Lds Art Jeremiah Having the Lord Touch His Mouth to Help Him Speak Better

According to an Associated Press story, Philippines President Rodrigo Roa Duterte recently said while flying home he was looking at the sky while everyone was sound asleep, and he heard a vox that said, "If y'all don't cease epithets, I will bring this plane downwards now."

"And I said, 'Who is this?' And then, of class, 'information technology'southward God,''' said Duterte.

Duterte, who is Roman Catholic, says he has promised to God he won't spew expletives again.

Many have claimed God spoke to them direct. Seeing something or hearing voices while alone which others cannot see or hear is reportedly quite common. A Gallup 1999 analysis reportedly said 23 percent of all Americans have heard a voice or seen a vision.

Does God speak to humans directly or through messengers/deities/angels/saints/inspired-persons/ sages/intermediaries/representatives? Or does he speak through scriptures or in dreams or through visions — or is at that place another channel of communication? Does God appear in a concrete form or do human beings merely hear the vox of God? Or maybe God does not communicate at all?

Does God still need to talk to united states of america direct since God is said to take already delivered to us divine scriptures with God'southward consummate bulletin?

What can be the best mode for God to communicate with the humans?

We asked our panel of distinguished religious leaders of the region the following question: Does God speak directly to humans?

Here is what they have to say:

Learn HOW TO HEAR GOD

Stephen R. Karcher, St. Anthony Greek Orthodox Church presiding priest

God speaks to everyone, just nosotros need to learn how to listen to Him! "God so loved the world", says the Gospel, and and then he speaks to us in the language of this honey. He speaks through dreams, visions and voices. We can learn to hear God speak through his Church, through the love of his people and through the voice of his priests and pastors. When we heed to, read and study the Holy Scriptures, he speaks using the voice of our eye. Scripture teaches us that God also speaks through the circumstances we encounter: "All things work together for good for those who dearest God, who are called according to His purpose." Scripture describes how God spoke straight with Abraham, Moses, Elijah and others. These were people ready to hear his voice considering they had pure hearts. We besides, can acquire how to hear him.

GOD'Due south REALITY — DIRECT Communication INACCESSIBLE

Justin 5. Deverse, Baha'i teacher

In that location is certainly spiritual inspiration, just the source depends on our perspective. Baha'u'llah taught there can be no directly relationship between God, the unknowable ultimate reality and man beings. Direct communication would imply equity. The purpose of the manifestations of God, those originators of the earth'south nifty religions, is to mediate and make God'due south will known to us. Our ain transcendent connection is through prayers and readings revealed by God's messengers, in language imbued with special potency. The Baha'i writings express that while in the state of prayer, and careful meditation afterward, inspiration may be offered. "The wealth of the other world is nearness to God. Consequently, it is certain that those who are nearly the Divine Court are allowed to intercede, and this intercession is approved past God." Nosotros must therefore be open, merely carefully discern the source to remove our ain desires or inclinations.

Yes … GOD SPEAKS!

Steve Bond, lead pastor, Summit Christian Church building, Sparks

Yes … God speaks direct to humans. Over 2,000 times in the Sometime Testament at that place are phrases such as, "And God spoke to Moses" or "the word of the Lord came to Jonah" or "God said."  Nosotros meet an example of this in Jeremiah 1:9. "The LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, 'Now I have put my words in your mouth.'" Jeremiah claims to speak specific words God had put into his mouth.

During the birth of Jesus, God spoke to Mary through an affections; he spoke to Joseph through a dream; he spoke to the shepherds through an affections and he spoke to the Magi through a dream. Aye, God speaks!

But at present that the Scriptures are consummate, whatever word from God must be corroborated by the Bible. God'south Word is the plumb-line against which all new revelation is measured.

SPIRITS DON'T QUALIFY Every bit GOD

Kenneth G. Lucey, UNR philosophy/faith professor

Doubtless, many people talk to God all the time. This is just "praying."  What is less certain is whether anyone is listening. The U.S. Founding Fathers, who were chosen "deists" rather than "theists," did not appoint in prayer because — although they believed in a creator God — they did not believe in a personal God who answered prayers. Some humans accept reported that spiritual beings talk to them. For example, Moses reported God spoke to him from a called-for bush. Socrates reported in "The Apology" that throughout his life he heard a spiritual voice, which would warn him non to do various things that were incorrect or dangerous. Other people have reported having "spirit guides" who would channel or speak through them. It is of course possible spirits do exist only that none of them qualify as being God. Well-nigh psychics I have read most merits to be theists.

Iii Ways OF Communication

Sherif A. Elfass, Northern Nevada Muslim Customs president

In Islam, the ways of communication that tin can have place betwixt God and human beings are described past God in the Quran: "And information technology is non for whatsoever human being being that Allah should speak to him except by revelation or from backside a partition or that He sends a messenger to reveal, by His permission, what He wills. Indeed, He is About High and Wise." (42:51).  Islam teaches united states Allah (SWT) spoke directly to Prophets Adam, Moses and Muhammad (PBUT) simply without ever revealing Himself (from behind a division). Allah (SWT) spoke to some of the prophets, similar Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH), through revelation that came as dreams. However, the most common method Allah (SWT) used to communicate to His prophets is through angels sent as messengers. Since no prophets will come after Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the communication betwixt Allah (SWT) and human beings is express to revelations through dreams.

NEVER A Doubt!

Monique Jacobs, director of organized religion formation, Roman Cosmic Diocese of Reno

God has a long history of speaking directly to humans. In Scripture — Old and New Testaments — you will come across God has made it a priority to communicate directly with us over the centuries. If y'all dearest someone, you notice every opportunity to communicate — it's no unlike for God. Though yous may non accept experienced this (nonetheless) God doesn't reserve this loving, intimate chat for saints alone. There is a lot of competition in our lives for the voice of God; the play a trick on is to make time for quiet: intervals of solitude, hiking or running without earphones, sitting abreast a candle trusting your presence is enough. Breathe. God is patient, so must we be. Nosotros cannot brand these encounters happen by willpower; it is all God's initiative — our part is the response. Our heart should exist open, expectant; don't worry nearly "doing it" right or imagining the whisper.

DOES THE UNIVERSE TALK?

Matthew T. Fisher, Reno Buddhist Center resident priest

Buddhism is a non-theistic globe view, so this is not a central question. But nosotros tin enquire if the Light of the universe can be heard? After the Buddha was aware he described a vibrant scene — more beautiful than any he had e'er seen. He called this "being awake," deeply hearing the globe around him. All sentient beings can reach this state, just nosotros are express by biases and narrow habits of thought. This deep hearing of the light is joyous appreciation of the wondrous gifts the universe offers. Does the universe talk? Only if nosotros listen.

Conversations practice happen. Just after the Buddha was enlightened, the highest of Hindu gods, Brahma, encouraged Buddha to go along and teach. Though Buddha was reluctant, he was swayed by Brahma's request. And sutras recount many gods listening with involvement to the Buddha's of import discourses like the Lotus Sutra.

YES

Sharla South. Hales, Church building of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints surface area public diplomacy manager

God loves us as He loved people in Bible times. Nosotros need Him now as they did so. He nonetheless speaks!

God speaks through different channels, according to individual needs. Often, He speaks through a nonetheless, small voice. Sometimes His voice is felt; other times information technology is audible. He speaks through scriptures, impressions, dreams and angels. On matters universally relevant, He speaks through His living prophet. Occasionally Christ physically appears on world and speaks.

We hear God'due south words according to our faithfulness, to assistance with our personal needs.

Quiet spiritual promptings are not as spectacular as visions or angelic visitations, but they are only every bit powerful and life changing if nosotros heed and human action.

God invites u.s.a. to seek His voice, and he answers: "Enquire, and information technology shall be given y'all; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you" (Matthew vii).

THE SPIRIT KNOWS WHY ...

Brian Eastward. Melendez, American Indian spirituality scholar

The-Creator-of-all-things can communicate with whatsoever of us, at someday, in any manner — there are no limitations to the might and attain of the Swell Spirit. Whoever or whatever is going to deliver that divine message: only call back, information technology's all role of the programme. There are no accidents or coincidences ...

Indigenous peoples from all across the Earth have ever believed the power of sacred places, force of our ancestors and maintaining closeness to Mother World assures that whatever message nosotros need to receive from the Creator will always be crystal articulate (even if it takes a lifetime to understand) and right on time.

What strengthens tribal spirituality is the utilization of community, rituals and ceremonies. Many of us walk the Globe, understanding that every tree, stone, river and mountaintop is our church building — connecting usa to all things under the sunday, the moon and the stars.

EVERY MOMENT THROUGH EVERYTHING

ElizaBeth Webb Beyer, Temple Beth Or rabbi

"From Grand-d'due south dwelling place, G-d carefully tends all inhabitants of Earth"  (Psalms 33:14).  Co-ordinate to some, hagacha pratit is a fundamental concept that everything one sees, hears, feels or experiences is compliments of the Holy One who is always watching over us and guiding us at every moment. In other words, "a heron doesn't catch a item fish" (Zeraim, 9:ane) nor "a leaf doesn't fall from a tree" (Besht) and land in a particular place unless K-d oversees it. Thus, G-d watches over animals and even inanimate objects.

Maimonides finds the Creator and Creations are inextricably involved in relationship. "You should know that everything is washed according to [Grand-d's] volition, and nevertheless our actions are in our hands (Hilchot Teshuva 5:seven). At that place is a connection betwixt our intentions and desires and G-d'southward intervention and interactions with us. Thou-d speaks to us every moment, guiding us individually. However, some disagree.

GOD SPEAKS? ARE Y'all LISTENING?

Guest panelist Jason D. Guinasso, Esq., associate pastor, Ministerio Palabra de Vida and legal counsel for several local churches, ministries and nonprofit organizations

Yeah. Our God is a relational God, and i of His chief desires is to grow His human relationship with humanity through regular communication. Throughout human being history, God has initiated communication with humanity by speaking audibly to humans. He also speaks to us through the glory of His creation. Additionally, He speaks to us through His Holy Spirit and through dreams, visions and our thoughts. Further, God volition employ events and circumstances to speak with us. More often than not, God uses the people He has placed in our lives to speak to united states. Over the years, those who accept heard His voice have recorded what He has had to say in His written word, the Bible. God continues to speak through the words that were written. The question is: Are humans listening? "Today, if you hear his voice, practice non harden your hearts ... " (Hebrews 3:15).

Side by side week'southward topic: Is "dying well" an art?

Faith Forum is a weekly dialogue on religion produced by religious statesman Rajan Zed. Send questions or comments to rajanzed@gmail.com or on Twitter at @rajanzed.

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Source: https://www.rgj.com/story/life/2016/11/11/faith-forum-does-god-speak-directly-humans/93642772/

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