The writer continues and says…

“In the Old Testament there are verses where God speaks to people and I wish God could speak to me like he did to other people for example Abram. Why is God no longer speaking to us? I never hear his voice.”
 

Which was replied…

“The story of the Bible is the story of God’s self-revelation to the world. In the OT, God speaks to a people (Israel) and individuals (the Patriarchs, Prophets, etc.) in order to tell the world about himself. God no longer speaks in a ‘revelatory’ matter (i.e. about himself) because the fullness of God was revealed in Jesus. So, if you want to know what God thinks or the kinds of things God would say, read the words of Jesus.”

 
While, I would agree, that we should read the words of Jesus, as well as the whole Bible, yet God still speaks to His people, even individually and as a whole. Also, believers in Jesus still do hear the voice of God. If you think you do not hear the voice of God, the problem is that you are not listening.
 

This is what Jesus told us…
 

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.
– John 10:27-28 (NKJV)

 
Yes, the fullness of God is revealed in Jesus Christ, therefore, do not do like some others may, be denying the words of Jesus while merely and glibly acclaiming them.
 

There are a number of ministers in churches, Cessationist ones, who believe that the gifts of the Holy Spirit ended with the early church. They also believe that God does not speak by His word by His Holy Spirit anymore since they believe that only happened in Apostolic times. If that is the case, then the gospel ended then, too. If this were true then the Holy Bible would only be an old book for a previous age.
 

Anyone who tells you that God doesn’t speak to the believers in Him anymore is lying and does not stand by what Jesus Himself said.
 

 
The Holy Bible is complete as the revelation of God’s covenant and it does show the kinds of things God does say. Yet, He still speaks to the individual believer in Him. Also, God is not finished revealing Himself. He guarantees to those who trust in Him, through His Son Jesus, the gift of eternal life and they hear Him.

And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one,
I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen. – John 21:25 (NKJV)

YES! Despite what they tell you, Cessationist ministers DO hear from God when they pray. Do they know when they are preaching they may actually be prophesying in the Spirit?
 

OH NO! They will NOT want to tell you this if you are a member of their churches. It is because if they were to tell you this they risk getting voted out of being the church pastor and may perhaps even lose their ministerial license for not following the party lines of their denomination.
 

How is it that they hear from God? Well, they commonly do faithfully pray to God for a message to share with their congregations. Then, SURPRISE, God gives them a message and tells them what to preach on! Does this actually startle you?
 

So, how do I know this? Because I have visited a number of Cessationist churches and talked to their pastors. Given the right questions on the topic, they will quietly and privately tell me that they hear from God. Yes, some ministers will not be criticized about this in their churches because their denominations may generally be Cessationist but their local churches aren’t. Their denominations may have some tolerance about such. Yet, there are those that are quite resistant to the Charismatic Movement.
 

If you ask ministers from the strongly Cessationist churches, they will say something like, “Yes! God does speak to me. IN HIS WORD!” but will not like to speak further about it. Yet, could perhaps, be coaxed into revealing.
 

These ministers may say something like, “God doesn’t speak to me with His voice but I receive IMPRESSIONS from Him.” If you ask the minister what that is like you may find yourself saying, “I get those too! However, rather than calling them ‘impressions’ I use Biblical terminology to describe it. I call it ‘Hearing the voice of God’.” Jesus did say, after all, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:” (John 10:27)
 

You can hear some very good Spirit-filled messages even in Cessationist churches. You may have to put up with some ridiculous Cessationism preached at times but you may really be given some powerful God-given words. The power of these ministers can get to be that they hear from God but their congregations have not learned to listen for God yet when they read God’s word and pray. This does give these preachers some advantage in their churches to be “the voice of God” for the people while the congregants have not learned to listen for God in prayer themselves.
 

So how about you? Do you want to listen for and to God? Please be encouraged NOT to fall prey to Cessationism.
 

Ask the ones saying there is a problem with Hillsong, Bethel, and Elevation worship music just one question…

This is what these critical people are calling “watered down”. Just because songs may be simple it does not mean they are necessarily ungodly for being so since such uncomplicated songs are better for evangelistic outreach to unbelievers.

Are they saying the same about Spiritual Songs that were common such as in the 1960s and 1970s? Perhaps some of these were, in fact, doctrinally deficient yet you don’t hear these critics about these a whole lot, now do you? Do you see the issue they are raising here?
 

 
WHY THIS IS SO

Why don’t they want to openly speak against the Charismatic movement in their criticism of these companies’ music? Because they will lose their audience. Their church members which are led by Holy Spirit and believe in the modern day operation of Spiritual gifts will reject them.
 

For what is commonly desired by these critics is to sway the Charismatics and others inclining toward them to instead turn away from Charismatic belief and remain among their own flocks. These skeptics, generally, are various Evangelicals believing Cessationism. Frequently, they are Baptists that are seeking to stop the Charismatic movement. Such attempts have been tried in the past.
 

 
HISTORY ABOUT THIS DEBATE

Near the beginning of the 21st century, there were those in the Southern Baptist Convention intending to wipe out the Charismatic Movement among their churches. Charismatics used to number about 8% of the SBC. The Charismatics, after facing such a backlash, finally responded by saying that they would just simply have to leave the SBC and start their own convention. This certainly well scared the SBC, since they did not want to lose the money of contributing Charismatics.
 

The Southern Baptist Convention had good reason to back down and prevent a split since the support of missions would decline and create difficulties for a number of missionaries they were committed to. The Charismatics were told they could stay in the SBC with their Charismatic beliefs and practice but asked please not to leave. That was a smart choice for the SBC. After this issue was resolved, the number of Charismatics grew to over 12% among Southern Baptist churches by the time of this article. However, the assaults against Charismatic teachings did not stop in the SBC nor among other Cessationist churches. Be aware!
 

 
OTHER IMPORTANT RELATED ISSUES

There are churches that believe that the use of drums in worship is not godly since Israel did not use them and drums were used by the pagans. Let me ask you, “Where in the Holy Bible is the use of drums forbidden?” Drums are not forbidden. Although in the plethora of musical instruments encouraged in the Bible, especially in Psalm 150, you don’t see drums mentioned. What is being taught in the Bible is not providing a strict limited list but encouraging a wide range of instruments, not a restricted one.
 

A problem that exists in modern contemporary worship is the use of multimedia slides and movies during worship of the Lord that are iconic. See link, “Icon worship infiltrating Protestant churches”. This is indeed an area that needs to be addressed in some Charismatic churches and even perhaps among Cessationist churches. Such idolatry seriously needs to be stopped!
 

Before leaving such churches that are problematic, address the issues with those leading the church. They may yet perhaps repent. It may be necessary to take up matters with others in the congregation. However, if these churches will not readily address such serious issues you may wish to find a more mature Christian church to fellowship at. Be ye separate and holy unto the Lord and not participating in the damnable deeds of idolatry.
 

Are there problems with the words of Contemporary Christian songs? I am sure there are some songs with some such issues. Yet, you can find such erroneous teachings in hymns as well. Have you ever attended a church using hymns that will skip certain choruses that are said to be unscriptural or in error? Let us please realize that we are all one body in Christ as those who place trusting faith in the true Jesus Christ.
 

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. – Ephesians 3:17-19

 
 
Why cessationism is not Biblically true at all
but is only merely Hermeneutical wishful thinking.

 
 
Discover more about this topic regarding cessationism
and learn about the Errors of cessationism against divine healing refuted.

Baptism in the Holy Spirit actually happens at salvation when someone receives Jesus as Savior and might not necessarily be accompanied by the speaking in other tongues. We do believe in the gift of tongues and speak in them. There are both known and unknown tongues. For more information on Holy Spirit baptism, please see the article on the next page…
 
Holy Spirit Baptism into Christ and the Spirit-filled Life
 

What may perhaps be mentioned among Pentecostals is the “baptism of fire”. That we are baptized with the Holy Spirit, speaking in other tongues, which at that time we are also baptized with fire, a holy fervor for the Lord. This may yet get told in other or different ways. While we do recognize that the Holy Spirit does move as fire, like tongues of fire upon the believers at Pentecost, what being “fire baptized” truly means is told in the very passage the expression is quoted from…
 

Matthew 3:11-12 (KJV)

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

To state this simply…

• Baptized with the Holy Ghost is being gathered as wheat in the garner, going to Heaven.

• Baptized with Fire is being burned up as chaff with unquenchable fire, going to Hell.

This is found simply by reading the Biblical context. John the Baptist was using metaphors to describe what the coming Messiah Jesus would do. Being “baptized by fire” means to burn in Hell. This is not something for believers in Jesus Christ to seek for themselves nor for anyone else. We are baptized by the Holy Spirit through trusting faith in Jesus at salvation. After this we receive the Holy Spirit at various times, subsequently being filled with Him, which we are also to seek.

 
THIS IS THE BAPTISM OF FIRE

Are you saying you want to receive this now?
 

Oh, you don’t believe that it can be that easy? Well, IT IS! Even some Christians had that told me this couldn’t be done. Yet they only said this to me because they never sought themselves to pull the curtain. People often do not realize that it is God moving when He does.
 

What is the curtain?

The curtain is whatever hinders you from perceiving the active presence of God. God is intimately involved in the lives of people, especially of those who will become believers in His Son Jesus or are such believers. Do you see some unusual coincidences of blessing, guidance, or warning in your life? Did you only believe they were mere coincidences? Could it be that God was acting in your life subtily or was it not so subtle? For God may speak in one way, or in another, Yet man does not perceive it. – Job 33:14 (NKJV)
 

 
God speaking today and being aware of Him

It is not really that surprising. The Bible talks about this often and there is no Biblical evidence that God’s interaction with us ever ends. Why would the New Testament epistles lay down a foundation of God speaking to His people for it to so quickly end? This never did end and never will, though certain spiritual gifts will end when we are face-to-face in eternity with God’s Son Jesus. Yet God’s activity with us will be so greatly increased, then that which is lesser will fade into obscurity and be no longer sought for. Still, that time has not happened yet. With so many “Coincidences” coming from God, it would be better to call these as “Godincidences”.

Consequently, who is the one pulling the curtain? Are we the ones that really make ourselves aware of God moving or is it God Himself? We need first to come by faith to God through His Son Jesus Christ so that He will do for us the good things the New Testament speaks about. We should not just pass these off as events that only happen “in the olden days”. By God’s grace, we are enabled to open our spiritual eyes to perceive Him doing what He does. Yet, we need to seriously exercise this awareness and not to just shut ourselves off from it, closing our eyes and ears.

As believers in Jesus, we do not need to have some rare call from God to hear Him speaking because, in the New Testament, all believers can hear Him. We all are also able to tell others what He says. He has been there for us all along. Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. – Hebrews 1:1-2 (NKJV)

More than just a coincidence

I was once told by a conservative evangelical who was a Cessationist, “Well, I never heard God speak to me!” I answered him saying, “I bet you that you are wrong! Have you ever experienced something like this… You wake up in the morning with some message on your heart and you happened to open your Bible to a significant passage about it. Then, you turn on the radio in the car later and hear a message on the topic. Then you arrive at church and hear a sermon on the very same subject. Later that day, you talk with someone elsewhere, who does not attend your church, telling you about it again. Is that all merely a coincidence?” He replied to me stating, “That kind of thing has happened to me before. I believe that was God!”   I responded saying, “You see! God does speak to you!”

I have seen how God used Christians in the prophetic who were even firmly Cessationist and would attend even staunchly Cessationist churches. What would some Charismatics say if they heard that these people never spoke in other tongues their whole lives? These Cessationists (if they really were such) who prophesied often held to a different model of this type of ministry to explain these experiences but it is still the same. They might simply say something like that they were just sharing something on their heart. The manifestation of the Holy Spirit continues. God put that message in their hearts whether they knew it or not. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. – John 10:27 (NKJV)
 

Other possibilities

The voice you may hear probably may not be actually audible but thoughts come into your head, speaking ideas unlike your own. Did you hear someone in your head saying “you”, speaking to you personally? This may be God but there are other possibilities also. There also is the world, the flesh, and the devil. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, – 2 Corinthians 11:14-15a (NKJV)

Perhaps the voice you heard was not God but something from your memory of recent experiences. Did you recently watch the same on television? The word you received was it Jesus Christ speaking to you or is this just simply something you wanted to do? Could the devil be seeking to deceive you? Not sure? Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; – 1 John 4:1a (NKJV)

Does what you are hearing resemble the nature of God as seen in the Holy Scripture? Realize that God’s ways are above ours. Be aware that God is full of love and full of power but God is also full of surprises. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. – Isaiah 55:8-9 (NKJV)
 

Is this Charismatic? Did I just become one of them?

Do you say, “I don’t need to be a Charismatic to notice God answering my prayers.” You are right but if you do perceive God then this you will likely see more even if God does not multiply these experiences in your life. This would simply be you opening your eyes to the presence of God being active in your daily life.

If you tell people what God is doing in your life they may be surprised if they are not accustomed to this and you might be startled if they refer to you as a “Charismatic”. If you fear and never want to be considered by other Christians as Charismatic then stop reading the Holy Bible, cease praying, and never ask God for anything. Be also certain that you completely ignore all that God is doing.

It is your choice if you want God active in your life or not, yet He is the LORD and you cannot hide from Him on the day of judgment.
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, – Romans 1:20 (NKJV)
 

What you should do

Repent and trust in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as your Lord and Savior to receive the free gift of eternal life. Then, listen for God.
But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. – Romans 8:9 (NKJV)

Open your eyes to what God has already done in your life and how He guided you, even though you might not have been aware of Him.
See how He continues to reach out to you in love even right now. Stop presuming that your model of the way God moves must be His.
God only limits Himself by His own nature and by His Word which tells us about how active He is with us in our lives. God is not limited by your mere personal interpretation of the Bible.

‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’ – Jeremiah 33:3 (NKJV)

But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? – Luke 6:46 (NKJV)
 

 
Be sure you did not miss reading this article…
    How to get prayers answered FAST!

 
Proceed on to the next article…
    My sheep hear My voice

I am not saying that this is my own hermeneutical wishful thinking nor even that I have such.

This is something I find devoted Cessationists have.

Cessationism is a doctrine stating that spiritual gifts (such as speaking in tongues, prophecy and healing) ceased with the early church. Cessationism says that the Holy Bible has been completely written and should be relied upon solely for God to speak to us. Yet, cessationism does not show us that the Bible actually teaches this. The Holy Spirit still lives in the hearts of believers in Jesus today.

There are very few verses in the Bible cited by cessationists to attempt to prove the conclusions of this strange fire called “Cessationism”. Let us take a look at these Bible verses and see what they really say…
 

Hebrews 1:1-2
God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,
has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things,
through whom also He made the worlds;

These verses confirm that Jesus spoke to us but they do not say that there would be no more prophets He would speak through.
This also does not say no more COVENANT Word of God would be written, either. No prophets in the New Testament? Absurd!
If this did say that prophesy ended, does every book in the New Testament after that date fail in Holy Spirit inspiration?
The Book of Hebrews has been said to have been written 67 A.D. Did cessation of the gifts happen so soon? Certainly not!
 

Hebrews 2:3-4
how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord,
and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders,
with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?

The Word of God says at the first Lord spoke about salvation and confirmed that with the miraculous.
This Scripture does not say it was “only” at the first but simply acknowledges that this all happened.
Again, were such miracles already ended by 67 A.D. when the Book of Hebrews was penned?
If the gifts of the Spirit ended in the early church then so would also the gospel have ended as well.
 

1 Corinthians 13:8
Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail;
whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge,
it will vanish away.

This passage is frequently taken out of context. The time of the occurrence of these gifts ending is mentioned.
For 1 Corinthians 13:12a says,”For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face.”
Do all the believers see the face of Jesus Christ in this age or is it in Heaven and the age to come?
Know perfectly well that we have yet to see Him face to face.
 

Ephesians 2:19-20
Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints
and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets,
Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,

Yes! The foundation of our faith is Jesus Christ and none other.

A basic argument of cessationists is that if apostles and prophets still existed today, they would be able to write more books of the Holy Bible. Since the Bible is complete, therefore, there is no more need for such and hence there are no more apostles and prophets. Right? Wrong! This actually is not the case.

True prophesy still occurs and is the Word of God but it is not the Covenant of God to be recorded in the Holy Bible. As prophesy goes, the Word of God in the Holy Bible takes precedence! The Scriptures are complete as God’s agreement with mankind.

Even in Old and New Testament Biblical times, the sole purpose of prophets was not the writing of Holy Scripture. Most true prophets never authored “holy writ”. The prophets today are inspired by God but not to further write the Holy Scriptures. There is no Biblical proof for cessation of Spiritual gifts in the early church.

Does the message of Christ and the apostles need to be revalidated with each generation? YES! The proof of the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ makes the case for every generation after Jesus Christ was risen. Yet every new generation needs to find this case themselves. Even Israel, before Jesus was risen, had generations needing reconfimation by signs of God’s faithfulness. Especially during the days of the Judges. Was having the written Word of God not sufficient enough for them? Apparently not, but it should have been.

God does not only do miracles because He answers prayer made in faith. He also confirms His word with accompanying signs as He promised. We are not to seek for signs, yet God nonetheless gives them. To state again, the actual proof of Christianity is that Jesus is bodily raised from the dead. The test was already completed and passed. You should not seek your own choice of signs as conditions for evidence. The confirmation is already there. Signs, though, may awaken you to this.

Do you honestly believe prayers went unanswered for 1600 years? Wake up and get real! God confirms His word by keeping His promises. Miracles happen because God is neither dead nor a quitter. Unlike how some people will present Him, God is faithful. In this age now, we pray with trusting faith in God solely through and in the name of His Son Jesus Christ. We do so with confidence and boldness, trusting Him at His own unchanging Word without reinterpreting it as being passé.
 

Now for Bible verses you need to know!

Ephesians 4:11-13
And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

Prophets, therefore, are given until we come together as “a perfect man”. Have we reached already the whole height of the “fullness of Christ”? Indeed not! Are we perfect in love? Are we face-to-face with Christ in the eternal? Did we all come to the unity of the faith? Therefore, these ministries including prophets, still function up to present. Prophets in the Old Testament were expected to be 100% accurate. Matters are different now. The New Testament principle is “Test all things; hold fast what is good.” just as it is written in 1 Thessalonians 5:21.

The whole argument against the Holy Spirit speaking to individuals today and only though the Holy Bible is not based upon any firm Biblical statement proving this.   Perhaps the Holy Spirit spoke to them individually about Cessationism but I would seriously doubt it.   The Cessationists have such little, weak, and unsubstantiated Biblical evidence to rely upon which they attempt prove their conclusions. This is merely their expression of their own hermeneutical wishful thinking.

There are various viewpoints of Cessationism and more than we can list here. Viewpoints of Cessationism include such as the miraculous gifts all ending with the writing of the book of Revelation, or the destruction of the temple, or the early church, or 1600 years ago, or the like. Some say only tongues and prophesy ended or that some other gifts would happen only at the beginning of each of 7 ages in the Church age (Rev. ch. 2 & 3). Others have said that spiritual gifts still occur but only in some lesser fashion. Still others even say that the gifts of tongues still occurs but that it is only “known tongues”.

For more about this, please see page “The gift of tongues is not merely known tongues”.

The fact of the matter is that miracles and spiritual gifts have happened throughout the Church age.
When such is shown to Cessationists, however, they usually only respond that such are human expressions only or of the devil.

For a prime example, please see page “Errors of cessationism against divine healing refuted”.

Maybe they will say, “Well, I used to be a Charismatic or a Pentecostal but now I go to a such-and-such church!” How many times have we Christians heard this pathetic line from cultists and Roman Catholics?

Would Cessationists believe them if they simply switched churches out of their own? Just because people who became Cessationists had their negative experience elsewhere, heard some people who were confused, or only got confused themselves it does not mean that everyone should follow their example.

Could it be that they have other motivations to defend the Cessationist belief such as a ministry career? Their denominations have held these beliefs for hundreds of years. Are they going to now finally admit they were wrong all along about Cessationism even if they had, what they believe was, a good purpose back then? They will not back down very easily, therefore, they keep trying to persuade you to increase their flocks while they are not willing to reconsider matters.

The real question is… What do the Scriptures say? That is, the Scriptures correctly understood and in context without implying words into the text which do not appear.

Was the model of Spiritual gifts told in the epistles to be only for the Christians during the times they were written, then to have it so quickly done away with after the New Testament was completed? If so, then those letters would only be intended for the audience of the churches, cities and individuals they were addressed to in those times and the Holy Bible would simply be an old book for a previous age.

We like the book 2000 Years Of Charismatic Christianity by Eddie L. Hyatt which demonstrates how the Holy Spirit moved throughout the entire Church age.   Interested? Or perhaps you would rather look only at your favorite historical quotes and forget the rest even exist?

About the title…
I read an article authored by Dave Miller on “SBC Voices” titled “God told me that the Bible does not teach Cessationism” where he mentions how Cessationism is “simply not a biblical teaching” and only “hermeneutical wishful thinking”. This encouraged me to publish my own thoughts on this topic. Do you now see how empty the Holy Bible is to prove Cessationism?

Scripture taken from the New King James Version.
Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.

 
 
Discover more about this topic regarding cessationism
and see the Errors of cessationism against divine healing refuted.

 

Jesus said… My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. – John 10:27 (NKJV)
 

All those place their trusting faith in God solely through His Son Jesus Christ hear the voice of Jesus, whether they know it or not. If they do not hear His voice distinctly what they need to do, as His sheep, is to follow our Great Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ, more closely.
 

The secret to hearing from God is simply summed up in just one word: LISTEN. God is speaking to us all the time. We are the ones who get hard of hearing. How much time do you spend actually listening for God in prayer? Prayer is a time for two-way communication with God through His Son Jesus.
 

Pay attention to the voice of God. How do you do this? First off, spend time reading the Word of God, the Holy Bible. The Apocrypha does not belong in the Holy Bible, so it is recommended to use a Bible that does not include this.

 
Clear channels of communication. Confess your sins to Jesus.
1 John 1:9 – 2:1 (NKJV) reads…

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

Next, listen for God. He speaks to us, through His Son Jesus, by His Holy Spirit.
Do not allow other voices to confuse you, such as…

• The world (Commonly, this happens through watching too much television.)

• The flesh (You know it when your desires rise up.)

• The devil (Beware of his tricks and his deceptions with him pretending the voice of God.)

The voice of God may come to you loudly, softly, subtly, even in other ways than just simply what we usually refer to as a voice. The voice of God may even come through others. You may hear Jesus during your prayer times or even when you are walking down the street. What we know about God can be summed up in saying, “God is full of love, full of power, and full of surprises.”
 

When I first called sincerely to Jesus with trusting faith in Him, that was when I got saved. It was then that God spoke to me. Yet, I was more surprised by what He said than the fact He spoke to me. I didn’t know God did such things until that time. After a few days being saved, I said, “Wait a minute! When I first called on Jesus, God spoke to me. If He did that once before, He can do it again! Let me pray again to Him.” So I did pray to Jesus again and you know what? God spoke to me AGAIN! After that I said, “Since God spoke me twice after praying to Him, I am going to make a lifestyle of this with two-way communication with God.” So, that is what I did ever since.
 

There are often evangelical Christians who are taught that they do not hear the voice of God. Therefore, ask them, “Do you ever get up in the morning, praying about something, then turn on the television and see a sermon preached on that topic? Then, you go to church and hear the same general message preached? Still later, someone else brings up the topic that saw and heard none of these? Is this all just a coincidence?” If they answer “No, I believe that is God.” You simply mention to them “You see then that God really does talk to us!”
 

Do you ever pray to God for answers and you find yourself opening your Bible right immediately to the right verse that speaks to you directly on the topic? Yes? Do you see that it was the Holy Spirit guiding you there or are you going to tell me that it was only a coincidence? Can you not see God moving? If He can do that, He can speak to you as well and does! God has done such in the past and of course what He says will be consistent with His Holy Word.
 

Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice”. This is not limited to denomination nor to those believers in Jesus who have had specific experiences. Neither yet is it limited to Christians with specific calls from God. However, His believers should continue to follow Him and to follow Him more closely.
James 4:6-10 (NKJV) tells us…

But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

Sadly, Mother Theresa, who has been so well noted for her piety, has testified she did not feel God’s presence for the last half of her life. For fifty years! She said…

I call, I cling, I want — and there is no One to answer — no One on Whom I can cling — no, No One. — Alone … Where is my Faith — even deep down right in there is nothing, but emptiness & darkness — My God — how painful is this unknown pain — I have no Faith — I dare not utter the words & thoughts that crowd in my heart — & make me suffer untold agony.

 
It is very important to mention that we will generally hear from God only by placing our entire trusting faith in God solely through His Son Jesus Christ for the salvation of the free gift of eternal life and forgiveness of all our sins through Him. When He has spoken to people who do not believe in Jesus as such, He usually does this to direct people to place their faith in Him. Therefore, continually place your faith in Jesus Christ. Trust Him!
 

Remember to follow Him closely and LISTEN.

However, understand what this means from the New King James Version Bible…

For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
– Romans 11:29 NKJV

That means that God doesn’t take them back!

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
– Ephesians 4:11-13

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
– 1 Corinthians 12:7-11

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
– Romans 12:6-8

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
– Romans 6:23

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
– Ephesians 2:8-9

how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?
– Hebrews 2:3-4

Scripture taken from the New King James Version.
Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.

For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God:
for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
– 1 Corinthians 14:2 (KJV)
 

 
From several places in this Bible verse we see that there do exist unknown tongues as the gift of tongues. Although, the word “unknown” in the above passage is italicized which means it is not in the original text, we can yet tell quite well that these tongues are unknown. Like other italicized words, this word is placed there to make English sense and logic of the passage.
 

 
There are those who are uncomfortable with “unknown tongues”, but cannot Biblically prove that spiritual gifts ended with the early church. So, a new doctrine gets embraced. They now say that they believe in the gift of tongues but say it is only a KNOWN tongue, further saying that the italicized word “unknown” in 1 Corinthians 14:2 is wrong. They will say that Acts chapter 2 is the only clear Biblical example of tongues which are only known tongues.
 

Insistence that the gift of tongues is only a known tongue is foolish for it is not a doctrine that holds up in the light of the Holy Scriptures. Let us compare the passage on tongues in Acts chapter 2 with 1 Corinthians chapter 14 verse 2…

Those who spoke in tongues in Acts 2 spoke unto men. 1 Corinthians 14:2 says that speaking in a tongue does not speak unto men but unto God.

There were those who heard the tongues on Pentecost who did understand the tongues. The Corinthians passage says that no man understands him who speaks in a tongue.

In Acts 2:11, it was no mystery to the hearers of tongues who confessed, “We do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.” They said it was in their own languages. 1st Corinthians says that he who speaks in tongues speaks mysteries.

Yes, the gift of tongues can come as a known tongue as seen in the second chapter of Acts. However, it is evidently clear that the tongues spoken of in Corinthians is not referring to the same kind of tongues as in Acts 2. 1st Corinthians shows tongues as being unknown. Other Bible passages show that unknown tongues may only be understood by the spiritual gift of interpretation which is not the same as human translation. The italicized word “unknown” in the Corinthians passage was well placed and accurate to the meaning of the text. The Bible’s true revelation of the “tongues of men and of angels” as said in 1 Corinthians 13:1, by far, does not solely rest on the word “unknown” in a passage that already makes quite clear that the tongues are unknown.
 

This “known tongue only” doctrine is a watering down of the Word of God and was a concocted and half-baked method in order to dispute charismatic Christians about what they themselves do not understand. Such people who formulate doctrines in order to refute what they do not wish to believe from the Scriptures are not rightly dividing the word of God. Unknown tongues is not the only Bible teaching that gets criticized by these people. Commonly, they will criticize the affectivity and reality of other gifts as well. We should not be deceived by those who have a form of godliness but deny its power. In the Holy Bible we are exhorted to desire spiritual gifts.

I would like to say first of all that I am not a Cessationist. I do not believe the Gifts of the Holy Spirit ceased with the New Testament Apostles. They are available to the Church of God today.

For those who do not believe the above, you are still my brother or sister in the Lord if you believe that we are saved by grace alone through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ alone. What I am about to tell you is not ‘politically correct’ and I will be labeled as ‘intolerant’ or maybe even a ‘basher’ by some people. I love Catholics, as I do anyone else, but it is the doctrine taught from Rome which is the problem.

President of the FGBMF-Peoria, Illinois

It started when I was voted in as President of a local chapter of the Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship International. We had a dinner meeting once a month and a breakfast meeting once a month. At the dinner meeting we would usually invite a Christian businessman to give his testimony. We began to hold a Bible study and prayer meeting in my home.

The word got out, and some Catholics began to come to my home prayer and Bible study meeting, including a priest. The first thing this priest did was kneel in front of me, as if I could impart something to him. Later I knew that he wanted me to pray that he would receive tongues. I became a friend with this Priest and we began to attend other meetings together. More Catholics started coming to all of our meetings and I invited a Catholic professor from Ball State University to come and speak to our fellowship.

It wasn’t long until many of these Catholics were seeking and receiving tongues. At the time I just took it for granted that they were already saved and were receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Priests, nuns and others were beginning to receive tongues. I was guilty of believing that tongues was an indication that we shared the same Holy Spirit experience, and the same Jesus. This was due to my ignorance of the ‘Gospel according to Rome,’ for which I have no excuse.

I was invited to teach a course one night a week for six weeks in a Roman Catholic Parish, St. Monica In East Peoria, Illinois. Priests, nuns and others were present. I taught on the gift of Salvation. At the time I was not prepared for what I was confronting and because all present at the meetings deemed themselves already saved because of the Roman Catholic religion I don’t believe I addressed the subject in the right way. There was because of a spirit of bondage given to them by Rome, and their dependence on their infant baptism and other doctrines of Rome which nullify the Gospel.

I was invited to attend Catholic Charismatic prayer meetings at Bradley University as the only non-Catholic present.

One of the Catholic prayer groups were speaking in tongues and receiving unbiblical interpretations of a sinful nature, supposedly coming direct from Mary, ‘the mother of Jesus’. Which was further proof that the unsaved were receiving ‘tongues’ from a spirit other than God. Charismatic Catholics often become more devoted to Mary after receiving a tongue.

Mary becomes the focus

Many Catholic Charismatics have migrated to Mary, whom they see as the Holy Spirit’s ‘more interesting spouse.’ The Catholic Charismatic fellowship at Dayton University reported to the news media that since their ‘experience’ they have been giving more devotion to Mary.

Universalism

A Catholic Priest who was a sought after speaker in the Catholic Charismatic movement and spoke at many FGBMFI chapters, was speaking one night to a large group during one of our FGBMFI conventions. After his talk he gave an altar call to come and be ‘born again.’ I had an uneasy feeling, and after the service was over, I approached to ask him some questions. I asked him if Jesus was the only way to be saved, and he said very plainly, ‘NO.’ I asked, ‘Do you have to be born again and believe in Jesus Christ to be saved and he said ‘NO.’ What did he mean by ‘born again’?

It was obvious he meant that if you received tongues or any kind of subjective feeling, that was a proof of being born again, having nothing to do with being born from above by the Spirit of God or believing in Christ alone for salvation.

At that point I rebuked him for what he said and he got very angry and began to shake. I reported him to FGBMFI but nothing came of it. There are two kinds of Roman Catholics. The liberal that believes God is the Father of all and no-one is lost and the conservative Catholic that believes that only through the Roman Catholic church can you be saved.

“The Roman Catholic religion in its quest for ecumenism is now playing both sides as is seen in Vatican II.”….

An article published by the Dallas Morning News on Saturday March 20th, 1999 of an ecumenical meeting held in Dallas, Thanksgiving World Assembly, shows the other side.

What is important about this meeting is that it was attended by a Nigerian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic religion named Francis Arinze.

Many people think that Arinze, the Pope’s Deputy for Outreach, is heir apparent to John Paul II. But even if he is not, his comments are chilling and revealing.

An illustration of Roman Catholic ecumenism, which ices out the Gospel and makes mockery of the ministry of Jesus Christ, is found in Arinze’s answer to the question, “Can you still get to heaven without accepting Jesus?” His answer, not surprising, but chilling and ominous, is: “Expressly, yes!”

He says,”…..Gods grant of salvation includes not only Christians but Jews, Muslims, Hindus and people of good will.”

In spite of the mistakes, the FGBMFI has been and is being used of God, and many have been saved through it’s efforts, but I and others, have been guilty of an ecumenical spirit and unity at any cost. We have given a false hope of security to those who needed the truth of salvation.

Catholics no longer a mission field?

Some Evangelicals are now saying that Roman Catholics are no longer considered to be a mission field since they are ‘Christians’. What a sad commentary to our brothers and sisters in Latin countries, and others who have laid down their lives for the Gospel, and have seen millions of Roman Catholics believe the Gospel. The future of evangelism hangs in the balance.

In my eight years of working with Charismatic Catholics, I have come to the following conclusions.

I had been naive and had neglected to really look into the doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church to see what they really believed about the doctrine of Salvation by Grace through faith in Christ alone. I took it for granted that they believed the Gospel of the Bible. Historically, and conversely, the Roman Catholic Church teaches as dogma, that justification is conferred through her sacraments, and that it consists of inner righteousness whereby a man, it is stated, becomes ‘just within himself.’ The Church of Rome condemns the Biblical doctrine of justification by faith alone.

Any non-Catholic Church that held the doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church would be considered a ‘Cult’ by many of the same people who are seeking unity with the Catholics.

I have discovered that most Protestants do not know what the Gospel is ‘according to Rome’! And are easy prey for Roman Catholic apologists because they do not know how to defend sola scriptura or because of their extreme armenism. Do we once again need a reformation in the ‘Protestant’ Churches?

It was the standard practice of the FGBMFI to tell Roman Catholics to stay in the Catholic Church so that they could witness to others. I believe this was a very dangerous attitude in that I found those who stayed eventually were lost to the Roman Church once again because they had not been truly born again. I believe most of the ones who had trusted in Christ alone for salvation came out of the Roman Catholic Church.

You cannot stay in a Church, without consequences, that denies we are saved by what Christ did outside of us, and not what we can do to become worthy inside.

“Solo Christo”

“Solo Christo” was one of the cries of the Protestant Reformation. Translated from the Latin, it means “Christ Alone.”

In these times, the growing tendency to emphasize feelings and experiences at the expense of sound doctrine is presenting the world with a ‘feel-good’ religious community, the boundaries of which grow more ephemeral with every new ecumenical pronouncement. This is especially true among Roman Catholics and some Evangelical and Charismatic Christians. I want to emphasize that not all Evangelicals and Pentecostals are being deceived but some are.

And the lines become more blurred, so that now in some ecumenical meetings, New Agers, Universalists, Roman Catholic as well as true born again Christians such as Evangelicals and Pentecostals are coming together to celebrate their oneness in a quote, ‘Common Experience.’ This is the great deception.

Although speaking in tongues can be valid experience from God it is not always of the Holy Spirit. It can be counterfeited. Satan has counterfeits of the Gifts of God. You can receive an experience without being saved, and when this happens it leads to many problems. The major problem is a false sense of security that you are saved, and leads you further away from the true Gospel and many times into the occult.

I believe most of the Catholics were seeking a sign of tongues, and they received a false tongue. If we accept everybody as brothers and sisters because they speak in tongues, then we are heading down a slippery slope, Catholic or other wise. Spiritual experience ALONE can never be the basis for unity. Unity must be based on sound DOCTRINE.

“If anyone comes with another doctrine, do not receive him….for he ho greets him shares in his evil deeds.” Holy Bible 2 John 10-11 KJV.

Even though the above scripture taken in context applies to other heresies, such as the denial that Christ came in the Flesh, I believe it can just as well be applied to the Gospel of salvation, since they are related and cannot be separated.

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” Galatians 5:1 KJV.

Bill Scudder
Dayton Ohio USA

VISIT OUR PAGES OF
Fascinating Reading of the Holy Bible For Roman Catholics…