Communication with God

[Guest facedown]

Do you think that God communicates with His children in ways other than the Word?

I know that sounds like a pretty general question; but it really does relate to a lot of whats being posted in a number of threds. Thanks!

[Ovedya]

Absolutely!

I can't think of any other way to answer this question, sorry. Usually I'm pretty long-winded But this time I don't think there's any other way to answer.

[other one]

yes he does.........

[Guest facedown]

communicate? how about, expressing His Will or Desires to us?

You mentioned that 'if you think God is "leading" or "moving" you, fact is that's just a feeling' would not the conviction of the Holy Spirit be a method of God 'leading' or 'moving' us?

To test all things through the written Word of God? Absolutley!! I agree with you 100%.

To continue with this, Lets say that God is 'communicating' with you, and you 'communicate' this to someone else (and presuming it does line up with the Word). What does this mean?

Since God 'communicated' with you, when you then tell someone else this, is that communication, inspired? Is this 'adding' to the Word, since the message may or may not be a direct quote from the scripture?

[rockswillcryout]

Yes, he does!

I think he also communicates with us through other people - whether it's friends, family, pastors, teachers...

I think he also speaks to us when we seek him, in prayer time, worship time or whatever. And it's such a blessing!

[Guest Marc]

..."Does God communicate with us besides doing so through his Word?"...

Has God changed? He did in the past as it is recorded in His word, why would he stop doing so now?

I heard the "emotions" argument before, and it makes me feel uneasy every time. In other words, who are we to establish the norm for God?

Somehow I sense that the effort some put into streamlining the only "right" way for God to talk to us, stems from the fear that perhaps they themselves are missing out. Something like this must go through their mind (my assumption OK) "If God would speak today He would speak to me for sure . . . since He is not, than that means such communications other people claim must be just emotional stuff"

I believe God is the same yesterday today and forever. If He wants to talk to us, He will. I'm no one to assume what God can or cannot do, what makes sense or doesn't for Him, not to tell others that what they think was God's talk is really a product of their imagination.

Many moons ago I was deep in prayer for a personal matter that was distressing me big time. I was lying face down on a sand dune on a deserted beach. The day was cloudy no sun in sight. At the end of a long and desperate prayer, I asked God for an answer. As soon as I formulated the question, the clouds opened for a minute and the sun shone through the clouds forming as it does sometimes, a fan of sunrays shining down, precisely in front of where I was lying. The message lasted only a minute and the clouds closed up again back to an overcast sky.

Did God send me a signal? I have no doubts whatsoever. Yet the signal was for me. To anyone else the wind must have blown the clouds apart just enough for the sun to shine for a while.

Do not constrain your self into "normality". Do not listen to others, this is a matter between you and your Father in heaven. You are the son of the King. Shouldn't you see marvels? Do you really think God would not speak to you? He does so in many different ways. Keep you eyes open your ears ready, in fact, I think He WANTS to talk to us much more than we are willing to talk to Him.

[Guest matthew517]

Yes, I've spoke to Him face to face.

[Guest aka_mary]

Yes He does....Not everything is 'emotionalism'. We are 'emotional' beings, and well being in the inner court being loved on by the Lord is pretty emotional. Least for me. I am continually in awe. :il: , and fall in love with the Lord more and more everyday.

[Dad Ernie]

Greetings Facedown,

Do you think that God communicates with His children in ways other than the Word?

I pretty much agree with the other posters, but I would emphasize that we should heed these verses very carefully:

Isaiah 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

Acts 17:11-12 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.

We can be wrong because of our own inate biasness. Others can be wrong by theirs, but God's Word is NEVER wrong, and I have yet to encounter ANY question which God has not answered and "confirmed" through His Word. This should be the first test we make.

Samuel once heard God speaking to him, but he was unfamiliar with God's voice and thought it was his teacher, Eli, calling out to him. Once Eli understood what was going on, he told Samuel just to go and "listen". (1 Sam 3) We have the Bible now which Samuel hadn't even become familiar with yet at his youthful age. Eli was his "spiritual teacher", but now we have the Holy Spirit. So between the two we can test to see whether it is God communicating with us, or own self, or even some other "spirit".

Blessings,

Dad Ernie

[other one]

Samuel once heard God speaking to him, but he was unfamiliar with God's voice and thought it was his teacher, Eli, calling out to him. Once Eli understood what was going on, he told Samuel just to go and "listen". (1 Sam 3) We have the Bible now which Samuel hadn't even become familiar with yet at his youthful age. Eli was his "spiritual teacher", but now we have the Holy Spirit. So between the two we can test to see whether it is God communicating with us, or own self, or even some other "spirit".

Blessings,

Dad Ernie

When I started reading the last of your post, I really thought for a second you were talking about me. I could not comprehend how in the world you knew about that.

I agree with making sure it is God communicating and you post a good way

Sam