|
|
| |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| Speak it! |
|
| |
Why is it that so many Christians--denominational or otherwise--blanch at the manifestations of the Holy Spirit? Why would they believe in the virgin birth, but cannot accept a modern day prophet? And, this one really gets me: why do people who pray (even if only in church on Sunday), react as though you are crazy if you say, "I heard God tell me..."?
What happened that our mainstream culture accepts so much that is based upon "The Book," such as laws, wisdom, history but rejects the literal application in our lives today? I know of a denomination which began as a grassroots rebellion at being denied translation of the Bible into their native tongue, and whose evangelical mission arose during an intense prayer worship where the Holy Spirit's presence was so strong that food was brought to the congregation so as not to interrupt or let go of that fervor. Today, would you believe they celebrate eating food during Mass and disdain manifestation of the Holy Spirit! What happened?
I'll tell you what happened: Satan has continued to spread his lies and to gain control of the worldly/fleshly realm. Culture in the "Media Age" is the baggage of perceptual filters that define our reality--if we let it. And what is the only antidote? The Word of God! Which words, you may ask? All of them! If the Bible says Jesus cast out demons possessing a man--you'd better believe that demons existed then and they exist today! If the Bible says that the Holy Spirit is sent to be our Helper and brings gifts of prophecy, tongues, healing, teaching, etc. then CLAIM THEM! How can it be that the vast majority think you are crazy, self-deluded and possibly demon-possessed if you speak or pray in tongues when the Bible only describes such in connection with the Holy Spirit (hey, isn't He one of that Trinity thing?). I've always liked the line my father-in-law paraphrased from a preacher: "If speaking in tongues is of the devil, why aren't they doing it in bars? You know those places are full of unGodly people in Satan's grip!"
So, do the Church a favor: the next time you hear that small, still voice when you are praying, or receive a vision, or a conviction that you know comes from God, tell everybody that "God spoke to me and told me this thing." Tell your pastor, your cell group, your children, even <gasp!> your co-workers! |
|
| To leave a comment or start your own blog: |
 |
or |
 |
Already a member? Login |
|
|
|
|
Rosie |
 |
September 05, 2007 at 1:18am |
|
| I agree with you one hundred and fifty percent.....I had a "friend who preached and prayed for me for years to come to the Lord and when i did and told her of visitations from Him she thought i was out of my mind we are no longer friends her choice and she no longer goes to church go figure.....But it is as you say if God doesn't speak to us then how is it people are able to be saved....It's not from reading the word before you get saved how many open the Bible.....It's from the Spirit of the Living Breathing Speaking God that's how....He wasn't silent way back when and He's not silent now........God talks to me ALL the time............................ |
|
|
Joe G |
|
September 05, 2007 at 5:24am |
|
| I think it's candid and spot on. I believe and so I can receive. I believe what God said about my salvation....and so I got saved....but I don't believe what He said (sometimes in the same chapter..ha) about healing or tongues or interpretations or angels or my rights to the inheritance of Jacob and so, guess what I DON'T RECEIVE. Why? Because without faith, it is IMPOSSIBLE. We are a wacky bunch, ain't we? |
|
|
Grant |
|
September 05, 2007 at 9:19pm |
|
Sorry mate! I'm more cautious than that. Don't get me wrong! I believe God definitely does speak through people today, I even believe in prophets today, and yes, I even believe in that small voice of God. What I don't believe is every time someone claims they had a "word" or "prophecy" from God. Sorry, but I've heard too many such words that directly contradict Scripture or I have otherwise discerned by the same voice of God, that this thing was not genuine.
The problem with the whole thing is that it is abused today, by everyone from fake faith healers who don't allow people in wheelchairs up front, to counterfeit revivalists to heretical televangelists and self-deceived non-prophets giving a non-word from God. Do I still believe it? As a non-Catholic, I must defend them as being people who DO believe in miracles, prophecies and the voice of God today. However, they are more cautious than popular Christianity, having a longer experience with fakes than say more recent movements such as the Pentecostal movement. I really think that their advice in this regard is excellent:
1. check to see that the person is of a sound moral character and a good reputation,
2. the prophecy must conform to Christian truth and morality,
3. a prediction must be outside the possibility of natural knowledge which can be faked, such as occurs sometimes in counterfeit revival meetings where people fill out a form or are overheard and information is transmitted to a phony evangelist,
4. no prophecy which condemns a person to hell is to be accepted, as those things are to be determined at the judgment and not today,
5. we ought to establish whether or not the prophecy actually came to pass.
Deuteronomy 13 gives some other guidelines as well. Some false prophets actually predict things that come to pass. However, here we are cautioned to check out their doctrines. Just as some frauds today seem to actually perform miracles, but their doctrines are rubbish, so too we ought to be cautious and not blindly follow a prophet without checking his or her teachings. |
|
|
JenBoat |
|
September 06, 2007 at 8:24am |
|
I think the author here is more exhorting the hearer of the word from the Lord, to not repress anything the Lord tells them to share, rather than any instructions to the one who is listening to the word being spoken.... I agree caution and protocall must be observed in receiving ANY word through another human being, be it prophetic or even just preaching. We ought not to receive ANYTHING from another person without first running it through the filter of the Word of God and the Holy Spirit living in us, before we choose to take to heart and apply it to life.
But as for the one to whom God speaks, we must not admonish them to keep quiet as Jonah who tried to run from an instruction to give a word. Rather, we must encourage them to get proper training, accountability, and experience under proper authority so as to not further tarnish the image of Christ in the modern day prophetic and other manifestations of the Holy Spirit.
I, for one, shall never allow the enemy to squelch the voice of the Holy Spirit who wants to flow through me because of other ones who may be delivering such a word wrongly. That would follow to say none should preach b/c there are fake preachers and false teachers!
NO instead let us do it according to the Word, according to the protocall set up in leadership, and show the world, and the body of Christ, that we don't back away due to others misuse of the name of Christ. We press on all the more, to be pure bearers of His name, His blood, and His Word. But it is okay to disagree and still accept one another in love. |
|
|
Glad to see the discussion! I hope the main point of my blog is clear: that God has intended these things for us, and gave us His Word on it. Mathew 21:20-22 and Mark 16:16-17. And Peter raised Dorcas from death and Paul healed by his touch. Many were baptized in the Holy Spirit. Acts 19:1-4. Are we willing to believe in these things--for us--for today? Or will we reject our inheritance because we can't accept the literal truth and all its implications? [You know how it goes: "Belief in demons was for the Dark Ages because they didn't have microscopes and didn't know about bacteria and viruses...we're smarter now." Or, "Six days is just artistic license--it was really 4 billion years as proven by our geological, paleontological and evolution science." Or, "OK, I can believe that those signs, wonders and miracles happened two thousand years ago, but since they already happened for them dudes, God doesn't cause them to happen now."]
Can spiritual gifts be abused or misused? Yes. Can our faith be exploited by a spirit of deceit? Maybe. Could we lose everything by burying our 'talents' in the ground out of fear? Absolutely! Fear that we will be judged 'fanatical' or 'self-deluded' and rejected or persecuted even within the Church can steal the blessing right out from under our noses, cheating both the giver and the receiver. Those with eyes and ears must also have a voice. And fear, doubt, skepticism, and outright rejection place God in a box of our dimensions. Consider the difference between having an intecessor pray fervently for you, hear God speak clearly into your situation, and then communicate it to you as, "I think maybe you should consider whether ..." because they are afraid that if they tell you they heard it from God you are likely to get your hackles up and close off to what they are about to say? I guess they'd have to go "incognito"!
I think my next blog will be about... |
|
|
More Posts from Daddyhero
|
|
|
|
|
|
back to top
