What does anyone consider truths essential for followers of Jesus?

[BARNEY BRIGHT]

Yes I agree. In fact, as you know, Paul gave warning regarding this very thing...

1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Regardless of Paul's concern, we have THOUSANDS of denominations, many of whom use the same version of the Holy Bible, but with various beliefs, teaching contrary one to another.

God bless!

Christendom has various beliefs and teaching contrary one to another. Jehovah's witnesses, you go to any congregation in the world and they teach the same thing and there are no divisions in our organization. We do our best to follow God's counsel in 1 Corinthians 1:10.

 

[Giuliano]

How did they hear Him? Perhaps each one in a different way, but hear they did and when they obeyed God they were then on His side. I cannot speak for everyone else, but usually I don't hear a physically audible voice from God. I say usually, because sometimes He puts His words in the mouth of the man and I do hear them with the natural ear. Normally the hearing is only in my heart. A very few times long ago I heard Him through a dream.

I think they all heard in the same way. The Voice of God is not heard as a "physically audible voice" that comes out of thin air unless someone is being taught to recognize it as Samuel did as a young boy. He thought Eli calling him. The person needs to learn to the difference between a physical voice and a spiritual voice so he won't be confused.

The person who does not "see" anything but who "hears" only a voice has some problems at first. When God wishes to establish a "line of communication" with that person so he knows for certain that it's the Voice of God and not something out of his own imagination, He will hear the Voice first in a dream. All the distractions of daily life are shut out then, too. Thus Moses wrote of two methods God chooses at first so the person gains confidence that he's hearing right.

Numbers 12:6 And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.

I found it remarkable when it happened to me. I didn't know about that verse in the Bible when it happened. I had a dream and heard only a voice and didn't see a thing.

If the Voice of God does manifest to people with impure hearts, it cannot get through completely. At Sinai, Israel could "hear" on ten things with intelligence. The rest they heard as a threatening loud trumpet sound. Only Moses heard all the intelligence in the Voice's message. Israel wanted to follow God but they didn't want to hear the Real Word, so Moses wrote things down for them in the "Written Word." Today when Jews read the Torah, they strain trying to hear the Voice. They know they have hardness of heart that is preventing them from understanding what God really wants them to know. They know they need to circumcise their hearts to gain the proper understanding of the spiritual truths behind "human words" that Moses gave them.

David wrote about the Voice of God and wanted the people in his generation to hear it.

Psalm 95:7 For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,
8 Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work.
10 Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways:
11 Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.

I don't think the Bible may be enough, really, to enter the eternal rest. We may need to get beyond the Bible and to hear for ourselves; but if we cannot hear for ourselves, it is good to rely on the words the prophets wrote for us or the words other men of God can speak to us.

I think it something of a mistake then to call the Bible the "Word of God." It is human words that prophets wrote down when they heard the Living Word of God. Human words have their limitations. Human language is not perfect.

I've also read that "age" can block the hearing of spiritual voices. Prophecy fades away? All we may be left with is charity. I think that's because the body may be too distracting when we get old.

 

[amadeus]

I think they all heard in the same way. The Voice of God is not heard as a "physically audible voice" that comes out of thin air unless someone is being taught to recognize it as Samuel did as a young boy. He thought Eli calling him. The person needs to learn to the difference between a physical voice and a spiritual voice so he won't be confused.

When we first hear from Him there may little confusion for us unless we are already deeply immersed the doctrines of men. Perhaps this is why took Apostle Paul a while before he was ready to do God's real work and to write the epistles now included in out New Testament. Samuel's example was as a little boy, a child. Until we are able to approach God like that what may we find? Is this not Jesus really meant?

"Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein." Luke 18:17

How does someone deeply immersed in the ways of men he has learned and practiced for years change?

The person who does not "see" anything but who "hears" only a voice has some problems at first.

Even Saul/Paul himself needed to blinded until a Spirit filled person would give him the beginning of that through a glass darkly vision.

When God wishes to establish a "line of communication" with that person so he knows for certain that it's the Voice of God and not something out of his own imagination, He will hear the Voice first in a dream. All the distractions of daily life are shut out then, too. Thus Moses wrote of two methods God chooses at first so the person gains confidence that he's hearing right.

Numbers 12:6 And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.

I found it remarkable when it happened to me. I didn't know about that verse in the Bible when it happened. I had a dream and heard only a voice and didn't see a thing.

I knew of God for many years without hardly knowing Him at all. It started at the age of 6 for me but at age 32 the ball really started to roll. Some people will question it of course, but I have grown and been changed significantly during all these years. I am now nearly 76. Still the picture continues to clarify... as I continue to surrender.

If the Voice of God does manifest to people with impure hearts, it cannot get through completely. At Sinai, Israel could "hear" on ten things with intelligence. The rest they heard as a threatening loud trumpet sound. Only Moses heard all the intelligence in the Voice's message. Israel wanted to follow God but they didn't want to hear the Real Word, so Moses wrote things down for them in the "Written Word." Today when Jews read the Torah, they strain trying to hear the Voice. They know they have hardness of heart that is preventing them from understanding what God really wants them to know. They know they need to circumcise their hearts to gain the proper understanding of the spiritual truths behind "human words" that Moses gave them.

And for the most part the children of Israel after 10 rebellions lost their access to the Promised Land. Moses lost his in only 1 rebellion: "Much is given..., much is required"

David wrote about the Voice of God and wanted the people in his generation to hear it.

Psalm 95:7 For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,
8 Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work.
10 Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways:
11 Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.

I don't think the Bible may be enough, really, to enter the eternal rest. We may need to get beyond the Bible and to hear for ourselves; but if we cannot hear for ourselves, it is good to rely on the words the prophets wrote for us or the words other men of God can speak to us.

I think it something of a mistake then to call the Bible the "Word of God." It is human words that prophets wrote down when they heard the Living Word of God. Human words have their limitations. Human language is not perfect.

I see the Bible as the dead carcass needing to eaten and then quickened by drinking His Blood. Then any part quickened in us is the Word of God. Probably some or even many Bible reading people with little of the Word of God because they are lack the Life giving Spirit...or they continuously quench the Holy Spirit.

I've also read that "age" can block the hearing of spiritual voices. Prophecy fades away? All we may be left with is charity. I think that's because the body may be too distracting when we get old.

I would read this as a "weariness in well doing". Do people get spiritually weary because they are lazy?

The physical man gets older and feebler approaching his natural death, but this should have no affect on the "new man" within, if he continues to eat the flesh and drink the blood of Jesus daily. We don't stop eating our meat and potatoes and drinking water or some other beverage for the old flesh when we get old. We want to live...physically... but what...?

"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." Matt 5:6

Why would we or should we stop being hungry and thirsty for the right things?

"Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:54

 

[amadeus]

I guess the Word of God is essential, is it not, for any followers of Jesus?

 

[Helen]

I guess the Word of God is essential, is it not, for any followers of Jesus?

The Bible or the hearing ear? Or like many choices of 'either v or' which ends up as BOTH!!

Some people are horrified when I tell them ( and some told me that it was the Devil and not God !! ) But about 15 years ago when I got ridged in 'having to' read my bible morning and evening or I felt guilty about it...The Lord spoke to me to "lay it aside for a year".

I went into panic ...But God was teaching me something. He said take pen and a note book and doesn't read the bible.
I spent much time in prayer and I was blessed and encouraged at the amount of the bible verses I actually knew...He would still speak to me via scriptures but not by my reading...but by my 'waiting upon Him'.

It was a wonderful and blessed year...it took away my 'legalism ' of 'having-to'.

"Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word which procedeth from the mouth of God."

I also believe that a seeking heart is essential for following the Lord.
When we foolishly believe that we know it all . and have 'arrived ' then are in for big trouble.

 

[amadeus]

The Bible or the hearing ear? Or like many choices of 'either v or' which ends up as BOTH!!

Yes, both! When I, or someone else such as @Giuliano or @bbyrd009 , say something about the written Bible alone Not being the Word of God they too quickly jump to a conclusion rather than trying to hear the whole matter.

I've been guilty of the same kind of failure to listen, so I cannot condemn anyone else for it. Hopefully, some will listen this time and by the Holy Spirit hear.

Some people are horrified when I tell them ( and some told me that it was the Devil and not God !! ) But about 15 years ago when I got ridged in 'having to' read my bible morning and evening or I felt guilty about it...The Lord spoke to me to "lay it aside for a year".

God told you to lay it aside, but when I was away from God for about 10 years, I laid it aside myself... with very similar ultimate results.

I went into panic ...But God was teaching me something. He said take pen and a note book and doesn't read the bible.
I spent much time in prayer and I was blessed and encouraged at the amount of the bible verses I actually knew...He would still speak to me via scriptures but not by my reading...but by my 'waiting upon Him'.

My panic came when I wanted to come back to Him. After being an avid Bible reader and student as well as a regular tongue talker I was gone from everything for those 10 years. Then I wanted to come back but could not feel a thing. I forced myself to read my Bible daily. I prayed earnestly daily but didn't feel a thing and did not hear a thing, but I refused to give up. I tried to attend church services again and forced myself to worship God although I could still not feel a thing. Was it too late? I refused to believe that and I would not quit.

Then after months of nothing the sky opened up and the Spirit flowed through me and that beautiful language from God came effortlessly out of my mouth. Praise His holy name! Give God the glory! That was 19 years ago.

It was a wonderful and blessed year...it took away my 'legalism ' of 'having-to'.

"Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word which procedeth from the mouth of God."

I also believe that a seeking heart is essential for following the Lord.
When we foolishly believe that we know it all . and have 'arrived ' then are in for big trouble.

I similarly, foolishly, believed that I 'knew' it all... that I was on the right track before those 10 years without Him. When He drew me back 19 years ago [or allowed me to come back] I understood what it meant to really be on the right track.

Yes, I discovered, or was shown, the need to have a seeking heart. It was and is essential.

Lots of rough places after that, but never again close to moving away from Him again during 19 years.
Praise His holy name!

 

[bbyrd009]

When I, or someone else such as @Giuliano or @bbyrd009 , say something about the written Bible alone Not being the Word of God they too quickly jump to a conclusion rather than trying to hear the whole matter.

oh, fwiw i totally agree that Scripture can be Word, if/once It is heard, for sure;

for instance, what is manna? One has either heard or not heard, imo.

Hopefully, some will listen this time and by the Holy Spirit hear.

^
Lord only knows