Today, we’re talking about the very important topic of extra-biblical revelation – the idea of God talking to us outside the pages of Scripture. And we’ve got a friend with us who literally wrote the book on it, Pastor Jim Osman. Jim’s excellent book on extra-biblical revelation is called God Doesn’t Whisper, and he’s going to help us understand why this teaching that God speaks to us outside of Scripture is not just extra-biblical, but unbiblical. Listen all the way to the end- we have a giveaway for you!
Resources
Jim Osman’s: website Facebook X(Twitter) Amazon author page
Kootenai Community Church (Jim’s church)
That’s Enough! The Sufficiency of Scripture
How Does the Holy Spirit Lead Us?
Jesus Calling articles– Berean Research
Jesus Calling/Sarah Young– Michelle Lesley- Discipleship for Christian Women
Thank you, bless you and Walk Worthy!
This was such a marvelously instructional podcast and I am grateful! For decades now ideas such as praying for an open door, striving to hear God’s guidance in decisions, the burden of needing to be constantly attuned to the still small voice are now shown to be erroneous and are happily tossed aside! I’m so glad to have the true context and sense of these verses delineated. To God be the glory!
Another amazing and helpful episode that clearly explains that God doesn’t whisper to us. I was born again at age 50 in 2011 & almost from the start of my walk I would here other Christian’s telling me “God told me” “God spoke to me” etc… I didn’t what this from the pulpit until we moved to the Midwest and tried to find a new church. All the church’s we attended out so much emphasis on hearing God speak, speaking in tongues etc… I would sit in my quiet time in tears because God wasn’t talking to me. Like Jim said in the podcast I really felt like there was something wrong with me, that maybe I wasn’t saved. I couldn’t understand why all the women I knew could talk to God. I started pressing into the scriptures and by Gods amazing grace He lead me to Michelle’s website, to this podcast and from you both I heard about other solid teachers, John MacArthur, Gabe Hughes, Costi Hinn, etc… I shared what I was learning g with my husband ((who had been in so many churches that taught HGV) and we started praying, searching the scripture, listening to solid teachers together (Truth for Life is a fav). We ended up leaving our old church and are now attending a great solid bible teaching church, who does not promote HGV or the sign gifts. It’s been a journey to get here but God has used it to help me grow, my husband grow and to live a life trusting Him and His precious word! Soli Deo Gloria Paula
I’ve never heard it out so succinctly—prayer is not a two-way street. Prayer is how we talk to God; we don’t hear Him through prayer but through His Word. Also, what great insight on making decisions! I will definitely be sharing with my older teens.
After listening to this episode I recalled a conversation I had with my daughter as a teenager saying all the wrong things. She is currently not walking with the Lord and I know this conversation may have contributed to that. I’ll have to ask her for forgiveness for that.
This was a great interview. I really appreciated the Q&A about frequently misquotes Scripture. When I read, “Practicing the Presence of God” many years ago, I thought there was truly something wrong with me, not saved, because I didn’t hear the voice of God. It made me doubt for a long time, until I heard the truth. Praise God!
What a great message! I work at our local rescue mission, and there is a guest who often tells me God told her this or that. We’ve become good friends, and I really want to help her see the truth. This podcast will really help with that. I’d love to win the book, but if not I’ll buy her a copy when funds are available.
On top of all that, I’ve been looking at my microwave for a while, thinking it needs a good cleaning, and I took advantage of the listening time to get it done!
Another needed episode, ladies! I work as a librarian in a Christian school in which many people do not think Biblically about this issue. Mr. Osman did a wonderful job of teaching what God was actually doing when He spoke to people or guided people in supernatural ways in the Bible and why this does not apply in the situations we attempt to use these experiences today. Furthermore, Mr. Osman’s teaching has lifted the burden of our trying to accomplish a work to be more intimate with God that is already ours in Christ Jesus. I see how
Mr. Osman’s book would be a useful title to add to our school’s library to help combat the misunderstandings and false doctrines that have been believed for far too long. I also have family members that I think are trapped in this thinking without realizing the harmful results of it. I have heard the fallacy that prayer is a two-way conversation, although I always believed that God used His and we answer with our prayers. Thank you for tackling this topic.
Loved this episode. As a Christian I once had an experience where I thought God had spoken to me and for years talked about it till finally my son rightly corrected me. I thought a lot about what he said and wondered how many other things I have gotten wrong in my Christian walk. This episode helped me so much but especially when Mr Oscan said he had been so into the book Experiencing God, sometimes we hear things or are taught wrong things then as we grow realize the error of our ways. Thank you!
I really enjoyed this episode. I was edified by how Jim explains commonly misused texts from Scripture, like Elijah and the still small voice, or Gideon with the fleece etc. It’s so important to rightly divide Scripture. I used to be in the charismatic movement where “God told me” was commonly said and abused. I used to think I was missing something as I didn’t hear anything. Thank God for His deliverance. I like when Jim said “we need to use Biblical language to communicate Biblical concepts”. It’s freeing to be reminded of how to approach these things Biblically. Thank you!!
I left the Bible Belt to move to California and I’ve never been more confused! I am a reformed believer and I love how Jim supported everything I have read in the scripture. (I was starting to feel weird that I hadn’t heard from God!!) Thank you for this interview.
I recall having conversations with friends who would often ask if I have a “peace about it”, when in the middle of decision making. When I finally asked them why do they use that phrase and what was meant by it, I never got an answer that I found to be biblically sound (although I knew that wasn’t exactly biblical language). This episode helped to make me aware that that kind of jargon falls in the camp of HVG theology. I cannot and must not look to myself for “peace about something”. I need to look to God’s word to see what He has already said, and use wisdom in making decisions.
A wonderful message! This is so prevalent in the church! I have read so many authors and heard so many friends who have talked about hearing God’s voice. Thank you, Jim, for that great illustration about the baby being spared because God told you to go into the room and, conversely if the baby had not been spared, was it due to God’s fault or your lack of intimacy with God. So many good points in this interview. I’m sure I will listen again and again!
Thank you for all your podcasts. While I didn’t learn anything new in this one (I ‘m old and have been studying God’s word for most of my life 😉 ) it is always good to be reminded of the things I’ve come to understand in Scripture. Very affirming.
So good to have this teaching. Wasted so many years studying things like “Experiencing God” and “Purpose Driven” material. So good to know that we only need our Bible to know what God wants from us.
Thank you so much for this episode! All my life I’ve been taught to listen for the voice of God but I have never been able to hear it. Being part of a charismatic church for the past few years, it has been tricky navigating my faith and deciphering Biblical truth from extrabiblical doctrine. I’ve been a Christian from a very young age, but I feel like I’m finally grasping what it actually means. This episode was so informative and encouraging, and I feel like I’m finally free of this false doctrine of audibly hearing God’s voice. What a blessing this podcast has been to me and especially the clear Biblical truth that Jim shared in this episode! I look forward to reading his books!
Great episode, great teaching from Pastor Osman. I can’t wait to read the book! I’ve grown up in church all my life, and in recent years have been engulfed tremendously through studies of trying to hear the voice of God, wondering if something was wrong with me because everyone around me seemed to be hearing from God, getting dreams or visions, and me nothing. Finding out that only the Word of God, the Scriptures are all I need to “hear” the voice of God is a huge weight lifted. I feel like I should have always known this, but always being around those that speak of having dreams and visions, or knowing that God was telling them do this or do that, it makes one wonder if something their doing is wrong. Scripture is all I need. And I’m so greatful for discernment ministries like yours and pastors that do expository preaching and teaching like Mr. Osman.
I am in the middle of reading Jim’s book and love it. I can say that my husband and I both often wondered why we didn’t hear from God. It seemed like we would hear people talk about how they heard from God, were called by God, or God led them in some direction, and we were never experiencing this. My husband felt like he was doing something wrong because he never heard God. We’ve been married 25 years and it is only in this last year that we have finally found a doctrinally sound church and realized the Bible is all we need to hear from God.
I learn so much from each episode, but this episode directly addressed some of the lies I have been believing recently. I am currently struggling through some issues directly related to believing that I should be hearing something from God. I do believe that praying and studying my Bible go hand in hand, and I do believe God speaks to us through His Word. I can see, though, where I have been allowing these little phrases to sneak into my thinking. Thank you for once again giving us the resources to point us to God’s Truth not man’s (or women’s) false opinions.
What a great podcast episode! I’ve been interested in this topic for decades, as I’ve been in the pursuit of God. While I would consider myself a mature Christian of about 35 years, I did Experiencing God two or 3 times 20 years ago when it was popular. It’s kind of funny but sad how we Christians can sometimes just go along with what is popular but not be a Berean and study to see if something is correct. Reminds me of the purpose driven life. At any rate it was great to hear him speak of “Decision-making in the will of God” by Gary Friesen. That book was also pivotal in changing my view and setting me free. I would love to read this book! I’m going to be sharing this podcast with many people.
Amazing episode. I have learned so much listening to this episode. I am going to listen again and take notes. In the past I have attempted to participate in several Experiencing God Bible studies and just could not follow thru now I know why. Thank you Pastor Osman for excellent book full of Biblical truths, We have been attending a seeker sensitive church for 12 years then I found A word fitly spoken podcast (thank you Leslie and Michelle) I have learned so much about discernment and that the Bible is all that we need and we are now looking for a Church and a Pastor preaches only from the Bible with exegesis and not topically / eisegesis (which is what we had been involved with for the last 12 years) My husband and I are thankful that God has opened our eyes to the truth,
Hi Natalie- Amy and I are so happy for you that the Lord is opening your eyes to sound doctrine. This resource at my blog might help as you look for a solid church: Searching for a new church?
So eye opening! Gives me so many points to reinforce why I have always felt such a discomfort with the God whispering to you mindset. I for so many years felt that I was doing something wrong because I never heard God speak to me, I ended up walking away from the church and my faith for many years, it was always there but on the complete back burner, leaving me feeling lost and inadequate. I did studies by P. Shrier, and others and felt even more lost because I didn’t have the same experiences. We recently left a church after they started promoting experiencing God as their bible study for the fall and the pastor wholeheartedly embraced it. We have find a more biblically sound church but still not as sound as I would like due to the current womens Bible study, however I am choosing not to participate in that.
I would love to read this book in full and have the points I need to stand firm to my beliefs and not feel pushed around by theGod speaking crowd.
Wonderful episode. I really enjoyed hearing him explain the scriptures used to support this falsehood. Especially my sheep hear my voice and gideons fleece. Very insightful. Thanks for another great episode ladies!
I teach a small group of teen girls, and we often have deep theological discussions. “Does God audibly talk to us today” has come up several times. Some girls think He does, although I teach otherwise biblically. This podcast was a timely episode! I plan on using this book in our discussions! Thank you!
Thank you for this resource! I’ve always struggled with what to say to others who follow these false philosophies. This is so helpful and I’m glad to know I’m not alone in my concerns for these false ideas. I’m interested in this book and can’t wait to read it! Thank you again!
Thank-you so much for this episode! I plan to share it far and wide! Years ago I was part of a ladies Bible study that used the book Experiencing God. It is a very common teaching that prayer is a two way street, but Mr. Osman is right that it puts such a burden on people. I think I did have some wrong ideas back then, but have since learned to study the Bible as a whole and in context. Praise the Lord! I would love to read this book!(I’m not sure if the give-away is for the US only, but I’m in Canada.)
This episode hit the bullseye on the target of the struggle with a decision that was made because of an unexpected thought that my husband had many years ago. We are cessationists and do not believe that God speaks outside the Bible, but this one caught us off guard. The thought was, “(John) is your son-in-law.” (We didn’t know anyone in her friend group by that name, and she was dating someone by a different name.) My husband felt he had been “told” and the usual process a dad might undertake in considering his daughter’s future spouse had been taken away from him. In hindsight, it would have been better to say, “I don’t know where that came from, and I’m going to seek wise counsel and follow Biblical principles in this decision.” Because of the circumstances, we thought it must have been God, and over the decade plus since, I’ve been both very angry and very sad for our daughter and even wanted to tell her to just come home. (He’s a “believer,” no abuse, no unfaithfulness, but MANY reasons to really regret that she ever met him.) I have continued to wrestle with “hearing God speak” all these years and have just recently had it settled, this timely episode seals it … too late. He is a good father to their three girls, but as I consider our daughter’s long-haul future, I am praying that they will develop stronger walks with God and that He will (as He alone CAN) work ALL things for their good and His glory. I have a few people in my family who I will share this with.
This was wonderful and will help me clean up my
own language when speaking to others. I have out his books on my “to read” list. It’s always a pleasure to biblically learn more about our wonderful Lord and Savior.
Wow, I really learned that words matter. This was a great episode. My favorite part was when Jim discussed the commonly used Bible verses and gave the context to each!!!
What a super informative and edifying episode. I’m sharing it with all of my friends. I see how easily this deficient theology has snuck into the way we talk about prayer and I can see the heavy burden it puts on the shoulders of others. I took so many quotes away from this episode.
“No where in scripture does it say that prayer is a two way street. Prayer is the means in which we talk to God. His Word is the means in which God talks to us.
Prayer is not the word we use for God speaking to us. Revelation is… “. 🙌🏻🙌🏻
Thank you for a great interview. It really helped me tremendously.
Praise God for an awesome episode! The Lord saved me out of the New Age in 2014 and has grown my understanding of theology SO much, especially in this area. Thank you ladies and Pastor Jim!
Pastor Jim mentioned the late Charles Stanley a couple of times but did he by chance mean Andy Stanley? Charles Stanley seemed doctrinal sound but Andy…
Hi Regina- No, he means Charles Stanley. CS wrote more than one book about listening to God. I don’t recall the titles right now, but Jim quotes extensively from one of them in God Doesn’t Whisper.
No worries about commenting twice. :0)
Hello and thank you for the podcast. I left a comment earlier which actually was a question and I was still listening to the podcast. I wasn’t aware of the giveaway. If possible please disregard my first comment.
I was surprised by some of what I learned today. I never believed in that “small still voice” stuff. I confess I have tried “putting out a fleece” and also I’m still trying to wrap my head around what Pastor Jim said about “having a peace” about something one has prayed about. I certainly don’t want to do something that’s unbiblical. I’m going to go back and listen again because maybe I missed something as to why having a peace about something may not be scriptural. Thank you again.
This was meaningful, I always felt uncompleted as a Christian because I didn’t hear “God’s voice” or had one of those supernatural experiences. When my church did that Experiencing God bible study years ago, there were a few things I just didn’t feel were right. What I learned and realized was that people in the Bible that did talk to God were not asking who to marry, where to buy their food. GOD was giving them a task to do. Thanks for this podcast and the work you all do!
I left a church a few years ago that was promoting extra-biblical revelation, specifically from the worship leader. A lot of things were happening behind the scenes that the congregation was unaware of. There was so much emphasis on emotion, sitting and waiting for God to give us a word or picture and praying for personal revelation. The worship leader would even say she had prophetic words or messages spoken to her that she was supposed to reveal to others. I am so thankful that we left that church and found our way to a biblically sound church- and one that actually brought Jim Osman to preach at this summer! His teaching this summer was a blessing and so was this episode. Thank you!! 🙂
I was thrilled that you had Jim Osman on to share about this important aspect of theology. I watched his “God Doesn’t Whisper” teaching series on the AGTV streaming platform earlier this year, and your interview serves as a nice general introduction to that material. (The video series is an overview of the book, which has been on my mental “read it!” list ever since in order to take a deeper dive.)
I look back on my faith history and see the graciousness of the Lord where He has steered me away from fully embracing various sorts of destructive teaching and culture that have infiltrated the Church in our country over the past 20+ years. I had become dangerously close to embracing such ideas — and unfortunately so through church sermons and studies that wandered away from truth in search of “relevance.” (As soon as I watched Jim’s series, I dug out my old copy of “Experiencing God” and chucked it in the trash. I hadn’t read it in many years, but just didn’t want it in my library anymore!) I’m so thankful that the Lord has now placed our family in a doctrinally sound local church with a high view of Scripture, which is exposited with diligence and care. Praise God that the Word is sufficient and effective as His means of speaking to us, and that the Holy Spirit illumines our minds to know Christ! And may believers shed the burden of trying to figure out how to hear from God since He already has already revealed Himself to us through His Word.
I missed you over the Summer, even though I completely understand your need for a break! I was happy to have your podcasts return, and this one was great to have at the start of this new season! I struggle with friends and family who are at churches that teach on extra-biblical revelation and now I have more to share with them. Thank you Pastor Jim, Michelle, and Amy!
This episode confirms, yet again, what I’ve learned, God speaks to us through His Word! Thank you, I need to keep hearing this!
Thank you for this episode! I am going to go back and listen again. You Conversation was eye-opening in areas that are easy to slip into. The open and closed door conversation was especially interesting and again I want to go back and listen to that one. I appreciated his explanation on the open doors. I am still pondering the closed-door concept, as I think that can be a clearer way The Lord can direct your path. For example, in a job search when you don’t get a job he’s sovereign over that and I would see that as him closing the door to that job. Definitely something worth continuing to listen and ponder. Thank you!
THANK YOU for this episode! I have this discussion often with women in our church about how we need to be careful what we say, because it’s not biblical. I appreciate how Jim talked about who is “called” to be a pastor. Paul never said you had to audibly hear God. There are a list of qualifications, but that is not one of them. I went through Experiencing God YEARS ago. While I did get some good from it, I spent MUCH of the time questioning things about it that just didn’t settle well. It was years before I understood why it didn’t settle. Now, in our church, my husband and I are trying to teach people how to study the Bible for themselves and not take man’s word for what it says. We have been trying to show them how we can be easily led astray and into a false doctrine by things that SOUND accurate, but actually aren’t. We so desperately need a generation that is willing to actually study our Bibles and follow God and not listen to man and follow man.
My mind is blown in so many ways with this interview! So much of it I already knew to be true and didn’t know why nor had the Scripture to back it but over the years, I’ve felt that my walk with Christ must be lame cuz I don’t hear Him speak to me. I do have nudgings and promptings and I love how that was explained. I’ve ALWAYS heard that prayer is a two way street! Wow! I cannot thank you enough for explaining so much of what is wrongly taught in the church and in our women’s ministries. We too, did the Henry Blackaby study 20 years ago and we were so enthralled with it. We all want to hear God speak to us individually as we appear more holy to others when we relay the messages but I’ve always felt uneasy when people use that language (God told me etc etc)
Thank you so very much! I’ve already sent the link to my hubby to listen to on his way home from work and I hope to get the book and share with fellow believers BUT I’m also concerned about the backlash. Please pray for us all as we stand for Truth!
Thank you again!
Love this episode! One thing I appreciated that Jim mentioned is what a burden this teaching is. It causes doubt in people that they may not really be saved because they are not “hearing from God” outside of Scripture. When I was still a newer believer I was exposed to some of those teaching through Beth Moore Bible studies and Priscilla Shirer. Sadly it even has crept it way to some degree into Community Bible Study classes.
Thank you ladies for another biblically sound episode.
I learned so much in this episode! I have many friends who are avid followers of people like Priscilla Shrier and I myself used to love Beth Moore (many many years ago). Although I have claimed to be a Christian my entire life, I don’t think I was truly saved until a few years ago. I say that to say, until very recently, I had never even heard of the term extra biblical revelation and wouldn’t have thought twice about pretty much everything in this episode. I have used phrases such as “God told me” or “God show me Your will through opening and closing doors”. I still sometimes catch myself saying them simply because they are habitual, but I am growing in my knowledge of just how theologically inaccurate those sayings are and in turn how hurtful and damaging they can be to those around me. I would love to read Jim’s book to learn more and share with my friends and family who are still in a state of not thinking there’s really anything wrong with those who are teaching this concept.
Thank you ladies for all you do! It has been one of the best podcasts I’ve come across to help me grow in knowledge of our faith and constantly points me back to God’s Word.
This was a very good and helpful episode. When my husband and I got married late in life, we became an immediate family of 4 (I have children from first marriage). We felt the best thing for our new family was to attend church regularly but didn’t know where to start. Someone recommended a Pentecostal-type church so we chose that one. We went every Sunday, were very active, until we started noticing things that just didn’t seem right. The Pastor spoke about “healings” yet no one was ever miraculously healed. When I was experiencing some health issues, we were told by another pastor that I must have unconfessed sin that was preventing the healing. There were many similar issues. We left that church feeling angry, discouraged and alone. I’m very happy to say this led my husband on a deep exploration of faith, which we then explored together. The Lord brought us through and gave us a much deeper understanding of His word.
This episode gave me some helpful responses when faced with people who believe these lies. I’m really looking forward to reading the book!
Thank you so much for this episode!
Thank you so much for this. It really hit home (literally), because my husband is someone who says, “God told me…” In fact, he said it the other night at the small group Bible study we are hosting in our home. I was cringing inside, but of course I couldn’t challenge him in front of the group! We’ve talked about the issue before, but I’m hopeful that some of what I learned by listening to this podcast might help if the Holy Spirit “opens the door” to another conversation!
Also – on a brighter note, the church God brought us out of talks this way a LOT. Every year God “gives” the pastor a word for the church, like “Prosper”, “Flourish”, “Stronger”, etc. I praise God for bringing us to a church that focuses on God’s Word in the BIBLE!
This was so helpful. I really enjoyed his explanation of what the still small voice was- something that called Elijah out to see what was out there verses God literally whispering. People are so desperate to hear from God in a special and unique way and they’re uncommitted to His word. The power is in the Word. The sanctification process happens when we submit regularly and daily. It’s a discipline and God will bless that. Thank you for this important topic!
This was an excellent episode about a topic that always gets me fired up! I used to belong to a large charismatic/big eva church, and the young wife of one of the pastors had terminal cancer. So many people from the church claimed that God told them directly that He would heal her, but she ended up passing away. It was a heartbreaking situation all around, and it still makes me so sad to think of the impact of this false, extrabiblical revelation. This was a huge church with many new converts, and I just pray that their faith wasn’t irreparably damaged.
I downloaded the book from Kindle before even finishing the episode, but I wanted to comment anyway. I first discovered Reformed Theology about 13 years ago. I remember that Michelle ( I think in a blog post many years ago) was one of the first people I heard talk about the fact that we can make decisions on our own as long as we follow biblical principles. I was floored as that was the opposite of what I had heard all my life. Especially where “bigger” decisions are concerned, I was taught to wait for God to tell me, but I never knew how I was supposed to know. I was told a feeling or whisper or something, but no one else seemed to know either. I was also made to believe that if I made the wrong decision, that I would be punished for not doing God’s will and things would go badly, so inevitably whenever things went badly, I knew it was because I didn’t really listen to God. I was under this yoke for so long and it was a burden. Thank you for this episode!
Thank you for this episode! I, unfortunately have sooo many terrible experiences where I not only tried to hear from God, but declared I heard from God to family and friends (sigh). I do look back on these moments with shame for being so blasphemous and lost! I have a very similar College crisis story and I spent most of my college years looking for experiences and voices (talk about a burden). Even with my theology being corrected in this area, I still struggle with others around me (in reformed backgrounds) who make these claims. I still wonder from time to time: AM I MISSING SOMETHING?! so this was very encouraging as I had been recently praying about this and reverting back to thinking how I was growing up, that I am on the outskirts of Christianity and everybody else is “in”. This episode inspired me to write a poem about my experience titled “Silent but Deadly.”
Thanks for this episode! Extra biblical revelation has been hurtful in my walk. Growing up it was studies like from Beth Moore – then people I met in college- and whenever I heard of people having what seemed like such a close relationship with God, it made me feel like I wasn’t good enough or not doing enough to be like them and have that same type of relationship. It made me long to hear directly from God in the ways they did. Thankfully God has opened my eyes and I no longer look for this kind of revelation to determine my worthiness, etc.
I have one follow up question. I understand not accepting extra biblical revelation and expectation of dreams/ visions to receive new knowledge from God. But I have not yet heard you all speak to testimonies of how God is moving in other parts of the world. For example, it is very common for a Muslim God is pursuing to have a dream about Jesus or the Bible- sometimes where the Jesus figure even speaks. This is then often followed by that individual encountering scripture and a believer- before the individual comes to Christ. Are you familiar with these testimonies? I can’t direct you to a specific episode- but Voice of the Martyrs podcast shares testimonies like this from across the Muslim world often. Would love to hear your thoughts.
Hi Alexandra- Jim addresses this biblically in the book. If you don’t win the drawing, we would encourage you to purchase it and consider his answer.
Oh my goodness….what a terrific podcast! I’ve been a fan of Justin Peters for years and have used his quote often, “If you want to hear God speak, read your Bible out loud”. This episode with Jim has given me more Scripture and antidotes to explain to people why I know God doesn’t speak to people. My mother-in-law, who is a Methodist, and who’s church just disaffiliated with the UMC, told us about the lady who is now working for the Global Methodist Church, who is responsible for vetting the pastors who want to be a part of that group. Yes, a woman is vetting the pastors, deciding if they can be allowed in the Global Methodist Church. Anyway, this same woman told the congregation at my MIL’s church that God speaks to her through dreams and visions, ugh!! My MIL is very strong willed and will shut me down anytime I say one syllable to counter what she has just said. But she LOVES to read….this book would be the perfect way to let her know the truth without it coming from me!! Of course, I would either read it first or just get multiple copies to share. I am very sensitive to hearing the words “God called me…” or “God told me…” or “God wanted me to do…” It has never sat well in my soul, and since being a student of Justin Peters, Mike Gendron, Chris Rosebrough, and now Michelle Lesley & Amy Spreeman, I feel confirmed in that feeling. Thank you for all you do!!!!
I truly appreciated this episode with Jim Osman! You all did a great job explaining about the difference between all the unbiblical revelations and what Scripture actually teaches, especially on Colossians 3:15! I debated about what to share, and in the end it is my hope and prayer that God will use my situation to help someone see the dangers and hurt these things cause.
I was raised as a charismatic/pentecostal. When I think back over the years, it is overwhelming to think about the cost of listening to all the people who have said “God told me…” and the “confirmations” and being taught to listen to the whisper, having “peace”, receiving “words from God”, confirmations, dreams, unbiblical spiritual warfare, etc.
There are many incidents, but 2 specific situations that caused the most hurt in my life in regards to this topic are:
The first was receiving a “word” at Senior camp that the “doctors were wrong, and I would have 3 children.” After 1.5 years of trying, my husband and I finally conceived. But devastatingly I had a miscarriage around 6 weeks and we lost our sweet baby. I became very depressed and angry.I had so many questions. For 6 months I struggled with why God would “give me a word”, answer my prayer, and then allow me to go through a miscarriage. As of today, I have ONE wonderful 13 year old son whom God blessed us with 2 years after the miscarriage.
The second situation has to do with our son. Right from birth there were some red flags we noticed that caused us concern, but we were dismissed. At age 1 his entire “personality” had changed, and life in our house became a nightmare for a lack of a better term. We went to our church for help, and we were told it was demonic activity and Satan was attacking because we were doing “God’s Work” and being involved with “Spiritual Warfare”. I vividly remember praying the entire night and into the next day all of the “prayers” and “scriptures” from a book I was given to “rout demons”. After weeks of “praying”, “anointing with oil” and other things, I had enough and called our doctor. Something in me just knew there was something wrong and I no longer believed it was a “spiritual” problem. Long story short he was diagnosed with an ASD called PDD-NOS and they also Sensory Processing issues.
I knew God loved me and I loved Him, but so much seemed so wrong. Out of loyalty and not knowing where to search, it would take another 4 years before I would renounce and repent from my charismatic beliefs and practices.
I am so thankful to God for His grace and mercy and for leading me out of error!
Thank you, Amy and Leslie, for all you do! Your ministry has been a blessing!
Absolutely loved this episode, and I’ve saved it to listen to repeatedly.
I have family members deceived in a “church” where their “pastor” delivers messages he has “heard directly from God.” It’s devastating to witness the cult like devotion and following to a man (and his “pastor wife”) who do not rightly handle the Word of God. I have shared my concerns from a biblical perspective, and all I can do is pray for them.
Your podcast equips me with solid biblical knowledge to rightly understand God’s Word. Thank you both for all you do!