Signs: Is it wrong to ask God for a sign? It depends on our motive. People who asked Jesus for a miracle just for show or to prove His divinity were denied, but those who asked God for a sign to ascertain or confirm His will were often rewarded. Gideon put a fleece out sincerely seeking confirmation of God's will and was obliged (Judg. 6:36-40). We serve a supernatural God of signs and wonders." -- Ben Godwin
Similarly to audible voices, angelic visitations are relatively rare. To read Charisma News it seems as if there is an angel on every street corner looking for work. It cheapens the reality that angels do exist and according to the Bible we will likely entertain them without even knowing. Then we have visions, dreams, and signs which are constantly abused within Charismaniacal circles. The story from Walker-Smith essentially was a vision but it clearly was from a demon disguised as an angel of light. Most dreams we have are related to what is on our mind, what we last watched on TV or what we recently ate. One of the larger problems within these denominations is that they make the supernatural mundane. Every dream is not from God. Every dream does not have some hidden gnostic meaning that needs to be parsed out and interceded for. Yes, God can insert ideas into our minds but so can the devil through his minions and this world. How can we know the difference between what is from Him and what is not? The bible! That is what discernment means!
"Coincidences: Albert Einstein noted, "Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous." When I was praying about printing my first book, the estimated cost was $3,000 in the late 1980s. I was in a meeting when a woman I had never met before nor seen since gave me an envelope and said, "God told me to give this to you." It contained a diamond ring which appraised for ... you guessed it, $3,000. You can call that a coincidence; I call it providence--God confirming and providing for His will." -- Ben Godwin
Beloved, I have no problem with the account Godwin gives here. I too have experienced things the world would chalk up to coincidence or happenstance but I know God orchestrated what I needed. I do not know if this qualifies as a method of communication from God other than to remind us that He is sovereign and in control of everything.
