Hearing Gods Voice Anytime Session Two Biblical Assumptions

Hearing God’s Voice Anytime Session Two: Biblical Assumptions & Framework Bill Perry

Assumptions What do you see here?

Assumptions A college professor asked his class what they saw. They said, “God. ” He went up and examined the chalk particles and said, “All I see is chalk dust. ”

Assumptions Theological perspectives…

Assumptions n God never speaks to anyone at any time.

Assumptions n n God never speaks to anyone at any time. God himself doesn’t speak but communicates only through the Bible and through Jesus (Hebrews 1: 2).

Assumptions n n n God never speaks to anyone at any time. God himself doesn’t speak but communicates only through the Bible and through Jesus (Hebrews 1: 2). God speaks only to his choice servants like apostles, pastors, prophets, mystics, etc.

Assumptions n n God never speaks to anyone at any time. God himself doesn’t speak but communicates only through the Bible and through Jesus (Hebrews 1: 2). God speaks only to his choice servants like apostles, pastors, prophets, mystics, etc. God speaks to his people and seekers as he chooses.

Assumptions n n n God never speaks to anyone at any time. God himself doesn’t speak but communicates only through the Bible and through Jesus (Hebrews 1: 2). God speaks only to his choice servants like apostles, pastors, prophets, mystics, etc. God speaks to his people and seekers as he chooses. God speaks all the time to whoever will listen, even unbelievers who reject him.

Assumptions n n n Which one of these is most true? God never speaks to anyone at any time. God himself doesn’t speak but communicates only through the Bible and through Jesus (Hebrews 1: 2). God speaks only to his choice servants like apostles, pastors, prophets, mystics, etc. God speaks to his people and seekers as he chooses. God speaks all the time to whoever will listen, even unbelievers who reject him.

Assumptions n God speaks to his people and seekers as he chooses.

Observations n Genesis 1: 3 -- “Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light. ”

Observations n n Genesis 1: 3 -- “Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light. ” Genesis 3: 8 -- “And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day…”

Observations n n n Genesis 1: 3 -- “Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light. ” Genesis 3: 8 -- “And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day…” Revelation 22: 16 -17 -- “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you these things… And the Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come!’”

Observations n Conversations within the Godhead: Psalm 2: 7 -8 -- “The Lord said to me, ‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance…’” Psalm 110: 1, 4 -- “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand, till I make your enemies your footstool…You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. ’”

Questions: Do the 3 Persons of the Godhead only speak to each other in connection with what goes on in human history? Or, being changeless and distinct Persons throughout all eternity, have they regularly been speaking for that endless duration?

Questions: Do the 3 Persons of the Godhead only speak to each other in connection with what goes on in human history? Or, being changeless and distinct Persons throughout all eternity, have they regularly been speaking for that endless duration? Consistency requires that they continually speak.

Questions: Did the conversations among the Persons of the Triune God suddenly stop when the Bible was completed?

Questions: Did the conversations among the Persons of the Triune God suddenly stop when the Bible was completed? The obvious answer is no, their conversations continued.

Questions: Did the conversations among the Persons of the Triune God suddenly stop when the Bible was completed? Is God’s communication with human beings limited to just the Bible and/or Jesus?

Questions: Did the conversations among the Persons of the Triune God suddenly stop when the Bible was completed? Is God’s communication with human beings limited to just the Bible and/or Jesus? Let’s consider that.

Ways God has communicated that are recorded in the Bible n n n n Written Word Pastoral Advice Friend’s counsel Sermon Holy Spirit Quiet inner voice Word within believers Jesus n n n n Father from heaven Prophetess Prophecy (gift) Dream Trance Vision Spoken from a leader

Ways God has communicated that are recorded in the Bible n n n n Word of knowledge Word of wisdom Gift of tongues Interpretation of tongues Angel Animal Demons T o g e th e r n n n n Discernment of spirits Handwriting on a wall Physical phenomena Creation (Ps. 19) Whistling (Isa. 7: 18) Urim (1 Sam 12: 8) Thummim (Ezra 2: 63) Casting lots T o g e th e r

Framework for God’s voice Jesus in John 10: n n v. 3 -- “the sheep hear [their shepherd’s] voice…” v. 4 -- “[the sheep] know [their shepherd’s] voice. ” v. 16 -- “And other [Gentile] sheep I have which are not of this [Jewish] fold I must bring, and they will hear my voice…” v. 27 -- “My sheep hear my voice and I know them, and they follow me. ”

Framework for God’s voice n John 17: 26 -- “And I have declared to them your name, and will declare it, that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and I in them. ”

Framework for God’s voice n John 17: 26 -- “And I have declared to them your name, and will declare it, that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and I in them. ” “Declare” from gnorizo (Grk. ) = make known

“Declare” (gnorizo) n n John 15: 15 -- “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from my Father I have made known to you. ” Philippians 4: 6 -- “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. ”

Framework for God’s voice John 17: 26 -- “And I have declared to them your name, and will declare it, that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and I in them. ” Fulfilled: n Romans 5: 5 -- “…[T]he love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. n

Isaiah 55: 6 -8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, " declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. ”

Conclusion n “God relishes surprise. We want lives of simple, predictable ease, -- smooth, even trails as far as the eye can see -- but God likes to go off-road. He provokes us with twists and turns. He places us in predicaments that seem to defy our endurance and comprehension -- and yet don't. By his love and grace, we persevere. ” -- Tony Snow (1955 -2008), White House spokesperson, political commentator, news anchor and writer

Conclusion n “When we think of God mainly as an emergency rescue kit, we need to be rescued from that kind of thinking. ” -- Richard Altork, American missionary in the Philippines (Soul Food 10, #2474)

Conclusion n “How I long to become more childlike each year with my heavenly Father instead of more hesitant, more calculating, more insistent that he guarantee the results before I’ll take a step of faith. Rather than becoming more cautious as I age, I want to become more daring in my walk with God. Instead of being obsessed with landing safely and looking good, I want to leap with humble, joyful abandon toward my heavenly Father’s arms. ” -- David Mc. Casland, Radio Bible Class’s Daily Bread writer