I saw an old friend the other day.
He is one of the Hippie people from the Jesus People days of the late sixties.
He still smokes pot.
He was telling me about a man who fills in for pastor Oden Fong when Oden is absent from his pulpit.
He commented that the man is not a very good teacher because he has not been baptised in the Holy Spirit.
When the man said this to me, I thought, "well how could you possibly be filled with the Holy Spirit yourself when you are always under the influence of pot?"
Lonnie Frisbee used to point out a scripture where people who used what he called "pharmakeia" would not enter into heaven.
I don't think my old friend can hear God even if he tried. God could be speaking to him but his ears hear nothing...
God does speak to us.
The Bible records God speaking audibly to people many times (Exodus 3:14; Joshua 1:1; Judges 6:18; 1 Samuel 3:11; 2 Samuel 2:1; Job 40:1; Isaiah 7:3; Jeremiah 1:7; Acts 8:26; 9:15 – this is just a small sampling).There is no Biblical reason why God could not or would not speak to a person audibly today.
With the hundreds of times the Bible records God speaking, we have to remember that they occur over the course of 4000 years of human history.
God speaking audibly is the exception, not the rule. Even in the Biblically recorded instances of God speaking, it is not always clear whether it was an audible voice, an inner voice, or a mental impression.
Evangelical Protestant faith has always affirmed, as a central tenet of its understanding of divine revelation, that the Word of God must have supreme authority in religion.
Evangelicalism has historically held this view in close conjunction with the work of the Holy Spirit. The truth can be stated this way:
The living and true God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is supreme head of a living church, is not mute. He speaks — and He speaks clearly — by His Spirit and through His written word, the Bible.’
Evangelicalism has historically held this view in close conjunction with the work of the Holy Spirit. The truth can be stated this way:
The living and true God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is supreme head of a living church, is not mute. He speaks — and He speaks clearly — by His Spirit and through His written word, the Bible.’
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I heard an excellent message this past weekend by my Pastor entitled “Hearing God’s Voice” in which he explored the various ways Gods speaks.
Does God still speak in this day in age?
You bet he does!
In fact, God has never stopped speaking not only to those who love and serve him but to those who don’t as well.
Does God still speak in this day in age?
You bet he does!
In fact, God has never stopped speaking not only to those who love and serve him but to those who don’t as well.
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Does God still speak to us today?
Let me tell you a little story, and you be the judge.
Let me tell you a little story, and you be the judge.
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(This one brought tears to my eyes)
A young man had been to Wednesday night Bible Study.
The Pastor had shared about listening to God and obeying the Lord's voice.
The young man couldn't help but wonder, "Does God still speak to people?"
After service he went out with some friends for coffee and pie and they discussed the message.
The Pastor had shared about listening to God and obeying the Lord's voice.
The young man couldn't help but wonder, "Does God still speak to people?"
After service he went out with some friends for coffee and pie and they discussed the message.
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