Paul was upset at the Colossians for letting deceivers disqualify them by "going on in detail about visions" (cf. Col. 2:18, ESV). It is easy to get sidetracked from the exposition and preaching of the Word as commanded by relating personal experiences. The Bible is complete and everything we need to know is written and canonized. ("[P]reach the Word ..," says 2 Tim. 4:2a, ESV.) I have been in fellowships believers got carried away about visions of angels and revelations. I have met believers who convincingly can relate personal encounters with the Lord or their guardian angel, yet our personal experience is meant to strengthen our faith, not someone else's.
What I'm saying is that this is not the right track to go down for a Bible-based church--though it is widespread among charismatics wherein spiritual gifts are stressed in excess and have a tendency to downplay sound doctrine. We have to learn that God doesn't exist to provide us with experiences and experience isn't the measure of maturity or growth. Oswald Chambers said the the true measure of faith is obedience, not experience or ecstasy.
God speaks through the Word and doesn't need our help to make it more colorful or real--the Holy Spirit illumines just fine. A prophet is one that speaks forth to the people what God has told him and Pentecostals believe this gift is still intact and alive; however, our faith must rest on the Word of God and not on personal revelation.
God speaks through the Word and doesn't need our help to make it more colorful or real--the Holy Spirit illumines just fine. A prophet is one that speaks forth to the people what God has told him and Pentecostals believe this gift is still intact and alive; however, our faith must rest on the Word of God and not on personal revelation.
It is immature and naive to share subjective experiences without being asked to and unsolicited, because the recipients will get the impression of being inadequate or that they are missing out on something; this is why Jesus said that "those who have not seen and yet believe" (cf. John 20:29) are blessed. In my understanding of Scripture, the measure of a man of God is not his experiences, but his faithfulness: For it is written, "...'The just shall live by his faithfulness [or faith]'" (cf. Rom. 1:17; Hebrews 10:38; Habakkuk 2:4). We must not divorce these two concepts.
The conclusion would be that we don't need expositors, biblicists, or exegetes of the Word if we have people getting it right from God--how do you think cults get started? People wonder what they are missing and are tempted to follow suit into mysticism and reject sound doctrine. You cannot trust a person's charisma or personality to lend any credence to what they say. A rivalry between believers and personalities in a church can lead to forms of spiritual one-upmanship, and it is hard to argue against the perceived clout of someone saying that God told him such and such.
The conclusion would be that we don't need expositors, biblicists, or exegetes of the Word if we have people getting it right from God--how do you think cults get started? People wonder what they are missing and are tempted to follow suit into mysticism and reject sound doctrine. You cannot trust a person's charisma or personality to lend any credence to what they say. A rivalry between believers and personalities in a church can lead to forms of spiritual one-upmanship, and it is hard to argue against the perceived clout of someone saying that God told him such and such.
One believer will say, "I don't need to study the Bible because God will tell me something if I listen to Him more--He will tell me what I need to know! This attitude is a rejection of knowledge, wisdom, and understanding and is anti-Christian, spiritual suicide, and not an option for the believer.
It must be emphasized that God speaks through His Word and we need to heed it, even though He is not obligated to only do so; and this does not preclude God's audible voice--even dreams have not been retired, rescinded, or made void but are still in effect. In other words, dreams cannot be ruled out, but we shouldn't depend on them or put more stock in them than the Bible, which is the ultimate authority. Sometimes dreams and visions are the best vehicles to get a point across. As we can see that Joel prophesied about young men seeing visions and old men dreaming dreams, but nowhere does he say they are to make them public; however, I concede this is a judgment call.
Churches should refrain from "strange fire unto the Lord," i.e., worship or testimony that is unwarranted by Scripture or the church. There isn't anything mystical about a living relationship with Christ. Bear in mind that the Bible is always the standard of truth. "But all things should be done decently and in order," (1 Cor. 14:40). Some people are out to promote their personal agenda, or get into the limelight by relating their subjective, personal experiences--even Paul hesitated to boast but was compelled to do so. To this day, I'm suspicious of excessive charismatic expression in the church meeting. The spirit of the prophet is subject to the prophet and this goes for all gifts.
Some people erroneously believe that effectiveness in prayer is how much effort or spirit you put into your prayers; indeed I concede that "a heart without the words is better than the words without a heart" though (source unknown). Some people are more stoical, others more demonstrative by nature. Obedience is the key factor in love as Jesus said you would obey Him if you love Him.
It must be emphasized that God speaks through His Word and we need to heed it, even though He is not obligated to only do so; and this does not preclude God's audible voice--even dreams have not been retired, rescinded, or made void but are still in effect. In other words, dreams cannot be ruled out, but we shouldn't depend on them or put more stock in them than the Bible, which is the ultimate authority. Sometimes dreams and visions are the best vehicles to get a point across. As we can see that Joel prophesied about young men seeing visions and old men dreaming dreams, but nowhere does he say they are to make them public; however, I concede this is a judgment call.
Churches should refrain from "strange fire unto the Lord," i.e., worship or testimony that is unwarranted by Scripture or the church. There isn't anything mystical about a living relationship with Christ. Bear in mind that the Bible is always the standard of truth. "But all things should be done decently and in order," (1 Cor. 14:40). Some people are out to promote their personal agenda, or get into the limelight by relating their subjective, personal experiences--even Paul hesitated to boast but was compelled to do so. To this day, I'm suspicious of excessive charismatic expression in the church meeting. The spirit of the prophet is subject to the prophet and this goes for all gifts.
Some people erroneously believe that effectiveness in prayer is how much effort or spirit you put into your prayers; indeed I concede that "a heart without the words is better than the words without a heart" though (source unknown). Some people are more stoical, others more demonstrative by nature. Obedience is the key factor in love as Jesus said you would obey Him if you love Him.
[Biblical Prayer formula: It must be to the Father, in the name of the Son, and in the power of the Holy Spirit, done in faith according to the will of God per Eph. 2:18.] God looks at the heart, and faith is what pleases God, though we ought to obey wholeheartedly and have compassion; our faith is not emotionalism, maudlin sentimentality, or personality. Matt. 9:29 says, "Be it done unto you according to your faith [not feelings]." Soli Deo Gloria!
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