Why Does God use Men to Talk to Men?

----- Original Message -----

From: Paul Stringini

To: Name Withheld

Sent: Monday, April 20, 2009 9:20 PM

Subject: Re: Man

That question belongs to a whole family of questions. The "why questions." I have opinions, and so do other people, I'll give you what the bible says and I'll also put my spin on it, which is what God himself has taught me, both by men (the Apostles and Prophets) and directly.

Here is my first answer: God does let himself be seen and heard directly, but people do not want to look and listen to Him. (Of course that is a bit of a dodge, but I will answer your question more directly, eventually, if you follow along)

2 Thessalonians 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

Sometimes we do not hear what God is saying because God is not saying what we want to hear.

I will use Moses as the first example:

Exodus 20:18 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.
Exodus 20:19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.
Exodus 20:20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.
Exodus 20:21 And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.

The people requested that Moses speak with God, so that they would not have to do it themselves. This syndrome is also manifested in the church world in which people rely on clergy to "get to know" God for them and then relay the information they want back to them:

2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
2 Timothy 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

In general, people do not desire to hear what God has to say, People say they would like to her God speak, but the things God really wants to tell them they do not want to hear, they want God to tell them the things that will sooth them and satisfy their curiosity. So while people claim they are looking for God, God claims that they do not really seek God (but rather their own pleasure), because how can we really look for something, when what we want to find is entirely different from the object we claim to be after. We do not know what we are looking for, but we know what we like. It is as if I were to search for an object called the "Gizmorgafindle" having no inkling what that object was like beyond the fact that it was a powerful and loving object.

Romans 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

It is manifest that not everything God has to say is going to be pleasant to man. Even the creation testifies to this, because there is much evil in the world. The things which we observe in nature tell us that everything God wishes to communicate to us is not all good concerning man.

Proverbs 16:4 The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

This raises another set of questions. The questions we ask are often based on the assumptions which we already hold.

When you added, as part of your question: "to get his points across to his children" I see a few hidden assumptions in that. One assumption is that God wants to get points across to people. You could have asked, "Why does God use man to communicate? Instead of using direct communication?" Which would have lead me in a slightly different direction.

Another assumption is that men are God's children. I must address that assumption becuase not all people are the children of God:

Galatians 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

Those who have faith in Jesus Christ are the Children of God.

Romans 9:8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

And this is the word of promise:

Ephesians 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Strictly speaking, humans are not God's children any more than cows and pigs are, God's children, properly speaking, are those humans whom God has chosen to adopt as His children. If we were all the children of God, then there would be nothing special about Jesus being the son of God.

Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

It is manifest that God does not "foreknow" every human in this redemptive sense.

Matthew 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

(and these had claimed that they knew him, as people say, "Do you know Jesus?" But the more important question we must find out is ultimately whether he knows us.)

But back to the original intent of your question. Why does God send and ordain men to bring message to His children? How does God communicate with us? And why does he do it the way he does? Is it only through other men? We look at the Bible, and every word in it was written by some man. Though it be God breathed, it is still the testimony of men.

To get direct, there are ways in which God directly communicates with his chosen, outside the word and outside the influence of other men.

1John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

"Anointed" is what the word Christ means. The idea of being anointed by God is that he has a special purpose and promise for us.

2Cor 1:21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; 22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

The Spirit of God in our hearts is able to communicate God's will to us and teach us in concert with what is written in the bible.

John 16:12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.

The Spirit of God is supposed to be guiding us all, yet there are so many differences and heresies between Christians that it becomes difficult to believe all are hearing from the same spirit. I suppose this may be due to the fact that the Spirit is given to men by measure. We do not all have the same measure of the spirit. I also question whether we can all have the Spirit. Some men must be void of the Spirit.

There are many spirits gone out into the world and these spirits speak things which are contrary to the Spirit of God.

1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
1 Corinthians 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
1 Corinthians 2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
1 Corinthians 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
1 Corinthians 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
1 Corinthians 2:15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
1 Corinthians 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

I know, personally , first hand, the difference the Spirit makes. I taught the bible for ten years but did not have the Spirit, I really sensed I was lacking something in my walk. I asked for the Spirit many times and got nothing. I thought maybe I either had the Spirit already and was asking too much or that maybe there was no God. I tried believing I had the Spirit (in spite of there being no evidence) and profited nothing from that sort of positive thinking. After all, is that not what men say? That you just believe, and that God is obliged to send his Spirit, right away, essentially, at your command? I found that to be a lie.

Acts 19:2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

People believe and do not always receive the Spirit immediately, just like the Apostles believed but had to wait until the day of Pentecost. Just because we believe or just because man declares something to be so, does not make it so. I know firsthand that God gives his spirit when it pleases Him, not when I tell him to. In the end though, it is true, I asked for the Spirit and I got the spirit, it came in power so that I knew, this is the Spirit of God. But I had been asking for years before God answered my prayers.

When I received the Spirit, it radically altered my understanding of the scriptures, overnight, without any instruction from man. Literally, in a moment, over ten years of study was changed from one way of thinking to another, from groping in the dark to holding forth light. It was the most spectacular moment of my life. I am convinced, that without the Spirit one will never progress much in Christianity, it is the mechanism by which we receive things of God that man cannot give us or teach. Righteousness, truth, godliness, and every spiritual gift. Men have gifts in them, no doubt, but by the Spirit I obtain new things, adding to my faith, and over time, I obtain the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, this sort of communication is impossible through man.

Galatians 4:19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,

Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

This is not to say that prior to receiving the Spirit one cannot exhibit gifts or scriptural understanding. I wrote dozens of bible songs before I received the Holy Spirit. I loved the things of God and sought righteousness. God was with me and he eventually came to dwell in me.

John 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

When the Spirit of God came to me, it was first preached at the mouth of a man.

Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

The purpose of being a "Christian" is to grow up into Christ. We are not to remain as children, under tutors and governors (religious authorities and teachers), but to grow up into sons, heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ. We have the seed of God in us and that seed must remain in us and grow up into the fullness of the image of Christ.

This is part of what that means:

1 John 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

Only God can communicate such things to us, man cannot. To truly be born of God we cannot sin. No man can teach us how to be like that. No man can give that to us. It is a high calling.

Now, looking back at your question:

Ephesians1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

It really comes down to this: Why does God do things the way he does?

Here is why: He took counsel with himself and made a decision. He does not seek to be justified in the sight of men for doing the things he does. God does not need to communicate through men, he could thunder out of heaven, but he chooses not to because of his own counsels. He does things the way he does because he has particular ends in mind which he has determined are best achieved by the means we see before us.

I believe you asked your question from a sincere curiosity. Others question merely to excuse themselves from believing. They will look at what I have said and reply, "If no one can resist the will of God, then how can God sit in judgment of everyone?"

Romans 9:16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy.
Romans 9:18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
Romans 9:19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?

If everything is determined by whether God has mercy on someone, or hardens them, and if God chooses whom he wills... How can he judge the people whom he hardens?

Romans 9:20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

God made the world for his purposes, it is operating according to his will. He very well could have done things differently, he could have made the world so that the first sperm to reach every egg died, and none of us who exist would exist.

He could have made the world so that there was no evil in it. People ask that all the time, "Why didn't God create a world in which there was no evil?" He surely could have. And the reason it is foolish to ask for such a thing, is that, if that were the case, then none of us would exist. If the world was made so that there would never be any evil, then none of us who exhibit any evil would exist.

"But couldn't God have made us so that we were not evil?". Sure he could have, he could have made someone just like us, who was not evil, but just like twins, there is only one, "me," if I was made different, then I would not be the same unique self-conscious individual that I am. "Couldn't God have made the same "self-conscious me" to be only good?" Yes, I suppose he could do that, he is God after all, but what does it matter to him? If it is me, or my "good twin," it is all the same to God, I am no more special than my unconceived twin, except that God was gracious to me and created me from nothing. My "good twin," if it had consciousness to ask, might ask God why He had not created him instead of me! God does not owe anything to creation or anyone in it. God is good for even creating us and letting us exist, because it is manifest that there are many people who could exist, that do not and that never will exist. God made everything for his own purposes which he purposed in himself. He did not make everything to satisfy our corrupt sense of entitlement.

So, what was the purpose that he made man for? Or rather, how do the way things work in the world fit in with the purposes of God?

First: We know that the scriptures say that God is raising up sons.

Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: (we who have the Spirit)
Romans 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (suffering is part of being conformed to the image of Christ)
Romans 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
Romans 8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
Romans 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Romans 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
Romans 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

The purpose of things being the way they are now is to wait for the manifestation of the Sons of God. Everything in the current ordering of creation is geared towards that end. That is the focus of God, he is raising sons, the rest will die. God makes things to be in the world in such a way so that no one can get to God, not by their own power, like God showed with Moses. God hides himself in thick darkness so that man cannot find him:

Exodus 20:21 And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.

2 Chronicles 6:1 Then said Solomon, The LORD hath said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.

Not that God is darkness or that there is any darkness in him, but the darkness surrounding God keeps people out and keeps people from seeing God. The darkness is seen on Television, in false pastors, in false teachers, in all who create this swirling and confusing mass of smoke around God, the only way to get to God is that he comes to us, and reveals himself to us.

Even the words that I speak will only serve as darkness to some. (The natural man does not receive the things of the spirit)

2 Thessalonians 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

How does one love the truth if the truth is not pleasing to them? Notice how God sends delusions, and how he also sends love, even love of the truth, because If I must receive it, then it has to first be sent to me, not merely the truth must be given, but the love of such things has to be given to me also, if God does not send that to me then I will not receive the truth either, because the love of such things as the truth tells is not in me. What could I say to you to make you love the truth? The truth I am speaking. Can any man get that across to you? If you do love it, then know, the only reason you have such an ability is because of God, and believe, he will be leading you into all truth, so be diligent and seek it. The Spirit is key.

Romans 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Romans 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

It is impossible for man to love the truth (because the truth is his enemy), so men make things up, they make up things to please themselves, and then they try to get those points across to others, because people have itching ears and because men love to make disciples and become important and authoritive.

Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

That is why reliance on church authorities is folly, even the men whom Paul said that the Spirit had made Bishops (overseers) of the church, were made so, and would also come to speak perverse things. Paul knew it before it happened.

1Cor 11:19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

Even the presence of heresies has a purpose, so that those whom God has approved may be made manifest, because that is what the purpose of God is in this world, to manifest his sons.

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Things don't work out so well for those who are not called according to the purpose of God.

1Peter2:8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

Appointed to disobey? You bet. See, the natural man hates that sort of thing, it even makes many people mad when I say such things, but I'm not even the one who said it. It was Peter, whom they say is an Apostle.

So, to summarize. God uses men to communicate his truth, he also uses men to confuse and deceive people. Ultimately God has to speak to us himself or we will never know who or what we are really supposed to do or believe. God must testify of those he has sent.

Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? Romans 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Romans 10:16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 10:18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
Romans 10:19 But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.

Romans 10:20 But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.

How do we even know what "God" to ask for? How can we find God when we do not even know what we are looking for? How can we find God if the image of God which we have received from men is inaccurate? Because He reveals himself to us. In fact, that is the only way. He uses men, yes, but if the testimony we receive is of men only, and not of the power of God, then the testimony is not true.

If someone believes my words but God does not testify of my words with his power, then my words should also be rejected. Either: 1) I am not anointed of God. Or: 2) God is not calling you (so why waste your time listening to me).

"Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain."

May the favor of God rest upon you,

Paul