Does God move outside of the written word???

Matthew 24:14

This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached to the whole world as a testimony to all the nations and then the end will come.

Missiologists tell us that we are in the greatest harvest of souls in all of redemptive history. The greatest work of God is being seen among the Muslims. It is estimated that more Muslims have come to Christ in the last 15 or so years then in all of 15 centuries of the history of Islam. Exact figures are hard to quantify in terms of the moving of the Holy Spirit among Muslims. But it is estimated that millions annually are coming to Christ. Many former Muslims who came to Christ were interviewed as to how they were drawn to Jesus. Of the 80% interviewed many said it was through a dream or vision.

Tom Doyle has documented God moving among the Muslims through dreams and visions in two books, Dreans and Visions and Killing Christians. Other ninistries who work among the Muslims have also documented that dreams and visions have been instrumental in bringing many out of Islam into the light of Christ. Those who have had the dreams or visions of Jesus have a credible testimony. Indeed many of these former Muslims who prefer to be called Jesus followers will follow Him. Even unto death. Indeed many of them have been nartyred for their faith in Christ. To the best of my knowledge any Muslim who has had a dream or vision of Jesus has ever rejected or denied Him.

There have also been reports of Hindus and Buddhists having dreams of Jesus. Ultimately resulting in their conversion to Him. There was the report on the thread Mere Christianity of a Buddhist having such a dream.

This raises the question then. Does God move outside of the written word in revealing Christ to the hearts of men and women? Particularly in cultures that have no knowledge of the written word? That we would call the Bible?

Posted by Blaine Scogin

A few years ago this question of dreams and visions among Muslims was asked at the Strange Fire conference hosted by John MacArthur. As far as I understand the conference did not address the specific incidents where Muslims came to Christ through dreams and visions. But gave a blanket statement that one can only be saved through the systematic preaching of God's Word.

This would certainly fit into their theology of of cessationism to discount these reports. Also I wonder how many of those associated with Grace Church and Master's College have actually been to the Middle East and have worked among Muslims? Those who report that Muslims are coming to Christ through dreams and visions have actually worked among Muslims in the Middle East. Some of them are former Muslims themselves.

I only share the Strange Fire conference to suggest that it is possible that our theological paradigm can blind us to what God is actually doing in the world today.

There is a credible move of God taking place in the world today. God is moving in ways that suggests that He is not binding Himself to the written word only. But God is moving in ways that ultimately will point people to Christ.

Ultimately the dream or vision given by God will point one to the written or oral word to bear witness of Christ.

I am suggesting that people such as Muslims can be converted through means other than the preached word of God. I am suggesting that Muslims, Buddhists, and Hindus as well as other people groups can have visions of Jesus that will bring them to Him.

As usual these are my thoughts.

wonderful posts.....you both made my heart sing...thank you and may Jesus continue to bless you both, ever so richly, neil

Of course God has done and continues to do many things not recorded in the Scriptures, but the KEY is that God will not act contrary to His character revealed in the Word.

John 21:25
And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

Acts 17:26-27

And He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they might seek God, if perhaps they might group for Him and find Him, thiugh He is not far from each one of us.

Hebrews 11:6

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

Brothers thank you for the good posts and a good discussion. Perhaps I should have titled this thread, can God speak His Word in ways other than the printed page? For that is really my question.

The verses above tell us that God has created the heart to seek Him. We see this in the cultures that have different religions. This is an expression of their hearts seeking something higher than themselves. For this is how God has created and wired us. I believe it was Augustine or one of those Church Fathers who said that within each of us is a God shaped vacuum that can only be filled by God, Jesus Himself.

If there are people that are seeking God particularly in other cultures that have no knowledge of the Bible as we do. Is it possible that God will meet the searching heart through a dream or vision that ultimately will direct that person to a fuller expression of Christ himself?

One of our brothers has posted about a missionary who has gone to foreign nations, only to discover that God went before him to prepare the hearts. This is the essence of what I'm asking in this thread.

Thoughtfully posted.

Sadhu Sundar Singh was born in 1889 in Patiala which is in Punjab, India. His family was very religious and raised him up teaching Hinduism and visiting temples regularly. By the age of 7, he had memorized the Bhagvad Gita and by the age of 16, he had mastered the Vedas and also the Quran. Growing up Sunder attended a school conducted by the missionaries for some time but he was not at all interested in the Bible and resented it.

At the age of 14, suddenly his mother passed away. Sunder was very close of his mother. He was shattered by the loss. He was undergoing a major faith crisis in his life. He was looking for peace and truth. He was very confused in his mind and was sad. He even thought about committing suicide. He was never convinced that Jesus and his teachings were completely wrong and so he tore the Bible and would throw stones at preachers.

The Night that Changed Everything
It was a cold night of December in 1903 when he decided he would throw himself under the train, when the train Ludhiana Express passes by his home. That night he prayed several hours. He said, "O God, if there is a God, reveal yourself to me tonight.” The train was about to come early the morning. Suddenly the room filled with a glow. It was not dawn yet and Sunder opened the room and peeped outside. It was sheer darkness. He closed the door and the light grew brighter. While he was watching this he suddenly saw a figure appeared before him and he heard a voice say, "How long will you deny me? I died for you; I have given my life for you."He saw the man’s hands, pierced by nails. Sunder was astonished he was not at all hoping to see Jesus but some of the traditional gods whom he worshipped. Sunder realized the Jesus is still alive today and he fell down on his knees and prayed to him. He experienced amazing peace and joy in his heart which he has never experienced before. The vision disappeared but the joy and peace lingered in his heart. He was now changed forever.

In 1905, on his birthday, he was baptized in an English church in Shimla. At that time, he decided to become a Christian Sadhu, so that he could dedicate himself to the Lord. As a Sadhu, he wore a yellow robe, lived on the charity of others, abandoned all possessions and maintained celibacy. He was convinced that this was the best way to introduce the Gospel of Jesus Christ to his people since it was the only way which his people were accustomed to. In addition, he also wanted to be free to devote himself to the Lord. His family ostracized him.

He traveled extensively all over India and Ceylon. He visited Malaysia, Japan and China between 1918-1919. He also went to Western Europe, Australia and Israel in between 1920-1922. He preached in many cities; Jerusalem, Lima, Berlin and Amsterdam among others. Despite his growing fame, Sadhu Sundar singh retained a modest nature, desiring only to follow Jesus’ example: to repay evil with kindness and to win over his enemies by love. Towards the end of his life, he had many health issues due to excessive traveling. He wrote many books during these times. Following are list of some of the books he wrote. They were written in Urdu and translated by different authors.

At the masters feet (1922)
Reality and religion (1923)
Search after Reality (1924)
Spiritual Life (1925)
Spiritual World (1926)
Real Life (1927)
With and Without Christ (1928)
Finally in 1929, Sadhu Sundar Singh was on a trip to Tibet with some other traders. He had walked several miles beyond Badrinath on the snowy mountains. The road to Tiber is very steep and difficult mountainous trail. He was on this road and he never returned back. His friends went all the way to search him but never found him. Nobody knows exactly what happened to him.

Sadhu Sundar singh is called the "Apostle with bleeding feet”. He was a Christian monk, and his work and ministry to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ in India and South Asian region is matchless. He represented Christ and Christianity in a Indian form. He was truly a Sadhu, who found his Salvation, only through life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, his Guru.

http://www.jeevanmarg.com/testimonies/sadhu-sundar-singh-story-of-christian-sadhu/

Check out more about Sadhu Sundar singh’s life and his work on http://sadhusundarsingh.info/

Of course He does. In fact, He tells us in the Word that He does & He will especially "in the last days" (see Joel 2). Now He never speaks or moves CONTRADICTORY to His Word, but sometimes people wrongly understand what is and isn't a contradiction for lack of knowledge. Those who truly say that He doesn't, totally nullify much of the Word itself & reject the prophetic ministry of the Holy Spirit & the gifts. Why would God spend ample chapters in the Word to the Corinthians instructing on these matters if it wasn't going to matter being the "closing of the canon"? As Leonard Ravenhill would say, "that's balderdash!" Cessationism is error which says "Sola Scriptura" & then nullifies & explains away much of the scriptures it says it stands on. Tell it to all the Muslims in the Middle East whom Jesus had come to personally in dreams & visions, have become radically converted, & now live the lie of the cross carrying scriptures of the New Testament.