Why do churches do what they do? What is the biblical basis of church leadership structure? Why do certain traditions get entrenched? How did we arrive at our doctrines?
Today we consider those who would seek personal guidance from God. This might take the form of a "feeling," a confirming occurrence, a prophetic word, or something similar.
Is seeking information acceptable, or does the Bible prohibit or negate extra-biblical sources of information? Is seeking information different than seeking a sign? Does God respond to those who want guidance for life decisions?
The cessationist would say the only source of information available to us is the Bible. There is no prophecy, impressions, or extra-biblical information we can properly access today. So the cessationist would summarily reject the question raised by our title. The reader may wish to read our cessation series, which examines various cessationist doctrines one by one.
On the surface it might seem that Jesus excludes seeking signs:
Mt. 12:38-40 Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you.” 39 He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
So there will be a sign to this generation, Jesus rising from the dead. Jesus specifically rejects the Pharisees for seeking a sign in the face of the many miraculous things Jesus did. The Pharisees are being hostile and contentious, and Jesus condemns them.
Mark 4:9–12: And he said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, so that “‘they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.’”
This is the reason. Jesus knows their hearts, and they will therefore not receive the Kingdom. It will be given to someone else. This means we cannot glean information about what guidance a Christian might receive from God, because Christians are not part of the wicked and adulterous generation.
We believe that there are several avenues besides the Bible from which we can obtain holy information.
Does He answer? Does God gives specific answers to specific prayers? Can we receive revelation about our life issues and the decisions we are faced with? We believe the answer is yes:
Lk. 11:9-10 So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
Ja. 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
Mt. 6:6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Mt. 21:22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.
Ac. 4:31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken.
Ja. 5:15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.
Ac. 15:28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements...
1Co. 16:4 If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me.
Ro. 8:16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
1Co. 14:1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
1Co. 14:3 But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort.
1Co. 14:26 What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.
Ro. 12:6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.
Every true Christian has the Holy Spirit. Therefore, those who believe have the Holy Spirit's guidance and influence:
Ro. 8:5, 9, 14 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ... because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
1Co. 2:12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.
Ga. 5:16, 18, 25 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Ja. 3:17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
Col. 3:1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Christians do not seek signs from circumstances, they seek revelation from the Holy Spirit. They seek revelation from wise brothers and sisters, to whom the Holy Spirit speaks. They seek revelation from Pastors as they preach and counsel. They read commentaries from theologians. They read books from mature men and women of faith.
The Bible is beyond invaluable. But it's not the only source of direction and godly wisdom. The Bible says so.
No comments:
Post a Comment