When people say “God/The Father told me x, y, and z...”

topher694

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I don’t think Jesus and the Father are the same person, so Jesus speaking to us is not the same as the Father speaking to us.

The fact that God speaks through Jesus shows that there is a distinction, and eliminates the possibility of the Father speaking directly to people.
This is a very narrow way of looking at things. And frankly, I still really don't see the point.

John 12:50 - And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.

Same difference.
 
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JAL

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Thanks for sharing!

when I say audibly, I mean you hear it with your ears, and not inside your head, such as a voice speaking in the room, or wherever you are, and your ears hearing it.
Basically a distinction without a difference, as I explained earlier. Your mind does all the hearing, not your ears. That's true for all manner of sensation. I would offer you the following proof. Suppose God removes your soul/mind from your body and places it in heaven, leaving your body on earth. Could you now claim that your ears are still hearing? No, because who is inside that body doing the hearing? No one! It is not your body that hears, it is your mind that hears.

Is it possible that many sincere believers are hearing from the Spirit and incorrectly attributing it to the Father?
Here again, you seem to be trying to make a distinction without a difference.
 
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Neostarwcc

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Do you believe them?

Hebrews 1:1-2 KJV


John 14:26 KJV


Is the concept of followers of Christ hearing audibly(or in our head) from God the Father supported by scripture?

If what they say God said lines up with scripture, than yes believe them. God speaks to us each and every day of our lives.

But if they say "God told me to get a divorce because my spouse looks at me the wrong way." or "God said that I could be a female presbytery." or "God told me that homosexuality was OK and it doesn't matter what partner I have as long as we love each other" than... no don't believe them.

That isn't God speaking, that's Satan.
 
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Jamdoc

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Hebrews 1:1-2 KJV


John 14:26 KJV


Is the concept of followers of Christ hearing audibly(or in our head) from God the Father supported by scripture?

Audibly? probably not, but the Holy Spirit will communicate things to you, usually through making you remember scripture pertaining to a question or prayer you say.
The main source of God speaking to us is through the bible. The Holy Spirit will never say anything contrary to the bible. If it doesn't line up with scripture, it's not God.
 
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Hazelelponi

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is it possible that many sincere believers are hearing from the Spirit and incorrectly attributing it to the Father?

With the belief in the Trinity, it wouldn't be incorrect to attribute what one hears from the Holy Spirit to the Father. The person of the Triune God are always in perfect agreement. 1 Corinthians 2:10-11
 
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lismore

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Is the concept of followers of Christ hearing audibly(or in our head) from God the Father supported by scripture?

The bible tells us to 'test everything' (1 Thessalonians 5:21). So those who say they are hearing from God it would be wise to rigorously test what they're saying and also what they're doing. The accuracy of what they're saying, if it's not completely accurate and true it's not from God. The evidence of the fruits of the Spirit in the speaker's life. And also the purpose, what is the purpose of what they're saying? God Bless You :)
 
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setst777

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Hebrews 1:1-2 KJV
John 14:26 KJV

Is the concept of followers of Christ hearing audibly(or in our head) from God the Father supported by scripture?

Hi DKH,

From what I understand from reading the NT Scriptures, by faith, we follow Christ by observing all that he teaches us in the Gospels and through the Epistles, and Revelation, which instruction basically teaches the believer to deny our lives as part of this world system through our carnal minds, and then to listen to and follow Jesus into a life of love and service to others. That is what Baptism represents (Romans 6; Colossians 3:1-15), and is the reason for the Great Commission as follows:

Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Regarding the Spirit:

When a person repents and, by faith in Jesus, commits to follow Him, the Holy Spirit - who alone can discern the hearts of men (John 3:5-10) - indwells the true believer to give him life (John 7:37-39; John 4:13-14; Acts 5:32; John 14:15-23; Acts 2:38; Romans 8:9-10).

However, the indwelling Spirit only gives life to the believer as the believer continually demonstrates his faith by living, walking, and sowing to the Spirit that indwells him (Romans 8:3-4; Romans 8:12-13; Galatians 5:13-25; Galatians 6:7-9).

The believer lives, walks and sows to the Spirit by faithfully following Jesus into a life of love, denying his selfish lusts (Galatians 5:13-25).

As the believer faithfully lives by the Spirit by following Jesus, the Spirit will lead his faith to have power over sinful lusts, and to have victory in living out a life of love (Romans 8:12-14; Romans 8:1-4).

Therefore by a repentant faith demonstrated by a commitment to deny ourselves, and then to follow Jesus (Acts 26:20; Acts 20:19-21), we access the grace and power of God onto salvation:

Romans 1:16-17 (NIV)
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.

Romans 5:1-2 (NIV)
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.

Blessings,
Steven
 
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Neogaia777

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I have found out that, when God does speak to me sometimes, it can be a little bit annoying, but at the same time very enjoyable as well, cause He usually just does not hand me all the answers I am seeking on a silver platter, so to speak, etc, but wants to to "work at it a little bit", and to have to stretch myself a little bit more each time, etc, it can be annoying, but He also knows also how very much I enjoy it also, etc...

He'll direct questions back to me a lot, for or as one example, etc, and expects me to seek and find to know the answers most of the time, etc... He will help me with them a little bit though, sometimes let me know when I have finally reached the right conclusion, or am on the right track where I am currently at with a thing, etc, or let me know whether or not I am currently going in the right direction with it or not, etc, if I have not reached a for sure conclusion on a thing yet, which, even and if when I feel I finally do, I always check with Him first, etc, and sometimes when I do check with Him, He'll want to make for sure of it in scripture for myself after that first, and then ask Him again later and after that, etc...

And if I don't feel like working at it at least a little bit, or don't with that specific subject at that specific moment, etc, or just don't put all the work into it that is required on a certain subject ever, etc, then He'll put it on pause or on hold or on the back burner until I do, and also and/or put in "on hold" for as long as I want to put it on hold also, etc, but, like I said, He just doesn't hand everything to me on a silver platter, etc...

Sometimes He is like a counselor also, depending on the subject and what it is, etc, and part of a good counselors job, is ask the right questions back to the person about what they are saying or asking, in a way that gets them to "think about it", and "think deeply about it", etc, and just by the question, and a little bit of soul searching, and soul digging on your part, you usually (in time) find your answers, etc...

Which they, well at least with Him (God), they knew all along, etc...

Anyway,

And He doesn't pressure me, He has already let me know that I don't have to have all the answers, etc, and in fact, if I'm not enjoying it, then He has already let me know that He'd rather I don't do much of anything or any of it at all, if I'm not enjoying it or am not having at least some fun with it, etc, if that is what I truly choose to do, etc... But, He also "knows me", etc, and knows me better than I know myself, etc, and already knows I'm going to dig for as many of those answers I can during my time here also, etc... So, He helps me, etc, but also does not just hand everything to me, etc...

But He let's me take as many, and as long of breaks, as I want or choose or desire, and He's perfectly fine with that, etc...

But, this is a journey or mission of discovery, and there would not much discovery or exploration involved in it at all if He just handed everything to you/me/us, etc...

And it also wouldn't be much of a "conversation" or "relationship" either, etc...

Anyway,

God Bless!
 
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Neogaia777

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I have found out that, when God does speak to me sometimes, it can be a little bit annoying, but at the same time very enjoyable as well, cause He usually just does not hand me all the answers I am seeking on a silver platter, so to speak, etc, but wants to to "work at it a little bit", and to have to stretch myself a little bit more each time, etc, it can be annoying, but He also knows also how very much I enjoy it also, etc...

He'll direct questions back to me a lot, for or as one example, etc, and expects me to seek and find to know the answers most of the time, etc... He will help me with them a little bit though, sometimes let me know when I have finally reached the right conclusion, or am on the right track where I am currently at with a thing, etc, or let me know whether or not I am currently going in the right direction with it or not, etc, if I have not reached a for sure conclusion on a thing yet, which, even and if when I feel I finally do, I always check with Him first, etc, and sometimes when I do check with Him, He'll want to make for sure of it in scripture for myself after that first, and then ask Him again later and after that, etc...

And if I don't feel like working at it at least a little bit, or don't with that specific subject at that specific moment, etc, or just don't put all the work into it that is required on a certain subject ever, etc, then He'll put it on pause or on hold or on the back burner until I do, and also and/or put in "on hold" for as long as I want to put it on hold also, etc, but, like I said, He just doesn't hand everything to me on a silver platter, etc...

Sometimes He is like a counselor also, depending on the subject and what it is, etc, and part of a good counselors job, is ask the right questions back to the person about what they are saying or asking, in a way that gets them to "think about it", and "think deeply about it", etc, and just by the question, and a little bit of soul searching, and soul digging on your part, you usually (in time) find your answers, etc...

Which they, well at least with Him (God), they knew all along, etc...

Anyway,

And He doesn't pressure me, He has already let me know that I don't have to have all the answers, etc, and in fact, if I'm not enjoying it, then He has already let me know that He'd rather I don't do much of anything or any of it at all, if I'm not enjoying it or am not having at least some fun with it, etc, if that is what I truly choose to do, etc... But, He also "knows me", etc, and knows me better than I know myself, etc, and already knows I'm going to dig for as many of those answers I can during my time here also, etc... So, He helps me, etc, but also does not just hand everything to me, etc...

But He let's me take as many, and as long of breaks, as I want or choose or desire, and He's perfectly fine with that, etc...

But, this is a journey or mission of discovery, and there would not much discovery or exploration involved in it at all if He just handed everything to you/me/us, etc...

And it also wouldn't be much of a "conversation" or "relationship" either, etc...

Anyway,

God Bless!
I also know there are things that I've taken up with Him, that He caused me to think about, that I've forgotten about, or forgotten to take back up with Him as well, but He has let me know that is all perfectly OK too, as I seem to constantly have new ones also, but know I will probably never have all the answers He has, etc, and that is perfectly OK too, etc...

I really don't have to do any of it at this point if I don't really want to, but like I said, He knows me, and knows me all too well, etc...

Anyway,

God Bless!
 
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Strong in Him

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Do you believe them?

Depends what it is.
If it's something that they need to know/do for their own growth/faith/area of service, then I'd have no reason to disbelieve them. (Ultimately, that is between them and God.)
If it was something that I need to know for my growth etc, I'd be wary until/unless it was confirmed.
If it was something that was against, or could not be supported by, Scripture, then no.

Is the concept of followers of Christ hearing audibly(or in our head) from God the Father supported by scripture?

The concept of the Lord speaking to his followers/children is absolutely supported by Scripture, and he can do that in whatever way he chooses.
 
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when I say audibly, I mean you hear it with your ears, and not inside your head, such as a voice speaking in the room, or wherever you are, and your ears hearing it.

No. I don't think God talks to anyone audibly.
 
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Hebrews 1:1-2 KJV


John 14:26 KJV


Is the concept of followers of Christ hearing audibly(or in our head) from God the Father supported by scripture?
Your thread title and the question you ask are separate issues. As for the thread title, I cannot say whether or not God spoke to somebody. But, I do believe many people say God told them something to use as a cover not to have to defend themselves if challenged, especially if it goes against scripture.

In regards to the passages from scripture, I believe them because they are in the Bible and God inspired to authors to write those words. Of course, we have to interpret in the proper context, but that is separate from whether they are true or not.
 
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Do you believe them?
I've heard the spoken word on many occasions but it has been several years since the time. I don't expect anyone to believe what I heard and I would be skeptical to what another person says that they heard.
 
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If what they "heard" from God is in agreement with what God has already taught us through Scripture and His Church, then perhaps God is speaking to them in some sense. So why make an issue of it? If what they claim to be hearing from God is not in agreement with scripture or the teaching of God's Church, then God is obviously not speaking to them.
 
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Saint Steven

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I don’t think Jesus and the Father are the same person, so Jesus speaking to us is not the same as the Father speaking to us.

The fact that God speaks through Jesus shows that there is a distinction, and eliminates the possibility of the Father speaking directly to people.
How would you know the difference?
(between God the Father and God the Son speaking to you)

And aren't you claiming that Jesus doesn't speak to you? Or are you claiming you CAN hear Jesus' audible voice? (but are sure it is NOT the Father)
 
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Saint Steven

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God is Spirit. So the air is not going to vibrate.
If people understand what God says as words or ideas of words is
likely how people think, and not subject to any language rules.
But there is no reason to think "words" are excluded.
Personally, God does not speak to me in English words.
Knowing God Through Answered Prayer - Steps 1, 2, & 3
What do you make of this?

Matthew 3:16-17
As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Matthew 17:4-5
Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

Mark 12:26
Now about the dead rising—have you not read in the Book of Moses, in the account of the burning bush, how God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?
 
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Saint Steven

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... Well we saw one extreme - the charismatic who unjustifiably presumes himself a prophet. At the other extreme are those who tout the Scriptures as God's substitute for clear speech, even to the extent of denying the whole concept of present-day Direct Revelation. Accordingly, they think that Scripture itself emphasizes biblical scholarship as the key to knowing and growing in God. As it turns out, I have several threads arguing against this. MY claim is that Scripture emphasizes and prioritizes Direct Revelation above all (1Cor 14:1) - we don't see it because the Reformation, for example, brainwashed us with a (problematical) doctrine known as Sola Scriptura.

Consider emphasis. In 1Corinthians, we have about 70 verses dedicated to a discussion of Direct Revelation (chapters 2, 12, 13, 14) and ZERO verses dedicated to seminaries and scholarship. Even when you can find verses that SEEM to be emphasizing bible scholarship, they are indecisive because the writers probably wanted us to read the Scriptures under the Light of the Holy Spirit (i.e. Direct Revelation). ...
I like what you are saying here. (cut from your longer post above #18)

I have had some experiences in my life when I "knew" God was talking to me. For some reason I had the impression that it was God the Father. Not sure why. And how would a person prove these things one way or the other?

Except for the first time I heard from God, the other times were simple directives. "Talk to that woman." When I asked what I should say, I got no response. The words were given to me when I obeyed the request.

A similar case involved speaking with another woman (cashier) and then going to leave the store. As soon as I put my hands on the door to leave, I heard this. "Go back and pray with that woman." I knew better than to ask this time. I relate these experiences to this scripture.

Ephesians 2:10
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
 
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Saint Steven

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Hi DKH,

From what I understand from reading the NT Scriptures, by faith, we follow Christ by observing all that he teaches us in the Gospels and through the Epistles, and Revelation, which instruction basically teaches the believer to deny our lives as part of this world system through our carnal minds, and then to listen to and follow Jesus into a life of love and service to others. That is what Baptism represents (Romans 6; Colossians 3:1-15), and is the reason for the Great Commission as follows:

Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Regarding the Spirit:

When a person repents and, by faith in Jesus, commits to follow Him, the Holy Spirit - who alone can discern the hearts of men (John 3:5-10) - indwells the true believer to give him life (John 7:37-39; John 4:13-14; Acts 5:32; John 14:15-23; Acts 2:38; Romans 8:9-10).

However, the indwelling Spirit only gives life to the believer as the believer continually demonstrates his faith by living, walking, and sowing to the Spirit that indwells him (Romans 8:3-4; Romans 8:12-13; Galatians 5:13-25; Galatians 6:7-9).

The believer lives, walks and sows to the Spirit by faithfully following Jesus into a life of love, denying his selfish lusts (Galatians 5:13-25).

As the believer faithfully lives by the Spirit by following Jesus, the Spirit will lead his faith to have power over sinful lusts, and to have victory in living out a life of love (Romans 8:12-14; Romans 8:1-4).

Therefore by a repentant faith demonstrated by a commitment to deny ourselves, and then to follow Jesus (Acts 26:20; Acts 20:19-21), we access the grace and power of God onto salvation:

Romans 1:16-17 (NIV)
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.

Romans 5:1-2 (NIV)
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.

Blessings,
Steven
Are you saying that God does not speak to us outside of the Bible?
 
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