God led me?

[TKarrer]

Building a bit off of a recent thread entitled, "God told me!", Id like to find out what you all believe is reasonable with regards to looking at how the Holy Spirit led and directed saints in the OT, and especially in the book of Acts, and applying that sort of guidance to us today? Does the Holy Spirit, in your opinion, no longer prompt God's people, or work within their heart (i.e. desires, inclinations) to bring about a certain decision?

I personally believe in the sufficiency of Scripture, but am still wrestling through such things.

 

[Zenas]

There's a difference between God inwardly sanctifying you and the Holy Spirit's guidance, and people saying God told them to do stuff.

I don't think one can sanely maintain that God "tells" them anything. The canon is closed. Special revelation has ended. God has told us that His Word, as revealed to us in Scripture, is sufficient for us. I have a problem with people claiming "God told them..." for several reasons.

It's a license to sin. A lot of times, people will in essence say that while what they're doing is wrong, God gave them a pass. He told them it's alright. For example, "Yes, I know the Bible says that fornication is wrong, but I feel like God is saying that it's ok, because we love each other."

It's obviously not, but once we allow for this type "revelation", that's what we're left with. As a result, Scripture is reduced to a big book of suggestions that are easily dismissed by the delusional prophet(ess).

When we accept that type of behavior, we also marginalize our view of Scripture as a whole. It's only part of the message which hasn't been fully conveyed. The full message remains to be completed by us, as we interpret what God "tells" us.

Moreover, how can people readily discern what God "tells" them, when, by in large, this "revelation" is based on what people feel. We know from God's word that the heart is evil, and no man may know it. How then can we trust what people "feel" in their hearts, who then interpret it to be that "God is talking to them".

Finally, how many people in the history of the universe have been able to say God spoke to them. I'm willing to wager the number is below 100. Out of the billions who have lived, I find it hard to believe God "told" them anything without a sign that they're a genuine prophet.

 

[Timothy William]

As Zenas said, it can sometimes be used to allow obvious sin. But perhaps more commonly it is used to allow a lack of serious thought and study. As in, I have an important decision to make, and I pray that God will guide me in making it, and use that as an excuse not to make a sinful decision, or even one that is unwise, but one that is chosen without all due care. It would be wiser to pray that, as I think about and study the issue at hand, my wisdom and understanding would increase, so that I would be equipped to make the best decision - but that takes more hard work, and might mean that I discover that the best decision is not the one I wish to make.

 

[jambo]

It is always difficult to take something from the book of Acts and apply it to our situation today. The church in the books of Acts was in a unique situation. Those times have never been repeated. The canon of scripture was not complete; the apostles were still alive; the Holy Spirit was poured out in a special way; signs and wonders accompanied the apostles; prophets still were present. The postles heard the audible voice of the Holy Spirit; Christ appeared to Paul. Dreams were another means of revelation.

Today the Holy Spirit directs and prompts people but almost always it is only afterwards we see the hand of God in it. Sometimes a person does something which at the time seems totally insignificant yet weeks later something of great significance occurs because of that first small action. Other times there is a conviction just to do something or go somewhere and again afterwards, sometimes even a long time afterwards, you suddenly realise how the Lord was leading you that night.

I am reminded of two things:

Ps 121.3: He will not allow your foot to slip, He who keeps you will not slumber.
We pass through many dangers, toils and snares in this life, we make many life changing decisions yet through it all is that overriding sense of providence and the Lord working out his plan.

Ro 8.28; And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose. Following on from Ps 121, many things that happen in life I would never have chosen and I certainly did not think they were good...at the time. It is only afterwards you realise the Holy Spirit taking you to places you would naturally not want to go to meet people you would not naturally want to be with to learn lessons you did not think you needed to learn, but you did.

 

[Osage Bluestem]

God speaks to his people through his word. We use scripture to know what God wants and mold our lives according to the teachings of scripture. I don't believe that God speaks to anyone other than through his word in this age.