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Yes, only when you get into the denominational categories where a religion starts to overtake the scriptures and the NT teaching. But, I was speaking overallthere's false teaching on CF.
I regret having caused you injury.If sarcasm was not intended, please explain your quote above ^
You did no such thing... but if you're not going to take my thread or people's experiences with God seriously, then perhaps it's best you be on your way.I regret having caused you injury.
Saying that God's voice throughout scripture is only used metaphorically actually then denies that anyone in the bible heard God speak to them directly, which is untrue.
To deny that Jesus speaks to us in the same ways now as he did then is to deny the Living God. Revelation 1:18
How’s Our God Omnipotent, Omnipresent, and Omniscient?
You deny that you were saying what I assumed you were saying, and then you said it straight out at the end of your post ^But how many people, in a sound state of mind, REALLY hear God literally speak to them in an audible voice? Let alone on a regular basis.
God spoke throughout scripture and he never stopped speaking. He is silent when he is testing our faith, or wants us to mature in it, but he still listens and speaks to believers.But John states that Jesus was speaking figuratively here in John 10 with regard to him being a shepherd, us being sheep and the sheep "hearing his voice".
You said this ^ you don't deny God can do anything, but then you deny the possibility he can speak through thoughts? No one said anything about "feelings", only "in the spirit", which is completely different.He could even cause your pet dog to speak on his behalf if he wanted to.
Have you never had a thought of scripture come into your mind when praying, and it answers a question? What about a thought to avoid something, that you subsequently ignored and it turned out the thought "you" had was right? Often it takes discernment with our thought-life, but eventually you understand the differences.I see nowhere where God's "voice" is used as a metaphor for thoughts
At the end of my post I asked you a question. You never answered it.You deny that you were saying what I assumed you were saying, and then you said it straight out at the end of your post ^
If you think me and the 99.99% of Christians who do not hear God AUDIBLY speaking to them are suffering from unbelief then that's fine by me. I presume by your hostile response that you yourself have sufficient belief and hear God speak audibly?If you aren't hearing God in ways that are clear in scripture, then perhaps you need to ask him to help you with your unbelief?
And you think "his voice" in Hebrews 3 is speaking of a literal audible voice?God spoke throughout scripture and he never stopped speaking. He is silent when he is testing our faith, or wants us to mature in it, but he still listens and speaks to believers.
Hebrews 3:6-8
6 But Christ, as the Son, is in charge of God’s entire house. And we are God’s house, if we keep our courage and remain confident in our hope in Christ.[a]
7 That is why the Holy Spirit says,
“Today when you hear his voice,
8 don’t harden your hearts
as Israel did when they rebelled,
when they tested me in the wilderness.
I never said that. Of course an omnipotent God could beam thoughts into our heads if he wanted to. But now you are now into the realm of telepathy and extra-sensory perception. Those are more the trademarks of New Age mysticism than Christianity. I see nowhere in scripture that says Christians should expect God to speak to us by telepathy. I cannot even think of any examples in the historical narratives (which are descriptive, not prescriptive).You said this ^ you don't deny God can do anything, but then you deny the possibility he can speak through thoughts?
Of course, but that is from my memory by having a biblical mindset, not telepathy. Certainly God speaks to us through scripture.Have you never had a thought of scripture come into your mind when praying, and it answers a question?
Having correct thoughts doesn't mean that they were planted there by God. Thoughts and ideas are a function of the human brain. Unbelievers also have correct thoughts. I don't see anywhere in scriptures that says we should expect God to us speaks to us through our subjective thoughts. Instead I see such verses as:What about a thought to avoid something, that you subsequently ignored and it turned out the thought "you" had was right? Often it takes discernment with our thought-life, but eventually you understand the differences.
I've heard God speak audibly (as in, the ears) once. And I know people who have heard the same thing. Refer to my post #25If you think me and the 99.99% of Christians who do not hear God AUDIBLY speaking to them are suffering from unbelief then that's fine by me. I presume by your hostile response that you yourself have sufficient belief and hear God speak audibly?
The poll answered it.At the end of my post I asked you a question. You never answered it.
I was using scripture to show he says "listen to my voice", often. God speaks in a myriad of ways (refer to the poll), God spoke in these ways throughout scripture. What makes you think he stopped?And you think "his voice" in Hebrews 3 is speaking of a literal audible voice?
Not necessarily. When God speaks to us in the spirit, it can sometimes manifest in the mind. You seem to think they are isolated from one another, but they're not.I never said that. Of course an omnipotent God could beam thoughts into our heads if he wanted to. But now you are now into the realm of telepathy and extra-sensory perception. Those are more the trademarks of New Age mysticism than Christianity. I see nowhere in scripture that says Christians should expect God to speak to us by telepathy. I cannot even think of any examples in the historical narratives (which are descriptive, not prescriptive).
So having a thought about a future event you could have no way of knowing, except for a thought, comes from "common sense"? I doubt it.Having correct thoughts doesn't mean that they were planted there by God.
You said you heard God speak audibly to you when you were trying to sleep. How do you know you were not entering a lucid dream state, where dreams seem incredibly real? You said you were paralysed at the time and had to force yourself to move, well that is a symptom of sleep paralysis which is common when waking from or entering into sleep. I frequently experience both of those myself. I think nothing of it.I've heard God speak audibly (as in, the ears) once. And I know people who have heard the same thing. Refer to my post #25
Read that as "the vast majority"Also, what are you basing your statistical "99.99% of Christians" on?
In Heb 3:7-8 when it says the Israelites "hardened their hearts" against God's voice and "rebelled" against God, it wasn't the audible voice of God they heard. The "voice" they heard were the commandments God gave Moses. ie scripture. This is another example of God's voice being a metaphor for scripture.I was using scripture to show he says "listen to my voice", often. God speaks in a myriad of ways (refer to the poll), God spoke in these ways throughout scripture. What makes you think he stopped?
You'll have to show me, with biblical proof, exactly what you mean by "God speaks to us in the spirit" and how it "sometimes manifest in the mind"Not necessarily. When God speaks to us in the spirit, it can sometimes manifest in the mind. You seem to think they are isolated from one another, but they're not.
No that is called having a "gut feeling". I could have a gut feeling that the stock market could go down in 2023. That doesn't mean it is God speaking to me and therefore it will happen. Sometimes our gut feelings are right, but more often than not they are wrong.So having a thought about a future event you could have no way of knowing, except for a thought, comes from "common sense"? I doubt it.
I usually think a lot before going to sleep I said. At the time my light was on, I was laying in bed, not tired at all and just "thinking", and I started thinking about God (I believed in the heavenly Father all my life from my upbringing) but was only taught Jesus was Gods Son who died on the cross, never taught about the Holy Trinity or that Jesus is God. So I'm thinking about God, then start thinking about Jesus and pondering the bible story, which started me wondering about him and what he was like while on Earth. Now, it's very difficult to explain to someone who's never experienced it, but the sound of his voice came "through" the air, not like a person would sound if they were in the room, but it was beyond it? For lack of a better word. The sound was to my right and coming from above, it "cut down" toward the right of my bed, from the ceiling to halfway to the floor, in what was literally seconds after I heard the voice and it hit me in the heart and stilled my mind I had glanced to where the sound came from, and didn't have time to react in fear because of the kindness. His voice was so kind I felt immediately unworthy. There's not one person alive on earth who even comes close to that level of kindness, which looking back, makes me understand what God’s mercy is.You said you heard God speak audibly to you when you were trying to sleep.
Does the poll indicate this so far?Read that as "the vast majority"
You mention Moses, who heard God speak, as did many others throughout scripture. You can't cherry-pick, you either believe God for what he says in scripture, or you don't.In Heb 3:7-8 when it says the Israelites "hardened their hearts" against God's voice and "rebelled" against God, it wasn't the audible voice of God they heard. The "voice" they heard were the commandments God gave Moses. ie scripture. This is another example of God's voice being a metaphor for scripture.
You seem to have a "logical" answer for everything... well, I can't convince you of the power of God, only he can.No that is called having a "gut feeling"
That doesn't sound like how God spoke audibly to people in scripture. When God spoke audibly in scripture it was like talking to a person. In fact people had verbal conversations with Him.I usually think a lot before going to sleep I said. At the time my light was on, I was laying in bed, not tired at all and just "thinking", and I started thinking about God (I believed in the heavenly Father all my life from my upbringing) but was only taught Jesus was Gods Son who died on the cross, never taught about the Holy Trinity or that Jesus is God. So I'm thinking about God, then start thinking about Jesus and pondering the bible story, which started me wondering about him and what he was like while on Earth. Now, it's very difficult to explain to someone who's never experienced it, but the sound of his voice came "through" the air, not like a person would sound if they were in the room, but it was beyond it? For lack of a better word. The sound was to my right and coming from above, it "cut down" toward the right of my bed, from the ceiling to halfway to the floor, in what was literally seconds after I heard the voice and it hit me in the heart and stilled my mind I had glanced to where the sound came from, and didn't have time to react in fear because of the kindness. His voice was so kind I felt immediately unworthy. There's not one person alive on earth who even comes close to that level of kindness, which looking back, makes me understand what God’s mercy is.
I wasn't paralysed either, I was "stilled", like being held, but that did frighten me because it was so confronting how human and feeble I really am, and I did not want to face it. I'm very independent, always have been, and I guess deep down I wasn't ready to be humbled.
3 people claiming they heard God audibly speak is hardly representative of all Christians (1 of whom would be yourself). And if we were to examine each experience individually I bet they wouldn't be clear cut examples either.Does the poll indicate this so far?
Where does it say in scripture that Christians should expect to hear God audibly? Just because God spoke audibly to Moses doesn't mean he must speak audibly with us. Peter walked on water and healed people with his shadow, does that mean we should be able to do so also? If God commonly speaks to Christians audibly or via telepathy then there would be instructions in scripture telling us to expect God to speak to us that way. But there isn't. Instead it says:You mention Moses, who heard God speak, as did many others throughout scripture. You can't cherry-pick, you either believe God for what he says in scripture, or you don't.
That is not the parable of the mustard seed, but anyway how does that passage relate to hearing God speak?The parable of the mustard seed comes to mind.
Matthew 17:19-20
19 Afterward the disciples asked Jesus privately, “Why couldn’t we cast out that demon?”
20 “You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.[a]”
Again, how does that relate to hearing God speak?You seem to have a "logical" answer for everything... well, I can't convince you of the power of God, only he can.
John 14:12-14
12 “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. 13 You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. 14 Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!
"Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof:"Peter walked on water and healed people with his shadow, does that mean we should be able to do so also?
Absolutely, Why not?. Peter walked on water and healed people with his shadow, does that mean we should be able to do so also?
We limit Ourselves when it comes to our experiences in our walk with the LORD,Your point is?
Can you walk on water or heal people with your shadow, or know anyone else who can?Absolutely, Why not?
It's the LORD who does those things,Can you walk on water or heal people with your shadow, or know anyone else who can?
Does the Lord enable you to walk on water, or to heal people with your shadow?It's the LORD who does those things,
It was never "peter" who healed,
it was always the LORD Working through them.
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