Testing God. Asking to prove that He is Real <-- OP
No.
Yes.
I believe God does want people to be inquisitive and learn ABOUT Him.
However I also believe; God is All knowing,
And Knows the individuals INTENT / (motive).
The question pointed to a person Asking God, IF He is real. IF He isn't, WHO then is that person talking to?
I think a majority of people are more likely to ask an other person, they know Believes, to prove "to them " that God Exists.
People do not KNOW an others intent / motive. Off-hand I Would guess a Believer would first think, oh, that person wants to believe too...however that is not always the case.
Scripture teaches; Gods method of proof.
He revealed to men, what was "going to" happen...and God said wait and see IF What He said, came to pass.
Examples...of "it SHALL come to pass;
Gen. 4:14. - Gen. 12:12 - Gen 23:40 -
Ex 1:10 - Ex 16:5 - Num 5:27
God Said:
Nun 11:23
[23] And the LORD said unto Moses, Is the LORD's hand waxed short?
thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee OR NOT.
And the Reader ALSO...can believe the Recorded Testimony in Scripture ...
OR NOT.
(On the back story...God began by Speaking to Mankind. The frustration of mankind was Man wanted To SEE God.
We all know, Gods Pure Light Brightness would incinerate a HUMAN man whose human eyes were to Look at God...thus God directed men To HEAR His Word...and LOOK At the "Results" of Gods POWER.)
Jesus did something Similar;
Jesus Came IN the FLESH, (in the LIKENESS as a man) SO men Could SEE God with their human eyes. We all know, men Could SEE Jesus...however we all know, the Jews were Not particularly impressed, that Jesus came Without: pomp, wealth, status, power...<--
According TO man's Mindful Logical Understanding.
Bit by bit, Jesus spoke, people were curious to Listen...particularly, when Challenged BY certain people, Whose Intent and Motive, WAS to outsmart Jesus By atTEMPTing to put Jesus on the spot of DEFENSE.
Jesus had a comeback:
Paraphrasing:
* You tell me and I'll tell you.
* Is the best course of action to tend to the care of another's NEEDS, man or an animal (Your food source), on the Sabbath, or let it be or perhaps perish?
* Is Any day, not prosperous, IF a man has served God in way, pleasing unto God?
* Without consideration of certain men Trying to discredit Jesus...
* bit by bit Jesus began Revealing Himself, "as" THE Christ, "having" THE POWER of God "WITH" Him...
* and" then, Revealing, The POWER of God is "IN" Him.
* and Later Revealing, He "IS" the POWER of God.
* Jesus performs; (By His Word ), before the Eyes of men...(What men called, miracles, they believed, only possible to be Accomplished, but By the POWER of God).
* Water to wine
* The blind to see
* The lame to walk
* The evil spirit to be commanded to leave a man
* The DEAD to rise up back to living
And then also, as God did in the OT, Jesus, said...
John 10:
[37] If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.
[38] But if I do, though ye believe not me,
BELIEVE the WORKS: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.
Most humans fail at Hearing ONLY...
NOT news to God...that SEEING trips the curiosity of a human.
God has put in place a failsafe for humans.
Hearing Knowledge is the Beginning of Faith.
The Beginning of Knowledge comes by communication/ exposure, hearing.
And We KNOW FAITH is a Gift from God.
Every time, ANY person IS Hearing the Word of God...It is called, enLIGHTenment.
(God IS Light, His Word IS Light)
A man receiving Gods Word, IS the man being Enlightened...it is a foolproof method. A man can not UN-hear, what he just Heard.
Every time a man IS Hearing the Word of God...God is Gifting that man, MEASURES of FAITH.
MEASURES of FAITH to a mans Carnal (Logical) MIND?
** No.
MEASURES of FAITH to a man (Natural Hearts True Thoughts ?)
** Yes.
WILL a natural man... instantly BELIEVE?
Unlikely.
A natural man ALREADY is personally Conflicted within himself.
Meaning: people have the Natural ability to Know in their Hearts thoughts their of own TRUTH between right and wrong / GOOD and EVIL...
Yet their Carnal Mind can Logically devise reasonings to Supersede their Hearts TRUTH, and plot and carry out Deception.
So absolutely A BEGINNER, experiencing enLIGHTenment...WILL Also experience DOUBT, wonderings, hard to believe, in the Beginning.
We witnessed that with Jesus' chosen Disciples.
* We have revealed to us; Jesus' Disciples wavering between Belief and Doubt.
* We also have revealed to us; the Consequences of ONE who chose To Continue being enLIGHTened and ONE who QUIT...at their "Beginning stage".
Gods Gift of Enlightment and MEASURES of FAITH ARE Gifts from God...Because...
He IS merciful and extends His Mercy forward to men, Through His Offerings and By His Grace.
It is NOT a Gift Forced on man, IT IS an Offering...that men CAN freely TAKE, CONTINUE Taking, or Quit and Walk Away.
We have the knowledge of:
the Consequences...
Of a man who Begins Hearing, and Continues
(his Gifts INCREASE)
CONTINUES on to be Called Saved unto God.
AND
the Consequences...
Of a man who Begins Hearing, and Quits.
(his Gifts DECREASE)
QUITS receiving Gods Faith and is Called having Fallen from Faith.
So in a nutshell, toward an unbeliever, who may want a believer to PROVE Gods Existance...for starters...turn to declaring what God declared...He is the CREATER and MAKER...
Ask them to reveal WHO else has declared the same.
Ask their motive...IS it because they Want to Believe...or simply want a Debate?
If they want to Believe...SPEAK and show them ... all things begin with an Introduction...then getting to know About the subject...diligence to come into Understanding of the Knowledge...and Lastly, a diligent person will obtain the PRIZE Gift of coming to KNOW the Lord God, and have HIS POWER Gifted to be...with-IN the person.
Think on that... Really would you think a man FOOLISH to turn down that opportunity?
Glory to God,
Taken