Word or Spirit
| Posted On: 03/21/09 12:48:29 PM |
Age 61, AUSTRALIA |
There is always a need for balance. Sometimes we tend to only think in terms of the word(left brain) or just the spirit(right brain). God gave us both the word and the spirit. We have to think with the whole in mind and this enables us to balance the word and the spirit. Both are right and both provide us with instruction and experience. Both must work together and in this way we walk closer to the truth. Jesus quoted the word but He also worked the word. The cause for a lot of problems is an inability to think with both sides and therefore we tend to fall in one camp or the other. Mature christian thinkers will be able to embrace truth with experience. Abundant living is for now and only the Holy Spirit can give life and that is for now.
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hearing the voice of God
| Posted On: 01/18/09 01:02:10 PM |
Age 63, FL |
I just want to comment shortly on the article where you said "we should only listen to the pastors who God has certified." I submit to you that we have no way of knowing who God has certified and why, I would like to ask is it more advantagious for us to listen to "these men" who say God told them what to say than it is to listen to my own heart or the heart of someone else who loves God, hears His voice and speaks His heart to others?
I have been on both side of this argument and I can tell you right now I have had prophecies given to me that was confirmed in my own heart and I have sat under pastors (not all) that has told the congregation a truck load of lies. I also have been in the prophetic long enough to know that not all prophets are of God.
Therefore I would warn to all: "be careful of who you listen to, see if it is confirmed in you own heart and back it up with the word of God." but don't try to say that all prophecy is not of God and plese don't discourage people to explore this most beautiful alternative gift God has given us to hear His voice
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MYSTERIES
| Posted On: 02/20/08 11:38:04 PM |
Age 64, OH |
When reading the Holy Scriptures I have had many questions and seen many mysteries that I thought were far beyond me and any other man. I have asked men about these mysteries to get very unsatisfactory answers. But when i asked the Lord Jesus about these mysteries He did as he promised. He would ask me questions and suddenly a revelation from Him to me would come to me. I suddenly knew what I seen i could never know even with many years of study. Jesus told us that he would reveal the secrets of His Kingdom to His friends. He has always done this. No one can understand the scriptures so we should not follow them but follow Jesus Christ as he speaks through he scriptures and in other ways. Lou
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TO J. KENTROFT
| Posted On: 02/20/08 11:02:38 PM |
Age 64, OH |
Years ago I did not know the Bible was true and it is not the Book which has shown me the scriptures are true but the Holy Spirit who has done this. I did not know that Jesus was God and the scriptures could not show me that Jesus was God if i did not they were true. But The Holy Spirit of Jesus came to me and saved me and filled me with His Spirit by grace and nothing but grace. I read about Jesus in the Book but did not know if it was true. But Jesus revealed Himself to me. When Jesus asked Peter "who do you say that I am" and Peter answered. Jesus did not say the Book revealed this to Peter or even the preaching of Jesus. But it was revealed from heaven by God to Peter. Jesus said "Upon this rock ( The revelation from God to man of who Jesus is) I will build my church". Jesus never said He would build His church upon the revelation from the Bible to man. It is the revelation from God to man from heaven, NOT THE BOOK. We are never told to follow the Book even one time. We are told in the Book to follow Jesus. Jesus is a person not a Book. We are told in the Book that the love between a woman and a man shows the mystery of how Jesus loves the church. What man wants to have a relationship with his wife only through letters. He wants to love her Himself and be with her and talk with her. He wants to touch her. I have been touched by the Lord Jesus many times and he walks with me and he talks with me every day. I feel very badly for anyone who does not have this relationship with Him. He tells me often what he is going to do then does just what he told me he would do. He heals me when i am sick and has even healed a broken bone in seconds. He has healed people who were told that they would die in a few hours and they went home from the hospital healed. I do not just believe that Jesus is God but i know that Jesus is God because Jesus has shown me that He is. I know that Jesus exists because I have met Him and talk to Him. The purpose of the Book is not for people to have a relationship with the Book or for people to trust in the Book but to get people to seek Jesus and come to know and trust in Him. We are not to TRUST IN THE CREATION but we are to TRUST IN THE CREATOR. The Author of the Book is much more able to help a person than the Book. The Book can not preform miracles but the Author can. Many men have had the Book but did not find life. But anyone who has The Lord Jesus Christ has everything there is to possess and lacks not one thing. The men of old did not have the Bible and still god reveled Himself to them. Abraham is called the father of our faith and we are to follow God the same way Abraham followed God. Lou
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TO K. JENTOFT
| Posted On: 02/20/08 11:01:35 PM |
Age 64, OH |
Thanks for your very kind reply. The pharisees diligently studied the scriptures and thought that the scriptures would bring them life. But the scriptures did not bring the pharisees life. Jesus told them they looked to the scriptures but should have looked to him. The scriptures do not have life but Jesus is the only source of Life. The scriptures can not save but Only Jesus can save. The scriptures did not shed any blood for you and for me but the Lord Jesus Christ did. Every letter of the The Holy Scriptures in the original Greek and Hebrew are inspired by the Holy Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ. They have 66 letters written to us from the Holy Spirit and many pastors have not even read them all even one time. It is a mystery to me why any person who has given their life to the Lord Jesus Christ and do not study the Holy Scriptures many hours every day. When I was a high school teacher I still found time to study the scriptures many hours every day. I can not understand why every Christian has not shut themselves up somewhere alone for a long weekend once a year and listen to the whole Bible in four days. Why have not people who say they think this Book is their only way to hear from God bother then to at least read it every day. I do not have to ask most if they have read it for their ignorance of the scriptures is displayed by them often. I have by the grace of the Lord Jesus been compelled to read the Holy Scriptures and can not leave them alone. It is not the scriptures that have caused this compulsion but it is the person of the Holy Spirit of the Lord Jesus that has caused this because of my asking for Him to help me and not without result. Lou
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Scripture attests to Christ
| Posted On: 02/20/08 01:52:20 PM |
Age 47, MO |
Mr Jentoff: You say that Scripture will not change but this certainly is not the case. Scripture has changed with the advent of new politically correct versions. Scripture attests to the way, the truth, and the life because, when not intentionally manipulated with, attests to Christ. What I'm saying is that only Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. Upon salvation He gives us His Spirit which is our seal and assurance. The HS is active and true and will lead us in all rightousness and spiritual discernment. Therefore, scripture properly discerned is spiritually discerned and the two are in agreement. However, Christ is not only revealed in Scripture but in the cosmos, nature, calamity, and all truth. John
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Acts 16
| Posted On: 02/20/08 06:46:49 AM |
Age 48, MN |
Here is the way that I interpret both the negative guidance in verse 7 “When they came to Mysia, they tried to go on into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them” and the positive guidance that you mention in verse 10, “When he had seen the vision, we sought passage to Macedonia at once, concluding that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them.” In both verses there is nothing mandating “binding revelation” as you note. I believe that both decisions were within the realm of Christian liberty. The “Spirit of Jesus” that did not allow them to go to Bithynia could have worked through many means such as a leaky boat, a closed border crossing, or something else pragmatic. As we are not told more than this, I admit it is speculation on everybody’s part to claim exactly how this was accomplished. My belief that it was through pragmatic means is there are other instances where people attempt to give Paul guidance “by the spirit” and he refuses to listen and continues on his way such as Acts 21:4, “They kept telling Paul through the Spirit not to embark for Jerusalem.” This “revelation was not binding and Paul did not sin in his journey to Jerusalem. I agree with you that Paul and those with him went to Macedonia because they “concluded” that God had called them to proclaim the good news to them. In other words God closed doors pragmatically to Bithynia and opened them elsewhere. They concluded that this was God’s will and followed the open door. They had freedom to go wherever they wanted to and they decided and went. If their “conclusion” resulted in hardship, it was not because that they had sinned. The decision was one of liberty between many options and they had freedom to do what they desired. What they did not have freedom to disregard is the proclamation of the gospel itself. We are all commanded to preach and confess the gospel wherever we go and they obeyed God’s command in their many journeys.
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Clarification on Acts 16:10
| Posted On: 02/19/08 08:03:57 PM |
Age 44, MS |
Thanks for your response, but because this is such a key practical area of the Christian life, I wonder if you could provide some further clarification about your understanding of Acts 16:10.
You mention that Paul is not normative because of his apostleship. That is true. When speaking in Scripture, he does so by direct, divine revelation and speaks with apostolic authority and inerrancy. But, Paul's gift of apostleship does not render him sinless and inerrant in EVERY area of his life. Like us, he was a sinner and prone to failure. Thus, to apply his apostleship to Acts 16:10 seems out of context. In this passage, God is not revealing Scripture to Paul. This is not a case of Paul receiving direct, divine, authoritative revelation. I suggest this because of two key points in the text itself: (1) The use of the plural term "we." It is not just Paul who reaches a conclusion about preaching in Europe, but rather the entire group - a group consisting of Luke and Timothy as well. This is an important observation, because Timothy was NOT even an apostle and he wrote no Scripture. So, clearly this is not a case of a single apostle receiving direct revelation in his capscity as an apostle. You can't chalk this up as an "exceptional" case that applies only to apostles and not "ordinary" Christians like Timothy. (2) Luke's use of the term translated as "gathered." This Greek term means the group gradually reached this conclusion by discussion and concensus. This is not at all like Paul, acting in his capscity as an apostle, authoring inerrant Scripture. In Scripture, Paul does not "conclude" or "gather" that certain things are true. Rather, he authoritatively proclaims them to be true, precisely because then he is speaking by direct, divine revelation.
Thus, just as it gradually became obvious to the group that God wanted them in Europe (by their sensitivity to the Spirit's leading), so believers today can gradually reach conclusions about God's will for specific areas of their lives. This is not the same as receiving authoritative revelation from God. Although, to ignore such conclusions on the individual level would be wrong for the individual believer who sincerely believes God is leading him in a certain direction. Though his conscience is not his guide, he should not violate it in such cases.
I would be curious to know your thoughts on Luke's use of the terms "we" and "gathered."
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On Acts 16:6-10
| Posted On: 02/19/08 06:45:25 PM |
Age 44, MS |
Thanks for your response. Such a brief forum does not allow me detailed responses, but this is a key practical issue of the Christian life, and I would appreciate a further clarification from you on this issue (apart from Mr. Virkler, who is an example of the type I mentioned with an "over active imagination" whom we can safely ignore).
You state that Paul's experience is not normative for Christians because Paul enjoyed being the recipient of divine revelation and wrote with inerrant authority when acting in his capscity as an apostle. That is true with regard to his Biblical writings, but his inerrance in writing scripture does not apply to ALL of his life. He was a sinner like us all and prone to failure. We cannot therefore apply the context of "divine revelation" where Paul speaks with authority to EVERY circumstances of his life. In fact, to do so in Acts 16:10 seems to miss the point. God was not revealing Scripture to Paul in Acts 16:10. That Paul is acting as a typical Christian following the Spirit's guidance and NOT as an authoritative apostle acting on inerrant revelation from God in Acts 16:10 is clear from two key points in the text itself: (1) The use of the plural in the text: Luke says that "we" gathered that God wanted us to preach in Europe. This was a "group" conclusion (the group including not only Paul, but also Luke and Timothy. Timothy was not an apostle and he wrote no inspired Scripture.) Clearly, therefore, the principle of acting on "apostolic authority" does NOT apply to this decision. (2) The text states that we "gathered" that God wanted us preach in Europe. In other words, it was a conclusion they reached by dicussion and concensus. This was not a clear, authoritative revelation from on a par with Biblical revelation. In scripture, Paul does not "conclude" or "gather" that certain things are true. Rather, in Scripture he authoritatively proclaims them to be true! Of course, the conclusion was correct, and it would have been a sin to ignore what had GRADUALLY become obvious to them (as opposed to being DIRECTLY REVEALED to them without question).
Thus, I conclude that the passage is extremely relevant to how God guides believers today -- not through direct, authoritative revelation, but gradually in ways that require our sensitivity to God's leading. I would be curious to know your response to the use of the plural "we" and the significance of the term translated "gathered" in Acts 16:10. Thank you.
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For Lou
| Posted On: 02/17/08 06:15:57 PM |
Age 48, MN |
Lou,
Here are what I think you major points are.
Point one – example of Abraham
Hebrews 1:1 addresses this when it says, “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.” God has spoken to us in His Son and there is now a difference between how God spoke to Abraham and the fathers and how he has already spoken to us.
Point two – Jonah
God spoke to the city of Nineveh through the vocal cords of the man Jonah, not through automatic writing practiced by the king of Nineveh. The prophet Jonah is also an example of Heb 1:1.
Point 3 – Joseph’s dreams
I agree with you, there is no place that Joseph claims that God spoke to him in his dreams (which is different than Virkler). In Gen 37 he simply says, “I had a dream.” I believe that we can have dreams. We just can’t know with certainty which are from God, nor do we interpret them with certainty. Interestingly, when Potiphar’s wife attempted to seduce him Joseph did not take his guidance from dreams but said, “How then could I do this great evil and sin against God.” It was sinful regardless of the dreams and Joseph was willing to leave his dreams to obey what was certain – adultery is wrong. Joseph prospered not because he had dreams but because “God was with him,” a phrase that is repeated many times in the narrative. God certainly gave wisdom to Joseph in interpreting dreams of those in the narrative, but we don’t find that Joseph uses any special “techniques” to discern them (unlike Virkler). We do see Joseph attributing his brother’s wicked and sinful decisions/actions to God in as much as God used them to accomplish His purposes in spite of the brother’s sin. ““Now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.” They chose and acted and God accomplished His will to save and prosper His people. Joseph was walking by faith as he believed and obeyed the law of God to serve his masters and not commit adultery.
Point 4 - Jesus told the Pharisees that they should NOT look to the scriptures but look to Him.
This is simply false. Jesus told them to believe in the scriptures because they spoke of Him. If they refused to believe and obey the words of Moses, how could they believe and obey Him? John 5:46 is very explicit, ““For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?” They would not believe in the written words of Moses, it was certain, then that they would refuse the words of Jesus, the great prophet Moses wrote about. If this is still too hard for you to believe, that the Pharisees rejected Moses here are more passages on the subject. John 7:19 “Did not Moses give you the Law, and yet none of you carries out the Law? Why do you seek to kill Me?” Luke 16:29 “But Abraham said*, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ “But he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!’ “But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’” This is still true, those who refuse to listen to the written words of scripture and believe will NOT believe if one (Jesus) goes to them from the dead and preaches the gospel, once for all. While Gods is supremely active in the life of every believer, the certain voice of God has been spoken and we are commanded to listen, believe, and obey. God’s Spirit moving in and through these certain words giving us life and light. K Jentoft
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Certainly God
| Posted On: 02/17/08 05:32:50 PM |
Age 48, MN |
Than you for your response. Firstly, you seem to imply that Paul’s guidance is normative for all of us when you quote refer to Acts 16:10 and Paul’s decision to preach in Europe instead of Asia. I maintain that Paul is not necessarily normative. Paul heard from God and wrote letters that are scripture, guidance that is certainly God’s voice and to disobey it would be a sin. We do not do this today and neither does Mark Virkler – although he claims that with the approval of 3 witnesses his written words are certainly God’s voice. Paul wrote God’s words that have all the authority of God Himself speaking and to fully disobey those words will send one to hell. Mark Virkler writes words from his own imagination that have no authority of themselves and may be safely disregarded without fear or qualms. ONLY in as much as anything that Virkler writes is supported by scripture does it have to be obeyed – because God spoke it with certainty in scripture, not because 3 people agree with Mark. Of course, we will all feel impressions and feelings concerning our lives and God moves through these feelings and we make decisions for which we are responsible. Which feelings are certainly God and which are only our own imaginations is not “discerned” with more feeling. What is certain is scripture, beyond what is certain we have liberty to decide as we wish and God is active and working in our decisions. K Jentoft
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I do agree with Mr. Jentoft
| Posted On: 02/15/08 01:09:31 PM |
Age 42, MN |
I Believe that God does care deeply about how we live our lives, what we do, who we marry, what job we take etc. James tells us to ask God for wisdom (James 1:5). God gives us His will for how we are to live our lives in His Word. He gives us His Holy Spirit to enable us to live according to His reavealed will (Romans 8:12-17).He is a Sovereign and Gracious and Amazing God!I believe we are to obey His Word, pray for wisdom and make decisions on what we think will give God the most glory and trusting in His providence to accomplish His purpose. Thank you Mr. Jentoft for this article and thank you to Pastors Bob DeWaay and Gary Gilley who have also taught on this subject.
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Bless God
| Posted On: 02/15/08 12:17:50 PM |
Age 47, MO |
Someone once said: God is that of which no greater can be thought. This is a true statement because indeed our highest purpose is to worship our God, whatever that god may be. For the unsaved, the spiritually dead, that god is of their own making and their own governance. However, for the Christian, God is Lord who governs our thoughts and actions and reveals His truth. Truth can be found in Scripture, the cosmos, the sciences, reason, and revelation because truth is found in its creator- Christ. However, what we think is truth is impartial and only as true as we know its Creator. This is why we fear not- we know that Jesus is Lord and transcends our understanding. My bottom line: Jesus within leads me. I can only see as clearly as the scales of sin is removed from my eyes. John
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Good Motives but Poor Theology
| Posted On: 02/14/08 05:51:33 PM |
Age 44, MS |
As is so often the case, the author goes too far in making a good point. There will always be those with an "over active imagination" and who abuse Biblical truth. We can't refuse to teach certain truths just because some will abuse them: we must proclaim the "whole counsel" of God.
That God always speaks "audibly" is certainly not true: when the Spirit convicts & illuminates lost people (John 16:8-11) John 15:26-27 makes clear that His voice is IN ADDITION TO the testimony of the apostles - not merely thru the medium of their writings. Yet, surely lost people don't hear Him speak audibly, but to their hearts & consciences.
John 5:24-25 says that all who are "spiritually dead" hear the voice of Christ that awakens them to spiritual life at the point of salvation. None of us audibly heard His voice at the point of salvation.
John 10:1-5,26-27 make clear that beyond salvation, as a normative Christian experience, saved people "hear" the Shepherd's voice and follow Him. They hear - not merely his words and teachings (as subesequently recorded in Scripture) but His actual VOICE. Of course, we hear it internally by His Spirit, as He goes on to make clear in John 14-16.
Both, Rom. 8:15-16 and Gal. 4:6 make clear that the Spirit speaks DIRECTLY to our hearts and spirits (not merely through the medium of Scripture)to offer assurance of salvation. (see also 1 John 4:13, 3:24).
Then, there are numerous examples of the Spirit giving guidance in the Church Age (book of Acts) that is specific beyond the general principles of Scripture. For example, in Acts 16:6-10 Paul is attempting to follow the general Biblical command to "preach the gospel to every creature." But, beyond that Biblical command, the Spirit provides specific Biblical guidance about WHEN and WHERE to preach it. The Spirit forbids him to preach in Asia and Bithynia. There was and still is NO verse in the Bible forbidding Christians to preach in Asia or Bithynia, and yet for Paul it was wrong to do so. This was a clear case of the Spirit giving specific guidance above and beyond the written Scriptures -- not in contradiction of the written Scriptures - but rather in the specific fulfullment of them. Paul knew this was God's will in advance -- not just in retrospect. He was sensitive to the Spirit's leading to preach in Europe instead of Asia. Likewise, beyond the general principle that Christians should marry believers, the Spirit may well guide a believer - in advance - as to which specific believer he is to marry. Failure to follow the Spirit's guidance in this matter would be a sin for a believer today just as it would have been a sin for Paul to ignore the Spirit's leading about preaching in Europe.
Final note: the Spirit's guidance beyond Scripture applies ito personal, practical matters. We are in agreement that all doctrinal/theological teaching is limited to the written teachings of the apostles. The Spirit may guide me in personal matters, but He will reveal no additional theology or new doctrines to me (1 John 1:1-4, 4:1-6).
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I respectfully disagree
| Posted On: 02/14/08 04:19:13 PM |
Age 54, AUSTRALIA |
Mr. Jentoft, I think it's a matter of "words" and how they are used today. Certainly, if one has the Holy Spirit living within them, they will sense God's presence at all times. Mystical - it may be the correct word, Saved would be more the word I would use, following the Lord and being led by the Holy Spirit. Even in the gospels it tells of several people being filled with the Spirit and prophesying -are we to believe like some denominations that when the gospel writers died, so did all prophesy? I agree with another writer here that said, God cares about every little thing I do and therefore can direct my path in all ways. Don't be afraid to hear God's voice for yourself, if you know His ways, you will know His voice. Jesus is alive and well and He has called us friends. Bless you
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sola Christ
| Posted On: 02/14/08 11:12:01 AM |
Age 47, MO |
Brother: Outstanding concise statements of which I am in agreement. Thanks, John
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GOD NUMBERS THE HAIRS ON OUR HEAD
| Posted On: 02/13/08 07:00:40 PM |
Age 64, OH |
I agree with brother: To even suggest that The Lord Jesus who cared for us so much as to die for us while we were still sinners and hated Him, would not care for us enough to help us choose a mate is ludicrous. To say that the God who knows how many hairs are on my head does not care who I marry for my life partner is selling God short. This is the most important decision most of will make except for giving our lives to Jesus. Is the author saying that we are wise enough to make our own decisions. Is he saying that we do not need Jesus in this decision. Or is he saying that Jesus does not care or is not able to help us. - The author has sold God far short of His abilities or His concern for us. GOD IS ABLE TO HELP US AT ANY TIME OR PLACE AND HE IS ALSO WILLING. If a man in jail has no access to the scriptures, a prophet, or letters, he is not lost. For the man who has Christ has everything there is to possess and lacks NOT ONE THING. He does not lack a Bible, or a prophet, or a letter, for he has the Holy Spirit of Jesus to walk with and talk with and to protect him. - Hearing from God does not depend on us but on God. That is why the pharisees could not hear for they depended on their ability to hear and not the ability of God to make them hear. The whole issue is not one of the letter of the law but it is an issue of the spirit. OUR HEARING FROM GOD DOES NOT DEPEND ON OUR ABILITY TO HEAR BUT OUR DESIRE TO HEAR. That was Balaams problem, he did not desire to hear what God had to say but wanted God to tell him it was OK to speak against Israel so that Balaam could acquire much gold. If Balaam really wanted to know what God wanted him to do he would have been able to hear, for God told Balaam many times that He did not want Balaam to speak against Israel. The sons of God are those who walk in the Spirit. Lou
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THE AUTHOR IS FAR SUPERIOR TO THE BOOK OR PROPHETS
| Posted On: 02/13/08 06:47:52 PM |
Age 64, OH |
The author says to follow the scriptures then does not follow the scriptures himself in his writings. I believe the scriptures warn us about men who do not teach according to the scriptures. The author says that God only speaks by natural means to men. THIS STATEMENT OF HIS IS AN ASSUMPTION and NOT IN THE SCRIPTURES AT ALL. The scriptures say that the Lord APPEARED to Abraham in some places but in other places the scriptures say that the Lord SPOKE to Abraham and no mention is made of His appearance. We should not ASSUME for the Lord but go on what he says. Reading the scriptures with great care while asking the Holy Spirit to show us the meaning is the only way to see the truth. - What about the people of Nineveh; they had no scriptures to read and Jonah was a stranger from a strange land hundreds of miles away. What were they to do, wait until God destroyed Nineveh to know Jonah was sent by God. These people were heathens and yet sought God with prayer and fasting with no mediator. And God heard their prayer from heaven and forgave their sins against him and did not destroy Nineveh. - What about when Joseph was in jail in Egypt; there was no prophet sent to Joseph and God did not appear to him. But God did not abandon Joseph but spoke to him in dreams. Joseph probably did not know for sure if the dreams were from God. But God was able to give Joseph faith that they were when the time came for Joseph to speak. The proof came that the dreams came from God when they came true. Joseph had to walk in the Spirit the same as the new testament tells us to. - The author says that Jesus is the ultimate expression of the voice of the God; but the disciples did not obey all of the things that Jesus told them while He was with them on earth for they did not even understand. But when The Holy Spirit of the Lord Jesus came to live in the hearts of the disciples then they fully obeyed. Peter did not preach from the scriptures but preached as the Holy Spirit gave Peter the words that had never been written down before that time. - The author has made the same mistake the pharisees made as Jesus told them: John 5:39 You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me,--- Jesus told the pharisees that they should NOT look to the scriptures but look to Him. The Author is FAR SUPERIOR to the Book. No man can understand the Book as the pharisees, who diligently studied the scriptures, showed. We must seek the Author of the Book and He will give us life and save us from our sins. - The Book does not say that the sons of God will follow the Book. But the Book says that the sons of God are those who WALK IN THE SPIRIT. Lou
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The author's thinking seems a little muddled
| Posted On: 02/13/08 10:09:02 AM |
Age 49, MT |
On one hand the author rejects the "flow of spontaneous thoughts in our heart" as mysticism, appearing to be "Sola Scriptura." But then grants that feelings and impressions can indeed come from God in some form.
The author favors "reason and rationality" when dealing with the things of God, which incidently is the same reliance my atheist friends insist upon. However, God does not place man's intellect or reason at the centerpiece of His will. To the contrary, "The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned."
So, does the Holy Spirit speak to each believer or not? If He does, then we need to discern. If He does not, then we might as well have the "Father, the Son, and the Holy Scriptures."
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