CAUTION TWO:
Not long back, I met a zealous young man who was sharing about how the Lord spoke to him regarding the way He would use him as His mighty instrument to the nations. And when I questioned him about to which local church he is a part of and is committed, I realized he is a spiritual vagabond.
I have inevitably noticed that when it comes to personally hearing God and even giving a word of prophecy to others, people always look for the spectacular—that God would use to be a great blessing to the nations, that God would immensely bless and prosper, that God would do mighty wonders and miracles, that God would direct in marvelous ways, that God is going to do great and awesome things…etc.
However, these people, I have seen, do not personally hear God in simple things about which the Holy Bible emphatically speaks, such as—love your wife and don’t be harsh with her, submit and respect your husband, revere your parents, don’t lie but speak the truth, forgive the ones who hurt you, generously help others, be patient with difficult people, be submissive to your authorities and superiors, make every effort to live at peace with others, humbly serve others in your local church…etc. (see Colossians 3 and Romans 12)
And there are those who are active in giving word to other believers, saying this is from God, but they themselves are not convicted by the Holy Spirit that they are not active in sharing the gospel of Christ Jesus, calling people to repentance and faith in Him. The disciples in the book of Acts experienced unusual manifestations of the Spirit, but I always see them passionate, focused and active in spreading the gospel of Christ Jesus and making disciples, which is often not found among the folks today who claim to walk in the Spirit.
Before I close, let me ask to turn our attention to the Corinthian church which was filled with the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit. Paul, after explaining the spectacular gifts, writes to them, “But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way” (1 Cor. 12:31). And then he proceeds describing about the significance of love.
Interestingly, Paul spoke about himself in exhorting the Corinthians, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels…..if I have prophetic powers…..if I have faith that moves mountains…..if I give away all I have….I am nothing and gain nothing” (1 Cor. 13:1-3).
Now those who speak about hearing God personally or give word of prophecy to others, I don’t generally find them hearing God saying:
I have inevitably noticed that when it comes to personally hearing God and even giving a word of prophecy to others, people always look for the spectacular—that God would use to be a great blessing to the nations, that God would immensely bless and prosper, that God would do mighty wonders and miracles, that God would direct in marvelous ways, that God is going to do great and awesome things…etc.
However, these people, I have seen, do not personally hear God in simple things about which the Holy Bible emphatically speaks, such as—love your wife and don’t be harsh with her, submit and respect your husband, revere your parents, don’t lie but speak the truth, forgive the ones who hurt you, generously help others, be patient with difficult people, be submissive to your authorities and superiors, make every effort to live at peace with others, humbly serve others in your local church…etc. (see Colossians 3 and Romans 12)
And there are those who are active in giving word to other believers, saying this is from God, but they themselves are not convicted by the Holy Spirit that they are not active in sharing the gospel of Christ Jesus, calling people to repentance and faith in Him. The disciples in the book of Acts experienced unusual manifestations of the Spirit, but I always see them passionate, focused and active in spreading the gospel of Christ Jesus and making disciples, which is often not found among the folks today who claim to walk in the Spirit.
Before I close, let me ask to turn our attention to the Corinthian church which was filled with the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit. Paul, after explaining the spectacular gifts, writes to them, “But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way” (1 Cor. 12:31). And then he proceeds describing about the significance of love.
Interestingly, Paul spoke about himself in exhorting the Corinthians, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels…..if I have prophetic powers…..if I have faith that moves mountains…..if I give away all I have….I am nothing and gain nothing” (1 Cor. 13:1-3).
Now those who speak about hearing God personally or give word of prophecy to others, I don’t generally find them hearing God saying:
You are impatient and unkind towards others. Be patient and kind, my child.
You are envious and boastful. Rejoice in others’ accomplishments and honor others above yourself, my daughter.
I am grieved through your arrogant and rude attitude. You quickly justify yourself when others correct or criticize you. Be humble, my child.
You are selfish and insist on your own way. You do not give thought to others and to what others are saying. Give preference to others, my son.
You are easily irritated and quick-tempered. Be gentle and compassionate, my child.
All these God spoke through Paul in 1 Cor. 13:4-6. Nevertheless, we people generally don't listen to such simple exhortations when God speaks but look for something that is fascinating, sensational and astounding.
So, I urge the readers to pay attention to this counsel: Don’t look for the spectacular and great. Humbly obey God’s word in simple things and He will do great and mighty things in and through us beyond our comprehension. Be faithful in the little things and He will guide us higher for His glory. Hear God through His word to bring inner transformation and we would later wonder seeing His mighty manifestations in life.
My dear brothers and sisters, let us give priority to God’s word, be diligent in studying and meditating on it, be prompt in obeying it and subject all our beliefs, convictions and feelings to its authority. Keep in mind the fact that “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” ( 2 Tim. 3:16).
So, I urge the readers to pay attention to this counsel: Don’t look for the spectacular and great. Humbly obey God’s word in simple things and He will do great and mighty things in and through us beyond our comprehension. Be faithful in the little things and He will guide us higher for His glory. Hear God through His word to bring inner transformation and we would later wonder seeing His mighty manifestations in life.
My dear brothers and sisters, let us give priority to God’s word, be diligent in studying and meditating on it, be prompt in obeying it and subject all our beliefs, convictions and feelings to its authority. Keep in mind the fact that “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” ( 2 Tim. 3:16).
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