Communicating with God

[Lone Wolfe]

Has anyone actually communicated with God, either by voice, by dreams, by a spiritual feeling or a vision? I hear of folks doing this all the time and I personally have never had this experience???

In the early 80's while attending a great Revival back east, I had something happen to me that had never happened prior to that event or since that event and I would like to share this with y'all.

The entire church was really involved in praying and the laying of hands on one another and one of the Pastors came up to me and placed his hand on my forehead and asked God for healing for me and all of a sudden, I was speaking in a language that I had never heard before and I had no idea what I was saying? I knew it was my voice and I know I was actually speaking but, I had no idea what language I was speaking.

At the same time this was going on, all of a sudden I felt as though my feet were not on the floor and before I realized what was taking place, I was being helped up from the floor by two church members who were explaining to me that I had just received the greatest gift one could receive thru the Holy Spirit and I began to praise God like I had never done before.

Later it was explained to me that I had spoken in Tongues and was "slain in the spirit" during the revival. It actually made me very uncomfortable later the next day when I spoke to several of the church folks from some other churches which included a pastor and I felt the need to leave that church which eventually I did. I was not aware at the time that the church I had been attending was a Pentecostal church and it was only after this experience that other non-denominational churches explained to me that what I had gone thru was not real and was in no way a spiritual experience from God or the Holy Spirit?

Can anyone shed a little light on this topic for me and please know that I am NOT saying anything negative towards any one church or denomination with this thread. Thank you in advance.

 

[dayhiker]

Hi Lone,
Some people have a real problem with the way God manifests his presence in certain ways. I was bought up Baptist and hadn't heard a thing about speaking in tongues. But when I was in the Marines I got involved with the Jesus People and got baptised in the Holy Spirit with speaking in tongues. I have spoken quite regularly in tongues since that day.

Is say the tongues you spoke was the tongues as spoken about in the Bible. Its on of the things the Holy Spirit can do thru us. I don't know why some people say that is the greatest gift. Being "Slain in the Spirit" in my mind is just how our body can react to the presence of God. I've had tears sometimes and laughter other times when God's been present.

As to your about hearing from God. Not so much. Tho I've had times when I felt God was leading me. Times when I was studying the Bible and was so blessed with what I was learning that I felt sure God had to be speaking thru what I was learning.
One day I realized as much as I wanted to hear God's voice every day, men like Abraham went years between hearing from God. At least as recorded in their story in the Bible.

 

[Lone Wolfe]

I've been thinking lately that perhaps I need to change the way in which I learn the Word? Meaning, I like to listen to Gospel music while reading the Bible and maybe that is distracting me from receiving the true meaning of the Word? I don't know why but, for me it's very difficult to read when it's completely silent because I find my mind wonders and I then feel like I'm definitely not getting the full benefits of what I'm reading? It's one of those "Catch 22" things I guess, lol.

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

So those people that told you that what happened to you wasn't real? What would be the explanation then?
While I agree that some pentacostal churches are "out there" I would never go so far as to tell someone that actually had an experience that it wasn't real
When my husband first got saved (I didn't know him then) he spoke in tongues. One time he was reading the bible and he went to say something to his wife at the time, and what came out was a different language! He also had alot of spiritual experiences and in no way would I ever tell him those weren't real. I have spoken in tongues before, not so much anymore. I have been slain in the spirit before. It was real when it happened to me.
As far as God communicating to me, I've only heard in my spirit (my mind I guess) ONE time. I was praying about moving or staying where we were, cuz my husband wanted to move, but we just had our first son and all I heard was the word STAND.. That's it! And my mind went to a scripture that says "when you've done all you can do, just stand" (paraphrasing) It's Ephesians 6:13-15.
We didn't move then but we eventually did and God worked out all the arrangements so then I knew it was the right time.

 

[Lone Wolfe]

So those people that told you that what happened to you wasn't real? What would be the explanation then?
While I agree that some pentacostal churches are "out there" I would never go so far as to tell someone that actually had an experience that it wasn't real
When my husband first got saved (I didn't know him then) he spoke in tongues. One time he was reading the bible and he went to say something to his wife at the time, and what came out was a different language! He also had alot of spiritual experiences and in no way would I ever tell him those weren't real. I have spoken in tongues before, not so much anymore. I have been slain in the spirit before. It was real when it happened to me.
As far as God communicating to me, I've only heard in my spirit (my mind I guess) ONE time. I was praying about moving or staying where we were, cuz my husband wanted to move, but we just had our first son and all I heard was the word STAND.. That's it! And my mind went to a scripture that says "when you've done all you can do, just stand" (paraphrasing) It's Ephesians 6:13-15.
We didn't move then but we eventually did and God worked out all the arrangements so then I knew it was the right time.

When I look back on that day even now, there's no doubt in my mind as to what took place that evening with me speaking in Tongues and also being "Slain in the Spirit" but at the time, I was very confused because it was all so new and I had never experienced that prior to or since so, when other folks started telling me it wasn't real back then, I began to believe that perhaps I had just gotten caught up in the moment and maybe it really didn't happen?

The saddest part of all this is, I've wished so many times in recent years that I could experience that again just to re-confirm that my faith was strong and that I was still somewhat worthy of God's love and it still has not happened no matter what I've done?

I think as we get older, some of us become widows/widowers and some like me become broken down old horses because of so many medical issues, that we tend to become desperate at times and need to know we are still strong in our beliefs/faith and need a miracle or the speaking in Tongues or something to confirm we haven't been forgotten??? JMHO.

 

[blackribbon]

I have issues with churches that rely on "holy" experiences to confirm the presence of God. That is "feelings" based and nothing about God is dependent on our feelings. He is real whether or not we think He is. If you want to really experience God...look at a baby...any baby, even if it is not human...and just try to absorb how wonderous it is that just a few months ago this was a single cell that could not live independent of the mother's body. Absorb how much it can do ... and how much more it will be able to do as it ages and grows.

In my husband's last days and in the months following his death, I was covered by an incredible peace that I am unable to do justice in describing. I have not doubt that it was a covering given to me by God to help me survive those awful days. I never once doubted that God was very near and in control and loved me. I can't say that I feel like that anymore...but I shouldn't need that now if my faith is real...I know that God is there and loves me even on the days that I feel very alone. Luckily, this is a temporary situation and one day I will get to die and be where God's presence is felt constantly.

I am going to take a stretch and recommend a book...Glimpses of Heaven by Trudy Palmer. Trudy Palmer is a hospice nurse who gathered a collection of her last day experiences with her patients. These are very short "stories" but they give us a peek at what Heaven and what dying is like. She records the experiences like when her patients have described angels or Jesus waiting in the room with them...or seeing their parents who have passed before them...or other wonderous glimpses at a world that we cannot see until we are allowed to see through the veil that blocks the heavenly world from our human eyes. This book was the first thing I read after my husband died and I can't explain how much peace it brought me.

As for "hearing" God...I believe I hear him often. It isn't a booming life changing type of experience. It is a quiet whisper in my soul that is an extension of having a running conversation in my head with God (this is what I consider "praying constantly") ...however, when I analyze the "thought", I know that it isn't from me. I have learned to act on this whisper because not only do I get to witness as God touches people, but it is through these acts that God often choose to also bless me. I used to avoid silence...but it is when the world is silent that I actually can hear God and carry on a conversation. This does not mean I never feel alone or forgotten by God...but it is through these very uncomfortable silent moments that I become available to hear God.

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

Thanks for the book recommendation! I know it was for Bo, but I want to read it too. I agree we can't go on our feelings because our feelings are like our circumstances....subject to change at any moment.

I also think that if Jesus himself came down and stood right in front of us and told us exactly what He wanted us to do or be or say...we would find a way to explain that away, and not believe. So seeing is not necessarily believing. Remember Lazurus begging God to send someone back from the dead to witness to his brothers? So we must depend on trusting in God and trusting that He is there even when we can't see, feel or hear Him, because He is, of course He is because He is God. He wouldn't be God otherwise, right?