Many Christians believe that God communicates with them through signs, which can help strengthen their faith. However, some Christians believe that looking for signs is not spiritually healthy and can lead to false teachings and apostasy.
In the Bible, God has given signs to indicate his will, such as Gideon's fleece in Judges 6. God also provides signs of his presence and guidance, which can be recognised through prayer and studying the Bible.
There are several types of signs from God, including signs and wonders, indications of biblical principles, and horoscopes and superstitions. While Christians are warned against seeking signs and wonders, they are encouraged to look for indications of biblical principles to guide their lives.
Ultimately, Christians should focus on the Word of God and their relationship with him, rather than solely relying on signs.
What You'll Learn
God does send signs, but we should not seek them out
The Bible says that God does provide us with signs of His guidance and presence. However, our focus should be on the Word of God, which is where we will gain our greatest insights into His will for our lives.
It is important to recognise the signs that God gives us, as this will help keep us encouraged while we wait for His promises to come to pass. However, we should not seek out signs and wonders, nor focus on miracles and claims of visions and apparitions. Instead, we should dedicate ourselves to studying Scripture.
God communicates with us in many ways, including through His Word, the Bible; through His Holy Spirit; through wise counsel from other believers; through common sense; and through outward signs and circumstances.
We should not ignore outward signs, but we must be careful not to mistake our own thoughts or coincidences for signs from God. If we ask God for something specific and then see it happen in reality, this is likely a sign from God. If an important event happens that directly relates to something we have prayed about, this is often God showing us a sign. If the Bible instructs us to act in a certain way, this is a sign that God wants us to follow His Word. If we see a "cause" that the Bible says will lead to a particular "effect", this is a sign that the effect will soon occur. And when God gives us a sign, we will gain clarity, not confusion.
We should be careful not to test God by asking for signs. Instead, we should seek His voice and direction through prayer, a willingness to wait, Scripture, and godly decision-making.
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Signs are not a substitute for faith
Signs from God are not a substitute for faith. They are not a shortcut to knowing His will, nor are they a replacement for studying the Bible. In fact, the Bible is the primary way that God communicates with us, and any signs we receive must conform to its teachings.
Signs from God are not always easy to recognise or interpret. They can come in many forms, including through other people, dreams and visions, or intrinsic meaning – a still, small voice in our conscience. While God does provide us with signs of His guidance and presence, our focus should be on His Word, where we will gain our greatest insights into His will for our lives.
It is important to be cautious when interpreting signs, as Satan can also produce phenomena that appear miraculous. We should not seek signs and wonders, nor focus on miracles, visions or apparitions. Instead, we should dedicate ourselves to studying Scripture and allowing God to speak to us through His Word.
While God may give us signs to encourage us or confirm His promises, we should not rely on them as a substitute for faith. Our faith should be built on the unchanging nature of God and the promises He has kept throughout history, as recorded in the Bible.
When we seek God with our whole heart, He will reveal Himself to us through daily personal Bible study and prayer. This is the foundation of our relationship with Him, and it is through this relationship that we will discern His will and receive guidance for our lives.
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God communicates with us in many ways
God communicates with us through:
- His Word, the Bible. This is where we will gain our greatest insights into the will of God for our lives.
- His Holy Spirit. This is perhaps one of the most common ways God speaks to us. Prayer is meant to be a two-way communication, and it takes practice to listen for God's voice.
- Wise counsel from other believers.
- Common sense. God gives us the ability to discern right from wrong and make good decisions.
- Outward signs. God uses circumstances, situations, and things around us to speak and confirm His direction to us.
God has also given us many important signs throughout history, such as:
- The stars in the sky, which give us signs and seasons.
- The rainbow, which is a sign that He keeps His promises.
- The 7-day week, which is a sign that He created the earth in six days and rested on the seventh.
- Dreams and visions.
- Other people. God often sends us a sign through other people, such as pastors and fellow believers.
It is important to note that while God may send us signs, we should not seek them out or test God. Instead, we should focus on the Word of God and be dedicated students of Scripture.
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God's signs are not always obvious
God does provide us with signs of His guidance and presence. However, these signs are not always obvious. God's signs can come in many different forms, and it is up to us to recognise and interpret them.
- His Word, the Bible: God will not speak to you in a way that contradicts or rejects what is written in the Bible.
- His Holy Spirit: God speaks to us directly in our spirit and by the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
- Wise Counsel: God speaks and confirms things to us as we seek wisdom and counsel from other believers.
- Common Sense: God gives us common sense and expects us to do research and due diligence when seeking His direction.
- Outward Signs: God uses circumstances, situations, and even things around us to speak and confirm His direction to us.
While it is important to recognise God's signs, we should not get caught up in looking for them. Instead, our focus should be on the Word of God, where we will gain our greatest insights into His will for our lives.
- Other people: God often sends us a sign through other people. For instance, someone at church might say something that answers a prayer you have been earnestly praying about.
- Dreams and visions: God may communicate with us through dreams and visions, especially as we near the End Times. However, not every dream is a sign from God, and we must discern whether it conforms to the witness of Scripture.
- Intrinsic meaning: God may speak to us as a still, small voice in our conscience. These messages are meant just for us and will speak to our hurts and fears, encourage us in holy living, and rebuke us when we are in sin and rebellion.
God's signs may not always be obvious, but if we commit to listening for His voice and seeking His will, He will reveal Himself to us and guide us on our journey.
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God's signs are not always immediate
Waiting Period
Waiting is an essential part of the Christian faith. It is during these times that we are called to trust in God's timing and seek Him more intently. Psalm 37:7 tells us to "wait patiently for God to act." Rushing or taking shortcuts can lead to consequences and poverty (Proverbs 10:14, 21:5). God may be withholding directions to cause us to seek Him more deeply. His timing is always right and worth the wait.
God's Will
God's will may not always be clear to us, and we may need to pray and seek guidance. When His will is unclear, it is not wrong to ask God for a sign to make it known. However, we should be cautious and ensure that our motives are pure. We should not ask for a sign to test God (Deuteronomy 6:16) or to validate a decision we have already made. Instead, we should seek to align our will with His and be open to His direction.
Discernment
Discerning God's signs requires wisdom and spiritual maturity. We should be careful not to confuse God's signs with our own thoughts or misinterpret random events as divine messages. God's signs will align with His Word, the Bible, and will not contradict it. They will also be confirmed through other means, such as wise counsel from fellow believers, our conscience, and the work of the Holy Spirit within us.
God's Sovereignty
God is sovereign, and He ultimately controls everything that happens or does not happen. He speaks through the circumstances in our lives and uses them to guide us. For example, if we pray for healing for a loved one and they recover, it is a sign that God answered our prayers. On the other hand, if they pass away, it is a sign that God had a different plan. We should be attentive to the circumstances and trust that God is working through them.
Spiritual Growth
Our spiritual journey is a process of growth and transformation. God may choose to reveal His signs gradually as we grow in our faith and understanding of Him. As we spend time in His Word, prayer, and fellowship with other believers, our relationship with Him deepens, and we become more attuned to His voice and the ways He chooses to communicate with us.
In conclusion, while we may not always receive immediate signs from God, we can trust that He is faithful and desires to guide us. We need to be patient, discerning, and open to His leading, even if it comes in unexpected ways or timing.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, God does send us signs of His guidance and presence. However, we should not seek signs and wonders, nor focus on miracles and claims of visions and apparitions. Instead, our focus should be on the Word of God, which is where we will gain our greatest insights into His will for our lives.
God communicates with us through His Word, the Bible, His Holy Spirit, wise counsel, common sense, and outward signs.
Looking for signs is not a healthy spiritual thing to do. We should not be seeking signs and wonders, nor focusing on miracles and claims of visions and apparitions. Instead, our focus should be on the Word of God.
If what you sensed God said matches what happens in reality, this is often God showing you a sign. For example, if you asked God for a sign about whether to date someone, and then that person asks you out, that is a sign.
We can build our faith in Christ by looking at the promises of God where He has kept those promises, and by looking at the prophets who foretold pieces of the future that God revealed to them and then seeing in history where those prophecies occurred.