Seeking Signs from God

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Fritzpw_Admin -> Seeking Signs from God (5/21/2009 10:33:43 AM)
quote: How to Hear from God When You're in a Crisis Bayless Conley - Answers with Bayless Conley A number of years ago, I tried to rent an apartment from a lady I knew. Oddly enough, even though she was a Spirit-filled, church-going, Bible-toting Christian, she wouldn’t rent me the apartment. I found out why a few days later. When thinking about renting me the apartment she had prayed, “God, if I’m supposed to rent the apartment to Bayless, the telephone needs to ring so many times before 2:00 pm.” Well, the phone didn’t ring enough times before 2:00 pm that day, so she thought it obviously wasn’t God’s will for her to rent the apartment to me! You may laugh, but Christians do this kind of thing all the time. If there is not something specific in the Word that directs us concerning a decision we must make, we often want a sign from God to give us direction… especially when we are in a crisis... *Read the rest of the article, How to Hear from God When You're in a Crisis...* Have you ever sought an outward sign from God to help you make a decision? What was the result? Do people do this to often?

JesusIsLordandSavior -> RE: Seeking Signs from God (5/21/2009 12:01:07 PM)
HI, Have you ever sought an outward sign from God to help you make a decision? no. Mt 12:38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, Teacher, we desire to see a sign or miracle from You [proving that You are what You claim to be]. 39 But He replied to them, An evil and adulterous generation (a generation morally unfaithful to God) seeks and demands a sign; but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For even as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. [Jonah 1:17.] The Amplified Bible, Mt 12:38-40 quote: ORIGINAL: Fritzpw_Admin quote: How to Hear from God When You're in a Crisis Bayless Conley - Answers with Bayless Conley A number of years ago, I tried to rent an apartment from a lady I knew. Oddly enough, even though she was a Spirit-filled, church-going, Bible-toting Christian, she wouldn’t rent me the apartment. I found out why a few days later. When thinking about renting me the apartment she had prayed, “God, if I’m supposed to rent the apartment to Bayless, the telephone needs to ring so many times before 2:00 pm.” Well, the phone didn’t ring enough times before 2:00 pm that day, so she thought it obviously wasn’t God’s will for her to rent the apartment to me! You may laugh, but Christians do this kind of thing all the time. If there is not something specific in the Word that directs us concerning a decision we must make, we often want a sign from God to give us direction… especially when we are in a crisis... *Read the rest of the article, How to Hear from God When You're in a Crisis...* Have you ever sought an outward sign from God to help you make a decision? What was the result? Do people do this to often?

sparkleingsnow -> RE: Seeking Signs from God (5/21/2009 12:53:21 PM)
Note who Jesus was talking to in the above scripture. (Mt 12:38-40) The scribes and the Pharisees. Gideon asked for a sign from God two times and He gave Him a sign both times. Judges 6:36 And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said, 37 Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said. 38 And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water. 39 And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew. 40 And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground. There's only been a few times i've asked the Lord for a sign. (Less than half a dozen.) Here are a couple of times He answered. Two times when I was researching what has been called a "destructive religious cult" in my area, i asked the Lord for a sign if I sould continue what I was doing, and both times very shortly someone I didn't know came up with new information. Another time, after not being able to stay in my house after a back injury, i asked the Lord if He wanted me to stay in this area to please give me a sign by helping me to get a place to stay, and He did. I think it's ok to ask the Lord for a sign. It's up to Him if He chooses to give us one.

CindySc -> RE: Seeking Signs from God (5/21/2009 1:07:25 PM)
I agree with sparkelingsnow above. I've asked for signs in my prayer life also, but my youngest daughter as a child used to be the one that was always asking the Lord for a sign, and do you know he usually gave it to her.

deermousie -> RE: Seeking Signs from God (5/21/2009 1:20:06 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: sparkleingsnowI think it's ok to ask the Lord for a sign. It's up to Him if He chooses to give us one. Sparkleingsnow nailed it - these are the words of a submissive heart, asking for something and leaving it up to the King to answer or not. Gideon was told God wanted him to do what looked like a suicidal task, and he used the fleece for God to supernaturally prove it really was from Him. Smart! Once Gideon got the answer that is was from God, he obeyed. And won! (300 guys with torches caused a big, nasty, occupying army to run like rabbits) Because we are spiritually alive in Christ, everything we do is spiritual. If we want to do something, and it doesn't contradict Scripture, it's probably fine. Go do it, and rejoice in God. If you don't have the ability to do it, ask God for the ability. If He doesn't give it, then stay where you are, and be content.

gegeven0szoun9ster -> RE: Seeking Signs from God (5/21/2009 1:29:40 PM)
yes i believe it is done even very often (met someone who does this today) he sees meaning in things around him and bases opinioin upon that. myself i see too, but i believe u should be aware of ur eyes, as in the way they see and what u see with them(u can trust on it though) then i believe its more an issue to weter or not u handle upon it and if you do in which way. then it has already happened, there has been decided upon it however a sign relating to the matter and therewith the desicion that should be made could be helpfull i suppose

rawr.ben -> RE: Seeking Signs from God (5/21/2009 1:29:50 PM)
1 Cor 21For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

rawr.ben -> RE: Seeking Signs from God (5/21/2009 1:33:41 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: sparkleingsnow Gideon asked for a sign from God two times and He gave Him a sign both times. I think it is important to note two things in this story: a) Gideon sought the signs on the behalf of other people, no himself. It was for the whole community, and edified everyone. b) God had already promised that He would save Israel. Anyway, I'm not saying it is always going to be wrong to ask, but I have seen too many people use it as a first-resort kind of thing, instead of looking into the Scriptures, standing upon the Word of God, and believing what has already been said.

Prairiehiker -> RE: Seeking Signs from God (5/21/2009 2:20:49 PM)
I'm a bit skeptical about "hearing the small still voice" of God. Far too many Christians use this subjective guidance of God to justify their decisions in life, and when found to be faulty, they admit it was their own voice they're following all along. When we want something bad enough, it's very easy to "hear things" because that's what we want to hear. It doesn't necessary mean it's from God. It might not be against God's will, but it's also dangerous to attribute our decisions based on hearing the voice of God.

RustyCarr -> RE: Seeking Signs from God (5/21/2009 10:46:53 PM)
See if this is some sort of sign from God? My wife left, took the kids AND THE TV. I dove into the word and didn't bother getting a TV, and boy that was refreshing! I picked up my sons every weekend and did things WITHOUT THE TV. One year after her separation, she filed for divorce. I filled out the paper work by following what they did in their paperwork except I contested everything. I didn't want the divorce or the loss of my sons. I contacted a lawyer for a consultation, just to see if I did the paperwork right and find out what to expect in court. $100.00 for 30 minutes. The lawyer was 90 miles away at the county seat. I am nervous as I am leaving to go meet the lawyer and file my response. I think to myself, "You need to take a pen and some paper to take notes." I walked out the door a few minutes later without the pen and paper. But I did have extra copies of paperwork that could serve as scratch paper. About 15 miles from my destination there is a "Historic Marker." I stopped to stretch my legs and get some cool morning air in the scrub brush, and trees. As I am walking around the marker in the brush, I notice a pen on the ground. "Hey, I need a pen." I thought as I picked it up. "I wonder if it works?" There was a small cardboard box half under a sage bush. I scribbled on the box and the pen worked fine. "Hmm... What's in the box?" I thought. As I picked up the box, I noticed that it was a Columbia House box and it had not been opened. The envelope on the outside was tattered and bleached by the sun. No address could be found. Anyway, I opened the box and found twelve brand new VCR Tapes of movies. The one laying on top was The Story of Ruth. There was The King of Kings, Ben Hur, The Ten Commandments, The Sound of Music, True Grit, Cahill, Dances with Wolves, Auntie Mame, The Pajama Game, The Big Country, and The Man Who Shot Liberty Vallance. I got over my nervousness as I told the lawyer about my find. She just sat there with a half smile.... I decided it was time to get a TV. I did, and bought more of the good old movies for us to watch on the weekends. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Cowboys, North to Alaska, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Old Yeller, and more. I also bought the entire Hanna Barbara Cartoons of time travelers who go back in time to Adam and Eve, Daniel, etc. It was great! I didn't have cable, so the bad news still remained outside the house. I put up an antenna and watched TBN when my sons weren't home. Some of the stuff on TBN needed serious scutinization, but some was very good. That was back in '91 and '92. Was that a sign from God? Blessings, Rusty

deermousie -> RE: Seeking Signs from God (5/21/2009 11:38:39 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: RustyCarr Was that a sign from God? I see a woman who is sinning by divorcing her husband (unless you cheated on her and/or are dangerous to her or the kids) and a grieving man getting some blessings to encourage him on his way. Is that a supernatural sign? I don't think so, just God's blessings which are supernatural in origin. I'm sorry about your disobedient wife, RustyCar. What a heartache. May God turn this situation into one that has all of you shouting for joy! I'm praying for you all tonight.

catherineo -> RE: Seeking Signs from God (5/22/2009 12:16:49 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Fritzpw_Admin quote: How to Hear from God When You're in a Crisis Bayless Conley - Answers with Bayless Conley A number of years ago, I tried to rent an apartment from a lady I knew. Oddly enough, even though she was a Spirit-filled, church-going, Bible-toting Christian, she wouldn’t rent me the apartment. I found out why a few days later. When thinking about renting me the apartment she had prayed, “God, if I’m supposed to rent the apartment to Bayless, the telephone needs to ring so many times before 2:00 pm.” Well, the phone didn’t ring enough times before 2:00 pm that day, so she thought it obviously wasn’t God’s will for her to rent the apartment to me! You may laugh, but Christians do this kind of thing all the time. If there is not something specific in the Word that directs us concerning a decision we must make, we often want a sign from God to give us direction… especially when we are in a crisis... *Read the rest of the article, How to Hear from God When You're in a Crisis...* Have you ever sought an outward sign from God to help you make a decision? What was the result? Do people do this to often? Some of your meanest people are church going people. I have never sought a sign, thank goodness. However, if I am not sure it's God I am hearing, I ask Him, "do you want me", and ect. Often I do this. Seems to me that too many people looks upon prophets as some kind of fortune-telling. Same for God, as if we can use God as this crystal-ball.

catherineo -> RE: Seeking Signs from God (5/22/2009 12:49:04 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Prairiehiker I'm a bit skeptical about "hearing the small still voice" of God. Far too many Christians use this subjective guidance of God to justify their decisions in life, and when found to be faulty, they admit it was their own voice they're following all along. When we want something bad enough, it's very easy to "hear things" because that's what we want to hear. It doesn't necessary mean it's from God. It might not be against God's will, but it's also dangerous to attribute our decisions based on hearing the voice of God. I understand what you are saying about the little voice. I believe I have heard God's voice actually coming straight from my Spirit only once and trust me it's nice. However, God does speak to His people. Going to the word of God is great if this is how God has chosen for you to receive His counciling. But, for me I have received ALL my counciling, not by studying the word of God, but through God directly. Face to face. For me, it's what I needed. And what I got. Let me tell you if you only knew the years I spent without God and His counciling. What a difference God makes. The closer that you walk with God the better, not only because God requires His people 100%, But, you will get accustomed to God, His voice, and His ways. Keep in mine as a young believer God may choose to speak audibly. But later on as you began to grow, God may choose otherways for you to learn His voice. When you pray for exanple and God answers you will peace. Awsome! Believers should keep in mind that Satan is a master at disguising God's voice. God told me to do something and Satan came right behind God and said, 'God didn't mean that He meant", and ect. And I actually felled for it. Man! Satan tricked me! Just like Adam and Eve. Still up to his old tricks. I hope I have learned over the years. If in doubt, always, just ask God.

Prairiehiker -> RE: Seeking Signs from God (5/22/2009 1:03:57 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: catherineo I understand what you are saying about the little voice. I believe I have heard God's voice actually coming straight from my Spirit only once and trust me it's nice. However, God does speak to His people. Going to the word of God is great if this is how God has chosen for you to receive His counciling. But, for me I have received ALL my counciling, not by studying the word of God, but through God directly. Face to face. For me, it's what I needed. And what I got. Let me tell you if you only knew the years I spent without God and His counciling. What a difference God makes. The closer that you walk with God the better, not only because God requires His people 100%, But, you will get accustomed to God, His voice, and His ways. Keep in mine as a young believer God may choose to speak audibly. But later on as you began to grow, God may choose otherways for you to learn His voice. When you pray for exanple and God answers you will peace. Awsome! Believers should keep in mind that Satan is a master at disguising God's voice. God told me to do something and Satan came right behind God and said, 'God didn't mean that He meant", and ect. And I actually felled for it. Man! Satan tricked me! Just like Adam and Eve. Still up to his old tricks. I hope I have learned over the years. If in doubt, always, just ask God. Can you please elaborate on the bolded part about how God gives you counselling face to face? And how do you know it's from God when you don't read the scriptures? The bible says test all spirits.....

gegeven0szoun9ster -> RE: Seeking Signs from God (6/2/2009 7:43:59 PM)
when ur hart gives in as truth is real i think but it's never wrong to think about it and relativate it

bobbyb_ -> RE: Seeking Signs from God (6/2/2009 8:35:07 PM)
I definitely feel it's a-oh-kay to ask God, in prayer, to give you a sign, but like someone else mentioned already, it all comes down to the decision of God to actually provide a sign. It really is submitting yourself to the Lord when you feel you need Him to provide a sign - because we all know that feeling, I'm sure, when we feel like we simply could not make a decision without the guidance of the Lord. But where this comes back to us is that we must not hold grudges or be upset if it God's decision to not relay a sign back to us. I really feel that while God is more than happy to help us out and show us the right way most of the time, there is going to be times in all of our lives where God wants us to be free thinkers and to be able to make decisions on our own. It is during these times that I feel the Lord doesn't want to relay signs to us. He wants us to apply our knowledge and faith in our decisions.

sledmt -> RE: Seeking Signs from God (6/2/2009 10:23:20 PM)
If the men of the Bible did, it is ok.

IamLibertarian -> RE: Seeking Signs from God (6/3/2009 4:04:35 AM)
About 7 years ago, when the Iraq war just was in its beginning stages, I was in 8th grade and my dad was in the Military. One day out of the blue he got word that his platoon might be shipping out to Iraq and he would be gone for 18 months. That night I cried and I prayed and I put a little plastic army man up on my tv, and asked God, "If he is going to have to go to Iraq, please keep the army man standing on my tv, but if he is not going to have to go, please have the army man knocked over when I wake up" (or something to that effect). Well, when I woke up, the army man was knocked down off the tv and I was a little overwhelmed. It would have been a pretty crazy coincidence for the army man to fall the same night I prayed that so I was sure God answered my prayer. I was so excited I wanted to tell my mom and dad the good news, but I was still a little unsure about it all, so I kept it to myself. Later that day my dad got a phone call saying that his platoon would not be deployed...That was the first time I ever asked God for a sign (and was the closest i've ever been with Him, relationship wise), and I believe He gave me the sign I asked for. BUT.... Soon after that (a few months later) my dad got another phone call saying his platoon was being activated and he would be shipped out in a few weeks....This is when my relationship with God started falling apart. For years I drifted from God, all through high school and a few years after. During those years I asked for many signs for various other reasons, and many times I remember being on my knees in the shower crying and beggin him for a sign, and I never got one again. I know that during these times I was only asking for a sign because I didn't have full faith in Him and I wanted some tangible evidence from Him so I could truly believe. I think that when I was closest with God, He did not find offense in me asking for a sign, and He blessed me with one, but when I drifted from Him and started to ask for signs for the wrong reasons, it angered and hurt Him and He refused to do it. Sorry for this being such a long post...im gonna stop here because I could write on for days about this. I jsut don't get a chance to talk about this stuff with my "real friends" [&:]

gegeven0szoun9ster -> RE: Seeking Signs from God (6/3/2009 5:43:04 AM)
i suppose ther good be good and no good reasons but maybe sometimes god wants you to decide for yourself for as far as asking signs concerning to faith i have experinece and i have been given many (maybe to many) i can never not believe anymore and my faith of god being a part and existing can never br turned people could try to bend me(non believers, who think god doesn't exist) but he's deep inside me i would just cry for nights and nights if somebody would tel me so he doesn't exist i would feel not being taking on for real and disbelieved. ask and you will get what you ask. (all this time i suppose u had an emotional relation with him)

freegirl -> RE: Seeking Signs from God (6/3/2009 9:34:34 AM)
Judges 6:37-40 36 Gideon said to God, "If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised- 37 look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said." 38 And that is what happened. Gideon rose early the next day; he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew—a bowlful of water. 39 Then Gideon said to God, "Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece. This time make the fleece dry and the ground covered with dew." 40 That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew. looks like if we get the a sign from God it a direct payer and it should be confirmed. Has anybody heard the old saying putting out a fleece? I was warned as a young christian not to ask God for a sign it will only cause confusion. Si just pray read Gods word and listen to the still small voice.

judahwarrior -> RE: Seeking Signs from God (7/1/2009 3:59:03 PM)
Jesus said in Matthew 25:45 "...when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me." (Matthew 25:31-46.) So that means how we treat others is how we treat Jesus. So do we really need a sign from God to make the right choices? No we don't. We just need the love of Jesus to know what God wants us to do because God loves every person in this world. Matthew 12:38-45 NLT demanded that Jesus prove his authority so this doesn't make full sense with the article. Matthew 16:1-4 NLT Same thing as the above. Thanks!

makarizo -> RE: Seeking Signs from God (7/1/2009 9:46:13 PM)
signs are for the unbelieving and faithless, miracles are for the faithful in heart.

Prairiehiker -> RE: Seeking Signs from God (7/1/2009 9:54:16 PM)
quote: just pray read Gods word and listen to the still small voice. I often here this among the Christian circles. I think people can throw this around because it's something that can be proved by anyone and can't be questioned. If you do, you're deemed as non spiritual and lacking in faith. God spoke to a lot of people differently according to the bible. I only know of one person He spoke to in a still small voice, but it seems that we are free to use as God's way of speaking. God used a donkey and a burning bush to speak to people, yet if someone says God spoke to me in a burning bush last night, we'd question them. So, think critically before we start using the "small, still voice" of God as His way of speaking....

makarizo -> RE: Seeking Signs from God (7/1/2009 10:13:07 PM)
I understand the still, quiet voice, I have experienced this... it is a spiritual concept, and not a verbal one. but the person who over uses the phrase "god told me" makes me cringe a little and wonder if their god's name is "emotion" when my friend's son was rushed to the hospital, it was the still quiet voice that told me to punch out (of work) and run to the hospital, ... after all, I am not psychic. the word "nudge"..... as in "God nudged me to whack that man over the head" I am still trying to figure that one out...??????

judahwarrior -> RE: Seeking Signs from God (7/2/2009 12:06:02 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Prairiehiker quote: just pray read Gods word and listen to the still small voice. I often here this among the Christian circles. I think people can throw this around because it's something that can be proved by anyone and can't be questioned. If you do, you're deemed as non spiritual and lacking in faith. God spoke to a lot of people differently according to the bible. I only know of one person He spoke to in a still small voice, but it seems that we are free to use as God's way of speaking. God used a donkey and a burning bush to speak to people, yet if someone says God spoke to me in a burning bush last night, we'd question them. So, think critically before we start using the "small, still voice" of God as His way of speaking.... I disagree with it being non-spiritual and lacking in faith. We pray and wait upon God and God will do something or tell us something. Pride and distraction leads us away from spending that precious time in His presence. Whenever Moses when to the Tent of Meeting, he was talking with God. Prayer is talking to God and that means God wants to say something back. Sometimes life can feel like a hurricane, an earthquake and etc. And we get to caught up in our drama and problems that we block off the voice of God. What I mean is as we walk through the path of life, we never take the time to be still and stand in fear and awe of God, in his glory, in his honor, presence and power. It's one thing to treat God as our Father and another thing to treat Him as a Holy God. quote: ORIGINAL: makarizo the word "nudge"..... as in "God nudged me to whack that man over the head" I am still trying to figure that one out...?????? I think God would give a message to the man to repent or do something before he gets whacked in the head. I mean why would he punish us if we do not know what we did wrong? Look at Jonah, he was to deliver the message of the Lord to the city for repentance. But haha I don't really know what you mean by nudge.

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