Has God Spoken to You?

Richard Hollerman

(Part 2)

Popular Personal Revelations

It is always helpful to examine how Biblical teachings are to be applied in personal experience. We all face life situations and God expects us to respond in a way that reflects a love and fear of Him, as well as a respect for His Word. Many people claim that God has “spoken” to them about something or “revealed” His will to them through “inner impressions” or messages to their heart. On the one hand, a person may simply say that they feel “impressed” by God to do something, they “feel led” to make a decision, or they are “prompted” by the Spirit or the Lord to take a course of action. Others are bolder and say that God or the Spirit of Jesus has “spoken” to their heart, “revealed” some truth, “talked” to them, or they have heard the “voice” of the Lord. These expressions may mean the same thing—or they mean different levels of personal revelation.

However, most of the time these different ideas are patently false and the person is clearly deceived. Let’s examine how people may claim personal revelation from God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, or an angel—but we will compare this with the will of God already revealed in the written Word of God, the Bible. The inspired Word of the Living God must always judge our experience—our assumed experience must not judge the Lord’s Word!

“In the middle of the night an angel from God told me to leave my wife and marry Jane, my secretary, for she is a very spiritual Christian woman I know and love.”

“Whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery” (Matt. 19:9).
“Even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!” (Gal. 1:8).
“’I hate divorce,’ says the LORD” (Mal. 2:16a).

“The Virgin Mary appeared to me in a dream and told me to pray the Rosary twenty times each day, attend Mass each week, and place an image of Her and the Christ Child in my front yard!”

“You shall worship the LORD your God, and serve Him only” (Matt. 4:10).
“When you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words” (Matt. 6:7).
“You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God” (Exod. 20:4-5a).
“When they say to you, ‘Consult the mediums and the spiritists [necromancy=speaking to the spirit of the dead] who whisper and mutter,’ should not a people consult their God? Should they consult the dead [e.g., Mary] on behalf of the living?” (Isaiah 8:19).

“I know that I am a woman, but God called me to preach the gospel publicly. He revealed to me that I am to be a pastor and minister to the flock of God!”

“A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet” (1 Tim. 2:11-12).
“Therefore I want the men [males] in every place to pray” (1 Tim. 2:9a).
“It is a trustworthy statement: if any man [not a woman] aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. An overseer, then must be above reproach, the husband of one wife…” (1 Tim. 3:1-2a).
“The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak. . . . It is improper for a woman to speak in church” (1 Cor. 14:34-35).

“The Holy Spirit revealed to me that you are to give $1,000 to my ‘Holy Ghost Revival Ministry.’ He said that you would be blessed tenfold if you would contribute a new Cadillac to my ministry!”

“. . . in their greed they will exploit you with false words” (2 Peter 2:3a).
Paul wrote, “I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothes” (Acts 20:33).
“We never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed” (1 Thess. 2:5a).
“Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction” (1 Tim. 6:9).

“God spoke to me and told me to enlist in the army. He said I could defend my country by fighting our enemies in their lands.”

“Jesus said to him, ‘Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword’” (Matt. 26:52).
“’If your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12:20-21).
“I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also” (Matt. 5:39).
“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:27-28).
“Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of this world’” (John 18:36a).

“I was driving down the road when Jesus spoke to my heart. He revealed to me that I was to join Prophet Bartholomew’s “Holy Spirit Fire-Baptized Sanctified Church.” The Prophet himself told me that I was to become a member of his fold!”

“To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn” (Isaiah 8:20).
“I [God] have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy falsely in My name, saying, ‘I had a dream, I had a dream!’ How Long? Is there anything in the hearts of the prophets who prophesy falsehood, even those prophets of the deception of their own heart” (Jer. 23:25-26).

“The Lord Jesus spoke to me and told me that I was saved when I invited Jesus into my heart at age four!”

“Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).
“When they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike” (Acts 8:12).
“Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name” (Acts 22:16).

“God told me to stop trying harder to be a Christian. I should just take it easy and enjoy life. He said that I should stop being concerned about sin and sinning!”

“Become sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning” (1 Cor. 15:34a).
“Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able” (Luke 13:24).
“I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified” (1 Cor. 9:27).
“Because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth” (Rev. 3:16).

Assumed Revelation and Hindsight

Those who claim that God talks to them frequently admit that the communication breaks down or is faulty. They acknowledge that they have been mistaken in their hearing. They have “misheard” the voice. They have listened to their own thoughts rather than God’s revelation. More dreadful still, they conclude that they heard and obeyed Satan, the enemy, while thinking that they heeded the command of the Lord. Seemingly, hearing the voice of God is a tricky and risky experience, subject to a great amount of error and deception!

The following types of experiences are more common than many may wish to admit:

A person may think that God tells him to take a job—but discovers that the job is not for him.
A person may think that the Lord tells him to buy a house—then learns that it is a lemon!
A person may think that God directs him to join a church—then is shocked to learn of their false ways.
A person may think that the Lord is telling him to marry a certain person—however, later concludes that he made a major mistake!
A person thinks that God is leading him to believe a certain teaching or do a certain religious activity—but through more thorough Biblical study he learns that it was in error.
A person feels “led” or thinks that God has spoken to his heart to send a contribution to a persuasive television preacher but later finds out that he was a fraud.

This highlights the problems that arise when people assume they have “heard” God’s voice but later discover they have either been by others or self-deceived. As Paul warns, “Let no one deceive himself” (1 Cor. 3:18).

Questionable Scriptural Support

In order to support the kind of personal revelation that is being promoted in our day, teachers and preachers appeal to various Biblical texts. Let’s notice several of them.

John 14:26. Jesus told His apostles in the upper room: “The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.” Notice that Jesus said that the Holy Spirit will “teach you all things.” To whom does Jesus refer when He uses the pronoun, “you”? The passage is not to be applied too broadly. Do the personal revelationists claim that God has taught them “all things”? But the Lord also said, “[The Spirit will] bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”

This shows that the passage has direct bearing upon the apostles for they were the ones who actually heard the words of Jesus and they were the ones who would need the special remembrance given by the Spirit. Jesus has not spoken directly to us as He did to the apostles, therefore we cannot “remember” what He has not spoken to us. This promise is one to the original apostles whom Christ chose and not to believers like you and me. Matthew says that “the twelve disciples” were present in the upper room (26:20; cf. Luke 22:14). These words were spoken directly to the apostles, although some of what Jesus said would be applicable to all Christians in every age.

John 16:13. Christ also made this promise to the apostles: “When He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.” This is a favorite text for those who claim God’s direct revelation today. Larry Lea writes, “Sometimes the Holy Spirit speaks directly to your spirit, giving you ‘inside information’ on what is going on or is about to happen. If that sounds like strange doctrine to you, check it out in John 16:13-14” (Charisma & Christian Life, July 1988, p. 41).

As in the previous verse above, it was the apostles who were to be guided into “all truth” and Christ would “disclose” the future to them. Therefore, Jesus says, “He will guide you [the apostles] into all the truth . . . He will disclose to you [the apostles] what is to come.” Today we benefit from the apostles’ revelation as we hear or read it. This shows how some will twist or distort a text, ripping it from its Scriptural context, to support a desired position. Others simply cite a passage like this without thinking of the implications: Is the person really guided into “all the truth”—or does he embrace many false teachings? Has “disclosed” to him what is to come—or is he very faulty in his thinking of the future and the prophetic themes of Scripture?

Romans 8:14. Paul writes, “All who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.” The context of this passage is opposed to the notion that Paul is referring to personal verbal revelation in this verse. Rather, the context indicates that the “leading” of the Spirit refers to conquering sin in our life and living in obedience to God, i.e., living according to the Spirit’s leading. Warfield points out that the “leading of the Spirit” (v. 14) is related in this chapter to walking “according to the Spirit” (v. 4), being “in the Spirit” (v. 9), “the mind set on the Spirit” (v. 6), and “by the Spirit . . . putting to death the deeds of the body” (v. 13). The “leading of the Spirit” is the same as sanctification or holiness in this chapter.

Furthermore, the parallel passage in Galatians 5:16-26 shows that being “led by the Spirit” (v. 18) is related to turning from the “deeds of the flesh” (vv. 19-21) and producing “the fruit of the Spirit” (vv. 22-23) (See Man as God: The Word of Faith Movement, Curtis Crenshaw, p. 244). C.E.B. Cranfield observes that v. 14 is explanatory of v. 13: “The words, ‘as many as are led by the Spirit of God’ interpret ‘if by the Spirit you put to death the activities of the body.’ The daily, hourly putting to death of the schemings and enterprises of the sinful flesh by means of the Spirit is a matter of being led, directed, impelled, controlled by the Spirit” (Commentary on Romans, p. 186). Therefore, the leading of the Spirit is more connected with personal holiness than personal special revelation.

Isaiah 30:21. The text says, “Your ears will hear a word behind you, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right or to the left.” Does this refer to a direct but inaudible word of the Lord to our spirit? In context, this must be the word of the “Teacher” of v. 20. Some consider this to be a reference to God Himself. Perhaps most would translate this as “teachers” (NKJV). Homer discusses this and says it is inconclusive, although he prefers human teachers (A Commentary on Isaiah, p. 257). MacArthur suggests, “The teachers will be near and the pupils sensitive to the Lord’s prophets, in contrast to the callousness formerly manifest (29:10,11)” (Study Bible). Hailey says that possibly “the teachers are directing people who have deviated from the right way” (p. 258). Deut 5:32 states, “You shall not turn aside to the right or to the left” (cf. Prov. 4:27). Terry Briley remarks, “Isaiah does not promise each person a personal, private revelation from God, but a renewed ability to hear what God has clearly been saying all along. Instead of telling the prophets to ‘leave this way’ (v. 11), they will welcome the words, this is the way” (Isaiah, Vol. 2, p. 40). With this in mind, it must be erroneous to see an inward message from the Lord in this verse.

Hebrews 13:8. This Scriptural text affirms: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” This verse is often used to “prove” that if God spoke directly and openly to Abraham, to Paul, or to Jesus, then He must speak to us today—since He is the same today as He was in the past. Charles Stanley, for instance, writes, “The Scriptures promise that God will speak, and we should take Him at His Word and be eager to hear Him. The Bible says, ‘Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever’ (Heb. 13:8). That means that if God spoke in the past history (that is, yesterday), He still speaks today, and He will speak throughout eternity” (How to Listen to God, p. 133).

We must notice, however, that the passage says that Jesus Himself is “the same” as He was in the past and as He will be in the future. This speaks of His unchangeable nature; it says nothing about how Jesus has worked in the past or present (cf. Heb. 1:10-12). Jesus miraculously fed 5,000 men on one occasion and 4,000 on another. But this is not a promise that He will do this in our day. Jesus (in His pre-incarnate state) sent a worldwide flood to destroy the whole world, except for eight people and a few animals—but He is not doing this today. Jesus delivered two million Israelites by marching them through the Sea; He is not doing this today. Thus, this verse does not necessarily mean that as Jesus spoke directly and audibly to Paul (Saul) on the road to Damascus, He will speak directly and audibly to you and me today. The verse simply will not support this view.

As MacArthur puts it: “The literal meaning of the verse is plain. Jesus Christ is unchanging—yesterday, today, and forever. If the charismatics are talking about Christ’s essence, then they are correct. In terms of historical manifestation, however, they need to think through their position. . . . When tested by sound hermeneutical principles, the charismatic interpretation of Hebrews 13:8 does not stand up. Charismatics force into the verse a meaning that is not there in order to justify their contention. . . .” (Charismatic Chaos, pp. 99-100).

John 10:27. In an obvious reference to His earlier discourse on the Good Shepherd (John 10:1-18), Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (v. 27). We must examine the broader context of Christ’s words here and not attach a meaning that is at variance with what He already spoke. At the beginning of the chapter, Jesus gives a parable about the nature of the shepherd and the sheep: “. . . the sheep hear his [the shepherd’s] voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. . . . the sheep follow him because they know his voice. A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers” (vv. 3-5). Obviously, Jesus has this parable in mind. He says that His people will listen to Him just as sheep hear the voice of their shepherd. This does not directly address the question of how or in what manner they will hear the words of Jesus.

Psalm 3:4. There are several places in the book of Psalms that may give people the idea that God does literally speak to one who prays to Him. For instance, in Psalm 3:4, we read: “I was crying to the LORD with my voice, and He answered me from His holy mountain.” Another example would be Psalm 34:4: “I sought the LORD, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.” Does “answered” here mean that God literally (even audibly) spoke to the psalmist who cried out to the Lord? The term, “answered” is frequently used in the way we use it. Have you ever asked someone, “Have you received any answers to prayer recently?” What we mean by the question is this: Did God give what you requested? Or, Has God delivered you from the problem that you prayed about? The term doesn’t necessarily mean that God literally spoke words to the psalmist, and it doesn’t promise that He will literally speak words to us.

Mark 13:11. When the Lord Jesus gave his Olivet discourse, He promised the apostles: “When they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit.” Notice also similar passages (cf. Matt. 10:19-20; Luke 12:11-12; 21:12-15). Does this suggest that all of Christ’s disciples at that time and today can rely upon the Spirit who dwells in them to speak inspired words? Notice, first of all, that this is in the context of persecution and standing before the persecutors. Notice also that both Mark 13:11 and Luke 21:12-15 record a promise to the twelve apostles. Matthew 10:19-20 is in the Limited Commission, and this too has special reference to the apostles (see verses 1-5 and 11:1). Luke 12:11-12 was given to His “disciples,” which may have been a wider number than His apostles, however the content of this section of Luke is very similar to Matthew 10, which is to the apostles. Definitely, the apostles were especially chosen of the Lord and able to speak words inspired of the Holy Spirit. A number of these messages before civil and religious authorities are found in the book of Acts. Barnes makes these comments:

Verse 11. Neither do ye premeditate. Do not think beforehand, or prepare an answer. You know not what the accusations will be; and God will furnish you with a reply that shall be adapted to the occasion.

Not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost. This is a full promise that they should be inspired; and consequently their defenses recorded in the Acts of the Apostles are the words of the Holy Ghost. There could be no more explicit promise that they should be under an infallible guidance; and we are not left to doubt that they were taught of God. At the same time, this was a most desirable and gracious aid. They were illiterate, unknown, without power. They were unfit of themselves to make the important statements of religion which were requisite. But God gave them power, and they spake with a wisdom, fearlessness, pungency, and ability, which no other men have ever manifested—full proof that these illiterate fishermen were under the influence of the Holy Ghost.”

I Kings 19:12. After his “contest” with the prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel, Elijah traveled south to Beersheba and went a day’s journey into the wilderness. As he lay under a broom tree, an angel from the Lord said to him, “Arise, eat” (1 Kings 19:5). The prophet ate. Then the angel returned and said, “Arise, eat, because the journey is too great for you” (v. 7). This was a straightforward instance of a heavenly messenger giving a message in actual words.

As the account continues, Elijah continued on to Horeb (Sinai) and went to a cave. Yahweh God then literally spoke to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (v. 9). He answered the Lord in verse 10. The Lord replied, “Go forth and stand on the mountain before the LORD” (v. 11). The text then says, “And behold, the LORD was passing by!” A strong wind, an earthquake, and fire all occurred, but the Lord was not in any of this. The text then says, “. . . after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing” (v. 12). After this intriguing statement, the Lord again literally spoke in verse 13, Elijah replied in verse 14, and the Lord spoke in verse 15. Thus far, this seems to be an instance of actual, literal speaking—from God to man and from man to God.

However, the assertion is sometimes made that God spoke to Elijah’s mind or heart in verse 12: “. . . a sound of a gentle blowing.” The KJV has, “. . . a still small voice” (the NKJV also has this rendering). The NIV has, “a gentle whisper.” The Net Bible renders this as “a soft whisper,” and notes that the Hebrew word is “a voice, calm, soft.” Ryrie remarks that literally the term is “the sound of gentle stillness.” The NASB and NIV study notes state: “The Lord appears to be telling Elijah that although His servant’s indictment of Israel was a call for God to judge His people with windstorm, earthquake and fire, it was not God’s will to do so now.”

It is amazing how often this text is used to “prove” that God is constantly speaking to us in a “still, small voice”! Oswald Chambers, for example, writes, “His voice is essentially simple: it is a still, small voice, totally unlike any other voice. The Lord is not in the wind, not in the earthquake or in the fire, but only in ‘a sound of gentle stillness’” (God’s Workmanship and He Shall Glorify Me, p. 243). Another instance is in the Hymn, “Serve the Lord with Gladness.” The third verse has these lines: “As we walk together in his love supreme: List’ning, ever list’ning for the still, small voice.” Joyce Meyer says the same thing: “The inner witness is best described as a ‘knowing’ deep inside. He also speaks in what the Bible calls a still small voice, which I believe refers to this inner witness” (How to Hear from God, p. vii). Does the text really support this popular interpretation? Should all of us listen for “the still, small voice” in our heart?

This entire account shows that interactions of a literal nature did occur between Almighty God and His prophets. Not only did an angel literally, audibly speak to Elijah, but God Himself also spoke to him. The account further shows that Elijah spoke to God—literally. Couched in the middle of the account, we err by reading too much into “a still small voice,” “the sound of a gentle blowing,” or “the sound of gentle stillness.” To say that this refers to an inward “voice” that speaks to Elijah’s mind or heart is going too far and reads into the text, a form of eisegesis.

I Kings 3:2-14. This text records God’s call to Samuel and His revelation of Eli’s dismissal as a priest before Him. You will recall that God called the boy Samuel several times, then Samuel recognized that it indeed was the voice of the Lord. Many people assume that this is the common way that God speaks to us today, perhaps in the middle of the night, just as in Samuel’s case. Herman H. Riffel takes this position: “When Samuel heard the call of his name, he answered and God began to talk to him. That still today is the way communication begins. When God speaks we are to answer him. Samuel learned to recognize the voice of God in the same way that we may learn” (Voice of God, p. 33). On the contrary, this is not given in Scripture to show how God speaks to us. It was an experience at this time when God called Samuel and was preparing him to be the chief prophet to the people of Israel. Furthermore, God spoke audibly to His servant Samuel, and this is not what most teachers want to promise their followers. It is illegitimate to rip this account from its context and apply it to us today.

Problems Related to Personal Revelation

As I have spoken over the years to a wide range of people who believe that God has spoken or continually speaks to them, it is clear that both theological and practical problems frequently arise. In fact, many of these men and women freely admit to these troublesome problems. Let’s notice a few of them.

Many can’t identify the “voice” they “hear” in their heart. Some think that it is the voice of God, others the voice of Jesus, and still others the voice of the Holy Spirit. A few believe that it was an angel. In contrast, Scripture seems to clearly identify the source who gives direct revelation to the person.

Many have great difficulty distinguishing between their own spirit, reasoning, or mind and the Spirit of God. Some are confused and inwardly struggle to determine whether God is speaking or whether it is their own desires and needs. Is it God who says to visit Wal-Mart to get some clothing or is it my own knowledge that the price is cheaper than another store? For instance, is it the Spirit who says to stop for junk food or is it my lust for something tasty and satisfying? Sensitive personal revelationists struggle with these questions, while others don’t seem to allow these problems to bother them.

A troublesome problem relates to whether it is God who is saying something or whether it is Satan. Both are able to communicate and we do know that Satan is the great deceiver (Rev. 12:9). Thus, is it Satan who says to move to another state or is it God who says to move there? As Bulle remarks, “If we think we hear God speak, but the voice is not His, we can be deceived into disobeying God’s will. In this case, the words we think God is speaking may rise from our own human spirit. Worse, we may be fooled into thinking Satan’s voice is the voice of God” (God Wants You Rich and Other Enticing Doctrines, p. 125).

Many people testify to another problem area. A man or woman may believe that God has spoken about a certain matter (e.g., taking a certain job, going to some event, joining a certain church, moving to a different house, marrying a certain person, buying a certain product, spending Saturday in a certain way, etc.), and then later the person changes his or her mind. They then conclude that they failed to hear God correctly. They may say that they thought God was saying one thing, but He was saying something else. This situation frequently happens when a course of action fails, disappoints, or is discovered to be foolish.

Related to this, some people allow certain assumed facts to later inform their behavior and claim that they were mistaken about hearing God. As an illustration, a man may think God has told him to buy a Chevrolet, then later concludes that another make of car is more reliable and he wishes that he had bought a different car. He may allow certain facts, figures, statistics, or experiences to revise his belief that God has “told” him to buy the Chevy. In reality, if God has actually directed a course of action, how can one doubt His wisdom regardless of later information and assumed facts?

One of the troublesome issues about personal revelation is that a person may want something very much. He so much wishes something that he imagines that God speaks to the matter and may even promise that the desire will be granted. A man may want to marry a certain woman, then he imagines that God tells him to ask the woman to be his wife. A woman may want to take a certain job, even if it is questionable, but she imagines that God reveals to her that she should accept the job offer. Author Joyce Meyer confesses that this is a serious tendency in the matter of personal revelation: “There are many voices that speak to our thoughts, and our own is one of them. I have discovered when I desire something in a strong way, it is easy for me to think God is telling me to get it” (How to Hear from God, p. 40).

Another point worth noting is the manner in which this direct revelation comes. While some do claim that they have literally heard the audible voice of God, others simply say that He has communicated with the spirit or heart. There is no contact with the five senses to verify whether the voice is actual or false, whether it is true or imagined. In the case of Paul’s encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus, Luke records the actual words of Jesus, then writes, “The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one” (Acts 9:7). Paul’s own explanation adds to this: “Those who were with me saw the light, to be sure, but did not understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me” (22:9). It appears that Paul heard actual, audible words and actually saw Jesus (cf. 1 Cor. 9:1). Those who accompanied Paul saw the light in which Christ appeared, and heard the voice, but did not understand the words. Notice that the physical senses were involved in this message and appearance.

Probably one of the greatest problems relating to personal revelation pertains to the issue of salvation. Without question, the majority of those who say that they have heard God speaking on some occasion or regularly have not been truly saved or born again. They may be religious, they may be devoted, they may be loyal church people, and they may have a personal spiritual experience of some kind, but they have never truly, Scripturally been saved. Therefore, if they are deceived about this most important and basic of all matters (their own salvation and standing with God), can we expect that God would favor them with His message?

Personal revelation often comes to those who clearly are false teachers or false prophets. Some deny the deity of Christ, others deny the distinction between the Father and the Son, while others deny the full inspiration of Scripture. Some teach extravagant prophetic speculation and still others promote a greedy and materialistic lifestyle. Would God give personal revelation to those who promote such false views and beliefs?

Related to this, many or most of those who claim personal revelation are not living holy and devoted lives. They are living in worldliness and sometimes outright immorality. Even if they had been saved at a point in the past, their present life would seem to disqualify them from receiving God’s messages. We might remember that many people on the day of judgment will tell Jesus the Judge, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles.” Then Jesus will reply, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness” (Matt. 7:21-23). Apparently these people thought that they had a relationship with God and thought that they were living in the power of the Holy Spirit. They even thought they had received a message to prophesy. However, Jesus will inform them that He actually had never even known them! He had never been related to them and they with Him!

Another point of concern is that the heart and spirit are so prone to deception. Scripture says that “he who trusts in his own heart is a fool” (Prov. 28:26). Again, “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (14:12). Jeremiah wrote about “prophets of the deception of their own heart” (23:26). Our imagination is powerful and our heart is easily deceived!

One more observation is that those who believe that God speaks to them are usually in a religious context that fosters this kind of belief. Whether it be membership in a charismatic group, reading testimonial books, listening to tapes of prophecies and charismatic activity, or watching charismatic television, these people are usually constantly exposed to teaching that tells them that God regularly talks to people. They have heard teachings that encourage them to “listen” for God’s voice. They have heard testimonies to God’s amazing audible answer to a prayer and even may have heard some sensationalist preacher claim that he has been given the privilege of taking a guided tour of heaven—and they want an experience of their own. This puts them into a frame of mind that makes them desire and expect personal revelation from God. When a suggestive imagination is combined with this teaching they have heard, many will believe that God does speak to them.

A further point is important. If God does speak to millions of people, as they claim, why doesn’t He reveal the very areas of truth in which they need to change? Why doesn’t He tell the “Word of Faith” Charismatic of the errors of Positive Confession and the Health and Wealth gospel? Why doesn’t He tell the Catholic of the errors of prayer to and worship of Mary, the headship of the “Pope,” or the priestly sacramental system? Why doesn’t He reveal to the Oneness Pentecostals the errors of their modalistic position on God’s nature? Why doesn’t He reveal to the orthodox, traditional Presbyterian the errors of Calvinistic theology and Covenant theology? Why doesn’t He tell the Episcopalians the errors of baptismal regeneration and the error of “apostolic succession” of the Bishops? Why doesn’t he tell the Baptist the error of unconditional security that allows professing Christians to remain in known, unrepentant sin? Would God reveal minor bits of information if the person were in serious religious error? This is entirely inconsistent with His nature!

It is significant that many or even most of the messages that supposedly come contain doctrinal error. While these scriptural deviations or aberrations may be minor, they may also be major. They may affect broad areas of truth. It is true that this point does not disprove all claimed personal revelation, it does reveal that much of it is false.

Finally, at least some of the claimed revelation is highly suspect since the messages are couched in King James English! If God were to communicate a message directly in the twenty-first century, would He not speak in the contemporary vernacular rather than in a dialect that is archaic and one that reflects a King James language orientation?

God Spoke Directly and through the Word

Many people may be unaware that the Bible states that God “spoke” in more than one way. The Hebrew writer 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” (1:1-2a). This inspired writer, perhaps in the AD 60s, says that “long ago” (400 BC and earlier) God “spoke” to the children of Israel by means of prophets “in many portions and in many ways.” Now, in the latter days, God “has spoken” in His Son, Jesus Christ. Very few Israelites heard the audible voice of God. Very few Israelites even heard a prophet. And surely, very few Christians of the first century literally heard Jesus. Yet, according to Hebrews, God “spoke” to all of these people either directly or through mediators.

The prophetic office shows how vital it was for God to directly and infallibly reveal His Word to men and women. Instead of Yahweh speaking to each Israelite once in their life or even daily, He chose to use chosen persons to convey His truth. This was direct, unmediated, infallible revelation. God spoke to the prophets who, in turn, spoke to people. It is true that God sometimes spoke directly to a person for a specific purpose, but most revelation was meant to be shared with others through God’s spokesman.

God spoke to Nathan the prophet who spoke to David (2 Samuel 12:1ff).
God spoke to Samuel the prophet who spoke to Saul the king (1 Samuel 15:10ff).
God spoke to Moses who spoke to the nation of Israel (Exodus 3:1ff).
God spoke to Agabus the prophet who spoke to the believers in Antioch (Acts 11:27ff).

Naturalists deny the ability of God to speak directly to men but Scripture is utterly clear that God revealed His truth through prophets to Israel as well as to believers in Christ. While there is much controversy about whether God continues to bestow the gift of prophecy (as well as other revelatory gifts) on believers today, we would simply affirm unequivocally the fact of God’s literal speaking. Whether this was audible communication alone or whether it included communication to the heart is open to question, but it is clear that God did literally reveal propositional truths in verbal form.

We have seen elsewhere in this study that God or Christ actually, literally, directly, audibly “spoke” to people. God spoke to Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Moses, David, Solomon, Elijah, and to others—including His Son. Furthermore, when Jesus spoke, it was God who was speaking since God gave Him the words to speak. Jesus declared, “The things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me” (John 12:50). Again, “I speak these things as the Father taught Me” (8:28). The Son, in turn, gave God’s words to the apostles: “All things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you” (15:15). In His prayer to the Father, Jesus said, “The words which You gave Me I have given to them; and they received them” (17:8). We may picture this communication as follows:

God the Father

Jesus Christ

Apostles

Believers

This order or process is mentioned in Revelation 1:1-2. Notice this significant passage: “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.” God gave His Word to Jesus Christ, who sent His angel to John, and John the apostle communicated this Word to God’s bond-servants (Christians). Clearly, the Holy Spirit was also involved in the process of inspiration. Peter says that “men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God” (2 Peter1:21; cf. Acts 28:25). This means that “all Scripture is inspired of God” (2 Tim. 3:16).

When the apostles received Christ’s words, they were actually receiving God’s words. When we receive the apostles’ words, we are actually receiving Christ’s words and the Father’s words. Further, when I “hear” the apostles’ words, I am “hearing” God’s own words since it was God’s words that they communicated. This is significant and we should not overlook it.

This means that when we read the words of the apostles and prophets, we actually are reading, receiving, and “hearing” the words of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. This is why Paul was able to write, “If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord’s commandment” (1 Cor. 14:37). Paul’s words are the Lord’s words! Paul’s commands are the Lord’s commands! When we read or hear Paul, we are reading or hearing God (through Paul)! This is true of all of the writings of the apostles and other new covenant writings. When read

God “Speaks” through a Mediator

It is important for us to realize that most of the time that Scripture says God “spoke,” it is referring to God’s communication through a mediator. He speaks through a prophet, He speaks through an apostle, or He speaks through a Scripture writer. He speaks through a human instrument, but He nevertheless speaks! Hebrews 1:1-2a explains it this way: “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.” This passage states that God “spoke”! But the question is: How did God speak? He spoke in the prophets. He spoke in His Son! He didn’t speak directly to the common Israelite and He doesn’t speak directly to the common Christian. He speaks—but he does so through the medium of apostles, prophets, and other Biblical writers. Notice a few examples of this usage.

Numbers 12:2. “[Miriam and Aaron] said, ‘Has the LORD indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us as well?’” In this case, they acknowledged that God “spoke” through Moses and they contended that God also “spoke” through them. When the people heard Moses, they “heard” God speaking!

Hebrews 12:25. “See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven.” This text refers to God who “is speaking.” This is ton lalounta, a present participle, and we can see that God is now, presently, speaking from heaven. But, in context, God is speaking through the Hebrew letter, through “the word of exhortation” that the writer has given that serves as a warning to his readers of God’s will (cf. 13:22).

Acts 28:25. “The Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers.” This shows that God, through His Spirit, is the one who “spoke” but He did so “through Isaiah the prophet.” Isaiah was the human mediator, the one who conveyed God’s Word to the Israelites as well as to us today.

Matthew 22:31-32. “. . . Have you not read that which was spoken to you by God, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?” Notice that God “spoke” to “you”—to people of Christ’s day and our own day. When did He speak? When God literally and audibly spoke to Moses, in Exodus 3:6, He was speaking to us! Moses was the human mediator. But it is important to note that God does “speak” to you and me in this way! (See also Hebrews 3:7ff; 10:15.)

This illustrates that God has spoken and speaks even now, but He does this through His mediators—those apostles and prophets who have communicated His will to His people. Arthur L. Johnson succinctly states, “God ‘speaks to us,’ first and foremost, through the propositional information found in the Scriptures. The Bible is God’s ‘letter’ to us, His ‘instruction book,’ His verbal part of the conversation. We speak to God in prayer; He speaks to us through His Word” (Faith Misguided, p. 143).

Will We Accept Assumed Experience—

or Rely on God’s Truth?

Let’s illustrate the difference between depending on our experiences to guide us and depending on God’s word to rightly direct us.

A Hispanic friend of mine, whom I’ll call Roberto, was resisting my argument that we should go to the Scriptures alone for our belief and life. He contended that the Catholic Church was the “true” church that Christ founded and the Roman “Pope” was the head of the church. To establish his point, Roberto told me about his uncle (the brother of his mother) who left the Catholic Church and became a Protestant.

Some time after his uncle’s death, Roberto’s mother said that she had a dream during the night, in which her dead brother appeared to her! He sadly confessed that he had been wrong. He never should have departed from the Catholic Church, which he now (too late) discovered was the true church of Christ!

When I pointed out to Roberto that dead people do not come back to this earth to appear to living people, he asserted that this indeed is what happened in the case of his uncle. This proved to his mother as well as Roberto that the Catholic Church is true. They didn’t want to be like the uncle who departed from “the true church” to become part of a Protestant Church. They would be forsaking God!

I told Roberto the case of my grandmother who claims that an angel appeared to her one night in her bedroom. I asked Grandma whether the “angel” who appeared had wings. She asserted that he or she did have them. I could see from her answer that she had adopted the popular but mistaken idea that angels have wings. This gave evidence that she really didn’t have such a heavenly visitor but only imagined it. As I told Roberto this account, he immediately told me that angels indeed do have wings—for the Catholic Church says they do!

My intention was to show my friend that just as my grandmother was wrong in thinking she had seen an angel, so his mother was mistaken in thinking that her dead brother appeared to her, bearing a message that the Catholic Church was the true church.

This is a lesson for us. As long as we are willing to accept personal experiences and subjective feelings as our ultimate authority, we will be unable to arrive at the truth of God found in Scripture. Our supposed experiences always must be subordinated to and tested by the ultimate truth of the Word of God! “Examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good” (1 Thess. 5:21). “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1). Supposed personal experiences must always be tested by the already-revealed Word of God, not vice versa!

Why Do People Claim to Hear God?

As we have seen, vast numbers of religious people claim to have heard the voice of God, with some even claiming to have seen God, Christ, or an angel—either in person, in vision, or in a dream. Why do they imagine these appearances or messages? There are a wide variety of reasons for this but notice some of the leading ones:

A pastor, friend, or congregational leader states that he (or she) has had such an experience and it is to be expected in the Christian life.

A radio or television personality or author of a book claims that personal revelation is either available or desirable.

They assume that it is a sign of deep spirituality if God has directly spoken to a person.

They want to feel close to God, thus they imagine that God has taken a special interest or shown special privilege to the person.

They have been told that prayer is not only speaking to God but also God speaks to the one who prays.

They think that the Bible is not sufficient to meet their needs, thus they need a personal word from the Lord.

They have been told that one who does not “hear” messages from God is unspiritual, legalistic, tradition-bound, carnal, infantile, not Spirit-filled, as well as cold and orthodox.

They are suggestive, assuming that thoughts in their mind are actually communications from God.

They live in a world of imagination. From childhood to adulthood, people are encouraged to allow their imaginations free reign, whether it be on television, in fantasy books, in the school classroom, or in music. Their mind, in this way, becomes fertile ground for imagining that God is speaking to their heart.

They convince themselves that God is saying what they want to hear. They want answered prayer, thus they believe that God answers their requests. They want a job, want to move to a new location, want a certain boyfriend or girlfriend, or want to spend their money in a certain way. This is the background for their imagining that God speaks on these and other topics to their spirit—and gives them what they personally desire.

They believe that they have the gift of knowledge, the gift of wisdom, the gift of revelation, or the gift of prophecy—thus God speaks to them in this special manner. They believe that they are especially spiritual and have an intimate relationship with God.

They want the Word of God to be personal and relevant, and they believe that the written word is too general and impersonal.

It may be that some people actually hear satanic or demonic voices that convince the hearer that the false teachings they hear are coming from God (cf. 1 Tim. 4:1-2).

These are some of the reasons why devoted, religious people believe that God has spoken to them. All of this conspires to make personal revelation a rather common experience in the life of many.

Reasons for Questioning

the Claim of Personal Revelation

Are there reasons to question the claim that some make that they hear God, Christ, or an angel speaking to them—or even appearing to them? This study has given many reasons why we should doubt or deny such claims. Here are a few reasons.

The overwhelming majority of personal revelationists have not been truly saved and born again.
The majority are not presently
The majority are not sound in the faith.
The majority are not walking in holiness.
The majority are not proclaiming the sound teaching of Scripture.
The majority believe or teach false doctrines.
Many are not willing to sincerely examine and test their claim of personal revelation.
Many messages are false in content, perhaps with a prophecy that does not come to pass.
Many have later concluded that they failed to “hear” God in an earlier assumed message.
Many messages are contradictory, with one person claiming one thing and another claiming that God has revealed something entirely different.
Some messages are bizarre in nature, such as Oral Robert’s claim of seeing a 900-foot image of Jesus.
Many messages involve a mistaken view of prayer.
If the message given was meant to be given to others as a word of prophecy and the word proved to be wrong, this person would be shown to be a false prophet. In Scripture, a single mistake disproved one’s prophetic claim.

Growing Spiritually in the Lord

Do I need to “hear” words directly from God in order to verify my relationship with God? Do I need to receive special revelation from the Holy Spirit in order to be spiritual? Do I need divine extra-Biblical messages to direct my steps in life?

Sometimes life is complicated. Life can be filled with perplexities and we long for clear answers. Probably every devoted child of God has plaintively remarked, “If Jesus would simply speak to me and tell me what to do, I would willingly and eagerly do it!” I have often said the same! I have pleaded with God for answers to perplexing problems in life. Yet, regardless of my sincere entreaties, not once has my gracious Savior answered—audibly, verbally, unmistakably. (Two of our booklets address this issue: The Problem of Unanswered Prayer and Living with Unfulfilled Desires.)

Do I thereby allow bitterness to creep into my heart? Do I react against our gracious God and accuse Him of injustice (cf. Job 1:22; 2:10)? Shall I accuse Him of indifference, lack of mercy, lack of power, or lack of wisdom? Some have gone this far!

No! God our Father is entirely worthy of our trust, love, and devotion—regardless of His refusal to speak to us directly and audibly. Furthermore, the Word of God and Spirit of God are sufficient for us to know God’s general will and understand how to please Him. If something beyond this were needed, surely our gracious God would have promised and provided it for our good.

Apart from the direct communication between God and man—that must have been experienced by Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Elijah, and others—how do we maintain and even grow in our spiritual relationship with God? We would encourage the following:

First, read God’s Word regularly. Remember that when you read His written word, God is actually speaking to your heart! God does speak!

Second, read devotionally. Not only should you read the Bible for technical understanding, but you should also read portions of the Bible devotionally, prayerfully, “listening” to God speak through the inspired words.

Third, read devotional works. When I first moved away from home because of a job I had been offered, I recall spending each lunch hour in the hospital chapel, alone, reading a devotional book. This was a rich experience and it drew my heart to the Lord of life, the God of my salvation.

Fourth, sing “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord” (Eph. 5:19; cf. Col. 3:16-17). Many of the psalms of the Hebrew Scriptures are “prayer” words to God. Although some of the words may not be suitable for you, there are yet many of them that will draw your heart to God your Father. Let your hymnbook be your constant companion as you praise God and Christ Jesus.

Fifth, speak about the Lord to others. The more you talk about the Lord and His Word to others, dealing with both devotional and doctrinal themes, the more your heart will be enriched and filled with spiritual influences and food for spiritual growth. Our speech is a manifestation of our heart (cf. Matt. 12:34-37). Conversely, our speech can also help to form our heart, mind, attitudes, and emotions.

Sixth, learn and become aware of spiritual deception. Again and again, God warns us not to be spiritually deceived (cf. Matt. 24:4; 1 Cor. 6:9; 15:33; Gal. 6:7; James 1:16; 1 John 3:7). Beware that you are not misled by the many who claim to have “heard” from the Lord, but their lives do not show a holiness and their beliefs are faulty. Be aware that most religious people are deceived about their standing before God, thus this shows the gross deception in which they dwell.

Seventh, beware of the company you keep. The more you are around deceived, subjectively-oriented people, the more likely you also will open yourself up to spiritual deception. Most of these people are not rooted in Scripture and many even disparage Scripture-orientation. They self-righteously accuse the sincere and honest-hearted Biblical person of being only concerned about “the letter,” while they claim to be more interested in “the spirit.”

Eighth, have faith in God. We have been saved by faith but we continue to live in faith. “We walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7). Jesus said, “Blessed are they who did not see [the resurrected Christ], and yet believed” (John 20:29). Similarly, one is spiritually blessed who believes while neither “seeing” nor “hearing” the resurrected Christ. Peter writes, “Though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8). Similarly, though we have not literally “heard” Jesus with our ears, we love Him with all of our hearts!

Ninth, remember that God doesn’t answer all of our questions. Maybe one reason why some people imagine that God speaks to them is that they want answers to their perplexities so much that they imagine that God is revealing answers to those problems. In reality, God gives us spiritual wisdom to respond to life’s enigmas and problems in a right way (cf. James 1:5). While He may not speak to us as He spoke to Abraham, Elijah, or Paul, He asks us to have faith in His Word and make our life choices according to what has already been written (cf. Matthew 4:8).

Tenth, realize the power and sufficiency of the Word of God. Many of those who claim that God speaks to them have little interest in the Word of God or, at least, seem to care little about obeying all of His Word. The Scriptures are powerful! The written Word of God contains specific words that are meant to work in our heart in a powerful way to convict us, comfort us, and instruct us. “The word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of body joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Heb. 4:12). The Spirit uses the Word to communicate God’s truth to the human heart and life (cf. Eph. 6:17). Jesus declared that His words “are spirit and are life” (John 6:63).

These ten principles are important to our spiritual growth. As we grow spiritually and become mature, spiritual people, our life will be so rich and deep that we will not need to “hear” actual messages from God as occurred in the experience of Noah, Samuel, Moses, and others. God is God and whatever he gives or withholds will be for our good and His glory!

Can a Personal Revelationist

Change His Views?

Generally it is difficult to convince a person who thinks God speaks to him that he actually has not been saved and born again. He reasons, “I know that God speaks to my heart, that I hear words in my mind, that I have spiritual feelings; therefore, this proves that God is my Father, that Jesus is my Friend, and that the Holy Spirit is my Guide.”

It may objectively be clear that such a person has not been forgiven, according to Scripture. It may be plain that elements of his or her lifestyle are worldly, compromising, and even sinful. It may be obvious that the content of the person’s revelation does not agree with Biblical teaching. In spite of all this, the personal revelationist maintains that God regularly communicates with him. He would rather obstinately cling to his assumed personal revelation than search the Scriptural evidence that would disprove his claimed experience.

Is it possible for one who has trusted in his heart and the “voices” of his mind to change? Can he really admit that he has been deceived and mistaken in his views and beliefs?

We need to remember that some people have searched the Word of God then concluded that their assumed religious experience was faulty. Thousands and probably millions have changed their mind over the years. At one time, they were entirely convinced that one thing was true; at some later time, they changed their mind on the subject and concluded that they were previously deceived. This shows how vital it is to re-evaluate our experiences, according to the truth of God’s Word. How may a person change his religious convictions and practices? Consider the following examples:

A person who thought his prayers to Mary were being heard and answered can discover that this practice is an abomination to God who forbids prayer to anyone other than Him or Christ Jesus.

A person who has deep, mystical meditations can learn that these deceptively draw him away from a reliance on the Word of God.

A person who assumes that he was consuming the literal flesh and blood of Christ in a religious ritual all of his life can later discover that his theology of communion and the mass was dreadfully wrong.

A person who thinks that he was “born again” by “inviting Jesus into his heart” when he was four years of age can later conclude that he had little or no conception of the gospel at such an early age. He simply did not have the capacity or even need to repent of sin.

A person who at one time had the well-known subjective Mormon “burning of the bosom” may later realize that this feeling had its origin in satanic deception that bound him to a cultic organization.

Some who have been “baptized” as infants have later learned that baptism is meant only for people of sufficient age to be convicted of sin, to repent of sin, and to personally believe in Christ. They have renounced their earlier invalid “baptism” and received a genuine Biblical baptism.

Thousands of disillusioned charismatic and Pentecostal tongue-speakers have concluded that their practice of glossolalia was merely self-induced, thus not genuinely the Scriptural gift of tongues.

All of these examples remind us that people can and do change their beliefs, views, convictions, practices, religious affiliations, and life itself. (We could well cite the fact that millions of people in world religions have later concluded that the way of Christ is true, thus they renounced their earlier false religion to embrace some semblance of Christianity. They formerly thought one view was correct but later discovered that they had been deceived.) In the case of assumed personal revelation, many have later realized that what they thought was communication from God was merely their own misguided and deceived imagination.

A Major Concern

A major concern we have with the popular claim of direct revelation from God is its effect on our response to the Word of God. What often or usually results when one imagines that he hears voices in his heart or the actual audible voice of God?

First, the Word of God is neglected. When someone believes that he receives a personal “word” from the Lord, he may not see the indispensable value of the Scriptures. He may lay aside the Bible in favor of the personal “word” that God reveals to his mind.

Second, the Word of God is minimized. While continuing to acknowledge that the Scriptures come from God, some who believe that they hear voices tend to put the Bible at a lower level. They reason, “Why is Bible study so important if God directly tells me what it means and personally reveals His will in an extra-Biblical manner?” Therefore, the Bible becomes secondary to the internal, personal “word” from the Lord.

Third, the Word of God is not carefully studied. Some tell us that we need not examine the original languages, background, or context of a passage, since God tells us the meaning in our hearts. I was discussing this issue with two men who were convinced that the King James Version of the Bible was the infallible avenue of truth. I was pointing out that there are serious problems with this translation, both because of an inferior text as well as the archaic English language. They defended the KJV by saying that if they would read a questionable passage, the Holy Spirit would tell them if there was a word or phrase that was incorrect and needed clarification, thus they would continue to use this translation and depend on God to directly reveal any problems.

Fourth, the Word of God is slandered. Some may accuse the Bible of being too general to be of practical value. They want a “fresh word” from God rather than “an old, dead Book”! They want specific guidance and contemporary direction instead of an historical document that is dry reading and even uninteresting. All of this slanders the very word of God in Scripture that is “living and active” (Heb. 4:12) and which Jesus said is “spirit” and “life” (John 6:63).

Fifth, the Word of God is violated. As we have mentioned earlier, many of those who claim to have “heard” from God personally, are living unfaithful and disobedient lives. They violate God’s revealed will in favor of receiving what they assume is His personal “word” for them. In effect, they say, “I don’t care what the Bible says! I’ve heard personally from God!” Most would not be as cavalier as this, but the outcome of disobedience would be the same.

Finally, the Word of God is disbelieved. We need the attitude of the psalmist, “I trust in Your word” (Psalm 119:42). Sadly, many do not trust God or believe in His word, thus they insist on thinking they will receive a personal “word” in their mind that makes the written Word of God unnecessary or at least inferior. We must believe in the Christ of God, the Spirit of God, and the Word of God!

Because of these and all of the other reasons described in this booklet, we urge you to seek the truth of God in the Word of God from the Spirit of God. Do not be deceived either by your imagination or by the enemy of your soul who would have you accept a personal “word” in your mind while disbelieving the written word of the living God!

Can God Literally Speak?

Some would say that God always speaks—every day and all through the day. We’ve seen that this perspective is mistaken and misleading. Because of the many factors discussed in this booklet, we can categorically say that these self-deceived prophets are wrong and unscriptural.

On the other hand, others would say that God has never spoken since apostolic times. He has given His Word once and for all and the faith has been delivered and will never been altered or supplemented (cf. Jude 3). They would point out that prophecy, tongues, and supernatural knowledge would cease and this occurred at the end of the apostolic period (cf. 1 Cor. 13:8-13). One verse in the song, “Pray All the Time” (by Lloyd O. Sanderson), conveys this thought: “The Father speaketh in His word, He talks no other way! And to converse with Him, our Lord, We must take time to pray!” R. Fowler White also concludes his own study:

The Bible gives us no reason to expect that God will speak to His children today apart from the Scriptures. Those who teach otherwise need to explain to God’s children how these words “freshly spoken from heaven” can be so necessary and strategic to God’s highest purposes for their lives when their Father does nothing to ensure that they will ever actually hear those words. Indeed, they must explain why this is not quenching the Spirit. Moreover, the promise of such guidance inevitably diverts attention from the Scriptures, particularly in the practical and pressing concerns of life. Let us never underestimate just how serious this diversion really is. In the Bible the church hears God’s true voice; in the Scriptures, we know that He is speaking His very words to us. Advocates of words “freshly spoken from heaven” should beware: By diverting attention from the Scriptures, they quench the Spirit who is speaking therein (Does God Speak Today Apart from the Bible?).

Edward N. Gross has a similar statement that comes to the same conclusion:

This is the issue. If the Bible is complete, then it represents a closed system of truth. If it entails a fixed and absolute standard of truth, then the teachings of Scripture may be ascertained and dogmatically asserted. If God is still granting new revelation, then the truth of God is still being progressively revealed, and if this were the case, our duty would be to faithfully listen to today’s prophets as they unravel God’s truth in new and clearer representations than we find in Scripture. Few Christians really consider the subtleties to today’s “prophets” as an improvement upon the sanctifying truths given in the Word. I certainly do not” (Miracles, Demons, & Spiritual Warfare, p. 52).

Finally, MacArthur concurs with this strong stance: “Scripture is a closed system of truth, complete, sufficient, and not to be added to (Jude 3; Rev. 22:18-19). It contains all the spiritual truth God intended to reveal” (Charismatic Chaos, p. 51; see also Garry Friesen, Decision Making and the Will of God, pp. 127-147).

Although many aspects of this timely subject could be debated and discussed, the words of the following song rings true:

God has spoken by His prophets,

Spoken His unchanging Word,

Each from age to age proclaiming

God the one, the righteous Lord. . . .

God yet speaks by His own Spirit

Speaking to the hearts of men,

In the age-long Word expounding

God’s own message now as then;

Through the rise and fall of nations

One sure faith yet standing fast,

God is King, His Word unchanging,

God the first, and God the last.

(George Wallace Briggs)

In light of these statements, let me bare my own heart to you. Some experiences I’ve gone through have been so perplexing that I didn’t know what to do or where to go. Some have been so sorrowful that tears were inadequate to deal with them. Some experiences have been so heart-wrenching and so serious that I’ve pleaded for God to reveal His will for me directly and clearly. Not once has He done so. Not once has God literally, directly, audibly spoken from heaven or even quietly to my heart to answer my questions, to solve my problems, or to clarify His truth, the truth of Scripture. Not once has Jesus my Lord or even an angel appeared to me to communicate truth directly.

This “silence” of God is probably not surprising, according to what we’ve learned from Scripture in this booklet. God asks us to trust Him when we face the tragedies of life. He asks us to depend on His faithfulness, mercy, and wisdom when we come to the end of ourselves, our knowledge and our limited resources. Let’s look to His written Word and ask God to apply it to our life so that we may walk before Him in love and holiness. In the words of Annie Johnson Flint:

He Giveth More Grace

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,

He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;

To added affliction He addeth His mercy,

To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,

When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,

When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,

Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

Chorus:

His love has no limit, His grace has no measure,

His power has no boundary known unto men;

For out of His infinite riches in Jesus,

He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again!

Ask God to Reveal His Will!

Nothing in this booklet should lead us to inactivity or deadness! God wants to “reveal” His will to us! Notice the content of Paul’s prayer for God’s people:

. . . the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. . . . (Eph. 1:17-19a).

God does want to give us “a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him”! John also says that “the anointing which you received from Him abides in you” and “His anointing teaches you about all things” (1 John 2:27; cf. v. 20). God does want the eyes of our heart to be “enlightened” (Eph. 1:18) and wants us to grow spiritually, by the Spirit of God, through the Word of God. As we have noticed elsewhere, God revealed truth through the apostles and prophets. Christ promised this (John 14:26; 16:12-15) and it came to pass (cf. 1 Cor. 2:12-15; Eph. 3:3-5).

Every true child of God should be able to sing this song with sincerity and with great meaning:

I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice,

And it told Thy love to me;

But I long to rise in the arms of faith,

And be closer drawn to Thee.

Yes, every follower of Christ has “heard the voice” of Christ Jesus and has responded to that call, that voice, to be saved from sin!

Therefore, God reveals His truth to us through His Word, by His Spirit, to our heart and mind, to our innermost spirit, that we may know His will and walk so as to please Him. Let us be willing to believe and submit to the Word of the Living God!

Has God Spoken to You? (Part 2)