the earlier commandments, new moons, holy days, the 7th day Sabbath. We are to follow the updated commandments.

Matthew 28:1 ¶ And on the eve of the sabbaths, at the dawn, toward the first of the sabbaths, came Mary the Magdalene, and the other Mary, to see the sepulchre,(YLT)

Why does the test work?
When we become saved it is because God has taken out our heart of stone and given us a heart of flesh.

Ezekiel 11:19  And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:
Ezekiel 11:20  That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.
Hebrews 10:16  This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
Hebrews 10:17  And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

We are a new creature, BORN AGAIN. The old creature found pleasure in sin, the new creature delights in the law of God.
God has to give us the heart to percieve and hear His word.

Deuteronomy 29:4  Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.

What can we do? We can cry out to God. We can beg for His mercy. We can prayerfully search His word. And it just might be He will have mercy on us.

Psalms 51:10  Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

As posted by Psalm 119: Very well said.

This thread reminds me of a sermon I heard once from a guest speaker at my old church.  First he asked everyone that thought that the Bible was the most important book in the world to stand up.  As far as I could see (I ran sound from the back, so I had a good view), everyone stood up.  Then he asked a few people why they thought the Bible was so important.  Then he said, "Now, out of all you who think the Bible is the most important book in the world, all of you who have read the whole book - Genesis 1 to Revelation 22 - sit down."  I think I was one of 3 people who sat down.  The Bible gives us answers to almost every problem in life.  Look at these examples.

A mom of a 25 year old daughter writes:

Well, this is easy.  Don't spoil them, but give them enough to survive.  The Bible says, "But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel." (1 Timothy 5:8, KJV, Emphasis mine)

See how the bible does that?  It's great. :)

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Hi friend:
God is not now, or ever was He dependent on 'mankind'! See Rom. 2:14-15. Christ stated that if we hold our peace, EVEN THE ROCKS WOULD CRY OUT! Nature, women, donkies, whatever? Perhaps you think that 'nature' is not God's inspired Word?

I think all creation testifies to the One who created it.

IN A SENSE, Nature is the "inspired word" simply because God spoke and His creation came into existence. But Nature is fallen and corrupted since our sin entered it. It "groans and travails".

I'm not going to learn God's instructions by staring at a rock all day. (OR a donkey, for that matter.)

He tells us to be strong in the "word", in "truth", to "search the scriptures". He tells us to feed on it! We can't simply take a walk in the park and absorb what God wills for us to do! He would not have taken the time to inspire and preserve our Bible if Nature were enough to satisfy our needs. (Not that I have anything against park-walking.)
We can pray, we can meditate on the wonders our God has created, but without His word in our hearts we are empty. Deluded.

Rom. 2:14-15 only tells us we know Gods LAWS in our hearts. Not that we know the gospel. We know there is a God we know we do things that are not right. And so we invent religion. You find people worshipping some kind of a god everywhere. I live in Eugene, Oregon there are nature freeks everywhere, I was one. But these people know nothing about the God of the bible until they read the word, like I did. I still enjoy Gods creation but I don't worship it.
To know the gospel is another story.
Think of Rahab. God chose to save her so He got the word to her, then she became saved.
Ruth was the same type of a story.
Jesus went out of his way to reach the Samaritan woman.
Faith cometh by hearing. Salvation only comes when God gives us understanding of the scripture, not nature.

Luke 24:45  Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
Ephesians 1:18  The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

God does not allow every one to see the gospel.

2 Corinthians 4:3  But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
2 Corinthians 4:4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
2 Corinthians 4:5  For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.
2 Corinthians 4:6  For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Mat 11:25  At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

The Gospel is different than keeping Gods laws and commandments. The Gospel is not found in nature.

Acts 15:7  And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

O' I see,
"And the Lord said, My Spirit shall not always STRIVE with (the inlightened, huh?) man, .." (MANKIND!)  Gen. 6:3

And the "EPISTLE OF CHRIST" in the heart is not salvation! Good show!  :'( :'( 2 Cor. 3:3

And the Born Again & Recreated Heart is not the Holy Spirit's work? Wow!! You best get with it 'me' thinks! Try Acts 5:32.

"Forasmuch as [YE ARE MANIFESTLY DECLARED TO BE THE *EPISTLE (LETTER, CHARACTER) OF CHRIST ... WRITTEN NOT WITH INK, [BUT WITH THE SPIRIT OF THE LIVING GOD; NOT IN TABLES OF STONE, (any longer!) BUT IN THE FLESHLY TABLES OF THE HEART." -------Yes, CONDITIONAL!

"This is the COVENANT that I will make with [them] after those days, saith the Lord, [I WILL PUT MY LAWS *INTO THEIR HEARTS, AND *IN THEIR MINDS WILL *I WRITE THEM]." Heb. 10:16

Not very interesting work from your end friend! I realize that if one has not been born Again, he has trouble comprehending the CHARACTER of CHRIST' Everlasting Gospel & Everlasting Covenant :'(! Rev. 14:6 & Heb. 13:20

And David was a deluded 'unsaved saint' too, huh?
"The LAW OF THE LORD IS PERFECT, CONVERTING THE SOUL:.." Psalms 19:7

I see a clear differance in your post & mine, 'i' say that God does not 'NEED" me to finish His work, and you say that He does need you to do so?

---John

I don’t know if you were addressing this to me or not. If you were I thank you for two reasons. The second reason is you have given me a verse I had set aside to present to you at an appropriate time.
The first reason is - if this is the conclusion you have come to, from what I have said, my apologies. I must not have been very clear.
You find it necessary to include your conclusions WITH the scripture. I have done the same in the past but quickly concluded that makes the scripture less clear. In essence I felt I was adding to the word.
Now I highlight parts of verses and give commentary later, I trust God to use His word.
By adding IN the scripture I could confuse someone that is new to the word. I also felt it gave my interpretation a certain authority it really didn’t have.
On my earlier post # 14 I said:If you thought I was claiming it was anything BUT the work of God I apologize.
Maybe I misunderstand you. I had felt that you thought it was necessary to keep Gods commandments TO be saved.
You seem to raise the 10 commandments above all of Gods other commandments.
While God wrote the 10 in stone the entire bible is God breathed. And while god did write them in stone why would you put them above what He said DIRECTLY to the people when HE took control of the mouths of His prophets.
But you have given me

2 Corinthians 3:3  Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

I present it to you without my opinions written between the lines.
This should have shown you that the 10 written in stone are not the focus of the gospel.
All of the bible is Gods commandments.
There are some 7th day followers that have allowed a woman to have authority.

1 Timothy 2:12  But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

If you respect the false prophecies of Ellen G. White you are in violation of this law. It should be written in your heart.
If you worship on the seventh day you are in violation of Gods law.

Matthew 28:1 ¶ And on the eve of the sabbaths, at the dawn, toward the first of the sabbaths, came Mary the Magdalene, and the other Mary, to see the sepulchre, (YLT)

Christ fulfilled the seventh day sabbath. That is why we could do no work on it. To show we can do no work for our salvation. When you reject the new sabbath you are rejecting the work of Jesus. You are rejecting His resurrection.

Oklahoma Howdy to Left Coast,

AMEN! The Gospel of the Grace of God IS THE GOOD NEWS! Jesus Christ fulfilled the law and PAID IT ALL! on the cross.

In Christ,
Tom

(removed)

I had felt that you thought it was necessary to keep Gods commandments TO be saved.
You seem to raise the 10 commandments above all of Gods other commandments.
While God wrote the 10 in stone the entire bible is God breathed. And while god did write them in stone why would you put them above what He said DIRECTLY to the people when HE took control of the mouths of His prophets.
But you have given me

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John here:
No, you are mistaken. (perhaps is is my fault) OBEDIENCE is 'Desired' by the Born Again heart. One that is RECREATED WITH TRUE AGAPE LOVE, OK? Acts 5:32's surrender is required before one can receive the Holy Ghost. See Matt. 28:20. The Law of God r-e-a-l BONDAGE to sinners! But not the SAVED AT PRESENT ONES! (Sabbath KEEPING INCLUDED!)

And in Isa. 8:20 we see where God places His Portion of Scripture that He ONLY WROTE, it is along (together as a test) with the rest on His 'Inspired Testimony'. If any go contrary to it? They are LIGHTLESS! (or see 1 John 2:4 for these ones being a liar with NO TRUTH, but the why, is what is important?!)

Read Isa. 8:20 now, OK? (in the K.J.) And about the testimony part of HOLY MEN? Surely we agree that Matt. Mark, Luke & John are not The HOLY SPIRITS WORDINGS?? These Holy men 'penned' the Words as best that they understood them to describe the meaning. If not, the four books that are called Gospels would all be written alike. They even are somewhat contrary if not studied as a 66 book whole! See 2 Tim. 3:16

And then we see others in 'the Inspired Word of God' with their choice of descriptive Words, as in 2  Ki. 18:27 or 1 Sam. 25:22. Do we see this as the Holy Spirits language??

End of John remarks
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2 Corinthians 3:3  Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

I present it to you without my opinions written between the lines.
This should have shown you that the 10 written in stone are not the focus of the gospel.
All of the bible is Gods commandments.
There are some 7th day followers that have allowed a woman to have authority.

1 Timothy 2:12  But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

If you respect the false prophecies of Ellen G. White you are in violation of this law. It should be written in your heart.
If you worship on the seventh day you are in violation of Gods law.

Matthew 28:1 ¶ And on the eve of the sabbaths, at the dawn, toward the first of the sabbaths, came Mary the Magdalene, and the other Mary, to see the sepulchre, (YLT)

Christ fulfilled the seventh day sabbath. That is why we could do no work on it. To show we can do no work for our salvation. When you reject the new sabbath you are rejecting the work of Jesus. You are rejecting His resurrection.

This is exactly what I am asking about.  I hear people stating they wee called by God to become missionaries, or the like.  I love reading and studying the bible.  I sometimes think I should quit my job to go to bible school.  Because I think this, is God telling me to?  I don't thnk so.

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Why do you say so? Matt. 28:20
---John asks

Because I question my reasons for this thought.  Is it my pride wanting to become a biblical scholar?  Do I just want to escape my current situation and hide my head in books?  DO I just want to do it because I enjoy it and it gives me pleasure?  Or, because I think it, is it from God?  Heck, Peter thought he should protect Jesus from death, and Christ's response?  Get behind me Satan!

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So, back to the basics. Peter you say? Christ told Peter, Peter, 's'atan has desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat, ... and when thou art CONVERTED, strengthen the brethern Luke 22:31.

Do you remember what transpired? Then after he went out and 'wept bitterly', conversion took place! Peter knew that he was then ready, huh?

When there is [NOTHING] standing in your way that is ahead of Christ' call, when you can do nothing else, then you can be sure that 'self' is not involved! The test of God's call is recorded in Pauls work! He started from scratch. (in human logic) See 1 Cor. 9:1-2. His converts were few, yet, they were converted! Read the rest of the chapter?

How many professed ministers in todays setting follow the example of Paul? See verse 15! Or in 1 Cor. 5:3-5? Few indeed!! See Joshua 7:12's last part.

The leadership in the churches of today, if they were ever call to begin with, shun the commision of Christ & are wholesale guilty of the sin of 'omission'! Most will not handel that, would you?

---John

I think that is is sometimes VERY IMPORTANT to WAIT on God. We can use and quote scripture all we like, but there are simply times when we don't KNOW what to do. I know for me, whenever i act on MY impulses, thinking they're coming from the holy Spirit, there are some self-serving motives going on. I think that precisely because our hearts still harbor sinful desires (and always will to a certain degree), that we need to "let go" of our situations to God until we absolutely know that our responses are coming from Him. I have know pastors who didn't get saved until way into their ministry. One of them told me he became a pstor to show how good he was and that his sermons were not based on scripture. This is a classic example of acting from self-serving purposes even though he had a justification from scripture. This is also why I have mentioned many times on this form that the truth is the only things that sets us free. Now that we are saved, we have the ability to look at our own motives to see if we're doing things for our glory or for God's glory. This is more important than obedience because we can't obey God until we KNOW where our motives are coming from. EVERYTHING, all the fruits of the spirit come from knowing the truth about ourselves and giving it to God.

I read through the entire thread and I'm left thinking about a question that's been present within me for many years:

Does God speak to us today OTHER than through his Word (through preachers, our studies, etc.)

We had a small revival at our church this past weekend that was hosted by the women of the church. Therefore they had a woman preaching and they also had a woman who gave her testimony. Throughout the testimony she kept saying that God spoke to her and told her to speak to so-and-so, go someplace, etc. I was left wondering to myself how this happened.

Too many times I've seen the same on TV, from various televagelists. Some get so precise as if they were given direct orders. For example, I heard a preacher on TBN saying something similar to the following:

"I was driving on Highway 95 and God spoke to me and said, Turn off on this exit, go down 3 1/2 miles, make a left turn, go up 2 blocks, go into the Jiffy Mart, find the person behind the counter, tell him ... "

I guess my question is (with memories of "Mom" admonishing the whiner..:) ) .... does this happen today? Is this real? Does God speak to us outside his Scripture today? Does he need to????????????

God Bless,

-Samson

I agree with you on this. When we are born again our new heart is one that desires to keep Gods commandments. (Ezekiel 11:19-20 and Hebrews 10:16-17)

To surrender is a work. It requires us to do something. Acts 5:32 is an interesting verse.

Acts 5:32  And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

It seems to contradict a lot of what we both are saying. Don’t we have to have a new heart to obey? Doesn’t God have to give us that heart?
I see nothing in Acts 5:32 about surrendering, obeying yes. Surrendering, no. Remember Ezekiel 11:19-20? The heart change must come first.
In my judgment this verse falls in with the many verses where God gives us a commandment to do something we can’t do. But He gives us the solution, Ezekiel 11:19-20 and Hebrews 10:16-17. Other examples of things we are told to do, then His solution:

Deuteronomy 10:16  Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.
Mark 12:30  And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.  
!!!HE MUST DO IT!!!
Deuteronomy 30:6  And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.

Romans 10:9  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Romans 10:10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
!!!HE MUST DO IT!!!
Proverbs 16:1  The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.

John 1:12  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
!!!HE MUST DO IT!!!
John 3:27  John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.

Revelation 3:20  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
!!!HE MUST DO IT!!!
Deuteronomy 29:4  Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day

Time and time again God tells us to do something to get our selves saved. But we can’t do what is required because SPIRITUALLY WE ARE DEAD.
The dead can’t hear, believe, surrender, keep His commandments, think, etc.
The dead can’t wake themselves up.

Ephesians 5:14  Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
Colossians 2:13 ¶ And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

From the old testament we are given the example of the dry bones. Spiritually we are the dry bones.

Ezekiel 37:1 ¶ The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones,
Ezekiel 37:2  And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry.
Ezekiel 37:3  And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.
Ezekiel 37:4  Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.
Ezekiel 37:5  Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:
 




Now I see the problem. YOU DO NOT BELIEVE THE ENTIRE BIBLE is GOD BREATHED.
What EVIDENCE DO YOU HAVE that the ENTIRE BIBLE IS NOT THE WORD OF GOD?

 2 Timothy 3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Those six words, is given by inspiration of God, come from one Greek word, theopneustos.
theos means God. It is where we get words like theology.
pneo means blow or to breath. It is where we get words like pneumonia.
The NIV actually does a better job of translating this.

2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

You don’t believe that the ENTIRE bible is God breathed. You might as well rip the 4 gospels out of your bible because they must be flawed.
In fact why trust any of the bible? Do we have stone tablets? NO. That also can’t be trusted.
The true gospel is circumscribed by the entire bible. Nothing more and nothing less.
With your church you have not only eliminated the gospels, but you have added the visions of Ellen G. White.
You have set yourselves up as authorities that know what belongs and what doesn’t belong in the bible.
You will never come to truth if you don’t accept and trust in God’s ability to protect and deliver His word.
It is true that the 4 gospels very in delivery, God didn’t change the personalities of the scribes He selected. And each Gospel emphasizes different things. BUT ALL FOUR GIVE THE EXACT SAME MESSAGE CONCERNING THE CHANGE IN THE SABBATH, all 4.
Very rarely does God emphasize something so many times. Reject the gospels at your peril.
 

Yes it is the language of God. Why would you question His word?

Am I in the wrong thread? What does all this discussion have to do with the topic?

-Samson

*******
Hi Samson!
Yes, this is the topic of hearing Gods Word. He uses people with different talents, education, and in this case, choice of words to explain His Truth. (Master's Word collectively) There are two divisions of Truth to be understood. Isa. 8:20 says it like this. First & foremost is the only part of the Word that He Himself wrote, the Ten Commandments!

Second is what  we are discussing. Inspired men themselves writing  by Inspiration. Case in point: Just say that it was you & me? We see that we are to write about two tables of stone.
Would our inspired definition of this, having us use the very same words??

This was the point. I suggested that it would not. That if that were the case, then we would only need Matthew's book. But the other three differ much in the explaining of the  same scene, or inspired vision. Yet, they have the same bottom line in there understanding! This is where we go astray at times. We use the 'one' writters word that we desire. (not them all as intended)

The bottom line is what WE need. God made it necessary that we STUDY to grow. The book in ONE, it is COMPLETE as a WHOLE! This is why 'some' think it easy to understand the Lord's will for us. Christ tell us in Matt. 4:4 a Truth, do 'we' believe it! And 2 Tim. 3:16?? [ALL SCRIPTURE]. Or is professed Christianit a lazy bunch?

So the subject that we were trying to understand was a 'hopefully' honest discussion? Remember to try to put out of the mind [personal] disagreements. (mind reading) It was the post remarks that are being questioned in this post i think?

Another thought is seen in Heb. 5 & Heb. 6. Paul talks about milk & about meat. What does he mean by that?? If it were us talking, perhaps we might use other words of our understanding in explaining what we are trying to say??

So the bottom line was, (is) does the Holy Spirit dictate the words of the Bible to the writer's? I said no & other's can disagree if they see it otherwise, right? ??? See 2 Peter 1:20-21. (does moved mean dictate or led? Rom. 8:14?)

***John  

Not a whole lot. But John doesn't believe 2 Tim 3:16, he thinks that the only part of the bible God wrote is the 10 commandments. He wants God to be in the image he has created, he can't comprehend God would use different men to say different things. He thinks each Gospel should be a mirror of the others. Unfortunatly he doesn't understand God doesn't have to operate with what John thinks is logical. He has no bibical support for his concept. John likes to claim we need to take the bible as a whole then he rejects what he wants out of the bible, such as Matthew 28:1.
Until the bible was finished God did reveal His word by dreams and visions. After He finished the bible all those things stopped. If it comes from God then it is the word of God. Thus we would be adding to the word of God.

Revelation 22:18  For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
 
Why would we need anything more than what He has given us? The bible has everything. If I felt He was still revealing His word I would want to hear everything. I would have to run all over the world.
There is a tremendous amount of this going on today. The bible warns us that this is a sign of the end.  

Matthew 24:24  For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Mark 13:22  For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.

How could anyone determine which is from God and which is from Satan? Satan can cross over. Mormons have additional revelation, Catholics have additional revelation, Pentecostals have additional revelation, the SDA church has additional revelation, Church Universal and Triumphant (Elizabeth Prophet) has additional Revelation. All of these groups and others claim the bible plus additional divine revelation. They all can’t be right, because they contradict each other.
We can trust the bible. I wouldn’t trust anything else.

The bible is VERY CLEAR women are to be silent in the church. They can teach children, they can teach other women. When they teach men they are in violation of Gods word.

1 Timothy 2:12  But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
1 Corinthians 14:34 ¶ Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.

Your church is violating Gods word, I doubt that such a church can be blessed by God.
No