Show Summary

In this episode of Contending for the Word Q&A, Dave Jenkins addresses a massive issue in modern evangelicalism—especially online: people claiming, “God told me,” or “The Lord spoke to me.” These statements carry weight. They influence people emotionally and spiritually. But Scripture repeatedly calls believers to test every claim of divine revelation.

Today’s question: How should Christians discern “God told me” claims—and how does Scripture guard us against counterfeit revelations?

Because Scripture is complete, sufficient, and final, all claims of “God told me” must be tested by the Word of God, rejected if they contradict or add to Scripture, and evaluated with biblical wisdom and caution.

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Key Scriptures

• Hebrews 1:1–2 — God has spoken definitively through His Son.
• 2 Timothy 3:16–17 — Scripture is God-breathed and sufficient to equip believers for every good work.
• Jeremiah 23:16–32 — Warning against “The Lord declares” when the Lord has not spoken.
• 1 John 4:1 — Do not believe every spirit; test the spirits.

Episode Highlights

• God’s revelation is complete and final in Jesus Christ.
• Scripture is sufficient—nothing needs to be added for faith and obedience.
• God guides His people through His Word, never outside or above it.
• Many “God told me” claims arise from emotion, imagination, or manipulation.
• Biblical discernment tests every claim: does it align with Scripture and exalt Christ?

Full Article

Today we’re addressing a massive issue in modern evangelicalism—especially online: people claiming, “God told me,” or “The Lord spoke to me.” These statements carry weight. They influence people emotionally and spiritually. And if we’re not discerning, we can easily mistake someone’s imagination or manipulation for the voice of God.

Scripture warns us repeatedly to test every claim of divine revelation. Why? Because God has already spoken with clarity, finality, and authority in His Word. So how should Christians discern claims of “God told me”? How does Scripture guard us against counterfeit revelations?

1) Claims of new revelation must never add to God’s Word

Hebrews 1:1–2 teaches that while God spoke in various ways through the prophets, He has now spoken definitively through His Son. God’s revelation finds its fullness and finality in Jesus Christ. And 2 Timothy 3:16–17 teaches that Scripture is God-breathed and sufficient to equip believers for every good work—so nothing needs to be added.

When someone says, “God told me something new,” “God gave me a message for the church,” or “God revealed something not in the Bible,” those claims must be rejected. God does not give new doctrine, new truths, or supplementary revelation. Any message functioning as a new authority is a false revelation.

2) God does guide His people—but never outside Scripture

Christians can rightly say, “I believe the Lord is giving me wisdom through His Word,” “I sense the Spirit prompting me to obey Scripture,” or “I felt convicted about this sin.” These are biblical, Spirit-driven realities—because they submit to what God has already revealed.

What God never does is bypass Scripture, contradict Scripture, speak doctrine apart from Scripture, or give private revelation equal to Scripture. Guidance is real. New revelation is not.

3) Many “God told me” claims are rooted in emotion, imagination, or manipulation

Jeremiah 23 warns that false prophets often speak visions from their own hearts—not from God. Today many “God told me” claims arise from strong feelings, personal impressions, desires mistaken for guidance, emotional experiences, spiritual guesswork, or attempts to sound authoritative. But feelings are not the voice of God. Scripture is the voice of God. Discernment protects us from confusing emotion or imagination with divine revelation.

4) Biblical discernment tests every claim against Scripture

1 John 4:1 says, “Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits.” So we ask: Does this claim align with Scripture? Does it contradict Scripture? Does it add to Scripture? Does it exalt Christ or the speaker? Does it strengthen holiness—or produce confusion? Does it submit to the local church—or bypass it? If a claim cannot withstand Scripture, it should not shape our lives.

So what does this mean for you?

Let Scripture be your final authority—not impressions, dreams, or someone’s “word.” Be wary of spiritual language used without biblical substance. Guard yourself from teachers who claim private revelation. Trust the Spirit’s work through Scripture, not outside of it. Seek wisdom in community, not isolation. Let the voice of God in Scripture silence every competing claim. Dear Christian, hear this: God has not left you guessing. He has spoken clearly, finally, and sufficiently in His Word. You do not need a new revelation. You need deeper devotion to the revelation God has already given.

Takeaways / Reflection Questions

• Do I treat Scripture as final and sufficient—or do I look for “extra” guidance beyond God’s Word?
• When someone claims, “God told me,” do I test it carefully by Scripture?
• Have I ever mistaken strong emotion for spiritual authority?
• Does my discernment prioritize exalting Christ and promoting holiness?
• Am I seeking wisdom within the local church rather than isolating myself?

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