Can God speak directly to believers?
Can God speak directly to believers?
There is evidence to suggest that God can speak directly to believers in Christ.
The Spirit:
Paul, referring to the Holy Spirit of God, wrote about "THE SPIRIT IN OUR HEARTS" (2 Corinthians 1:22). The Holy Spirit of God is in the hearts of believers.
There are explicit instances in which the Spirit is described as speaking directly to believers.
The Spirit: Acts 8: Philip:
It is written: "THE SPIRIT SAID (TO) PHILIP, “Approach and join this chariot”" (Acts 8:29).
Who is this "PHILIP" (Acts 8:29)?
This PHILIP would have been PHILIP the evangelist and not PHILIP the apostle:
This PHILIP is mentioned several verses earlier: "PHILIP, having-gone-down to a city (of) Samaria, was-proclaiming the Christ" (Acts 8:5).
Was this "PHILIP" (Acts 8:5) the apostle "PHILIP" (Acts 1:13) or was this the "PHILIP" (Acts 6:5) who was serving tables (who was the evangelist)?
It was most likely the "PHILIP" (Acts 6:5) serving tables, as it is written: "(a) great persecution came-about on that day against the church in Jerusalem, and they-were all dispersed throughout the regions (of) Judea and SAMARIA, EXCEPT THE APOSTLES" (Acts 8:1) and we read about "PHILIP, having-gone-down to a city (of) SAMARIA" (Acts 8:5). The "apostles" (Acts 8:1) were not dispersed throughout the regions of SAMARIA like this "PHILIP" (Acts 8:5) was, therefore this PHILIP may be the "PHILIP" (Acts 6:5) who was serving tables who was one of the "SEVEN men" (Acts 6:3) and thus also "PHILIP the evangelist (being (one) of the SEVEN)" (Acts 21:8).
The Spirit: Acts 10: Peter:
It is written: "PETER (was) pondering about the vision, THE SPIRIT SAID (TO) HIM, “Behold — three men (are) seeking you" (Acts 10:19).
The Spirit: Acts 20: Paul:
It is written that "PAUL" (Acts 20:16) said: "THE HOLY SPIRIT IS-SOLEMNLY-WARNING ME IN EACH CITY, SAYING that imprisonment and afflictions are-awaiting me" (Acts 20:23).
Jesus:
There is evidence to suggest that Jesus can speak directly to those who believe in Him.
Jesus said in John 10: "you do not BELIEVE, because you-are not of MY SHEEP. MY SHEEP HEAR [present tense] MY VOICE. And I know them, and they-follow Me" (John 10:26-27).
Jesus also indicated to His audience in John 10: "I-have other SHEEP, which are not of this fold. I must bring those also. And THEY-WILL-HEAR [future tense] MY VOICE" (John 10:16).
There are explicit instances in which Jesus can be described as speaking directly to believers.
Jesus: Acts 9: Ananias:
It is written that "(a) certain DISCIPLE was in Damascus — ANANIAS (by) name. And THE LORD SAID (TO) HIM in (a) vision, “ANANIAS”. And the (one) said, “Behold, I (am here), LORD”." (Acts 9:10).
Jesus: Acts 10: Peter:
It is written about "PETER" that "(a) trance came upon him" (Acts 10:10) and "(A) VOICE CAME TO HIM, “Having-arisen, PETER, slaughter and eat!” But Peter said, “By-no-means, LORD, because I never ate anything defiled and unclean”" (Acts 10:13-14).
Recounting this event one chapter later, Peter said: "I also HEARD (A) VOICE SAYING (TO) ME, ‘Having-arisen, PETER, slaughter and eat!’ But I-said, ‘By-no-means, LORD, because (a) defiled or unclean (thing) never entered into my mouth’." (Acts 11:7-8).
Jesus: Acts 18: Paul:
It is written that "THE LORD SAID (TO) PAUL during (the) night through (a) vision, “Do not be-afraid, but be-speaking and do not be-silent, because I am with you, and no-one will-set-upon you to-harm you; because there-is (a) large people (for) Me in this city”" (Acts 18:9-10).
Jesus: Acts 22: Paul:
It is written about "PAUL" (Acts 21:40) that he said: "I came-to-be in (a) trance and saw HIM SAYING (TO) ME, ‘Hurry, and go-out from Jerusalem quickly, because they-will not accept your testimony about Me’. And-I said, ‘LORD, they-themselves know that throughout the synagogues I was imprisoning and beating the (ones) putting-faith upon You" (Acts 22:17-18).
Jesus: Acts 23: Paul:
It is written about "PAUL" (Acts 23:10) that "(on) the following night, THE LORD, HAVING-STOOD-NEAR HIM, SAID, “Take-courage. For as you-solemnly-testified in Jerusalem (as to) the (things) concerning Me, so you must also testify in Rome”" (Acts 23:11).
Jesus: 2 Corinthians 12: Paul:
It is written that "Paul" (2 Corinthians 1:1) indicated that: "I-APPEALED TO THE LORD about this three-times, that (it) may(-depart)-from-standing from me. And HE-HAS-SAID (TO) ME: “My grace is-sufficient (for) you. For (MY) POWER is-perfected in weakness”. Therefore most-gladly I-will rather boast in my weaknesses in-order-that THE POWER (OF) CHRIST may-dwell upon me" (2 Corinthians 12:8-9).
Jesus: Revelation 1: John:
It is written that "JOHN" (Revelation 1:9) said: "I-came-to-be in (the) Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I-HEARD behind me (A) LOUD VOICE" (Revelation 1:10), "And I-turned to-see THE VOICE WHICH WAS-SPEAKING WITH ME" (Revelation 1:12), "when I-saw HIM, I-fell at His feet as (though) dead. And He-placed His right (hand) upon ME, SAYING “Do not be-fearing. I am the First and the Last,and the (One) living. And I-BECAME DEAD, and behold — I-AM LIVING to the ages (of) the ages" (Revelation 1:17-18).
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