Has God ever spoken to you?

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

In the past few months various people (from different denominations including SDA) have told me that God had *spoken* to them, particularly about what *other people* should do.

Why would God use another person to tell somebody else what to do? For example, why would God not tell me directly about something He wanted me to do, but instead, use somebody else to tell me?

How do you know that it is truly God speaking to you?

If God has spoken to you, what method did he use? In other words, how did He get His message across to you?

[Dr. Shane]

I have never stood in front of a burning bush but every time I open up His Word, He speaks to me.

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />

Why would God use another person to tell somebody else what to do?

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

I can't speak for others, but as for me, sometimes I can be stubborn, short-sighted, distracted and sometimes just a little foolish.

"Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend." Ps. 27:17

Although I have found that when God uses other people to speak to me, He uses more than one.

"Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellers there is safety." Pr. 11:14

[Fran]

Yes, in very real ways; Physical and tangible as well as just having the knowledge at a glance or at a given moment.

It is very encouraging. One day I needed to hear the Lord in his word. I asked for it and he gave me just the scripture to answer my direct questionings.

God has spoken to me and I have not followed through with the Holy Spirit's nudge. Those times the Holy Spirit had to take a 2X4 and whack me in the head. Then I listen because my head hurts from the smack! Sometimes He has to use bricks, but once I get it, I am relentless until He says "OK, that is enough".

Then there are times I can’t hear Him because I need a tune up. God is very real to me. He never leaves my side; it is me that moves away at times.

God has given each of us gifts. Sometimes I hate one of mine. Yet there it is. I have to use it even though it is scary or very difficult. There are times I have asked God to give the gift to someone else. One day he will. Until then, I will do my best for His service.

Have you ever been driving and all of the sudden you sudden take a different route? Then you find out in seconds there was an accident that happened right after you turned off the road. The cars that were behind and in front of you were in flames and destroyed and the people died. Why did I turn? The urge was so strong I had to turn.

I have prayed to give me a rest, but He tells me that as long as I have breathe I will still need to listen and stay alive until HE is finished with me. So I am still here for today. He holds the future. Just one day at a time everyday.

[Clio]

He has spoken to me, Pam, but only for things that I must do, or change in my life. Rarely, but occasionally what needs to be done in another's life, and those others were my children, husband, and a prayer partner for many years.

I know it's Abba Father, because I have stepped out in faith, believing that the words I heard came from Him and no other, because they conformed to the Bible teachings, and were impressed upon me more than once, during prayer.

There were also confirmed with two witnesses. I have experienced the results of being obedient through stepping out in faith, I KNOW His Voice now.

The Mechanism? He speaks to me in my mind. In words.

But first I spent years asking for neon blinking signposts to go with His guidance so I wouldn't miss what He wanted. Used to take me months to gather the courage to do what I thought He wanted me to do... Now it takes a day or two... just long enough for me to realize I'm being impressed to do something everyday during prayer time... And then to get the two witness confirmation.

Clio

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

Thx for the responses! So it's mostly an inner impression or nudge - but a different feeling than knowing it's your own idea. And having someone else *confirm* the impression would be very important in certain matters, I would suspect. This is making sense.

[Norman Byers, N.D.]

Hi Pam,

In my experience answered prayers have been my voice from God. For example: It was sometime in 1998 in Canada and my friend (Richard) was in the hospital about an hour away.(Richard has Chrons) His brother, (Marc) also my friend, got a call from the hospital telling him that his heart had stopped and that basically he was dead for a short time but was brought back to life.

So Marc his girlfriend and I jumped into Marc's car and drove to the hospital. When we got there and saw Richard he looked awful. He was green and was really not able to communicate. He had IV's and tubes sticking out of him and it just looked bad. When Marc looked him, he began to cry and said I wish I could change places with you (Marc is older) in the meantime I went to the bathroom and prayed several times for Richard. Then we left and went back home. About 15 mins into the trip they wanted to eat so we stopped at a restaurant and they had something to eat. Then we all prayed for Richard. We left and got to Marc's place and there was a mesage on his phone. It was Richard! He sounded like there was nothing wrong with him. So we called him back and he was as fit as a young man can be! we asked him what time this happneed and it was exactly the time when we were praying for him.

The next day Richard came home and he was like a totally new person. No doubt I told Richard what happened asked him to give his life to God. He started to come to church and came for quite a while but after some time stopped coming. That was a dissapointment. But the point I was making is that when God answered that prayer I was at the point in my life where I was letting God make the changes that I knew He wanted. That was telling me to keep on what I was doing and it also was a help to Marc and his girlfriend because they were asking me tons of questions about God and were interested in coming to church. It increased my faith and gave me confidence when I read the Bible (which was a living word and spoke to me when I read it)

I had no doubt that God was working in my life and every day I knew He'd have some sort of blessing for me (I used to call them adventures for the day)

From that day on I could sense when God was tlaking to me and asking me to do certain things. That was walking with God. I boast of this because of what my Lord has done, praise God and His marvelous Son!

Norman

[Clio]

Pam -

A word of caution. I always check it Biblically, which is certainly valid as one of the two witnesses. But I always wait for a second witness. The Bible tells us that it takes two witnesses to make it truth.

The Bible establishes this in both the Old and New Testaments.

One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established. Deuteronomy 19:15

At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; [but] at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death. Deuteronomy 17:6

Remember, just as it takes two witnesses to condemn, so it also takes two witnesses to affirm truth.

But if he will not hear [thee, then] take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. Matthew 18:16

This [is] the third [time] I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. II Corinthians 13:1

And I will give [power] unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred [and] threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. Revelation 11:3

Usually, if the Scriptures are one of the witnesses, I wait until I receive affirmation from two additional witnesses totalling 3. But I don't forget about it, I just kinda put it on the back "mental" burner so to speak.

Clio

[archierieus]

Like Shane, I believe that the way in which God speaks to us is through His Word, the Bible. "Impressions" most definitely are not a safe guide, because we are sinful, and because other voices which may even sound like God's voice or feel like His Spirit may not, in fact, be from God. And, beyond that, a very late dinner, or too many sweets, for example, may result in a person having "inspirations," which are actually affected more by chemistry. As one who has a definite emotional streak, I have found consistently that God points me to His Word for answers, when, so often, I would prefer to have direct personal guidance. And, I have found that God wants me to use my common sense guided by the Word, rather than rely on impressions.

As for God speaking through others to give me guidance, once again, that can be dangerous ground. Permite me to give you three examples from my personal experience: a couple of years back, good friends in the community here offered me a job. These are devout Christian people. We had studied about the Bible Sabbath. The job they offered me would not involve actual 'work' on the Sabbath, but it would have required me to answer phone calls of a secular nature from time to time. And, in fact, I would have been 'on the job.' I mentioned this to my friends. Their response was that God strongly impressed them that this job was from Him. In the end, of course, I had to follow the Bible and decline the job.

Another example: A Seventh-day Adventist woman who is a wife and mom, and who is very supportive of my work of soul-winning, studied the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy and came to the "conviction" that Christ is a lesser Being than the Father, and was at some point in th past created. This lady spent quite a bit of time attempting to show me the 'truth' which she was so excited about. Of course, it is not truth. While I listened and was diplomatic, I also recognized that she did not speak for God.

A third example: My ex-wife had divorced me some time ago, and totally cut me off from any communication. However, she is still a church member, and in fact teaches in a denominational school. Along comes a very nice woman who is "convicted" that God is calling her to marry me. Everyone who meets her tells me that she is the one for me, and the clear sense comes across that they believe God is leading in developing a romantic relationship. Numerous people have talked to me about this. These are devout Christian people, good people. There is a problem. The Bible, Jesus Christ in His Word, makes very clear the grounds he recognizes for remarriage. Thus, this lady's impressions, and the counsel from numerous others, run afoul of God's Word.

Experiences like this are one reason why I try to consistently point people to the Bible as the only safe and reliable way that God speaks to us. Don't rely on feelings or impressions.

Sincerely, Dave

[Gregory Matthews]

Re: "Along comes a very nice woman who is "convicted" that God is calling her to marry me."

You are wise to flee such.

[Amelia]

Couldnt it be that those people are being deluded with those impressions and convictions from another source? Especially since they cannot be turned from those delusions with the real truth?

[Clio]

That's why it's so important to check it against the Word first. If it's biblical, and there is at least one other witness who doesn't know what you're wrestling with, then you have the minimum of two witnesses required by Scripture.

But an "impression" or a "conviction" that doesn't have two witnesses and doesn't meet Biblical criteria is a danger sign indeed.

I do believe that if the convicted one can't be turned from their delusion with biblical truth and prayer, then there is nothing to be done but leave them in Abba's hands and pray for them.

Clio

[Gregory Matthews]

Re: Two witnesses:

Is the Bible only one witness. Or is it possible for the Bible in its collection of witnesses over a long period of time to meet the two witness test.

Clio sounds to me like she places a non-Biblical source on an authority level equal to the Bible. That may be dangerous.

To me, the Bible is to judge everything else.

[Clio]

If there is a discrepancy between it being biblical and what the witness is saying, it's not a witness. Biblical first, second and third for confirmation and guidance.

Sheesh. NOTHING outweighs the Word.

Clio

[bevin]

Quote:

---

Couldnt it be that those people are being deluded with those impressions and convictions from another source?

---

Conviction and certainty are emotions. They can be played with by simply altering one's brain chemistry or physiology, as well as by misunderstandings and simply having different thresholds for 'proof'.

We see this a lot with mentally ill and drugged individuals - they are certain of something which is either false or dubious.

/Bevin

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

Is the *gift of discernment* the same thing as being *told* something by God? People have told me a number of times that they have *discerned* that I should do this or that. There are a lot of things that the Bible doesn't clearly state is right or wrong....so how can I know whether they have the gift they claim?

[Clio]

Only by studying it out for yourself and asking for confirmation from Abba. Throw a fleece before Him as did Gideon. He says to test Him, try Him, ask Him.

Ask Him for a sign that you tell only Him, and make it something you couldn't possibly arrange or do for yourself. Then bide your time and wait on Him.

He WILL NOT allow a sincere seeker, waiting on Him, trusting in Him, to get it wrong.

Abba cannot lie, and Isaiah tells us He will let us know. We'll hear a voice telling us, this is the way, walk ye in it. Letting a sincere seeker get it wrong would be the same as a lie... and Abba CANNOT do that. It is contrary to His very Nature.

Just... remember.... Abba's plans are not man's plans. He has a different point of view.... so it may not fit preconceived notions of "should" from a human perspective.

I wouldn't trust *anyone's* gift of discernment unless after a long season of prayer Abba made it very plain. And in the last 5 years I've not known Him to be ambiguous. Unexpected, maybe, but never ambiguous.

I've found those who have "discernment" for me, anyway, usually have an agenda. And their agenda might not be Abba's.

Clio

[dennisinchina]

The Good Lord has let me know in many ways He wants to talk with me . Lately it has been by waking me up at 4or 5am, so I open my mind to Him for some time, then listen to favorite music about the Lord and remind myself of his Goodness in the bible.Late Pslams 103 and lamentations 3:22-24 are most meaningful to me. One of the most dramatic occurrances of his cntacting me was during the long period I was ignoring Him while in the Army. On a recon on the Thailand/Burma border, about as far from God as I thought I ever was, coming through my army radio was the singapore Voice Of Prophecy. I looked up at the sky through the jungle trees and realized God was the Hound of Heaven and had tracked me down. It started me on the way back to forgiven loving relationship.

[Clio]

Abba does that to me too Dennis.

I get up around 4:30 anyway especially to spend time with Him. But there have been several times in the last three months where He has woken me at 2:30 or 3:00, and nearly DEMANDED I hit my knees in prayer.

Once after praying for guidance, repenting for wanting to get on the PC during my prayer, and STILL being driven here, I popped open my IM for the first time in months, only to find myself talking to a friend I hadn't talked to in 6 months or more. The conversation turned to Abba, and after 45 minutes of sharing Jesus, she told me that she had been struggling, contemplating suicide, and that now she wasn't going to do it.

I find in times like this, where it's not a quick, covering prayer, but hours and an errand, that even though I get almost no sleep, Abba carries me through the next day with restored energy, renewed faith, and refreshment better than I could have gotten had I slept all night. What an awesome thing. I think it may be a foretaste of heaven ... and not needing sleep unless we want to sleep.

I continued talking to her about Jesus and how much He loved her for another 2 hours, until I had to get ready for work. She is a happy, healthy, believer in True Jesus now, and under a counselor's care to help with what drove her almost to death.

Another time He woke me up in tears, with such sorrow in my spirit I could hardly breathe. I immediately fell into prayer, and prayed about whatever was on my mind and whatever came into my mind. I know why I wsa crying, now.... and I know why I was woken to prayer, but I can't share it here.

Another time I was woken for prayer, and I took myself out to the living room to pray, and He never did share why or for whom I was praying, but it was a sweet sweet time of refreshing for just He and I.

It was during one of these special periods of prayer I learned about the applications of Passover Mercy for Christians today. I have seen it walked out in my life, and while the consequences have been heavy and hard, the Mercy has been greater.

WHen He wakes me now, I just get up and follow Him out to our prayer place. I know that He's not going to let me go back to sleep... I would feel too guilty at denying His specific request. Besides, I LOVE spending time in prayer with Him when I don't have a whole prayer list to talk to Him about. Just U/us is a pretty special thing.

Clio