Hi all,
I will close this series talking about the balance between the Word and Spirit, and how to walk that out in daily life - how to stay balanced and prevent ourselves from getting off into error.
The guideline is very simple:The Word and Spirit always agree.
Therefore, if someone claims God is doing something (by His Spirit) then it will be seen in chapter and verse (Word), and/or in the last 2,000 years of Christianity. The reverse is true:If someone claims the Word says something, then we will see the Holy Spirit doing that today and/or during the last 2,000 years of the faith.
Additionally, no single verse stands alone to be taken as doctrine. If someone claims scripture says something, there will be 1-3 verses saying the same thing. For example, John 3:16, that God so loved the world He gave His son, is not a stand alone verse. In I Timothy 2:4 it says the same thing in a different way:"God...who wants all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth." It supports and agrees with John 3:16.
How to perceive error? Peter said...
In II Peter 1:17-18 he describes his experience on the Mount of Transfiguration (Lk 9:29-31). In that experience Jesus became pure white in glory, and the Father in a similarly bright white glory cloud enveloped them and spoke to them. Moses and Elijah (law and prophets) spoke to Jesus about His approaching death in Jerusalem.
BUT, Peter writes in v19-21as great as that experience was:"We have a more sure word of prophecy (scripture)...for no writing of scripture is of private interpretation, but was written down by holy men as they were inspired by God, moved by the Holy Spirit to do so."
Peter says as great as a spiritual experience was, scripture is a more sure word, for it is inspired by the Father under the direction of His (Holy) Spirit. The Word and Spirit agree.
This means if you hear someone talk of their experience, dream, or vision, it will be in agreement with scripture. If you can't find chapter and verse on what they say, the principle will be found in scripture AND it will resonate in your spirit as true.
If someone says something like they go to heaven at will and can teach you how to as well, we look at scripture. Do we see anyone in scripture who regularly visited heaven at will? Do we see anyone having a spiritual dream, vision, visitation or experience initiated by them? No. Every supernatural experience of God in scripture was initiated by God. Never by man.
Paul wrote in II Corinthians 11:3-4...
That he was afraid they would be deceived by listening to people who present another gospel, another Jesus, another spirit. He said Satan's efforts to get them off into error was very subtle, but he did give some characteristics of such ministers.
In v4 he says 'they preach a different Jesus than what we preached, a different spirit, a different gospel.' That's the first clue, the Jesus they present is different from the classic understanding of Jesus, contrary to His character.
If someone says Jesus asked them to do something, ask yourself:"Does that sound like Jesus?" "Did He ever ask anyone to do something similar in the gospels or Acts?" "Does Paul instruct or mention that in his letters?" If the answer is 'no', we also balance it by how our spirit receives it. Does it resonate with our spirit? Has the Holy Spirit done the same with with others in the last 2,000 years? If no, then it is error. The Spirit and Word agree, and that agreement isn't found, so it is error.
Our spirit man has been recreated by the Holy Spirit, who is Truth.
Because our focus is knowing the Father and knowing Jesus, and fellowshipping by the Spirit with them*, we first check our spirit man. It if resonates with our spirit, that is the Holy Spirit testifying that what the person says is right and true. *I Corinthians 1:9, I John 1:3, 6
Learning to perceive that witness in your spirit is a process, and step of faith at first. But soon it becomes automatic, the way you live and measure all things.
If something resonates in your spirit as true but your mind doesn't understand it and you are confused, it is because the light of His Spirit of Truth is shining on your confusion, showing that your thinking has been wrong about the issue. If something doesn't feel right in your spirit but intrigues your mind - follow your spirit and don't continuing listening to the error the person is teaching.
In recent years
We've seen the prosperity gospel, twisting verses to justify pastors living like the rich and famous, rather than at a level their average church members live. It is seen in preachers who make formulas that make the fearful think they must do those things lest the devil get an opening into their lives. That's a different Jesus than what Paul preached and wrote about. Is that what the Holy Spirit would lead someone to? Is that the way Jesus lived in His ministry? Is that the gospel?
It is seen in those who make the Father the adversary:That we must gather as many as possible to storm the gates of heaven (though He says come boldly directly to His throne) to convince Him to send (fill in the blank:Revival, healing, money, loved one saved, etc). That's a different spirit and gospel.
In II Corinthians 11:19-20 he describes these ministers. He says they manipulate you and your emotions, exalt themselves, take your money, and insult you - either directly or by preying on fears ignorance to make themselves a name and feeling more important.
In the Greek Paul says "..or slaps you in the face."
This is a reference to the way the Pharisees silenced their opponent. Paul later writes a leader in a church should not be a 'striker'*, referring to this. It means if a Christian leader teaches or stays something, when someone questions them, they should not strike back just to silence another perspective. *I Timothy 3:3, Titus 1:7
Anyone making a statement from scripture or experience they had in the Lord, should be easy to challenge or ask questions without them 'slapping you in the face' to shut you down and insult you.
The summary of this series is this:
Anything we read in the Word is secondary to knowing the Father and knowing Jesus. We do this by the Holy Spirit within. As we get to know the Father and Lord, we become increasingly aware of the Holy Spirit in us. As that awareness increases, we learn to trust Him more and more as we walk with the Father and Lord, perceiving truth and error by the Spirit of Truth within.
The scripture is greater and more sure as Peter said, than any spiritual experience. And we measure our experiences by the Word and by the Spirit of Truth. Use common sense, weigh things out, but first, focus on knowing the Father, knowing Jesus, for all things flow from knowing God.
Talk to the Father conversationally throughout your day. Find things to be thankful for. As any good thing happens to you during your day, learn to say 'Thank you Father for that'. When you fellowship with Him like that, you build an awareness of He direct and personal involvement in your day, and the Spirit of Truth in you will help you judge all things spiritually.
New subject next week, until then, blessings,
John Fenn
cwowi.org and email me at [email protected]
I will close this series talking about the balance between the Word and Spirit, and how to walk that out in daily life - how to stay balanced and prevent ourselves from getting off into error.
The guideline is very simple:The Word and Spirit always agree.
Therefore, if someone claims God is doing something (by His Spirit) then it will be seen in chapter and verse (Word), and/or in the last 2,000 years of Christianity. The reverse is true:If someone claims the Word says something, then we will see the Holy Spirit doing that today and/or during the last 2,000 years of the faith.
Additionally, no single verse stands alone to be taken as doctrine. If someone claims scripture says something, there will be 1-3 verses saying the same thing. For example, John 3:16, that God so loved the world He gave His son, is not a stand alone verse. In I Timothy 2:4 it says the same thing in a different way:"God...who wants all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth." It supports and agrees with John 3:16.
How to perceive error? Peter said...
In II Peter 1:17-18 he describes his experience on the Mount of Transfiguration (Lk 9:29-31). In that experience Jesus became pure white in glory, and the Father in a similarly bright white glory cloud enveloped them and spoke to them. Moses and Elijah (law and prophets) spoke to Jesus about His approaching death in Jerusalem.
BUT, Peter writes in v19-21as great as that experience was:"We have a more sure word of prophecy (scripture)...for no writing of scripture is of private interpretation, but was written down by holy men as they were inspired by God, moved by the Holy Spirit to do so."
Peter says as great as a spiritual experience was, scripture is a more sure word, for it is inspired by the Father under the direction of His (Holy) Spirit. The Word and Spirit agree.
This means if you hear someone talk of their experience, dream, or vision, it will be in agreement with scripture. If you can't find chapter and verse on what they say, the principle will be found in scripture AND it will resonate in your spirit as true.
If someone says something like they go to heaven at will and can teach you how to as well, we look at scripture. Do we see anyone in scripture who regularly visited heaven at will? Do we see anyone having a spiritual dream, vision, visitation or experience initiated by them? No. Every supernatural experience of God in scripture was initiated by God. Never by man.
Paul wrote in II Corinthians 11:3-4...
That he was afraid they would be deceived by listening to people who present another gospel, another Jesus, another spirit. He said Satan's efforts to get them off into error was very subtle, but he did give some characteristics of such ministers.
In v4 he says 'they preach a different Jesus than what we preached, a different spirit, a different gospel.' That's the first clue, the Jesus they present is different from the classic understanding of Jesus, contrary to His character.
If someone says Jesus asked them to do something, ask yourself:"Does that sound like Jesus?" "Did He ever ask anyone to do something similar in the gospels or Acts?" "Does Paul instruct or mention that in his letters?" If the answer is 'no', we also balance it by how our spirit receives it. Does it resonate with our spirit? Has the Holy Spirit done the same with with others in the last 2,000 years? If no, then it is error. The Spirit and Word agree, and that agreement isn't found, so it is error.
Our spirit man has been recreated by the Holy Spirit, who is Truth.
Because our focus is knowing the Father and knowing Jesus, and fellowshipping by the Spirit with them*, we first check our spirit man. It if resonates with our spirit, that is the Holy Spirit testifying that what the person says is right and true. *I Corinthians 1:9, I John 1:3, 6
Learning to perceive that witness in your spirit is a process, and step of faith at first. But soon it becomes automatic, the way you live and measure all things.
If something resonates in your spirit as true but your mind doesn't understand it and you are confused, it is because the light of His Spirit of Truth is shining on your confusion, showing that your thinking has been wrong about the issue. If something doesn't feel right in your spirit but intrigues your mind - follow your spirit and don't continuing listening to the error the person is teaching.
In recent years
We've seen the prosperity gospel, twisting verses to justify pastors living like the rich and famous, rather than at a level their average church members live. It is seen in preachers who make formulas that make the fearful think they must do those things lest the devil get an opening into their lives. That's a different Jesus than what Paul preached and wrote about. Is that what the Holy Spirit would lead someone to? Is that the way Jesus lived in His ministry? Is that the gospel?
It is seen in those who make the Father the adversary:That we must gather as many as possible to storm the gates of heaven (though He says come boldly directly to His throne) to convince Him to send (fill in the blank:Revival, healing, money, loved one saved, etc). That's a different spirit and gospel.
In II Corinthians 11:19-20 he describes these ministers. He says they manipulate you and your emotions, exalt themselves, take your money, and insult you - either directly or by preying on fears ignorance to make themselves a name and feeling more important.
In the Greek Paul says "..or slaps you in the face."
This is a reference to the way the Pharisees silenced their opponent. Paul later writes a leader in a church should not be a 'striker'*, referring to this. It means if a Christian leader teaches or stays something, when someone questions them, they should not strike back just to silence another perspective. *I Timothy 3:3, Titus 1:7
Anyone making a statement from scripture or experience they had in the Lord, should be easy to challenge or ask questions without them 'slapping you in the face' to shut you down and insult you.
The summary of this series is this:
Anything we read in the Word is secondary to knowing the Father and knowing Jesus. We do this by the Holy Spirit within. As we get to know the Father and Lord, we become increasingly aware of the Holy Spirit in us. As that awareness increases, we learn to trust Him more and more as we walk with the Father and Lord, perceiving truth and error by the Spirit of Truth within.
The scripture is greater and more sure as Peter said, than any spiritual experience. And we measure our experiences by the Word and by the Spirit of Truth. Use common sense, weigh things out, but first, focus on knowing the Father, knowing Jesus, for all things flow from knowing God.
Talk to the Father conversationally throughout your day. Find things to be thankful for. As any good thing happens to you during your day, learn to say 'Thank you Father for that'. When you fellowship with Him like that, you build an awareness of He direct and personal involvement in your day, and the Spirit of Truth in you will help you judge all things spiritually.
New subject next week, until then, blessings,
John Fenn
cwowi.org and email me at [email protected]
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