How do you differentiate the voice of God from the devil?

[Resha Caner]

But I know my boss is my boss.

Do you? How? Because they demonstrate their authority. They can't just say they're your boss. Even when a piece of paper says they are your boss, you won't really believe it until they demonstrate it somehow.

Experience.

But, again, is authority the only way for someone to communicate to you who they are? What about love, understanding, service? Do those actions communicate something about who a person is?

What about wisdom, maturity?

[edit (based on your edit)]

There has to be. Your examples of authority are simply based on "I'm more powerful than you" which is not a good basis of authority IMO.

There is something distasteful about power isn't there? We don't like it because 1) we've seen it abused too often, and 2) we don't ever have enough of it ourselves.


So we want there to be more than power, but does there have to be?

 

[True Scotsman]

Is this question focused solely on the acoustic properties of a voice, or is it asking the deeper question about the message behind the voice?

In that regard, why is this question posed as being unique to God? How do you know the voice of any being?

I took your question as literal. What form does this voice take and if it is not literally a voice you are talking about how can one distinguish what you are calling the voice of God and something the hearer is just imagining is God. If it is a feeling or an intuition how can someone tell it is God and not their own wishes or desires and a generous measure of confirmation bias?

 

[Resha Caner]

I took your question as literal. What form does this voice take and if it is not literally a voice you are talking about how can one distinguish what you are calling the voice of God and something the hearer is just imagining is God. If it is a feeling or an intuition how can someone tell it is God and not their own wishes or desires and a generous measure of confirmation bias?

That's what I've been discussing with HerCrazierHalf for the last few posts.

 

[com7fy8]

God communicates with example. How His love effects us can show He is the One communicating. And He judges what is wrong but corrects us to do better in loving.

One time, I was really raging mad at my mother, though I did not raise my voice at her or argue. Then I experienced God shining His love to me. His love, I experience, is beautifully wonderfully pure and kind and warm with affection and has Heaven's own quality of the resurrection. And as this love got through, it was clear this was not how I was being with my mother! But I knew this was my example, that I trust Him to change me to become loving like He is. So, I was judged but corrected and encouraged.

So, Her Crazier Half said

But how does a Christian know that they are hearing God's voice?

One thing, in the example above, is God is so superior when I am so wrong, but He is able to bring me up His action speaks louder than His words. There is resistance against my ego, and confrontation, and correction, and encouragement and becoming more and more real in how to love . . . with Him. There is this sharing. And often while God is getting my attention and correcting me or guiding me, there is scripture which comes to mind which speaks clearly to what He is doing with me. Most of all, it is about how I need to get more real in love, and what I can do that is better than I would try to get myself to do

But Satanic and stinking thinking has control in it, and using people, and getting back, and complaining and enough is not enough. Jesus is not the one who wastes us, worries us, hurries us, and burns us out, and gets us frustrated and bitter.

"'Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.'" (Matthew 11:29)

The issue I have is that Angels are believed to be hyper-intelligent among other traits.

How would a human outsmart a profound intelligence that has had millenia to learn?

You don't know God, by means of what you know. But the Bible is very clear how our Father cares about us (1 Peter 5:7) and He wants us to trust Him in every thing, to make sure we go the right way (Proverbs 3:5-6, 1 Thessalonians 5:21); so we trust God to make sure we hear Him right and do all He means, in sharing with us

 

[ThinkForYourself]

This kind of thing is very easy to determine. We do not need to learn how to listen in order to know. It is written black and white in the Scripture.

How do you know scripture wasn't written by the bad guy?

It could be a test, where worshiping the god of the bible means you are unfit for heaven. When you read what happens in the bible, and what is advocated in the bible (including chattel slavery) it makes a lot of sense.

 

[razzelflabben]

How do you know scripture wasn't written by the bad guy?

It could be a test, where worshiping the god of the bible means you are unfit for heaven. When you read what happens in the bible, and what is advocated in the bible (including chattel slavery) it makes a lot of sense.

first let me ask you to present the scripture that tells us to worship God....second as to chattel, what did God command in regards to slavery? Do you know?

My point is this, we can get all bent out of shape over what the bible tells us when in reality we don't really know what it says at all. In order to judge the Bible or the God thereof, we need to know what we are judging, rather than allow someone else to tell us what they think it says and judge them but call it "God's" ideas. So maybe we should start with the two above questions.

 

[ThinkForYourself]

first let me ask you to present the scripture that tells us to worship God

By definition Christians worship god. From wikipedia: Worship is an act of religious devotion usually directed towards a deity.

....second as to chattel, what did God command in regards to slavery? Do you know?

However, you may purchase male or female slaves from among the foreigners who live among you. You may also purchase the children of such resident foreigners, including those who have been born in your land. You may treat them as your property, passing them on to your children as a permanent inheritance. You may treat your slaves like this, but the people of Israel, your relatives, must never be treated this way. (Leviticus 25:44-46)

God is also OK with beating them to death, so long as they don't die in the first day or two:

When a man strikes his male or female slave with a rod so hard that the slave dies under his hand, he shall be punished. If, however, the slave survives for a day or two, he is not to be punished, since the slave is his own property. (Exodus 21:20-21)

My point is this, we can get all bent out of shape over what the bible tells us when in reality we don't really know what it says at all.

Why would I "get all bent out of shape" about what I consider a book of fairy tales? Also, the words are clear enough, I know what they say.

In order to judge the Bible or the God thereof, we need to know what we are judging, rather than allow someone else to tell us what they think it says and judge them but call it "God's" ideas. So maybe we should start with the two above questions.

Of course I can judge God, and I personally find him lacking, as I would anyone who thinks slavery is acceptable.

And why would I need anyone to tell me what the words mean, they are very clear: It is OK to own slaves and beat them to death.

 

[razzelflabben]

By definition Christians worship god. From wikipedia: Worship is an act of religious devotion usually directed towards a deity.

that is not what I asked you. In fact, my point was that we need to know what the deity teaches not what others teach us about the deity, therefore, where in scripture are we told to worship God? That would be what we would find if we are talking about what the deity tells us about Himself. In fact, scripture says that true religion is taking care of the poor, widows, etc. nothing at all about worshiping anyone or anything. So...back to the point, where in scripture are we told to worship God?

However, you may purchase male or female slaves from among the foreigners who live among you. You may also purchase the children of such resident foreigners, including those who have been born in your land. You may treat them as your property, passing them on to your children as a permanent inheritance. You may treat your slaves like this, but the people of Israel, your relatives, must never be treated this way. (Leviticus 25:44-46)

yep, the law reflects the culture of the day, but you have failed to show what God's command is in relation to how those slaves are to be treated. Let's talk about what God's command in regards to slavery is, not how the law of God reflects the culture of the day.

God is also OK with beating them to death, so long as they don't die in the first day or two:

When a man strikes his male or female slave with a rod so hard that the slave dies under his hand, he shall be punished. If, however, the slave survives for a day or two, he is not to be punished, since the slave is his own property. (Exodus 21:20-21)

lol again, you are missing the question. Nothing in this passage suggests that God ordains slavery or beating slaves, rather God says, when you do this thing, do it this way...thus the question, what is God's command as per how to treat slaves? Just because there are laws on the books about how to treat a horse thief doesn't mean that that law tells us to all go back to owning horses. Come on, let's apply the basic logic we all know and love to the question at hand. What is God's command as per slavery?

Why would I "get all bent out of shape" about what I consider a book of fairy tales? Also, the words are clear enough, I know what they say.

so if it is that clear, show the scripture where God condones owning slaves...or the scripture where He says slavery is a good thing. In fact, many of the slaves of the day were what we know as indentured servants, that is to say, men and woman who willingly exchanged their "freedom" for pay. Are you condemning indentured servitude, cause if you are, none of us should have jobs. Tacking on the word slave, doesn't change what we really are, people who exchange our freedom for pay.

Of course I can judge God, and I personally find him lacking, as I would anyone who thinks slavery is acceptable.

no, you are judging your idea of God, as shown above, where I asked you for scripture and you presented only what you have been taught to say, not what is.

And why would I need anyone to tell me what the words mean, they are very clear: It is OK to own slaves and beat them to death.

The passage does not say it is okay, rather it limits what the culture permitted, which is part of the point. In the case of slavery, scripture limits what the culture allowed and permitted, that in no way, shape, or form condones slavery or the beating of slaves. What you were asked for, is scriptural evidence to back your claim that God condones slavery, which you failed to do. So, shall we try again, or just assume you cannot support the claims you make?

 

[com7fy8]

If God says I may purchase someone from someone else's family, then I may.

But He expects me to love the person and take good care of the person. And surely, in love, I will free him or her to share with my slave's family. The person gets fully taken care of . . . unlike many who work in the United States. It is meant how love has us doing it.

Also, if the person buying knows how to manage resources, it can be better to belong to that competent person, than to be free in one's own abilities. There are many who are slaves of their own selves, and they are very abusive to themselves. Being a slave of sin and lusts and anger and arguing and complaining is wrong, then. But ones can claim they don't like slavery . . . while they themselves try to control others and use people instead of loving any and all people as themselves.

The early scripture rules about slavery could represent how we are better as slaves of Jesus who has paid for us, with His own blood, than to be on our own

So, this thread is about how to differentiate the voice of God from the voice of Satan. In the case of slavery, you would need to understand a rule the way love would have you apply it, in any case. The voice of God's love has us understanding a scripture completely differently than how a judgmental voice or insecure voice has us wanting to judge God or try to defend Him.

The best understanding comes in the voice which is humble and secure

 

[ThinkForYourself]

that is not what I asked you. In fact, my point was that we need to know what the deity teaches not what others teach us about the deity, therefore, where in scripture are we told to worship God?

I gave you the definition of worship. By definition that's what Christians do. End of story.

yep, the law reflects the culture of the day, but you have failed to show what God's command is in relation to how those slaves are to be treated.

You appear to be saying that God is subservient to cultural mores. I can understand the bible being subservient, because the people who wrote it wanted to gather followers, and some people might have decided not to follow if they had to give up their slaves. A moral and just God would have said: "Thou shall not keep slaves!"

Is God subservient to cultural mores?

Let's talk about what God's command in regards to slavery is, not how the law of God reflects the culture of the day. lol again, you are missing the question. Nothing in this passage suggests that God ordains slavery or beating slaves, rather God says, when you do this thing, do it this way...thus the question, what is God's command as per how to treat slaves?

He says it's OK to beat a slave to death, and you justify it. There was a thread about slavery, and many Christians did the same thing, defended God for condoning this barbarity. Cognitive dissonance or what?

Just because there are laws on the books about how to treat a horse thief doesn't mean that that law tells us to all go back to owning horses. Come on, let's apply the basic logic we all know and love to the question at hand. What is God's command as per slavery? so if it is that clear, show the scripture where God condones owning slaves...or the scripture where He says slavery is a good thing.

I quoted the verses where God says it is permissible. Comparing to a horse thief is ridiculous, as God said Thou shall not steal.

In fact, many of the slaves of the day were what we know as indentured servants, that is to say, men and woman who willingly exchanged their "freedom" for pay.

The verse I quoted specifically talks about chattel slavery. Please don't try to squirm out of an immoral position by changing the subject.

Are you condemning indentured servitude, cause if you are, none of us should have jobs. Tacking on the word slave, doesn't change what we really are, people who exchange our freedom for pay. no, you are judging your idea of God, as shown above, where I asked you for scripture and you presented only what you have been taught to say, not what is.

I'm not sure why you are having such a hard time comprehending the words in the bible. They are very clear. They need no interpretation or explaining. They speak for themselves.

Or are you saying God is unable create coherent sentences that say what he means?

The passage does not say it is okay, rather it limits what the culture permitted, which is part of the point. In the case of slavery, scripture limits what the culture allowed and permitted, that in no way, shape, or form condones slavery or the beating of slaves. What you were asked for, is scriptural evidence to back your claim that God condones slavery, which you failed to do. So, shall we try again, or just assume you cannot support the claims you make?

The verses I quoted specifically said there shall be no punishment if you beat a slave to death so long as the slave lives for a day or two.

That is condoning the beating of defenseless woman and children to death. If God wasn't condoning it, God would have said there was punishment for it. This is so obvious, but once again you apparently think God is incapable of communicating even simple concepts.

 

[ThinkForYourself]

If God says I may purchase someone from someone else's family, then I may.

But He expects me to love the person and take good care of the person. And surely, in love, I will free him or her to share with my slave's family. The person gets fully taken care of . . . unlike many who work in the United States. It is meant how love has us doing it.

Also, if the person buying knows how to manage resources, it can be better to belong to that competent person, than to be free in one's own abilities. There are many who are slaves of their own selves, and they are very abusive to themselves. Being a slave of sin and lusts and anger and arguing and complaining is wrong, then. But ones can claim they don't like slavery . . . while they themselves try to control others and use people instead of loving any and all people as themselves.

The early scripture rules about slavery could represent how we are better as slaves of Jesus who has paid for us, with His own blood, than to be on our own

So, this thread is about how to differentiate the voice of God from the voice of Satan. In the case of slavery, you would need to understand a rule the way love would have you apply it, in any case. The voice of God's love has us understanding a scripture completely differently than how a judgmental voice or insecure voice has us wanting to judge God or try to defend Him.

The best understanding comes in the voice which is humble and secure

Wow. Just Wow.

I can't believe how many Christians think slavery is moral because the bible says so.

The bible also says you can beat slaves, including defenseless women and children, to death, so long as they don't die in a day or two.

Do you think beating defenseless women and children to death is moral as well?

One thing this forum has taught me, is that secular morality is far far superior to God's morality, and his follower's morality.

 

[Archie the Preacher]

I was married to my first wife for about five years. We were divorced in 1978 or so. recognize her voice. Were the phone to ring - we live a little over 1500 miles apart - I would recognize her voice instantly.

How does one recognize the 'voice' of anyone? By familiarization. That applies to a Christian's recognition of God, as well.

Does Satan attempt to mimic God's 'voice'? Without doubt. However, there are many factors other than merely the pitch, tenor and flow of 'voice' that are familiar and telling. My ex-wife might tell me to jump in a lake, but she will not tell me anything out of line from her character. God, even less.

I cannot express it any better. It falls into the heading of 'one must be there' to fully understand.

 

[Ana the Ist]

I was married to my first wife for about five years. We were divorced in 1978 or so. recognize her voice. Were the phone to ring - we live a little over 1500 miles apart - I would recognize her voice instantly.

How does one recognize the 'voice' of anyone? By familiarization. That applies to a Christian's recognition of God, as well.

Does Satan attempt to mimic God's 'voice'? Without doubt. However, there are many factors other than merely the pitch, tenor and flow of 'voice' that are familiar and telling. My ex-wife might tell me to jump in a lake, but she will not tell me anything out of line from her character. God, even less.

I cannot express it any better. It falls into the heading of 'one must be there' to fully understand.

It's an interesting thought... it doesn't really fix the possibility of error though. Suppose the devil were the only supernatural being speaking to you? Suppose the things he said at first were helpful, good, useful things to build your trust? Suppose he did this over a period of years in order to deceive?

By your own method for recognizing the voice of god...the unfortunate person would be easily manipulated into doing awful things while thinking they were doing god's wishes all the while. Their experience tells them they're speaking to and being answered by god...but it's really Satan and they know no better.

 

[Archie the Preacher]

Suppose the devil were the only supernatural being speaking to you? Suppose the things he said at first were helpful, good, useful things to build your trust? Suppose he did this over a period of years in order to deceive?

By your own method for recognizing the voice of god...the unfortunate person would be easily manipulated into doing awful things while thinking they were doing god's wishes all the while. Their experience tells them they're speaking to and being answered by god...but it's really Satan and they know no better.

This line of thought presumes there IS a devil - Satan. The existence of Satan requires the existence of God, doesn't it? Where would Satan get his motivation without God? Where would the concept arise of 'good' and 'evil' without God? There can God without Satan, but no Satan without God. Just like 'light' or 'heat' can exist alone, but without those entities, 'dark' and 'cold' would be meaningless.

So your train of thought presumes that even with God existing, God does nothing to counteract the lies of Satan?

Not making sense here, Ana. Could you flesh that out with a solid base?

 

[com7fy8]

Do you think beating defenseless women and children to death is moral as well?

How about killing unborn people? Do you think this is moral?? Just say they aren't people, because certain scientists say they aren't??????

The Bible gives guidelines on how to manage a slave owner if he beats someone to death. It does not say he should do it. There is the issue of if and how he needs to be punished. So, it does not directly say it is moral.

The directive is meant to be heard with God's voice of love . . . so the people realize God does not want them to beat slaves to death. There is the purpose of the commandment . . . that it does not happen.

One thing this forum has taught me, is that secular morality is far far superior to God's morality, and his follower's morality.

Secular morality can include that it's ok to kill the unborn and just say they aren't human and this makes it ok. But not all secular people have the same morals; so it is not ok to try to speak for everyone else!! That's not moral, either.

"Love does no harm to a neighbor," we do have in Romans 13:10. So, with love's voice interpreting scripture, it is clear God is not saying it is ok to kill a slave. This is why the issue of punishment is included in how to handle a person who has killed one's slave. Even if someone is not punished, this does not mean it is ok.

And there can be the built-in punishment of losing a good slave, just because of a moment of lost temper. Ones getting this command could stop and realize they needed to pray and be godly so they would not lose their temper and lose a good slave. It was understood that masters and slaves could relate like family in love together, and therefore a slave might want to stay with the slave's master. And . . . by the way . . . according to my information . . . this is kind of how certain tribal peoples of the American continent took care of slaves > they treated them like family; they became family. These were not Christians; certain Christians were taken into slavery by American tribal people and they became family.

And we in Jesus are bought slaves. We were slaves of Satan and selfishness. But God adopted us. But now we are also family, though slaves

So, slavery is not so "black and white", how ones may want to dictate that we see it. There are ones who want to be our dictators of how we see things . . . perhaps. This can go for me, too; I can try to dictate. I think love's voice can have us discovering better

Philemon had slaves, by the way, and our Apostle Paul wrote to him like he was a good example of love, for the Christian church. So, I am not going to say the Bible outrightly condemns slavery. But the superior way to be a slave is to be a slave of love and joy and peace and not to control other people > "nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." (1 Peter 5:3)

You can consider 1 Corinthians 7:20-24. Considering how masters can be slaves to their nonsense, a slave can be better-off. God can make any way of life better than how any human can make one's own life. A Christian slave could be a missionary to reach other slaves while going through what they went through. Going through things in order to love others (2 Corinthians 1:3-4) can be much better than being a slave of alcohol and fake sex and nicotine and food abuse . . . and a killer spirit.

 

[parsley]

Did you have a fever at the time?

Good question, because fevers bring on epic dreams, too. One fever I had brought on a slew of inventions.

There is something distasteful about power isn't there? We don't like it because 1) we've seen it abused too often, and 2) we don't ever have enough of it ourselves.

Thanks for saying that, I woke up with related things on my mind.

ARE CHRISTIANS VULNERABLE TO MISINTERPRETING NOW

I have been in churches where people were so involved in the prophetic, that some did not slow down enough to discern whether things were of God. Eventually prophetic words conflicted with each other, people got hurt, and God pulled people apart with individual advice to move on. (More hearing from God.)

Your example of Isaac and Abraham was great; I have looked that up with Hebrew definitions, and it appears that it was Abraham who assumed, instead of God's actual words. So God saved him from himself and lack of discernment, too, if I read correctly.


HOW WE DISCERN

My personal tactic for discerning is based on these concepts:

1. The devil is the accuser of the brethren. If a message comes with demeaning, guilt, intimidation, or even religiously obsessive obligation -- it is likely not from God, and can at least afford to gel for a while.

2. Deceptive spirits can show light and love for a while, but will eventually turn on you selfishly.

3. "The devil" is often a generic term in the Bible, which could include any spirit with corrupt intents. It is less extreme to think of many spirits with nothing else to do, than one evil overlord talking to everyone at once.

4. His sheep know His voice. Okay that's idealistic, but at least a motivator -- to trust that the tone and allover sense we had previously, is a recognition factor for the future.

When I am not sure of that voice, I just ask Him to show me more and allow more time and leeway.

From experience, I find that God is not in the same rush that we are. A little waiting does not cause God's plans to collapse.



WAS IT GOD APPROVING SLAVERY, OR WHAT MEN WANTED TO HEAR

Leviticus 25 and 27 explain the terms of paying off debts by working them off. The word used is slave/servant, but sometimes it meant administrative assistant, ranch manager, farm hand, household manager. (Roughly six Hebrew words, eight Greek. There is even question of whether the Hebrews 300 years in Egypt were slaves as we would define.)

Jacob sold himself, by agreeing to work for Laban seven years in exchange for marriage to Rachel. The word for slavery was often indentured servant, servitude -- working to pay off debts.

You have heard of the year of Jubilee -- that is when people are released from obligations such as debt and servitude for debt.

"On this year of jubilee each of you shall return to his own property."

 

[razzelflabben]

I gave you the definition of worship. By definition that's what Christians do. End of story.

wow, give it a try here, okay....first, your definition is wrong, second, I'm not religious as a once popular song goes, I just love the Lord. So on two different levels your wrong, and yet, you declare yourself right without anything to support your claims, why is that? Why would you be afraid to support your claims if you were right in the first place? ah well, moving on...

You appear to be saying that God is subservient to cultural mores. I can understand the bible being subservient, because the people who wrote it wanted to gather followers, and some people might have decided not to follow if they had to give up their slaves. A moral and just God would have said: "Thou shall not keep slaves!"

wow, really, that is what you got from my post...let's try this again....let's say that I live in a culture where selling my children into slavery is the norm, the leader of my community comes along and says, look, I can't stop you from selling your children into slavery, but I can restrict your behavior in how that happens and to whom you sell them....how has that leader condoned the selling of their children into slavery? Hasn't instead that leader taken the first steps to end the practice? Given that it isn't as profitable anymore, doesn't that help to end it rather than support it? How would that be subservient to the cultural norms to try to end practices that are harmful to some? Wouldn't that be wise governing for a better end game, rather than subservient?

Is God subservient to cultural mores?

I don't even know where you get that idea, certainly you didn't get it from anything I actually did say, so I'm gonna move on assuming you intend this for someone else since I already clarified on the off chance you really didn't get what I was saying.

He says it's OK to beat a slave to death, and you justify it. There was a thread about slavery, and many Christians did the same thing, defended God for condoning this barbarity. Cognitive dissonance or what?

NO, what I said is that He did NOT condone slavery by restricting the peoples right to do whatever they wanted. Come on, keep up with my responses. Let's see, another example. We have a guy who is an alcoholic. We know that no amount of law will stop him from drinking, however, we also know that he will be safer for all involved if he doesn't drink and drive. So we limit him by passing a law that says don't drink and drive. So, according to your way of interpreting scripture, our government condones and even promotes drunkenness by limiting the alcoholic consumption when driving. Thus, by your interpretation, our government not only supports and promotes drunkenness, but is subservient to the culture by which we live because it promotes drunkenness...oh, just to make sure I am clear, we are not talking bout taking a drink here and there, we are talking about drunkenness. Man, that is a messed up way to look at our government and the laws we make....actually, it's kind of scary and doesn't say much for some of our modern day political arguments.

None the less, if that is the way you are going to argue about all laws, I don't think there is anything else we can talk about here because that is just really messed up and trying to unravel it here would be off topic.

I quoted the verses where God says it is permissible. Comparing to a horse thief is ridiculous, as God said Thou shall not steal.

see above...

The verse I quoted specifically talks about chattel slavery. Please don't try to squirm out of an immoral position by changing the subject.

lol squirm out of immoral position by changing the subject, what a joke...I am doing all I can to keep it on topic....come on, stay on topic with me, okay, I'm sure if you try to, we can have a great discussion.

I'm not sure why you are having such a hard time comprehending the words in the bible. They are very clear. They need no interpretation or explaining. They speak for themselves.

Or are you saying God is unable create coherent sentences that say what he means?

what are you talking about...you read into the text what is not there, I call you on it, and your response is that the bible is clear? That is some really messed up stuff you are going on about. Any clear communication stops being clear when you insist on reading into it what is not there, it's just the nature of communication. In fact, the only way to make it clear again is to remove what was read into it, which is all I have shown you.

The verses I quoted specifically said there shall be no punishment if you beat a slave to death so long as the slave lives for a day or two.

where does it say that God condones slavery or the beating of a slave? It doesn't, it restricts the behavior of those that own slaves, just like the above discussion about alcoholism.

That is condoning the beating of defenseless woman and children to death. If God wasn't condoning it, God would have said there was punishment for it. This is so obvious, but once again you apparently think God is incapable of communicating even simple concepts.

so, according to your insistence on reading into things what is not there, because our government restricts drinking and driving, we condone young children drinking, right? But wait, why then do we have laws against underage drinking? Maybe it is important to take in the whole law before trying to judge part of it? Naw, that would be limiting the text to what it says rather than reading into it what is not there, and since I asked you to do that and you refused, I guess we are done.

Have a great day. May you discover the truths of effective communication as God reveals HIs truth to you this day.

 

[bhsmte]

According to many Christians God communicates to them. But how does a Christian know that they are hearing God's voice?

The issue I have is that Angels are believed to be hyper-intelligent among other traits. Since the devil is a fallen angel and interacts with humans and "knows of this (material) world" it stands to reason that impersonating God is a possibility. Add to that the odd requests God makes to people in the Bible. Essentially telling Abraham to kill his son but providing an alternate sacrifice just in time comes to mind.

How would a human outsmart a profound intelligence that has had millenia to learn?

For some, I think it goes something like this;

If the voice tells you what you want to hear, it is God. If the voice tells you something you don't want to hear, it is the devil.

 

[razzelflabben]

For some, I think it goes something like this;

If the voice tells you what you want to hear, it is God. If the voice tells you something you don't want to hear, it is the devil.

lol many approach it that way, but from experience often times the opposite is true, where as the devil tells us what we want to hear and God tells us a truth that is very uncomfortable.

 

[bhsmte]

lol many approach it that way, but from experience often times the opposite is true, where as the devil tells us what we want to hear and God tells us a truth that is very uncomfortable.

Well, I did say for some.