Let me start off by using a New Testament Scripture that might bring some ease to the Christian community that lives life primarily from the OUTSIDE. We all live from “outside-in” initially, but to remain there, is greatly limiting. Living “outside-in” is akin to only living by our five senses. I feel I need to keep saying that I love the Bible, and that it is SACRED to me because I spend so much of my life in the INTERNAL HEARING realm.
Romans 10:17 is where I’ve become accustomed to be living. My faith is in HEARING!
Those who embrace Bibliolatry (the Bible is infallible, inerrant, and nothing that contradicts any word in it is blasphemy) struggle with the heretical (to them) thoughts that Jesus or the Spirit of God could say something to me, or anyone, that’s advanced from what was written 2,000 years ago. Voices are scary. I admit that. But, I write what I am HEARING.
I am sure that very few people have heard of Leslie Flint (1911-1994). Leslie is probably the worlds most tested voice medium. He had been tied up, gagged, sealed, and you name it by some of the world’s best scientists and engineers. Their goal was NOT to see if his gift was real but to prove it false! One such individual, William R. Bennett (Electrical Engineering professor at Columbia University) had to admit in September 1970 that the gift was real: one of the few to do so.
It’s difficult for the egoic, scientific, and religious mind to admit there is a world beyond the five senses; that there is more to living by the Spirit than just reading a book.
Never “hear” or interpret that anything I say debunks the Bible to which I embrace. However, surely HEAR that I do not believe it to be the LAST WORD, nor that it is inerrant. The contradictions are all over the library of books that make up the Bible, but so is the Spirit. Saying the Bible is SACRED is greatly different than making an IDOL out of the Bible (Bibliolatry). I will never try to convince someone who sees the Bible as infallible that my way is right- that what I am HEARING is true, though I think that.
Furthermore, as I’ve said on numerous occasions, I will not “duel Scriptures” because there’s no fruit in such divisiveness. Duality must die sometime! I do encourage people to express their thoughts- in love, not condemnation.
So, what are YOU HEARING?
You really can! I AM! 
Sometimes God uses topics in the Thompson Chain Reference Study Bible to speak to me. He uses themes like “Word of God–Absolutely Trustworthy” which contain scriptures like these:
1) I Kings 8:56–blessed be the Lord, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised. There has not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised through His servant Moses.
2) Psalm 89:34–My covenant I will not break, not alter the word that has gone out of My lips.
3) Luke 21:33–Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
That’s what I’m hearing. God’s word is true when properly interpreted and although He still speaks, He’s not going to say something that nullifies the truth of His written word.
at one time I thought that the bible was infallible but at the sametime very confused about what i was reading. Now that i am unlearning and letting go of the things that kept me down, guilt etc, always thinking that i could never live up to the expectations of others view of the bible. I can and so can everyone else release all of that and live in freedom to love and be loved. The bible is a tool, a wonderful way to start and a great foundation but it is not the end. Thank God ,Now that puts a smile on my face.
And you just put a smile on MY face! You’ve come a long way baby!
Linda- You really put a tough requirement in the following”
“God’s word is true when properly interpreted”
How do we know if we or some scholar is “properly interpreting”. If you are interpreting, you have to assume you are hearing God speak when you interpret; if it is a scholar, it has to be one you like or one you trust. And what is it to “like” one particular scholar over another or “trust” one scholar more than another. It all comes down to your own judgment of the scholar and the passage you are interpreting. We are all human and fallible, therefore all of our interpretations are fallible. They could be wrong!
GOOD Post, Te amo!
Don, there are several ways to know if you’re properly interpreting the Bible. First, you can look at the scripture in context. What’s being spoken about and how does the piece you’re looking at fit into the whole idea? Second, cross reference scriptures. See if this idea is repeated, sometime using words that are a little different. For example, Daniel 4:35 and Romans 9:20 both speak about the sovereignty of God. The verse in Daniel says, “No one can ward off his hand”, in Romans, “The thing molded will not say to the molder, ‘why did you make me like this?’”. Same idea through two diverse prophets born centuries apart. When God repeats a thought throughout the Bible, He’s putting a great deal of emphasis on it. Third, you can look up the individual words in a concordance. That gives you a better understanding of what the original words meant. The word “love” has a variety of meanings in our time, but the words “agape” (SC #26) and “phileo (SC 5368) mean unconditional love and friendly affection, respectively. Unfortunately, they are often simply translated as “love.” Hope that helps!
Is that the truth Linda? You don’t trust the voice of his spirit? You have to have your library along side you rather than learn to trust what he speaks to your spirit? That doesn’t give much credence to coming to him like a little child. Most of them don’t read. You haven’t spent enough of the right kind of time with him. This is what I am learning more and more. That is how you learn anyone’s voice. I would never have to keep an audio file of people I know well to double check when their phone messages come in.
God sent us the comforter to lead us into truth. He never mentioned groups of scholars in years to come, where one man was allowed to put his name on the book title. Their agenda is to write books that literate their opinion. Books might be handy and they might be helpful but that is all.
This is the best assurance, that I know that voice. When I was a baby, I knew my mothers voice because she was the one that loved and cared for me the most. I knew her in the dark by her presence and her voice.
People have heard the Lord’s voice for thousands of years. They’ve written some valuable principles that never change. That’s why Isaiah 40:8 declares the word of the Lord stands forever. God gave knowledge to many people and desired it to be passed down the generations. Solomon said in Proverbs 3:1,2 “My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; for length of days and years of life, and peace they will add to you.” Jesus affirmed the validity of the scriptures many times John (10:35; 17:12). While the role of the Holy Spirit is vital in our lives, He doesn’t nullify what’s already been written.
The wind is blowing but the roots are deep.
Ernie;
You talked about Leslie Flint. Suppose his “gift” was real. Do you think the warnings about communication with the dead, necromancy, familiar spirits, etc in the bible should not be taken literally?
Are there not some areas of inquiry which are at best unprofitable and at worst downright dangerous for seekers?
Ernie, I love your website and comments. After reading the least several posts about “The Word of God” vs scriptures, I decided to use my QuickVerse search to see if I could find one single verse that simply says, “scripture IS The Word of God”. I found verses that say, “they heard the Word of God”. Some say, “they spoke The Word of God”. The Word of God grew. etc.
Jesus spoke of the “scriptures”, but He never, to my knowledge, called the scriptures “The Word”. The scriptures are inspired. The Word of God just IS. So, I did a complete search of the entire Bible looking for just any verse to describe exactly what the Word is. I found just ONE!
Heb. 4:12 “For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
That says it all.
Allen, I can relate my experience to you. As a child, I played with Ouiga boards, dabbled in ESP, and read my horoscope. Sometimes I knew what people were going to say before they actually said it. At Christmas, 1977, I walked out of my grandparents’ house and told my husband, “We’re not all going to be here next year.” November 26, 1978, my mother died. After I came to know the Lord, I asked Him about those instances. The answer didn’t come immediately. About 15 years ago, I got delivered from spirits of divination, ESP, etc. I had repented of those activities many years previously, but the demons were still there. Those warnings in the Old Testament are real and for today. Fortunately, God is greater than our enemies and our past!
Allen, from my perspective of what I’ve read about Leslie Flint, his gift was REAL- to the amazement of the naysayers. But since I do not walk in fear, nor do I not practice those things, they don’t bother me. Secondly, there are things in the Bible that are literal, things both literal and metaphorical, things mythical and not true, and things strickly symbolic. The Spirit leads us to the discernment of which is which. Things are only dangerous if you EMBRACE them. The world is full of obvious dangerous things but I choose not to go there, but neither do I PRETEND they are not real- they ARE!
George, I like the “feel” of your spirit- whoever and wherever you are.
Roy, welcome to the conversation. You ARE the light of the world. Jesus was the light of the world. God is he light of the world. WE ARE!
I have really enjoyed this commentary today I am totally encourage by the openess to hearing and listening. I am currently sharpening my listening skills. I am exploring and tapping into flowing in the spirit. I feel like a balloon able to feel and be moved by the wind but is on a string that is anchored (in God). One day I am going to float away in His knowing and realize that the wind is God’s and I am safe.
It’s a late night crowd today! Ah, but there’s always more for tomorrow. The Spirit is always showing us NEW things- even things which contradict what we know, but of course that’s what Jesus said the Spirit would do.
Can you hear?