The Testimony of the New Testament
As I read through the New Testament, I never see any Christian talking like this. Paul will sometimes quote the Lord Jesus. But in those cases, he is quoting what the Lord taught when He was on earth (e.g., Acts 20:35; 1 Cor. 7:10).
In one instance, Paul was forced to share his spiritual experiences. But when he did, he admitted that he was playing the fool in doing so (2 Cor. 12:1ff.).
Paul also told Luke (or perhaps someone else who knew Paul told Luke) about several supernatural visions he received where the Lord appeared to him and spoke to him. But those cases were clearly supernatural, and they had to do with the direction of Paul’s apostolic ministry (e.g., Acts 22:10; 23:11).
In one case, Agabus, a prophet from Jerusalem, quoted the Holy Spirit who had given him a supernatural revelation about a future event (Acts 21:10–11). Here, Agabus was speaking the exact words of the Spirit. Agabus was simply a mouthpiece. And the proof of the pudding was in the eating. What Agabus predicted came to pass exactly as the Spirit said it would. It was an authentic prophetic word regarding the future.
However, when we read Paul’s letters to the churches, we discover that he never says, “God told me.” Rather, he simply speaks what he believes to be God’s will in normal, shirtsleeve Greek, using his own vocabulary. And yet, all of what he wrote was inspired by the Spirit of God. The same is true for the other apostles who penned their letters.
What’s my point?
It’s simply this. I believe that using the “God told me” card is largely a learned habit. It’s not the natural way that we Christians speak.
Even if you feel that God has told you something, in most cases, it’s profoundly unnecessary to broadcast it to the world so that they know that it was the Almighty, the Creator of the universe who said it to you. Not only that, but I believe it’s usually counterproductive and depletes the power of what’s being said.
To my mind, it’s much more natural—and powerful—to simply say what it is that you feel God told you without trying to puff it up by making Him responsible for it.
I’ve observed that if God has put His words in your mouth or He has given you insight into His thoughts, most people will know that it’s inspired when you say it. There’s no need to “prop it up” by adding the ornament of “God told me” to it.
Of course, if you are an Agabus and you are going to quote the Holy Spirit about something you could only know supernaturally, then by all means go for it. But I will add that many things the Holy Spirit shows us are not meant for us to tell others. They are for our private use. And that use is often to help us know how to effectively minister to others or to know how to intelligently pray for them.
Yet if you feel you must quote the Lord in Agabus-style, I would simply caution you with two things.
One, please use your own natural language. If you’re an American, that means speak in shirtsleeve English. No need to dress it up with a dead language from the Elizabethan era (“Thus saith da Laud”).
Two, if you are quoting God, be aware that you are responsible for what you say—not God. At that moment, you are making yourself His mouthpiece.
If it’s God, it will be proven to be so.
If it’s not, well, it’s far better to just say it in your own words without having to add a divine banner to it, making the Lord responsible.
A little revising is in order. Or so it seems to me …
From Revise Us Again by Frank Viola, author