by Steven Chan
Anyone can claim that Jesus or some other beings spoke to him. A bare claim is not good enough. When God sent the apostles to preach His word, God confirmed or testified that it’s truly from Him, by enabling them to perform signs & miracles. That’s how we can test the spirits whether they are from God; that’s how God has always shown and assured His people that the prophet is speaking on His behalf:-
- In Ex 4, Moses asked God what if the Pharaoh does not believe that he is speaking on behalf of God? God enabled Moses to turn his rod into a serpent.
- In Exodus 19 & 20, when God spoke with Moses and gave the 10 commandments, God also provided evidence to the people that He has indeed spoken to Moses, by the smoke covering the mountain, the sound of the trumpet, etc so that no one can doubt that God had indeed spoken to Moses.
- When Jesus claimed that He was the Son of God, He did not make a bare claim. God testified to the fact that Jesus was the Son of God at His baptism (Matt 3:16-17), at His transfiguration (Matt 17:1-6), by works done by Jesus (John 10:25) and the signs performed by Jesus (John 20:30-31).
- When the apostles were sent out by Jesus to preach the gospel, the signs accompanying them testified to the truth that they preached (Mark 16:20). “how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will? – Hebrews 2:3-4 (NKJV).
The apostles performed signs, and these signs or miraculous powers authenticated that they indeed were speaking the Word of God. “Truly the signs of an apostle (ie. Paul) were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.” II Corinthians 12:12 (NKJV).
“And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, … and will deceive many”. – Matthew 24:4-5 (NKJV).
5. The test is also whether they speak in accordance with the apostles taught:-
“We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this, we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error”. – 1 John 4:6 (NKJV).
We are warned against deception by so-called religious teachers:-
“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.” – II Corinthian 11:13-15 (NKJV).
“For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple”. – Romans 16:18 (NKJV).
I hope the above clarifies the matter of someone claiming that God spoke to him!!!
