Satan seduced many into separating the Holy Spirit and the Bible—pitting them against each other. The Bible not only predicted this deception—it exposed the motive behind it.
2 Timothy 4:3 says “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers…” What they can’t endure is the Bible. They drop the God card to fulfill their lusts and blame the Holy Spirit.
The drinking, the carousing, and the blatant new age preaching, did not creep into the church overnight. It insinuated itself slowly, quietly and under the cover of good intentions.
It began in small doses. One preacher said, “Why do we trust a book they didn’t have more than the Spirit they did have?” Another preacher said, “we’re not supposed to worship a book.”
They will tell you they are trusting in the voice of the Spirit more than a book. What they are really hearing is their own voice…or worse. They don’t deny the inerrancy of scripture; they simply claim direct revelation from God that’s equal to the Bible.
Bible study has become passé. Many seek constant prophetic words. They trust these words without comparing them against scripture.
The Holy Spirit has become on demand. You’ve all seen the Facebook ads where “prophets” will give you a daily word from the Lord. Some even charge money to give you a prophetic word.
A young revivalist claimed to get more from “an angel” than from the Bible. He even wrote on his website, “I have had experiences in the Spirit that cannot be explained by the Bible.” Not long after this, he left his wife and children for his secretary. He is still in ministry defending his experience.
People blame all kinds of things on “leadings of the Holy Spirit.” “The Spirit told me I can leave my husband and children because He wants me to be happy.” “You may not like the way I dress, but the Holy Spirit does.” One preacher even compared the Spirit to marijuana and said, “I am toking the Ghost.”
Here’s a typical conversation with one of these:
“I am not just forgiven of the sins I have committed, and I am also forgiven in advance of the ones I will commit. Therefore, I never need to repent or confess my sin.”
“That’s crazy, 1 John 1:8 says, ‘If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.’”
“Oh, well that was not written to Christians.”
“No Bible scholar believes that. In any case, that means the Apostle John wasn’t a Christian because he said “if we.”
You can’t prove that. Where did you get it?”
“It was revealed to me by the Spirit.”
Addiction to alcohol, drugs, pornography and a host of other vices overtake believers because the natural protection of the Bible is erased. Psalm 119:11 says, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.”
Why am I condemning all of this? Because the Bible commands me to do so: 2 Corinthians 4: 2 says, “But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.”
Tuning out the Bible to hear the Spirit has flooded the church with the most carnal and self-centered believers ever. To reject the Bible while seeking a word from God is to toy with witchcraft.
The Holy Spirit and the Bible exist in unbreakable agreement. The Spirit will take you to the Bible, and the Bible will take you to the Holy Spirit.
One of the prime purposes of the Holy Spirit is to help us understand and remember the Bible. “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” – John 14:26
You can be sure that if you are not regularly reading the Bible, God will avoid speaking to you through prophecy. To do so creates a dangerous habit. Without a biblical foundation, you will have no way to judge prophetic words.
The superiority the Bible over the prophetic is clearly shown by the fact we are told to judge prophecy but never to judge scripture. 2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness…”
Daily Bible study is a hallmark of those who seek truth. Acts 17: 11 “Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” True revival is always Bible based. True preaching will quote scripture liberally.
We are at a crucial point. If the Body doesn’t repent of this foolishness, America is sunk. That is no longer the mindless wrangling of doomsday prophets…it’s a clear reality.
However, there is great hope. The combination of the Word of God revealed by the Holy Spirit will more than match today’s wickedness. God not knew the insanity of today was coming—He took steps to prepare a special relationship, that would produce special powers for His children.
But, if even a small remnant repent, gets back in the Word, and obeys the Holy Spirit, He will build an army and it can prevail. 1 Samuel 14: 6 promises this: “Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the Lord will work for us. For nothing restrains the Lord from saving by many or by few.”
big amen to many propaliar’s and it’s not God’s word’s, it’s pocket change, word’s that will fill there pocket’s, the word introduce’s you to God and allow’s you to help get to know him, and know about him, the Holy Spirit allow’s you to be intimate with him, and of course Jesus make’s it all possible, but it take’s all three to know God, and move in HIM and prayer.
I have run across so many Christians reading Jesus calling instead of scripture on a daily basis… This book is heresy and lead you to a false Holy Spirit…
You were dead on with this message… I agree the Holy Spirit will not lead you away from the word but reveal the word the way we should understand it… In power!
PLEASE used quotation marks when you refer to “believers” who don’t believe the Word and when you speak of “the Body” that clearly isn’t connected to the Head.
A clear distinction needs to be made between nominal Christians and true followers of Christ and it starts with leaders calling sin, “sin” and sinners, “sinners.”
From my Facebook reposting…
Quote:
[It began in small doses. One preacher said, “Why do we trust a book they didn’t have more than the Spirit they did have?” Another preacher said, “we’re not supposed to worship a book.”]
I have been saying for years, that to be Pentecostal you *MUST* know the written Word, otherwise you cannot tell whether a spirit is of Jehovah or not!
This was the bane of the Charismatic Renewal because initially they/we went with the emotions of Pentecost without the stability and teaching of the pure Word of Jehovah.
There are so many new and mangled teachings out there that I have to go to the Written Word and then reference what the commentators had to say through the years…
If both do not support the “new” teaching then, it’s back to prayer and the Written Word…
You cannot divorce the Written Word from The Holy Spirit!
As they testify and complement one another!
And, remember! If you divorce The Written Word in a very real sense you are divorcing yourself from The Living Word, Jesus Christ our only Messiah and Savior.
Amen to that brother. The word is our plumb line in life, without the word we are powerless to stand the attacks of the enemy. The Holy Spirit confirms the word.
Went to a church where they referred to the Bible as the book. I grew up after receiving the Holy Ghost according to he book of Acts 2. I was lead into Gods word and still am. “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.”
1 John 5:7 KJV
http://bible.com/1/1jn.5.7.kjv
Thank you for a solid word from the Word. We are definitely seeing, Amos 8:11,12 , a famine of hearing the words of the Lord . “Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands: The Lord knows those who are His and Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity” 2Tim.2:19
Mario and gentlemen, this article is SO true!
There isn’t anything happening today in modern society that cannot be defined and refined by the written word within the Biblical record. The canon of scripture is holy documentation that meets history, meets theology, meets all the governments of men, meets the rule of laws, and confronts them with God’s Kingdom reality, whether they like it or not. Anything that needs an answer to human life problems can be routed out and answered using the Biblical record. All of the Holy Spirit’s gracious imparting to we mere human beings, can, should, and will be lined up balanced, corrected and confirmed from the Bible itself.
Those who distort, misuse or neglect the Biblical record do so at their own risk. I like the way AP-Peter said it here;
2 Peter 1:20, 21, “First of all, you should know this: No prophecy of Scripture comes from one’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by the will of man; instead, men spoke from God as they were moved by The Holy Spirit.” HCSB.
James you are right the Bible is our plumb line! ♚
I am so blessed and thrilled to see others (some with more exposure) preaching the truth that is inflicting this age. I KNOW the Lord has sent men of God like you as confirmation to those of us who have been preaching this truth for a while and not shirking our responsibilities to the Lord and to His sheep, HIS flock! Glad I found your blog. Love your writing and the truth you do not hide from. This isn’t idle flattery brother, we NEED the truth taught like never before!
God bless you abundantly and richly as you continue to serve (minister) in the Holy Spirit and the Living Word of God!!
I have many friends who I believe have been mature Christians in the past who suddenly are moving in harmony with sexual perversion and discounting major, significant scriptures on God’s prescription for the boundaries of our sexuality. Once one messes with basic doctrine saying, “That was for then,” or,”that is mis-interpretation,” the door is open for a strategic and complete deception from the enemy in all areas of biblical truth. The decent from truth begins with a small seed.
God, Help is to rightly divide the Word!
I need Him more every day!
?♀️
Having been in the New Age movement, I must ground any revelation, preaching or experience in Scripture. I know what it is to eat from the wrong tree.
Spot On!
You hit the nail on the head perfectly!!!
Recently I have chosen to go to a church that reads scripture and has commentary along with it by pastors who know how to teach scripture. My heartache has been being part of charismatic churches that minister their favorite part. Namely the prophetic. I have been so lost and even sidelined as I would point to scripture, versus the intellectual words, that sometimes come as the word of the Lord.. I have had God encounters. But I just don’t fit in. I have been rejected by some, and called a good old boy, versus being raised in the big city. I honestly don’t know how to chase the wind. The bible just makes more sense to me. It helps me see my sin. Addictions, and helps me to have a real prayer life, instead of a bounce house emotional experience trying to find crums off the Lords table. Math. 6 has really helped me so much. God see in secret, and He awards openly. I won’t need a trumpet, or a megaphone to do a good deed or pray, or give. Just be in love with God, and in His word. and pray that the Holy Spirit would continue to fill me, and that I not grieve Him. I will leave the prophetic horoscopes for the Word of God that brings the true healing.. Thank you for sharing sir. I decided to go to Calvary Chapel because it’s all starting to look like a train wreck to me. Gods love brother. Please pray for me, just another lost boy..
Curtis, I feel your pain… I, too, have never quite fitted…
I attended Calvary Chapel of Aiken, SC and I loved Pastor Bob, and we had an awesome Praise Team.
But, we would get so close to rising to a high worship then pull back, I got frustrated.
From what I understand Calvary Chapel’s are afraid of overt forms of manifestations of The Holy Spirit’s Presence. So be aware…
Both Vineyard and Calvary Chapel have had churches go beyond what is written. But, I think all denoms have a tendency to do so. (So, has The Assemblies)
I was raised Assemblies of God, and on Paper their Doctrine is pretty awesome. (Studied to be licensed… Politics)
I am now attending Liberty Parkway Church of God (Cleveland TN).
No it’s not “the perfect church”, but it’s become family.
I miss the scripture songs of the Jesus Movement and the early Hosanna! Integrity Worship Songs.
And, I miss the days of Kathryn Kuhlman and Oral Roberts and the Heyday of Pat Robertson’s first Radio station and first TV station, all in my hometown of the Greater Norfolk/Portsmouth Tidewater area.
So, what I am saying is, and it may take a while, don’t automatically turn away from the Assemblies or CoG, there are still some really good churches left.
A few years ago I was accused of being a Bible worshipper. I had never heard of such a thing before. I asked how you can separate God’s Word from the Word of God. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The argument went nowhere and I ended up blocking this person and group from my FB page. It still baffles me. Thanks for this article.
…and what about the millennial’s who choose to use the KJV of the Holy Bible…trying to convert people to a flat earth ideology like it is “truth” to salvation? Another ploy to keep minds busy with research that doesn’t take us to the secret place?! Please comment as I admire the anointing on your life and ministry and have for many years! God bless you!?
Mary, I am not sure I understand your post…
But, let me say this, I use the KJV, Amplified and NIV as my mainstays, though I have a lot of others.
When I research, I do so to verify that I am remembering a passage or precept correctly.
Such research does not restrict my ability to enter The Secret Place, rather it emboldens me to enter because I have confidence that I understand the right of it.
And, with electronic means, research doesn’t take all that long. Though flipping through a Strong’s Concordance took a bit longer, I always had time to enter in. 🙂
I also research to verify if what a “purported” Apostle; Prophet; Pastor; Teacher or Evangelist is saying is Biblical, in context and adheres to my Fathers precepts as I understand them.
If they are right and I’m wrong change is required on my part.
1 John 4:1 BELOVED, DO not put faith in every spirit, but prove (test) the spirits to discover whether they proceed from God; for many false prophets have gone forth into the world.
I maintain that we cannot test the spirits if we do not know our Bible…