HEARING FROM GOD: THE PROBLEM WITH WHAT “GOD” SAID
Published Nov 07, 2017
Updated Jun 09, 2024
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One morning, I was sitting on my bed in my university hostel, having a sweet moment of conversation with God when my roommate, a ‘sister in the Lord’ came calling for my attention with an air of urgency. It was that kind of leave-everything-you-are-doing-and-listen-to-me-now call.
She clearly saw me praying but she kept saying, “God says I should tell you something”. So, when I opened my eyes and looked at Sister in the Lord, she said, “God says you are deviating from the truth!”
Now this is one of most ironical things I have ever heard in my entire life. That morning, I was having a deep sweet moment of prayer, drawing closer to Jesus. But according to Sister in the Lord, “God” told her I was deviating from the truth.
I thought about it and concluded that Sister probably had grudges against me or things that made her feel I wasn’t worthy to pray. So that could have made her come to me with that message to say I wasn’t on the right track with God.
And I also saw her statement as one inspired by the devil to make me feel low at a spiritually high moment in my life. Well I eventually told Sister in the Lord never to tell me anything God tells her to tell me. That was how I ended a starting chain of “what God said”.
That’s not the first time I have heard someone say something which is supposedly a direct quote from heaven and that thing is very disturbing or confusing.
As a young Christian, I was taught that God speaks to us. God speaks to our innermost beings. I was even taught ways to discern the voice of God. One important lesson I learned in all these was that anything God tells you must be in accordance with His word. And God never lies.
So many times, believers have gone to believers with messages supposedly sent by God and these messages end up ruining the life of the receiver.
Or how do you explain that “God” tells a sister to tell a man that the woman he is married to is not his right wife? This eventually leads the man to divorce his ‘spiritually unfit’ wife and get hooked unto another sister in church. The same God who says, “I hate divorce”. The same God who urges men to love their wives unconditionally like Christ loved the church!
Or how do you explain when “God” asks a sister to pay a huge some of money as a “seed” for her healing? The same Jesus who walked this earth healing people freely?
Or how do you explain that “God” says the baby in your womb is a boy and you eventually birth a girl? Is God now confused? Is now God saying the opposite of what He means?
Or how do you explain that “God” tells you to sow a “sacrificial offering” and the amount “God” is asking for is a huge sum of money you can not afford?
This is the problem with what “God” said. Fanatics hiding behind “what God said” use this to say anything they want to say, claiming it’s from God. If it is not in sync with scripture, it is definitely not from God!
Also, “God said” is one of the greatest forms of control some manipulative people now use to control others. They come to you with an authoritative “God says…” and they expect you to bow to that.
This is wrong. I can’t. I won’t. I refuse to be manipulated by someone claiming to be closer to the heartbeat of God than I am.
When Jesus died, the veil of the temple was torn into two. That was the veil that separated the inner sanctuary from the outer temple. Only the priests could enter the inner sanctuary before Jesus died. But when he died, that veil was torn because we all now have access to God. We can be intimate with God as we want. We can be close to God as much as we want. We do not have to depend on any man or woman to bring us direct quotes of God. We no longer have to depend on the priests like the people of old did because according to scripture, every child of God is a king and a priest!
“But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9 (NLT)
Also, direct quotes from God are not the basis of Christianity. Christianity is mainly about love. The Bible has all there is to know and all we need to practice. So somebody constantly saying “God said you should…” or “God said you should not…” should not be a huge part of your faith.
Yes, God speaks to His children. Yes, the Holy Spirit directs us. I have stories of how God spoke to me and directed me. Also God leads people to others. But please let’s not abuse it. Let’s not be quick to translate our personal wants into a word from heaven. It is wrong.
Being intimate with God is ultimate. Study your Bible and know it for yourself. Spend some time everyday praying. Prayer is not that hard. Talk to God as you would with a friend. Thank Him, praise Him, tell Him about EVERYTHING in your life and how you would like Him to help you.
Some resources to help you know God more:
Let’s talk. What do you you think about hearing from God? Do you hear from God? What is your experience with hearing from God?
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash.
We have the assurance that the word of God is always there to bring light in our quest to do his will. Like you mentioned Precious, any prophecy or spoken word whatsoever should just confirm the written testament.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God. 2 The Word was with God in the beginning. 3 All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind” (John 1: 1-4). Unfortunately dear sister, we’re living a fast food era where we want quick fix, and we aren’t patient enough to wait quietly and patiently to hear from him and study to show ourselves approved.
Surely when we spend time in God’s presence, we not only will hear from Him- but we should discern his voice from the voice of the deceiver.
Blessed you dear,
great post.
My dear sister. You are amazing. This is a song I keep singing , words I kept preaching. Know God. Know God for yourself and don’t allow anyone tell you of God. Know him for yourself.
If I start telling stories of stuff I have heard in the name of God said, men toasting you with “God said ” and the pastors telling you to bring money you don’t have.Smh.
I need to repost this, as soon as I can get right to doing one or two posts.
How are you doing?
I know right sis. Not sure how God will pressure a person to give what they don’t even have. It is sad.
I’m good, sis. Hope you are good too.
I love that I’m a Christian and a child of God but Precious, many Christians are beginning to make this Christianity religion so complex and questionable for others, especially me. The worst part is that churches (the house of God) are no more conducive. All I know is that there is God in Heaven who is watching because who I’m I to judge them! As for me, I don’t take it kindly with false prophets, if I can’t find the message in the Bible then it’s not for me. Though I may not know the Holy Bible from front to back but I will keep searching the light. I won’t stop. God bless you Precious.
http://dominikagoodness.blogspot.com.ng
Exactly. If the message is not in the Bible, don’t follow it. Also if it is twisted scripture, don’t follow it. May you continue to grow in your faith, dear. God bless.
Thanks Precious. True indeed. Many are causing others to panic and run around because of some of these declarations but children of God have to be still and know that God is God. One truth you hold there is that of ‘love’. Summary of all the laws and commandments. About discerning or hearing the voice of God, I find it difficult because the voice of God is a tiny whisper like ‘do something about that old man you meet everyday on your way to church’ and these loud noisy other voices, ha, he has a family, oh, why is he always there, hmm, if I give him my money he may use it for ‘famlah’ and the thousand others. It takes a lot to act on that tiny voice, give him just a smile, sit with him, have a conversation with him even if he stinks, do something however small. This is my experience with hearing God. The tiny little voice that urges you on! God bless you Precious
Amen! That little tiny voice that urges you to do right! God bless you too, Nawom.
The only way I hear God’s voice is through his word, the Bible, if a man of God gives me a prophecy which is not in accordance with God’s word, forget I don’t obey,gone are those days when I will follow men of God bc of prophecy or healing, now I pray and study my bible, if I need someone to pray with or someone to discuss something bordering me, I go straight to my church pastor, bc these there are many wolves in sheep clothing
Amen. Knowing God’s word for yourself is so important. Thanks for sharing, Neola.
Great message Precious! So deep and full with biblical truths. Is high time we begin to get personal commitment and communion with God through His word rather than being drilled away by people giving us their personal perspectives of how they perceive us in the name of God speaking through them. I so much buy into what you are saying because is the real truth. Believers should be able to dig deep into the word of God and they will hardly be misled by false prophesies and declaration! God bless you and gives you more grace to do what you love doing best. I also want to ceased this opportunity to appreciate you for all the different kinds of cooking recipes you been teaching, they go a long way to help some of us who are far away from home to be more creative in our kitchen. Thanks a million!
Thank you Nene! There is so much truth in this statement: “…people giving us their personal perspectives of how they perceive us in the name of God speaking through them. ” So true!
And I’m so glad to hear that the recipes have helped you. So encouraging!
God bless you, dear.
Good message. God bless you.
God bless you too, Princess.