Greetings in the name of our Lord. I hope this note finds all is well with you and your family.
Inflation will eat our lunch (and our dinner, and empty out our refrigerator) if we just stand by and don’t take action to understand it and counter it.
That is the theme of this July 8 newsletter, which will includes action steps you can take and these topics:
This issue of Life in the Spirit will address the question: “Is the Russian-Ukrainian War a Just War?” from three perspectives – from the perspectives of U.S./NATO, Russia, and our Lord.
The Ukrainian people are experiencing tremendous suffering with this conflict, as they battle for their lives, their homeland, and their future. And Ukraine has cried out to the West for assistance in beating back the Russians. (I visited Ukraine many years ago, and fell in love with the Ukrainian people and the natural beauty of their country.)
Two critical questions confront leaders of Western nations:
Is this a just war (i.e. is it justified for us to become involved)?
Should we be involved, and if so, in what ways? (Do we set any limits?)
This June 14 issue of Life in the Spirit addresses these questions, as well as how our Lord sees this situation, and how it will affect our daily lives. You can see it here:
Jesus chastised the Pharisees for not understanding the times, so we too need to understand the times, so we can act responsibly, always drawing close to the Lord for peace and guidance.
WE ARE AT WAR. It is a spiritual war, with the forces of evil – the global elites and their minions, seeking to deceive, control, and destroy most of humanity in what they call The Great Reset. It is a war against our bodies and souls, and a military war against Russia that may be coming soon (https://444prophecynews.com/war-the-messenger/). Satan comes to steal our faith with fear, kill our bodies with poisons, and destroy our souls with the mark of the beast and other diabolical schemes. If you don’t recognize the evil at work today in the world, your spiritual discernment is dulled by the world, the flesh, and the devil.
I realize many of the things I share with you are scary or even creepy. I know how you feel, for sometimes I am creeped out but what I see is happening. But God created us to be alive at this point in time, to be a witness for Him to the lost, to be bold, be courageous, and walk with Him. And He has empowered us with the Holy Spirit to do so. If we try to resist these forces in the flesh, we will fail; we need to draw close to the Lord for His wisdom, guidance, and protection.
As always, QUESTION EVERYTHING, check things out for yourself, and take them to the Lord for confirmation.
We are in the most exciting and terrifying time in human history – the end times described in the Word of God. Exciting for Christians who are led by the Spirit and daily seek the Lord, His comfort, guidance, and direction. Terrifying for non-Christians or lukewarm believers who live in fear and know about the Lord but don’t know Him. These are those who at the end the Lord says: “Depart from Me, for I never knew you.”
We have a short window of time before the judgments begin and our lives will change forever. So each of us needs to repent of our sins, forgive others, surrender our lives to the Lord, and seek His will in our lives. Only then can we experience the joy of the Lord and His Presence in our lives. Just remember – the safest place to be is in the center of God’s will.
We are not to live in fear, but to trust the Lord:
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”Proverbs 3:5-6
Blessings and love to you this day, and always remember Who is really in charge. “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” Matthew 11:15
This is critically important information and your very health and life may depend on it, and the actions you take in response. As always, question everything, do your own research, check out these sources, and take these things to the Lord for confirmation, for the truth will set us free.
I realize many people will dismiss this document, as it conflicts with what we are told every day by Fauci and his cronies in government, the media, and Big Pharma. Without a sound Biblical worldview of the fallen nature of man, much of this will even seem impossible to believe, that people (particularly our government, media, and Big Pharma) could be so evil.
But remember that Satan, the Father of Lies (and his minions) come to steal our faith with fear, kill our bodies, and destroy our souls for eternity. So this is for those who are seeking the truth about COVID-19 and the vax. This is for the remnant.
“He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” Matthew 11:15
In contrast to this widespread pattern of deception which leads to illness and death, Jesus said that He came that we may have life and that we may have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)
Dr. Fauci claims to “follow the science”, but science for him is however he and his cronies at the NIH, CDC, FDA, WHO, and Big Pharma can manipulate the data (and the formulas that generate data) to push the jab and collect royalties on their vaccine patents. I am a scientist with a PhD in Public Policy Analysis and Administration with many years of experience, so I understand public policy, and know fake science when I see it.
Part I and II reveal truly scientific studies from scientists and medical professionals in many nations that directly contradict Fauci’s propaganda.
Everyone I know who took the jab believed they were doing the right thing, and accepted Fauci’s promise that the vax provides immunity and the best path back to normality. The evidence below shows this is a lie. This is dedicated to the tens of thousands of people who have died from the vax, and the hundreds of thousands (or millions) who are experiencing severe side effects from the vax. This issue includes: Page
I. What Does God Have to do With the Vax? 1
II. If You Took the Vax, This is the Most Important Thing You Can Do 6
III. If You Took the Vax, This is the Second Most Important Thing You Can Do 11
IV. If You Are Not Vaxxed, the Most Important Things You Can Do 13
The purpose of the Life in the Spirit blog is to prepare Christians and non-Christians for major events that will take place in the U.S. in 2020 and 2021.A “Global Reset” has begun – a reinvention of our political, economic, financial, and religious systems in the United States and in the world. This will bring in a New World Order, prophesied in the Bible as a one world government, one world economy, and one world religion, controlled by Satan and his minions, including the Anti-Christ and false prophet. The coronavirus pandemic, the punishing economic shutdowns, the engineered riots and the violent left-wing mobs running loose in America’s cities are all part of the global reset.
And this is just the beginning; look for a vaccine and chip to be rolled out soon. They are already rolling out the chip in Sweden, with thousands of people chipped. They even have chipping parties, where people celebrate getting the chip. (Shows what happens when a nation abandons God).
A glimpse into the future for Christians: in spite of many challenges and even persecution, the Lord promises to watch over us, guide us, and protect us during these times. Jesus promised that Christians led by the Holy Spirit can do the works that He did and even more. But it requires us to seek the Lord with all of our heart, mind, and soul, and resist taking the vaccine and chip that is coming our way. We can experience the joy of the Lord, in spite of circumstances, until the Lord takes us home.
A glimpse into the future for non-Christians: perhaps you enjoy your life and lifestyle in the world and don’t want to give it up, or are attracted to other religious beliefs. If you persist in resisting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you most likely take the vaccine and chip. These which will alter your consciousness and DNA forever, and you will end up in the lake of fire. All of which is a good reason to seek out the Lord Jesus Christ; your eternal destiny is at stake.
So how can we cope with these tumultuous events that are beginning to take place that threaten our freedoms, our livelihoods, and our very lives? The Word of God provides direction and comfort for Christians in this time. (If you are not a Christian, repent of your sins, cry out to Jesus Christ, and He will save you). The Word reveals that God will direct our paths if we seek Him with our whole hearts:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye. Psalm 32:8
The tumultuous events happening every day raise the question – where is safety and security in this time of chaos? The Word of God tells us that the safest place to be is in the center of God’s will for your life – to live Life in the Spirit. You can learn more about life in the Spirit here: https://lifeinthespirit.net/2020/07/31/life-in-the-spirit/.
The Bible, God’s instruction manual, tells us that the Holy Spirit communicates with His people – the true church, during the church age. Therefore, we shouldn’t be surprised that the Lord has raised up watchmen and women to warn us about the times we are in, the judgement coming to America, and to encourage us to draw close to Him. These are humble servants of God who quote scripture often and tell us how these scriptures are and will be fulfilled. Most are not famous, do not seek fame, and do not ask for money. As always, we are to test the spirits (and everything we hear or say) against the Word of God, which is our standard. This Life in the Spirit blog will feature several of these people, with occasional articles that address physical and financial preparation.
So the purpose of the Life in the Spirit blog is to prepare Christians and non- Christians for major events that will take place in the U.S. in 2020 and 2021. This will include regular updates from myself and fellow believers about how we can and should live in this time, as well as valuable tools that you can use in your walk with the Lord: incredible stories, articles, resources, letters that address important issues, and action steps you can take: https://lifeinthespirit.net/category/action-steps-you-can-take.
In these end times, we will see exciting things happen in the body of Christ as the Lord guides and directs His people to shine the light of Christ on an endarkened world. He has set us free from sin and the fear of death, and invites us to join Him in a great spiritual journey – here and into eternity. He will take some of us home, He will lead some of us into the wilderness, and He will be with some of us in the fire. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
He who has ears, let him hear! Matthew 11:15
To God be the glory
Mark Peterson
Lifeinthespirit222@gmail.com
P.S. I would encourage you to click on “Join my E-mail List” to receive notices of new blog posts as they are uploaded. Hope you can join us.
Our nation is facing real threats – to our way of life, our economy, and our very existence. The coronavirus, economic crash, rampant money printing, and serious tensions with China and Russia all communicate that our nation has changed forever. Add in the real signs that we are in the end times foretold by the Bible, and the logical conclusion is that there has never been a more important time in our lives to seek the Lord, His peace, and His direction for our lives.
The Word of God in both the Old Testament and New Testament reveals that the Lord informs His people about upcoming events:
Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. Amos 3:7
I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you to all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will not speak on His own authority¸ but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. John 16:12-13
Furthermore, the Word reveals that God will direct our paths if we seek Him with our whole hearts:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye. Psalm 32:8
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. Romans 8:14
I say then: “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh… But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Galatians 5:16,18
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. John 10:28
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. John 14:26
Here are a few examples of the Holy Spirit giving specific directions to the apostles:
So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.Acts 13:4
Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia.Acts 16:6
When he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’”Acts 21:11
But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.Mark 13:11
The Ten Commandments showed us that in our sinful nature, we all fall short of God’s perfect law. Jesus Christ came and saved us from our sin, and the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost to show us life in the Spirit.
What would “life in the Spirit” be like – what would we experience in the Spirit?
We would learn things that non-believers would reject as foolish:
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. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. I Corinthians 2:12,14
We would experience love, joy and peace that non-believers cannot understand or comprehend:
Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh… the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Galatians 5:16,22
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-8
We would have no fear:
Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. Matthew 10:26
But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:31-32
Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”Hebrews 13:5-6
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. I Timothy 1:7
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust… Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your habitation, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; for He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. Psalm 91: 1-2, 9-11
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. Isaiah 43:2-3
A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your habitation, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; for He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. Psalm 91:7-11
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. Isaiah 43:2-3
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh, my enemies and foes, they stumbled and fell. Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war may rise against me, in this I will be confident. Psalm 27:1-3
Here is a diagram that portrays life in the Spirit and life in the flesh (Galatians 5:19-23):
GOD
Life Love Longsuffering Faithfulness
in theJoy Kindness Gentleness
SpiritPeace Goodness Self-Control
________________________________________
Life Idolatry Jealousies Fornication
in theSlander Heresies Outbursts of Wrath
FleshHatred Murders Drunkenness
Envy Adultery Selfish Ambitions
Money Fame Fortune
Usually the Holy Spirit speaks to us in a still, small voice, a gentle prodding, an interaction with another Spirit-led Christian, or planting an idea in our mind. How do we know it is really from the Lord? Here are some clues:
It does not contradict scripture and the historical teaching of the church,
It is confirmed by other Spirit-led Christians, and
We honestly seek Him with no hidden agenda and no unconfessed sin in our hearts.
So if we seek the Lord and learn to recognize His still, small voice, we can develop a relationship with Him. This moves us from belief – knowing about God, to relationship – knowing God.And interacting with other Spirit-led Christians and being involved in a Bible-believing church can confirm this and enhance this experience.
The Bible, God’s instruction manual, tells us about the Holy Spirit communicating with His people – the true church, during the church age. Therefore, we shouldn’t be surprised that the Lord has raised up watchmen and women to warn us about the times we are in, about judgement upon America, and to encourage us to draw close to Him. These are humble servants of God who quote scripture often and tell us how these scriptures are and will be fulfilled. Most are not famous, do not seek fame, and do not ask for money. As always, we are to test the spirits (and everything we hear or say) against the Word of God, which is our standard.
This Life in the Spirit blog will feature several of these people, with occasional articles that address physical and financial preparation. In addition, this blog provides valuable tools that you can use to witness to others:
Important articles about COVID-19
Incredible stories and articles that you can share with others,
Christian cards you can print on nice paper and send out to reach people going through difficult times or special occasions,
Christian graphics that portray important issues in graphic form,
Compelling quotes that will light your fire,
Letters that witness to our Lord,
A listing of other Christian websites and blogs,
Articles and stories for those who need comfort or direction,
Bible passages and great quotes that you can print on nice paper and frame for gifts, and
If you want to hear My voice, you must pay the price. You must seek Me out – in prayer and fasting. You must gain control over your body and dedicate it to Me. I have planted gifts in each of you, but you must seek them out. You were born for this time, to serve Me.
You do not hear My voice for you and your life because you are not willing to pay the price. You must die to yourself on a daily basis. My grace is sufficient for you. The door is still open, but when My remnant is taken home, you who are left will have to go through the tribulation, and it will be a time your nation has never seen before.
America has not learned to repent and cry out to God, so I Am bringing judgements. They have started and they will increase. You must first repent, and surrender all, and I will take you by your hand. Surrender all. Press in. Ask for the Holy Spirit.
The following is an attempt to describe different categories of people from a Christian perspective. As always, don’t just accept this, but take it to the Lord and check it against the Bible for authenticity. The intent of this is more to stimulate discussion than an attempt to present The Truth. We have God’s Word for that purpose.
GOD
An All-Consuming Fire
On Fire Christians – actively communing with the Lord in the fire, strong anointing – WALK WITH THE LORD =ON FIRE
Spirit-led Christians – spiritual radar is on, obedient – KNOW THE LORD AND FOLLOW THE LORD = ROYALTY
Believers – have a simple faith in Christ – KNOW ABOUT THE LORD; GOING TO HEAVEN = BLUE SKY
WALL OF FIRE – LINE OF SALVATION
Lukewarm Believers – KNOW ABOUT THE LORD, BUT HAVE OTHERPRIORITIES = ASLEEP & MISS THE CALL
Nominal Christians (Liberals/Universalists) – CREATE GOD IN THEIR OWN IMAGE = NO SPIRITUAL FRUIT
Non-believers – REJECT THE TRUTH, WORSHIP ANOTHER GOD,GOD, AND OPPOSE CHRIST = REPROBATE MINDS
SATAN
Fires of Hell
* Wall of Fire and Line of Salvation – to receive salvation, we mustrepent of our sins, accept Christ, and become a new creation. God is a consuming fire, so to come to Him, all must be burned up except our soul and spirit.
* Car wash analogy – when you take your car through a car wash,the machine washes away all of the dirt and grime, and your car emerges on the other side all clean and sparkly. When we go through the wall of fire (accept Christ), we become a new creation, and the dirt and grime of sin begins to be washed away (sanctification).
* Everybody is going through the fire. We all start life below the Lineof Salvation, the Wall of Fire. We then either accept Christ and go through the Wall of Fire to become Christians, or we reject Christ and end up in the fires of hell.
Questions to Consider
Which of these categories do you personally relate to?
Are you comfortable with this, or do you want to take action to change?
Consider your family and friends; which of the categories best describe them?
Are you comfortable with this, or do you want to interact with them about this?
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The Holy Spirit Communicating to the Bodyof Christ Today
It is through the work of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God that we become transformed into new creations. As we become filled with the Holy Spirit, our fleshly desires burn away and we can become On Fire Christians. The book of Acts describes the launching of the church with the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. Here is what the New Testament says about how the Lord communicates with His people:
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. Romans 8:14
I say then: “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of theflesh… But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” Galatians 5:16,18
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. John 10:28
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.John 14:26
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. I Corinthians 2:12
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.Acts 1:8
I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes he will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on his own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak and He will declare to you the things that are to come. John 16:12-13
Jesus describes communion with His bride:
“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one.” John 17:20-22
On Fire Christians – Excerpts from “Consumedby His Fire” by C.R. Oliver*
Take heed to yourselves, lest you forget the covenant of the Lord your God which He made with you, and make for yourselves a carved image in the form of anything which the Lord your God has forbidden you. For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. Deuteronomy 4:23-24
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:28-29
“There is a depth in God whereby one enters the friendly fire that is Him and wishes to be no place else. It consumes a person in the same way that love consumes the lover. His consuming fire enters the spirit of man and burns with the same fire that burns within Him. It consumes everything in its path, like a roaring fire when it overtakes and consumes everything in its way.
This is a flame that burns so deep within it draws a shivering world to its warmth. This is the consuming flame, that once close enough to warm another, catches that person on fire.
As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches going back and forth among the living creatures. The fire was bright, and out of the fire went lightning. And the living creatures ran back and forth, in appearance like a flash of lightning. Ezekiel 1:13-14
God’s heavenly creatures live among the flames and God’s people are meant to as well:
I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. Matthew 3:11-12
Behold, there it is! There is the very fire that burns in my own spirit. It is a consuming fire that lashes out against all that would affront my Lord. At the same time, its flames warm my spirit until the desire of my being is to be as He is.
Jeremiah knew this firsthand:
Therefore thus says the Lord God of hosts: “Because you speak this word, behold, I will make My words in your mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them. Jeremiah 5:14
Then I said, “I will not make mention of Him, nor speak anymore in His name.” But His word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, and I could not. Jeremiah 20:9
The Lord talked with you face to face on the mountain from the midst of the fire. I stood between the Lord and you at that time, to declare to you the word of the Lord; for you were afraid because of the fire, and you did not go up the mountain. Deuteronomy 5:4-5
Moses spoke to the Lord in the midst of the fire, but the people who followed Moses were afraid of God’s flame. They missed the greatest opportunity this world affords – standing and being in the presence of the Lord. That’s what is wrong today. People are afraid of His fire.”
NOTE: The fire of the Lord, His light, His shekinah glory, and anointingare all similar. We gain other glimpses of the fire of the Lord in the Bible:
Moses’ face shone so bright after being in the presence of God that he had to put a veil over it.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego walked in the fiery furnace with Jesus.
On the day of Pentecost, “there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Acts 2:3
The apostle Paul was so anointed that when people touched his garment they would be healed.
* The book “Consumed by His Fire” by C.R. Oliver is available fromwww.zadokpublications.com, and the kindle version from Amazon.com.
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On Fire Christians Addendum – a Discussion About These Categories
The following is a discussion about these categories with a dear brother in the Lord, who raised questions about them. Thought you might like to see them.
QUESTION: How do we know these categories are from the Lord?
COMMENT: As long as the essence of a message or doctrine is Biblical, it is acceptable. For example, if you do a search in the Bible for “triune God”, you won’t find it, even though the true church has embraced this theological concept for centuries because its essence, its meaning, is confirmed by scripture.
I suggest a three-fold test for any message:
The message must be consistent with scripture and the historical teachings of the church (not the Roman Catholic Church),
The person giving the message must be spiritually clean and live a Godly life, given over to the Lord, and
The message has been confirmed – from the Lord with Bible verses and/or confirmed by other Spirit-led Christians.
QUESTION: If we are saying that the Spirit is still inspiring new revelation today that is on par with Scripture, how are we to determine if what someone is saying the Lord told them shouldn’t be accepted as new doctrinal authority?
COMMENT:The terms “new revelation” and “new doctrinal authority” are red flags for me, as they bring to mind Joseph Smith and other cult leaders. So, I would be very suspicious of anyone who uses those terms, as they are probably not speaking from the Holy Spirit.
QUESTION: I hear you saying it should be tested with Scripture, but if they are claiming Spirit inspiration, who’s to say they are wrong if we don’t believe the “canon” is closed?
COMMENT:I think it would be helpful to look at some definitions of “canon” from on thesaurus.com:
an ecclesiastical rule or law enacted by a council or other competent authority and, in the Roman Catholic Church, approved by the pope.
the body of ecclesiastical law.
the body of rules, principles, or standards accepted as axiomatic and universally binding in a field of study or art
the books of the Bible recognized by any Christian church as genuine and inspired.
I accept and embrace the notion that “the canon is closed”, referring to the Bible. And I embrace the notion that the canon is closed when it is defined as the body of rules, principles, or standards accepted within historic Christianity – the body of Christ.
QUESTION: Who is to say we can’t add to it now if we take the position of present-day Spirit inspiration?
COMMENT:You raise good questions. I think the real key is to whether what is proposed conflicts with or changes what the Bible and the historic church say is true doctrine. If it does, then it should be rejected. But if it enlarges upon and illumines what the Bible says, then it can be a blessing to the body of Christ. Jesus said that He had many things to share with the apostles, but He would not share them; the Holy Spirit would teach them to them. Are you denying what Christ said?
The flip side of this is many Christians who IMHO state that they believe in the Holy Spirit, but never teach that believers can learn to recognize the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit. The result is Christians who know about God but never know Him. They are the ones who succumb to “The Greatest Danger”:
THE GREATEST DANGER
The greatest danger facing all of us is not that we shall make an absolute failure of life, nor that we shall fall into outright viciousness, nor that we shall be terribly unhappy, nor that we shall feel that life has no meaning at all – not these things.
The danger is that we may:
fail to perceive life’s greatest meaning,
fall short of its highest good,
miss its deepest and most abiding happiness,
be unable to tender the most needed service,
be unconscious of life ablaze with the light of the Presence of God,
and be content to have it so.
That is the danger – that someday we may wake up and find that always we have been busy with husks and trappings of life and have really missed life itself.
For life without God, to one who has known the richness and joy of life with Him, is unthinkable, impossible. That is what one prays one’s friends may be spared – satisfaction with a life that falls short of the best, that has in it no tingle or thrill that comes from a friendship with the Father. Phillip Brooks (1835-1893)
Perhaps this is one reason many young (and old) people are leaving the church. They attend for a while, hungry for a relationship with the sovereign, living God of the universe, but just receive sermons and theological reasoning ABOUT GOD; never the personal relationship with the Father for which they hunger. Regardless of how long they have been a believer or in a church, people cannot teach something that they do not know. For fear of embracing voices from the dark side, they shut off the possibility of hearing from the Lord.
On a side note, what does the one unforgiveable sin mean: “blaspheming the Holy Spirit”? I believe it means rejecting the conviction of sin from the Holy Spirit, so a person has unforgiven sin on their hearts. Question for you – does it also mean rejecting the notion that the Holy Spirit can communicate with people today in the church age?
Setting aside the question below, how many Christians do you know that are ON FIRE FOR THE LORD? How do you light their fire if you caution them against even considering that the Holy Spirit might be really communicating with them as an individual?
QUESTION: I also hear what you mean about the various categories, but the consistent witness of Scripture is that there are only TWO categories. You are either all out for Christ or you are against Him. A few examples: 1 Kings 18:20-21, Malachi 3:16-18, Matthew 7:13-14; 24-27, Luke 11:14-23, Philippians 3:17-19, John 2:19, and Revelation 3:15. Thoughts?
COMMENT:Of course there are only two categories ultimately – people go to heaven or they go to hell. So that is a given. Within that context, I find it useful to look more deeply at the nuances within these two categories. The church of Laodicea for example – they would claim to be in one camp at the same time they are in the other camp. And the references to Christians on milk when they should be on meat. And the many references to God as a consuming fire, of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the fiery furnace with Jesus, and the tongues of fire on the people at Pentecost, etc. etc.
So part of this issue is whether a person wants to explore whether the Holy Spirit teaches and leads Christians today (as the Bible says) in a personal relationship, or whether we stick with doctrinal teachings about God, as if we were learning about Buddha or some other historical figure. I choose the former.
He who has ears to hear, let him hear. Matthew 11:15
Life in the Spirit 