Experiences & The Holy Spirit: Dangers & Corrections - Knowing The Spirit (Part 4)

Church Camp 2024 Knowing the Spirit An Important Doctrine Wisdom Decision Making Church Salvation Spirituality Holy Spirit Epistemology Bible Experiences & The Holy Spirit Dangers and Corrections DANGERS Equating Experience with the Holy Spirit Using Sloppy Language SLOPPY LANGUAGE I have a message from the Holy Spirit: Get the people ready, the sun is setting. The Holy Spirit gave me a dream last night: dead leaves were blown off the sidewalk. God is clearing a path for us. The Holy Spirit told me to buy this house. I know the Holy Spirit wanted me to do this. I had peace about it. You can’t question my decision because my conscience is clear. DANGERS Equating Experience with the Holy Spirit Using Sloppy Language Mishandling Scripture MISHANDLING SCRIPTURE Matthew 1:20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. MISHANDLING SCRIPTURE Jeremiah 3:12 Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, faithless Israel, declares the Lord. I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful, declares the Lord; I will not be angry forever. DANGERS Equating Experience with the Holy Spirit Using Sloppy Language Mishandling Scripture CORRECTIONS Learn to Submit Experience to Scripture EXPERIMENT What if you met someone who had been raised from the dead? What if you had a vision so beautiful that you saw Christ in his heavenly glory? What if someone performed an undeniable miracle in your presence? LUKE 16:19-31 19 There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. 24 And he called out, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame. LUKE 16:19-31 25 But Abraham said, Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us. LUKE 16:19-31 27 And he said, Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house— 28 for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29 But Abraham said, They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent. 31 He said to him, If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead. 2 PETER 1:16-19 16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased, 18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. 19 And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, DEUTERONOMY 13:1-5 If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, 2 and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, Let us go after other gods, which you have not known, and let us serve them, 3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the Lord your God is testing you, to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him. 5 But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death… SUBMIT EXPERIENCE TO SCRIPTURE “WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?” I don’t need to go to church. My conscience is clear about this. I just knew the Holy Spirit was telling me to take that job. I was praying, and then I had wonderful peace. I told God, if that person rings me today, then I’ll do it. It feels so right. How could God let it feel so good if it was really bad for me? CORRECTIONS Learn to Submit Experience to Scripture Clean Up Sloppy Language MATTHEW 12:36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, CLEAN UP SLOPPY LANGUAGE Sloppy: “The Holy Spirit told me to turn around and give him a tract.” Better: “I was burdened to share Jesus and so turned around before it was too late.” (Scripture says “make disciples of all the nations”) CLEAN UP SLOPPY LANGUAGE Sloppy: “The Spirit is leading me to buy that car.” Better: “Wise living takes into account the transport I need for work and the money I have saved. Buying this car is a wise decision.” (Scripture: The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty. Prov 21:5) CLEAN UP SLOPPY LANGUAGE Sloppy: “The Spirit impressed upon my heart to ring you and see how you’re doing.” Better: “I was thinking about you and wanted to check in on you.” (Scripture: Hebrews 10:24, And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works) CORRECTIONS Learn to Submit Experience to Scripture Clean Up Sloppy Language Focus Your Expectation of the Holy Spirit’s Ministry FOCUS EXPECTATION John 16:14 He will glorify me He [the Holy Spirit] will glorify me [Jesus] CORRECTIONS Learn to Submit Experience to Scripture Clean Up Sloppy Language Focus Your Expectation of the Holy Spirit’s Ministry Grow in Contentment with God’s Plans & Methods SUMMARY DANGERS Equating Experience with the Holy Spirit Using Sloppy Language Mishandling Scripture CORRECTIONS Learn to Submit Experience to Scripture Clean Up Sloppy Language Focus Your Expectation of the Holy Spirit’s Ministry Grow in Contentment with God’s Plans & Methods Experiences & The Holy Spirit Dangers and Corrections