Discerning God's Will

Question:

How do I discern God’s voice or the voice of the Holy Spirit from my own thoughts? I’m thinking practice but I’m wondering if any scripture addresses this….Thanks!

Answer:

Rather than reinvent the wheel, I found an excellent devotional on this topic by Rod Best. His devotionals can be found on http://www.rodbest.com. Here are his comments:

DISCERNING GOD'S VOICE

1 Kings.19:12

“11The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.”

Elijah was expecting God to speak in a certain way. Do we think God speaks when we see Him display His awesome power? God may speak this way but usually He speaks in ways that aren’t the obvious – we can miss what He is saying. If we expect God’s voice and really need His voice,and are diligent in learning how to recognize His voice, He will speak to us regularly and sometimes in amazing ways that are unexpected to us.

Besides God, there are at least three other voices that speak to us - the voice of our emotions, the voice of darkness, i.e, the enemy, the voice that comes through the pressure we feel from family, friends and others. This raises the question – “How do you know when the voice is God’s and not another’s?”

Get To Know Him Intimately

It is one thing to know what God does, but another to understand How he works. We understand Him as we know Him intimately. We will only hear Him speak to us as we spend time with Him and we don’t have to have any special gifting or special anointing for God to speak to us apart from getting to know Him and stilling our hearts before Him. All He requires is that we listen and are obedient.

How Does God Speak To Us?

God speaks to us through: 1) Scripture (Rom. 10:17); 2) Fervent Prayer; 3) His Audible Voice; 4) Circumstances; 5) Our Thoughts; 6) Dreams and Visions; 7) People He sends into your life.

Ask these questions:

i) Have I prayed for God to speak to me? We have not because we ask not – look to our own reasoning.

ii) Am I willing to obey God's message no matter what? - It is no use asking God if you’ve already decided in your mind what you are going to do.

iii) Am I open to all means by which God may speak to me? - including Him speaking through those I don’t wish to hear from.

iv) Have I removed any barriers that would hinder me from hearing God? - These include:

a) Certain attitudes or insecurities - When God told Moses to go to Pharaoh, Moses told God to find somebody else for the job. (Ex 3:11). Ever do that? Ever say to God, “What about my past failures? Or my inexperience? Or my lack of finances? Or my present circumstances?;

b) Distractions – caught up with the unimportant. talking to someone but they aren’t listening because they are pre-occupied;

c) Not hearing Him because He is speaking more than we want to hear - Jonah didn’t like what God told him, so he ran away. Are you doing that?;

d) Ignorance of the varied ways in which He speaks;

e) Just as happy to hear from God’s servants than from God Himself - An example is in Exodus 20:19 where the Children of Israel indicate they are happier to hear from Moses than they are from God. V19 says “And said to Moses, Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.” We often listen to His servants rather than to Him. We like to listen to tapes and sermons or testimonies from others, but we don’t take the time for God Himself to speak to us. This can be the easy way out – because we are too busy, or because we know that when God speaks, we must die to certain things in our lives that we don’t want to die to. If it is one of God’s servants speaking, we feel obedience is optional, not imperative.

Conclusion

God is as close as our cry to Him – He says “Call unto Me and I will answer Thee........" Do you know Him intimately enough to hear His voice, and if not, what are you doing to change the situation? Are you cultivating your spiritual ears to hear God’s voice? When you have heard from God, will you be a doer of His Word?


Rod Best

Does the Bible give conflicting advice on answering fools?

Question:

In Proverbs 26:4-5 the Bible gives conflicting advice as to whether you should answer a fool or not. Could you explain?

Answer:

First, let’s clearly set forth the problem by citing the texts in question:

Proverbs 26:4-5:

4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
or you will be like him yourself.

5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
or he will be wise in his own eyes.

Bible critics cite this as a particularly disturbing example of the Bible speaking out of “both sides of its mouth.” Is this a glaring contradiction in the Bible?

It is important that we bear in mind that Proverbs is not exclusively written by Solomon. Solomon writes many of the Proverbs himself, but the Proverbs are largely an edited collection. So, there are numerous uncited authors and Solomon is drawing from their works and arranging them into a single compilation of wisdom literature. That means that it was quite intentional that these two proverbs with conflicting counsel would appear right next to each other. This is not an “accidental error” but an intentional conflict.

Before resolving the conflict, let’s make sure we understand each proverb in its own right. Verse 4 teaches us that in responding to every statement of a fool you lower yourself to his level and give him more credibility than he deserves. I am reminded of the foolish man from the tribe of Benjamin, Shimei, mentioned in 2 Samuel 16. Shimei, a member of King Saul’s family, resented David’s rule and cursed him repeatedly. Shimei cursed David, and threw stones at him and even through dung at him. One of David’s generals wanted to kill Shimei. But David chose to ignore him, and even ponder whether the Lord had some purpose in Shimei’s foolish rants and raves.

Verse 5 tells us to answer a fool…cut him down to size or he will be puffed up and may even gain influence. I am reminded of the boxing legend Cassius Clay. He had amazing speed, accuracy and strength. We know him better by the name he used later in his career, Muhammad Ali. Near the end of his boxing career, Ali began to lose much of his hand speed and some of his strength. So, he developed a strategy to weaken his opponent. Ali would stay against the ropes and cover up and let his opponent punch him until his arms got tired. He called it, “Rope a dope.” For a while it worked, but Ali took great punishment and ultimately suffered severe brain damage. The problem with “Rope a Dope” is sometimes the dope doesn’t get tired of hitting you. When the abuse reaches a certain level, it becomes necessary to answer a fool and stop the abuse. I found a very balanced statement in the Expositor’s Bible Commentary:

"-in negligible issues one should just ignore the stupid person; but in issues that matter, he must be dealt with lest credence be given to what he says (Plaut, p. 266) The text presents two sayings together that each contain an aspect of the whole truth. Whybray says they are put together to show that human problems are often complicated and cannot always be solved by appealing to a single rule (Book of Proverbs, p. 152). The meaning of the two together is that one should not lower himself to the level of a fool but that there are times when the lesser evil is to speak out than be silent."

Although it appears as a contradiction, Solomon is actually presenting two sides of a coin, and both sides are a valuable part of God’s counsel in dealing with fools.

History and Culture of the Bible

Question:

How can I gain a better understanding of the history and culture of the Bible?

Answer:

Here are a few suggestions on better understanding the history and culture of the biblical texts.

1. The classical book on this topic is Alfred Edersheim's "The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah." (1883) Edersheim was a Jewish convert to Christianity and his insights are amazing. A big book and not an easy read, but a great resource.

2. Here is a fun read, a historical novel entitled "The Flames of Rome" by Paul L. Maier. It is a real page turner, but in the process you learn an incredible amount about the first century church. Maier also has a book about Pontius Pilate that I plan on reading.

3. If you want to delve into a more ancient resource, Flavius Josephus' Antiquities of the Jews will tell you numerous extrabiblical stories about the Scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees and Essenes who were the major Jewish groups of Jesus' day. You will also learn about the intertestamental period, those years between Malachi and Matthew during which Alexander the Great conquered the world. The story of Hannukah is told here. Not easy reading, but an amazing resource.

4. Let me put the cookies on a lower shelf. I gain great insight by reading the commentaries of David Guzik of Calvary Chapel. They are available online http://www.enduringword.com/library_commentaries.htm Guzik has written a commentary on most of the biblical books and often shares historical and cultural insights. Best of all, it's free!

5. If you want another easy way to gain a better understanding of the first century Roman world, rent the BBC series "I Claudius" which tells the story of the Roman Emperors. It is based upon the accounts of the ancient Roman historian Suetonius. However, it is a fun series to watch, and a real education.

Can something I do prevent someone from coming to know Christ?

Question:

I heard an illustration during a sermon I was listening to the other day. It describes a lighthouse keeper who was repairing a piece of glass that broke. He did not have a replacement for the glass so in the place of where the glass would go we put a piece of plywood. During the night a ship was appraoching at just the right angle to where the light was blocked by the piece of plywood and the ship crashed into the reef. He used this describe how some things in our life could block out the light of Christ to others and cause them to crash. This illustration got me thinking. Could something I do or a mistake I make prevent someone from coming to know Christ that would have had they never been affected my my mistake or something I did?

Answer:

There is a reason that you are conflicted about this issue. God's Word does include a tension at this point. On the one hand, it is clear in Scripture that our behavior can negatively impact the spiritual well-being of others. One of the clearest examples of this is found in Matthew 18:

⁴Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ⁵"And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. ⁶But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. (Matthew 18)

We also see that we can positively impact the spiritual well-being of another:

¹⁹My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, ²⁰remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins. (James 5)

We are even responsible for addressing the missteps of others and told that if we fail to issue a warning, others may die, but we are responsible. Look at the watchman passages in Ezekiel chapters 3, 18 and 33.

Now that you are afraid to go outside and mess someone up royally, let's look at the other side of the issue. Let's not forget that God is involved in drawing sinners to himself. Romans 5:8 asserts the priority of Jesus in drawing us to God:

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

One of my favorite passages is found in John 6. I love this passage because it demonstrates both sides of redemption's coin, God's sovereignty and man's responsibility and choice:

⁴³"Stop grumbling among yourselves," Jesus answered. ⁴⁴"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. ⁴⁵It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me.

We see both here. God draws, but we have a responsibility to listen and learn.

Now, let me answer the breadth of your question. Could you injure a seeker's journey towards God by some act of hypocrisy that "darkens" their soul to the light of Christ? YES. That is a sobering thought which we need to keep in mind. However, don't assume that you are the only way in which God will influence this person. It has been found that the typical person rejects the gospel invitation, either actively or passively 5 times before saying yes to Christ. If your witness is ineffective due to sin, or just a lack of knowledge, God will raise up other voices. No sincere seeker will be left without an opportunity, especially for us in this land where we are exposed to the gospel on so many levels.

Is it true that God never gives us more than we can handle?

Question: A common christian saying is "God never gives you more than you can handle". Some may use 1 Corinthians 10:13 to support this idea, but this verse is talking about temptation. Is this saying correct? Is there scripture to support this saying?

Don't dismiss this verse too quickly as only referring to temptation. In our language, the concepts of trial and temptation are quite different. However, in the Greek language, there is a word which has a very broad range of meaning. We don't have a word in English with this broad semantic range of meaning. The word is peirasmos (πειρασμός). Peirasmos can mean either trial or temptation. In fact, in James 1:12-13 we see this same word used in both senses:

JAS 1:12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

JAS 1:13 When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;

My conclusion is that 1 Corinthians 10:13 can refer to a variety of challenges, since peirasmos is used in a very broad sense throughout the New Testament.

What generation is Jesus referring to in Matthew 24:34?

In this text, which is part of Jesus' Olivet Discourse, Jesus says:

I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.

The obvious challenge is that the first century came and went without the full expression of the eschatological events described in Jesus' sermon, and we are still awaiting these events 2000 years later. If Jesus was mistaken concerning something as vital as the timing of these events, doesn't that cast aspersions upon His overall reliability?

One of the keys to interpreting this text has to do with the identification of "this generation." We have a tendency to assume that this automatically refers to the first century. However, it is very possible that Jesus is referring to "this generation I am talking about" rather than "this generation I am talking to." In other words, Jesus is saying that once these final cataclysmic events start, that generation will not pass until the rest of the foretold apocalyptic signs take place. This is my preferred interpretation. There are, however, a variety of questionable solutions and at least two other good solutions. For a fuller treatment of this question, cut and paste the link below into your browser. There is an excellent article that goes into great detail. I have read it and found it to be solid theologically.

http://www.thingstocome.org/whatgen.htm

Can Our Dead Relatives See Us From Heaven?

Question: Can people who have died see, watch over or contact those who are still living? What does the bible say about this and the people who claim to be able to contact the dead?

There is a growing interest in the idea of an ongoing connection between the dead and the living. In the movies, popular movies like Ghost portray this idea of a relationship with the dead. On T.V. it’s shows like Crossing Over with John Edwards, or the Discovery Channel series, A Haunting. There is a growing fascination with the paranormal. But what does the Bible have to say?

A good beginning point is Leviticus 19:31. In the midst of a long list of various laws, God issues this terse decree:

Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God.

Exodus chapters 7-8 describe the wickedness of the Egyptians practicing magic, sorcery, and speaking to the dead. In Exodus 22:18, the prohibition against occultism includes the ultimate legal penalty:

Do not allow a sorceress to live.

But is the Bible consistent? There is one occasion where God allows a necromancer to contact the living with a word from God? In 1 Samuel 28, a wicked King Saul finds that he is no longer hearing from God. So he, who had earlier killed many of the mediums and spiritists contacts the witch at Endor and asks her to raise the recently deceased prophet Samuel from the dead. The witch is reticent, fearing that this is a trap by Saul. But Saul swears an oath to the LORD that she will not be harmed and she succeeds in raising the dead prophet. The witch shrieks when Samuel appears, suggesting that she may have been a charlatan and was herself surprised that an actual spirit was speaking. Samuel proceeds to express annoyance at being disturbed and reiterates his own prophetic announcements that Saul has been rejected and that the kingdom has been transferred to David, as far as God is concerned. Some argue that 1 Samuel 28 is proof that the Bible is at best conflicted with regard to the occult.

Other supporters of spiritism cite Jesus’ parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man in Luke 16, which portrays a conversation between two people in the afterlife, Abraham in glory and the Rich Man in hell, as a prooftext that conversations with the dead are sanctioned.

It is important that we note that there is a very real difference between the descriptive and the normative. It is true that God allowed the witch of Endor to summon Samuel. However, this is not an indication of God’s approval of occultism. Rather, it is permitted by God as part of this process of pronouncing judgment against Saul and stripping him of his rule. Saul receives no words of comfort and no blessing. Within a very short while he will be dead on Mt. Gilboa and David will be king. The parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man is just that, a parable. And when the Rich Man pleads that he be permitted to contact and warn his brothers, Abraham refuses to allow this contact…they have Moses and the prophets…let them listen to them.
The bible is very clear that necromancy, the attempt to contact the dead through occultic channels is forbidden and spiritually dangerous.

However, part of this question has to do with the righteous dead in heaven. Can our dead relatives in heaven watch us? This question has been on my heart, especially since my Dad died in July of 2006. Can Dad see Erik and Deanna growing up? Will God allow him to see them graduate school? Get married? But, let me finish the question to draw a fuller picture. Will God allow my Dad to see my sins and short-comings? Will he have to sit through every one of his son’s blunders? Will he watch me die? Or does God permit us to see some things from heaven, and not others? The Bible does not answer these questions. However, I would venture one thought. Every description of Heaven seems to indicate a focus on God and his throne, not earth and its goings on. It is only natural that we, with our earthbound perspective, would assume that this is where the action is. However, I suspect that those in heaven have better things to do than watch us. And for those in the eternal kingdom of God, our homecoming to heaven is just a little bit away. We get a since of how different time is perceived from an eternal perspective from many passages of scripture. In 2 Peter 3:8-9, Peter says:

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

We see this same perspective as John the Baptist describes the nearness of the kingdom:
"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." (Matthew 3:2) Jesus spoke in the same way. From our perspective, time passes slowly, but from God’s perspective, a perspective shared by those in heaven, time passes differently.

On the basis of these thoughts, I conclude that those in heaven are not “missing us.” They are looking forward to our return, in much the same way that a parent looks forward to their child coming home from school in a couple of hours.