::choose joy::

Friday, January 25, 2013

How Does God "Speak" Today?

"The only authoritative, actionable way God 'speaks' to us today is through His inspired Word."
Yea or Nay?

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So a few people (outside of Facebook) have asked a great question: "What does 'speaks' mean?" Words are important and muddy language aways muddles meaning. People often say "God told me..." or "God called me to..." but what does that mean?

If God 'speaks' in an authoritative and actionable way then it must be believed and, if a directive, obeyed. If God isn't speaking in an authoritative way then it isn't God speaking - for everything God says must by definition be authoritative and true.

Let me (cautiously) phrase the original statement in a few more ways.
"Today God reveals His will for a particular believer's life only through His inspired Word."
"What God wants you to know (and consequently heed) He has already revealed in the words of the Bible."

Yea or Nay?

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The correct answer is...
YEA, verily yea.

The only authoritative, actionable way God 'speaks' to us today is through His inspired Word.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be COMPLETE, THOROUGHLY EQUIPPED for every good work.

Either we believe that God's written Word is sufficient for our lives or we don't. As soon as someone says "God told me such and such" and "such and such" is not directly from Scripture (watch out - Deut 18:21-22) that person is implicitly declaring that God's revealed inspired Word is not sufficient for "life and godliness" (2 Peter 1:3) The Holy Spirit doesn't need tell us anything other than that which has already been revealed by God through His Word. The Holy Spirit will remind us of what God has already said and prod our conscience to put into action (i.e. obey!) that which we already know to be true and right. The Holy Spirit only speaks what He has heard from the Father and the Son (John 16:13-15) - it won't be any new commandment or revelation. God's Word thoroughly equips all believers for every good work - thoroughly and completely.

The ideas, promptings, closed doors, and coincidences that we claim to be "God speaking to us" are not authoritative unless the "message" comes directly from God's Word. How do you know it is God speaking even if the "message" doesn't fall afoul of Scripture? As a believer is your mind unable to apply God's Word to the particular situation you are facing? Is it impossible for Satan to urge you to do something that God doesn't explicitly address? What happens if two people have conflicting "God speaking" experiences? Is one person wrong and therefore actively working against God's purposes? Do not claim God said "such and such" to you when you do not know that to be true (unless, of course, it is from God's inspired Word). Don't be a false prophet. Your experience is not authoritative - not even for you personally. Only God's inspired Word is authoritative.

Do you really need more to follow and obey than what God has already revealed to you in His Word?
You do not.

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http://teampyro.blogspot.com/2010/05/is-this-central-issue-in-christian.html
http://teampyro.blogspot.com/2012/09/untangling-too-terse-word-about.html

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The Bible - All you need to know about all you need to know.
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"Scripture contains all

the divine words needed

for any aspect of human life."

John Frame - The Doctrine of the Word of God (p. 220)

Sunday, October 08, 2006

Be Still My Soul - Katharina von Schlegel

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on your side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
leave to your God to order and provide;
in every change God faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: your best, your heavenly friend
through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: your God will undertake
to guide the future, as in ages past.
Your hope, your confidence let nothing shake;
all now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
the Christ who ruled them while he dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on
when we shall be forever with the Lord,
when disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
sorrow for forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past,
all safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

::choose joy::

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

Hairy Sinks

I realized two things tonight.

I really detest trying to wash sinks that have hair all over them. Hair just won't wash down the drain - it sticks to everything and is disgusting.

I am much more thankful for the hair on the sink than I was before the epiphany struck me tonight. The hair on the sink represents someone. That hair was owned by someone. Someone close to me - for they either live in or visit this house. I would much rather have the hair sticking to the side of the sink than to realize when the hair is gone that I've lost a family member or friend.

Hair on the sink = thankfulness to God for the people He has placed in my life.

But Nathan and Brian - please don't shed on purpose!
And, yes, Rachel, hair in the sink is just slightly annoying.
I don't ever remember so much hair collecting at my family's home while growing up... hmm... I must have a great mom!

::choose joy::

Monday, September 25, 2006

Chrysostom

John Chrysostom's (347-407) Homily XX is a very thought provoking commentary on Ephesians 5.25-33.

"Being better than most is not good enough. 'Being better' was never the goal."

::choose joy::

Monday, September 18, 2006

Twenty-five Trips Around the Day Star

O Wondrous Love

O wondrous love
That will not let me go
I cling to You
With all my strength and soul
Yet if my hold should ever fail
This wondrous love will never let me go

O wondrous love
That's come to dwell in me
Lord who am I
That I should come to know
Your tender voice assuring me
Your wondrous love will never let me go

I'm resting in the everlasting arms

In the ever faithful heart

The Shepherd of my life

You carry me on

Your mighty wings of grace

Keeping me until the day

I look into Your eyes

O wondrous love
That sings of Calvary
The sweetest sound
This sinner's ever known
The song of Your redeeming Son
Whose wondrous love
Will never let me go

O wondrous love
That rushes over me
I can't excape
This river's glorious flow
You overwhelm my days with good
Your wondrous love
Will never let me go

(c) Sovereign Grace Worship
Steve Cook / Vikki Cook

How can I begin to recount the blessings that God has given me thus far?
My Messiah alone deserves all the praise, glory, and honor.

::choose joy::

Thursday, August 31, 2006

Girlfriend

Pronunciation: 'g&r(-&)l-"frend
Function: noun
1 : a female friend
2 : a frequent or regular female companion in a romantic or sexual relationship

@>~>~~

The above definition is courtesy of Merriam-Webster Online.

Fine and good.

But I have a big problem with the term "girlfriend." The word is used so flippantly and haphazardly that using "girlfriend" in describing the woman you are serious and purposefully courting but are not yet engaged to seems almost disrespectful and dishonoring. "Girlfriend" carries with it so much baggage from the world's ungodly views of romantic relationships. I refuse to use it.

Why does there seem to be an abundance of synonyms for "boyfriend" that allow one to escape the world's typical assumptions regarding that word? In applying a label to the woman you are courting - there seems to be very few options. "Girlfriend" sits at one end of the spectrum and multiple names only appropriate for a fiancée at the other end. There seems to be no happy medium.

Believe me, I've looked.

Any suggestions?

In the mean time, I get to look forward to a long weekend with the marvelous woman ("You are the best, Rachel! I miss you so much!") that I (the suitor) have the honor to court. Terms and labels probably won't matter much.

"...a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised." - Proverbs 31.30

::choose joy::

Thursday, August 24, 2006

Painful Yet Good

Let a righteous man strike me--it is a kindness;
let him rebuke me--it is oil on my head.
My head will not refuse it.
--Psalm 141.5a--

Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you;
rebuke a wise man and he will love you.
Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still;
teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
--Proverbs 9.8-10--

::choose joy::