does god whisper

4page

S o l i d G r o u n d A F o u n d a t i o n f o r B u i l d i n g A m b a s s a d o r s

top 4

If we dont yet know how to recognize Gods voice, be confident that God is trying to get through. With the right instruction, the skill can be learned from those who are proficient, just as little Samuel learned from Eli.

On this view, the ability to personally connect with God is especially important when it comes to making decisions. One notable author writes:

Have you ever needed to make a decision, but had no idea what God wanted you to do? You wanted to do what was best, but you were not sure what that was.God always has a plan in mind. The challenge for most of us is how to discover it.He is willing to speak to each one of us, but we must be in a position where we can hear His voice.3 [emphasis added]

God knows best, and hasnt He promised to give guidance?4 Our task is to wait until the Master gives instructions.5 These may come by subtle impressions or promptings one writer calls Gods whispers.6 Others talk of listening prayer, or hearing the still small voice of God,7 or being led by the Spirit, or getting an assignment from God.

Danger in the SilenceAs normal as these concepts seem to some

and as spiritually appealing as they soundthere is a dark side. What if Gods whispers are not forthcoming? One pastor wrote me plagued by indecision. Ive felt stuck in the mud, so to speak, waiting for the voice of God to impress me with His leading in so many areas. For this pastor, Gods silence was agonizing.

Its hard to think of anything that has captured the imagination of Christians recently as aggressively as the idea of hearing the voice of God. The notion is, to many, so obviously Christian, so undoubtedly biblical, that its truth is beyond question. To challenge it is akin to spiritual treason.1

For many, such an intimacy is central to a personal relationship with God, the core of vibrant Christianity. Without it, genuine closeness to our Lord is not even possible.

Anyway, listening to Christians talk about it, the experience appears to be ubiquitous. Virtually everyone seems to be hearing from God in some fashionpastors, writers, even the regular folks at your weekly Bible studyso the basic idea must be right. After all, Jesus said, My sheep hear My voice. Real believers ought to experience this (if this is what Jesus meant), and if any one of us happens to be the odd person left out, there are plenty of books promising to impart this skill.

A Christian BirthrightA host of writings over the last decade suggest

that two-way communication is central to having an intimate relationship with God. We talk to Him in prayer, then He talks to us, often with guidance

tailor-made for our situation. Its what one author calls a conversational relationship with God.2

This ability to hear directly from God is not reserved for a

select few. Rather, the experience of prophets and godly men of old is also the birthright of every

Christian. Jesus took his directions directly from the Father. This was

the standard experience of the early church in the book of Acts. It should be ours, too.

Does God Whisper?

By Greg Koukl

The keynote speakers list of spiritual qualifications was not lengthy. There were no references to his academic letters, theological acumen, skill at biblical living, or personal holiness. Instead, he was simply introduced as a man who hears from God. It was the ultimate sign of spiritual competency. The implication for the audience was clear. He listens to God; they should listen to him.

PART

1PART

2PART

3

5page

S t a n d t o R e a s o n C h r i s t i a n i t y Wo r t h T h i n k i n g A b o u t

top 5

There are legions of Christians who are disheartened and defeatedsometimes even questioning their own salvation.

And silence from God is a cause for concern. The author of one bestseller on this topic warns that a failure to hear from God is a failure in ones love relationship with God. If the Christian does not know when God is speaking, he is in trouble at the heart of his Christian life!8

Consequently, there are legions of Christians who are disheartened and defeatedsometimes even questioning their own salvationbecause the heavens have been quiet. After all, Jesus said, My sheep hear My voice. And what of those who dont hear? You are not My sheep, was Jesus answer

(Jn. 10:26). This is a chilling prospect for those left alone in the spiritual

silence.

One Big Question, Many Smaller OnesThis months Solid Ground is the first of a three-

part series in which I want to ask a simple question: Are these claims sound? Which is to ask, Are these claims biblical? What is the scriptural answer to the following smaller questions?

Does the Bible teach God is trying to speak to each one of us? Can His efforts be thwarted by inattention, excessive activity, or sin, as some suggest?

Is having a conversational relationship with God taught in the text?

According to Scripture, does prayer involve two-way communication? Do we talk to God, then listen as God talks to us?

When Paul uses the phrase led by the Spirit, does he mean sensing subtle hints from God that He uses to prompt and push us in the direction of His will?

Does Gods promised guidance mean He reveals to each of us individually what He wants us to do?

Does the Bible give us reason to expect the same interaction with God as Moses, Samuel, and Paul had with Him,9 or were their experiences unique?

For Jesus, did hearing His voice mean that all His true sheep receive regular personal messages from Him?

Is it true this was modeled by the Savior, the apostles, and the early church? And if we dont currently possess this skill, does the divine record suggest it can be taught as Eli taught young Samuel?

These are the issues Im concerned with, but there are built-in hazards to raising these questions.

Lest I Be MisunderstoodPart of the difficulty of addressing these issues is

a massive ambiguity in the phrase hearing Gods voice. For some, any intervention by God in their livesconviction of sin, insight into Scripture, godly wisdom from a Christian brother or sister, an idea that seems to come from nowhere that bears wonderful fruitcan be called hearing the voice of God because all entail Gods personal, intimateand what I take to be completely biblicalinvolvement with them personally.

Ambiguities like this lead easily to misunderstanding, so let me tell you what I am not challenging.

I am not questioning the normal experience of a deep, profound intimacy with God that is sometimes so emotionally overwhelming it leaves us weeping in awe before Him.

I am not questioning whether God can work sovereignly to give us thoughts, insights, ideas, or plans. In fact, Im sure He does (though I will offer some qualifications about how I think we should assess such things). I am not denying the work of God in our lives through all kinds of secondary causescounsel, circumstances, personal gifts or capabilitiesto accomplish His sovereign purposes.

I am not denying answered prayer, though I am not convinced all prayers are biblically appropriate (we can ask for things we shouldnt be asking for).

I am not questioning whether God can speak powerfully to us in our unique situations from Scripture when the text is understood according to its objective meaning gleaned from the context.

I am not a cessationist, that is, I do not think the so-called sign gifts (tongues, prophecy, etc.) ceased in the first century. There may be bona fide prophetic words for the church in the fashion of prophets of old.10 Alleged prophets, however, should be tested (1 Thess. 5:20-21), and the test is the same now as its always been (Deut. 18:22).

I do not deny that the Spirit comes alongside us as a helper in powerful and palpable ways to teach, convict, comfort, or empower us to deal with sin, difficulties, trials, and discouragements.

Finally, I do not deny that God is capable of giving special revelation to anyone or to any church at any time. God can do whatever He likes, and I am fully convinced there are unique situations where He does this today, just as in biblical times.

None of these things is in question, as far as Im

Please Read Carefully

6page


top 6

What is at issue is whether the Bible teaches everyone can be a prophet.

anyone looking carefully at the context of John 10 could ever appeal to this proof-text to support this view. A closer examination shows why, though I invite you to read the chapter carefully for yourself first before you continue here.

John records four mentions by Jesus of His sheep hearing or knowing His voice (10:3, 4, 16, 27). Verse six is key to understanding these references. Here John explicitly states that Jesus remarks about hearing His voice are a figure of speech.

Here John explicitly states that Jesus remarks about hearing His voice are a figure of speech.

Jesus begins by talking about shepherds and sheep (10:1-6). Unlike the thief and robber, the legitimate shepherd enters by the door and calls His own by name. They follow Him as He leads them out. Jesus point is lost on those listening, though, so He explains the details of His illustration.

He is the door of the sheep (7). Those who pass through Him find salvation and abundant life (9-10). He is also the Good Shepherd who, unlike the hireling, lays down His life freely for His sheep (11-13, 15, 17-18). The shepherd and the sheep know each other (14). When His other sheep hear His voice, they also become part of His flock (16).

Once again, the Jews fail to completely understand (19-21). What is the problem? Jesus answer is crystal clear: You do not believe because you are not My sheep (26).11

At this point, two key questions need to be answered from the text of John 10. First, what does it mean to hear Jesus voice? Second, what causes His sheep to hear His voice?

One author suggests that hearing means gaining insight or finding an application for a command from Scripture.12 The sheep also hear when they receive a personal assignment from God through a leading or a calling.13

This is not the way Jesus answers, though. It is critical at this point to remember Johns clarification in verse six. Jesus is using a figure of speech. The reference to voice cannot mean an actual voice. A thing is never a metaphor of itself. A metaphor is a picture of something else. Jesus must be referring, in a figure, to something else that the phrase hear

Greg talks about this edition of Solid Ground.

LISTen nOW OR SuBSCRIBe FOR LATeR

concerned.

What is at issue for me is whether the Bible teaches everyone can be a prophet of sorts, whether each Christian can expect to hear from

God in the ways described above with private, personalized revelations, and whether this is a standard, ordinary part of the Christian life that can be taught and developed.

This I do not think is taught in the Bible, and I would like to tell you why.

There is only one way to answer these questions, and the proper method is not by appealing to personal experiences or citing godly authorities who disagree. You may have noticed Ive been citing authors by name only in the endnotes. There is a reason for this.

My focus here is not on personalities, but ideas. I am not interested in discrediting those who I have every reason to believe are good and decent Christian leaders. In fact, some of them are friends. Rather, I am asking if the ideas they have advanced are biblically sound. That question cannot be answered by looking at the charactereither good or badof those on either side of the issue, but only by looking at the ideas themselves in light of Gods Word.

My question is a scriptural one, and to answer it we must turn to the text.

My Sheep Hear My VoiceJohn 10 is almost universally

cited in support of the view that hearing the voice of God is a standard feature of the normal Christian life. The wording itself

seems straight-forward and unambiguous: My sheep hear My voice, Jesus says.

Whenever this verse is quoted to me in discussions on this issue, I always ask a simple question: What is happening in John 10? Its a fair question, it seems to me. How can we be

confident of Jesus meaning if we dont know who He is speaking to or what His line of thinking is?

No one in this context has ever given me an answer to this question. Nor have I seen it addressed in any book invoking this passage. I suspect its because they have never looked. Im fairly confident of this because I cant image that

7page


top 7

top 8

My voice represents. What is it?

Jesus says, My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me and I give eternal life to them (v. 27-28). Note the sequence: They hear His voice. They respond by following. Then He gives them eternal life. Hearing Jesus voice results in salvation; it is not the result of salvation. It is something that happens to nonbelievers that leads to their belief. It is not a skill possessed by believers as a result of having belief and subsequent relationship with God.

What voice is it that draws us to Jesus and results in our salvation? It is the ineffable drawing by the Father through His Spirit of those who are His. This is a concept John has already introduced and developed in earlier chapters of his Gospel, using the same metaphor in the very same way (5:25, 5:31-34, 5:37-38, 6:35-40, 6:44-45, 6:65, 8:18, 8:47). It is a figure of speech for the inner working of God calling us to salvation.

Remember, the Jews have no trouble actually hearing Jesus. They know what He is saying. They hear His teaching with perfect clarity. The problem is they are not responding with faith. The voice Jesus speaks of is not the whispers of God in a conversational relationship with a Christian, but the effective call of the Holy Spirit that brings us to Christ in the first place.

This hearing is not for believers after salva-tion, but for non-believers before salvation.

Why dont the Jews hear in the sense that Jesus means? Why dont they respond and believe? Jesus tells us plainly. They do not hear because God is not speaking to them. They are not among the sheep the Father has given to the Son (26). If they were, theyd hear. That is Jesus unambiguous teaching.

Now the second question: What enables us to hear? One writer claims, Knowing Gods voice comes from an intimate love relationship with God, and again, As you walk in an intimate love relationship with God, you will come to recognize His voice. You will know when God is speaking to you.14

But Jesus never suggests such a thing. Jesus says the Father is the cause, sovereignly enabling those sheep He has given to Jesus to hear and respond. This hearing is not for believers after salvation, but for non-believers before salvation. It is not dependent on the quality of our love relationship with God, but on the Fathers choice.

There is another damaging consequence of

a misreading of this text. According to Jesus comments, hearing His voice is essential to salvation. Those who do not hear are not His. Rather they are outsiders, bereft of eternal life, lost.

There is an unavoidable consequence of blending the wording of John 10 with this authors definition of hearing Jesus voice. He writes, Those who do not have the relationship (do not belong to God) do not hear what God is saying (John 8:47).15 In the verse quoted, Jesus is castigating the Jews for unbelief, calling them the sons of Satan (8:44). This places a tremendous burden on the believer who questions his spiritualityand even his salvationif divine messages are not forthcoming.

If you have come to Christ, youve already heard the voice Jesus is talking about.

If this is your worry, fret not. The notion of hearing the voice of God is completely foreign to the text of John 10. To Jesus, hearing His voice is not a skill to be developed. It is not a spiritual discipline opening up lines of personalized communication with God. Rather, it is a figure of speech depicting the Father drawing the non-believer into Jesus arms. If you have come to Christ, youve already heard the voice Jesus is talking about. If not, you would not have come to Him in the first place.

Led by the Spirit?What does Scripture mean when it says Christians

are led by the Spirit? Once again, the simplest way to answer that question is to look up the verses that use the phrase. Since it appears in only two places in the epistles (Romans 8 and Galatians 5), our task is easy. Paul is the author of both and he uses the phrase in exactly the same way in each case.

Paul begins Romans 8 by explaining how the law of the Spirit of life in Christ sets us free from the law of in and of death (8:2). What the Law couldnt do (bring life) God did by sending His Son to die for us and then giving His Spirit so we can walk in life and peace (3-8). Every true Christian has the Spirit of Christ dwelling in him, Paul argues, giving life to his mortal body (9-11). Then in verses 12-14, Paul writes this:

So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the fleshfor if you are living according to the flesh, you must die. But if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

8page


top 8

top 8

Notice the obvious parallel between putting to death the deeds of the body and being led by the Spirit. Paul is saying, in other words, All of you who being led by the Spiritthat is, you who are putting to death the deeds of the bodyyou are sons of God.

Clearly, this passage is not referring to individual promptings of God we sense to get guidance. That meaning is completely foreign to Pauls flow of thought.

Rather, the Spirit every true Christian possesses leads us away from the bondage of the flesh into the freedom and peace of a life of godlinesswhat Paul calls putting to death the deeds of the body.

Flip over to Galatians 5:16-26 and youll quickly see Paul applies the same reasoning to the phrase led by the Spirit in this passage. Christ sets us free from the yoke of slavery of the Law. The promise of the Spirit (note 3:14) gives real hope of righteousness. Were to use our new freedom not as an opportunity for the flesh, but to live righteously by serving one another in love (5:1-15).

A battle rages, however, between the flesh and the Spirit (17). How do we win

this battle? Pauls answer: Walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the

desire of the flesh (16) and, If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law (18).

Once again, the two statements in parallel mean the same thing. Walking by the Spirit, being led by the Spirit (and living by the Spirit, later in verse 24) mean overcoming the gruesome deeds of the flesh (19-21) and manifesting the fruits of the Spirit (22-23), leading to Pauls summary: Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires (24). This is why someone who is led by the Spirit in Pauls sense is not under the Law (18). They are already fulfilling the law by their righteous conduct.

This is the same basic message of Romans 8. Read the whole passage yourself, then ask if Paul is teaching

here that being led by the Spirit means getting promptings and nudges from God to hint at His will for us. Its simply not there. Rather, this notion is a contemporary Christian idea that believers unwittingly read into the text. Pauls point is completely different.

The New Testament record speaks with one voice here. There is no hearing the voice of God in passages referring to the leading of the Spirit.16 Well have to look elsewhere for evidence of this teaching.

1. Ive actually been called a heretic for questioning it. A heretic is usually defined as someone who denies a cardinal doctrine of the faith.

2. Dallas Willard, Hearing GodDeveloping a Conversational Relationship with God (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1994).

3. Charles Stanley, How to Let God Solve Your Problems12 Keys to Finding Clear Guidance in Lifes Trials (Thomas Nelson: Nashville, 2008), 103-104.

4. Ps. 32:8 and Prov. 3:5-6 are verses frequently cited, but those passages dont specify the means of guidance. Many presume this means personal revelation. But Gods Word could easily qualify, especially considering that 28 chapters of wise guidance immediately follow the promise in Proverbs.

5. Henry Blackaby and Claude King, Experiencing God (Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1994), 141.

6. Bill Hybels, The Power of a WhisperHearing God. Having the Guts to Respond (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010).

7. A reference to 1 Kings 19:12.8. Blackaby, 132, 137.9. Stanley, 108.10. I do make a distinction between the gift of prophecy and

the office of prophet or apostle. I do not think these offices function today, but that is a different issue.

11. I know Jesus explanation in the latter part of the chapter is taken from a different encounter with the Jews than in the first half where the issue of hearing Jesus voice is originally raised. However, Im convinced Jesus is still responding to the same topic, which is why John grouped the separate encounters together. The language of the text also seems to make this obvious.

12. Blackaby, 164-168.13. Ibid., 168-170.14. Ibid., 138, 163.15. Ibid., 138.16. Jesus was led (or impelled) by the Spirit into the wilderness

(Matt. 4:1, Mark 1:12, Luke 4:1). But this does not seem to be an internal prompting of the sort Christians describe. Rather, the text indicates the Spirit actually took or drove Jesus into the wilderness. The words used (ago, anago) are the same words describing Satan taking Jesus to different locations during the temptation.

In the next Solid Ground, Ill explore this issue further, looking at the example of Jesus, the testimony of the book of Acts, the mentoring of Samuel by Eli, and a very important biblical principle I call the lesson of the bugle.

n e x t i s s u eJULY 2007

4page


top 4

I say startled because for some people this is like asking, Does Jesus love me? or Is God good? What could be more obvious, biblically?

What may seem self-evident at first glance, though,doesnt always turn out to be sound on closer analysis, and I have come to believecontrary to my initial impulse that hearing the voice of God is in that category. In these three issues of Solid Ground1I am offering you my reasons why.

Of course, my question is not about whether there can be profound intimacy with God, or supernatural interventions by Him, or dramatic movements of the Spirit, or deep emotional experiences, or Spirit-directed insight into Scripture, or even whether God can or does speak in the modern era. Im convinced each of these is true.

Rather, does the Bible teach that, as a matter of course, every believer can expect his or her own private revelations, two-way personalized communications, and custom-tailored guidance from God? Is this a skill that can be learned? Was this modeled by the Savior, the apostles, and the early church? Does Scripture teach we can expect the same interaction with God as Moses, Samuel, and even Jesus, or were their experiences unique?

Since hearing from God is for many Christians central to relationship with God, they assume it as part of the package when reading the Bible. A casual reading of certain phrases, then (like led by the Spirit and My sheep hear My voice2), is enough to justify their convictions. My goal is to take a closer look, examining the Scripturesto see whether these things are so (Acts 17:11).

Does God Whisper?

By Greg Koukl

In the last issue of Solid Ground, I raised a question that may have startled some readers. I asked if the current emphasis on hearing the voice of God is biblically sound.

PART

1PART

2PART

3

I want to be very transparent about my approach. I am going to a handful of passages that are commonly understood to support this teaching, and one by one attempting to show they provide no such support. If Ive made a reasonable case and it turns out the standard texts dont teach or imply this view, then the view itself should be in question.

This is not simply an idle exercise in exegesis, though.

Dual DangersI have two chief concerns. First, many Christians

actually feel spiritually sub-standard and defeated because for them the heavens have been silent. This can be debilitating, and its profoundly unfair to them if their only shortcoming is entertaining a false expectation of what a relationship with God entails.

The second danger is more troubling to me. To claim to have received direct revelation of some sort from God is a weighty matter. Its a claim Old Testament prophets staked their lives on, literally (But the prophet who speaks a word presumptuously in My name which I have not commanded him to speakthat prophet shall die. Deut. 18:20).3

Yet conversations between Christians are often littered with casual references to ones latest revelations without any sense of the gravity of the assertion, or any sense of responsibility to justify the claim.

Even Jesus Himself didnt presume to speak for God without compelling evidence. Instead, He regularly appealed to corroborating witnesses: John the Baptist, prophecy, miracles, and Scripture (see John 5:30-39, 10:25, 37-38; 14:10-11). If this was the

No true word of God can have any less say-so than another.

5page


top 5standard for Jesus (and Paul, 2 Cor. 12:12), doesnt the ordinary believer owe some accounting?

Further, when God communicates to us, whatever He says has complete authority. A private revelation may have a different scope of application than the Bible (Scripture is meant for the whole church, where individual revelations are for the individual). It has no less authority, though, since the private message presumably comes from the same God who inspired the text. 4 No true word of God can have any less say-so than another.

Can you see the inherent dangers here? It certainly doesnt occur to most people, but at bare minimum is there any concern that many might be taking Gods name in vain?

Much worse, if this idea is not sound and Christians have been encouraged to interpret certain impressions or circumstantial events as hints from God, then a host of well-meaning believers have actually been speaking presumptuously for God. They then act on the deciphered message as if it were divine decree.

Of course, neither of these dangers prove that the notion of hearing Gods voice is biblically wrong-headed. Scripture alone must answer that question. It does underscore the liabilities the church faces, though, if the conventional wisdom is flawed.

I know that proponents of this view emphasize that any alleged revelation must be tested by Scripture. Agreed, but the qualification misses my point. The method itself must be tested by Scripture. That is my task here.

Part of the rationale for the idea that each Christian can develop a conversational relationship with God is it seems to be the actual experience of so many in ScriptureJesus, the early church, even a boy named Samuel. Is that the case?

The Imitation of Christ?What of Jesus? Jesus said He did the things the

Father told Him to do. If Jesus regularly received direct revelation and guidance from the Father, shouldnt we expect the same?

This is a fair challenge. After all, Jesus is our model. Paul said, Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ (1 Cor. 11:1, cf. 1 Thess. 1:6). One popular writer put it this way: When I want to learn how to know and do the will of God, I always look to Jesus.

I can find no better model than Him.5 He then cites Jesus statement in John 5:17, 19-20:

My Father has been working until now, and I have been working....Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do, for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does.

The Father showed Jesus. Jesus is our model. Therefore, we should expect the Father to show us in like manner. Thats the rationale.

There is no question that Jesus is a model to us. But is Jesus our model in everything? Is there reason to believe some characteristics of Jesus relationship with the Father might be unique? I think the answer is yes.

Jesus not only was the perfect man and humble servant, but also the Messiah and incarnate Son of God. Clearly, we should imitate Jesus human perfections. But arent prerogatives of divinity or messianic office in a different category?

Lets look at the passage more closely. Something important is missing from the citation (note the ellipses). The omission of verses 18, a portion of 19, and verses 21, 22, and 23 is unfortunate. Each is vital to our understanding and seriously qualifies the application of this passage, as this more complete citation of John 5:17-23 shows:

(17) But He answered them, My Father is working until now, and I Myself am

working. (18) For this cause therefore the Jews

were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.(19) Jesus therefore answered and was saying to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing, for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.(20) For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing, and greater works than these will He show Him, that you may marvel.(21) For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes.(22) For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, (23) in order that all may honor the Son, even as they

The method itself must be tested by Scripture.

John 5:17-23

6page


top 6No subsequent writersPeter, John, Paul, Lukeeven hint at it. We are not to imitate those things pertaining to Jesus divinity or His Messianic office.

This same principle applies to Jesus comments in John 8:26, 28: I have many

things to speak and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true, and the

things which I heard from Him, these I speak to the world.When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me.

Remember, John 8 is one of the great chapters on the deity of Christ. The Jews ask, Who are you? (v. 25). Jesus eventually answers: Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I Am (v. 56). Jesus is arguing that He is utterly exceptional. He is from above, not from below, and not of this world (v. 23). He is the only Savior (v. 24). He lives in perfect obedience to the Father (v. 29). He is a free mana sonnot a slave (v. 35). He has proceeded from the Father (v. 42). He is the great I Am (v. 58).

Some people in the Bible have a unique role. These include Moses (Num. 12:2-9), Samuel (1 Sam. 3:19-20), Paul (2 Cor. 10:8), and (as we have seen) Jesus. Because special revelations were granted them does not mean they are available to us.

Imitate them in servanthood (John 13:13-15), in faith (Heb. 13:7), in godliness and joy in tribulation (1 Thess. 1:6), in selflessness (1 Cor 10:33-11:1), and in faith and patience (Heb. 6:12). But do not imitate them in the privileges of their singular offices.

The life of Jesus does not support the notion that every Christian can expect to receive revelation as a standard feature of his relationship with God.

Greg talks about this edition of Solid Ground.

lISTeN NoW oR SubSCRIbe FoR lATeR

honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.

Note, first of all, verse 18, the overlooked verse. The Jews, understanding Jesus comments to be a clear claim to deity, seek to kill Him. The word therefore in verse 19 indicates that what follows is a response to the Jews meant to buttress Jesus singular claim in verse 17.

Note also the three phrases in parallel construction: For the Father loves the Son and shows Him all things..., For just as the Father raises the dead..., and For not even the Father judges anyone....

These verses form a complete literary unit. If the Father showing Jesus all things that He Himself is doing is an example for us to model, then what of the phrases joined with it that immediately follow? Are we also to imitate Christ by giving life to whom we wish, judging the world on the Fathers behalf, and demanding that all people honor us as they honor the Father?

Clearly not. In context, these verses identify a trio of singular prerogatives of the Son of God. He is unique and therefore has unique obligations, unique abilities, and a unique relationship with the Father.

Verses 26-27 should clear up any question on this score: For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself, and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man.6 The phrase Son of Man is a Messianic title from Daniel 7:13 that Jesus used often. It is because Jesus is the Divine, Messianic King of Daniels vision that He operates in this unique way in relationship with the Father. Jesus has a singular role.

In Deuteronomy 18:18, God told Moses to look for a prophet in the future who God would speak through in an unparalleled way: I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. Jesus is that prophet. His experience of revelation from the Father, then, is special, not something for us to emulate.

This explains why Jesus never directs His disciples to follow His example in John 5:17-23.

The life of Jesus does not support the notion that every Christian can expect to receive revelation.

JESUS CHARACTER TRAITSUnique Traits Traits to Imitate

Messiah Servanthood

From Above Faith

Only Savior Godline ss

Perfect Obedience Joy

Not Slave to Sin Selflessness

Proceeded from the Father

Patience

Great I Am

John 8:26, 28

7page


top 7

On-line Summary

top 8

But what about the experience of the early church?

God Speaks in ActsIn Acts we have a focused look at a relatively

short period of history (30 years) recording radical manifestations of supernatural activity. Acts is frequently appealed to as evidence for the view that private, individual revelation is an ordinary means of guidance and a standard feature of the fruitful Christian life. But what do we actually find?

I went through Acts verse by verse looking for concrete examples of God giving special directives of any sort. I have listed every one of them below in chronological order. Heres what I found.

Note the means of these revelations. The majority (six) entail visions. Three times an angel is the messenger. Four times the Spirit speaks. One is a prophecy. One other is the voice of Jesus.

There are five other examples of supernatural

revelations that are predictive in nature, but do not dictate any directionthey give no assignments. In fact, in one case (Agabus prophecy of imminent famine) the Christians determine on their own to send a contribution for the relief of the brethren in Judea. These examples can be found in Acts 11:27-30, 20:23, 21:11, 23:11, and 27:22-26.

At first glance the list of interventions seems formidable, but the initial impression is misleading. This actually is a very small amount of activity considering the three-decade time span of Acts. Gods special revelations to the leaders of the early church are limited to only 14 from the time of Pentecost to the end of the account,7 and even these are grouped in fewer units.8

Two are jailbreaks. Two pertain to Sauls dramatic conversion, two to Cornelius conversion, and two to the Ethiopian eunuchs conversion. Two are about Pauls stay in Jerusalem (Dont enter and Get out). The remaining four are about Pauls missionary journeys (the initial commission, direction away from Asia, direction to Macedonia, told to preach boldly in Corinth).

Notice a couple more significant facts. First, there is no indication in the entire record that God communicated through some inner sensing. Completely absent from the text are phrases like, I feel led..., I think God is telling me..., I feel God is calling me..., I believe its Gods will that..., Ive received lots of confirmation..., Im sensing the Lords direction..., or I have a peace about it....

The kind of language often used to describe hearing Gods voice is completely absent from this biblical account. There is no record of knowledge of Gods direction based on internal promptingsnot a single one. In Acts, the rare times God gives special directives He communicates in clear, supernatural ways. More than half the time He used a vision or an angel.

Second, there is no evidence that any of these directives were sought. There is no indication of any Christians, including Apostles, waiting for God to guide them. In the New Testament we find no pleading with God or laboring in prayer for God to reveal His will or give guidance. The revelations in Acts are surprise intrusions in every case.9

But there is another consideration.

No Divine DirectionsFor balance we must also note other important

decisions in Acts clearly not directed by God. There are many times when the disciples make decisions

ACTS REVELATION

5:19-20An angel rescues the apostles from prison and tells them to preach the Gospel

8:26 An angel sends Philip to the Gaza road

8:29 The Spirit directs Philip to the Ethiopian eunuch

9:4-6While traveling on the Damascus road, Saul hears the audible voice of Jesus sending him to Damascus

9:10-16 In a vision, the Lord instructs Ananias to visit Saul

10:3-6 In another vision, an angel tells Cornelius to send for Peter

10:19-20 The Spirit, in connection with a vision, tells Peter to visit Cornelius

12:7-8 An angel orders Peter to follow him out of prison

13:2 The Holy Spirit sends Saul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey

16:6-7 The Spirit forbids Paul to speak the word in Asia

16:9-10 Paul is directed through a vision to Macedonia

18:9-10 Jesus appears to Paul in a vision and tells him to preach the Gospel in Corinth

21:4 Paul is told through prophecy not to enter Jerusalem

22:18, 21 Jesus tells Paul in a vision to leave Jerusalem

8page

top 8


top 8

He details pros and cons of single life over married life. He solemnly notes the moral obligations of both. He then leaves the decision in the hands of the believer. There is no hint in this passage that any Christian must hear from the Lord even on the weighty matter of marriage.

Peter gives explicit instruction about the use of spiritual gifts in ministry (1 Peter 4:10-11). He does not say to wait for ones callingnor does any other passage of Scripture, for that matter. Instead, given that each believer has a spiritual gift, Peter enjoins him to employ it in works of service as a good steward, doing all to Gods glory.

So what should we conclude from the record of the early church in Acts and other passages in the New Testament? There is no support here for the idea of hearing from God to live optimally as a Christian. The concept is not taught there, and the pattern is not modeled.

In the next Solid Ground, Ill explore this issue further, looking at the example of Jesus, the testimony of the book of Acts, the mentoring of Samuel by Eli, and a very important biblical principle I call the lesson of the bugle.

n e x t i s s u eJULY 2007

Rather, each appears to be the result of a uni-lateral decision by the disciples using wisdom to respond to the circumstances at hand.

marking significant events in the life of the early church that are the kind many think require a word from the Lord. They entail decisions about the how, when, where, why, and who of ministry. Yet there is no evidence of intervention from God, and no indication the disciples even sought it. They simply weighed their options in light of circumstances, then chose a judicious course of action consistent with prior, general commands of the Lord.

Notable examples include Philips ministry in Samaria (8:5), resolving the complaint about the Hellenistic widows (6:1-6), and Barnabas and Saul establishing a teaching ministry for a year in Antioch (11:26). Elders are appointed in the new churches (14:23). The Jerusalem council resolves the problem of the Judaizers (15:7-29).10 Paul embarks on his second and third missionary journeys (15:36, 18:23). Paul sets up shop as a tentmaker and starts a ministry in Corinth (18:3). Paul establishes a discipleship training program for two years at the school of Tyrannus (Acts 19:9). Paul has a healing ministry on the island of Malta for three months (Acts 28:9-11).

These decisions seem odd in light of conventional wisdom on hearing from God since none of these important endeavors was directed specifically by Him. Rather, each appears to be the result of a unilateral decision by the disciples using wisdom to respond to the circumstances at hand.

And these are just the tip of the iceberg. Altogether I found 70 such instances in the book of Acts alone, contrasted with the 14 occasions of specialized direction during that same time.11

Even more can be found in the epistles. Paul chastises the Corinthians for not working out their own legal differences (1 Cor. 6:3-6). He does not counsel them to seek Gods decision. Instead he asks, Is there not among you one wise man who will be able to decide between his brethren?

In 1 Corinthians 7, Paul gives the most thorough instruction in the Bible on the issue of marriage.

9page


top 9Endnotes

1 This is the second installment. The first is available in enhanced digital form at str.org.

2 Both of these phrases were covered in detail in the last issue (May-June 2011) of Solid Ground.

3 All Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible unless otherwise noted.

4 I have not heard any proponent of this view put it this directly, but this is the unmistakable implication of their claim.

5 Henry Blackaby and Claude King, Experiencing God (Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1994), 65.

6 Jesus use of the phrase son of man may not always be a reference to Daniels prophecy. In this case, however, the conclusion is unavoidable. In this statement in John, Jesus is grounding His authority to render judgment not in His humanity, but in His role as Divine Messiah-king.

7 I did not include the casting of lots in Acts 1:15-26 because to me this is not a clear example of God guiding. The initiative was on the disciples side and they cast lots. Some think this was a misguided effort and that Paul was Judas replacement. The text doesnt indicate. Before the final straws were drawn, though, objective criteria had to be met (Acts 1:21-22). Anyhow, casting lots doesnt seem to be in anyones guidance game-plan these days.

8 Of course, one could argue there were many times God intervened during this period, but Luke failed to record them in Acts. This is possible, but its speculative. I think its safer to base our conclusions on what the Holy Spirit actually revealed, rather than on conjecture about what might have happened.

9 One possible exception is Acts 13:2 where the leaders were ministering to the Lord and fasting when the Spirit commissioned Saul and Barnabas for their first missionary journey. One might infer they were seeking guidance, but the text does not say this. Since no other passages indicate this pattern, theres no reason to read this into the text.

10 Here the conclusion of the leaders was characterized as something that seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church (22) and later as something that seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us (28). Apparently, the leadership took the collective decision-making process of the council to be divinely ordained, not divinely revealed.

11 The full list of 70 examples can be found at str.org under the title Divine Direction in Acts.

Stand to Reason C h r i s t i a n i t y Wo r t h t h i n k i n g A b o u t3

Does God Whisper?

By Greg Koukl

top 3

PART

1PART

2PART

3

Civil war battles were tumultuous affairs.The thundering of guns and muskets was not just deafening, it was dangerous, drowning out the one means of group communication: the bugles.

Before the invention of modern military coms, battle instructions were delivered using musical signals. Buglers directed skirmish maneuvers like forward, in retreat, change direction to the left, cease firing, and the like. Lack of clarity could be deadly. Confusing the bugle call for advance with the call for retreat might cost the battle.

Even in the first century buglers were vital to combat maneuvering, which is why Paul traded on that image when chastising the Corinthians for speaking in tongues without an interpreter. The practice yielded no profit because the communication lacked clarity:

Yet even lifeless things, either flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp? For if the bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle? So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. 1 Cor. 14:7-9

Pauls point was simple. Communication requires clarity. Though his specific concern was tongues without interpretation, Pauls general principle applies to any type of divine revelation. The lesson of the bugle is just as applicable to claims of revelation today as it was in Pauls day: Unless the speech is clear, the message will not get through.

This insight seems to have been overlooked of late, though. Many well-meaning Christians apparently believe God is in the habit of communicating important details regarding His purpose for our lives with speech that is not clear.

The fault is not with God, they say, but with us. God is trying to communicate, but something is lacking. We havent learned to listen properly. To lay hold of his spiritual birthrighta conversational relationship with Godeach Christian needs to learn to hear the voice of God.

In two previous issues of Solid Ground1 I raised questions about the biblical legitimacy of this idea. I looked closely at passages on being led by the Spirit and Jesus sheep hearing His voice. I asked if the pattern in Jesus life or the practice of the Apostles in Acts supported this notion.

In this final installment, I want to address some other ways this idea has been defended. According to Scripture, does prayer involve two-way communication where we talk to God, then listen as God talks to us? Does the Bible teach God is trying to speak to each one of us? Can His efforts be thwarted by inattention, excessive activity, lack of spiritual skill, or sin, as some suggest? And if we dont currently possess this skill, does the divine record suggest it can be taught as Eli taught young Samuel?

My questions are not about what God can do, or even what He does do in unique

Stand to Reason A F o u n d a t i o n f o r B u i l d i n g A m b a s s a d o r s4

circumstances, but about what the Bible teaches Christians in general are to expect from being in relationship with God. What does the text actually teach?

Pray and ListenTwo-way communication is essential to

all relationships. Classically for Christians in relationship with God this has meant Bible study and prayer. We let the word of Christ richly dwell within Col. 3:16, then by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving we make our requests before God Phil. 4:6. Recently, though, an alternate approach has become popular, dubbed by some as listening prayer. Prayer is conversation with God, the argument goes, and all conversation is two-way. We speak, then God speaks. Therefore, prayer should include listening to God as well as talking to Him.

The Psalmist tells us to be still Ps. 46:10. God spoke to Elijah through a still, small voice 1 Kings 19:12, KJV. If we quiet ourselves properly during prayer, we can expect the same. The basic sequence is this: pray, be still, get impressions (the small voice), then interpret.

Its always a good idea when supporting texts are offered for an idea to go back and read the larger passage itself.2 Sometimes surprises await. Here is what we find in 1 Kings 19:11-13 NASB:

So He said, Go forth and stand on the mountain before the Lord. And behold, the Lord was passing by. And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.

Dynamic, thought-provoking training ON VIDEO.AND IT"S FREE!

Check out the STR Video Resource Library.

STR on Video

top 4

Please notice that whatever was happening in v. 12 (either a voice, a whisper, or a gentle blowing) it was something Elijah heard audibly.

After the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing [a still small voice KJV, a gentle whisper NIV]. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, a voice came to him and said, What are you doing here, Elijah?

Please notice that whatever was happening in v. 12 (either a voice, a whisper, or a gentle blowing) it was something Elijah heard. It was not a feeling, an impression, or an inner nudge needing interpreting. Throughout the account God speaks directly, but gently, to a deeply depressed prophet,3 assuring him he was not alone as he feared. Nothing in this passage suggests our need to listen for Gods inner whispers.

In like manner, Psalm 46 teaches a different lesson than the be still and listen advocates suggest. The psalm opens this way:

God is our refuge and strength,

A very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change

And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea.

The psalmist continues to magnify God as a mighty stronghold giving protection and gladness to all who seek safe harbor in Him, then concludes with this application: Cease striving [be still ESV, KJV, NIV] and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the

nations. I will be exalted in the earth.

As the New American Standard Bible (NASB) translation suggests, be still doesnt mean be quiet and listen, but rather stop striving and rest. It means trust in Gods power, not listen for His voice. The listening prayer application is completely foreign to the point of this psalm.

There is a more serious problem with this practice, though. In a

discipleship group I led years ago, we isolated every single verse in the

New Testament having anything to do with prayer. We outlined our findings


under headings like What to Pray, How to Pray, Attitude in Prayer, Where to Pray, Gods Role in Prayer, and more, all with detailed subheadings. We didnt miss a thing.4

Remarkably, 25 pages of citations yield not a single reference to listening prayer, not one. Jesus leaves it out of His instruction on prayer to His disciples Lk. 11:1-4. Paul tells us to devote ourselves to prayer Col. 4:2, to pray without ceasing 1 Thess. 5:17, to pray at all times Eph. 6:18the list goes on and onbut neglects to ever mention listening. Hmmm. The same for Peter, James, and Jude. Why the silence?

The complete lack of scriptural support for this notion raises an important question. If the Bible never hints at this practice, why is it so frequently advanced in popular texts as a vital part of discipleship and spiritual formation?

Prayer may be conversational in tone, but nothing in Scripture

suggests its anything like a two-way conversation. The Bible is replete with references to listening to God through the Word.5 It is completely silent on the role of listening through prayer.

Even so, some insist that hearing God is a legitimate skill that can be taught, evidenced, they say, by the relationship between Eli and little Samuel.

Eli and SamuelThe relationship between Eli, the priest, and his

servant, the young boy Samuel, has been offered as an example of a godly man mentoring a younger believer in the art of recognizing the voice of God. In like manner, there are mentors today who can impart the same skill to willing disciples.

The model looks something like this. The godly man, Eli, adept at recognizing the voice of God, teaches the skill to the younger believer. Samuel then applies the guidelines and succeeds in connecting with God, an experience available today to any Christian.

At this point I invite you to read 1 Samuel 1-3 to discover for yourself what the text actually says. It reveals an entirely different picture from the model outlined above. Indeed, not a single detail just described can be found in the account.

To start with, Eli was not a godly man adept at recognizing the voice of God. First, there wasnt much for him to hear since Word from the Lord was rare in those days (3:1). Second, Eli was not a godly man. The only record we have of God ever communicating with Eli is when a prophet pronounces a curse on him and his family for their immorality (2:27-36). Further, the text explicitly states that little Samuel did not yet know the Lord (3:7). So neither was in relationship with God to begin with.

When God does speak to Samuel, the little boy hears Him perfectly, even though he had not developed any special perceptive abilities (3:4, 6, 8). What Samuel hears seems to be an actual voice, not a nudge or an impression or an inner sense. Indeed, the voice is so clear Samuel takes it to be Eli calling from another room (3:4-8).

Eli does not teach Samuel anything about the distinguishing characteristics of Gods voice, but ratherafter the third time being awakened by the boydiscerns that the voice Samuel has been hearing is Gods (3:8) and instructs him to answer.6

God then speaks to the boy by appearing to him in a vision (3:10a, 15). Afterwards, Eli drills Samuel on the details (3:16-18), hardly the actions of a man accustomed to hearing from God.

The account ends with these words: Thus Samuel grew and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fail (the test of a true prophet), and all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the Lord (3:19-20). Clearly this was not an experience available to every child of GodJew then, or Christian nowbut the unique call of one of the greatest prophets of the Hebrew Scriptures.

In short, nothing in this passage supports the idea that older believers can mentor younger believers in the ability to hear or recognize Gods voice. I dont mean to be uncharitable, but the passage itself is so at odds with the interpretation given by those

Educacin

top 5

Stand to Reason Articulos en Espaol


in this tradition, I have wondered to myself if they ever actually studied the account in light of their instruction.

But there is a deeper problem with the entire approach of learning to hear Gods voice that goes to the issue of Gods character.

Does God Try?The idea that skill in hearing God needs to be

developed seems odd, since no mention of this is made in Scripture and no biblical examples of developing this skill with increasing success exist. Instead, the prophet had one chance to get it right Deut. 18:20-22.

But theres another problem. Let me introduce it with a question: Does God try? Its a trick question, so dont answer too quickly. It might help to answer

another question first: What is implied by the notion of trying?

A try is an attempt with an uncertain outcome. Trying suggests the possibility of failure. Human beings try, but God does not. Only two things could cause Him to falter: want of knowledge or want of power. God lacks neither. Therefore, God cannot fail in what He intends to do. Therefore, God never tries. He simply acts.

How is it, then, that some suggest God is trying to speak to us, but cant get through? Of course, I know the answer: There is no lack in God, only in us, they say. God is speaking, but we are fallibleinept, distracted, unskilled in the spiritual disciplines.

Consider this problem, though. A standard challenge to inerrancy is that the Bible was written by men. God may have been involved, but men make mistakes. Any amalgam of divine and human action falls short of perfect truth. End of issue.

How do we answer? We point out that God is bigger than man. What God attempts, He accomplishes. Since the final product is determined by Gods ability, not mans liability, it doesnt matter whether men or monkeys wrote the Bible, there will be no errors. The perfection of the text is rooted in the character of God guaranteeing it accomplishes His intended purpose Isaiah 55:11. God doesnt try.

The same is true for hearing Gods voice. If human limitation interferes with Gods communication, we surrender our argument for the inerrancy of Scripture. If, however, God is big enough to secure word-for-word accuracy of the text, the same rationale applies to hearing the voice of God. It is impossible for man to short-circuit Gods design.

Think about it. If you genuinely intend to

Stand to Reason faculty members are available to speak and help you effectively engage the culture around you with knowledge, wisdom, and character. STR offers lectures and seminars geared towards helping Christians gain practical tools they need to make a difference in their world, giving them both

the knowledge and confidence to be players in the world of ideas.

Contact STR today to schedule Greg, Brett or Alan for your conference, church service or special event.

Bring STR to Your Church, Your Group, Your School in 2012

Stand to Reason Speakers

top 6


accomplish something and expend effort to do so and someone else stops you, who is stronger, you or he? Even Saul of Tarsusunregenerate, in rebellion, on a bloody rampage against the saintsheard when Jesus spoke to him.

Yes, people may not listen, that is, obey.7 But I dont know a single instance in Scripture where God intended to speak to somebody who failed to hear Him. Gods intention coupled with an act of His will and joined by His power always accomplishes its goal. Suggesting otherwise is a libel on Gods character.

If God wants to communicate, He succeeds. You cannot fail to hear Him even if you are deafremember, even the dead will hear His voice Jn. 5:25because God always accomplishes what He intends. No skill needs to be learned to hear Him. Nowhere does Scripture suggest such a thing.

What the Bible does teach about Gods intimate involvement with our lives takes a different shape.

A Very Present HelpIm convinced God is a very present help in time

of trouble, confusion, and distress (Ps. 46:1). Hes not merely a source of comfort, but also a source of understanding, creativity, or sudden awareness of answers to hard questions or insight on difficult problems.

Ive often prayed when stymied by a computer malfunction, stonewalled on a writing assignment, or vexed by lost keys (and found them soon after praying). Countless times Ive trusted the Spirit for skill in clarifying difficult concepts for an audience or maneuvering in a tricky conversation. A friend tells how prayer even brought a flash of insight on a plumbing problem. God sometimes responds to such prayers subtly, sometimes dramatically. Clearly, God is at work.

One way God works is to give wisdom, which He promises to those who ask, especially in the midst of trying situations James 1:5. Some think, however, this means God simply tells them what to do. God speaks; they listen. This is not wisdom, though, because even a fool can follow directions.

Wisdom is skill at living. Its insight into the way the world works. Merely following orders requires no discernment, no deliberation, no knowledge, no reflection, no understandingin short, no wisdom.

Theres a difference between receiving revelation of some sort (God told me) and growing in wisdom, or gaining insight to unravel a problem, or getting creative inspiration, or experiencing the outworking of a spiritual gift. Special revelation is extremely rare and carries with it a unique authority. By contrast, creative inspiration or insight is common, especially for the Christian actively depending on God and leaning on Him for help Prov. 3:5-6.

Since God is directly involved in both, but through different means, I think its best to use different language for each. Theres a distinction between God gave me this song or God told me how to fix my sink, and My ability or inspiration or insight come from the Lord. If God really gave the song, were not free to rewrite, partly because theyre Gods words, not ours, partly because improving Gods song seems like a contradiction in terms.

However, if we see God as the spiritual force behind our gifts and accomplishments, we can pray for wisdom, help, inspiration, and creative solutions to vexing problems expecting Him to respond without being committed to saying God gave me this song, or told me where to find my keys, or God spoke to me about how to fix my plumbing.

Does the Holy Spirit speak to us? That depends entirely on what one means by speak.

Scripture identifies different ways the Holy Spirit subjectively works in us. The Spirit teaches, convicts, comforts, and leads us out of sin. The Spirit renews us, giving us godly desires. I believe God even gives us ideas we have the freedom to act on. There is also the ineffable way God communicates giving solace, wisdom, insight, and understanding.

None of these involve personal revelation, though, which is what we normally mean by the word speaking. I wouldnt say my wife speaks to me when she hugs me, though I may infer from this she loves me. When she talks, there is propositional content. When she hugs, there is comfort. The two are different, so we should keep these concepts distinct, as Scripture does.

Its clear to me that many Christians use the phrase the Spirit speaks to us in ways the Bible

Listen to Greg talk about this edition of Solid Ground.

A Piece of My Mind

or subscribe for later

top 7

If God wants to communicate, He succeeds. You cannot fail to hear Him even if you are deaf.

Does the Holy Spirit speak to us? That depends entirely on what one means by speak.


just doesnt support. Scripture simply doesnt teach anything like a conversational relationship with God or that we must each individually hear from Him to live the optimal Christian life. Nor is there any advantage to active listening. If God wants to say something, He will. Theres no need to be quiet and tuned in lest you miss His message.

Not only is it unnecessary, its dangerous. Even in stillness theres something to hear, if only the hum of our own thoughts and impulses. The danger lies in assigning divine authority to them. There is no biblical justification for this and perils abound. Christians choose jobs, schools, investments, careers, and even spouses this way.

God in a Box?Does this put God in a box? Not at all. I am

not dictating what God can or cannot do. He can intervene in any way He chooses. However, we must base our teaching and conduct on what the Scriptures actually teach, not on what might be possible with a sovereign, all powerful God. J.I. Packer notes:

God may reveal Himself and give guidance to His servants any way He pleases. It is not for us to set limits on Him. But it

remains a question as to whether or not we are entitled to expect hotline disclosures on a regular basis. The correct answer is no. All the biblical narratives of Gods direct communications with men are exceptional on their face, and the biblical model of personal guidance is quite different.8

In one sense, all theology boxes God in by describing the borders of His person and character. Its based on Gods own self-revelation, though, not on our private ideas. When God describes Himself and His ways, these are not limits; they're truths.

Which view is more limiting of God: the view God is free to speak whenever He wants and is capable of making Himself heard even when we are not listening, or the view God can only get through when were quiet, focused, and listening intently?

Does the Bible teach we should get our private, personalized marching orders directly from God? It does not. Rather, it urges us, enjoins us, commands us, time and again, to listen for God in the pages of

His Word.

Spiritual maturity is not the ability to hear Gods voice. It is the ability to know, understand, and apply Scripture in every circumstance.

Arguably, the greatest movement of Gods Spirit in the last 1000 years was the Reformation. It was not started by a whisper from God. It was started by a verse of Scripture: The just shall live by faith. Martin Luther was simply listening to the only Word of God we are ever enjoined to hear, know, and obeythe Bible.

Endnotes:

1. See the May-June and July-August 2011 issues, available in

enhanced digital form at str.org.

2. The operating principle at STR is never read a Bible verse.

3. One of the greatest prophets of the Old Testament, by the way,

suggesting that Elijahs experiencelike his entire ministry

was unique and not a model for us to copy.

4. You can find the complete outline.

5. A small sampling includes 1 Pet. 2:2; Eph. 6:17b; 2 Tim. 2:15,

3:16-17, 4:1a; 1 Jn. 2:14; Titus 1:9.

6. Considering the details of the account, I take this discernment

to be a simple process of elimination. Someone is speaking to

Samuel. Its not Eli. No one else is around. It must be God.

7. When the text says something like, Listen to the voice of the

Lord, it usually is using the word listen synonymous with the

word obey, much like a mother who says, Listen to me when I

tell you to do something.

8. J.I. Packer, Hot Tub Religion (Wheaton: Tyndale, 1987), 117.

top 8

Missed Parts 1 & 2 of This Series?

Dont be left out of the entire Does God Whisper series of ESG. You can download parts one and two here or listen to the podcasts.

In one sense, all theology boxes God in.


By Greg Koukl

The basic premise of the Wisdom Model is that we have freedom to choose anything we want within the dual parameters of Gods moral will (revealed in the Bible) and wisdom, with Gods full blessing. The scriptures make no other restrictions than those unless there is an individualized command by supernatural special revelation (e.g. Acts 9:6, 9:11-15, 13:2, 10:1-6 etc.)

I. God doesnt decide for us. Instead, like a good Father, He teaches us how to decide...

A. In submission to Gods moral will

1. We are not allowed to choose any alternative that will violate Scripture.

2. Gods moral will governs not just the ends we pursue, but also the means to the ends, our attitudes and our motives in the process.

3. We learn Gods moral will from the Scripture through reading (1 Tim 4:13), search & inquiry (1 Peter 1:10-11), diligent study (2 Tim 2:15), careful consideration (2 Tim 2:7), meditation (Ps 1:2), memorization (Ps 119:11), and gifted teachers (Eph 4:11).

4. Problem: sometimes we fancy weve received special guidance from the Lord and then violate some clear directive of Scripture in order to pursue it.

B. With wisdom, that which is sensible, morally sound, and expedient

1. God commands us to pray for wisdom (James 1:5).

2. Proverbs teaches that wisdom helps us make good choices (Prov 1:1-6, 2:9, 8:35-36).

3. Wisdom come from many sources: the Bible, counsel, research, instruction, and experience.

C. Being sensitive to the personal element

Issues of personal desire and personal conscience are important, valid considerations.

D. In humble submission to Gods sovereign intervention

1. God has the privilege, though not the obligation, of intervening in any of our plans.

2. God uses obstacles, roadblocks, problems and circumstances to redirect our paths.

3. We respond by making wise choices as new factors become evident, with an attitude of dependence and trust in God (James 4:13-18, Prov 3:4-6, Ps 138:8).

4. In the process of our free will decision making God fulfills His sovereign purposes.

II. Conclusion: the Wisdom Model in action1st. Determine which options, if any, are excluded in a biblical examination of goals, means and motives.

2nd. Apply wisdom and personal desires to the remaining choices. Examine circumstances, research facts, weigh alternatives, gather information, seek counsel.

3rd. Make your decision with an attitude of humble trust in the Lord: If God wills..

4th. Adjust to new circumstances as they arise using the same method.

Role Models in Scripture: Pauls decision to go to Rome (Rom 1:8-15), Jerusalem Council (Acts 15), Pauls advice on marriage (1 Cor 7), Pauls second & third missionary journeys (Acts 15:36, 18:23), etc.

Wisdom Model Summary Taken from Decision Making & the Will of God

Solid Ground plus

top pg 3: previous page: next page: top pg 4: previous page 2: next page 2: top pg 5: previous page 3: next page 3: Button 70: Button 72: top pg 6: previous page 4: next page 4: Button 68: top pg 10: previous page 8: next page 7: Button 69: Button 71:

does god whisper

Documents

god whisper

small voice of god

gods voice

f o u n d

i d g r o u n d

d i n g

t i o n f o r b u i

pages o