Is a spiritual advisor necessary for hearing God's voice?

[SoccerGirl2222]

 

i'd burn it. if you throw it away, do it in the middle of a trash can filled with greasy food. you don't want someone else salvaging it.

 

Thanks everyone! I Yes I'am going to throw that book away, I would return it if I hadnt already highlited in it. I do have a good Bible and I'm going to start reading it more. Hopefully I will find a good church, I havent been able to find one yet.

Good decision SoccerGirl You have to be so careful these days what you read and to who you listen ,I'm glad you asked here on WB before starting reading it,it does sounds like New Age stuff.  I would throw it in the garbage and not give it away...you don't want anybody else to read it !

 

May I ask who wrote the book?

 

 

4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice by Mark Virkler. I started to read the introduction and the 1st chapter and I was like I dont know about this book.

 

The book uses Habakkuk 2:1-3 and says we need stillness, visioning, spontaneity, and journaling in order to hear God's voice. The book also says John did the same 4 things when he wrote the book of Revelations. That we need 3 spiritual advisors to affirm that the voice we hear is actually God's voice and it encourages to relate and walk in the spiritual word and that " Westerners  are underdeveloped in their understanding and differentiation of the spiritual world". It says we need 2 way journaling where we write a question or thought we have for God and then we write down what God is saying to us. The first chapter was comparing its self to New Age and how it wasn't anything like the New Age. It says New Agers  are covered by Jesus's blood and are guided by the Holy Spirit as we try to contact God and that New Agers are trying to contact any spirit. It also says when we might even encounter angels sent from God when we are having fellowship with the Holy Spirit.

Edited March 14, 2015 by SoccerGirl2222

[SoccerGirl2222]

When God speaks we sometimes must learn to recognize His voice as Samuel did when he was a boy. 1 Samuel 3:1-21

The first time He spoke to me I was in a prayer circle in a small womans group from my church. So I told them about the strange thought that had popped into my head that I knew wasn't my own. The older ladies confirmed that it was probably God speaking to me. The suggestion was that if I changed churches, my husband might start going with me. He wasn't saved and I had given up on him.

The next time God gave me a strong desire to give money to a church that reached out to kids on drugs that I had read about in the newspaper. I was not in the habit of giving to anything at the time, and we were poor.

It is very rare that God speaks in an audible voice. It is usually the still small voice within us, and when we follow with obedience, He usually speaks to us more.

Then I learned that when God spoke there were usually 2 or 3 witnesses. Matthew 3:11-17, When Jesus was baptized, a voice came from heaven, John the Baptist had testified of Jesus, and the Holy Spirit came upon Him. The Scriptures also testify of Jesus. John 5:39. So I came to realize that His Voice should always agree with Scripture, at least in principle. God does not contradict Himself. [E.g. Giving to others is not wrong and my husband going to church is not wrong, in my case.] Often the same idea will be expressed in a sermon, or you might hear a hymn with the same message. But they will come to your attention in the days following till you come to be more familiar with His Voice and the ways He communicates with us. Usually He wants us to hear Him more than we do.

I do not encourage you to seek any experiences with God. The enemy would love to get you off track by seeking them instead of seeking to walk with God in obedience to His voice. But Psalms 100 gives very good advice as to how to come into His Presence.

Come before His presence with SINGING. Know that He is God, our creator.

Enter into His gates with THANKSGIVING. [Count your blessings and thank Him for all He has done for you.]

And into His courts with PRAISE. [Marvel at all He as done, His creation, the beauty of the earth and the stars, and His covenants. God inhabits the praises of His people.]

BLESS HIS NAME, for the Lord is good, merciful, and truth. {This last part is worship, to extoll God for Who He Is--His attributes.}

These types of fellowship with God are what He desires of us--to walk in obedience to His voice and to live in communion with Him.

Thanks Willa! Yeah I was thinking I probably shouldnt be trying to seek God like that. The book makes it sound as if thats okay and that if we our fearful of doing that, that its satan planting a seed of fear in us to prevent us from experiencing all that God has to offer us, but that we shouldnt be afraid because there are protective guideines that God provides to keep us safe in the spirit world. When you mentioned that God uses 2 or 3 witnesses and Matthew 3:11-17 that is the same example the book uses.

Edited March 14, 2015 by SoccerGirl2222

[SoccerGirl2222]

 

Hi everyone! I just bought a book today and it says that at least 2 or 3 spiritual advisors for protection and ot help guard us from self deception and Satans deception  when we are discerning God's voice. Also this book is saying that we need to seek vision as we pray and write down any thoughts that God speaks to us through spontaneous thoughts that pop into our mind. I would like to hear God's voice, but I'm not so sure how to go about doing that.

Just a few observations:

1. You do not need a spiritual advisor "to hear God's voice" if you are genuinely a child of God and have the indwelling Holy Spirit to lead and guide you (1 Jn 2:20,27).

 

2. If you are in a true Bible church, you should have elders in your church.  They are there to "watch for your soul" (Heb 13:17) so they are the ones who should be approached when you need spiritual guidance.

 

3. You will not find any Scripture telling you "to seek vision" when you pray.  God has already given the Church a vision, which is to preach the Gospel to the whole world (Mt 28:18-20; Mk 16:15,16).

 

4. God's "voice" is in His Word, which is a living Word and a powerful Word (Heb 4:12,13).  He will also speak to you in your soul (Rev 3:20) as you commune with Him. To "sup" with Christ is to have communion with Him.  More important than just "hearing His voice" is to obey His commandments (1 Jn 2:3-17).

 

Thank you Ezra