Years ago, in a press conference, a pastor said God had told him to do something. An incredulous reporter wondered aloud, “Was God’s voice audible?” “No,” the pastor answered. “It was much louder than that.”
Does God reveal things to his people? I only wonder because I saw that one pastor said, “I stopped listening when you said, ‘God told me.’” In his thought, God does not speak to people today. What do you think? On the one hand, scripture reveals many occasions that God spoke to his people. On the other hand, many leaders of cults have used this explanation to lead people into sin and great harm.
The Apostle Paul warned his traveling companions of impending disaster if they continued on their journey. In his thinking, people might die. The centurion had to choose between the preacher’s advice and the pilot’s advice. He went with the pilot and owner of the ship. In fact, the majority decided to sail on, despite Paul’s reservations.
Notice that Paul did not say, “God told me.” His concern may have been revealed by God. Or Paul might have known something about weather that time of year. But later in the story, the Lord does speak to Paul, and his words came true (Acts 27:23).
Here are some guard rails as we try to discern whether a person speaks for God. Do their words agree with scripture? God will not reveal something to us that contradicts his written word. Afterward, we may look back and say, “Did it come true?” This was a test of prophecy in the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 18:22). If God says it, it happens. One final question we may ask to discern whether a word is from God: does it glorify Jesus? (John 16:12-15). God’s ultimate work in the world has everything to do with the glorification of Jesus, not of one of his servants. As Paul said, “Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good; reject every kind of evil” (1 Thess 5:20-22).
