Insightful post : ) The proposition that we are no longer operating in this runs paramount to saying we no longer hear from God ourselves except in a sort of hand-me-down fashion. I don't know that this is how He intended the church to operate for the next 2,000 years. Some would argue it is a more "secure" way of doing things - nothing left up to question? - but is it truly secure when no one hears from Him directly any more? How do we know He's even there? Maybe it's like Elijah said, and He's sleeping now. Or maybe He passed on?
This is why I believe the Lord said of Himself, "I AM," not "I was." He's still alive, still here, and He still speaks.
I'm certainly trying to be respectful of opposing positions, but I simply cannot relate to a God who set things in place 2,000 years ago and moved on. It borders on Deism. It's just way too impersonal to me, and since He has confirmed to me hundreds of times reasons for believing otherwise. I don't see how I could think any other way. Granted I love the word more than anything else and always have. But to limit Him to speaking to me in only that way just makes no sense.
Now here is a talking point of the Charismatic/penetcostal circles.
For those who do not know what Deism is.
DEISM A philosophical view of God that posits God as a Creator who set the universe in motion and then stepped back, no longer actively engaging with creation. This view was popular in 17th and 18th century Europe among those opposed to the excesses of organized religion. Deism emphasized the use of reason over revelation for deciding religious questions.
John D. Barry et al., eds., “Deism,” in The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016).
For the Reformed and myself, we do not buy into that train of thought.
Many have no clue of how God works in Sovereignty, providence and His decrees.
God is actively working in everything:
He upholds and controls all things.
Colossians 1:16 For in Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, And in Him all things hold together.
Afflictions
Job 5:17-118 “Behold, how blessed is the man whom God reproves, So do not reject the discipline of the Almighty. “For He inflicts pain and gives relief; He wounds, and His hands also heal.
Evil and Destruction
Genesis 50:20 “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to do what has happened on this day, to keep many people alive.
Isaiah 45:5-9 “I am Yahweh, and there is no other; Besides Me there is no God. I will gird you, though you have not known Me, That they may know from the rising to the setting of the sun That there is no one besides Me. I am Yahweh, and there is no other, The One forming light and creating darkness, Producing peace and creating calamity; I am Yahweh who does all these. “Drip down, O heavens, from above, And let the skies pour down righteousness; Let the earth open up and salvation bear fruit, And righteousness spring up with it. I, Yahweh, have created it. “Woe to the one who contends with his Maker— An earthenware vessel among the vessels of earth! Will the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you doing?’ Or the thing you are making say, ‘He has no hands’?
Amos 3:6 If a trumpet is blown in a city will not the people tremble? If a calamity happens in a city has not Yahweh done it?
Acts 2:23 this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of lawless men and put Him to death.
Men and their actions
Proverbs 16:1 The preparations of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.
Proverbs 16:4 The LORD has made all for Himself, Yes, even the wicked for the day of doom.
Proverbs 16:9 A man's heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.
Proverbs 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the LORD.
Proverbs 19:21 There are many plans in a man's heart, Nevertheless the Lord's counsel; that will stand.
Proverbs 20:24 A man's steps are of the LORD; How then can a man understand his own way?
Job 12:6 The tents of robbers prosper, And those who provoke God are secure; In what God provides by His hand.
Isaiah 22:11 You also made a reservoir between the two walls For the water of the old pool. But you did not look to its Maker, Nor did you have respect for Him who fashioned it long ago.
Psalms 139:16-17 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them. 17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!
The Destiny of a believer is ordained by God
Ephesians 1:4,5,9,11 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,
Acts 13:48 Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.
Ezekiel 34:11,12,15 'For thus says the Lord GOD: "Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. 12 "As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day. 15 "I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down," says the Lord GOD.
These Scriptures are just a handful of what the Bible teaches on His providence and Sovereignty.
Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
Here is my point.
Deism is not part of our thought process.
We do no need miracles, dreams and any other sign gift to have an intimate relationship with God in our lives. That would prove nothing for me, in fact it would be just the opposite.
To say that God needs to do sign gifts is to basically say His written word is not enough in my opinion.
God is so active in my life that if He wants satan or his demons to afflict me, that is His business for His glory and my ultimate benefit. Do I believe in spiritual warfare, you bet, Paul tells us much about it.
I just never focus on what satan is doing, only what God is doing in His sovereignty and Providence. Most of the time I am not fighting satan, I am fighting my flesh that still is in me.
I have full assurance in God, He is so intimately active in His childrens lives.
Here is a very underrated verse.
Matthew 10:30 "But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Many do not understand what that verse implies.
Daily, I see how the Lord is in control of my life and how He orchestrates everything in life.
Am I His robot? Nope.
I just wanted to be clear on this.
I do not knock any of those of the Pentecostal/charismatic thought process.
I have known and been friends with many of them.
Apologies for the long post.
Grace and peace to you.
