Tomahawk Missionary Baptist Church

What do we mean by "speaking"?

When someone says, "God is telling me to. . ." or "God spoke to me about . . . "

or "God is speaking to us about . . ." or "God told me . . ." etc., what does that mean?

Most evangelicals agree that God’s Word speaks to us but is God speaking to us today in other ways apart from His Word? You may be praying to God about being a better servant and think of a need you can meet in someone’s life. Later you might tell someone, "I was praying and God reminded me to serve so and so." But usually we do not mean that God orally spoke to us using articulate objective words in an ordinary understandable voice. What we do mean is something came to mind, while praying and I am going to give God the credit.

It cannot be denied that by observing objects, people, and circumstances, we

receive information from the things we observe. And so, in a way, they are "speaking to us" or giving us information. Psalm 19:1 says, The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands This is subjective revelation.

It is different than objective revelation in that our conclusions from our experiences are subjective. Subjective experiences come from us, not from an infallible objective source. One person looks at the stars and thinks of God’s great creative genius, another contemplates the "Big Bang" theory, still another sees God’s omnipotence, and others see theistic evolution. Because our experiences are subjective, they must all be evaluated by the objective Word of God. When a Christian lives by subjective revelation he opens a theological Pandora’s box. His theology is his imagination and that becomes the voice of God for him.

What do we mean by "revelation"?

General revelation is subjective revelation about God. Examples of general revelation are what we observe in creation, our conscience, or the law of God written in our hearts (Psa. 19:1-4; Rom. 1:18-20; 2:14-15). General revelation, in a theological sense, only relates to what we can learn about God outside of the Scriptures. General revelation does not apply to all forms of knowledge, only knowledge about God himself. The Scriptures teach that all men in their fallen state suppress, distort, and corrupt general revelation (John 3:19-20; Rom. 1:18-25). As believers, we can benefit from general revelation, but we must always verify the accuracy of our subjective experiences by comparing them with special revelation, i.e. the Scriptures.

But even if a believer does take his experiences to the Scripture, he has no way of knowing if his interpretation of his experiences are from God, Satan, demons, or himself. This is why we are never told in the Bible to live by general revelation or any subjective experience.

What do we mean when we say the Scriptures are sufficient?

When it comes to spiritual matters, and living one’s life for God’s glory, the

Scriptures are totally sufficient. God’s Word is the faith which was once for alldelivered to the saints (Jude 3). The Scriptures give us everything pertaining to life and godliness (II Pet. 1:3-4). God’s Word is adequate to equip us for every good work (II Tim. 3:17). The Bible says that in the last days that God has spoken to us through His Son. When Jesus was transfigured God spoke and said "this is my beloved Son here ye Him." Mary said about Jesus "Whatever He says to you do it." Jesus is the "word" of God. John 1:14.

So if there is anything we need to know in order to please God, or do any good workfor God, it is in the Bible. God’s Word is sufficient. It is complete; and it is the Christian’s inerrant, infallible, unchangeable source of absolute objective truth.

We only need the word of God today. God has said all that He is going to say through His word.

What do we mean by prayer?

Prayer is when we communicate to God. It can be in the form of thanksgiving, supplication, praise, and adoration. It encompasses all forms of a believer’s communication with God either verbally or in thought. But prayer is never defined as God speaking to us. When in prayer we may remember things God has spoken to us in His Word, but prayer is one way communication from us to God. When God wants to speak to us He uses the Bible and when we want to speak to God we use prayer.

The Problem with someone saying "God Spoke to me."

So when someone says "God spoke to me", the question to ask is, "How did God speak to you?" Are you using "to speak" metaphorically? Do you mean you had an experience and you think it was from God? Do you mean that you received revelation about God, by observing creation and what has been made, or through His law written in your heart, or through your conscience i.e., by general revelation? Was it information about God?

If you believe you have received information about God, through general revelation, you should not live by that revelation, or act on it, since it is subjective, distorted by your sin nature, and the source of what you have experienced is unverifiable. Therefore if it is not general revelation it must qualify as special revelation.

Maybe you believe God gave you special revelation. When you say, "God spoke to me," do you mean He literally spoke? Did the Holy Spirit move you to receive the perfect inerrant Word of God? The problem with claiming to receive special revelation is that the Bible canon is closed and we cannot add to it (Deut. 4:2; 12:32; Prov. 30:5-6; Rev. 22:18-19; Jude 3). We must not follow the cults who claim to have revelation apart from the completed Biblical canon. The cults typically place their experiences above or on an equal plane with Scripture. Many cultists appeal to a superior experience. When this happens, know that experience alone can be quite misleading, no matter how intense. The truth of God’s Word must be primary, and experiences secondary. Experience should always be based on truth; truth is not determined by one’s experiences. 

Hebrews 1:2 In these last days God has spoken to us through His Son.   Truth is found in the word of God. It is reliable and does not change. Test everything by the word of God. This is where God is speaking to us today and forever!

Jack S Ward