How does God give you wisdom?

DirectionSeeker

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Hi all!

Has anyone have had an instance in which you pray fervently for something in conjunction with asking God for wisdom regarding the petition you express to our Father? The point of this would be to know if it's a yes or no to your petition.

For instance, you've been praying to God asking Him if marrying person x would be the right decision; you've been asking God if desire x will ever come to pass etc.

Basically, has God ever said: "Yes, x will happen", or "No, x will not happen".

I heard a testimony from Charles Stanley where he was offered something that seemed absolutely right. I think it was a free house on a private island. And when he asked our Father about it, he heard a clear "No, don't accept the offer" from Him. 6 months later, he found out why.

Just interested in how James 1:5 has been involved in your lives!
 

Maria Billingsley

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Hi all!

Has anyone have had an instance in which you pray fervently for something in conjunction with asking God for wisdom regarding the petition you express to our Father? The point of this would be to know if it's a yes or no to your petition.

For instance, you've been praying to God asking Him if marrying person x would be the right decision; you've been asking God if desire x will ever come to pass etc.

Basically, has God ever said: "Yes, x will happen", or "No, x will not happen".

I heard a testimony from Charles Stanley where he was offered something that seemed absolutely right. I think it was a free house on a private island. And when he asked our Father about it, he heard a clear "No, don't accept the offer" from Him. 6 months later, he found out why.

Just interested in how James 1:5 has been involved in your lives!
Welcome! Wisdom can be obtained instantly through prayer, it can be a gnawing ache that directs us one way or the other and it can be by the number of years here we have lived giving us more experience. Whichever way it comes, wisdom is the greatest gift of all. Be blessed.
 
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bèlla

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"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight." —Proverbs 9:10

DS,

The bible mentions two ways to obtain wisdom. The first is noted in Proverbs in several places as is the importance of its possession and the benefits we receive from its presence. The second is related to the gift of wisdom and is distributed by the Holy Spirit. It is possible to possess wisdom but not be in possession of the gift of wisdom.

Your question doesn't relate to wisdom. That's knowledge. Much like wisdom, knowledge has a spiritual gift too. But wisdom is connected to application. It tells you how to apply your knowledge. A person may be gifted in each if the Lord sees fit.

The example you shared is a word of knowledge. If Charles Stanley asked how he should use the property for the Lord's glory and received an answer; that's wisdom.

Yours in His Service,

~Bella
 
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com7fy8

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I trust that God does personally speak to people about things in their lives, and to encourage us.

Also, I believe our Father has us develop to realize things.

And I personally understand that we can learn how to submit to God, so He is guiding us personally all the time. And so, in order to know what He wants to do with us, simply do what He has us do at that moment; and what He has us doing will add up and lead up to future things He has for us.

So, for one example, if you want to know if God would have you marry someone, submit to Him and do what He has you do. See if He has you phone the person, or has you doing other things . . . for one example.
 
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Hi all!

Has anyone have had an instance in which you pray fervently for something in conjunction with asking God for wisdom regarding the petition you express to our Father? The point of this would be to know if it's a yes or no to your petition.

For instance, you've been praying to God asking Him if marrying person x would be the right decision; you've been asking God if desire x will ever come to pass etc.

Basically, has God ever said: "Yes, x will happen", or "No, x will not happen".

I heard a testimony from Charles Stanley where he was offered something that seemed absolutely right. I think it was a free house on a private island. And when he asked our Father about it, he heard a clear "No, don't accept the offer" from Him. 6 months later, he found out why.

Just interested in how James 1:5 has been involved in your lives!
One definition of wisdom is much knowledge. That is more than a few facts. Some of the more successful students in college spent many hours studying. Whether that is a thing of faithfulness or works might provoke an argument. If you follow Jesus’ example, the spirit might direct you and remind you of facts you need. That does not mean an end to studies.
 
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tturt

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"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord." Isa 55:8

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." James 1:5

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever." Psa 111:10 This fear of the Lord means we hold God in such reverence that we accept and live by what Scripture states no matter what society says and sometimes against our own previous opinions.

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction." Pro 1:7

"How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!" Pro 16:16
 
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FutureAndAHope

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Hi all!

Has anyone have had an instance in which you pray fervently for something in conjunction with asking God for wisdom regarding the petition you express to our Father? The point of this would be to know if it's a yes or no to your petition.

For instance, you've been praying to God asking Him if marrying person x would be the right decision; you've been asking God if desire x will ever come to pass etc.

Basically, has God ever said: "Yes, x will happen", or "No, x will not happen".

I heard a testimony from Charles Stanley where he was offered something that seemed absolutely right. I think it was a free house on a private island. And when he asked our Father about it, he heard a clear "No, don't accept the offer" from Him. 6 months later, he found out why.

Just interested in how James 1:5 has been involved in your lives!

Yes,

On the 10 of October 2012 the LORD prevented us from making a bad financial decision. Me and my wife had found a house that we thought could be a good investment for our future. But our pastor prayed about it and felt that it was not going to be a good investment. So I prayed that if it was not a good investment God would get the bible to open randomly to James 4:13-15, otherwise the bible would open to the verse in Mal 3:10 about God blessing our finances. I opened my bible on the computer and moved my hand quickly and randomly, first selecting a book of the bible, then a verse, all without looking where I was choosing, and it opened to James 4:13-15 so I knew that God did not want us to go ahead.
 
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tturt

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Asks God for His peace with His answer when praying about each possibility.

"And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ’s] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always]." Col 3:15 AMPC

Also, prepare to make your request. David and his men returned to camp and found their dwellings burnt and their families gone, they cried til they couldnt. The men who had just fought with him, talked about killing him. Next David encouraged himself in the Lord, then asks God for direction (I Sam 30). Important key is found in that David encouraged himself in the Lord FIRST then asks for God's direction.imho
 
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The posts here are mixing the gift of wisdom and gift of knowledge, two very different things.

Jesus constantly walked in wisdom, which means he frequently didn't answer the questions, but draw the circumstances or the questioner to reveal the answer.

The man credited with being the wisest of all men was King Solomon.
When the two women came before him arguing over who was the real mother of the child, Solomon may well have directly received from God, which was the true mother. "Give the baby to the woman with curly hair!"
But that judgement, even if correct, would not stop the resentful argument from the mother whose baby had died.

Instead of using perfect knowledge, he commanded the baby to be cut in two, with the result that the real mother immediately cried out to give the false mother the child.

At that point, all doubt as to the real mother was instantly cleared from all in the palace.

Wisdom is not knowledge.
 
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DirectionSeeker

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Thank you all for your various answers!

It would be very insightful for me if some of you could share personal experiences where God has bestowed wisdom which, based on Bella's answer, is how to apply knowledge. I for instance am in a conundrum where I know how a certain outcome could change my and my family's life for the better, I just don't know yet for sure if the avenue I'm spending time in is the proper way to go, although it really feels like it (because, among other reasons, the initial plans I had before I knew the Lord pale drastically in comparison).

I've received some signs from God - both directly and indirectly through my family members - pertaining to the avenue I'm currently spending time in, it's just that the season of waiting on further instructions from the Lord has been quite long - about 2 months specifically - and while I can sense the presence of God during my prayers day and night, I have not received any further guidance other than the latest one which was basically Him saying: "Yes, keep my way". Naturally, I commited a huge mistake not writing down this revelation and its details the day i received it (probably because I did not like hearing that haha, because that way of saying yes sounds as if it would take some time for the petition to be fulfilled rather than sooner as I had hoped... and indeed, here I am 2 months later). And now the devil is trying to convince me that what I heard that day was just my own mind speaking and not God...

I like to think that because I do sense God's peaceful presence after each time I'm done praying I am probably on the right track. And I keep telling myself that one thing is for sure - if what I'm doing is not approved by God, He will give me the wisdom I daily ask him of pertaining to this matter and tell me that I'm wasting time and effort on it. Surely, guidance is one of the things we can always expect from our Lord?

The thing I fear the absolute most is praying to God for something that seems like it's going to happen (based on scripture, other believers experiences, my personal revelations, my family members relevations) only to see precious time in this short life flow away without things ever changing. At the same time, I can't deny how clear some of the revelations have been... All I really can do at this point is hope that God will make my path absolutely clear while living under obedience to Him. As Psalm 31:17 says: "Let me not be put to shame, Lord, for I have cried out to you"...

Therefore, since my walk with the Lord has not been that long (about 9 months by now), it would be awesome hearing something similar from you! Have you also received diffuse signs/revelations from God, gone through long seasons of spiritual drought and waiting, not seeing things change for a long time only to change drastically one day, knowing that God finally acted on in your favor?
 
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tturt

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We sure need God's wisdom.

In order to get His wisdom, it's essential that we have the fear of the Lord first. We decide if we fear Him and then He teaches those that do (Pro 1).

Having the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, knowledge, instruction, and is the fountain of life (Pro 1:7, 9:10, 14:27).

Having the fear of the Lord means we love what He loves and hates what He hates (Psa 97:10, Pro 6:16-19).
- "...we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:" (Heb 22:28). Having the fear of the Lord is the true and acceptable way of worshipping the Lord (Benson commentary).
- "In the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, and His children shall always have a place of refuge." (Pro 14:26)
- It causes men to depart from evil (Pro 16:6),
- churches walked in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:31).

We're to teach children to have the fear of the Lord (Psa 34:11).

How to have the fear of the Lord:" (Pro 2:1-5)
 
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Nitsud

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But wisdom is connected to application. It tells you how to apply your knowledge.

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John 8:31-32 31To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
 
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Nitsud

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Sometimes God does give direct answers. Sometimes not so direct.

On our wedding day my wife was nervous. Being that, we determined that if we were to be married we would live it out according to the Bible. The Bible gives a great description of this which is our wedding verses:

Ephesians 5:20-26
Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body.
Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

There are more verses concerned. Her concern was "letting" me lead the house. She is a very strong woman mentally. She asked God in private if it was ok for me to lead the house and for a sign. Later that day I asked her to go for a walk. She confided in me on the walk what she had asked the Lord. We were staying in a campground. With no knowledge of the weather across the park, other than the wind had picked up, we returned and part of our tent system had been damaged by the wind. We had at another time sat outside our tent with 60mph winds and watched it lay down flat on our stuff and spring up on its own. I.e. answer was trust the Lord he leads me. Later that night a storm began to brew. I slept through it until my wife woke me up because of tornado sirens and led me into the bathroom shelter. Yet nothing came of it.

I relate these happenings to my Savior. God led me to take her for a walk, peaceful to avoid possible danger not knowing it was coming. I would have slept through the storm later trusting, with him there is nothing to fear. But to keep her from going into a tizzy (for her comfort) I followed her. I could have told her how she was just a ball of nerves, But I loved her and she loved me all the more for it.

Now to answer the question. Yes he can give direct and indirect guidance.
 
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MikeinSeattle

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Hi all!

Has anyone have had an instance in which you pray fervently for something in conjunction with asking God for wisdom regarding the petition you express to our Father? The point of this would be to know if it's a yes or no to your petition.

For instance, you've been praying to God asking Him if marrying person x would be the right decision; you've been asking God if desire x will ever come to pass etc.

Basically, has God ever said: "Yes, x will happen", or "No, x will not happen".

I heard a testimony from Charles Stanley where he was offered something that seemed absolutely right. I think it was a free house on a private island. And when he asked our Father about it, he heard a clear "No, don't accept the offer" from Him. 6 months later, he found out why.

Just interested in how James 1:5 has been involved in your lives!

I think that praying in this way (asking for yes or no) opens you up to be easily deceived by the Devil who will send you whatever the wrong answer is in a way that makes you think it is coming from God. Maybe if you are very much filled with the Spirit and you have prophetic gifting you can operate safely in this way but 99.99% of us believers I think are not at that level and we need to stick with praying for real world wisdom instead of just simple yes or no answers.
 
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Francis Drake

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I think that praying in this way (asking for yes or no) opens you up to be easily deceived by the Devil who will send you whatever the wrong answer is in a way that makes you think it is coming from God. Maybe if you are very much filled with the Spirit and you have prophetic gifting you can operate safely in this way but 99.99% of us believers I think are not at that level and we need to stick with praying for real world wisdom instead of just simple yes or no answers.
Why on earth would God not still give clear answers when that is illustrated throughout scripture?
Why on earth would asking God for an answer make you open to the devil?
Why would the devil be more likely to deceive someone who seeks God than deceive someone who uses your "Real world wisdom" (ie. man's wisdom outside of God)

Anyone on earth can be deceived by the devil, but those who actively seek God for answers are far better equipped for making the right decision than those who don't!

This is what God says-
Luke11v9“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 11If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? 12Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

And again-
James1v5If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

I have put this principle into practice for around 50 years, and I can assure you that God gives wisdom and direction to those who ask.
 
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aiki

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Hi all!

Has anyone have had an instance in which you pray fervently for something in conjunction with asking God for wisdom regarding the petition you express to our Father? The point of this would be to know if it's a yes or no to your petition.

For instance, you've been praying to God asking Him if marrying person x would be the right decision; you've been asking God if desire x will ever come to pass etc.

Basically, has God ever said: "Yes, x will happen", or "No, x will not happen".

I heard a testimony from Charles Stanley where he was offered something that seemed absolutely right. I think it was a free house on a private island. And when he asked our Father about it, he heard a clear "No, don't accept the offer" from Him. 6 months later, he found out why.

Just interested in how James 1:5 has been involved in your lives!

About many things believers ask of God, they encounter silence. Why? Because they already have all God cares to say on the matter in His word, the Bible. He has filled Scripture with examples, spiritual principles, wisdom, truth, and commands that He expects His children to apply to the questions and choices that they face in life.

2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.


Psalm 119:104-105
104 From Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.


Joshua 1:8
8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

About Charles Stanley and his stories of God's leading, I wonder how many stories there are in which he misheard God and found himself in a rotten mess as a result. You'd only expect him to share the stories that make his point, right? Not the ones that stick a two-by-four in the spokes of the wheel of his doctrine. I just don't see in God's word the "secret, divine voice in my head" stuff that Stanley does. Certainly, God could speak directly to my mind, but so far as I'm aware, there isn't any such instance of this in Scripture and no teaching, explicit or otherwise, about listening for such a voice. With all the verses folks use to support Stanley's doctrine of divine communication, they read into the verses what they already assume is true: God speaks to me in my head. It's amazing what one may find in Scripture through eisegesis!

But in the instances in Scripture where God had something to say to one person in particular, He is typically overt and unmistakable in His communication: Angelic messengers, visions, a disembodied hand writing on a wall, a burning bush, a terrible sea storm, a talking donkey, an audible voice knocking Paul to the ground, etc. There is also a complete absence of any specific, plain teaching in the NT that the Christian ought to expect, and listen for, a divine voice in their head directing them through life. Nowhere in the NT will you read that one must learn to hear God, one must train to hear the voice of the Spirit, because it is so subtle and mysterious only the practiced can discern it. Instead, we have the verses above - and many others besides - that direct us to discover God's will in His word, the Bible.

Is That You, God?

The Leading of the Spirit.
 
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Francis Drake

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About many things believers ask of God, they encounter silence. Why? Because they already have all God cares to say on the matter in His word, the Bible. He has filled Scripture with examples, spiritual principles, wisdom, truth, and commands that He expects His children to apply to the questions and choices that they face in life.
Do you seriously think the only things people ask of God are related to stuff in the bible?
I just don't see in God's word the "secret, divine voice in my head" stuff that Stanley does. Certainly, God could speak directly to my mind, but so far as I'm aware, there isn't any such instance of this in Scripture and no teaching, explicit or otherwise, about listening for such a voice.
How do you think all those who God spoke to heard him speak? The scripture is full, end to end of God speaking into people's hearts.
With all the verses folks use to support Stanley's doctrine of divine communication, they read into the verses what they already assume is true: God speaks to me in my head. It's amazing what one may find in Scripture through eisegesis!
No, you are the one who is reading into those verses your doctrine of unbelief.
But in the instances in Scripture where God had something to say to one person in particular, He is typically overt and unmistakable in His communication: Angelic messengers, visions, a disembodied hand writing on a wall, a burning bush, a terrible sea storm, a talking donkey, an audible voice knocking Paul to the ground, etc.
And countless other examples where there is no clear writing on the wall etc.
There is also a complete absence of any specific, plain teaching in the NT that the Christian ought to expect, and listen for, a divine voice in their head directing them through life.
The doctrine of the Trinity has no clear specific teaching either, but is gleaned by extrapolation of different verses. Likewise hearing God speak today.
Nowhere in the NT will you read that one must learn to hear God, one must train to hear the voice of the Spirit, because it is so subtle and mysterious only the practiced can discern it.
Here is the OT speaking.
Psalm95v7............Today, if you hear His voice,8do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah,

And here is the NT repeating it and reinforcing it.
Hebrews3v7“Today if you should hear His voice, 8do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion,

And to make sure you are paying attention he says it again-
Hebrews3v15As it is said: “Today if you should hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion.”

Obviously Paul knew that some would block their ears, so for the 3rd time-
Hebrews4v7again He appoints a certain day as “Today,” saying through David after so long a time, just as it has been said, “Today, if you shall hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.”

If scripture says something three times in a row, I tend to take notice, and these verses are clearly about hearing the voice of the Lord, not reading or learning the scriptures.

I first heard God speak directly to my heart back in the early 1960s. This was a good 10 years before anyone preached the gospel to me. When I did hear the gospel, and get hold of a bible, I realised the words he spoke were backed by the bible.

Since then, I have lived by hearing words of knowledge and words of wisdom from the Lord, getting on 60 years of experiencing God's voice, so please don't be so daft as to claim it doesn't happen.
That's like a blind man obstinately claiming their is no such thing as sight, or a deaf man claiming their is no such thing as sound.
 
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aiki

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Do you seriously think the only things people ask of God are related to stuff in the bible?

??? Where, exactly, did I say that they did?

How do you think all those who God spoke to heard him speak? The scripture is full, end to end of God speaking into people's hearts.

Uh huh. Scripture, please. What does it mean, precisely, for God to "speak to one's heart"?

No, you are the one who is reading into those verses your doctrine of unbelief

You're entitled to your opinion.

And countless other examples where there is no clear writing on the wall etc.

"Countless"? Rhetorical hyperbole isn't helping your case any. Scripture, please.

The doctrine of the Trinity has no clear specific teaching either, but is gleaned by extrapolation of different verses. Likewise hearing God speak today.

Equivocation. The doctrine of the Trinity is not equivalent to your doctrine of God speaking to you in your head (or heart, whichever). The term "Trinity" is not used in Scripture but the trinitarian nature of God to which the term refers is plainly laid out in the Bible. But this isn't the situation with your God-talks-to-me stuff. There's no absent-from-Scripture term that is at issue, but an entire view of how God typically communicates to us.

Here is the OT speaking.
Psalm95v7............Today, if you hear His voice,8do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah,

And here is the NT repeating it and reinforcing it.
Hebrews3v7“Today if you should hear His voice, 8do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion,

And to make sure you are paying attention he says it again-
Hebrews3v15As it is said: “Today if you should hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion.”

Obviously Paul knew that some would block their ears, so for the 3rd time-
Hebrews4v7again He appoints a certain day as “Today,” saying through David after so long a time, just as it has been said, “Today, if you shall hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.”

If scripture says something three times in a row, I tend to take notice, and these verses are clearly about hearing the voice of the Lord, not reading or learning the scriptures.

More equivocation. The three Scripture references you've offered refer either to the events of Exodus 17:1-7 where the thirsty, grumbling Israelites doubted God, or of Numbers 13-14 when the Israelites found themselves doubting God at the border of Canaan, the Promised Land He had given to them. None of your three Scripture quotations are referring to hearing God speak directly to oneself in one's mind. In both OT instances, God spoke to Israel chiefly through Moses who heard from God in a very direct but external manner:

Numbers 12:4-9
4 And suddenly the LORD said to Moses and to Aaron and Miriam, “Come out, you three, to the tent of meeting.” And the three of them came out.
5 And the LORD came down in a pillar of cloud and stood at the entrance of the tent and called Aaron and Miriam, and they both came forward.
6 And he said, “Hear my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the LORD make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream.
7 Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house.
8 With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?”
9 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them, and he departed.


Not only was it confirmed by God Himself in this passage that He spoke to Moses "mouth-to-mouth, beholding the form of the Lord" and through Moses to the people of Israel, but God spoke directly, out-loud to Aaron and Miriam, too, and explained that to His prophets His communication was through dreams and visions. There is, though, no mention of secret, direct-to-mind divine speaking.

What's more, in context, "hearing God's voice" in the three references you've offered has to do with having faith in Him, in His promises, not about literally hearing God's voice in your head. Here's one of the verses in its immediate context:

Hebrews 3:12-15
12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.
13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.
15 As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”


And just to make it crystal clear, the writer of Hebrews writes:

Hebrews 3:19
19 So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.


Hebrews 4:1-3
1 Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it.
2 For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.
3 For we who have believed enter that rest...


Hebrews 3:15, then, is not about actually hearing God's voice inside one's head, but about believing His promises so as to enter His rest. You have here made my point for me about eisegesis, doing exactly what so many others of your persuasion do with God's word.
 
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