The evangelistic method of Jesus and the apostles was not to urge people to seek direct experiences with God; instead they went about preaching and teaching the Scriptures (see, for instance, Mark 1:14-15). And Jesus did not say that once we have spiritual life we live by direct mystical experience with God; rather, we 'live ... on every word that comes from the mouth of God' (Matthew 4:4). 'All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every food work' (2 Timothy 3:16-17). That includes the 'good work' of growing in the knowledge of God and likeness of Christ. So in Scripture the normative method of meeting God is through Scripture.
Donald S. Whitney, 'Unity of Doctrine and Devotion', in The Compromised Church, ed. John H. Armstrong (Wheaton, IL.: Crossway Books, 1993), p.95
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