How Do I know God is Leading me Into Missions?
Now, you had a couple questions for me. Your first question was... "When you pray, do you hear God talk back to you?" If you mean in an audible voice then no. Your next questions is, "Do you believe that God talks to people?" If you mean in an audible voice then no. But I do believe that the Lord talks to us, just not in an audible voice. And Yes the Lord has talked to me, just not in an audible voice. Before, the entire Bible was complete. And the time of the old testiment, God did speak in an audible voice, he also used miricles to get his point across. And at the beginning of the New Testiment he also used speaking in Tongues, visions, prophecy, and healings. You might not like what I say,but please remember not to think of what other people are telling you, but take my words and compare them to the Word of God. Do not think of any influence you might have, except for God's word. The Lord does not use, speaking in tongues, prophecy, healings, visions, audible voices, or miricles any more. All of those things were used to complete the Word of God. Before the Word of God was written, the Lord had something to say, and he had to put it on paper so that we could read and use it to grow. In order for that to happen he used all of the things I just said. He spoke to men of God so they could hold the pen and write what he told them to write. Today, we have the complete Word of God. There is nothing more and nothing less. The Lord does not need to say anything else. He has said all that we need right in the Word of God. The Bible, The Word of God, is everything we need to have. When we speak in tongues, or lay on hands and heal, or have visions, or hear audible voices. One, it only brigns attention on oneself and not God. Two, it's not Bibical. And Three, it's not of God. So I said... it only brings attention on oneself. Think back to all the times you've seen all this happening. Do you truly think that it gives God all the glory. Or does it just make people feel good. Does it bring attention, and people think... oh he is a man of God! Instead of... wow the Lord is really working! Is it really for God's glory? And why does he need speaking in tongues if it's not a part of prayer? And why does he need US to heal? When he is the great Physician and can do it himself? Why give us visions when he can use His word to show us what he wants? Why prophesize when we have all the Lord needs to say? He has given us all we need to know about the past, present and future. If he wants to call us to something then he will use the Word of God! 1 Corinthians 14:4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. (prophesieth in this verse means preaching about the Word of God) So I said... It's not Bibical. 1Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. 2For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. 3But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. 4He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. 5I would that ye all spake with tongues but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. 6Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine? 7And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? 8For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? 9So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air. People were beginning to use Speaking in tongues to benefit themselves and not God. People that God had not even given the gift to were speaking in tongues. they were speaking in tongues whenever they wanted to. Instead of when it was given to them by the Holy Spirit. It had become this thing where they measured their greatness by it. Bibically, the way you would use speaking in tongues, was to witness before a large group of people. And everyone understood what that person was saying. They did not need translators. It was a known language. It was a tool a gift given to certain people by the Holy Spirit so they could witness to people of all different languages. Not to pray to God, or to benefit themselves or anything other reason except to tell people about Jesus. And that is not how it is used today, because the Holy Spirit does not bestow that gift on anyone, because we have the complete Word of God. So I said... It's not of God.... and that true. As I said it's not given to us anymore. It was a tool used to complete the Word of God. So is healing, prophecing, and visions and audible voices. We have the Word of God for all of that. Though the Lord does heal, just not through man. We pray that the Lord will heal and the Lord decides if that is what is best. But Man can not just decide to heal people. Your last question was, "How do you know the Lord has called you into the missions field?" The Lord "speaks" in many different ways, sometimes through His word, sometimes through other Christians comments, through prayer, sometimes he uses situations, and he gives us a peace about it if it's the correct answer. The Lord used many of those ways to tell me he wanted me in the missions, and then he showed me what he wanted me to do and were. The first thing he did was put a desire in me to become saved. And then he had to make my relationship with Him stronger. He did both of those things. Then he put a desire in me to actually want to go into the ministry. But after I had that desire I needed the Lord to comfirm where he wanted me to go and what he wanted me to do. First he used my Pastor. Pastor gave a message about going into the missions, and he called everyone forward that felt the Lord was leading them into the missions. Only three people went forward and I was one of them. Also the father of a young family. Just to show you... the Lord is leading Mike (that's his name) to go into the missions, but first he has to go to Bible school. And then he will go where the Lord leads him. But after I knew the Lord wanted me for sure to go into the missions, I needed to find out where. So I started looking into some missions groups and colleges. I had the opportunity to go on a missions trip to Haiti. But I did not feel a peace about it. I didn't feel that the Lord wanted me to go there. Then a missionary that we support came to our church and spoke. He showed some slides. And he talked about how teens are allowed to say more in China then adults. And he showed slides from the camp I am going to and such. And orphanages. And I really wanted to go to an orphange, but this is where I felt the Lord wanted me first. I was able to talk to Herb after woulds and he gave me some info. I prayed about it and the Lord gave me a peace about it. And then he started opening doors... the first thing he did that amazed me was my parents were totally at peace about it and ready for me to go. So I asked for an application. Once I applied I had lots of people coming and asking how they could help me get the money I needed. And then i got accepted and I have almost all the money I need. It's like the Lord put a blessing on it and a peace in my heart! That is how the Lord told me he wanted me to do this. Also the verses the Lord gave me were these: Jeremiah 29:11 Romans 10:14-15 Romans 1:16 Anyway... I've written alot. So I'll be praying for you! Hope this answered your questions! Ta ta!
