Hearing God's voice

[Neto]

I considered putting this in the General Theology sub-forum, but I would like to hear the input from others who regard themselves as a part of the anabaptist camp.

How do you personally recognize the voice of God? I'm interested especially in 'thoughts' that present themselves as a command to 'give a message' to someone else in your congregation, a word from God.

(The assumption, or 'given' is that this message is consistent with the Scripture.)

Or, it might be a simple action, such as to give a hug to someone, when you have no idea why this might constitute a 'message' or some sort of guidance to the other person.

If it is a personal experience, I realize that humility may make something like this very difficult to share here. I''ll just say this about 'humility'. I have found that it starts (and finishes) with the realization and 'confession' that, as my study Bible states it, the humble are those who acknowledge that they do not have the resources or power within themselves to face the challenges of life. (That is, personal power, that of one's own self.) This is a recognition that any needed power must come from another source, and that the only such source is God, through Jesus His Chosen One.

This is a sort of return to a question I posed in the following thread "New Testament Practices":
https://forum.mennonet.com/viewtopic.ph ... 92#p296092

I had posted that question there because I didn't know what to do with the question I had, and assume that many here look to the 'Early Church' to determine what they consider to be 'proper' for the Church now.

[R7ehr]

I have been suddenly and strongly impressed to immediately do a specific action. The thought came to mind out of nowhere, along with a strong sense that if I did not do it immediately, God would not be pleased.

[barnhart]

I think God usually communicates in ways we already understand. For example the pattern he gave for the ark of the covenant seems very similar to the portable shrines the Egyptians made for their gods (google Anubis chest). The obvious difference being the empty space where the Egyptian god sat. For years I marveled that God asked Abraham to offer his son on the altar until I realized this was something that people did in that culture. It wasn't as outrageous as it sounds to me. This isn't an absolute rule but I think it is the general pattern, God uses things we already understand.

[QuietlyListening]

I agree with what has been said and for me as I'm praying or just sitting there the Lord will bring someone to mind to pray for, send a card or other thing to do. So it has been the Lord bringing someone to mind.

[Neto]

I have been suddenly and strongly impressed to immediately do a specific action. The thought came to mind out of nowhere, along with a strong sense that if I did not do it immediately, God would not be pleased.

Or, that God is promising something good, if I do what he is saying?

(I'm still debating with myself whether I should tell what I did that brought about my post of Feb 9th, something I did on that Sunday, the 8th. That time I had no idea why I was supposed to do that thing until almost 3 weeks later. This morning the ante went up, but I begged forgiveness for not doing what I felt at some level I was being told to do. How do I know for sure? I 'laid out a fleece', but maybe God was not having it. If it was real, then someone missed out on a special blessing, and I am to blame. I just sat there and wept silently.)

[Valerie]

I agree with what has been said and for me as I'm praying or just sitting there the Lord will bring someone to mind to pray for, send a card or other thing to do. So it has been the Lord bringing someone to mind.

This is what I relate to the most.
At times He’s spoken directly through His Word by way of directing me to a passage I didn’t plan to read but came upon it & spoke directly to a need, question or situation.
He has on a great occasion spoken through others (word of knowledge).
Mostly by way of Holy Spirit bringing words to mind from Scripture-
Extremely rare were moments I felt He spoke in my ear-

[Valerie]

I have been suddenly and strongly impressed to immediately do a specific action. The thought came to mind out of nowhere, along with a strong sense that if I did not do it immediately, God would not be pleased.

Or, that God is promising something good, if I do what he is saying?

(I'm still debating with myself whether I should tell what I did that brought about my post of Feb 9th, something I did on that Sunday, the 8th. That time I had no idea why I was supposed to do that thing until almost 3 weeks later. This morning the ante went up, but I begged forgiveness for not doing what I felt at some level I was being told to do. How do I know for sure? I 'laid out a fleece', but maybe God was not having it. If it was real, then someone missed out on a special blessing, and I am to blame. I just sat there and wept silently.)

I understand the torment of not knowing “for sure”
But I would add, the accuser of the brethren seeks pleasure by beating us up in regret. The mercy & grace of God does not do that.

[Neto]

I have been suddenly and strongly impressed to immediately do a specific action. The thought came to mind out of nowhere, along with a strong sense that if I did not do it immediately, God would not be pleased.

Or, that God is promising something good, if I do what he is saying?

(I'm still debating with myself whether I should tell what I did that brought about my post of Feb 9th, something I did on that Sunday, the 8th. That time I had no idea why I was supposed to do that thing until almost 3 weeks later. This morning the ante went up, but I begged forgiveness for not doing what I felt at some level I was being told to do. How do I know for sure? I 'laid out a fleece', but maybe God was not having it. If it was real, then someone missed out on a special blessing, and I am to blame. I just sat there and wept silently.)

I understand the torment of not knowing “for sure”
But I would add, the accuser of the brethren seeks pleasure by beating us up in regret. The mercy & grace of God does not do that.

True. Not everything is final, either. We have the prophet Jonah as proof of that.

[Jeff Altweg]

Many of us on this site ,have probably spent a lot of time ,in Churches , in Plain settings where it was boldly taught , that whatever the Preachers say, that is God's will ,and or way. and not to depend that much on our own discernment ..
And that is just nonsense, using a social Plain Church setting to make us feel included , a part of a group or a setting , that God will Bless that , and we'll all go up there together, maybe that is why the Anabaptists have so many splits and divisions ,they're numerous , we may tend to be followers of men, and not of God.
Been there ,done all that , thankfully it's in the rear view mirror of life now , like 15 years in , I just wish we had seen that much sooner ,