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nowyouseem033 said:
As John Owen a Pastor, Oxford Professor and Christian theologian would put it... "If private revelations agree with scripture they are needless, and if they disagree, they are false"

I would rather see more Christians reading there bibles more rather than try and experience Gods voice for themselves. It undercuts and discourages Christians reading Gods word whilst also having no basis for these 'God spoke to me audibly' moments.
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Yea i agree with that, but a person also has to walk in the faith and grow in relationship with Christ.. a person can read the word all day long, but if they never walk it out in agreement it will only be head knowledge... When God spoke to me that day i was actually about to take my own life... back then i was involved with a lot of occult stuff, while at the same time an atheist... back then i hated anything christian related and never once picked up a bible to read it.... And as for what God said.. he said something first that i can't remember, but then he started reading genesis, and as he was reading or quoting genesis i literally saw in visions how his word became manifest and who he is... HIS words really have life, and as he was saying these things it changed my mind about me wanting to die that day, and it gave me something never to forget...That encounter wasn't a reward for being christian, because back then i wasn't one yet... That was his mercy.
 
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nowyouseem033 said:
huh? Its good to the read the bible? For a Christian its his spiritual nourishment as Christ says "Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." Thats how we have a personal relationship with him.. right?? How do you know who he is, who we are, what hes like etc etc? Oh because the bible reveals to us. The spirit which dwells within us BEARS WITNESS TO THE TRUTH OF GODS WORD!!!!
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If you lived in a land where there were no Bibles, the Lord would still teach you what you need to know.
 
Amazing-Grace said:
I believe we can hear Him audibly but it's rare indeed, mostly He speaks to us in other ways. Like Utah I have felt God's pleasure when I have obeyed His instruction - this is not as often as it should be!

Yes Utah do share?
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Okay, my sister. :)

I used to work out at a gym that played hard core music; never a soft melody to be heard. But one day while in the middle of a workout, a ballad played on the radio and Jesus is mentioned in the song. I stopped working out and just sat there listening to the song and saying a prayer. When Jesus' Name was said in the song, I literally felt someone embrace me!
 
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G00WZ said:
Yea i agree with that, but a person also has to walk in the faith and grow in relationship with Christ.. a person can read the word all day long, but if they never walk it out in agreement it will only be head knowledge... When God spoke to me that day i was actually about to take my own life... back then i was involved with a lot of occult stuff, while at the same time an atheist... back then i hated anything christian related and never once picked up a bible to read it.... And as for what God said.. he said something first that i can't remember, but then he started reading genesis, and as he was reading or quoting genesis i literally saw in visions how his word became manifest and who he is... HIS words really have life, and as he was saying these things it changed my mind about me wanting to die that day, and it gave me something never to forget...That encounter wasn't a reward for being christian, because back then i wasn't one yet... That was his mercy.
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Your testimony is very similar to mine. :) although i wasnt involved in the occult though. So God spoke to you but you couldnt make out what he said? The GOD OF THE UNIVERSE spoke to you and you cant remember? Really? For me it was the opposite... I too was contemplating suicide on the third story balcony of y high school at night and prayed to God to show himself to me. After i said that nothing happened. Nothing happened for months until i met a christian who told me the gospel of grace and peace and forgiveness... and at the time I ran to him even though i did not hear him or see visions. I read his Word and boy oh boy it convicted me and revealed Gods love and goodness to me. John 20:29 "Blessed are those who do not see and yet believe" I guess i do not understand why you cant remember what God said? Afterall this is God talking to you? and to forget what he said is like huh?
 
resurrection33 said:
If you lived in a land where there were no Bibles, the Lord would still teach you what you need to know.
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Ah well he has given us the duty to go out and teach nations also disciple them. Thats our duty right? Its our job to preach the gospel to the unreached and unheard peoples of the world. How will they know, without a preacher right??? How will they know?
 
God wants a personal relationship with us. Obviously our main guide is the Bible. But also when we seek him, not just by theology, but by heart he comes to us and talk to us. Most of the time the Holy Spirit but also Jesus. God isnt limited on how he speaks to us, nor does he let himself be limited.
Our God is an awesome God. His sheep know his voice.
 
G00WZ said:
... or he would send someone who knows the word, and that has one, he always makes a way.
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I agree entirely. I'm just trying to make the point that the goal is to establish a relationship with the Lord. Part of establishing a relationship with the Lord is obeying the commandments, which are found in the Bible, but if we don't establish personal relationships with the Lord, we are missing the point.
 
G00WZ said:
Yea i agree with that, but a person also has to walk in the faith and grow in relationship with Christ.. a person can read the word all day long, but if they never walk it out in agreement it will only be head knowledge... When God spoke to me that day i was actually about to take my own life... back then i was involved with a lot of occult stuff, while at the same time an atheist... back then i hated anything christian related and never once picked up a bible to read it.... And as for what God said.. he said something first that i can't remember, but then he started reading genesis, and as he was reading or quoting genesis i literally saw in visions how his word became manifest and who he is... HIS words really have life, and as he was saying these things it changed my mind about me wanting to die that day, and it gave me something never to forget...That encounter wasn't a reward for being christian, because back then i wasn't one yet... That was his mercy.
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Well thats why i believe second to a christians growth asides reading and praying is fellow shipping with Gods bride namely the church. The church also seeks to preach Gods Word as the Church is also a place we hear from God...how? Through the preaching of his Word. :) Walking in faith requires soaking ourselves in the scriptures the same that Jesus was learned in the scriptures. The amazing thing is that if you are reading the bible without the spirit of God dwelling in you it really isnt going to make any sense. But with the spirit dwelling in you it is alive and the Spirit bears witness to that truth.
 
Demi777 said:
God wants a personal relationship with us. Obviously our main guide is the Bible. But also when we seek him, not just by theology, but by heart he comes to us and talk to us. Most of the time the Holy Spirit but also Jesus. God isnt limited on how he speaks to us, nor does he let himself be limited.
Our God is an awesome God. His sheep know his voice.
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God chose to reveal himself through his Word. thats the way he chose to do it. This is his primary revelation of himself to us. Visions and the like are certainly possible but are simply not Gods primary means of revelation. I would say if they happen they happen very rarely. Most people come to Christ not because they saw a vision or heard an audible voice... most people come to Christ because they heard the gospel preached to them from someone. They heard the gospel, they read the gospel and they believed the gospel. Whilst that was taking place the Spirit was moving there hearts to exercise faith in him.
 
The early believers believed in Jesus Christ because they heard the preaching of Paul or Peter or Thomas or John. Most of them became Christians because they believed the gospel that was preached to them through these men not through visions etc etc.
 
resurrection33 said:
If you lived in a land where there were no Bibles, the Lord would still teach you what you need to know.
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Its funny because the Bible doesnt tell us if he will or will not do that. Its certainly possible yes.... but why then does it say in matthew 28:19 that you are to teach the nations and people? and disciple them and train them in the Lord? So i guess its our job to teach those who do not have a bible to come to Christ. :)
 
nowyouseem033 said:
The early believers believed in Jesus Christ because they heard the preaching of Paul or Peter or Thomas or John. Most of them became Christians because they believed the gospel that was preached to them through these men not through visions etc etc.
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If you read the entire Bible, you will discover that the whole point is to develop a personal relationship with the Lord. The Bible helps you do that - if you obey the Lord's commandments.
 
resurrection33 said:
If you read the entire Bible, you will discover that the whole point is to develop a personal relationship with the Lord. The Bible helps you do that - if you obey the Lord's commandments.
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I agree. Developing a personal relationship with Christ involves foundationally and fundamentally on reading his Word. You can develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ without the need of visions, dreams, audible voices etc. But you cannot develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ without his Holy Word. So i think in order to develop a personal relationship with Christ, yes you definitely need his Word and visions etc not so much :)
 
If somebody asked you "hey, whats Gods primary means of revealing himself to me" are you really going to say its through visions?
 
nowyouseem033 said:
I agree. Developing a personal relationship with Christ involves foundationally and fundamentally on reading his Word. You can develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ without the need of visions, dreams, audible voices etc. But you cannot develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ without his Holy Word. So i think in order to develop a personal relationship with Christ, yes you definitely need his Word and visions etc not so much :)
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I think you are including some things in this post from posts that I haven't read, because I've said nothing about visions, dreams, audible voices, etc. If you are obeying the Lord's commandments, then you are doing fine. Just don't forget the greatest commandment of them all, that you are to love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, and soul (Matt 22:34-40).
 
nowyouseem033 said:
God chose to reveal himself through his Word. thats the way he chose to do it. This is his primary revelation of himself to us. Visions and the like are certainly possible but are simply not Gods primary means of revelation. I would say if they happen they happen very rarely. Most people come to Christ not because they saw a vision or heard an audible voice... most people come to Christ because they heard the gospel preached to them from someone. They heard the gospel, they read the gospel and they believed the gospel. Whilst that was taking place the Spirit was moving there hearts to exercise faith in him.
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I agree with every thing you have posted in this thread, except for the word MOST. ALL people must come to Christ through the gospel. This extrabiblical stuff is dangerous ground. Audible and visual experiences are not to be trusted. They could be flesh, they could be illness, they could be of Satan. Satan himself comes as an angel of light. The Bible says Romans 10:14-15 "How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace and bring tidings of good things!"

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God."

I agree with you completely (except for the word most) good job defending the Bible in this thread.
 
Yes people come to Christ through hearing. But by reading his word alone, you cant get close to him. People can quote scriptures all day but, without knowing Christ and his voice there is no way of realizing and translating it in the heart. God can reveal himself personally, and through the Bible. You will find that even people who have seen him before the bible, God will always call people to his Word to build up. The bible are the foundation, the faith and seeking of a relationship are the bricks and cement to build on. Theres for Psalm 23 The Lord is my Shepard. He speaks to us and through us. He is a solid Rock/Castle.


nowyouseem033 said:
God chose to reveal himself through his Word. thats the way he chose to do it. This is his primary revelation of himself to us. Visions and the like are certainly possible but are simply not Gods primary means of revelation. I would say if they happen they happen very rarely. Most people come to Christ not because they saw a vision or heard an audible voice... most people come to Christ because they heard the gospel preached to them from someone. They heard the gospel, they read the gospel and they believed the gospel. Whilst that was taking place the Spirit was moving there hearts to exercise faith in him.
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That is false. Not all people come to Christ through the Gospel. People come to Christ through the bible, by hearing, by manifestations/seeing him or angels and and and. God is not limited to written words nor will he limit himself.

Galatea said:
I agree with every thing you have posted in this thread, except for the word MOST. ALL people must come to Christ through the gospel. This extrabiblical stuff is dangerous ground. Audible and visual experiences are not to be trusted. They could be flesh, they could be illness, they could be of Satan. Satan himself comes as an angel of light. The Bible says Romans 10:14-15 "How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace and bring tidings of good things!"

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God."

I agree with you completely (except for the word most) good job defending the Bible in this thread.
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