It sure seemed clear: Theology is what keeps us on the right path. So any new thing that comes along I should check with my theology to see if it lines. up. Could this be a wrong approach to living life? Since theology is yesterday's insights codified, does this approach keep me bound in the box of yesterday's revelations? Is this why religious people stoned the prophets (Matt. 23:34; Acts 7:51-53)? Is this why revivals die out? Is this why those who were part of the last revival so often react against the next revival God ushers in?
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Jesus spoke in my journaling
Mark, how about you test all spiritual experiences against My Scriptures? And more than that, how about you check all spiritual experiences against illumined Scriptures which you receive as you pray over them asking for My insight.
When you have a new experience in Me, you need to go back to Scripture, praying over Scripture and asking Me to reveal that which you have not previously seen. You must seek to build new understanding and insights from My Scriptures, in light of the new experiences you have had. You must not go to Scriptures seeking to prove your experiences wrong, but you must go seeking to prove your experiences right. And I will show you things you have never seen before.
But Lord, what if I have some crazed out experience that is not acceptable to Scripture?
Then you will find no Scriptural support for it, even though you look. Oh, sure, you could take a few verses out of context to justify your position, but that would not be Me illumining Scripture to your understanding. That would be you twisting Scripture to accommodate your goals.
How will I know the difference?
By submitting your findings to those whom I have given over you to watch over your soul. They will be easily able to discern whether you walk in truth or in error and they will correct you as I lead them to.
My response, and I pray you join me in making this your response also
Lord, I will submit all my spiritual experiences to your illumined Scripture for confirmation or adjustment, and I will make sure spiritual advisors can affirm that they truly are from You.
Learning to become a Berean in my approach
The Apostle Paul came into town with a heretical new revelation: "Paul reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, 'This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ'" (Acts 17:2-3).
Well, that did not line up with their current theology so they reacted: "The Jews [in Thessalonica], becoming jealous and taking along some wicked men from the marketplace, formed a mob and set the city in an uproar; and attacking the house of Jason, they were seeking to bring them out to the people" (Acts 17:5).
Interesting that Paul preaches the same message in the next city and he gets a totally different response. He is accepted and not rejected. I want to be part of the group that accepts new insights from the Spirit of God, rather than rejecting them and bad-mouthing those who are courageous enough to bring them forth. How about you?
So what was the difference with this second group? "These were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so" (Acts 17:11).
The difference was the Bereans' heart motivation. Rather than seeking to prove Paul wrong (accuser's attitude), they sought to prove that what he said was so (Comforter's attitude)! The spirit of accusation is demonic (Rev. 12:10). The spirit of comfort is from the Holy Spirit (Jn. 14:26 KJV). Wow! And I began my Christian walk with an accusative attitude against everyone and everything.
Since I made a decision that I would go to Scripture asking the Holy Spirit to show me any truth in new ideas that have been presented to me, I have embraced many new things. I find that I have changed my mind continuously and grown constantly, which I truly LOVE! I can more easily listen to and understand people and their positions and don’t feel a need to attack them.
My hope is that we, the Church, will be known as those who are tolerant, open-minded, loving, and kind. For sure there is not much open-mindedness around us now. There is one policy presented, by denominations and by governments. If one should dare to disagree, they are guilty of spreading misinformation or of being a heretic. No doubt I fit both categories in some people's minds. Jesus sure fits both categories, so I am in wonderful company.
I invite you to join me in speaking life over yourself
I am free from this lie that I should test my spiritual experiences against my theology and the prison it has created in my life. I stand on God’s revealed truth which is that I now ask God to illumine Scriptures to my understanding so that I may see things in them I never saw before. I am now freed for the Spirit to show me new things. Thank You, Lord!
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