In this publication by the help of the Holy Spirit, I will be showing you the place of the Holy Spirit, preachers and doctrines as it relate to revelation from the Word of God.
This is the end time – the last days, in Act 2:17 Peter referred the day of Pentecost as the last days as prophesied by Prophet Joel, this means that we are in the latter end of the last days. God is releasing His best in order to usher the coming of His Son.
Hear this: Jesus is not coming for a weak church but a triumphant church – a bride without sprinkle. God intend to raise the body of Christ to be the envy of the world before the coming of His Son.
The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. (Isa 2:1-3)
This same prophecy was repeated verbatim in Micah 4:1-2. The Word of God painted a picture of this mighty army in Joel 2 and Obadiah 21. God has no joy in babes, but in sons because only sons can manifest and dominate (Rom 8:19, Gal 4:1-2). He is interested in raising men and women in that will do exploits.
Concerning the truth of the Word, here is God’s desire for you and I
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: (Eph 4:12-15)
It is God’s desire that you grow up in truth and not be tossed here and again by any wind of doctrine, just like any parent desire their children to grow, so do your heavenly Father. But in order to be grounded in the truth of His Word, there is a need to understand the role that the Holy Spirit, preacher and today’s Christian doctrines has to play.
Revelation of the Word
In Chapter 2, I said that the Word must come to you personally i.e. the Word must minister to you. Until you catch the revelation of the Word of God – that is translate from logo to Rhema. It wouldn’t work for you.
What is revelation – Revelation in this context is not talking about dream, vision (I although I will still come to that) Revelation connotes insight into the Word of God.
Revelation of the Word is catching the voice behind the voice of God, as you study the word or listen to Christian messages; there is always the voice of the Spirit behind the writing or preaching. It also implies catching the story behind the stories.
Behind every written word is the voice of the Spirit, revelation is all about seeing into the Word of God, that is spiritually seeing (understanding) what God is actually saying.
The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. (Isa 2:1)
It is not catching it mentally but spiritual because the things of the Spirit are spiritually discerned. It is not a matter of cramming scriptures, until the light of the word dawn on you.
Holy Spirit
I call Him “the chief Custodian of Kingdom Mysteries” He is the author of revelation, the following scriptures validates this truth.
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (Joh 14:26)
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. (Joh 16:13)
But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. (1Jn 2:27)
But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. (1Jn 2:20)
For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. (1Co 2:16)
Without Him, your access to the Word is impossible, Jesus said in John 16:12-13
I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. (Joh 16:12-13)
It means that without the Holy Spirit, you and I can never access the truth; Jesus introduced Him as the Spirit of truth. The scriptures made us to understand that the word of God was inspired by the Spirit of God, therefore Holy Spirit is the author and as the author, only Him can teach you what He communicated through the book.
Holy Spirit is the Godhead on the earth, without Him you and I are utterly limited. Hear what the word says in Eph 1:17-18
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
If you must access the insight contained in the word of God, then you need the help of the Holy Spirit, throughout the Old Testament, Anytime the true prophets prophesied it was precede with “The Spirit of the Lord” or “the hand of the Lord came upon”
In John 6:63, Jesus said that the Word are spirit and life and in Gen 1, Ezekiel 37 and Rom 8:11, the Holy Spirit is the breath of life.
This implies that Holy Spirit is the entirety of the Word, Friend, embrace the Holy Spirit, Jesus was the first comforter (Luk 2:25) and the Holy Spirit is another comforter that has come to replace Him and He has come to stay with you.
Also one of the vital ministries of the Holy Spirit is spiritual empowerment and He empowers principally by the truth. According to John 8:32, it is the truth that liberates us and according to Isa 10:27, it is the anointing that break every yoke. This means that the Spirit of God empower you and I by the truth which in turn break and liberate us from the yokes of the devil.
It is not how much you confess the word of God that matter, but the access to the light of that word and the only way is by the help of the Holy Spirit.
Holy Spirit And The Word
Holy Spirit can never contradict or go against the Word
For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. (1Jn 5:7)
And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. (1Jn 4:3)
This mean that Holy Spirit can never contradict the Word of God, let examine the scriptures for better understanding
In John 14:17, John 16:13, Holy Spirit was called the Spirit of truth and according to John 17:17 – God’s Word is truth. Therefore it mean that Holy Spirit is the Spirit of the Word. He can never go against the truth of God’s Word.
In John 16:13
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. (Joh 16:13)
Note: He will guide you into all truth (and the truth is the Word), so He can never guide you outside the principles of the Word of God.
In that same verse (John 16:13) “…for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”
From Whom does the Holy Spirit hear from?
…for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. (Joh 16:14)
But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. (1Co 2:10)
But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. (1Jn 2:27)
Holy Spirit can never teach you outside the Word; His teaching may be against your church’s doctrine but never against the Word.
First John 5:7 can be expressed mathematically as God (G) = Word (W) = Holy Spirit (H)
If H= 1, then G and W = 1, but if G and W = 1 and H =2, then it means that 1 John 5:7 is a lie but we all know that God is not a liar (Rom 3:4a)
Whatsoever God say is what the Word is saying (Heb 1:1-2) and what the Word is saying is what the Holy Spirit is saying (John 16:13-14, 14:26, 1John2:27, 1Cor2:16, 1John 2:20)
Dream, Vision & Revelation
Any vision, revelation or dream that contradicts the whole counsel of the Word is a BIG lie from the pit of hell.
I am not talking about find one scripture to backup your vision but judging the vision or revelation you have received in line with the whole counsel of the Word.
In later quarter of 2015, I was attacked with the death and I kept seeing my burial funeral in dreams, but I stood my ground in God’s Word because I know untimely death is not part of God’s plan for me, you may wonder what of “Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live. ” (2king 20:1) but that is not God’s plan for you because He promise that He will satisfy us with long life and you are not Hezekiah.
I stood on God’s Word until I heard the Spirit of the Lord saying to me “I got the keys, the keys of hell and death”
I will speak for more on this issue later under the scriptural balance, but know that every revelation that contradicts the word of God is not from the Holy Spirit.
Preacher
The Word of God in 1 Cor 4:1 made us to understand that every truly sent man is a steward of the mysteries of God. Steward means a servant, someone sent to serve others. So God commit insight into their hands to feed others.
Now let see what God’s Word has to say
And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; (1Ti 1:12)
But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: (Gal 1:15-16)
But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:) (Gal 2:7-8)
Every one sent by God has a message from the Lord to deliver to the people. God revealed His Word to them so that they can reach other
The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel. (Isa 9:8)
To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: (Gal 1:16)
God always sent His Word through human instrumentality to reach another. Angels are not committed to preach the gospel. In Act 11: 13-14 the angel told Cornelius to sent for Peter who will tell Him a word by which he and his family shall be saved.
Throughout scriptures whenever God sent a man, He gives Him a Word for the people – a message. For example: Moses, Ezekiel, Jonah, 12 Disciples of Jesus, Paul the Apostle.
It is truth that today’s ministry has been adulated, turned into business scam but the fact is this: there are still truly sent men of God in our midst. They carry a specific message from the Word for the people. Some are sent with message of faith, some deliverance, some healing, some prosperity, some salvation, some holiness, some wisdom and so many others
Why Preacher
Since the Holy Spirit is the teacher of the truth, the chief custodian of Kingdom Mysteries. Do we still need preachers? According to scriptures, God always intervene in the affairs of men through human vessel. In Exo 3:7-8, 10-11
Exo 3:7-8 And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; (8) And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
Exo 3:10-11 Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt. (11) And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?
In verse 7, God said I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians. and in verse 10 He said Come Now therefore and I will send thee unto Pharaoh that thou mayest bring forth my people.
This simply means that God came down and delivered His people through a man called Moses. I love how Paul described this partnership in Gal 2:8
(For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:) (Gal 2:8)
God according to the authority He bestowed on man at creation, He will always need man to intervene in the affair of men.
In Dec 25 of 2013: I was conducting my usual fasting program, in the during course of that fast, the Lord spoke to me from Luke 10:1 “The ministry gifts are the extension of My earth Ministry”
Preachers are extension of the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit, they simply help to spread the message to other. This is painted graphically in Act 8:29-39
Ethiopian Eunuch was reading the scriptures, but he couldn’t make a meaning out of what he was reading, He could not access the salvation plan which was contained in the scriptures. So the Spirit of God directed Philip to him
And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, UNDERSTANDEST THOU WHAT THOU READEST? AND HE SAID, HOW CAN I, EXCEPT SOME MAN SHOULD GUIDE ME? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. (Act 8:30-31)
Philip asked him, Understandest thou what thou readest? and He answered how can I, except some man should guide me.
That guide is God ordained preacher, sent to guide into us into the truth of God’s Word. By the ministry of Philip, the Spirit of God opened him up to God’s salvation plan for man
Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. (Act 8:35-37)
Despite the fact that the man was with the scriptures, He was studying it (Act 8:28), but He couldn’t see what the Holy Spirit was trying to communicate. So God has to arrange a human helper in the person of Philip to show him and to make him understand God’s plan for him.
There are certain truths you can never access except through a human helper. This is also applicable in life, there are certain issues you may never understand except someone you know and can relate with you, sit down and teach you.
In Isa 9:8, God’s reach Israel by sending a Word into Jacob. So Holy Spirit is the source, but He has appointed men and women to serve as His stewards in spreading His Insight. He anoints men and women to serve as light bearer, distributors and steward of that light.
Is their teaching different from that of Holy Spirit?
The teaching and preaching of every genuine man or woman sent of God must line up with the Word of God because they are nothing but an extension, a pipe, human extension of the teaching ministry of The Holy Spirit.
The practice and teaching of any man that claims to be called of God must agree with the word of God.
At this junction, it is important to note this: some religious circles believe that God has empowered them to setup doctrines that have no basis in the Word, equating such doctrine to the doctrine of God’s Word.
The truth is that we can do nothing against the truth but for the truth. First let see what God’s Word has to say concerning this
According to Deu 18:22, one of the proofs of a prophet sent by God is that the word, he speaks in the name of the Lord must come to pass.
But that is not the authentic proof because the devil can do wonders. Deu 13:1-5 gives us the authentic proof irrespective of the fact that such spoken word came to pass
If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him. And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee. (Deu 13:1-5)
This means that when a man of God teaches what is not in line with word of God, with God’s commandment. The Lord instructs us not to hearken to such a person irrespective of the signs and wonders that might have followed. Also the penalty for such is death for such fake prophet.
This simply means that every doctrine that has no basis on the complete counsel of the Lord is fake and you are not to hearken unto it.
Also this was confirmed in Gal 1:8
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. (Gal 1:8)
Note something, Paul was the one speaking saying if we or even an angel from heaven preaches any other gospel (which is the word of God), that you should consider person cursed by God.
Yet many people run from one prayer house to the other, from one church to the next. Practicing and doing things that have no basis in the Word of God. This has resulted to sorrows and pain in some many lives.
Friend, you have no business practicing any doctrine that has no basis in the Word of God. I humorously tell people that if one is preparing for an examination, only a stupid student abandons the given syllabus and start covering topics that are not in the syllabus when he has not covered the examination syllabus.
This is applicable in our Christian adventure; many Christians have abandoned the Word of God and take up doctrine that has no basis in the Word in the name of religious practice.
My Friend, let no man deceive you, God in His deep and infinite wisdom, knows what we need for our race and packaged such in His Word and given us the Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and the Word of God is truth.
The Doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ has been long established (1 Cor 3:10-11, Gal 1:8) we are only admonish to build on the existing foundation. The Word also instruct us not to add or subtract from God’s Word (Deu 4:2)
Function of the Preachers
Preachers are established in the body of Christ not to establish new doctrines but to expand or renew our understanding on certain forgotten truth. During the Word of Faith Movement, many believe that it is a new truth, but no, it was simply a forgotten truth, Jesus preached on faith, so did His disciples.
The work of a preacher is to help in making men see by the help of the Spirit what the Lord is saying just like in the case of Ethiopian Eunuch
Eph 3:7-9
(7) Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
(8) Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
(9) And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
Eph 4:11-13
(11) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
(12) For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
(13) Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Their work is to show you, to perfect your understanding in God’s Word and not to propound a new doctrine.
Note on Selection of God’ Sent Men
It has been a popular belief among certain religious group that sent men are chosen by human system, but according to scriptures nothing can be farther from the truth than that.
Instead it should be the other way around, God appoints and men recognize such appoinment by reason of ordination. For instance in the case of Joshua, God chose Joshua (Num 27:18) and Moses ordained by laying hands on him (Deu 34:9) as a sign of recognition, the same was applicable to David and to Barbnaas and Paul in Act 13
Let dive deep into the Word of God and see a hint on how God chooses people for His Assignmen
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; (Eph 4:11)
1Co 12:28
(28) And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
Gal 2:7
(7) But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;
Gal 1:15
(15) But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,
Act 13:2
(2) As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
From the above scriptures it is clear that God is the one that chooses those who work for Him. He don’t run a democratic system where He debate along side with some people who to choose and who not to choose.
In Math 9:28, Jesus instructed us to pray that the Lord of the Harvest will send in laborer not pray that God will choose so and so person as His laborer.
Kenneth E. Hagin of blessed memory once said that God doesn’t conduct a board meeting with anybody before choosing anybody in the body to serve in any office.
Jesus is the Head of the Church; therefore He doesn’t need anybody or group’s vote to choose who will work for Him. I humorously tell people that God doesn’t respond to peer group pressure.
These men are not chosen by ordination, it is simply a sign of recognisation before the brethren or Christian community.
Also these men are not chosen by some sort of school or teaching. I believe in the place of training but such doesn’t impart the gift and calling. According to 1 Cor 12:11, God distributes His gifts as He want not as anybody will. Although training in any form either formal or informal can sharpen the gift but it cannot impart the gift and calling.
Also a certain group or order cannot make one a sent man but such group can help provide support, care, ministerial accountability, financial support, platform to minster, but it doesn’t make one a sent man.
What Makes a Sent Man?
In our age, many fake prophets have emerged; some genuine ones have messed up their calling by perverting the Gospel for petty ends while others are genuine and still standing for God.
It is the calling of God that makes a man a sent man. Let look into the word of God and observe certain men in scriptures and judge for yourself if they are fit for the work according to human standard.
Moses – God chose a run-away and a stammer- to lead about 8 million people. What prevent him from running away for his life when if crisis arise like He did considering the fact that these people are the same people that caused his exile. How can a stammer lead and address such huge number of people.
Gideon – Weak, Insecure – To lead an army. From the least tribe, from an “unknown” family (no warrior in the family) and the last and he also doubt himself when the angel of the Lord called man of valour. Can you chose such a man as a warrior.
Paul- the Persecutor and Murder. Who will hear a murder preach, beside many believer who have run for their life because they may be thinking this is a strategy to lure us and destroy us
Peter – Stunned illerate, common man. What will his grammar looks like. Who will like to hear such a person. He might end up amusing people with his wrong grammar instead of converting them.
John the Baptist: Dressing like a nobody, wearing leather skin, lives in the desert and eats honey. Is that not some sort of madness, Who will even go to listen to him
David –a commoner, an unknown shepherd boy, he was even forgotten by his father when he assembled his proud sons for Samuel to see. To rule over a kingdom, what does He know about war and kingdom administration? What relationship has the field and kingship?
BUT, despite the weakness, disqualifications and shortcoming of these men, God choose them because
That no flesh should glory in his presence. 1Co 1:29
Just as Paul the Apostle put it in 2Co 3:5
Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; 2Co 3:5
He turned their weakness to strength by His Mighty power in order to confound the strength and the wisdom of world and to bring to nothing the thing that are.
Identifying Genuine Sent Men
It is important to note that when I refer to sent men, I am equally referring to both male and female sent by God with a mission, a message for their generation. This is because the calling of God has no respect for either male or female, black or white because all are one in Christ (Gal 3:28)
Despite the thousands of men out there claiming to be called, there are few that are truly sent of God
2Ki 4:9
(9) And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually.
Act 14:8-10
(8) And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked:
(9) The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,
(10) Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.
From the above scriptures, it means that spiritual things can be perceived just like we perceive things around us. The question is this HOW?
Be a man and Women of the Word
It has been established from the pages of this book and authenticated by Scriptures that any man sent of God will always speak and act in line with God’s Word. I will not dwell much on this section because much has been said about it.
For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. Joh 3:34
The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, Act 1:1
As the follower of Jesus and His representative, each sent man is expected to behave and act in line with God’s Word. (Tit 1:7, 1Cor 4:1)
So it is not enough for a man to claim that He is called of God, His ministration must be line with God’s Word because God can’t go against His Word and the minister’s character must be godly because by their fruit you shall know them.
Also, you must just be filled with word of God in all its richness, so that you can discern between the good and bad (Heb 5:14)
Follow The Inward Witness Of Holy Spirit
One of the principal ways that God guides us is through our spirit. The word said that the spirit of man is the candle of the Lord (Prov 20:27)
So God principally lead by our spirit because He is also a spirit (John 4:24) Also it is the responsibility of the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth and He does that by bearing witness in our spirit because He abide within us
Rom 8:14-16
(14) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
(15) For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
(16) The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
So Holy Spirit impresses direction and what to do in our heart. According to Rom 8:16 you know within your spirit that you are a child of God because Holy Spirit bear witness with our spirit.
When the Spirit of God lead, He gives you this spiritual perception in your heart, you will just know it, you can’t explain how, but you just know it
Note this is not a human feeling but a spiritual perception. Sometimes it comes in form of red mark (No, No) sign in your heart. Maybe you want venture into a business and you get a danger or discomforting signal, no peace within your spirit, then that is the Holy Spirit’s signal not to venture into such.
Let’s look at certain biblical experience of the Spirit leading by inward witness
And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives. Act 27:10
Paul didn’t say the Lord said or Holy Spirit spoke to me or I had a vision, No, He said I perceive
Also in Act 20:21-23, Paul had a witness, an inward knowing that chains and affliction awaits him hear what the He said
Act 20:22-23
(22) And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:
(23) Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.
Note in verse 22, I go bound in the spirit (so he had a “no” sign in his spirit)
God guides us through inward witness. God speak at time if He wants but He principally guide you through your spirit.
When you see any ministry or preacher, inquire of the Lord in faith: Is this man your servant. He will surely answer you. In enquiring from the Lord, you must keep your mind open because if you have made up your mind, the Lord according His Word said He will answer such a person according to the multitudes of idols (Eze 14:4)
Don’t put sentiment of denomination, note that the body of Christ is a universal body of believers and various Christian denomination (that believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Christ) is simply a small part of that body.
Note: what makes one a child of God – a part of the body /Church of Jesus Christ is not the denomination such a person belongs but your faith in Christ Jesus (John 1:12, Gal 3:26, John 20:30-31, John 3:16, 1 John 5:1, 1 John 5:4-5, 1John 5:10)
Don’t be trap by religion, Christianity is not a social group or religion but the Kingdom of God made manifest on the earth, it is a father to son/daughter relationship. It is all about You (Yes, You) and God.
Scriptural Balance
But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 1Co 2:15
Every revelation and doctrine you receive, no matter who it is from must be judged according to the Word of God. The Scriptures said that God’s Word was tried seven times in fire. Therefore if God’s Word was tried then every other doctrine must be judged in the same way – through the fire of God’s Word.
I came to know Jesus as my Lord and Savior in 2007, and in line with divine guidance. One of the greatest and earlier imparation on my life was from the books of Kenneth E. Hagin. By the reason of that grace imparted on my life, I appreciate the supremity of the Word in my life.
Since that day anything doctrine or religious practice that is not in line with God’s Word is trash as far as I am concerned, not only is it trash, but it annoys me.
I believe God that He will release through writing a greater grace than He did for me, that will establish your faith in God’s Word and not in the doctrines of men.
Heb 1:3
(3) Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and UPHOLDING ALL THINGS BY THE WORD OF HIS POWER,…
If we must live up to God’s desired growth according to Eph 4:14, and not children tossed here and there, then we must understand how to properly divide the Word of truth (2Tim 2:15)
Understanding The Deceptive Nature Of The Devil
As the scriptures have said Satan is the father of all liars and there is no truth in him, it implies that everything he does is to deceive man.
In Gen 3:1, When He showed up, the Word revealed his true nature. The Word said
Now the serpent WAS MORE SUBTIL than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made.
2Co 11:3
(3) But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through HIS SUBTILTY, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
He reveals this nature by presenting an half baked truth to you, so that he can lure into destruction. He does this by quoting scriptures in order to misdirect you.
You may ask: if the Satan quotes scriptures to confuse us, then how can we discern his devices and lies? The answer is simple: Judge it in the WHOLE COUNSEL of the Word of God.
In order to appreciate this, let’s look at the temptation of Jesus Christ
Luk 4:9-10
(9) And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:
(10) For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:
The devil quoted Ps 91:11 to Jesus, But how did Jesus discern his lies by judging what the devil said in line with the whole counsel of God’s Word not just a scripture.
Yes the scripture said that (Ps 91:11) but if Jesus decides to jump in that situation, He will be simply contradicting the scriptures: Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
Assume someone believe that God’s angels will keep charge over him because God’s Word say so and one day, such a person mistaken falls from a clip. God will surely step in to deliver such a person because he was not testing God.
Assuming a fellow read Ps 91:11 and decides to fall off the clip just to see if God will confirm His Word, God will not intervene because such fellow was trying God.
So in Luke 4:9-10, Satan quoted the scripture (Ps 91:11) right but the context was wrong and against the Whole counsel of God’s Word.
There was a story of a young pastor that was praying and while He was praying, He had a voice saying “you are the Elijah that is to come” He later after scriptural validation, it discovered it not from God.
This is because In Mal 4, God promise to send an Elijah, but if you judge the revelation the young pastor received in light of the whole word of God, you will discover that although it is in scriptures, but it not correct because in Math 11:41, Jesus said that John the Baptist is the Elijah that is to come.
Let me give an example using the mandate given to me for the Kingdom Giants publications. “Preach Faith to the People” and I later asked who are this people and He said My people not the World and He confirmed it from Eze 3:5
I also asked can if preaching and publishing of Faith is scriptural, few days after that prayer of enquiry, while sort of rotating myself in a rolling chair, The Spirit quoted Rom 10:8 and immediately I identified the verse and He proceeded and quoted Mark 11:23 in this manner saying
For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea – THAT IS THE WORD IN THY MOUTH and and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass – THAT IS THE WORD IN THY HEART
He went further to say: Roman 10:8 means
But what saith it? FAITH is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
From the above scriptures I came understand that faith can be preached. He later when to show from pages of scriptures that the message of faith is for God’s people because the unsaved needs the message of salvation- in order to access the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, while the saved needs the message of faith because we live, walk and stand by faith (the just shall live by faith)
So you see this mandate was clearly validated from God’s Word.
Another example: assuming you heard a voice saying “put your house in order, for thou shall surely die and not live” and you start panicking thinking it is from God. Friend, it is not because the same God promised us His children a minimum of 70 years and He also promised you that you shall not die but live to declare the works of the Lord, He also promised that He will satisfy you with long life and Jesus declared in Rev 1:12 that the keys of hell and death are in His hands. Do you think God will use that key against His people, against you – the apple of His eye.
Come on, wake up and resist the devil lie with the weapon of the Word of God.
Every doctrine, every religious practice must be judged in the counsel of the whole word of God. Just like David O. Oyedepo once said “you can never go wrong with the Word of God”
But You Need Help
In order to discern the right and wrong doctrines, you need help in doing discern the right and wrong doctrine.
It is not enough to have the scriptures; you must have the author and the inspirer of the Word so that He will guide you into all truth just as Jesus has promised. It is important to note that you don’t assume His presence, you consciously invite Him when you pray, study for His helping Hands.
So engage His Help, He will surely come and help you. It is my prayer and greatest joy for that by the end of this book that the grace to stand strong in the Word of God will rest mighty upon life In Jesus Precious Name.