How dare you say God told you

I know, address the skeptical

If God speaks to you, you can add it to the scripture because God’s voice/revelation does not have levels to it.

People say, “God told me” to make up for the fact they aren’t reading their bible

People say, “God told me” and it’s so ridiculous it could not have been God, or directly contradicts scripture

I know that people say, “God told me” to seem extra spiritual

I study as much as you do. I’ve read Luther, Calvin, the Puritans, Dr. LLoyd Jones, Piper, Sproul, Keller. I KNOW.

If you think that God only speaks to us by the illumination of the scripture, please listen all the way through I have a treat for you at the end.

God has a habit of speaking to the church AND New Testament Authors have no problem claiming He told them to do what they’re doing

The commands Paul gives are from God. God told me to tell you this, because you’re not listening to him.

1 Corinthians 14:36–40 “36 Or did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? 37 If anyone thinks they are a prophet or otherwise gifted by the Spirit, let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command. 38 But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored. 39 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.”

God tells Paul where to go and how to do ministry.

Galatians 2:2 “2 I went in response to a revelation and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain.”

Acts 20:22–23 “22 “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.”

Acts 13:1–4 “1 Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. 4 The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.”

Paul faced the same issues- prove that was God and you’re not using Him as your crutch

2 Corinthians 13:1–4 “1 This will be my third visit to you. “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” 2 I already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time. I now repeat it while absent: On my return I will not spare those who sinned earlier or any of the others, 3 since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. 4 For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him in our dealing with you.”

Paul was so sure of God’s voice that he says, “If you don’t head this instruction you are not rejecting me but God.”

1 Thessalonians 4:2–8 “2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. 3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.”

PRACTICAL: How do I know it was God?

Does it align with what you already wanted?

God told me to stop playing video games a couple of years later He allowed me to pick up board games.

Did it hurt?

Our natural inclination is away from danger.

God told me He didn’t want me to plant a church. This has been my dream since I got saved.

Did you seek and heed counsel?

If I get accepted I’ll know it was God. I thought God was telling me to move to Florida and I was wrong.

Why did I get it wrong? I used to live by this statement, “If any person has ever done it then I can do it.” PRIDE

Does anyone agree with you?

where two or more are gathered I am there. Let every event be corroborated by 2 or three witnesses. If 2 or more agree on anything according to Jesus name, it will be done. Are you the only one who can hear God speaking about this?

Did you listen?

When we pray we focus so much on talking. Creating pros and cons lists. Asking God about a hundred things before we stop and listen to a single answer.

Why aren’t you speaking? “I’m waiting”

What EXACTLY did God say?

Not your interpretation.

God gave me a dream of screaming into a jungle and never running out of breath. That must mean you’re called to preach. Maybe? But that’s not what He said.

A child their father. Dad said…

How did it work out?

Paul in 2 Corinthians talks about sending his first letter and how it brought the church’s indignation. But he points out that their anger lead them to good results.

My family was destroyed, my daughter’s now a boy and all of my kids have walked away from Jesus.

I’m in crippling debt and can’t serve the church or my community because I’m a slave to work with nothing to give. But God told me to put that on my credit card.

God told us to go through the Burundi adoption process. We don’t have a child from Burundi, so obviously that wasn’t God. Accept - The adoption process for Burundi is one of the most difficult and rigorous that you can go through. We did over 60 hours of training. How to know what your kid needs. How to understand their issues. Every tool you can imagine. It took us over a year to complete the first step. At the end of that first step I got a text from Mia, saying can I stay with you? I wouldn’t be half the man Mia needs me to be if it wasn’t for that program. And if we adopt Mia or if we end up fostering more kids - I know it was God, because of the result.

Does it advance your kingdom or God’s?

God told me to buy a car from Michael at Cocran Kia in Robinson. It lead to me sharing the gospel.

Was it followed by power?

God told me to visit a man in the hospital.

Does it contradict scripture?

God told me to quit my job, Ok fine - God also said if you don’t work you shouldn’t eat. So which one does he want you to do? God also said, work so that you have something to share.

God told me that He understands my sin and I just need to rest in my salvation. Ok, well my bible says to beat your body like an athlete, repent and turn from everything that takes you away from God and your purpose. My bible says if anyone says he is without sin he is a liar, but any man who makes a practice of sin does not know God.

God told me to share the truth with boldness - yes but my bible says in all things with love, compassion, and seasoned with graciousness like salt.

Does it lead to division?

Sam and I have been talking about hearing from God a lot lately. At the men’s retreat Sam left Saturday evening and while I was cleaning up after dinner God told me that Sam was going to preach on being Forged by God (our retreat topic). I almost called him and told him, because we’d been talking about it, but I thought, NO - this is not a party trick. I’ll keep it to myself. I get to church Sunday morning and Sam is fumbling through his notes. I walked up to him and said, “God told me you’re preaching on being Forged by God”. He laughed and said, “you know that’s the last thing I wanted to preach on - but you’re right. I’m even using the scriptures you put in the devotional packet.” *** “Thank you for telling me that. I was scrambling, and I just felt the peace of God rest on me.”

Outro

We have 2 issues.

1. our culture doesn’t know how to communicate and it bleeds over into our relationship with God

Speak boy - culture // Have an opinion about everything // Every question is worth an answer // a human right to help

2. we idolize dead men (this is the treat for my skeptical friends)

Graeme Goldsworthy speaks to this question in his book Gospel and Wisdom. He writes, “Every case of special guidance given to individuals in the Bible has to do with that person’s place in the outworking of God’s saving purposes.” He adds, “There are no instances in the Bible in which God gives special and specific guidance to the ordinary believing Israelite or Christian in the details of their personal existence.”

There are two problems here:

First there is no such thing as an “ordinary Israelite or Christian”. Jesus and Paul both belabor the point: in the kingdom the first will be last and the last will be first. The greatest among you is the one who serves. God is no respecter of persons. In the kingdom of heaven there is no jew and gentile or male and female, but God sees all equal in Christ. Do not say you follow Paul, or you follow Apollos, but we all follow Christ. Let the church be one in body and in spirit coming into unity in all though and judgement. God gives gifts abundantly and let us not hold one gift above another as if the eye is more important than the foot. THERE IS NO SUCH DIVISION IN THE HOUSE OF JESUS BETWEEN ORDINARY CHRISTIANS AND THESE SO CALLED “SUPER APOSTLES”. This is one of the sins or Corinth.

Second he’s wrong. When someone says, “there is no” and I find one that makes the argument implode, right?

Acts 9:8–19 (NIV) 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. 10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered. 11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.” 13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” 17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.

Who was Ananias? Just an “ordinary” disciple. He’s not mentioned again in all of scripture.

The only way I will allow you speak to me is through the scripture. That’s fine. John Piper, a servant of God for 50 years, said “the ONLY way God speaks to me with any authority is through His scripture”.

I love John Piper, his ministry, and his many teachings - but I’d have to make an amendment to his statement. “The ONLY way you will LET God speak to you with any authority is through His scripture.”

SO- what took this good Reformed Calvanist and turned him into a Semi-Charismatic Reformed Calvinist Jesus Freak?

The unexplainable power of Jesus.

PLAY MIRACLE VIDEO

I've told the book of Acts was a special time and I shouldn’t expect to live like that. If you’ve been told that I’m sorry. It’s not true. And I know it’s not true because I live like the book of Acts.

God speaks and I will not be ashamed to say so.

Make available the - was that God - card