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Christianity Today, April (Web-only), 2007 |

SPEAKING OUT

The Morning I Heard God's Voice

I know beyond the shadow of a doubt that God still speaks today.

John Piper | posted 4/10/2007 08:26AM

Let me tell you about a most wonderful experience I had early Monday morning, March 19, 2007, a little after 6 a.m. God actually spoke to me. There is no doubt that it was God. I heard the words in my ...

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Brenda~

Posted: April 24, 2007 6:10 PM

I think we all agree with the part of Pastor Piper's prayer that we should not be "deaf to" or "unaffected by" the EXCELLENT Word of God (Amen!?), but many are shocked that he rates God's chosen forms of communication, as he observes "that we celebrate LESSER THINGS as more thrilling". I don't think that anyone should judge how God reveals himself to us, and then discourage God's servants from responding with joy to whatever form those interactions take. God's spoken word is not less than God's written word, even though people's claims do need to be tested against scripture. It's OK to “eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. Everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort" (1 Cor. 14:1,3). Our omnipresent God is never too busy for those who call on him, so get to know him through scripture reading, "pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests" (Eph 6:18), AND listen closely.

Pearl

Posted: April 24, 2007 7:41 AM


Both gentlemen are right. God speaks to us in the way HE chooses, when he chooses and how he chooses. How to judge/know when it is God Speaking? By the peace and love that you experience, the presence of His holy Spirit which is unmistakable.

Don	Posted: April 22, 2007 11:02 PM

I believe the issue is diferentiating between the subsequent revelation of the Qu'ran, the Book of Mormon and Jim Jones and when God speaks to us, sometimes in Scripture but also personally. I have had the experience of God calling me to task in such a way that my life was profoundly changed and that was almost 40 years ago. Since I have worked with people who accept the broader defenition of subsequent revelation I describe the difference as corporate and individual. I don't hold to corporate subsequent revelation-that takes us places we should not go-anything that disagrees or diverts faith and life from the established canon of scripture is not scripture. Individual words from God must first of all be consistant with Scripture as we have it and then are not for someone else but rather for yourself, to say otherwise would be inconsistant with the experience of the church throuhgout the ages. Listen to God- He is consistent with His Word, you can count on it.

Eppie

Posted: April 22, 2007 2:58 PM


This article shows me that John Piper has also not heard what God has been saying about women!

Shay	Posted: April 22, 2007 10:10 AM

I grew up under the teaching of pastors like John Piper. In my heart was always the longing for the experience portrayed in the testimony of the Professor. Once I began to hear God speak to me I questioned whether it truly could be Him, until I realized that what I was hearing was consistent with the Bible. It was His Word speaking from His heart to my heart in a way different from what I experienced reading His Word. Not better. Not worse. Just a different means by which God reached my heart. Thank you, Professor, for your testimony. John Piper's words and method are one reason why so many followers of Christ are exiting the evangelical church today.

Ann	Posted: April 21, 2007 10:32 PM


This article was such an encouragement to me,oh how we all need to be reminded that God is with us when we hear of tradegy's like Virginia Tech and many others worldwide.praise God we can hear Him speak every day as we read his Word bringing us comfort,truth,wisdom.

James Pedersen

Posted: April 21, 2007 1:09 PM

Dr. Piper has rightly brought to light a need among God's people to listen to God's voice primarily in Scripture. The prophet warned that there would one day be a famine, not of bread, but of hearing the word of the Lord. I didn't feel Dr. Piper was belittling the professor, but warning us all to identify God's voice to us in various circumstances by what we already know is verifiably His own Word.

Mark In Wichita

Posted: April 20, 2007 1:08 PM

Through my pastors blog, I was encouraged to go to this site and read Dr. Pipers testimony. I am moved, I am in awe, I am excited to know that not only does G-d speak to us through His Word, but that if we are still, if we are quiet, we can really hear him. I am reminded even more, the scriptures emploring us to "be still and know that I AM G-d" To Sheerahkan- I don't believe that Dr. Piper was emplying that he never hears G-d, I think it is what he heard that so moved him. By the way, as a completed Jew, the only other person I have ever seen write the name of G-d this way, was my father. Are you a Hebrew?

Teri	Posted: April 20, 2007 8:44 AM

As I first started reading this article I was surprised that what seemed to be a seasoned christian would be for the first time hearing God's "still, quiet voice." God is a wonderfully, personal God Who is the same today as He was Yestarday (when He inspired the writings of His Word through some kind of audible voice) and will be forever! Praise be His mercy and love. Please Mr. Piper don't put God in a box, you will enjoy Him so much more and He will no doubt be pleased to talk with you.

Wayne

Posted: April 19, 2007 11:59 PM

While I certainly appreciate Mr. Piper's sharing his experience of hearing the voice of God, shouldn't we at least allow for other interpretations of the event? If someone has been a devoted and practicing Christian for many years and then suddenly begins to hear an audible voice or voices, I think a responsible thing to do would be to seek medical attention to see if they might not be experiencing the onset of schizophrenia. The other thing that I think is happening in general is that evangelicals are really feeling the pinch from all sides. From outside the church, scientists and atheists, from inside the church, liberal theology. I think that many evangelicals are seeing their beliefs marginalized intellectually, so they are feeling intense pressure for some sort of 'real' and 'divine' confirmation of their beliefs. For most people, hearing the audible voice of God would help to relieve this pressure.

Glenn

Posted: April 19, 2007 11:04 PM

I often have this discussion with a friend of mine. He is continually frustrated because he feels that after years of mediation and prayer he ought to have had some experience of the actual and personal presence of God. He feels like God ought to speak to him, answer at least a few of his questions directly, that he ought to be able to feel the Spirit move him directly. And over and over I keep directing him back to God's Word, where God Himself spoke through 40 or so different voices in 66 books, reaching out to us with the revelation of His Son and His Word all in one place. Too often people resort to what Swindoll calls "voodoo Christianity" - having a problem and then fanning through the Bible and picking the first verse we see as an answer to our problem. God wants us to read and understand His Word by studying and discussing all of it, so that His law might be written on our hearts, and His voice might ring though our minds when we seek Him every day. Piper is right on target.

Claude Cunningham

Posted: April 19, 2007 4:38 AM


How sad that John Piper can start with such an uplifting message, and end with such a divisive one. I was sickened by his choosing to ridicule instead of encourage, to divide instead of unite, to cause lines to be drawn completely unnecessarily. Pride? It seems so to me, but at what dreadful cost. And he's teaching his followers to do the same. Shame on you, John.

WAYNE PETERSON

Posted: April 19, 2007 12:26 AM


R.C. Sproul is also credited with stating: "The greatest need is for people to discover the true identity of God themselves". Piper's experience is right on. The promise is clear - - "my sheep hear my voice". Blessings dear saints and fellow seekers. W Peterson - Aurora, CO

Sheerahkahn

Posted: April 18, 2007 6:21 PM


I commend Mr. Piper on discovering that G-d still talks to us, duh. What I found disheartening was that he didn't "believe" that G-d still talks to mere mortal man beforehand. My hope is that this is not the last time him and G-d have a chat.

Stephen

Posted: April 18, 2007 2:30 PM

I am a bit mystified here. I think we have a delicate balance. True many atrribute a "word" to God when it has no foundation and they find themselves in error. But how can we say that God's preferred method of relating to us comes only thru the Bible? What about the prophets of Old and the apostles of the New? Did they have to a Bible to validate everything against? How did God speak to them? We see a lot of diversity in how God speaks to His people. I think< I hope, most people are smart enough to validate God's "word" with His Scripture. If I am to have a personal relationship with Abba Father then I should expect Him to speak with me in ways other than Scripture.

seeker

Posted: April 18, 2007 1:41 PM

It seems to me that Rev. Piper has made the Bible into an idol, something that separates him from God rather than leading him toward God. Would Piper stop God from communicating directly with him because "only the Bible" can tell him God's Word? Certainly, there is a serious need for discernment when a person thinks that he or she has heard God speak - or felt His touch, or been in union with Him, although such a direct experience of God is undeniably self-authenticating (and Satan soon reveals his nature, should you be worried about any confusion). But, how does Piper think the Bible came to be written? God didn't pick up a pen. Some person had to "hear" God and respond. What became canon depended on others persons deciding they "heard" God correctly. Piper needs to learn how to open up to the one true God, not just read things other people have written about Him - no matter how much stock he wants to put in the abilities of those unknown others to convey God's Word.

Lori	Posted: April 18, 2007 11:44 AM

I personally was encouraged by this article, dont you just love the voice of God whether through his written word, through the thoughts He places in my heart, or any other form He chooses to speak to us. This passage in Psalm 66 is so wonderful. To know that my God and Savior is actively involved in the minute to minute of all nations. To "come and see" is such a wonderful reminder to me to keep my heart, mind and eyes focused on Gods works of the past, present and future. Oh that the world may know the one true God by our praise.

Jeff Wofford (www.jeffwofford.com)

Posted: April 18, 2007 11:06 AM

Dr. Piper, you'll agree there's a little "trick" in the way your article is constructed. This is not a safe trick to have played on your readers. It is unwise to claim you audibly heard God's voice, even if you clarify later that the "audible hearing" was really the sort of Bible reading anyone can do. I take your point--that we shouldn't wish for "audible voices" when the Bible is just as good (or better). But audibly hearing God's voice is--or at least was--a real phenomenon, distinct from reading the Bible. Even if God no longer speaks audibly in a literal sense, he once did, and we don't want to confuse this with Bible reading. Moreover, I'm not willing to stake my life on the claim that God doesn't still speak audibly to some. Do you really want to insult that gift--whether past or present--by toying with it? The Bible imposes high standards for those who claimed to hear God's voice, and huge penalties for those who abused this gift. Are you willing to flirt with those warnings?

DMI	Posted: April 18, 2007 10:11 AM

What timely comments! "An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: 31 the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule at their direction; my people love to have it so, but what will you do when the end comes?" Many people within the churches today are not much different than Israel in the days of the true prophet Jeremiah. - False Teachers - Relying on extra-biblical experiences - Proud Preachers - Willing to trade the Lord for larger crouds - Weak People - With 'iching ears'; who need to get back to the Scriptures God has faithfully and purposefully given us His truth in his Word and has made it sufficient for all our needs within and without the church. (2 Tim 3:16-17; Rom 12:1-2) Let's be certain we 'test the spirits to see whether they are from God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world." And remember we test them with the Scripture - using all the Bible.

Jay	Posted: April 18, 2007 8:44 AM

How sad that Piper would criticize such a sweet, sincere description of the excitement a person feels at hearing the voice of God providing specific direction in their lives and then seeing the miracles that result from obeying. Of course "extra-biblical communication with God is surpassingly wonderful and faith-deepening!" What should grieve Piper is that so many Christians spend so much time studying the Bible, yet they still do not experience the intimate relationship with God that God desires to have with us. My prayer is that more people would go beyond merely reading the Bible and actually do what Jesus says, completely die to self, put God in the driver's seat, and make themselves available for whenever and however God chooses to use them.

Jay	Posted: April 18, 2007 8:44 AM

Adriaan

Posted: April 18, 2007 4:30 AM

Brother Piper, how sad to see that you have placed God in a box, this great God you are so elequantly singing praises too. May God help us not to judge one another, as I do not judge you. I have read the original piece about the testimony you are talkng about and even shared it with my group. We could just say, Amen! God abides in His children by His Holy Spirit and surely He will never contradict the Word, but boy, o boy He walks with me and He talks with me along life's narrow ways. He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives within my heart. Glory to God!

Johann

Posted: April 17, 2007 10:30 PM


Right on! So why doesn't the author extrapolate the logical implication of this article? Why doesn't Mr. Piper say out loud that charismania must be destroyed?

Bill	Posted: April 17, 2007 10:09 PM

I don't read sarcasm into Piper's words. I read it as an interesting twist on a prominent view today. I believe he's saying that we often neglect God's Word because we instead get caught up in subjective experiences. The bad thing, in my mind, is that these experiences are often proven to be wrong (for example, think of the many televangelist "prophets" whose predictions have utterly failed to come true). On the other hand, God's Word has been studied for thousands of years and never proven to be wrong. It is something we can rely on! That may be Christianity 101, but it's also something our current generation is forgetting more and more everyday. We need to be reminded! It's the foundation of everything! It's something we can build our lives upon!

Gary	Posted: April 17, 2007 7:22 PM

Pipers' word about the word is a wonderful reminder that the bible can speak with wonderful authority, power and love. I would say, however, that the Bible also says that God's Spirit can also speak directly to our hearts. If scripture is infallibe, and it is, then it infallibly tells us to listen to the direc voice of the Spirit. Why is Mr. Piper sad that another brother had a direct word from the God who loves us so much He will share Himself with us? Jesus said, "I will not leave you as orphans..." He also promised the Holy Spirit to be with us and in us as the direct guide to all truth. So, please, Mr. Piper, enjoy your guidance with God from the Bible and try to rejoice that some of us have both sources of guidance and love.

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