Is it possible to hear God's voice today as the New Testament apostles and disciples did?

TruthSeek3r

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The New Testament records multiple examples:

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (ESV):

7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Acts 9:4-6 (ESV):

4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”
Acts 9:10-16 (ESV):

10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”
Acts 10:9-21 (ESV):

9 The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. 10 And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance 11 and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” 15 And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” 16 This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.

17 Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon's house, stood at the gate 18 and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there. 19 And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. 20 Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.” 21 And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?”
Acts 11:12 (ESV):

12 And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house.
Acts 13:2 (ESV):

2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
Acts 16:6-7 (ESV):

6 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8 So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Is this still possible today? If so, how?
 
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trophy33

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Possible? Sure.

Needed/useful? Thats the question. We live in a different era, after the revelation has been completed and God does not break the natural rules just for our personal desires.

So, if somebody hears voices today, its more probable that its some kind of mental disorder.
 
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TruthSeek3r

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Possible? Sure.

Needed/useful? Thats the question. We live in a different era, after the revelation has been completed and God does not break the natural rules just for our personal desires.

What do you mean by "breaking the natural rules"?

So, if somebody hears such voices today, its more probable that its some mental disorder.

How do you distinguish God's voice from a mental disorder?
 
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Ivan Hlavanda

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What does that mean? Can you share more details?

God speak to us through His Word. The Bible tells us everything we need to know about God, how to be saved and live a Christian life. 2. Peter 1:3 'His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence'. Because God is the author of the Bible, and God is Spirit, in order to understand the Word, it has to be taught from God. If you try to figure it out on your own you will fail to understand it. There are many parables in the Bible that at first will not make sense to you, but God wants active followers, not passive ones.

He also speaks to us through the events. For example, I used to lie a lot, so God put's me under many circumstances where telling truth would be harder (i.e. I made a mistake and owning up to it it's difficult) but hopefully I tell the truth. He will put me under a lot of difficult circumstances until I learn to love the truth no matter how difficult it is. God directs us and helps us to grow spiritually, but He does that through the Holy Spirit.

This is why you need to be baptised by the Spirit/be born again. Because if you are yet not, you have a sinful heart that does not understand spiritual things. This does not mean however that the Holy Spirit can't be already working in you. Just ask God for help, as it is written He desires to save all (of course His desires and will are not necessary the same, but this is a different topic).

If you want to understand more on how God speaks to us through the Holy Spirit, I strongly recommend this sermon
 
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trophy33

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TruthSeek3r

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It would be a miracle, an extraordinary act of God, therefore breaking His natural rules. What would be the purpose, today, for that?
Communication? We are talking about hearing God's voice, right?

I do not. I hear no voices.
Then how would you distinguish God's voice from a mental disorder? (Hypothetical situation)
 
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trophy33

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Communication? We are talking about hearing God's voice, right?
Yes. It would be a miracle.

Then how would you distinguish God's voice from a mental disorder? (Hypothetical situation)
I do not know. It would probably take much thinking and self-monitoring to figure it out.
 
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Sabertooth

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What does that mean? Can you share more details?
See John 14:15-17, 26

What happened with me was, as I became more familiar with God's written Word, He would cause me to remember Scripture when it applied.
Later, it would be more than one, given in succession.
Somewhere in that time, I received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
After that, He would speak to my thoughts in plain terms, but I would still sense the underlying verses.

One of my hobbies is figure drawing. The discipline of studying the outward human form is called "eidonomy." When you look at the human body that is covered in skin, you can discern its underlying structures like muscles & bones.

When the Holy Spirit speaks to me, His Scripturality becomes second-nature to me. It is seeing the whole beyond just the parts. I no longer have to cite chapter & verse (but I still could if I needed to).
 
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TruthSeek3r

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After that, He would speak to my thoughts in plain terms, but I would still sense the underlying verses.

What does God usually speak to you about? Does He reveal you information that you couldn't have known otherwise (aka does He give you words of knowledge)?
 
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What does God usually speak to you about? Does He reveal you information that you couldn't have known otherwise (aka does He give you words of knowledge)?
Most of the time, He sounds like my own thoughts, but it is knowledge & wisdom that I did not learn through natural means.

I have not had a lot of experiences in the gift called Word of Knowledge, but I have experienced Word of Wisdom & Discerning of Spirits, which are two other gifts.
 
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rocknanchor

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One subject's handling which could provide a slippery slope while in search of an indisputable conclusion. For how could you?, Seeing it entails one party being the living God. Lest, that is the OP's endgame all along. Hopefully not fully.

But, for what its worth, an excellent question! And I get some of the gist I suppose, as in what did one hear to turn an event into His purpose,

And we know that to them that love God all things work together for good, to them that are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

So long as one doesn't approach this in unbelief, which as we know the Lord's work which remains the same, doesn't operate in such a spiritual vacuum. Since I have purpose not to operate as such, if the books were opened, yes, there continues to be a catalog of His voice. How about now? If I told you what He just told me concerning all this writing here, would you believe it, or would it just amount to some lesser personal elevation?

There are times I must admit, lest you there also can attest, some things do carry upwards towards an unlawful means of speech AKA; self-exaltation. In that case, I would simply appeal to the scriptures,

“Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” (Hebrews 13:5)

And again, lest we attempt to reduce the full impact of the Savior's words,

"For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them." (Matthew 13:15)

", , if we hold fast … unto the end, while it is said,’ i.e., not during the time that it is said, but in the presence and consciousness of the saying" - "Today". - Expositor's Greek
 
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Possible? Sure.

Needed/useful? Thats the question. We live in a different era, after the revelation has been completed and God does not break the natural rules just for our personal desires.

So, if somebody hears voices today, its more probable that its some kind of mental disorder.
How do you know that revelation has been completed?
 
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John 10:27

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:”

Do you follow Jesus? Then you hear His voice.
And it’s not as voice you hear from someone talking to you when sitting together it’s more like when you have thoughts, you ”hear” them.
Many christians will be in big trouble in the future and today too if they don’t hear God and what Holy Spirit is teaching.
 
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The New Testament records multiple examples:

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (ESV):

7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Acts 9:4-6 (ESV):

4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”
Acts 9:10-16 (ESV):

10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”
Acts 10:9-21 (ESV):

9 The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. 10 And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance 11 and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” 15 And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” 16 This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.

17 Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon's house, stood at the gate 18 and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there. 19 And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. 20 Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.” 21 And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?”
Acts 11:12 (ESV):

12 And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house.
Acts 13:2 (ESV):

2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

Is this still possible today? If so, how?

What do you mean how? You hear God's voice in your head, like thoughts that are not your own.

We just have to be careful, because thoughts may also come from the enemy. We need to be able to discern.
 
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