Comments on: The God Who is Not Silent http://afcmin.org/ateam/117/the-god-who-is-not-silent Helping plans come together, one post at a time Sun, 03 May 2015 14:00:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.9 By: Anonymous http://afcmin.org/ateam/117/the-god-who-is-not-silent/comment-page-1#comment-361 Fri, 05 Aug 2005 06:40:00 +0000 http://afcmin.org/ateam/?p=117#comment-361 Wildignite,
I think there are two things being discussed in the passage from Joel found in Acts 2. First is the Spirit being poured out on all people, and second is all types of people receiving the gift of prophecy. As I said, we must interpret Scripture in light of other Scripture. Romans 12 indicates that the gift of prophecy is given to some, but not all. All receive gifts as part of the blessing of being filled of the Spirit, but not all receive the specific gift of prophecy. If there were no other passages that shed light on this issue, I would certainly be more inclined towards Bill's interpretation. However, I simply can't line that up with the complete testimony of Scripture.

]]> By: Anonymous http://afcmin.org/ateam/117/the-god-who-is-not-silent/comment-page-1#comment-360 Tue, 02 Aug 2005 02:45:00 +0000 http://afcmin.org/ateam/?p=117#comment-360 Murdock, How would you counter what Bill said about Peter's sermon in chapter 2?
I've read Decision making and the will of God and I'm all for it. I am just curious to what others have to say.

]]> By: Anonymous http://afcmin.org/ateam/117/the-god-who-is-not-silent/comment-page-1#comment-359 Fri, 03 Jun 2005 07:46:00 +0000 http://afcmin.org/ateam/?p=117#comment-359 “Just to clarify my understanding of your position, Roger, You believe that scripture is not just the ultimate communication from God but the only form of communication outside a rare gift of prophecy.”
Depends what you mean by communication. Propositionally, yes. I do not expect to receive any new words from God unless it's from a prophet.
“Is there any sense in your view that the Spirit leads us at all, even beyond imparting messages to us?”
Of course. You've cited several verses that tell us the Holy Spirit leads us. The question I'm getting at is how. “Being led by the Spirit” is Biblical language, it's how we use that language that's important.
In regards to Acts 2, I'm not sure it's clear either way. As I understand it, cessationists hold that it was meant only for that day, but for all the people. Another interpretation could be that it refers to the gift of prophesy being available to all types of people but necessary of all people. I think we have to interpret it in light of other passages. One such passage would be Romans 12, where Paul plainly says that some have the gift of prophecy, some serving, some teaching, etc.
“We do not though find such exclusion in scripture. To the contrary, we see examples of the Spirit leading people, and admonitions to be led by the Spirit.”
As for exclusion, see above. Yes, the people you cite were led by the Spirit, I have no quarrel with that. We're all to be led by the Spirit. More than that, the people you cite all gave us divine revelation. They were all apostles.
The rest of the verses I think we can agree speak to being led by the Spirit. All I'm arguing is that receiving personal messages from God does not equal being led by the Spirit. You don't believe that's the only role of the Holy Spirit do you?

]]> By: Anonymous http://afcmin.org/ateam/117/the-god-who-is-not-silent/comment-page-1#comment-358 Thu, 02 Jun 2005 17:24:00 +0000 http://afcmin.org/ateam/?p=117#comment-358 We see by example of Phillip, Peter and Paul specific instances in which they were led by the Spirit, and or given specific content to say. Now the content is clearly prophetic, not just a feeling that someone had but the Spirit of God prophesying through them. Still though, it is clear in Paul

]]> By: Anonymous http://afcmin.org/ateam/117/the-god-who-is-not-silent/comment-page-1#comment-357 Thu, 02 Jun 2005 14:21:00 +0000 http://afcmin.org/ateam/?p=117#comment-357 Just to clarify my understanding of your position, Roger, You believe that scripture is not just the ultimate communication from God but the only form of communication outside a rare gift of prophecy.
This raises several questions for me. The first is, what do you believe it means to live by the Spirit, as Paul commands in Romans 8:9-16? Is there any sense in your view that the Spirit leads us at all, even beyond imparting messages to us? If not, how do you reconcile this with scripture?
I take Peters's sermon in Acts 2 to be saying that all will receive the Spirit, dream dreams and see visions, ie. receive revelation from God. How do you interpret this differently?

16No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17″ 'In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
18Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.

This pentecost passage is the foundation for my (and othes') theology that God did not continue to speak only through a few prophets, but now speaks to all throught he Spirit that he gives to all.

]]> By: Anonymous http://afcmin.org/ateam/117/the-god-who-is-not-silent/comment-page-1#comment-356 Thu, 02 Jun 2005 04:14:00 +0000 http://afcmin.org/ateam/?p=117#comment-356 I feel lead to respond later. . . .

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