I had an interesting conversation with a good friend the other day about some keys he had learned while listening to and applying strategies taught by a well known Christian teacher and encourager. He encountered tremendous breakthrough in the area of discouragement and felt a real freedom and release from long time bondages by using some of the strategies she teaches.
One day he was about to play another one of her video's when he got a check in his spirit. Checks are usually little warning signs or promptings or unctions from the Holy Spirit that tell you that what you are about to do, is not wise. He decided not to continue after that but rather seek out God for himself.
After discussing the situation, we came to a number of conclusions re: why we believed that God did not want him to continue down that path of learning. Sometimes I think that God guides us to believer's who are able to help us grow and to overcome certain obstacles, for a season. These believer's have gained experience through personal hardship and trials. They are able to then pass on their personal experiences and knowledge to others who are needing advice, support or help.
As Christian's though, there needs to be a time when we start growing up in Christ and seek God out for ourselves rather than getting our source of revelation and answers from others. We cannot hang on to the shirt tails of others and gain knowledge or grow without having any real experience under our belt.
How do we get to experience God and get answers from him for ourselves? We do this through our daily walk and one on one personal relationship with him.
Set aside time each day to:
Read hisWord...[The word of God is living and active and sharper than a two-edged sword. Heb:4:12, 2 Timothy 3:16]
Pray form the heart...[the fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16, ]
Worship him - sing, praise, listen to christian music. [A merry heart, doeth good like a medicine. Proverbs 17:32, Psalm 50:23, Psalm 96:2]
Meet with other believer's - regularly [iron sharpens iron. Proverbs 27:17]
The second point we identified was the strategies themselves. Again, the Holy Spirit tends to bring an uneasiness or a sense of caution when certain things appear genuine on the surface but may not be when weighed up against the Word of God. As a born-again Pentecostal believer, speaking out [prophesying] the blessings of God over our lives or the lives of others, is not an unusual thing. It's an awesome way to remind ourselves [and the enemy] of who we are in Christ and it builds up our inner man.
Example: Romans 8:1-2, Philippians 4:13, 4:19, Psalms 118:24, 1 Corinthians 2:16, Matthew 17:20, 1
John 4:4
However, there are some verses that have requirements attached Deut 28:13, 2 Chronicles 7:14,
Psalm 91:1, 9-10, to name just a few. If we prophesy these verses over our lives without fulfilling the
requirements, it will not profit you. As a matter of fact, I believe it brings about a form of bondage. This is a real pervasive thing and there needs to be a line drawn right here... :huh: Such strategies can easily fall into the same category as the "prosperity message" and the “Hype Grace” mantra. [A belief that those who are saved by grace through faith can do whatever they like without the need for repentance].
One thing we can rely on however, is the Holy Spirit whom God has sent into our hearts. He will teach us all things and will bring revelation of Gods truth through his word. John 14:26 &
1 Corinthians 2
9 But as it is written:
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
Shalom!
One day he was about to play another one of her video's when he got a check in his spirit. Checks are usually little warning signs or promptings or unctions from the Holy Spirit that tell you that what you are about to do, is not wise. He decided not to continue after that but rather seek out God for himself.
After discussing the situation, we came to a number of conclusions re: why we believed that God did not want him to continue down that path of learning. Sometimes I think that God guides us to believer's who are able to help us grow and to overcome certain obstacles, for a season. These believer's have gained experience through personal hardship and trials. They are able to then pass on their personal experiences and knowledge to others who are needing advice, support or help.
As Christian's though, there needs to be a time when we start growing up in Christ and seek God out for ourselves rather than getting our source of revelation and answers from others. We cannot hang on to the shirt tails of others and gain knowledge or grow without having any real experience under our belt.
How do we get to experience God and get answers from him for ourselves? We do this through our daily walk and one on one personal relationship with him.
Set aside time each day to:
Read hisWord...[The word of God is living and active and sharper than a two-edged sword. Heb:4:12, 2 Timothy 3:16]
Pray form the heart...[the fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16, ]
Worship him - sing, praise, listen to christian music. [A merry heart, doeth good like a medicine. Proverbs 17:32, Psalm 50:23, Psalm 96:2]
Meet with other believer's - regularly [iron sharpens iron. Proverbs 27:17]
The second point we identified was the strategies themselves. Again, the Holy Spirit tends to bring an uneasiness or a sense of caution when certain things appear genuine on the surface but may not be when weighed up against the Word of God. As a born-again Pentecostal believer, speaking out [prophesying] the blessings of God over our lives or the lives of others, is not an unusual thing. It's an awesome way to remind ourselves [and the enemy] of who we are in Christ and it builds up our inner man.
Example: Romans 8:1-2, Philippians 4:13, 4:19, Psalms 118:24, 1 Corinthians 2:16, Matthew 17:20, 1
John 4:4
However, there are some verses that have requirements attached Deut 28:13, 2 Chronicles 7:14,
Psalm 91:1, 9-10, to name just a few. If we prophesy these verses over our lives without fulfilling the
requirements, it will not profit you. As a matter of fact, I believe it brings about a form of bondage. This is a real pervasive thing and there needs to be a line drawn right here... :huh: Such strategies can easily fall into the same category as the "prosperity message" and the “Hype Grace” mantra. [A belief that those who are saved by grace through faith can do whatever they like without the need for repentance].
One thing we can rely on however, is the Holy Spirit whom God has sent into our hearts. He will teach us all things and will bring revelation of Gods truth through his word. John 14:26 &
1 Corinthians 2
9 But as it is written:
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
Shalom!
