Link to original video by The Gospel of Christ

How To Hear God's Voice Today... | John MacArthur, Justin Peters

Short Summary:

This video discusses the controversial topic of hearing God's voice directly, arguing against the practice of seeking personal revelation outside of the Bible. The speakers, John MacArthur and Justin Peters, emphasize the sufficiency and authority of Scripture as the only source of God's revealed word. They warn against the dangers of relying on personal intuition, dreams, or visions as divine guidance, citing examples of false teachers and the potential for deception. The video highlights the importance of understanding the canonicity and sufficiency of Scripture, emphasizing that God's final word is found in Jesus Christ and is fully recorded in the Bible.

Detailed Summary:

Section 1: Introduction and the Authority of Scripture

The video begins by discussing the popular notion of hearing God's voice directly, highlighting its prevalence among Christians.
John MacArthur emphasizes that God speaks to believers through His word, the Bible, and that any claim of additional revelation is dangerous and potentially demonic.
He quotes Revelation 22:18, warning against adding to or taking away from the Bible.

Section 2: The Dangers of Seeking Personal Revelation

The video criticizes the teachings of televangelists and prosperity preachers who promote the idea of hearing God's voice directly.
Justin Peters points out the potential for deception, as personal intuition, thoughts, or even demonic voices can be mistaken for God's voice.
He emphasizes the importance of discernment and warns against blindly accepting private imaginations as divine promptings.

Section 3: Biblical Examples and the Finality of Scripture

The video presents biblical examples of God speaking audibly, such as to Jeremiah, Samuel, and at Jesus' baptism.
However, it argues that these instances are unique and do not support the idea of ongoing, direct revelation outside of Scripture.
The speakers emphasize the finality of Scripture, citing the Apostle Paul's experience in heaven and his inability to reveal what he saw because it was beyond the scope of Scripture.

Section 4: The Sufficiency and Completeness of Scripture

The video argues that if God is speaking today, His words should be considered as authoritative as Scripture.
However, this contradicts the Bible's own statement about not adding to it.
The speakers highlight the dangers of creating a "living" canon of Scripture by adding personal revelations to the Bible.
They use the analogy of God's creation, stating that He created the universe once and has not added to it since, just as He completed His revelation in Scripture.

Section 5: The Importance of Studying and Obeying Scripture

The video emphasizes the importance of studying and obeying the Bible as the sole source of God's revealed word.
It encourages viewers to saturate their minds with Scripture to gain the "mind of Christ."
The speakers argue that the Bible provides all the guidance and wisdom we need for life and godliness.

Section 6: Conclusion

The video concludes by reiterating the sufficiency and authority of Scripture.
It encourages viewers to reject the idea of seeking personal revelation outside of the Bible and to focus on studying and obeying God's word.
The speakers emphasize that Jesus Christ is the final word of God, and His message is fully recorded in the Bible.

Notable Quotes:

"God has spoken, but he has spoken in his word." - John MacArthur
"If God is speaking, God is speaking, and so whatever he says we should add to this book." - Justin Peters
"Everything that God has to say to us, he has said in his son Jesus Christ." - John MacArthur
"Jesus is the final speaking of God." - John MacArthur
"The scriptures are complete and sufficient for all of life." - John MacArthur