God's Voice

[Saved_by_Jesus]

I know that God speaks to us in many ways, but mostly through His Word of course. I know there are a lot of pastors and people out there who claim to hear God speak to them constantly, over every detail in their life, like what color shoes to wear or whatever. Personally, I think this is their own thoughts in their head that they are claiming to be God's Voice.

With that being said, I know that God does speak to us in our minds at times, in a clear Voice. I have had Him speak to me several times over the last couple of years, and I know, without a doubt that it was Him, and not my own thoughts, or the voice of the Enemy.

I know that we are to test all Spirits to see if what they say lines up with Scripture. For instance, if I heard some voice in my head saying "Go kill your best friend!", I would certainly know that it was the voice of Satan and not God.

If I heard a voice saying..."Go have a drink or two", I know it could be Satan, or it could be my own flesh, because I used to drink a lot.

Anyway, the point of my post is that I wanted to share about a voice I heard in my head a couple of years ago that has really bothered me a lot because I was new in Christ and did not know a thing about "testing the Spirits" at all, so to this day, I do not know if what was said to me could be from God, or from Satan......I'd like everyone's opinions on this.

I was walking across the parking lot at my job one day, not thinking about anything really......and was shocked to hear a clear voice in my head saying........

"Your death will glorify me!"

I do not remember what I felt at that time, other than being shocked out of my daydreams. I was not expecting the "voice", so I know that it was not my own thoughts or flesh.

So it was either God or Satan saying this to me. I do not remember if hearing it gave me peace or not.

I have asked several people about this, and some say that it was God speaking to me, and others say it was Satan trying to scare me. One pastor said that God only speaks about life, not death.

But then, in the Bible, I saw how Jesus was telling Peter how he would die. He told him that his death would "glorify God". I think it was in the book of John, not sure what chapter. It was before Jesus was crucified.

He told Peter that he would go where he would not want to go, and that by this, Jesus was telling Peter how his death would glorify God.

That terrifies me, to be honest. I'm hoping to be counted worthy enough to be raptured......

[OneLight]

I can not speak about the voice you heard, but scripture does tell us what we are to die to ourselves so He can live in and through us. That would mean that your death to your flesh could glorify God.

[Guest LadyC]

yeah, what onelight said.

and if it wasn't about dying to your flesh, but was about dying IN your flesh, you still can ask God to give you peace about it, since this is something that is still bothering you two years later.

i understand your desire to be counted worthy of rapture. but you can't count on the rapture happening in our lifetime. while those of us who believe in pre-trib are all pretty sure that it will, there were people throughout history that thought the same. and unless the rapture happens, we will ALL die sooner or later... better that our deaths glorify God than not!

[Saved_by_Jesus]

yeah, what onelight said.

and if it wasn't about dying to your flesh, but was about dying IN your flesh, you still can ask God to give you peace about it, since this is something that is still bothering you two years later.

i understand your desire to be counted worthy of rapture. but you can't count on the rapture happening in our lifetime. while those of us who believe in pre-trib are all pretty sure that it will, there were people throughout history that thought the same. and unless the rapture happens, we will ALL die sooner or later... better that our deaths glorify God than not!

Thanks for the replies! Yeah, I know that the Rapture may or may not occur in our lifetime...the prophecies are sure coming together quickly though! My pastor believes that it could be "any day now", and everyone has their own opinions.

I have 2 friends who BEG to be martyred for Christ. One of them is a girl who comes up with the most torturous deaths imaginable,and talks about how "cool" it would be to die like that for Jesus! Another is certain that God has spoken to him, telling him that he would be on earth at the "End", which would mean that IF the Rapture happens before the Tribulation, then he would not be Raptured. When I told him what was said in my head, he was actually jealous!

I'm not one of those people who clearly hear God speaking to them, or one who is constantly led by the Holy Spirit, walking around in peace all the time. I have not come to that point yet, and my faith is not strong enough yet, but I am certainly working on it.

I know that the disciples were scared about being martyred along with Jesus when He was resurrected-they were scared and ran off in fear.....but then later on, almost all of them gladly went to be martyred.

Is anyone else here EXCITED about possibly being martyred for your faith? Or does it scare you just a little bit?

[Guest LadyC]

i'm not crazy about the idea of being martyred. and i suspect that those who don't want to die a painful death will be more likely to face that than those who relish the idea.

your friend that fantasizes about torturous deaths and talks about how cool it would be sounds like she's got some issues. that kind of talk doesn't glorify God at all, and makes her sound like she's certifiably insane. or on drugs. or psychotic. she needs a lot of prayer.

[Trusting Jesus]

As I read this post, the first thought that popped into my mind was just as OneLight mentioned...dying to your self, but living in Christ. I am just wondering if you are sharing your faith with friends and family. That would certainly glorify God!

I do so look forward to that Rapture and expect it soon....soon to God isn't always in human terms though. As far as wanting to be martyred, that's not high on my want list But I do know that it is a possibility and so I ask myself if I am ready to die for Jesus. I know there are Christians in other countries who put their lives on the line every day in order to worship Christ. What brave and faithful people they are.

<>< ><>

Nathele

[Guest LadyC]

jami, did you miss where i said she needs prayer? or did you just think she needs only a little as opposed to the "lot" of prayer that i suggested?

[KC02]

It sounds to me like you were having a bad day. No, it wasn't God speaking to you. Dreams may need to be interpreted, but I don't think God speaks to us personally in riddles. He certainly doesn't try to put fear or confusion on us.

[Guest LadyC]

good point there... God is definitely not the author of either fear or confusion. kc, how'd you get to be so smart?

[nikki1]

That terrifies me, to be honest. I'm hoping to be counted worthy enough to be raptured......

Not to turn this into a "rapture" debate, but no one knows for sure when the church of Christ will be taken out... I understand there are those who think they will be taken out "any day now", but I lean toward "immediately after the tribulation of those days" that our Lord speaks about in Matthew's Gospel Chapter 24, which is just before that great and terrible Day of the Lord when the Lord gathers his saints on earth, so I will either die for the Lord or the Lord will see me through,and protect me. God's people are being martyred everyday all over the world for their faith in Christ; why are Christians in American any different? Sooner or later, I believe all Christians will have their faith tested and tried if they haven't already, and I think we need to draw near to Lord in these evil times that we now live in. I believe the Lord's coming is very close, and I think we need to be focusing on drawing near to Him, and His Word, and winning the lost for the Lord in the time that is left.

For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. Romans 14:8

Blessings,

Nikki