.

[Extraneous]

Why did you say - "My answered prayer".
I really am awed right now, as I believed God was leading me
to post an experience of many years ago, and that what was I
intended to do. I stopped to read your new post first.

The verse has things in it that fit with my experience.
Thanks for posting it. My peace I give to you; not as the world
gives
I had parked my car, got out, then realized I had forgotten something from behind the seat. Reached back to get it, and
when I turned around to get my stuff I had laid in the front seat- a man was quickly on me. Wasn't just sure what to do, we were
both in my car. I thought of how Mom had talked to me about
kind of scary times to be careful, such as don't talk to strangers.
Quickly went, move forward from there, as way beyond that point
now! Remembered how she had said don't ever drive your car
if a stranger tells you to. Lost some of my money from my purse. I had prayed to God that the man would not see it all, and he didn't. He was still not leaving and he was looking as if he had seen my Bible laying in the seat in the back. He kept making glances at it. Really praying hard now in my spirit! I asked God to
forgive this man, no matter what happens. Also told God that
I don't want that money being seen as it was stolen. It was given
to him. I began thinking about how Mom would take whatever was going to happen if it was terrible. There was such a peace and like this protection over the whole car area. It was like I could see it. The man is over me, there is no easy way to get out. No other
people, unless somebody happens to come back to another car.
Started scolding myself for not parking elsewhere.

I said that because of what you said, about sharing our stories, so i shared mine too.

 

[TillICollapse]

No, this thread is not about telling stories. This thread is about: The idea the God talks back to us when we pray has become so accepted that it's difficult to challenge, but is it true or a cliché?

You might want to begin another thread to tell stories.

What aspect makes the idea difficult to challenge ? And what would it take to convince you that it was true ?

Police songs aside, this thread is making me think of that scene in Real Genius (80's era flick) where the gang of students turn one of the other students braces into a radio with a speaker, and broadcast messages to him to make him think he's talking to Jesus ...

 

[vinsight4u]

/

 

[jimmyjimmy]

What aspect makes the idea difficult to challenge ?

As I said, it's because it's become an accepted idea. In many churches and denominations, people have been told that they should expect it, so they do. However, no one hears a voice, but it's like the emperor's new clothes. No one dare say a thing about it.

And what would it take to convince you that it was true ?

I'll hear His voice soon enough. Life is but a vapor.

 

[jimmyjimmy]

Good for you! The OP is asking as to if when we pray does
God answer us back. Without experiences of our own, then how
we would keep this thread going and get to the meat of that
question? Without stories from people, we would have two answers - or three types of replies....yes, no, maybe.

I don't mind if the thread is short. I began it with a certain purpose in mind, and a certain narrow subject to discuss; however that's not often respected on CF. I would admit to talking to Big Foot if it would keep my threads from derailing.

 

[TillICollapse]

As I said, it's because it's become an accepted idea. In many churches and denominations, people have been told that they should expect it, so they do. However, no one hears a voice, but it's like the emperor's new clothes. No one dare say a thing about it.

Hmm.

I'll hear His voice soon enough. Life is but a vapor.

I'll be more specific: what would it take, in your opinion, to convince you that a person can hear God's voice audibly (or even via a voice in their head, for that matter) while they are alive, here in the present day ?

 

[jimmyjimmy]

Hmm.

I'll be more specific: what would it take, in your opinion, to convince you that a person can hear God's voice audibly (or even via a voice in their head, for that matter) while they are alive, here in the present day ?

Why do you ask? Do you hear voices?

 

[sunlover1]

As I said, it's because it's become an accepted idea. In many churches and denominations, people have been told that they should expect it, so they do. However, no one hears a voice, but it's like the emperor's new clothes. No one dare say a thing about it.

What makes you say that no one hears the voice but we SAY that we do?
IOW, what causes you to call all of us liars?

 

[vinsight4u]

/

 

[sunlover1]

We're talking about God though, and He said that His sheep KNOW His voice.
What more can i say about it? We 'know" His voice.

Can you demonstrate with evidence/reality supporting you that you can hear God ?

How would one demonstrate that type of thing?

 

[TillICollapse]

Why do you ask? Do you hear voices?

I ask, partially, because the topic of the thread is about whether it's *true* or not, and I'm curious as to what it would take for you personally to believe it's possible, since you apparently take the stance that it isn't. I've appreciated reading this thread and the various perspectives within it. I can be a fairly harsh skeptic, and I'm a big fan of evidence, and often I don't mind dissecting someone's extraordinary claims or beliefs or anecdotes to see what they are composed of and what evidence they may or may not produce. Since you appear to take the stance that it isn't true, I'm curious as to what your evidence/proof threshold may be.

As to whether or not I hear voices (or have ever heard a voice, audibly or otherwise, which I thought was of supernatural or spiritual origins) ... I could share an extremely detailed anecdote if you like, that would provide some interesting food for thought perhaps, for you to dissect and decide for yourself what you thought of it. But if you're not interested, I would save myself the time and just assume not type it out. It would perhaps be a good example for this thread, as I tend to "just give the facts" and leave the conclusion drawing to others, and I also like examples which are vivid, detailed, and contain circumstances which are not as easy to pass off as other anecdotes. But like I said, if you'd rather not hear it, I'll save the space. I could talk about talking to Big Foot instead.

 

[jimmyjimmy]

How would you explain or write off when people say they heard
from God, and then what they said came true?
such as warned of danger?
time to receive an outright healing/miracle from God
time to take a step in their lives or miss out
....

Have you heard the audible voice of God?

 

[TillICollapse]

How would one demonstrate that type of thing?

This circles right back around to some of my original points.

How could you demonstrate that a person claiming to be Shakespeare, is in fact Shakespeare ? How could you demonstrate that a person who is claiming to receive letters and phone calls from President Obama, is in fact receiving letters and phone calls from President Obama ? And if someone claims to have an apple sitting in their house, how could you demonstrate that they do, in fact, have an apple sitting in their house ?

I'm not trying to be rhetorical. I'm asking, because one of my original points is that the manner in which people attempt to identify "communicating with God" is often not the same, simple manner, in which people identify other people/places/things/etc.

Let's look back to the scriptures, however, since you have referenced them previously. Again, in non-rhetorical line of questioning: can you think of any scriptural examples where a person or being demonstrated that they were communicating with God/Yahweh/a supernatural entity (like an angel), etc ? Off the top of my head, I can think of Moses and the many acts he demonstrated. I can think of the apostles and the acts they performed and demonstrated. I can think of some of the prophets messages coming true (others, like Jonah's, arguably did not come to pass). Many accounts in the scriptures show that people seemed to interact with physical phenomena they attributed to, or claimed was, God. Elijah called down fire from heaven, etc. Jesus performed miracles, and had voices from heaven testifying on his behalf. So I would think, that if a person were speaking with God, they could demonstrate it somehow ... reality would testify on their behalf, that they were in fact communicating or getting information from some source, perhaps God. Miracles could be performed, prophecies could be verified, and most importantly ... God Himself would perhaps testify on the person's behalf, by clarifying.

Let's say your neighbors began to gossip about you, and claim you said all of these things you never did say, and did all of these things you never did do. How could the truth be demonstrated ?

 

[sunlover1]

Yes. I'm sure we do. I thought this would be a thread to
post those type of stories under. How do we discuss
prayer being a two-way street if people don't post their
experiences here? I'm talking the kind of prayers that you
mentioned- ones where God moved mountains to bring them to
pass. When I was about 16/still in school, I had a deal hanging on
my bedroom wall as to 2 Chronicles 7:14 "If My people, which are called by MY name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek
My face, and turn their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
As a teenager became a praising Jesus kid. One night I was
looking out a window in my room and started wondering how many praises were going up to Him in my area after lots of people
would probably be going to sleep. Began to picture the world as
being quieter in my part of it. So told God that I didn't want my
part of the world to not being sending up much prayers and
praises to Jesus Christ that night, so I would stay up and do
those things. This began a time of starting to stay up and
sometimes I'd get a pizza and other snacks to munch. One night, when I was doing this is when /other than my calling time, began to hear God speak to me. I had told Him around the start that if He has something to say, I would take the time to listen, or whatever He wanted to do. Just wanted to spend time with Him.

Awesome story!~
Gosh i love this
but don't want to cause any big foot stories to
begin appearing so i better not address it here and now

 

[jimmyjimmy]

I ask, partially, because the topic of the thread is about whether it's *true* or not, and I'm curious as to what it would take for you personally to believe it's possible, since you apparently take the stance that it isn't. I've appreciated reading this thread and the various perspectives within it. I can be a fairly harsh skeptic, and I'm a big fan of evidence, and often I don't mind dissecting someone's extraordinary claims or beliefs or anecdotes to see what they are composed of and what evidence they may or may not produce. Since you appear to take the stance that it isn't true, I'm curious as to what your evidence/proof threshold may be.

As to whether or not I hear voices (or have ever heard a voice, audibly or otherwise, which I thought was of supernatural or spiritual origins) ... I could share an extremely detailed anecdote if you like, that would provide some interesting food for thought perhaps, for you to dissect and decide for yourself what you thought of it. But if you're not interested, I would save myself the time and just assume not type it out. It would perhaps be a good example for this thread, as I tend to "just give the facts" and leave the conclusion drawing to others, and I also like examples which are vivid, detailed, and contain circumstances which are not as easy to pass off as other anecdotes. But like I said, if you'd rather not hear it, I'll save the space. I could talk about talking to Big Foot instead.

FYI, I am an 80%ish cessationist, not 100%. Not as hardcore as you seem to think. I'm not closed off to anything I could confirm with scripture.

I'm posting in part to get people to think about what they say in this regard. People can throw around phrases like the Lord told me this or that, when if they were honest, it was nothing more than a feeling they had, not the voice of God. That's part of my point here, to get people to use care when saying such things. To be very sure before they say such things because much damage has been done by this type of talk. I've lived through it.

So, by all means share a story of how you heard God's voice, if it's in line wit the OP: Is prayer a two way conversation?

 

[sunlover1]

This circles right back around to some of my original points.

How could you demonstrate that a person claiming to be Shakespeare, is in fact Shakespeare ? How could you demonstrate that a person who is claiming to receive letters and phone calls from President Obama, is in fact receiving letters and phone calls from President Obama ? And if someone claims to have an apple sitting in their house, how could you demonstrate that they do, in fact, have an apple sitting in their house ?

I'm not trying to be rhetorical. I'm asking, because one of my original points is that the manner in which people attempt to identify "communicating with God" is often not the same, simple manner, in which people identify other people/places/things/etc.

and I'm not trying to be difficult lol
But the reason that folks would give different
answers concerning communication with God
is because it IS way different.
Because God is spirit..
Perhaps we're not communicating well

Let's look back to the scriptures, however, since you have referenced them previously. Again, in non-rhetorical line of questioning: can you think of any scriptural examples where a person or being demonstrated that they were communicating with God/Yahweh/a supernatural entity (like an angel), etc ? Off the top of my head, I can think of Moses and the many acts he demonstrated. I can think of the apostles and the acts they performed and demonstrated. I can think of some of the prophets messages coming true (others, like Jonah's, arguably did not come to pass). Many accounts in the scriptures show that people seemed to interact with physical phenomena they attributed to, or claimed was, God. Elijah called down fire from heaven, etc. Jesus performed miracles, and had voices from heaven testifying on his behalf. So I would think, that if a person were speaking with God, they could demonstrate it somehow ... reality would testify on their behalf, that they were in fact communicating or getting information from some source, perhaps God. Miracles could be performed, prophecies could be verified, and most importantly ... God Himself would perhaps testify on the person's behalf, by clarifying.

Let's say your neighbors began to gossip about you, and claim you said all of these things you never did say, and did all of these things you never did do. How could the truth be demonstrated ?

This is an interesting way to ask because I actually have been in that very situation.
But here's the thing.
it doesn't matter what they say.
All that matters is that we are pleasing
to God.
I am pretty sure i'm missing the meat of
your posts. Please forgive me.

 

[vinsight4u]

/

 

[Arsenios]

Have you heard the audible voice of God?

Are you hiding behind the term "Audible Voice of God"???

Most here are not speaking of audible voices...

They are speaking of noetic communication in a wide range of events...

None of them audible, and the one audible one reported was not God's...

So do you believe that the Kingdom of Heaven is within you?

Arsenios

 

[jimmyjimmy]

Are you hiding behind the term "Audible Voice of God"???

I'm trying to ask as clear and precise a question as a can to avoid confusion. Not hiding. I'm right here.

Most here are not speaking of audible voices...

Some are saying just that, and some aren't, which is why I'm clarifying. I asked her because she deleted some posts which, if memory serves, did in fact state that she and others had heard God's audible voice.

 

[sunlover1]

FYI, I am an 80%ish secessionist, not 100%. Not as hardcore as you seem to think. I'm not closed off to anything I could confirm with scripture.

I'm posting to get people to think about what they say in this regard. People throw around phrases like the Lord told me this or that, when if they were honest, it was nothing more than a feeling they had, not the voice of God.

Well, it IS the voice of God, we're not liars or drama queens.
maybe it doesn't fit your own personally designed criteria.
how's it your place to correct people on how they
share their experiences with God?
Just curious.

That's part of my point here, to get people to use care when saying such things. To be very sure before they say such things.

How is it that someone who has no such understanding
should school those who do?
ijs