Our comments in bold.
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(...)
1. What is the “God told me” religion?
It is a conviction that God is still personally speaking to people today, that He delivers new revelation, that He guides in personal, individual life matters such as where to go to college, what job to take, or who to marry. It is the general notion that He speaks to His people directly today, outside of scripture.
But He doesn’t. The 1689 Baptist Confession Chapter 1 number 1 says no, and offers the following scriptures-
(2 Timothy 3:15-17; Isaiah 8:20; Luke 16:29, 31; Ephesians 2:20; Romans 1:19-21; Romans 2:14,15; Psalms 19:1-3; Hebrews 1:1; Proverbs 22:19-21; Romans 15:4; 2 Peter 1:19,20).
Now that we have the various verses before us, let's reminder ourselves of Ms. Prata's assertion: "It is the general notion that He speaks to His people directly today, outside of scripture. But He doesn’t." The reader will note there isn't a single cited verse that speaks to her point at all. None of them say God is now silent. None of them say God does not give extra-biblical information. It's just not there.)
Jesus is the ultimate, the pinnacle, of God’s revelation. (True.)
Despite the fact that the Bible declares the canon closed and not to be added to or subtracted from, (Revelation 22:18-19), (Prophecy does not come to bear on the closed canon.)
(...)
1. What is the “God told me” religion?
It is a conviction that God is still personally speaking to people today, that He delivers new revelation, that He guides in personal, individual life matters such as where to go to college, what job to take, or who to marry. It is the general notion that He speaks to His people directly today, outside of scripture.
But He doesn’t. The 1689 Baptist Confession Chapter 1 number 1 says no, and offers the following scriptures-
(2 Timothy 3:15-17; Isaiah 8:20; Luke 16:29, 31; Ephesians 2:20; Romans 1:19-21; Romans 2:14,15; Psalms 19:1-3; Hebrews 1:1; Proverbs 22:19-21; Romans 15:4; 2 Peter 1:19,20).
(We will quote the provided texts, since Ms. Prata seems unwilling. However, we need to note that the OT texts were delivered in the context of active prophets in the old covenant. They have nothing to do with the new covenant. This means it isn't possible for those texts to speak to whether or not God gives contemporary revelation.
2Ti. 3:15-17 and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.Is. 8:20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.Lk. 16:29 “Abraham replied, `They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’Ep. 2:20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.Ro. 1:19-21 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities — his eternal power and divine nature — have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.Ro. 2:14-15 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, 15 since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.)Ps. 19:1-3 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. 3 There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.He. 1:1 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways,Pr. 22:19-21 So that your trust may be in the LORD, I teach you today, even you. 20 Have I not written thirty sayings for you, sayings of counsel and knowledge, 21 teaching you true and reliable words, so that you can give sound answers to him who sent you?Ro. 15:4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.2Pe. 1:19-20 And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation.
2. Does God talk to us audibly?
No. Hebrews 1 refutes the idea that God is still speaking in various ways as He did in the Old Testament and the beginning of the New Testament. (Whoa. Hebrews chapter 1 does this? Let's quote it:
No. Hebrews 1 refutes the idea that God is still speaking in various ways as He did in the Old Testament and the beginning of the New Testament. (Whoa. Hebrews chapter 1 does this? Let's quote it:
1 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.
3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.
5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father”? [Psalm 2:7] Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son”? [2 Samuel 7:14; 1 Chron. 17:13] 6 And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” [Deut. 32:43] 7 In speaking of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, his servants flames of fire.” [Psalm 104:4]
8 But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the sceptre of your kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.” [Psalm 45:6,7]
10 He also says, “In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. 11 They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. 12 You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.” [Psalm 102:25-27] 13 To which of the angels did God ever say, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”? [Psalm 110:1] 14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
The topic is the high position and superiority of the Son over the prophets, the angels, and the nations. God previously spoke to the prophets to deliver His words. But in these last days [we are still in the last days, by the way], He spoke [actually, speaks] via His Son. His Son is a better word than the prophets, because His Son is much higher.
The Son sustains [present tense] the whole of creation by His powerful word. If He ever stopped speaking the universe would fall apart. We look in vain for anything in this passage that says God does not speak to Christians in these last days in which we live.)
Then, He spoke through a burning bush and other inanimate objects, a donkey, angels, Prophets, visions, voices, and circumstances such as earthquakes or brimstone or rain, etc.
(The author will now attempt to prove that God speaking is a rare event. She will do this by assuming that everything God ever spoke is contained in the Bible, and He was silent apart from the biblical record. This of course is preposterous.
(The author will now attempt to prove that God speaking is a rare event. She will do this by assuming that everything God ever spoke is contained in the Bible, and He was silent apart from the biblical record. This of course is preposterous.
The Bible record is only what the Holy Spirit wanted us to know. God was not silent at any time:
Jer. 32:20 You performed miraculous signs and wonders in Egypt and have continued them to this day, both in Israel and among all mankind, and have gained the renown that is still yours.
God has been continuously moving through history, speaking and doing miraculous things without ceasing.)
It should be noted that God did not speak directly to any old person. He mainly spoke to His prophets, who were universally acknowledged as God’s designated spokesperson. (Matthew 3:3). There were a few outliers to whom God spoke or sent a designee to speak, such as Cain, Hagar, King Belshazzar, Joseph, Zacharias, Anna, Mary, and so on. He spoke through inanimate objects, like a burning bush, pillar of fire or cloud, the hand writing on the wall; He appeared as a man (pre-incarnate visitation of Jesus, called theophany); and He spoke through a messenger angel.
He usually spoke during times of great change, as with Moses and the deliverance of the Hebrew people, the period of Elijah and the Prophets, and when Jesus came in his incarnation. There were hundreds and hundreds of years where God didn’t speak in any way to anyone directly or indirectly. It was not a common thing then and it is not a common thing now. (There is a substantial difference between God not speaking and there not being a record of God speaking. The author assumes that because there isn't a record, God wasn't speaking. This is an Argument From Silence.)
His word is final and completely contained in the Bible of 66 books of the accepted canon. (True.)
He usually spoke during times of great change, as with Moses and the deliverance of the Hebrew people, the period of Elijah and the Prophets, and when Jesus came in his incarnation. There were hundreds and hundreds of years where God didn’t speak in any way to anyone directly or indirectly. It was not a common thing then and it is not a common thing now. (There is a substantial difference between God not speaking and there not being a record of God speaking. The author assumes that because there isn't a record, God wasn't speaking. This is an Argument From Silence.)
His word is final and completely contained in the Bible of 66 books of the accepted canon. (True.)
Jesus is the ultimate message. (True.)
If we insist that we hear from heaven now, it renders Jesus less than the pinnacle of God’s revelation. (False.)
If he speaks now, it renders the scriptures as we know them open and insufficient and Jesus’ message. (False.)
It renders them flawed and needing additional stopgaps, patches, and additions. (False.)
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, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. (Hebrews 1:1-2).
It should be noted that not everything that ever happened is contained in scripture. (??? Ms. Prata contradicts herself. She just wrote, "There were hundreds and hundreds of years where God didn’t speak in any way to anyone directly or indirectly." Ms. Prata can't seem to keep her story straight. Previously she was intending to prove that God speaking was rare and selective, but now concedes that He was speaking apart from Scripture.
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, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. (Hebrews 1:1-2).
It should be noted that not everything that ever happened is contained in scripture. (??? Ms. Prata contradicts herself. She just wrote, "There were hundreds and hundreds of years where God didn’t speak in any way to anyone directly or indirectly." Ms. Prata can't seem to keep her story straight. Previously she was intending to prove that God speaking was rare and selective, but now concedes that He was speaking apart from Scripture.
She just blew her own argument out of the water.)
We can’t suppose that over the 50 years of Isaiah’s prophetic ministry that he only spoke to Isaiah 22 or 23 times. That’s simply how many sermons or propehcies (sic) Isaiah was directed to write into scripture. John said that if all the things that Jesus did during His incarnation were written down, there would not be enough books in all the world to record them. By this we know that what is written is specifically designed by God to be all-sufficient for us. What He has said, He has said for His reasons. Don’t seek more of that which God has withheld. (Why? What is the biblical basis of this admonition? Further, simply because God included certain things in the Bible does not come to bear on the gift of prophecy.)
Jesus is the ultimate, the pinnacle, of God’s revelation. (True.)
We no longer need additional revelation because Jesus completed it. ("Additional revelation" is not the same thing as Scripture. "Completed" is not the same thing as "nothing more.")
Indeed,
All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; (2 Timothy 3:16)
If we were to claim God spoke to us, giving advice on our career, for example, we’d have to say, ‘Which part of scripture was INsufficient?’ ‘Which part of scripture was NOT beneficial?’ (The word "sufficient" doesn't appear in this text, and the concept of "sufficient" is not found here either. Nor does the word "sufficient" mean "final" or "nothing more."
All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; (2 Timothy 3:16)
If we were to claim God spoke to us, giving advice on our career, for example, we’d have to say, ‘Which part of scripture was INsufficient?’ ‘Which part of scripture was NOT beneficial?’ (The word "sufficient" doesn't appear in this text, and the concept of "sufficient" is not found here either. Nor does the word "sufficient" mean "final" or "nothing more."
This verse is talking about Scripture, not prophecy, not the closed canon, and not revelation.)
The final book of the Bible warns not to add to it or take away from it. (No Christian is trying to add or take away from the Bible.)
I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; 19and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book. (Revelation 22:18-19).
As preacher Justin Peters famously said,
“If you want to hear from God, read your Bible. If you want to hear Him audibly, read it out loud.” (Apparently this is clever. Or at least, the author thinks so.
The final book of the Bible warns not to add to it or take away from it. (No Christian is trying to add or take away from the Bible.)
I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; 19and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book. (Revelation 22:18-19).
As preacher Justin Peters famously said,
“If you want to hear from God, read your Bible. If you want to hear Him audibly, read it out loud.” (Apparently this is clever. Or at least, the author thinks so.
We have come to the end of part one no more edified than when we started. Hopefully the author will abandon superficial pronouncements and make a biblical exposition.)
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Part two:
Part 2 of an ongoing discernment series addressing the issue of women, many of them ‘Bible’ teachers, who are claiming to hear directly from God. Part 1 here. Questions addressed in the previous part were
1. What is the “God told me” religion?
2. Does God talk to us audibly?
Today’s questions are:
3. If we do hear a voice, how do we know it’s from the Lord?
4. And if it’s not from God, then who is speaking?
RC Sproul explained that “An encounter with the holiness of God is always a traumatic experience. The Scriptures record events when men were allowed to see something of the holiness of God. Their response was always despair because they were forced to see their own sinfulness.” Yet today’s alleged messages many women claim to be receiving from ‘God’ or ‘Jesus’ are absent this trauma. (Ms. Prata conflates an "encounter" with a prophetic word. The two are not the same. The NT contains several prophetic utterances that do not elicit trauma.)
Part 2 of an ongoing discernment series addressing the issue of women, many of them ‘Bible’ teachers, who are claiming to hear directly from God. Part 1 here. Questions addressed in the previous part were
1. What is the “God told me” religion?
2. Does God talk to us audibly?
Today’s questions are:
3. If we do hear a voice, how do we know it’s from the Lord?
4. And if it’s not from God, then who is speaking?
RC Sproul explained that “An encounter with the holiness of God is always a traumatic experience. The Scriptures record events when men were allowed to see something of the holiness of God. Their response was always despair because they were forced to see their own sinfulness.” Yet today’s alleged messages many women claim to be receiving from ‘God’ or ‘Jesus’ are absent this trauma. (Ms. Prata conflates an "encounter" with a prophetic word. The two are not the same. The NT contains several prophetic utterances that do not elicit trauma.)
Let’s take a look at how today’s so-called revelations do not stack up to the actual messages we read in the Bible from the true God. (An Appeal to Contemporary Expression. What does or does not happen in the contemporary church does not come to bear on what the Bible says about prophecy.)
3. If we do hear a voice, how do we confirm it’s from the Lord?
Any audible conversation we hear from the sky is not from the Lord. So, that answers that! Hebrews 1:1-2 affirms that in the past times the Lord spoke directly in many ways, He has now spoken (past tense) (Unfortunately for the author, a Bible Teacher, the word "spoke" is not past tense in the Greek. It is laleó 5. to use words in order to declare one's mind and disclose one's thoughts; to speak...)
3. If we do hear a voice, how do we confirm it’s from the Lord?
Any audible conversation we hear from the sky is not from the Lord. So, that answers that! Hebrews 1:1-2 affirms that in the past times the Lord spoke directly in many ways, He has now spoken (past tense) (Unfortunately for the author, a Bible Teacher, the word "spoke" is not past tense in the Greek. It is laleó 5. to use words in order to declare one's mind and disclose one's thoughts; to speak...)
through His Son Jesus in these latter days.
The last days are between the time Jesus was born on earth to the time He returns the second time.
Despite the fact that the Bible declares the canon closed and not to be added to or subtracted from, (Revelation 22:18-19), (Prophecy does not come to bear on the closed canon.)
and despite the fact that every other aspect of the main Christian life have principles outlined in the Bible for us to refer to (i.e. prayer, fasting, marriage, speech, money, worship…) but not how to hear from God. (Apparently the author has never read 1 Corinthians 14, Ephesians 1:17-18, Romans 8:5, Galatians 5:16, 1 Thessalonians 5:19, or 1 John 3:24?)
Sadly, an an entire sub-industry to Christian Publishing of ‘how to hear from God’ has cropped up. If direct revelation was such an important method of communing with God, why is it so lacking in instruction in the Bible? (This is a peculiar refutation. Our present-day faith and activity is contingent on how much the Bible talks about it?)
Why is this flourishing cottage industry of “how to hear from God” so prevalent? Did God forget to tell us how to hear Him?
Just a few of the search results at Amazon.com when you type “how to hear from God”
One would think that if God is speaking so frequently to people that there would be a lesson or two in the Bible about how to hear Him. Leave it to Rick Warren, Priscilla Shirer, Joyce Meyer, Mark Batterson, Dallas Willard, and many others to pick up the slack and write books and curricula on this topic. The marketplace is flooded with this material.
These “Bible teachers” claim to chat God up. They are casual conversations. Beth Moore even puts Jesus on hold, telling him “I’ll get to you in sec.”
Answer #1 to the question ‘how do we confirm it’s from the Lord?’ Look to the Bible. You can tell the voice is from the Lord by how the people reacted. Let’s look at how the people reacted in the Bible when they heard the true voice of God.
In Genesis 3:8, the very first encounter of fallen man with Holy God was one of fear. Adam and Eve hid.
In Exodus 20, the people were encamped at Mt. Sinai and Moses was up the mountain receiving the Ten Commandments from God. The people heard the thunderings and were terrified unto death.
And all the people were watching and hearing the thunder and the lightning flashes, and the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it all, they trembled and stood at a distance. Then they said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen; but do not have God speak to us, or we will die!” (Exodus 20:18-19).
Isaiah was traumatized when he was given an vision of God in the throne room. In Isaiah 6 he said “I am undone!” Undone here means ceased to be, completely cut off, psychologically unspooled.
In Daniel 10, the men who were with Daniel did not see the vision that Daniel was given, but utter terror overwhelmed them and they ran away to hide. The same happened to the bystanders at Saul/Paul’s conversion. Saul/Paul was knocked flat, was fearful, and those who stood around saw the Light and heard either a voice or thunderings also felt fear.
When Peter recognized that it was the Holy One in the boat with him who had calmed the waters, he cowered and said “depart from me, for I am a sinful man!” (Luke 5:8).
John the Revelator fell down as if dead.
The true recipients of God’s word or even of His word thru an angel was they all fell down, they were crushed and undone as Isaiah was. They were told not to be afraid. It is “The trauma of holiness“, as RC Sproul used to say. “Peter, James, and John at first saw the revelation of Christ’s deity and their hearing of the Father’s voice not as a blessing but as a terror (Matthew 17:1–8).”
In summary, we can tell a voice is actually from God by looking at the reactions. It is not possible to have casual chats with the Holy One, the Ancient of Days. (Argument From supposed Silence. In actual fact, Ms. Prata is engaging is selective quoting, for there are many instances in the Bilbe of encounters with God that didn't result in terror.)
Answer #2: You can tell the voice these people are supposedly hearing is or isn’t from God because of the content of the message.
His speaking recorded in the Bible always involved Himself and His redemptive plan, not personal guidance of life’s issues. (Apparently God did not tell Moses where to go. Or give Paul direction about where he should and should not go. God did not involve Himself with the widow's oil supply. God did not tell Jonah to go to Ninevah.
One would think that if God is speaking so frequently to people that there would be a lesson or two in the Bible about how to hear Him. Leave it to Rick Warren, Priscilla Shirer, Joyce Meyer, Mark Batterson, Dallas Willard, and many others to pick up the slack and write books and curricula on this topic. The marketplace is flooded with this material.
These “Bible teachers” claim to chat God up. They are casual conversations. Beth Moore even puts Jesus on hold, telling him “I’ll get to you in sec.”
Answer #1 to the question ‘how do we confirm it’s from the Lord?’ Look to the Bible. You can tell the voice is from the Lord by how the people reacted. Let’s look at how the people reacted in the Bible when they heard the true voice of God.
In Genesis 3:8, the very first encounter of fallen man with Holy God was one of fear. Adam and Eve hid.
In Exodus 20, the people were encamped at Mt. Sinai and Moses was up the mountain receiving the Ten Commandments from God. The people heard the thunderings and were terrified unto death.
And all the people were watching and hearing the thunder and the lightning flashes, and the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it all, they trembled and stood at a distance. Then they said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen; but do not have God speak to us, or we will die!” (Exodus 20:18-19).
Isaiah was traumatized when he was given an vision of God in the throne room. In Isaiah 6 he said “I am undone!” Undone here means ceased to be, completely cut off, psychologically unspooled.
In Daniel 10, the men who were with Daniel did not see the vision that Daniel was given, but utter terror overwhelmed them and they ran away to hide. The same happened to the bystanders at Saul/Paul’s conversion. Saul/Paul was knocked flat, was fearful, and those who stood around saw the Light and heard either a voice or thunderings also felt fear.
When Peter recognized that it was the Holy One in the boat with him who had calmed the waters, he cowered and said “depart from me, for I am a sinful man!” (Luke 5:8).
John the Revelator fell down as if dead.
The true recipients of God’s word or even of His word thru an angel was they all fell down, they were crushed and undone as Isaiah was. They were told not to be afraid. It is “The trauma of holiness“, as RC Sproul used to say. “Peter, James, and John at first saw the revelation of Christ’s deity and their hearing of the Father’s voice not as a blessing but as a terror (Matthew 17:1–8).”
In summary, we can tell a voice is actually from God by looking at the reactions. It is not possible to have casual chats with the Holy One, the Ancient of Days. (Argument From supposed Silence. In actual fact, Ms. Prata is engaging is selective quoting, for there are many instances in the Bilbe of encounters with God that didn't result in terror.)
Answer #2: You can tell the voice these people are supposedly hearing is or isn’t from God because of the content of the message.
His speaking recorded in the Bible always involved Himself and His redemptive plan, not personal guidance of life’s issues. (Apparently God did not tell Moses where to go. Or give Paul direction about where he should and should not go. God did not involve Himself with the widow's oil supply. God did not tell Jonah to go to Ninevah.
The author's statement is ignorant.)
His talk to Job was an angry rebuke to Job while at the same time He magnified Himself. He told Isaiah he was going to be a prophet but that no one would listen to him and he had to keep speaking until there was no one left to hear him. He told Mary mother of Jesus via Simeon that she would go through terrible grief. (Luke 2:35).
In contrast, you notice that these God revelations from today’s people are usually pleasant things. (Appeal to Contemporary Practices. This is not the Biblical case.)
In contrast, you notice that these God revelations from today’s people are usually pleasant things. (Appeal to Contemporary Practices. This is not the Biblical case.)
You will be rich. Your career will take off. You are a princess in my eyes. And so on. Do we ever hear these false prophet, modern day revelators say, “I heard from God and I fell down, awestruck at His majesty and then He told me to stop sinning and repent.” No, if that were to happen no doubt someone would dismiss the revelation, claiming it was just satan trying to get you down. The relentlessly positive, pleasant, and human-centric content of all these alleged messages from Jesus vary from the content and language of God we see in the Bible.
4. So if the voice isn’t from God, then who is speaking?
Satan. (Hmmm. God does not speak to His children, but Satan does? That seems very odd.)
4. So if the voice isn’t from God, then who is speaking?
Satan. (Hmmm. God does not speak to His children, but Satan does? That seems very odd.)
If someone hears a voice it could be the devil or his unholy angels. After all, satan masquerades as minister of righteousness, and so do his fallen angels. (2 Corinthians 11:14). Eve was deceived by satan masquerading as a serpent. In 2 Chronicles 18:21 we read that a lying spirit was able to go into the mouth of a human.
Mind. Alternately, it could be our own mind. Fleshly desires rearing up in the guise of God’s voice. The capacity for self delusion is great. Look at Judas. He dwelled with the Almighty for three years, personally in his inner circle and heard everything Jesus taught and watched miracle after miracle. Yet he was deceived and rejected Christ. Our own flesh has a deeper hold on us than we know. That’s why every NT book except Philemon warns against false prophets and false doctrine. Heavy warnings and constant warnings.
Here Pastor Gabe Hughes is warning against the method Beth Moore uses to cobble together a Bible lesson-In this particular message, Beth began by saying that she asked God to give her a word, and the word He gave her was “net.” This is mysticism, and it’s exactly how the word-faith false teachers and prophets bloviate. A false prophetess like Cindy Jacobs will say, “The word of the Lord for this year is Breakthrough!” It’s as if we’re in Pee Wee’s Playhouse and God is playing the secret word game. Where does this word come from? It comes from nowhere but their own mind. But Beth believes her thoughts are God’s thoughts.
Lies. Finally these supposed revelations could just be lies. People lie. If a book and royalties are on the line, people could easily make up stuff. We know now that many Charismatics say that they felt marginalized since they weren’t speaking in tongues or receiving prophecies, so they made them up and pretended they were speaking in tongues or receiving revelation, in order to be in the in-crowd.
Conclusion
No one is hearing from God or Jesus. (Upon this thin basis Ms. Prat a makes a proclamation. In her ignorance of the Scriptures she is absolutely assured no one hears from God. Astounding.)
Mind. Alternately, it could be our own mind. Fleshly desires rearing up in the guise of God’s voice. The capacity for self delusion is great. Look at Judas. He dwelled with the Almighty for three years, personally in his inner circle and heard everything Jesus taught and watched miracle after miracle. Yet he was deceived and rejected Christ. Our own flesh has a deeper hold on us than we know. That’s why every NT book except Philemon warns against false prophets and false doctrine. Heavy warnings and constant warnings.
Here Pastor Gabe Hughes is warning against the method Beth Moore uses to cobble together a Bible lesson-In this particular message, Beth began by saying that she asked God to give her a word, and the word He gave her was “net.” This is mysticism, and it’s exactly how the word-faith false teachers and prophets bloviate. A false prophetess like Cindy Jacobs will say, “The word of the Lord for this year is Breakthrough!” It’s as if we’re in Pee Wee’s Playhouse and God is playing the secret word game. Where does this word come from? It comes from nowhere but their own mind. But Beth believes her thoughts are God’s thoughts.
Lies. Finally these supposed revelations could just be lies. People lie. If a book and royalties are on the line, people could easily make up stuff. We know now that many Charismatics say that they felt marginalized since they weren’t speaking in tongues or receiving prophecies, so they made them up and pretended they were speaking in tongues or receiving revelation, in order to be in the in-crowd.
Conclusion
No one is hearing from God or Jesus. (Upon this thin basis Ms. Prat a makes a proclamation. In her ignorance of the Scriptures she is absolutely assured no one hears from God. Astounding.)
Various verses state the canon is closed, (She keeps mentioning this as if it is relevant somehow.)
and what is written is ALL sufficient. Anyone who makes this claim is either deceived, mentally unbalanced, lying, or possessed. Secondly, when we compare the Bible’s God and His messages to the messages people are supposedly receiving today, they are miles apart in content and language. And most suspicious of all, these chats with Yahweh are so casual as if it’s over folding some laundry or cooking dinner. No one feels the trauma of holiness. RC again- This holy God, we see in Scripture, inspires far greater trauma in those whom He encounters than any natural disaster. We see, for example, how even righteous Isaiah was completely undone by meeting the God of Israel face-to-face (Isaiah 6:1–7). ... We understand that nothing poses a greater threat to our well-being than the holiness of God. The Trauma of Holiness
THAT’S the God of the Bible! (Truly a superficial and errant presentation. There are two more parts to go. Hopefully things will get better.)
THAT’S the God of the Bible! (Truly a superficial and errant presentation. There are two more parts to go. Hopefully things will get better.)
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