The Holy Bible presents us with well known Biblical theology= solid truths that are unchanging. These words are meant to become alive, anchoring us to the very character and Words of Christ.
Dreams and visions are a Biblical means of God speaking to people- not about doctrines, but about immediate or relevant issues. In Genesis 41 we see God speaking to Pharaoh in a dream…. and no one but Joseph was able to understand the dream. In Daniel 4 we see God again speaking to Nebuchadnezzar in a dream… and they were also unable to understand the dream until Daniel came to interpret it. Dreams are used throughout the Bible- including at the time of the birth of Christ and throughout the Book of Acts. Dreams and visions were God’s means to specifically warn, direct or give insight into immediate or relevant events. We are saying today that God has spoken and still speaks through dreams, from Genesis to Revelation. These dreams don’t overshadow sound doctrine- but rather can help us like they helped Joseph, Daniel and the nations they served. Dreams are a highly symbolic language that requires a humble heart, comprehensive Bible knowledge and a listening ear towards God. All true Biblical experiences lead to loving God more. This is what it means when it says “the testimony of Jesus is the spirit (attitude) of prophecy” in the Book of Revelation. All true prophetic experiences open up the heart of the believer to God’s might. It makes us feel really human and rightly tremble before our amazing Glorious God. It puts us in touch with our need for God- never boasting. Some misuse their revelation as if special knowledge qualifies some more than others. Revelation without humility leads to arrogance, and away from Jesus Christ. All true Bible teaching or experiences lead to simple faith and love for God.
Now onto ‘discerning dreams’- some dreams come from God and some do not. I compare this to here in Africa there is ‘good food’ and bad food. Some food actually gets poisoned, yet no one goes around saying “I quit eating food forever!” Yet the church has a funny double standard. Rather than “discerning good from evil and holding onto the good” whole churches throw out God’s supernatural graces and gifts (God’s good food). The world is increasingly interested in (evil) supernatural encounters and realities- Harry Potter and other movies, video games and new media. We Christians must not fear what is our heritage, glory and portion. Our God is a supernatural God and the Bible is a supernatural book, full of amazing encounters, transformation, angels, and messages towards all who seek God.
We urge you to never to place any subjective experiences at the ‘level’ of truth alone. Make God’s Word your truth= “All Scripture is God’s inspired and profitable for doctrine, rebuke, correction and instruction in righteousness.”- 2 Timothy 3:16-17 Subjective and/or prophetic experiences are good, yet we must be careful to what we place our faith in. The words and experiences of men fail every day. Men often lie, but the Scriptures declare “God is not like a man, who lies.” Numbers 23:19 God’s Word is the final authority, the highest authority- His Words never fail.
However, we do live in a spiritual world- the conflicts are as real as the Lord of the Rings movie or Chronicles of Narnia. Our enemies are always spiritual and never human. Identifying our spiritual enemies help us to assist and restore people. People are never the problem- its the dark power source behind them that is the problem (read the Book of Acts). For sure, we live in a world where darkness is fighting to overcome the minds of people, and where angels are doing the will of God continually every minute, hour and day. If you believe, God will speak to you in amazing, practical and tangible ways today in 2011 and beyond!
(continue reading below, for further insights why people reject Biblical encounters)
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Some other reasons why people are against Biblical supernatural experiences:
1) Lying, exaggeration or false experiences. I would put ‘lack of honesty’ and ‘moral failure= lack of spiritual integrity’ on this list also. Spiritual integrity can be defined as ‘no hyperbole, exaggeration- a scientific approach when reporting revelations or experiences’. We are in dire need of such honesty today. We need not overstate nor understate our experiences. Jonathan Edwards and Charles Finney both stated that “false experiences, fakers were the downfall of the Great Awakening revivals, more than anyone/anthing else.” There are many unbelieving believers who attend church. They think a Man called Jesus who claimed to be God and the only true way, was died and was resurrected. They think this is perfectly normal (doctrine), reasonable. There approach to everything is cerebral- and they tend to ignore the supernatural aspects of God’s Spirit, one every page of the Bible. When you try to show them from the Bible that God still heals cancer, headaches and broken hearts- that pushes them over the edge. There are many unbelieving Christians in the Church today. They point to the charlatans and liars as the reason ‘they can’t believe’ in God’s power today. Then they try to assemble doctrines around them, to defend their fears and unbelief from being challenged or healed.
2) Good intentioned ministers who teach people “because they had a dream, vision or experiences that it makes them now prophets.” This thinking has no support in the New Testament. Its a common misunderstanding….and there are people who have one or two dreams, visions or prophecies that take it to the extreme thinking they are ‘God’s chosen prophet’ to bring correction and direction. They do a good job offending people and grieving the Holy Spirit. Its a profound lack of humility and understanding, and out of line with New Testament ecclessiology and authority. They go around bull-dozing leaders, ministers, believers and unbelievers by thinking “God has only spoken to them- and you must submit”. Thousands of people roam the earth like these- they are characterized by wandering, shallow relationships, few friends and little/no accountability. They often imagine themselves as a “Prophet Jeremiah” or “Apostle Paul” without the corresponding character or wisdom (authentic spiritual experience) to back them up. There are many supposed “Christian Prophets and Apostles” that are completely false in their ministry mainly because they don’t understand the New Testament function. The weirdest ones are self righteous, angry and always alone- they have no desire to be taught and properly functioning like Agabus the New Testament prophet. They may have a right calling (as a prophet) but they are in the wrong covenant (Old Covenant) missing the right covenant (New Covenant) by 1000′s of years. Their example is a main reason why many people run away or are ‘turned off’ from seeking or desiring Biblical Spiritual Experiences.
3) Pick and Choose Christianity= pick the parts that are comfortable, and reject the part that are uncomfortable. This is one of the most common biases we all struggle with, gravitating towards our own personal preferences and leaning away from the parts we don’t understand or appreciate (examples= casting out demons, speaking in tongues, miracles, mercy, and many other examples). Our cultural biases are revealed at this level- there are things we all really like about Jesus Christ (even unbelievers like “he is a good teacher, he was a nice guy)- are we believing and seeking the True Biblical Jesus, alive and speaking today or is it a watered down, impotent, comfortable Christmas/Santa Claus version? Many people have the latter powerless version. If we are totally honest believers in Christ, we would confess there are things we don’t understand and even don’t like about our New Covenant faith. Lets be honest….I know that’s hard for some…but lets try.
4) Cultural bias- unwilling to admit that Jesus the Jew of 2000 years ago worked miracles, taught, died and was resurrected in a place and time different than USA or modern European culture. Cultural familiarity and bias= unwilling to become teachable and ‘learn from Jesus and the Biblical Culture’ therefore they reject anything they have not yet experienced, or understand. If you want to understand, be discipled and grow in Biblical faith, than the first step is admitting “we all are ethnocentric- we all tend to see, think and act in accordance to the culture we were born in.” We all tend to make Jesus an addition to our culture, as well. Something is really wrong when you can shout and dance at the top of your voice during the Superbowl or NBA- but when it comes to Jesus or God’s Power its forbidden. This is only one example of cultural bias.
5) Christians who over-hype experiences as if “if you haven’t had an experience, your faith is not valid”. “Experience only” ministers forget that God’s Biblical (Logos and Rhema Word= Koine Biblical Greek) has power to change our life. In Genesis chapter one, God’s Word created and transformed life on Earth. His divine word (s) have the same power today.
6) Fear of getting deceived- while this is a possibility (there are deceived people going to church with you every Sunday just as there were deceived people in the New Testament in every Epistle). Don’t allow fear of darkness to blind you from the love of the Truth. That’s a cowardly reason that gets ‘promoted’ as wisdom- its just a cowardice, fear and unbelief. There is much that is getting taught as ‘wisdom’ in todays pulpits that is nothing more than fear, unbelief and sceptism (all based upon people’s subjective, personal experience). They all point back to the Book (The Bible), but raise a double standard when you mention anything supernatural- that raises their ‘uncomfort zone’ hackles right away…
7) Fear of being rejected by people. This is probably the most common reason. Just like when you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior (and friends, family or people didn’t agree or like your decision), so the same pressure is upon you with Holy Spirit encounters listed in 1 Corinthians chapters. 12-14. Joseph in Genesis chapter 37 told his brothers his dreams….. and they were jealous and hated him. Are you better than Joseph the Dreamer and Patriarch? Do you require special treatment and acceptance? Learn that the path to encountering God often comes at a costly personal price…
8) Feelings that ‘its for other people, but not for me’. While experience is not the guide for our faith (Biblical Doctrine- according to the Life of Christ is the only true standard)- you should never shut your heart/life/spiritual life off from what God wants to give you. Read the New Testament- Jesus spoke the truth and life to many people, in many different forms. He spoke to the Woman at the Well (John Chapter 4) differently than He spoke to Zacchaes the Tax Collector. He spoke differently to John the Apostle, than to Peter the Apostle or Paul the Apostle. The outcome was very similar in all of their lives= fully turning and surrendering to Jesus’ purpose and living for Him with all their heart, mind and strength. May that be our testimony also.
We aren’t encouraging you to only go after the unusual and the spectacular- Rather, go after all of God’s Word, and especially everything written in the New Testament! “These things were written for our learning, as an example…that we may have the same hope” Romans 15:4 The Bible is the true book of God’s Revelation. All our dreams or visions are lesser ‘illuminations’- yet they are necessary and relevant. However always make the Bible your standard- not someone’s experience or interpretation, however good or convincing it seems. Our personal experiences never exceed or stand over God’s Word= the Bible, His Divine Revelation. Yet never fear God speaking to you in the ways we see in His Word- through dreams, visions or whatever ways He chooses. Its a wonderful and challenging thing to hear God speak a timely message to us in our situation! In the Bible we see dreams saving people’s lives, directing history, and changing the course of nations and kings. Lets aim for our faith and standards of integrity to always remain in the pages of the Bible- not shaky modernity, church or popular culture.
“God has not given you a spirit (attitude or persona) of fear- but that of power, love and a sound mind (spiritual integrity, health).” – 2 Timothy 1:7
(Some other links discussing supernatural encounters in the early church)
www.earlychurch.org.uk/pdf/ejt/signs_scotland.pdf
OTHER STUDY RESOURCES:
Thanks a lot brother, what you’ve shared is really inspiring my life. It’s an encouragement, The encounters you’ve Shared has helped me understand more how God works in us. I had some experiences in the past and even now thou I didn’t really know I’m encountering God in a special way, what you’ve shared has made me recall some encounters. God Loves us and wants us to experience Him also in such ways. I’m eagerly waiting to read some of you other encounters You’re going to share, especially here in Africa.
It’s been inspiring and encouraging reading reading about your experiences and encounters. God bless you. Personally I had been feeling the presence of God in my life in a unique way at times not knowing that it was an encounter with Him which may not be happening every time. But your sharing even before I read this post had been teaching me about it. It’s also encouraging to read many of your other encounters which you may not have shared during meetings. I also long to hear of your other encounters especially in Africa, God bless even to be a blessing the more to others.