Samson's Jawbone

Recently I had a friend call me for counsel about a problem at their work. A few days later they called me to tell me that God had told them how to handle the matter, which was different from my biblically based counsel. I said to them, "Oh really, tell me about that." The person then described a restless night full of dreams, through which they said that God had redirected them. This is an experience all too common in pastoral counseling. People believe that God directs them through an encounter  rather than through conforming their lives to God's Word. How do we hear the voice of God? Does God speak to us today? The scripture is clear that God directs and often redirects our experience:           [3] He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness. for his name’s sake. (Psalm 23:3ESV) [9] The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps. (Proverbs 16:9ESV) [7] “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and i

After speaking on how to hear God's voice at a church where I was providing regular pulpit supply, an Elder contacted me the following week, furious about what I had said. "I can't believe what you said," he said, "that all we need to make decisions is the Holy Spirit and the illuminated Word of God." Another active member in the church said that my view on divine personal guidance amounted to "blasphemy of the Spirit," and that I should repent or be forever condemned. Yet, for some reason they continued to invite me back to speak. Yet no one was able to refute the points I was making biblically. The Word of God is the voice of God. The scripture is clear, that God has given us His Word, the Bible, to be our guide and His Holy Spirit to empower us to live godly lives: [3] His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, [4] by which he has g

Several Years ago, the speaker at a conference I attended related his experience with someone who believed in private revelations.   While he was travelling to speak at yet a different conference, his wife received a call from the Vice President of one of North America's prominent Christian University's, he related the conversation like this: When his wife, Betty [a pseudonym], answered the phone, the caller identified himself as Dr. Mort [my pseudonym] of the university, and asked to speak to her husband whom we will call Dr Johns [also my pseudonym]: "Hello, this is Dr. Mort," of the prominent Christian university "is Dr. Johns available." "No," said Betty, "he's out of town on a speaking engagement. [This was before the cell phone era.] I can relay a message to him and have him call you." "Oh, that would be great! ...Would you let him know that I, and a group of our faculty, have been fasting and praying for a month, in our la