The "God told me to tell you" Phenomenon

[Pilgrimshope]

I was reading in another thread and was kind of surprised at how some of the posts read like instructions from God and how everyone else had better listen to the instructions or suffer the consequences. I'm not trying to single anyone out, or discuss another poster, but I would like to discuss what others think about this 'God told me to tell you' business.

In case anyone is not familiar with what I mean, I am referring to the apparent blossoming practice of supposedly receiving direct communication from God with the instructions that everyone else should benefit and be instructed by the 'word' a person has received. You will find all kinds of self proclaimed 'prophets' in certain church circles these days and of course it's easy to find on the web.

I think it's not from God in most cases but I would like to find out what others have to say about it. Thanks

I'll add that I do believe the spiritual gifts listed in Ephesians are still valid but have become misused in many churches and people try to gain importance in the eyes of others by operating either from their own flesh or worse.

“Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭20:30‬ ‭

“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.”
‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭2:1-2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; preach the word; ( the gospel ) be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”
‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭4:1-4‬ ‭

Jesus and his apostles were the ones chosen to give Gods instructions we should look to thier teachings in scripture

 

[Dino246]

I've seen this handled both well and poorly. In the former cases, the "prophet" (role, not title) delivers the word humbly and without a lot of packaging. The recipient feels edified, even if the message is challenging. In the latter cases, the "prophet" demands a certain response, often on the basis of their own interpretation of the message rather than the recipient's.

A person giving a word from the Lord is not responsible for the recipient's response at all. The conveyor's job is to convey, not to interpret, and not to control.

 

[Lifted_by_the_word]

Please understand that many of these people receive no teaching because they are deceived into thinking they only need the Holy Spirit teaching them.
They never attend a local church.
Many on this forum have the same belief.

What about those who God has called out of the Churches?Are they just crazy?

 

[Dino246]

What about those who God has called out of the Churches?Are they just crazy?

Crazy only in that they ignore Scripture (Hebrews 10:25).

 

[Lifted_by_the_word]

Crazy only in that they ignore Scripture (Hebrews 10:25).

That's exactly what you're implying.That people who have a personal relationship with God who have been told by the Word himself to come out of the church ain't actually hearing from God.Otherwise you're saying the Word is ignoring the Word.

 

[Dino246]

That's exactly what you're implying.That people who have a personal relationship with God who have been told by the Word himself to come out of the church ain't actually hearing from God.Otherwise you're saying the Word is ignoring the Word.

I hope we're not talking past each other. I mean that since the Scripture clearly tells people not to give up gathering together, people who think they have been "called out of the church" probably aren't hearing the Lord.

It's one thing to be released from a specific congregation because it is unhealthy, but something else to be "called out" of attending any church. That's what the devil told Joseph Smith before he invented Mormonism.

I've known many sincere Christians who took a break from church, but all eventually found (or founded) a congregation they could tolerate. I haven't known any sincere Christians who believe that attending a fellowship of believers is unnecessary or who believe that God told them to stop attending any church.

 

[Lifted_by_the_word]

I hope we're not talking past each other. I mean that since the Scripture clearly tells people not to give up gathering together, people who think they have been "called out of the church" probably aren't hearing the Lord.

It's one thing to be released from a specific congregation because it is unhealthy, but something else to be "called out" of attending any church. That's what the devil told Joseph Smith before he invented Mormonism.

I've known many sincere Christians who took a break from church, but all eventually found (or founded) a congregation they could tolerate. I haven't known any sincere Christians who believe that attending a fellowship of believers is unnecessary or who believe that God told them to stop attending any church.

If God told someone to "come out of her my people" when referring to a church.What he is really saying is come out of the world.
I keep talking about on earth as it is in heaven moments.You know what lukewarm really is?
Your local church is liken to a mother.The same as the true church is liken to a mother.What does a mother do?She breast feeds you lukewarm milk.
That's what a lukewarm church is.They will have a form of godliness but deny the power.What is the power?The power of the Holy Spirit.

2 Timothy 3:5
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

Luke 24:49
And behold, I am sending the promise of My Father upon you. But remain in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.

A Lukewarm church is a mother feeding her baby milk.A baby dependent on that milk will keep going there, and because that church isn't Holy Spirit driven, they will never grow from being a baby.Even if there was a plate full of the meat of the gospel right in front of them,they will never comprehend it.How can a baby eat solid food if they're not growing?
In turn those people themselves can have a form of godliness but deny it's power.
I'm not saying that there's not any sincere Christians in the local churches.But if a person who soured on churches ended up going back to church after finding one they can 'tolerate'? They're still lost! That just blows my mind.

There's a lot of Christians who have the Holy Spirit but they will deny it's power.they refuse to leave their former selves.They refuse to listen to that still small voice.And then they will deceive themselves into thinking they're living that Holy Spirit life.

Revelation 3:15-16
I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

 

[SACREDWARRIOR]

Hello,
there are NO FORE-TELLING prophets any more, the gift, there are only FORTHTELLING... no additional NEW REVELATION, ONLY THOSE WHO CAN EXPOUND GODS WORD CLEARLY AND EFFECTIVELY..
so any one telling you I'VE RECEIVED A DIRECT MESSAGE...IS A FALSE TEACHER...

[1Co 13:8, 10 ] 8 Love never fails; but if [there are gifts of] prophecy, they will be done away with; if [there are] tongues, they will cease; if [there is] knowledge, it will be done away with. ... 10 but when the PERFECT comes, the partial will be done away with.

 

[GWH]

The word of God always should be our first consult. And last. I do believe God can and does guide us by His Spirit as we look to Him for guidance in our personal lives.

I agree with P and O and would add that the HS guides via and in agreement with GW, hence the need for persevering in partaking of it.

 

[enril]

Hello,
there are NO FORE-TELLING prophets any more, the gift, there are only FORTHTELLING... no additional NEW REVELATION, ONLY THOSE WHO CAN EXPOUND GODS WORD CLEARLY AND EFFECTIVELY..
so any one telling you I'VE RECEIVED A DIRECT MESSAGE...IS A FALSE TEACHER...

[1Co 13:8, 10 ] 8 Love never fails; but if [there are gifts of] prophecy, they will be done away with; if [there are] tongues, they will cease; if [there is] knowledge, it will be done away with. ... 10 but when the PERFECT comes, the partial will be done away with.

only the revelations. other than that it is all guesswork and building off of the bible's truth.

 

[JohnDB]

only the revelations. other than that it is all guesswork and building off of the bible's truth.

Literally ALL of the New Testament writers did just that. They referred constantly and consistently to the Old Testament scriptures. And not just the "Messianic" Isaiah passages either. They quoted Judges, Kings, Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, Psalms, Habakkuk, Proverbs, and just about EVERY book that was considered scripture.
We don't see the quotes so readily because of the translation they quoted (Septuagint) which is somewhat of a hack job at translating Hebrew.
The Septuagint was called out as an unauthorized translation....instead they promoted the Aramaic translation and even provided "helps" called "targums" on everything but certain books like "Psalms".
Not saying you are wrong in the slightest....just massively understated truth.

What we need today is a revival of hermeneutics.

 

[enril]

Literally ALL of the New Testament writers did just that. They referred constantly and consistently to the Old Testament scriptures. And not just the "Messianic" Isaiah passages either. They quoted Judges, Kings, Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, Psalms, Habakkuk, Proverbs, and just about EVERY book that was considered scripture.
We don't see the quotes so readily because of the translation they quoted (Septuagint) which is somewhat of a hack job at translating Hebrew.
The Septuagint was called out as an unauthorized translation....instead they promoted the Aramaic translation and even provided "helps" called "targums" on everything but certain books like "Psalms".
Not saying you are wrong in the slightest....just massively understated truth.

What we need today is a revival of hermeneutics.

more terrifying words I don't know.
if i knew what you were saying i would agree.

 

[ChristRoseFromTheDead]

We don't see the quotes so readily because of the translation they quoted (Septuagint) which is somewhat of a hack job at translating Hebrew.

That's one opinion. Another is that the Hebrew texts the LXX was translated from are not the same as what was redacted nearly 1000 years later into what we have today. In other words, changes were made to the Hebrew text, which is verifiable beyond dispute.

 

[JohnDB]

That's one opinion. Another is that the Hebrew texts the LXX was translated from are not the same as what was redacted nearly 1000 years later into what we have today. In other words, changes were made to the Hebrew text, which is verifiable beyond dispute.

Jerome retranslated the Latin Bible from original Hebrew and Aramaic because the Septuagint was too unreliable. The only suggestion he referred to were the Alexandrian texts (Septuagint) from the library in Alexandria.

SOP history as related by Jerome. Jerome also used the Masoretic Tenakh.
Look and see if what I'm saying is true.

 

[ChristRoseFromTheDead]

Jerome retranslated the Latin Bible from original Hebrew and Aramaic because the Septuagint was too unreliable. The only suggestion he referred to were the Alexandrian texts (Septuagint) from the library in Alexandria.

SOP history as related by Jerome. Jerome also used the Masoretic Tenakh.
Look and see if what I'm saying is true.

I don't deny that some books in the LXX don't seem too reliable, but I think it's harmful to cast shade on the LXX because that's what the apostles used (or they used a Hebrew text that had not undergone nearly a thousand years of alteration in order to conform to rabbinic tradition). In other words, it creates confusion when we read their OT quotes in the NT that don;t align with the OT translated from the Masoretic Text. The LXX is a snapshot of the original Hebrew texts.

 

[ChristRoseFromTheDead]

Jerome retranslated the Latin Bible from original Hebrew and Aramaic because the Septuagint was too unreliable. The only suggestion he referred to were the Alexandrian texts (Septuagint) from the library in Alexandria.

btw Jerome erred in not using the LXX versions of OT verses that the apostles quoted in the NT. That;s just basic common sense

 

[p_rehbein]

Please understand that many of these people receive no teaching because they are deceived into thinking they only need the Holy Spirit teaching them.
They never attend a local church.
Many on this forum have the same belief.

If all one has is the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit (sanctified believers) to teach them, one has all they need. That being said, congregational fellowship, and the spiritual guiding of a Sanctified Pastor/Teacher can be a great help in one maturing in Gods Word. Such Pastors/Teachers are inspired by the Holy Spirit in their assisting a believer in their spiritual growth. But NEVER mistake the complete value of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus Himself said the Holy Spirit would teach us ALL THINGS.

Problems arise when some person claims the inspiration of the Holy Spirit without actually having His indwelling presence. Many, many such peoples roam around like wolves to see how many of Gods children they can devour IMO.

All this being said; there is nothing one can learn from man that one can not learn from Scripture concerning their salvation, sanctification, justification through the precious gift of grace freely given by God.

 

[JohnDB]

btw Jerome erred in not using the LXX versions of OT verses that the apostles quoted in the NT. That;s just basic common sense

It wasn't like Jerome didn't have opposition with these precise arguments.
Oh the fight dragged on for centuries.

But the problem was that there were so many variations of the LXX that there literally was no standard LXX to be found anywhere. Even the Alexandrian LXX had obvious minor variations from the original Hebrew and Aramaic translations. (No real doctrinal variations but minor omissions, deletions, and etc)...and a complete standardized translation was needed before they all were corrupted into oblivion. (No printing presses....just hand transcription by latin/Greek speaking scribes without the dedication to precision like the Jews had) People usually thought that they were simply making a personal use Bible and not one anyone else would ever want or even desire to copy.
Which is why there were literally hundreds of variations of LXX .

And it's impossible to track down the various copies of the LXX that the different writing Apostles used. Which is why Jerome began his work. The Apostles knew the Hebrew and the Aramaic. Not the Septuagint. But when writing to a Greek speaking audience they grabbed whatever copy of LXX they had available to them and used it.

Many New Testament books were originally written in Hebrew or Aramaic. Like James was originally written in Aramaic. Matthew and Hebrews were written originally in Hebrew but translated into Greek by the Authors themselves. Luke and Acts are the only ones originally written in Greek. John is unique in that his were written in Early Latin which is very very similar to Greek.

4 different languages translated into one. Not exactly going to relate everything to everyone exactly the same.

Which is the huge "WHY" A Complete hermeneutics course is necessary for anyone wanting to know scriptures. It's not going to happen by reading a few commentaries and books...even less by listening to sermons. A course dedicated to how to go about deciphering what the intended meanings of scriptures are. Flat reading is not going to cut it.

Today, we have the most accurate scriptures available to us. More accurate than any Greek translation they had. Also the most attacked.

 

[ocean]

Please understand that many of these people receive no teaching because they are deceived into thinking they only need the Holy Spirit teaching them.
They never attend a local church.
Many on this forum have the same belief.

Well no use in fussing over things that cannot be changed. I actually have experience with people who run around claiming to be spokespeople for God. We do need community and to be involved with other Christians. Apart from debating on this forum

 

[ocean]

“Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭20:30‬ ‭

“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.”
‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭2:1-2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; preach the word; ( the gospel ) be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”
‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭4:1-4‬ ‭

Jesus and his apostles were the ones chosen to give Gods instructions we should look to thier teachings in scripture

The New Testament is chock full of warnings and quite a bit about those who profess Christianity. Seems false prophets and teachers have been around a long time. We should definitely pay attention to that fact and not just follow blindly or believe what anyone says just because they also say they are a Christian. Thanks for the great scripture references.