Why doesn't God speak to His people anymore?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
E

ed

Guest
#61
#61
Saint said:
Well, God is love, and He wants His creation to love as well. To believe in someone you see that always gives you everything you want requires only a very little amount of love. To believe in someone who you've never seen before who you do not fully understand, especially why He does what He does, takes not only faith, but true love. This, of course is merely my guess. I cannot fully grasp the mysteries of God, nor His motives. I would guess that the answer is similar to why God put a tree in the garden that would cause us to know what sin is.
Click to expand...
Hi Saint,
Sorry about this but I am traveling backwards up the list.
Take some time out to think about God and who He is. Israel is our example and Jesus is also our example. Do you see how much God does for those He loves. See how much effort He put into building saving restoring glorifying Israel. See the beauty of the temple, the riches He poured onto the people. The battles they won, etc etc etc, Now we have gone on to the spiritual llife. leaving behind the lies of this world.See how he persevered with them and still He says they will be rescued. See His nature. Think about God being different.As a mean cranky boss who had power over you. See God as one who took sides, loved you one day and hated you the next when you were the same. See God as being corrupt and inconsistent in his dealings.See God as a tyrant. Now conjure up the type of God you would love to see. Honest truthful loving merciful. abundant patient etc etc etc. God shows us who He is so that we may love Him. You can not love some one whom you do no know. How super blessed we are that the GOD of creation has this beautiful nature.It is imperative that each of us takes on the task of knowing God. The more you know of Him the greater your love will be. Know Him personally, not only by scripture,but personally. He is there, as Jesus said, I am knocking at the door. Go way beyond scripture. Start acting on what you believe as long as it does not disagree with scripture and the nature of God as you know Him. He is there.
love
edwin
 
Sharp

Sharp

Senior Member
#62
May 5, 2009
2,565
20
38
#62
pickles said:
Consider the scriptures His posts to you. :)
Everything, everthing came in to being by His hand. Every hair on your head, every grain of sand. every star, everything! God Our Father has made these things by His hand.
So do not limit His power by what or how He answers you, Know in faith, He is answering you.
Click to expand...
Thanks pickles, but how do I know this?

It just seems way too convenient that God's silence and apparent non-intervention can be explained away by the need for us to have faith in things which we will never be able to verify.

Thanks for your prayers. My faith is extremely weak at the moment.
 
Sharp

Sharp

Senior Member
#63
May 5, 2009
2,565
20
38
#63
Just one word is all I would ask for. Just one word from God and then I'll be happy.

I wish I could have the faith that some other people have, people I know and especially people on this website.

But I need to make sure that what I have faith in is real. I need details, facts, evidence. I can't just have blind faith like some do although I wish I could. My faith has plummeted since I began to investigate the facts and evidence.

There are things that have happened in my life that I attribute to God as miracles, and yet I still doubt. I think I am like Thomas, and the wicked generation that seeks for a sign, but no sign is given to it.
 
Sharp

Sharp

Senior Member
#64
May 5, 2009
2,565
20
38
#64
charisenexcelcis said:
An athlete is made strong by exercise. So it is with faith. God tests our faith, much as a couch might test his athletes. It is for the good of our faith that He tests us.
Click to expand...
Charisen, do you think that is what is happening to me?

Only a few weeks ago I was travelling so well, just like Paul said to the Galatians, who hindered you!

The decline in my faith and subsequent change in my actions would probably be equivalent in magnitude to the 1929 stockmarket crash. I feel like I'm spiralling away from God and my faith at unprecedented speeds and I can't stop it.

Is this all part of God testing me? Seeing if I'll hang around?
 
C

charisenexcelcis

Guest
#65
#65
Sharp said:
Charisen, do you think that is what is happening to me?

Only a few weeks ago I was travelling so well, just like Paul said to the Galatians, who hindered you!

The decline in my faith and subsequent change in my actions would probably be equivalent in magnitude to the 1929 stockmarket crash. I feel like I'm spiralling away from God and my faith at unprecedented speeds and I can't stop it.

Is this all part of God testing me? Seeing if I'll hang around?
Click to expand...
God may not be the primary cause, but He will walk with you through it. And when you get through it you will be stronger in faith. I am praying for you everyday, that God will help you through it. I love you, bro. Anytime you need to unload, just PM me or e-mail me and say whatever you need to say. I will not come down on you for it. Even David at times felt abandoned and spoke harshly to God. God is gracious. He will not cast you aside for your trials.
 
E

ed

Guest
#66
#66
Sharp said:
Just one word is all I would ask for. Just one word from God and then I'll be happy.

I wish I could have the faith that some other people have, people I know and especially people on this website.

But I need to make sure that what I have faith in is real. I need details, facts, evidence. I can't just have blind faith like some do although I wish I could. My faith has plummeted since I began to investigate the facts and evidence.

There are things that have happened in my life that I attribute to God as miracles, and yet I still doubt. I think I am like Thomas, and the wicked generation that seeks for a sign, but no sign is given to it.
Click to expand...
Hi Sharp,
In my first response, I suggested you go to a Pentecostal church and have hands laid on you. As your having trouble believing then you are a prime candidate to speak in tongues. Have you considered doing this if you don't already speak in tongues?
About asking God to speak to you directly. Do you realise what you ask is unscriptural. I don't recall any scripture where God is at the bidding of human beings. We are to be obedient to Him. Think your request through to see how it would have a huge negative impact over the years if God was to perform 'tricks" on demand. When Moses led Israel for 40 years in the desert, they still lost faith even though all those mighty works were done and they were daily fed by manna and followed a cloud and a fiery cloud. What you seek won't satisfy long term. It is an appetite.
When Jesus first called me I changed. I never recalled wanting to steal in my younger life and to be truthful, I doubt I even stole a piece of fruit off a neighbours tree. Forgive me if I am wrong. But after Jesus called me everywhere, I mean everywhere I went I had this voice in my head saying, Boy look you could take that and no one would see you. And it persisted. And still occasionally it comes back but without the force or persistance. In a shopping aisle I would be tempted several times. It was maddening.
However now I am more able to recognise when the tempter is at me and victory is easier when I know it is not even me wanting the desire. Even if victory comes from being stubborn and not giving in to the tempter.
From your wording this IDEA you are plagued with seems to be a tempting, from an external spirit. It is not God's Spirit because that is not in His nature. You need to fight this at the root. Fling the desire to have God speak to you by word away repeatedly 10 times in 10 seconds. Know in your heart it is not from God.Know in [/B]your heart iti is not from you.
Here is a very very scary flip side to contemplate. The men of God you mentioned who heard the voice of God. These people were called to do great service. Do you want to lose your house, your wife and family and be an outcast and have pain inflicted upon your body. These are the paths of those whom God chooses to do mighty works. Moses is a murder. The world doesnt understand God's ways.
Do you really want to suffer the trials and sufferings that go with being apart of that elected group who had God speak to them.
Personally I feel the fear of God is not in you. Be very careful of what you ask for. If you want to be in the Kitchen, do kitchen work. Give up your house and give the money to the poor and go and live where God finds a place for your head. You will find Him. Jesus did not have a home.
in all love
edwin
 
S

Saint

Guest
#67
#67
ed said:
Hi Saint,
Sorry about this but I am traveling backwards up the list.
Take some time out to think about God and who He is. Israel is our example and Jesus is also our example. Do you see how much God does for those He loves. See how much effort He put into building saving restoring glorifying Israel. See the beauty of the temple, the riches He poured onto the people. The battles they won, etc etc etc, Now we have gone on to the spiritual llife. leaving behind the lies of this world.See how he persevered with them and still He says they will be rescued. See His nature. Think about God being different.As a mean cranky boss who had power over you. See God as one who took sides, loved you one day and hated you the next when you were the same. See God as being corrupt and inconsistent in his dealings.See God as a tyrant. Now conjure up the type of God you would love to see. Honest truthful loving merciful. abundant patient etc etc etc. God shows us who He is so that we may love Him. You can not love some one whom you do no know. How super blessed we are that the GOD of creation has this beautiful nature.It is imperative that each of us takes on the task of knowing God. The more you know of Him the greater your love will be. Know Him personally, not only by scripture,but personally. He is there, as Jesus said, I am knocking at the door. Go way beyond scripture. Start acting on what you believe as long as it does not disagree with scripture and the nature of God as you know Him. He is there.
love
edwin
Click to expand...
Was this in agreement with my post, disagreement, or an addition. I'm sorry, i've lost some sleep over the last few days so it's hard for me to concentrate. If it helps, I agree with what I think you are saying.
 
pickles

pickles

Senior Member
#68
Apr 20, 2009
14,479
182
63
#68
Sharp said:
Thanks pickles, but how do I know this?

It just seems way too convenient that God's silence and apparent non-intervention can be explained away by the need for us to have faith in things which we will never be able to verify.

Thanks for your prayers. My faith is extremely weak at the moment.
Click to expand...
Sharp, I have always enjoyed your posts so much. You have a gift in the study of the word that witnesses to me. I hunger for your gift.
But Im going to take a moment here to to go mom on you, if you were close right now ,
Id in the nicest way give you a quick kick in the backside. :)
Do you in any way think that I and others, do not know the frustration you are going through?
I spent time myself feeling just as you do, wanting a sign.
I finnally saw in faith, once I stopped trying to prove it all, this was years ago.

presant time,I read your post and prayed, talked to God, listened to Him, tested in ,Jesus Christ is Lord.
Then, in prayer, the word I shared is given for you in Jesus and you still are afraid.
I say afraid because sometimes we do not see our own fear, the fear of believing in faith.
We would rather rely on our own understanding than take the step into the unknown faith of hearing God. I say hearing , but maby it is better to say listening in soul.
Char is right as well about faith.
Im going to try to explain this, so bare with me here. You want a world based word from God,
I understand this, but just as I stubbornly learned, it is in Jesus, that God speaks, through His Holy Spirit, in ways that are seen and heard while we are in the world, but not of the world.
This is where faith comes in, an example is ; you read a scripture, you fully understand with your mind, then it is understood in soul, by the Holy Spirit. That same scripture comes alive, it fills you and makes you still with wonder. It may even cause your heart to be still in God, because you know that it is Him.
You might even shake your head thinking this is too great for me, then in a moment you wonder, was that you God. This is where you test in Jesus is Lord, then in faith know it is God Our Father.
So try again the instructions given in my other post.
Sharp,you have studied the scriptures and know them as I hope to, but my weakness is remembering, understanding instructions. That is why I now praise God for this weakness, because I could not understand, or remember without His help, I often struggle to write even a sentance.
Yet when He calls me to witness in Him the words flow, they come easly, not only do I witness to His greatness but the words witness to me as well.
My weakness helps me see in Jesus, God Our Father, by His Holy Spirit , simply because I could not do this on my own.
That is why the message, in your weaknesses, I am Glorified!
Look for God Our Father where you are weakest, because there, He will blaze before you in His Glory.

I apoligise for the kick.
In the love of Jesus.
God bless, pickles
 
A

Angel371

Guest
#69
#69
yes he does he speaks through His word because according to John 1`/1 God is the Word you cant quote John1/1 and not beieve it if you dont believe it you dont believe the word of God
 
M

Mitspa

Guest
#70
#70
Angel371 said:
yes he does he speaks through His word because according to John 1`/1 God is the Word you cant quote John1/1 and not beieve it if you dont believe it you dont believe the word of God
Click to expand...
I would add this thought...when you do believe it and it brings life and peace as you believe...YOU KNOW God has spoken to YOU and even in a personal way.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.