Finding God's Will in Spiritually Deceptive Times 0736912207, 2003001913

Citation preview

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible ®, © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org). Verses marked NIV are taken from the HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. All emphasis added to Scripture quotations is the author’s. Cover by Terry Dugan Design, Minneapolis, Minnesota Harvest House Publishers, Inc., is the exclusive licensee of the federally registered trademark THE BONDAGE BREAKER.

FINDING GOD’S WILL IN SPIRITUALLY DECEPTIVE TIMES The Bondage Breaker® Series Copyright © 2003 by Neil T. Anderson Published by Harvest House Publishers Eugene, Oregon 97402 www.harvesthousepublishers.com Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Anderson, Neil T., 1942– Hearing God in spiritually deceptive times / Neil T. Anderson p. cm. – (The bondage breaker series) Includes bibliographical references. ISBN 0-7369-1220-7 (pbk.) 1. Discernment (Christian theology) 2. Christianity and other religions. 3. Providence and government of God. I. Title. II. Series. BV5083.A525 2003 248.4—dc21

2003001913

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, digital, photocopy, recording, or any other—except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher. Printed in the United States of America 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 / VP-KB / 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2

To Sammy and Hannah Anderson, my precious grandchildren May your lives reflect God’s will as He guides you through the maze of life.

Acknowledgments For 60 years people have been building into my life. Books by authors I never met and tapes by people I never knew have contributed to my growth in Christ. I’m grateful for all the teachers that I have had over the years. I’m sure each one has contributed something to this book. I want to thank Dr. Robert Saucy for reading through the rough draft and adding valuable insights to and making suggestions for the original manuscript. I have the highest respect for him because I know he loves the Lord and is committed to the truth. I also want to thank my wife, Joanne. She has been my faithful companion who supports me and loves me enough to give me honest feedback. I’m deeply grateful for Dr. Bill Bright and the staff of Campus Crusade for Christ. It was through their ministry that I found the Lord. Years later, I was one of the hundreds of people who dedicated their lives to full-time Christian ministry at Expo ’72 in response to a message by Dr. Bright. (I was an aerospace engineer at the time.) And it was Here’s Life Publishers, a former ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ, that challenged me to put together the original manuscript of this book. I am also very grateful for the relationship I have with Harvest House. To me, they are more than a publishing house; they are my friends.

Contents From the Counterfeit to the Real Part I: Discerning the Counterfeit 1. Balancing Reason with Intuition 2. Deceiving Spirits 3. False Prophets, False Teachers Part II: Taking Hold of the Real 4. Are You Willing? 5. Are You Glorifying the God Who Loves You? 6. Are You Hearing the Truth of God’s Word for Today? 7. Are You Experiencing God’s Peace in Your Heart? 8. Are You Using Sanctified Common Sense? 9. Are You Living by Faith in Jesus?

10. Are You Discerning the Unseen by the Power of the Word and the Spirit? Notes

INTRODUCTION

From the Counterfeit to the Real

IN A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION a woman asked me, “Dr. Anderson, my pastor says my favorite television evangelist is a false teacher. Is he right?” At a ministerial retreat, a pastor said, “Neil, I’ve been at this church three years, and here’s the situation…” After explaining some of the difficulties of his ministry, he asked, “Do you think God is calling me out of here?” A potential but doubting groom asked, “After meeting with my girlfriend and me twice now, do you think we should get married?” A zealous new Christian declared, “The Lord spoke to me last night and said I was to leave my family and their traditions and attend a new church that believes in miracles and prosperity.” Was that the Lord speaking to him? Or was he being deceived…and how can we know? Good questions. Important questions for those seeking divine guidance and for those who are making decisions that will make a large impact on their lives. Tragically, false teachers and false prophets disguised as ministers of righteousness are distorting God’s guidance. People are also paying attention to deceiving spirits. Consider the apostle Paul’s warning to Timothy: “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons” (1 Timothy 4:1 NIV). That is happening right now, all over the world. Are Christians vulnerable to this deception? There is abundant evidence that an extraordinary level of deception is present among

believers. I have been helping people find freedom in Christ for many years, and hardly a day goes by that I do not talk to a believer who has been deceived. Many Christians are paying attention to deceiving spirits, and most of them desire to know and do God’s will. Tragically, good people can be deceived. I have listened to hundreds of parents tell of their children falling away. Others have told me about their spouses, relatives, and friends who are being deceived. That’s the kind of fallen world we have lived in ever since Satan deceived Eve. It seems the intensity of the enemy’s attacks is increasing as the day of the Lord draws near.

Counterfeits from Other Religions Since the 1960s, Eastern religions have had a huge impact on our Western culture. Religious philosophies and alternative spiritualities based on this influence are not new—what is new is how their beliefs have penetrated every level of society in the Western world. A corporate executive thinks he is going to a helpful seminar on resolving conflicts in the workplace. Instead he is introduced to a meditation technique. Your teenage son or daughter enrolls in a class on holistic health, only to find the teacher espousing medical practices based on Eastern philosophies. Your elementary-school child is frightened by an apparition in his or her room, or terrorized by nightmares that you cannot explain. Later you learn of your child’s exposure to the game Dungeons & Dragons or the counterfeit spirituality of Harry Potter, which has opened the door to demonic activity. Without spiritual discernment, even well-intentioned Christians can be deceived. That is why we will look first at counterfeit guidance, in part 1 of this book, before we consider how God guides His children.

Counterfeits Result in Bondage I have counseled people who were heralded as prophets, but who now realize they were in deep spiritual bondage to the lies of Satan.

Others believed they were being guided by God, but were actually paying attention to deceiving spirits. A pastor wrote, “I discovered that one of the older members of our deacon board, along with two other long-standing members of my church, practice a form of spirit contact that sounds something like a séance. They told me that not all of the spirits one can contact are necessarily bad, and that one had to consider the enduring nature of the ‘good things’ they brought, such as healings and messages from the other side.” At the same time, in our technological age, many misguided people are so oriented toward the power of human reason and observation that they have reduced their walk with God to nothing more than an intellectual exercise. Keeping both of these human tendencies in mind, we will take a brief look at the balance between Western rationalism and naturalism, and Eastern mysticism. Given all the counterfeit guidance in this world, we in the church must know the truth and exercise discernment as never before.

Does God Communicate His Will to Us? If false guidance is abounding, how can we know what is real? All the questions I mentioned at the beginning of this introduction hinge on the answer to a much larger question: Does God communicate His will to us and if so, how? The Christians who were asking those questions were on the verge of making important decisions, and like most believers, they earnestly desired to know and do God’s will. They were seeking divine guidance. Could I help them make the right “call”? Can any mortal know the will of God for another? Isn’t God’s will revealed in the Bible? Isn’t the Holy Spirit supposed to guide us? Does God guide His children through an abundance of counselors or can Christians discern God’s will on their own?

God’s Will Versus God’s Guidance So what is God’s will for our lives? According to the apostle Paul, it is our sanctification (1 Thessalonians 4:3)—that is we are to conform

to God’s image. We are to be holy as He is holy (1 Peter 1:16). His plan is to “present to Himself the Church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless” (Ephesians 5:27). To be in God’s will, we must believe what He says is true and be obedient to His Word. That is God’s will for our lives. That may not answer many specific questions, so let me differentiate the idea of knowing God’s will from divine guidance. There are no instructions in Scripture for making career choices, choosing mates, or selecting places of residence. In other words, there is no divine plan that we should be computer techs, plumbers, or engineers, live in St. Louis, or marry Julie or Jake. God’s will is more related to what kind of career person, spouse, or citizen we should be. However, God does provide divine guidance for His children, and He equips us with the mind of Christ so that we can make decisions that are consistent with His will. His Holy Spirit will guide us in our decision-making process, “for all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (Romans 8:14).

God Prepares Hearts and Shapes Lives In my own life, I sensed a call into the ministry as a young child. The unusual part is that I did not become a Christian until much later: two years after I had finished my military service! This raises the question, “Does God prepare hearts even before we belong to Him?” It is consistent with God’s sovereignty that He actively works in the lives of His people from the beginning to the end of time. Paul wrote that “we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). Despite my earlier sensing of being called to ministry, I became an aerospace engineer. Was I now outside of the will of God, or was God using that experience to prepare me for ministry? After four years in the aerospace industry, I again clearly sensed God’s call to full-time ministry. I left a successful career and attended Talbot School of Theology.

From the beginning of our Christian experience, Joanne and I have trusted God to lead us concerning where we should serve. Consequently, we have never sought a position in ministry. I sensed God leading me to be a club director with Youth for Christ, a minister to young adults at a church, then a minister of adult education, a senior pastor, and then a seminary professor at Talbot School of Theology. I never applied for, sent a résumé for, or personally sought any of those positions. In each case, I believe God clearly led me. When I had started my walk with God, I had no desire to be a senior pastor, and certainly not a seminary professor. My own sense of giftedness and direction became evident as I grew in the Lord. The most difficult decision was to leave Talbot School of Theology and start Freedom in Christ Ministries, which has become a global effort. The Lord also shaped my life in ways that I never would have anticipated. When I left engineering school, I had no desire to pursue any more formal education. As I began to mature in the Lord, my desire to read and learn increased. Since then I have completed two master’s degrees and two doctoral degrees. (Anybody who knew me in high school would have to acknowledge that as a miracle.) I have come to deeply believe that God does sovereignly govern the affairs of mankind. He gently guides our steps as we choose to walk with Him. I believe He wants to make His presence known in our lives and in our ministries.

Considering Divine Guidance As we look at the issue of divine guidance, we will consider some prerequisites for knowing God’s will and following His lead. We will consider what it means to glorify Him, and how to overcome our anxiety by finding peace with Him. We will see how prominent Scripture must be for all those who seek to know and do God’s will, and I will offer some help in distinguishing between the “voice of God” and deceiving spirits. Lastly, I will share what it means to walk by faith, and how the Holy Spirit enables us to discern the true from the false.

It is not my intention to set forth some easy-to-follow guidelines for knowing God’s will. My purpose is to help you walk closely with God, and this does require an understanding of how He guides. I will do my best to draw a fine line on issues that are clearly taught in Scripture, but others I will cover in broad strokes. To our finite minds there will always be a degree of mystery about the Infinite One. Some questions will remain unanswered and some issues will seem ambiguous until the Lord returns. It is not God’s will for us to know everything and lean on our own understanding. It is His intention that we be completely dependent upon Him.

Turn to God and His Word The truth is, I cannot answer all the questions that I have in my own mind, much less yours. And I am deeply sensitive to the possibility of leading one of God’s lambs down a wrong path. After all, it is a bit presumptuous for any mortal to tell another how God guides. My prayer is that you will keep an open mind and search the Scriptures with me. The Bible is the only infallible source for faith and practice, not Neil Anderson or any other pastor or seminary professor. How presumptuous to think otherwise! I encourage you to “be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). If I help some of you stay on the narrow path of truth in your walk with God, I will be pleased. If I help others get back on the path, I will be thrilled.

PART ONE Discerning the Counterfeit

CHAPTER ONE

Balancing Reason with Intuition

We’ll find truth somewhere between the extremes of Eastern mysticism and Western rationalism.

WHILE SHARING WITH A COLLEGE group, I could sense that a young man representing the popular set wasn’t buying what I was saying. Rather than ignore him, since he was distracting the group, I asked him what he believed. He said, “I believe in this,” putting his arm around his girlfriend. “I only believe in what I can see, smell, feel, hear, and touch.” I asked him if he had a brain. “Of course,” he responded. “Have you ever seen it, smelt it, felt it, heard it, or touched it?” I asked. “I know it’s there because I can sense its effect,” he said with confidence. I said, “Look around, and you will see the effect of God’s hand everywhere. The Bible says, ‘Since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse’” (Romans 1:20). Another young man from the other side of the room entered into the discussion. “I think it’s silly to argue about what is true,” he began. “What is true is what you want to believe. I believe that whatever we perceive we can achieve.”

It was the same classroom, but the students were at the opposite ends of the philosophical spectrum. One believed that he could control matter with his mind. He was trying to function as the Creator. The other believed only in what he could observe and reason out. He focused only on created things. Eastern mysticism was squaring off with Western rationalism. They represented two opposing ways of defining reality. Both are counterfeit, and both are contrary to the Word of God. To understand these diverse ways of thinking, let’s briefly consider how they have developed in our culture.

The Shift from God During the Age of Enlightenment, Western civilization began to focus on the glory of humanity at the expense of God’s glory. Human reason and scientific research became more authoritative than divine revelation. Humans decided they could get along quite well without their Creator. This desire to determine for ourselves what is right and wrong and act as our own god is the same desire that caused the fall. Humanism’s goal was to gain freedom from religious superstition and the authority of the church, but it brought with it fatal flaws. There was no longer any purpose or meaning in life other than pursuing self-interest. People were no longer perceived as being created in the image of God, and theories of human origin by random chance devalued human life.

The Western Mind In searching for truth, the Western world came to rely on observation and experimentation, a process known as empiricism. That is, all that needs to be known can be learned through the scientific method of investigation. Philosophers assumed they had the capacity to correctly interpret the data and draw the proper conclusions. Having been an aerospace engineer and having completed a research doctorate, I understand the process. To the scientific mind,

empiricism and rationalism are two sides of the same coin. Conduct the research, then make the analysis. For the rationalist to accept something as true, it must be systematic and fit the facts. If A equals B and B equals C, then A must equal C.

The Dangers of Empiricism Christianity has accepted the fact that there are God-given rules of logic that govern the universe since God is a rational God. Some are tempted to think that God’s general revelation in nature justifies looking at the cosmos through the eyes of empiricism. They point to such passages as, “The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands” (Psalm 19:1). Since all truth is God’s truth, they conclude that whatever we discover by observation and experimentation must be true, and that it is all that is true. There are natural laws that govern the physical universe, which God has created. However, nature doesn’t provide any answers concerning purpose and meaning in life. The purpose of special revelation, the Word of God, is to explain and give meaning to natural revelation. The scientific method of investigation, by nature and design, does not take into account the reality of the spiritual world. When the scientific method is applied to social sciences, there is even greater cause for concern. The social sciences are not precise. We cannot accurately predict how people will react in any given situation, and we cannot control all the factors that influence human behavior. In addition, most research projects study the behavior of only fallen people. How can such research provide definitive truth for the children of God, who are spiritually alive and designed to live by faith in the power of the Holy Spirit? In a practical sense, however, our secular society treats the social sciences as precise sciences. For instance, a judge may appoint a court-ordered psychiatrist or psychologist to determine whether a person is mentally competent to stand trial. But I would ask, “Which psychologist or psychiatrist are you asking? Does this person have a biblical view of humanity? Which psychological theory does this

person adhere to?” Psychological theories abound, and they can be very diverse. Each has some partial truth, else it would have no adherents, but none is a basis for infallible judgment. There’s another danger in empiricism. The laws of nature don’t apply to the spiritual world. You may be able to get some cooperation from people for research, but don’t expect the kingdom of darkness to comply. Even God doesn’t submit to our methods of investigation. This doesn’t mean that the scientific method is wrong—it’s just incomplete, and it’s insufficient as a reliable basis for our faith.

Revelation Gives Light to Reason Our best reasoning is always biased because of our culture, education, and personal experience. None of us is a totally objective observer. We all look at reality through the grid of our own knowledge and experience. Wisdom, on the other hand, is seeing truth from God’s perspective. We need to interpret research and observations through the eyes of God’s revelation. Research does not validate revelation; revelation validates research. Research sheds light on what is— revelation sheds light on why it is, what it should be, and what it will be. Our ability to reason is limited on three counts. First, we can never be sure we have all the facts. Second, we can never be sure we are perfectly interpreting the facts. Finally, we can never be sure what the consequences of any certain course of action will be. Consequently, we need divine guidance because there is only One who is all knowing. We will never know so much that we will no longer need God. In fact, the more I know God and His Word, the more dependent on Him I have become. Paul’s words illustrate this great need: Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message

preached to save those who believe (1 Corinthians 1:2021).

Eastern Mysticism The Eastern cultures have a different worldview than we have in the West. Their philosophies are more subjective or intuitive. Some Eastern mystics see rationality and the mind as the problem. According to Guru Maharaj-Ji, the mind must be bypassed: Ignorance is only created by the mind, and the mind keeps the secret that you are something divine away from you. This is why you have to tame the mind first. The mind is a snake, and the treasure is behind it. The snake lies over the treasure, so if you want that treasure, you will have to kill the snake. And killing the snake is not an easy job. Some sects refer to “intuition,” the “psychic self,” or the “unconscious mind” as the means of perception and guidance. They say that the first step toward spiritual growth is to train yourself to ignore all messages from the mind. Next comes the tuning of your “second organ of perception” into the “universal mind”—the impersonal “god” mysticism. Once attuned, the psychic self can bypass the mind and perceive reality directly. Practical attempts to erase the mind range from transcendental meditation to Silva Mind Control.

A Western Modification Most Westerners are uncomfortable with bypassing their minds and Hinduism, for example, is too ascetic for the materialistic Westerner. However, the New Age phenomena of the 1980s–’90s have made unpalatable Eastern religions appealing to Westerners. There are now many “alternative spiritualities” in the West. Most such spiritualities modify the “mindless” approach by claiming that the mind is not being bypassed. Rather, it is the mind itself that is actually achieving “cosmic consciousness.” Followers

believe they can actually create reality with their minds. This is similar to the teachings of Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of so-called Christian Science. They believe that the supreme creative power of the universe is a cosmic principle, present everywhere and in every one of us. Such belief systems teach that we are creating our own reality by the way we think.

The Unifying Factors of the Alternative Spiritualities Such alternative religious philosophies are very attractive to the natural man who has become disillusioned with organized religion and Western rationalism. He desires spiritual reality, but doesn’t want to give up materialism, deal with his moral problems, or come under authority. The mind is not a snake, but there was a snake in the Garden, and all false religions are nothing more than different humps of the same serpent. It would only make sense that they would hold some things in common. Push down one hump of the snake and another arises. New Age practitioners can be very diverse in their beliefs—however, I’ve discovered six unifying factors in their thinking. The first is monism—the belief that all is one and one is all. It says we all swim in one great cosmic ocean. All human ills stem from an inability to perceive this unity. History is not the story of humanity’s fall into sin and its restoration by God’s saving grace. Rather, history displays humanity’s fall into ignorance and its gradual ascent into enlightenment. Clearly, this is not the case. There is a definite boundary between the finite and the infinite. Monism is a counterfeit of the unity Jesus prayed for in John 17:21. That unity is possible only as we are united together in Christian fellowship. False spiritualities preach unity without the Holy Spirit. Christians are to be diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit (Ephesians 4:3). Second, all is God. If all is one, including God, then one must conclude that all is God. Pantheism would have us believe that trees, snails, birds, and people are all of one divine essence. A personal

God is abandoned in favor of an impersonal energy force or consciousness. If God is no longer personal, He doesn’t have to be served. A third unifying factor refers to a change in consciousness. If we are God, then we need to know we are God. We must become cosmically conscious, a process also called “at-one-ment” (a counterfeit of atonement), self-realization, god-realization, enlightenment, or attune-ment. Some who reach this enlightened status will claim to be “born again.” This is a counterfeit conversion. Their faith has no object, neither does their meditation, so all becomes an inward subjective journey. However, the essential issue is not whether we believe or meditate, but whom we believe in and what we meditate upon. Christians believe God and meditate upon His Word. The fourth unifying factor is a cosmic evolutionary optimism. There will be a new world order with a one-world government. (Hence the term “New Age.”) A progressive unification of world consciousness will eventually reach the “omega point.” This is a counterfeit kingdom, and we know who its king is. It’s not hard to identify the head when it is attached to the humps of this snake. Fifth, followers of alternative spiritualities create their own reality. They believe they can determine reality by what they believe. So by changing what they believe, they can change reality. The metaphysical influence of Taoism’s yin and yang, the ebb and flow of competing and complementary forces, have erased all moral boundaries. There are no moral absolutes because there is no distinction between good and evil. Sixth, such people make contact with the kingdom of darkness. Calling a medium a “channeler,” and a demon a “spirit guide,” has not changed the reality of what they are. People are connecting with the god of this world instead of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and they don’t know it. I received a call from a lady who was concerned about an ominous turn of events in a small church Bible study that she was attending. It had started out as a rebirthing class attended by a group of supposedly Christian women. A woman in the group began to function as a medium, and they thought they were hearing from God.

The medium was later identified as not being a Christian. At one point a voice said through her, “It’s going to snow here tomorrow.” I’m surprised that when it didn’t snow the next day, these women couldn’t see the “snow job” being done on them! How can this be anything other than demonization?

The Middle Ground of Truth The truth is somewhere between the extremes of Western rationalism and Eastern mysticism. I believe that truth lies at the top of a bell-shaped curve between these two extremes, as shown.

The pure rationalist can be nothing more than “a noisy gong and a clanging symbol” (1 Corinthians 13:1). Paul said that “knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies” (1 Corinthians 8:1). Even in our Christian circles we have a tendency to extol the virtues of theologians and apologists at the expense of lovers and soulwinners. On the other hand Jesus said, “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). “He who is wise wins souls” (Proverbs 11:30). When I became a Christian, I started from the extreme of Western rationalism. I “charged up the slopes” of rationalism, but as the truth became more real, I slowed to a crawl. I didn’t want to let go of my rationalism. For one reason, I was good at reasoning. Math was my easiest subject in engineering school. We prefer rationalism because it keeps us in control. We don’t want to be too real! Being vulnerable is risky. Thankfully, that is becoming more and more a part of my past, though I am not giving up my responsibility to think. When I taught evangelism at the seminary, I had the students respond to the following three questions: 1) Have you ever met God? (The question was a little more subjective than what they were used to.) 2) Describe the experience. 3) How did you know it was God you met? At least 90 percent of them had a subjective answer to the last question: “I just knew it was God” or “I sensed a peace!” Is such

subjective confirmation wrong? It isn’t wrong if 90 percent of my students were assured of their salvation through the personal witness of the Holy Spirit. “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God” (Romans 8:16). Let’s consider how the Spirit’s guidance bypasses neither reason nor intuition.

Our Whole-Hemisphere God Some researchers believe that the two hemispheres of our brains have the following characteristics: Left Brain reason-oriented cognitive task-oriented verbal fact-oriented language-oriented math-oriented linear

Right Brain intuitive subjective elationship-oriented visual feelings-oriented arts-oriented music-oriented spatial

As God works in and through His church, He doesn’t bypass our minds. He doesn’t favor one hemisphere over the other. We have one brain and one mind, and we have a whole-hemisphere God. Without Christ, the cognitive people are “always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:7). Without Christ, the intuitive people are “led on by various impulses” (2 Timothy 3:6). This same cultural divide between East and West was evident at the time of Christ. “Indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom” (1 Corinthians 1:22).

Jesus Is the Middle Ground Neither the rationalist nor the mystic will ever come to Christ by reason or intuition. Jesus declared:

I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself (John 12:32). No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day (John 6:44). When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He (John 8:28). Jesus is the ultimate revelation of God. He is the truth, and He represents the top of the bell-shaped curve. He draws both the rationalist and the mystic to Himself when they choose not to lean on their own understanding or follow their subjective feelings. When we receive Christ by faith, we are transferred out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God’s beloved Son. Leftbrained Christians search for wisdom and knowledge and often have trouble being real. But you can’t be right with God and not be real, and if necessary, God may have to make you real in order to be right with Him. Right-brained Christians can be very real, expressive, and personable, but they often overlook the need for objective truth. When facts-oriented Christians start desiring reality and feelingsoriented Christians start searching for biblical truth, then we will strike the balance that our churches need. The sister epistles of Colossians and Ephesians reflect this balance. According to Ephesians 5:15-20, in order to stop being foolish and know what the will of God is, a Christian is to be filled with the Spirit. Spirit-filled Christians will sing and make melody in their hearts to the Lord. According to Colossians 3:15-17, the way to know the will of God is to let the Word of Christ richly dwell within us. The result is the same—singing and making melody in our hearts. It’s not either/or, but both/and! Being filled with the Spirit and letting the Word richly dwell within us are two sides of the same coin. The Holy Spirit doesn’t work just in the right brain, and the Word doesn’t dwell only in the left brain. There is only one brain and only one mind and only one God. The Holy Spirit will lead us into all truth, and the Word is a living reality. We must strive to be both right and

real. We need both wisdom and power, and our zeal must be rooted in the knowledge of God’s Word. That balance is our goal—not just knowing about it, but experiencing it in our daily lives. If this is your desire, then would you pray with me? Dear heavenly Father, You are more than just a good idea to me. You are my heavenly Father. I desire for my walk with You to be real. But, dear Lord, don’t let my desire to be real ever push aside my need to think. You have told us to think so as to have sound judgment. I choose to think the truth—and Your Word is truth. As I grow in grace, enable me to be a good witness to those who are lost in both rationalism and mysticism. I choose to be sanctified in Christ so I can give an answer for the hope that lies within me. I will not fear their intimidation, but as I sanctify Christ as the Lord of my life, may the fruit of the Spirit always give evidence of my walk with You. Amen.

QUESTIONS FOR THOUGHT AND DISCUSSION 1. Give your own illustrations of the two ways of looking at life and God that are contrary to the Word of God. 2. What have been the consequences in our culture of living as though God doesn’t exist? 3. What are two sides of the same coin in the Western mindset? How does the dictionary define the two words the author uses? 4. Why is the scientific method inadequate in trying to discover God?

5. What are the six unifying factors in alternative spiritualities? 6. Where do Christians derive their wisdom and power? 7. Explain the balance between rational and intuitive thinking. 8. How do Christians perceive truth and reality, and is there a danger in this?

CHAPTER TWO

Deceiving Spirits

We can win the battle for our minds.

A SEMINARY STUDENT STOPPED by my office to tell me he was having difficulty getting to school on time. What should have been a 5-minute drive would lengthen to 45 minutes because a voice in his mind kept telling him to turn at intersections. Not wanting to disobey what he perceived to be the “still small voice of God,” he was treated to a tour of the city almost every morning. A pastor’s wife, desperately needing the comfort of the Holy Spirit and desiring His leading, passively believed that whatever entered her mind was from God. She soon found herself bound by fear and plagued by condemning thoughts. A seminary professor’s wife confided in me that she wasn’t sure she was a Christian. I was shocked by her assessment since she was a lovely Christian woman, and I said, “If you aren’t a Christian, I’m in deep trouble. What would cause you to believe that?” She explained, “When I start to read my Bible I have these foul thoughts go through my mind, and I struggle with blasphemous thoughts when I go to church. How could I be a Christian and have them?” she asked. “Those are not your thoughts,” I responded. “According to Romans 7:22, your inner person joyfully concurs with the law of God. Do you believe those thoughts or personally agree with them?” “Of course not,” she replied.

Now, if those thoughts really had been this woman’s own thoughts, then what would she have concluded about herself? She would have believed herself to be evil and would subsequently have questioned her salvation. That is exactly what she was experiencing. That is why we need to listen to the wisdom of John Wesley: Do not hastily ascribe things to God. Do not easily suppose dreams, voices, impressions, visions or revelations to be from God. They may be from Him. They may be from nature. They may be from the devil. Therefore, do not believe every spirit, but try the spirits, whether they are from God.1

The Father of Lies Versus the Spirit of Truth At the end of the nineteenth century, Martin Wells Knapp, cofounder of the Wesleyan Church, wrote the book Impressions: From God or Satan, How to Know the Difference. Knapp attempts to distinguish between the lies of Satan and the leading of the Holy Spirit. Quoting Hannah W. Smith, he offers this insight: There are the voices of evil and deceiving spirits who lie in wait to entrap every traveler entering the higher regions of spiritual life. In the same epistle that tells us we are seated in heavenly places in Christ, we are also told that we will have to fight with spiritual enemies. These spiritual enemies, whoever or whatever they may be, must necessarily communicate with us by means of our spiritual faculties. And their voices, as the voice of God, are an inward impression made upon our spirit. Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit may tell us by impressions what the will of God is concerning us, so also will these spiritual enemies tell us by impression what is their will concerning us, though not of course giving it their name.2 Knapp also comments, “Oh, that I could write one message with the point of a diamond upon the heart of every Christian. It should be

this: Be sure that the slightest impression upon your heart disposing you to do Christian work has a divine stamp. And then obey it at whatever cost.”3 In order to live a fruitful Christian life we need to be led by the Holy Spirit, but unless we are knowledgeable and discerning, evil spirits can deceive us. Paul warned us about this battle going on for our minds: “The Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines [teachings] of demons” (1 Timothy 4:1). I have personally counseled hundreds of professing Christians who are hearing voices and are plagued by condemning thoughts. Most have no real mental peace. As I share with these tormented people that they aren’t going crazy, but are experiencing a battle for their minds, they often respond, “Praise the Lord, someone understands!” It’s liberating to know the truth, because if people are mentally ill for some neurological reason, the prognosis is not very good. But if there is a battle going on for their minds, we can win that war.

Who’s Well and Who Isn’t? I believe the greatest determinant of mental health is a true knowledge of God and a proper understanding of who we are as children of God. Wouldn’t we be mentally healthy if we knew that God loved us, that our sins were forgiven, that we had eternal life, that all our needs would be provided for, and if we had the peace of God that passes all understanding guarding our hearts and our minds? Christians, of all people, should be mentally healthy. However, let me quickly add that the opposite is also true. The greatest determinant of mental illness is a distorted belief in God and who we are. If you don’t think that is true, then go into any mental hospital and talk with the patients. They are often very religious, but a little questioning will reveal that they have a very distorted concept of God and of themselves. (That’s why many secular counselors don’t like religion. Their patients’ religious beliefs are keeping them mentally unhealthy.)

God is never the cause of mental illness. He is the cure if we know the whole truth. The tendency is to polarize either into psychotherapeutic ministries that ignore the reality of the spiritual world, or into some kind of deliverance ministry that overlooks psychological and neurological problems—and human responsibility. Neither extreme can adequately address mental illness for two reasons. First, our problems are never not psychological. There is no time when our mind, will, and emotions are not all involved. Second, our problems are never not spiritual, since God “upholds all things by the word of His power” (Hebrews 1:3). There is no time when God isn’t present, and there is no time when it is safe to take off His armor. We have a whole God—the One who created all reality, who relates to the whole person, and who always takes into account all reality.

Satan’s Strategies One of Satan’s primary strategies is temptation. Although Satan used a piece of fruit to tempt Eve, it was merely a tool of deception. Every tempting thought is an attempt to get us to live our lives independently of God. We are most vulnerable in the area of legitimate needs. Will these needs be met by living independently of God? Or will they be met by living dependently upon our heavenly Father, who “will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19)? Satan wants to destroy this lifestyle of Christ-dependency and rob us of our victory. Selfsufficiency is the greatest threat to our sufficiency in Christ (see 2 Corinthians 3:5-6). Satan is also the accuser of the brethren. The accuser is determined to undermine our understanding of who we are in Christ. He can’t do anything about our actual identity or position in Christ, but if he can get us to believe they aren’t true, we will live as though they aren’t true. The father of lies is keeping many Christians from experiencing the joy of their salvation. Entertaining Satan’s lies— thoughts like “I’m stupid,” “I can’t,” “I’m no good,” “God doesn’t love

me,” or “I’m different from others”—will keep many people in bondage and cause them to question their sanity and salvation. Every believer needs to heed the message in the apostle John’s final letter: Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, and the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, who accuses them before our God day and night. And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death (Revelation 12:10-11). If I tempted you, you would know it. If I accused you, you would know it. But if I deceived you, you wouldn’t know it. The most insidious strategy of Satan is deception: “[He] does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). Satan is determined to undermine the work of the Holy Spirit who leads us into all truth.

The Truth Frees Us Scripture teaches that truth is the liberating agent from deception: If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free (John 8:31-32). I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me (John 14:6). I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth (John 17:15-17).

When we put on the armor of God, the first thing we do is gird our loins with truth (Ephesians 6:14). Knowing the truth is our first line of defense against deception. This was dramatically illustrated when God struck down Ananias and Sapphira. Why the severity of the discipline? Because they were living a lie—and Peter exposed the source of it when he asked, “Why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit?” (Acts 5:3).

Choosing the Truth God knows what the primary strategy of Satan is. He knows that if Satan can operate undetected in any home, church, family, committee, or individual and get people to believe a lie, he can control their lives. We must win the battle for our minds if we are going to be guided by God. Paul wrote, “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). We must learn to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. If what we are thinking isn’t true, then we don’t believe it. We don’t win this battle by rebuking negative thoughts—we win by choosing the truth. We are not called to dispel the darkness—we are called to turn on the light. We also need to fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith (Hebrews 12:2). We are deceived when our thoughts are led astray from the only legitimate object of our faith. Paul warned of this in 2 Corinthians 11:3-4: “I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully.” Cults and other counterfeit spiritualities talk and write about the same historical Jesus we do, but they preach Him another way. According to their understanding, He is not the eternal Son of God—He’s just a good person who gave us a good example to

follow. Consequently they have a completely different gospel: one of works rather than grace. And they receive a totally different spirit, one which is not the Holy Spirit.

Ready for Action It is our responsibility to actively use our minds and to know the truth. Scripture never teaches us to use our minds passively or direct our thoughts inward. As we saw in the previous chapter, God never bypasses our minds. He works through them. We are transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2). We are “to think so as to have sound judgment” (Romans 12:3). “Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature” (1 Corinthians 14:20). We must also prepare our minds for action (1 Peter 1:13). That means that we don’t play fantasy games or use visualization techniques that are not based on truth. Nor do we live in an imaginary world. However, it is okay and helpful to visualize yourself doing something as long as you actually do it, and as long as it is consistent with God’s Word. That is how we prepare our minds for action. Putting your mind in neutral invites spiritual disaster. We are to think actively—we are to continuously choose to believe the truth as Paul directs us in Philippians 4:8-9: Brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace shall be with you. Paul has warned us not to pay attention to deceiving spirits. If a thought comes to your mind, compare it with the list in Philippians 4:8 above. Don’t entertain thoughts that are contrary to it. Then follow the admonition of verse 9 and put into practice what you know to be true. If we really believe the truth, we will do what we know to be right.

Experiencing Freedom When I counsel those who are experiencing personal and spiritual conflicts, I have two goals. First, I want them to know who they are as children of God. Second, I want them to experience the peace of God in their hearts and minds. How are they going to be led by the Holy Spirit if they are paying attention to deceiving spirits? I had the privilege to help a missionary who was really struggling. She was seeing her pastor, her psychologist, and her psychiatrist once a week just to hold her life together. After she had resolved her personal and spiritual conflicts and found her freedom in Christ, she sent me this letter: The edge of tension and irritation is gone. I feel so free. The Bible has been really exciting, stimulating, and more understandable than ever before. I am no longer bound by accusations, doubts, and thoughts of suicide, murder, or other harm that comes straight from hell into my head. There is serenity in my mind and spirit, a clarity of consciousness that is profound. I’ve been set free. My ability to process things has increased manyfold. Not only is my spirit more serene, my head is actually clearer. It’s easier to make connections and integrate things now. It seems like everything is easier to understand now. My relationship with God has changed significantly. For eight years, I felt He was distant from me. I was desperately crying out to Him to set me free, to release me from the bondage I was in. I wanted so badly to meet with Him, to know His presence with me again. I needed to know Him as a friend and companion, not as the distant authority figure He had become in my mind and experience. Now that I am free in Christ, I have seen my ability to trust grow and my ability to be honest with Him increase greatly. I really am experiencing the spiritual growth I had been praying for.

I don’t know of any Christians who wouldn’t want to experience that kind of freedom, joy, and closeness to God. Isn’t this your desire? Wouldn’t you like to put an end to Satan’s deceptions and win the battle for your mind? Maybe you just want to reaffirm your freedom in Christ. Then pray with me: Dear heavenly Father, I thank You for setting the captives free. I have accepted Your free gift of salvation, so I am now a child of God, seated with Christ in the heavenlies. I know that nothing can separate me from Your love or snatch me out of Your hand. Your Holy Spirit testifies to me that I am Your child. I bring my anxious thoughts before You and ask that Your peace would guard my heart and my mind. I now realize that it is my responsibility to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. I choose to believe the truth and reject the lies of Satan. I confess that I have doubted You and have paid attention to deceiving spirits and the lies of this fallen world. I now make the commitment to think upon that which is true, lovely, and right. I choose to resist the evil one, and I choose to focus my mind on Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith. Amen.

QUESTIONS FOR THOUGHT AND DISCUSSION 1. In what ways can believers be led astray by thoughts that enter their minds? 2. What is the most obvious symptom of demonic activity in believers and unbelievers?

3. What is the greatest determinant of mental health in the believer? 4. What is the greatest determinant of mental illness? 5. Where does the spiritual battle take place? 6. What is the doorway Satan uses to gain access to our minds and feelings? In what way do you think you need to do a better job of closing the door? 7. What does it mean to “choose truth”? What specific strategy is part of this process? 8. How can you be better prepared to stand against Satan’s attacks?

CHAPTER THREE

False Prophets, False Teachers

Does God speak through prophets today?

LATE ONE AFTERNOON I WAS SITTING in a coffee shop waiting for my son to finish soccer practice. A young man noticed I was reading my Bible and asked if I was studying to be a Christian. I told him I’d been a Christian for some time, and I asked him if he had ever made a decision for Christ. He said he had just become a Christian. He went on to tell me that two friends had given him prophecies specifying what he should do with his life. He was troubled because the prophecies seemed to contradict each other. “Which one should I believe?” he asked. “Probably neither one,” I suggested. I asked him if he believed in the priesthood of all believers. He said he wasn’t sure, so I explained to him that all of God’s children have access to their heavenly Father. I asked him, “If God wanted you to do something, why wouldn’t He just tell you?” Understanding the gift of prophecy and distinguishing it from the role of a prophet may be the biggest challenge for the church at the beginning of the twenty-first century. Certainly we don’t want to limit the Lord in how He speaks to His people in these critical days. But if we don’t ask the important questions and aren’t teachable, we may end up coming under the influence of false prophets and teachers. How can we tell the difference between the counterfeit and the real?

Differences of Opinion At one extreme there are Christians who believe that the miraculous presence of God is no longer evident through prophetic gifts—that God speaks to His church only through the written Word as understood by trained theologians and pastors. At the other end of the spectrum are Christians who seek to manifest God in public worship through miraculous gifts and prophetic utterances. Their goal is to enter into the “holy of holies” in worship and allow the Lord to minister to them through prophecies, words of knowledge, healings, tongues, and every other manifestation hinted at or alluded to in the Bible. The first group sits outside the experiences of life and critiques them. They don’t worship God. They evaluate the worship service and then sit in judgment of the message. They should be entering into worship and letting the Word of God sit in judgment of them. They are more concerned about platform performance than divine presence. The other group enters into the experience, but often fails to evaluate what they are doing and fails to show any sense of discernment! Where is the balance between dead orthodoxy and zeal without knowledge? While we can’t always draw an absolutely clear line, I think we can agree on some broad concepts by examining the warnings of Scripture. Let’s start by taking a look at biblical history.

The Need for Prophets God created mankind to rule over the birds of the sky, the beasts of the fields, and the fish of the sea. Mankind’s dominion extended over the earth. When Adam sinned, he lost his relationship with God and forfeited his God-given role. Satan became the ruler of this world. God’s redemptive plan is to defeat the god of this world and restore a fallen humanity, establishing His kingdom so that His will will be done on earth as it is in heaven. The Bible reveals God’s plan. It includes historical accounts of the progress of His unfolding revelation and the establishment and

commissioning of the church, and it includes the assurance that His plan for the future will be accomplished. The place of the church in His unfolding plan is summarized in Ephesians 2:19-22: You are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit. God has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son (Colossians 1:13). We are children of God who are seated with Christ in the heavenlies. Based on the foundation that has been laid by the apostles and prophets, we are being built up into a holy temple. The church has been established as a dwelling of God in the Spirit. The means by which God has communicated this redemptive plan is revealed in the Bible through the prophets and the apostles. The ultimate revelation of God is Jesus Himself, who is the cornerstone of the church.

Does God Use Prophets Today? Most biblical scholars believe there are no longer any prophets and apostles who speak with the absolute authority of “Thus saith the Lord.” Even though we cannot limit God, who could choose to send an authoritative messenger any time He wants, some segments of the church are starting to identify their leaders as apostles and prophets. Many of these so-called apostles and prophets are self-appointed. Apparently they think they can enhance their status by giving themselves a lofty title. Is the whole church supposed to accept what they say as authoritative in the same way we understand Scripture to be? After one conference, an elderly man thanked me for my message, but suggested I shouldn’t be too hard on prophets. “Are

you a prophet?” I asked. “Well, I denied that I was for most of my ministry, but now I have accepted my true calling,” he replied. I asked him what his wife thought about his “true calling.” “She left me!” he said—and so did his church. It could be difficult living with a prophet if everything he said had to be believed or obeyed without judgment! Orthodox Christianity has declared the canon closed, which means that the Old and New Testament books are the only authoritative source for faith and practice. Scripture teaches that the foundation has already been laid (past tense) by the apostles and prophets. Yes, God can reveal Himself and His Word anytime He wants to. However, we have been clearly warned not to add to or take away from anything God has said (Revelation 22:18-19). Today, God is still working as He has in the past—through people. In the past, prophets like Isaiah and apostles like Paul were people who had a God-ordained appointment. Today, the church has gifted people, and the gift of prophecy functions like other gifts within the church. However, the New Testament gift of prophecy is not the same as the Old Testament office of prophet. Having the gift of prophecy does not make anyone a prophet. Christians are simply children of God, supernaturally gifted to help build up one another to live righteously. God now builds upon the foundation that has already been laid by giving evangelists and pastor/teachers (Ephesians 4:11-12). Evangelists and pastor/teachers are people ordained by God to equip the saints so they (the saints) may do the work of ministry.

Identifying False Prophets and Teachers Although Satan is defeated, the kingdom of darkness is still operating during the church age. So along with true evangelists, pastor/teachers, and others gifted by God for ministry, expect Satan to have his false prophets, teachers, and messiahs. Whenever God sows a seed, the devil sows a counterfeit. Therefore, let’s examine how to identify false prophets and teachers from the New Testament.

The warnings in the New Testament against false prophets are numerous. An example is this one from the apostle John: Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world (1 John 4:1). The warnings intensify as they speak of the closeness of the Lord’s return. In the Olivet discourse, Jesus declared, Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many… False Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect (Matthew 24:11,24). However, the first sign of a true messenger is a righteous life. Jesus said, “You will know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:20). In the next three verses Jesus exposed the counterfeits. False prophets and teachers may say “Lord, Lord!” They may prophesy, cast out demons, and even perform miracles in the name of the Lord. Satan has limited power to perform miracles, and he can get his demons to leave those they afflict, which makes it look like one of his evil workers has just cast them out. But Jesus said, “Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness’” (verse 23).

Three Characteristics From Jesus’ words, we see that false teachers lead an unrighteous life. Even though their life of sin is secret, eventually their deeds will find them out. Paul reveals this in 2 Corinthians 11:13-15: Such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as

servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds. The above passage reveals a second characteristic of some false prophets and teachers. They work within the church. Most false religions and cults can be identified by their doctrine, which they make no attempt to hide. But the most insidious deception is pulled off by false prophets and teachers who identify themselves as Christians and work from the inside. There will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep (2 Peter 2:1-3). What we see seldom threatens the church. External and visible opposition can have a purging effect on the church that leaves the body stronger. False teachers, however, disguise themselves as ministers of righteousness. They are infiltrators whose purpose is to influence the church in a negative way. These “tares are the sons of the evil one; and the enemy who sowed them is the devil” (Matthew 13:38). Their purpose is to secretly introduce destructive heresies. Heretics are people who cause schisms. If we are spiritually alert we will, “reject a factious man after a first and second warning” (Titus 3:10). Heresy seldom begins with blatant error. It usually begins with truth out of balance. Heretics then seek to discredit righteous workers and sow disunity. They seduce people by their “sensuality.” The result is that many people will be mesmerized and will follow their destructive ways. A third characteristic of false prophets and teachers is their rebellious heart. They despise authority (2 Peter 2:10). This may be the easiest way to spot them. They won’t answer to anyone. They

have an independent spirit and are not compatible with those who desire to live righteously. True Christian leaders, though, have a servant’s heart. Their authority is character-based, not positionbased. True leaders don’t seek to lord it over others. They strive to be an example. True leaders don’t appeal to their title or position to enhance their status or to demand allegiance. The only position they need is the one they have in Christ, and the only title they need is “child of God.”

Cautions Are in Order As you guard against false prophets, I caution you not to go on a witch-hunt. Some “heresy hunters” are self-righteous, arrogant, and judgmental. They become as divisive as the heretics they try to expose. You can’t focus on what is wrong for too long or it will have a negative effect on your life. We shouldn’t be known for what we don’t believe. Rather, we should be known for what we do believe. Seek to be known as a proclaimer, not a disclaimer. Commit yourself to know the truth, and that will expose the lies—because knowing the lies does not reveal the truth. True Christian fellowship happens when and where truth is proclaimed in a balanced way. Remember, good people can be deceived. If you come across someone who is a victim of bad counsel, show him or her the light, not the exit. Be careful not to throw somebody out because of one moral indiscretion. The concern is for “those who practice lawlessness.” Even then be careful, because there are many believers who have accepted God’s standards and desire to live a righteous life, but are in bondage to sinful habits. They aren’t false teachers, because they are not trying to teach anybody. Our hearts need to go out to such people because they are enslaved and are being held captive by Satan to do his will (2 Timothy 2:26).

The Gift of Prophecy We need to have a balanced and biblical perspective on the proper use of prophecies, tongues, and words of knowledge.

Perspective is gained by distance, so let’s stand back and consider the larger context of 1 Corinthians chapters 12–14. There are a variety of spiritual gifts and manifestations of the Spirit. In the midst of this diversity, there is unity, because there is only one Spirit and one Lord. God gives the gifts as He wills. Gifts and manifestations come and go, and come again, for the purpose of accomplishing God’s will. But the consistent work of the church is to establish faith, hope, and love. These are the lasting and continuous standards by which we evaluate our ministries and our lives. In his first letter to Timothy, Paul says, “I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth” (3:15). Truth is the object of our faith. If we know the truth, it will set us free to grow in love. The church is gifted to accomplish that objective. Gifts are only a means to an end, never an end in themselves. We are not instructed to seek the gifts—we are instructed to seek the Giver. He will gift us in the right way, for the right reason, at the right time. “Seek not, forsake not” is the right balance. Our responsibility is to yield to the Holy Spirit. However He chooses to gift us is His responsibility. In 1 Corinthians 14, Paul is specifying the proper use of the gifts of prophecy and tongues in public worship. The gift of prophecy is to be desired over the gift of tongues because a congregation can only be edified by that which they can comprehend with their minds. Tongues were not to be used in public worship unless there was an interpretation. The Holy Spirit never bypasses our minds when he ministers to us. Paul sums up the issue: “What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also…Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature” (1 Corinthians 14:15,20). According to 1 Corinthians 14:24-25, the purpose for the gift of prophecy is to turn people’s hearts back to God: If all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all; the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on

his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you. God’s Word is like fire—it purifies the church: “It is time for judgment to begin with the household of God” (1 Peter 4:17). God is far more concerned about church purity than church growth, because church purity is an essential prerequisite for church growth. Only the pure church can grow and bear fruit. Satan will use signs and wonders to lead people off the path of sanctification. He will divert our interest away from the eternal onto the temporal, and he will entice us to think only of our physical needs rather than our spiritual needs. God’s Word is like a hammer that breaks up the hard ground and softens the heart. If people in a church were living in immorality and a word of prophecy came to them from the Lord, rest assured it would not be some vague word of comfort. It would reveal their unrighteousness for the purpose of cleansing. That is what God’s Word does. It cleanses the soul and draws us back to Him in righteousness.

The Misuse of Prophecy A woman came to me all excited one evening with a “word from the Lord.” I was to change the direction of my ministry and do a “new thing.” I told her I didn’t think it was from the Lord. She was disappointed in my response because the voice she had heard was so clear. If I was supposed to do this new thing, though, why didn’t the Lord tell me and the board? If the Lord had told her to tell me to do something, what does that make her? Isn’t that what a medium is? “But we know that there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5). God has not called any of us to function as mediums. When God does send one believer to another, as when He sent the prophet Nathan to King David, it is for the purpose of bringing conviction in order to get a Christian back into a righteous relationship with God. Once a believer is in a righteous relationship with the Lord, the Holy Spirit will guide him or her. It would have been legitimate if this woman had heard from the Lord that I was

living an unrighteous life and had spoken to me for the purpose of helping me get right with God. Further, you are out of balance if you are seeking the fullness of the Spirit without having a knowledge of God’s Word. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would lead us into all truth, and truth will set us free and put us on the right path. The church at Corinth had gifts and manifestations of the Spirit, but they were used improperly and out of balance. The Corinthians were exhorted by Paul to get back to the foundation of truth, which had already been laid by the prophets and apostles, and focus on developing faith, hope, and love. They were also instructed in the proper use of the gifts in public worship, because God does everything properly and in order (1 Corinthians 14:40). A pastor friend of mine received a letter from a former staff member who had been dismissed for moral reasons. This man was now pastoring a church in the same community. The letter contained a prophecy for my friend’s church. I asked, “Why would God give a prophecy for your church through the pastor of another church?” I suggested that my friend shouldn’t listen to it, since it would function like a curse. That is, from the time he read the letter, everything that happened in the church would be evaluated by the prophecy—either to substantiate or invalidate it. My friend also called the pastor of an exceptionally good charismatic church, who advised him in the same way. God will always work through the lines of authority that He has established in His Word. Paul wraps up the issue with these words: “Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances. But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:19-21).

Keeping Your Faith in Balance If you accept prophetic utterances as valid for today, I encourage you to consider the following tests and guidelines: 1. Is the person giving the prophetic utterance living a balanced and righteous life?

2. Is the person committed to building God’s kingdom, or his or her own? Is Christ being lifted up, or is he or she? 3. Does the prophetic utterance establish confidence in the Word of God, and is it consistent with a balanced presentation of the Word? Have prophetic utterances become a substitute for the serious, personal study of the Scriptures? 4. Does the use of the spiritual gift bring unity to the church and build up the saints? Be careful in this test, because those who hold to a form of godliness but deny its power are not in balance either. They will quench the Spirit through censorship, and very little will be accomplished in the church. (The overcautious traditionalist can cause disunity in this way as well.) 5. Do the spiritual manifestations bypass the mind? God operates through our mind; Satan bypasses it. If a person enters a medium-like trance, be assured the manifestation is occultic. God renews our minds, and the Spirit brings back to our minds all that Christ has taught us. We are to think so as to have sound judgment. We all receive input daily from a myriad of sources. We need to exercise discernment and pray like this: Dear heavenly Father, I desire above all else to know Your will. I long for Your presence to be known in my life and ministry. I seek to glorify You by bearing much fruit. Lord, I don’t want to possess any counterfeit gifts or follow any false teachers or prophets. I bring every spiritual manifestation in my life before You. Show me the true nature of it. If it isn’t from You, I renounce it and confess that I should have been more discerning. If what I have experienced in my life is from You, then I pray that You would enable me to use it for Your glory. I will have only one Lord in my life, and that is You, heavenly Father.

I desire to conform to Your image, and I commit myself to grow in faith, hope, and love. I choose to develop my faith by the truth of Your Word. I wish not to be identified with a wicked and adulterous generation that seeks only after a sign. You have already proven Your love for me by sending Your Son to die in my place. I love You, and I ask again for You to fill me with Your Holy Spirit so that I may be holy as You are holy. Amen.

QUESTIONS FOR THOUGHT AND DISCUSSION 1. Which group do you most closely identify with—those who believe God no longer manifests Himself in the miraculous, or those who look for supernatural manifestations of God in every aspect of ministry? 2. Having identified your position, what might be a weakness or danger in it? What is our present position as believers, according to Ephesians 2:19-22 and Colossians 1:13? 3. What does a true prophecy accomplish? 4. How can we determine the credibility of a contemporary prophet? 5. What are three characteristics of false prophets? 6. What are key cautions when we are guarding against false prophets? 7. What is our responsibility in relation to the gifts of the Spirit?

8. What would happen if the gift of prophecy were used properly in the church? 9. Review the five tests for evaluating prophetic utterances. If you are involved in giving or receiving prophetic utterances, how do they measure up according to this fivefold test?

PART TWO Taking Hold of the Real

CHAPTER FOUR

Are You Willing?

Do you believe that the will of God is good, acceptable, and perfect for you?

KNOWING THE WILL OF GOD and discerning His guidance is not just a twenty-first-century problem. In the first century, people were questioning Christ. Some were saying, “He’s a good man.” Others were saying, “He leads the people astray” (see John 7:12). How could these people know whether Jesus truly was the Messiah and whether His teaching was authoritative? Sensing their need, Jesus set forth standards for discerning divine guidance. His first admonition was, “My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself” (John 7:16-17). The essential prerequisite for knowing the will of God, according to Jesus, is a willingness to do the will of God.

The Full Gospel Before we go further, let’s consider the full gospel. Since the fall, we have all been born dead (spiritually) in our trespasses and sins, and by nature have been children of wrath, dominated by the god of this world (see Ephesians 2:1-5). To completely save those who were dead, Jesus had to perform two functions. First, He had to cure the disease that caused them to die. “The wages of sin is death,”

according to Romans 6:23. So Jesus died on the cross for our sins, but that is only half the gospel. Jesus came to do more than that. He came to give us life. The second half of Romans 6:23 reads, “But the free gift of God is eternal life.” What Adam and Eve lost in the fall was eternal–spiritual life— and Jesus came to restore that life. “The testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life” (1 John 5:11-12). Eternal life is not something we get when we die. To be spiritually alive means that our souls are in union with God—that is, we are positionally “in Christ.” We are no longer in Adam or in the flesh. We have been rescued from the domain of darkness and transferred by God into the kingdom of His beloved Son (Colossians 1:13). Every child of God is spiritually alive right now. Before we experienced salvation, however, we were conformed to this world, and our minds were programmed to live independently of God. This learned independence characterizes the flesh.* Although we are new creations in Christ, nobody has pushed the “clear” button in our memory banks. Everything that was previously programmed in our minds is still there. That is why we retain many of our old habits, thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. That is why Paul wrote, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2). God has given us eternal life, but we must work out our salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who is at work in us, “both to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:12-13). Since our citizenship is in heaven, we need to prepare for that eternal state by living righteously. Every born-again believer is a child of God who is in the process of being conformed to His image.

The Lion Tamed Having our sins forgiven and receiving new life in Christ is only two thirds of the gospel. Jesus also came to undo the works of Satan (1

John 3:8). Before giving the Great Commission, Jesus announced, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). If that is the case, then how much authority does Satan have? None! Do you believe it? Every believer has the authority to do God’s will. Jesus couldn’t have commissioned us to go into all the earth and make disciples unless He had the authority to do so (verse 19). And we can’t have that responsibility delegated to us unless we have the authority over the kingdom of darkness to carry it out. Authority is the right to rule and power is the ability to rule. We have the authority to carry out God’s will because of our position in Christ. We have the power to do God’s will as long as we are living by faith in the power of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might” (Ephesians 6:10). Jesus also gave us an example to follow (1 Peter 2:21). He showed us how a person who is spiritually alive could live in this fallen world. It isn’t always easy. Even Jesus agonized in His darkest hour, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42). The Lord Jesus Christ modeled a life of total dependence upon God the Father. “My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to accomplish His work” (John 4:34).

The Heart of God’s Will God’s will is that we conform to His image and become the person He created us to be: “This is the will of God, your sanctification” (1 Thessalonians 4:3). Paul also told us, “Those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son” (Romans 8:29); and in 1 Timothy 1:5, “The goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” God’s will is that we live in a righteous relationship with Him and in harmony with one another. When the Pharisees asked what the greatest commandment was, Jesus responded by saying, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the great

and foremost commandment. The second is like it, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets (Matthew 22:37-40). Many Christians want to know what God’s plan is for their future. If God’s will for your life is on the other side of a closed door, why do you want to know what is on the other side? So you can decide whether or not you want to go through it? If you really want to be in the will of God, then you have to settle something on this side of the door. Are you willing to do His will without knowing what it is? If God is God, then He has the right to decide what is on the other side of the door. If we don’t give Him that right, then we may never know what He would have planned for us. Some boldly walk halfway through the door, but keep their foot in it just in case they don’t like what they see and decide to go back. It’s going to be awfully hard to continue walking with God if your foot is stuck in the door. Jesus said, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62). Wanting to know the future has made the sale of prophecy books profitable. However, according to Scripture, what is the critical issue concerning the Lord’s return? Peter answered the question when he wrote, “What sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness[?]” (2 Peter 3:11). Jesus said, “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow” (Matthew 6:33-34). Biblical prophecy gives hope—which is the present assurance of some future good— so that we will have the courage to live responsibly, righteously, and confidently today. Does that mean we aren’t supposed to make any plans for the future or establish any goals for our ministry or work? No, I believe we should prayerfully plan ahead with James 4:15 in mind: “You ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.’” It is appropriate to set goals as long as they aren’t gods. A goal is a target, not a whip. We should all live one day at a time and trust God for tomorrow.

Making the Most of Every Opportunity There are two important concepts about the will of God that are essential for us to understand if we are going to be the people God has called us to be. The first is, “Bloom where you are planted.” Be the best you can be at your present assignment, and stay there until God calls you elsewhere. There are many open doors for those who bloom where they are planted. When D.L. Moody found new life in Christ, he looked for some opportunities to teach at a church, but no one wanted to use an uneducated man. So, he started his own Bible study in a shoe store, and it wasn’t long before kids were coming out of the woodwork to be there. People couldn’t help but notice him because he was bearing fruit—and that was just the beginning of an incredible ministry. Paul said, “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service” (1 Timothy 1:12). Show yourself faithful by exploiting the opportunities around you. People with needs are everywhere, so what are you waiting for? When I was a pastor, a man in our congregation often expressed frustration with his job. For 20 years he had been working as a construction worker, and he hated it! Frustrated with his career, he wondered why God wouldn’t call him out of it. I asked him if he had ever expressed dissatisfaction over his job to his fellow employees who weren’t Christians. He replied, “Oh, sure. I complain right along with the rest of them.” I continued, “What do you suppose that does to your witness?” He was a little startled by my question. I added, “Do you realize that God has you exactly where He wants you? When you assume your responsibility to be the person God created you to be and bloom where you are planted, He may open a new door for you.” The Holy Spirit must have brought conviction to this man, because he became a missionary at work. He displayed concern for the needs of his co-workers and their families and started to share his faith. Within six months an opportunity arose, and he left

construction work. All because he started to bloom where he was planted.

God Guides a Moving Ship The fact that God can guide only a ship that is moving is the second major concept that we need to know about God’s will. He is the rudder, but if the ship isn’t under way it can’t be directed. Willingness to obey His will gets the ship moving, as we saw at the beginning of this chapter. I was assigned to a destroyer when I was in the U.S. Navy. We had just passed through the Panama Canal on our way to San Diego when we had a flameout in the middle of the night. A compartment of oil had been pumped dry, and in a short time the boilers went cold for lack of fuel. We lost all our power. Within minutes our ship was doing 30-to-40-degree rolls. Fortunately, we got the systems operational within an hour or so and continued our voyage. While our engines were out, though, the helmsman could do nothing, because the rudder works only if the ship is under way. A ship without power is helpless in the sea. Here’s an example from Paul’s life. In Acts 15:36, the apostle decided to revisit the churches he helped establish on his first missionary trip. The churches were being strengthened and increasing in number (Acts 16:5). Luke goes on to report, They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia; and after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them; and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. A vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us” (verses 6-9). If God wanted Paul to go to Macedonia in the first place, why didn’t He make it easier and faster by having Paul travel by land from Jerusalem to Caesarea and then sail to Macedonia? Apparently the

Lord wanted Paul to strengthen the churches he established in Asia first, then break new ground in what is now known as Greece. Paul didn’t know that when he started his second journey, but he discovered it as he kept moving. If God wanted me to start Freedom in Christ Ministries, why didn’t He do that when He called me out of engineering? He didn’t because I wasn’t ready for it. Instead He allowed me to go through and guided me through a variety of experiences—farm boy, sailor, wrestling coach, aerospace engineer, campus pastor, youth pastor, minister of adult education and senior pastor, and finally seminary professor. All the time I was gaining experience and developing character. Every new assignment was a stretching experience; each had a greater responsibility. The Lord starts us on a life course and keeps us there until we have fulfilled a certain purpose. When that has been completed and when we have learned what He wants us to know, if we keep moving, He changes the course of our lives and we head off on a new direction. Like a good river pilot, He steers us away from troubled waters—and like a good coach, He never puts us in the game until we are ready.

Abandonment to God’s Will One man probably spoke for many people when he said, “I’m so used to running my own life, I’m not sure I want to trust someone else…or even can. Besides, God would probably haul me off to some mission field I couldn’t stand.” If we would give our heart to the Lord, and He did call us to the mission field, by the time we got there we wouldn’t want to be anywhere else! Question: Do you believe that the will of God is good, acceptable, and perfect for you? Isn’t that the heart of the issue? In the Lord’s Prayer we are taught to approach God with the request that His will be accomplished on earth. It makes no sense to petition God if we are not predisposed to do His will. Isaiah wrote, “The LORD will continually guide you” (58:11). However, the context reveals prerequisites that have to be satisfied.

The Israelites were seeking God’s leading through fasting (verse 3), but God revealed that their fasting was a farce that ended in strife (verse 4). The Israelites were like the person who sought to be a sprinter simply by suiting up for the race. Repentance should have been the result of their fasting. The Lord wanted them to set the captives free and meet the needs of the poor around them (verses 67). If your striving to do God’s will leads to repentance, “then your light will break out like the dawn” (verse 8). Your heart will be ready and guidance will come. In the last half of the nineteenth century, George Mueller founded the Bristol Orphan Home. It would become known all over the world as one of the most remarkable monuments of Christian faith and divine guidance in history. Year after year, without a single advertisement to the public or appeal to Christian friends, hundreds of children were fed, clothed, and educated. The home was maintained simply through prayer and faith. Mueller explained it this way: I seek in the beginning to get my heart in such a state that it has no will of its own in regard to a given matter. Ninetenths of the trouble with people is just here. Nine-tenths of the difficulties are overcome when our hearts are ready to do the Lord’s will. When one is truly in this state, it is usually but a little way to the knowledge of what His will is. If you desire to know “what’s on the other side of the door” and believe it is something planned by our loving, omnipotent heavenly Father, and if you are willing to accept it, would you pray with me? Dear heavenly Father, I choose to acknowledge You as the Lord of my life. Your lovingkindness extends to all generations. You are the only all-powerful, all-knowing and ever-present Lord. I will have no other gods before me. There have been times when I have acted as my own god and sought to determine my own destiny. I have not always believed that Your will for my life is good, acceptable, and perfect. I no longer desire to be conformed

to this world. I desire to be transformed by the renewing of my mind. I commit myself to be a workman who doesn’t need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. By Your grace I commit myself to be faithful with what You have already entrusted me. I don’t want to be anything other than the person You have created me to be. I ask You to fill me with Your Holy Spirit and grant me wisdom and guidance as I seek to do Your will. May Your presence reign on the throne of my life. You are the King of kings and the Lord of my life. I gladly submit to You. Amen.

QUESTIONS FOR THOUGHT AND DISCUSSION 1. What is the essential prerequisite to knowing the will of God? 2. Why did we come into this world without God’s presence in our lives and without the knowledge of His ways? 3. On what foundation do we establish our identity and purpose for living? 4. Explain the chief characteristic of our flesh. 5. What is the will of God for every believer, according to 1 Thessalonians 4:3? 6. What is the primary focus of God’s will? 7. How can you “bloom where you are planted”? List three opportunities to serve God that exist right where you are.

8. Why does God’s leading sometimes not make sense? Describe an experience that illustrates this. 9. How can you “abandon yourself to the will of God”?

_____________ * The NIV translates flesh as “old nature” or sometimes “sin nature.” For a comprehensive understanding of these terms and the sanctifying process in the believer’s life, see God’s Power at Work in You (Harvest House Publishers, 2001), which I coauthored with Dr. Robert Saucy.

CHAPTER FIVE

Are You Glorifying the God Who Loves You?

How do we give glory to another when we are desperately looking for affirmation ourselves?

WE LEARNED IN THE LAST CHAPTER that the essential prerequisite for knowing the will of God is our positive disposition toward it. Jesus said, “If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself” (John 7:17). If we are predisposed to question or reject the will of God, we will never fully know what it is. Disobedience affects discernment. Getting my own way excludes God’s way. As C.S. Lewis pointed out, heaven is where we say to God, “Thy will be done.” Hell is where God says to us, “Thy will be done.” Speaking through the prophet Isaiah, the Lord tells us, My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9). If I wanted to determine the spiritual vitality of an individual or group using only one criterion, I would seek to evaluate whether they desire to live according to the will of God, or do their own thing. Are they seeking to establish God’s kingdom…or are they trying to establish their own? Jesus taught us to pray, “Your kingdom come,

Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” For this reason a growing Christian prays, “Make me know Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths” (Psalm 25:4).

Beyond Being Willing Once our wills are bent in the right direction, Jesus raises the additional question of motive: “He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory, but He who is seeking the Glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him” (John 7:18). The true disciple glorifies the One who sent him. Those who know God’s will and are guided by Him do all to the glory of God. Simply stated, if we cannot glorify God by what we are thinking, doing, or planning, then it can’t be God’s will. This subjection is perfectly modeled in Jesus: “I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me” (John 8:42). In talking with His Father, Jesus said, I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do…Now they [Jesus’ followers] have come to know that everything You have given Me is from You; for the words which You gave Me I have given to them; and they received them, and truly understood that I came forth from You, and they believed that You sent Me (John 17:4,7-8). According to John 20:21, this directive also applies to us: “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” Granted, that was said to the apostles, but we have all been commissioned to make disciples. God-sent Christians who are committed to live as such, bring glory to their heavenly Father. Those who go on their own initiative seek their own glory. Do you want to be true? Then glorify the One who sent you! Paul exhorted us, Do you not know your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are

not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

God’s Glory Revealed So what is the glory of God, and how do we glorify God in our bodies? The glory of God is the manifestation of His presence. In the Old Testament, Moses asked God, “I pray You, show me Your glory!” (Exodus 33:18). God then allowed Moses to witness an unusual manifestation of His presence, telling him, You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live! Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock; and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen (Exodus 3:20-23). The glory of God makes its greatest appearance in Jesus: “The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Jesus was the manifestation of God’s presence. He declared, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). We glorify God by manifesting His presence, and we do that when we bear fruit. “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples” (John 15:8).

You Are Already Loved and Approved I have counseled a lot of hurting Christians who find the idea of giving glory to God difficult. They reason, “God gave me lousy parents. I had no money for a decent education. I’ve been mistreated by others my whole life. Now God wants me to stroke His ego and build His kingdom! When is it my turn?” To them it doesn’t seem

reasonable to glorify God if they believe it was God who dealt them a bad hand in life. Hurting people will often struggle over giving glory to another when they are desperately in need of affirmation themselves. Some believers have a “worm theology,” thinking that God is everything and they are nothing. How is God being glorified if His children grovel in a pitiful existence, living defeated lives? Mindpower teaching can be deceptively attractive to those who have been beaten down all their life. “You are God, and all you have to do is realize it. Then you can achieve whatever you can believe.” What drivel! Many hurting people, and others as well, think of doing the will of God as a tiresome duty with no immediate personal benefits. Giving glory to God seems like bowing to a king who demands homage from poor peasants who are forced to scramble for the crumbs that fall from His table. Give glory to God! For what? Such is the thinking of defeated and deceived people. One man wrote to me of his life experience, which reflected this way of thinking. If I had had to pick a rising star in evangelical circles, this man would have been at the top of my list. He was an excellent student and an outstanding communicator with a winsome personality. Upon graduation he accepted the challenge of a small pastorate, but he failed miserably. After attending one of my conferences, this very gifted, intelligent, and personable man sent me this letter: I’ve always figured I was just a no-good, rotten, dirty, stinking sinner, saved by grace yet failing God miserably every day. And all I could look forward to was a lifetime of apologizing every night for not being the man I know He wants me to be. “I’ll try harder tomorrow, Lord.” Neil, when you said that in our new identification in Christ we’re not sinners but saints, you totally blew me away. Isn’t that strange… that a guy could go through a good seminary and never latch on to the truth that he is a new creation in Christ?

This has been so helpful and liberating to me. I’m beginning to grow out of my old ways of thinking about myself and about God. I don’t constantly picture Him as disappointed in me anymore. If He can still love me, be active in me, and find a use for even me—after I’ve failed Him as badly as I have—then surely my worth to Him can’t be based on my performance. He just plain loves me. Period! What a new, joyful walk I’m experiencing with Him! Praise God! I have been so deeply touched by the realization of who I am in Christ that I am taking our people through a study in Ephesians to learn who we are in Christ and what we have as believers in Christ. My preaching is different, and our people are profiting greatly by being built up in strength and confidence. I can’t tell you how gracious the Lord has been to me, allowing me to try again. Each day of service is a direct gift from God, and I bank each one carefully in heaven’s vault for all eternity to the honor and glory of my Savior. A distorted concept of God and of ourselves is not only a sign of mental illness, as we saw in chapter 2—it robs us of our victory in Christ. After years of helping people break free from every conceivable problem, I have found only one common denominator among them. None of them knew who they were in Christ. If you perceive God as a distant judge who has little regard for your well-being, you are probably going to stay away. But if you perceive Him as a loving Father, you’re going to draw near. Your motive for serving Him is not to gain His approval, because you are already approved in Christ. You don’t have to perform for Him in order to be accepted—you are already accepted in the Beloved. That is why you joyfully serve Him. You don’t have to labor in the vineyard for the purpose of getting His attention and earning His love. God has known you from the foundation of the world, and He already loves you. Christians will naturally (supernaturally) give glory to God when they know who He really is and what He has freely given them.

Right Behavior for People of God Worldly people believe that they are nothing—therefore they should compete, scheme, achieve, and get ahead. If they accomplish something or gain social status, then they are finally somebody. Tragically, they climb the ladder of success only to discover it is leaning against the wrong wall. As we’ve discussed, the Bible teaches that we are already somebody important to God and to this world. Therefore, we should be submissive. Why? Peter tells us, And coming to Him as to a living stone, which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God…you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light, for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy (1 Peter 2:4,9-10). After that affirmation, Peter wrote, “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution” (verse 13), and, “Servants, be submissive to your masters” (verse 18). Concerning the marriage relationship, Peter added, “In the same way you wives, be submissive to your own husbands” (1 Peter 3:1). Likewise, submitting to God’s authority does not diminish who we are. Rather, we confirm our identity when we become like Christ and yield to His will, as shown in this note from one of my students: What really struck me was the concept that we are saints and not sinners. I remember how surprised I was when I took Greek and saw that a Christian is often called hagios (“holy one”). I was so steeped in the idea that I was a totally depraved sinner. The concept of who we are in Christ didn’t break through until I read your book Victory over the Darkness.

I’m still adjusting to the lofty concept that my real self is holy instead of wretched. I have been saved more than 12 years, and I have never really appreciated what happened to me at my conversion. I always knew that my future destiny was secure, but I didn’t understand that I was truly a brand-new creation in Christ Jesus.

Why Live Below Your Privileged Position? Suppose you are a prostitute. One day you hear that the king has decreed that all prostitutes are forgiven. That would be great news! However, would it necessarily change your behavior or your selfperception? Probably not. You might dance in the streets for a while, but chances are you would continue in the same vocation. You would understand yourself to be nothing more than a forgiven prostitute. Now suppose the king not only forgave you, but he made you his bride. You are now a queen. Would that change your perception of yourself? Would knowing that you were now the queen, married to the king, change your behavior? Why would you want to live as a prostitute if you were the queen? Do you fully realize what it means to be the bride of Christ? You are far more likely to promote the kingdom if you are the queen, as opposed to merely being a forgiven prostitute. You are not a caterpillar—you are a redeemed butterfly. It makes no sense to crawl along in false humility when you have been called to mount up with wings like an eagle. “I would be filled with pride if I believed that,” says the skeptic. Well, you are defeated if you don’t believe it! Humility does not consist in putting yourself down when God is trying to build you up. Self-abasement has the appearance of wisdom, but it has no value against fleshly indulgence, according to Colossians 2:23. Humility is confidence properly placed. We need to be like Paul and “put no confidence in the flesh” (Philippians 3:3). Let’s put our confidence in God, “for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).

The Lord knew we would struggle with our understanding of who we are in Christ. So He inspired Paul to write, “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints” (Ephesians 1:18). I have been very burdened by the fact that many Christians don’t really know who they are in Christ, nor do they understand what it means to be a child of God. I want Christians to know how Christ meets all our needs according to His riches in glory. Our critical needs—and those most wonderfully met in Christ—are the “being” needs. Our greatest need was life, and He gave us eternal life (John 10:10). We struggled to make a name for ourselves, but Jesus has given us a new identity as children of God (John 1:12; 1 John 3:1). Our needs for acceptance, security, and significance can only be met in Christ.

IN CHRIST… …I am accepted: John 15:15 Romans 5:1 1 Corinthians 6:17 1 Corinthians 6:20 1 Corinthians 12:27 2 Corinthians 5:21 Ephesians 1:5 Ephesians 2:18 Ephesians 2:19 Ephesians 2:19 Ephesians 3:12

I am Christ’s friend. I have been justified. I am joined to the Lord, and I am one spirit with Him. I have been bought with a price. I belong to God. I am a member of Christ’s body. I have been made righteous. I have been adopted as God’s child. I have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit. I am of God’s household. I am a fellow citizen with the rest of the saints. I may approach God with boldness

Colossians 1:14 Colossians 2:10

and confidence. I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins. I am complete in Christ.

… I am secure: John 1:12 Romans 8:1-2 Romans 8:28 Romans 8:31-34 Romans 8:35-39 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 Ephesians 1:13-14

Colossians 1:13 Colossians 3:3 Philippians 1:6 Philippians 4:13 2 Timothy 1:7 Hebrews 4:16

I am a child of God (Galatians 3:2628). I am free forever from condemnation. I am assured that all things work together for good. I am free from any condemning charges against me. I cannot be separated from the love of God. I have been established, anointed, and sealed by God. I have been given the Holy Spirit as a pledge, guaranteeing my inheritance to come. I have been delivered from the domain of darkness and transferred to the kingdom of Christ. I am hidden with Christ in God. I am confident that the good work that God has begun in me will be perfected. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. I can find grace and mercy in time of

1 John 5:18 …I am significant: Matthew 5:13 Matthew 5:14 John 1:12 John 15:1,5 John 15:16 Acts 1:8 1 Corinthians 3:16 1 Corinthians 12:27 2 Corinthians 5:17-18 2 Corinthians 6:1 Ephesians 1:1 Ephesians 2:6 Ephesians 2:10 Philippians 3:20

need. I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me. I am the salt of the earth. I am the light of the earth. I am God’s child (Romans 8:14-16; 1 John 3:1-3). I am a branch of the true vine, Jesus, a channel of His life. I have been chosen and appointed by God to bear fruit. I am a personal witness of Christ’s. I am God’s temple. I am a member of Christ’s body. I am a minister of reconciliation for God. I am God’s coworker (1 Corinthians 3:9). I am a saint. I have been raised up, and I am seated with Christ. I am God’s workmanship. I am a citizen of heaven (Ephesians 2:6).4

Free to Serve God and Experience His Guidance We are not accepted, secure, and significant because of what we have done. Rather, those needs are met because of what Christ has done for us. Therefore we have no right to boast or be prideful. Knowing who he was became a primary motivation for Paul to serve

God: “By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I but the grace of God with me” (1 Corinthians 15:10). We will “labor even more” when we understand the tremendous identity and position we have in Christ. A pastor’s wife attended our “Living Free in Christ” conference. She discovered who she was as a child of God and found her freedom in Christ. She wrote, “I crave to share Jesus with people out of my own love for Him, whereas before it was largely an ‘I should’ activity.” Too many Christians are struggling to become somebody they already are, which can only lead to futility. If we fail to understand or accept who we are in Christ, then no amount of self-effort or works can possibly accomplish what Christ has already accomplished for us. When we see ourselves from God’s perspective and know who we are in Christ, we are free to serve our loving heavenly Father. Before you decide whether or not you should do something, ask the question, “Can I do it and glorify the Lord?” The world is filled with hurting people—people who suffer injustices as well as the consequences of their own bad choices. Blaming others will not bring satisfaction or justice. God has offered a far better way. He binds up the brokenhearted and sets the captives free. Those who understand their freedom in Christ naturally glorify the Lord, because Christ in them is the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). Their freedom is a manifestation of His presence within. If you desire this reality to be yours, then join me in prayer: Loving Father, I ask like Moses, “Show me Your glory.” I desire for Your presence to be manifested in this world through me. I ask You to fill me with Your Holy Spirit that I may glorify You in my body. I have sought my own glory and tried to build my own kingdom in many ways. Thank You that I am forgiven. Thank You for giving me life and calling me Your child. I declare my dependency upon You. I want nothing more than to reflect Your image as I grow in grace. I commit myself to do all to Your glory. You are the only One deserving of honor, glory, and praise. I lift up the name

of Jesus and pray that You will draw all men to Him. I choose this day to serve You for the sake of establishing Your kingdom. You are the King of my life. Amen.

QUESTIONS FOR THOUGHT AND DISCUSSION 1. How willing are you to do the will of God? Would you be willing to go anywhere or do anything “except for…”? 2. What is the second prerequisite for knowing the will of God? 3. Do you feel a need for affirmation? Is a hurtful experience in the past clouding your experience of God’s will? How can this be resolved? 4. If you feel that God is a vengeful, angry God, how will this color your response to Him? 5. If you see God as a loving Father, how will this affect your response to Him? 6. In what ways have you been bringing glory to God in your life? 7. How does God meet our deepest needs “in Christ”?

CHAPTER SIX

Are You Hearing the Truth of God’s Word for Today?

God’s Word offers a timeless message for our changing culture.

I HAVE FOND CHILDHOOD MEMORIES of playing the board game Monopoly with my younger sister—probably because I usually won! I’m sure we initially read the directions and attempted to play by the rules. However, the rules would get bent over time…and I must confess my deviousness in persuading my sister to trade her properties. I would make her feel like she was getting a terrific deal when I knew I was going to come out ahead. Sibling rivalry and family traditions can start to override the rules, especially when the motives of the players grow increasingly suspect. Such was the case in the Jewish community at the time of Christ. However, the game they were playing had eternal significance. Legalistic traditions had replaced the commandments of God, and the people found themselves in bondage to man-made laws and traditions. Jesus not only revealed their motives, but He also established the Word of God as the only authoritative source for guidance in the game of life. Today we need to understand how we have distorted the truth of God’s Word or set it aside for the sake of church or family traditions or for personal comfort. Jesus confronted this issue when he was attacked by the Jews for healing a man on the Sabbath. The people even accused Jesus of having a demon after He asked them,

“Did not Moses give you the Law, and yet none of you carries out the Law? Why do you seek to kill Me?” The crowd answered, “You have a demon! Who seeks to kill You?” Jesus answered them, “I did one deed, and you all marvel. For this reason Moses has given you circumcision (not because it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and on the Sabbath you circumcise a man. If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath that the Law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made an entire man well on the Sabbath?” (John 7:19-23). Jesus argued that the Mosaic Law required circumcision on the eighth day. If a child was born eight days before the Sabbath, then the law required that he be circumcised on the Sabbath. If it was lawful to circumcise a child on the Sabbath, why was it not lawful to bring healing to the whole person on that day? Jesus said, “You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition” (Mark 7:9). Jesus was never one to beat around the bush. In essence He was saying, “Moses gave you the rule book, and none of you are following it! Not only that, but some of you are seeking to kill Me.” His last charge is recorded earlier, in John 5:18: “The Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.” The accusation that Jesus had a demon resulted from the Israelites’ bewilderment over the fact that Jesus could discern the nature of their hearts. Blinded to the truth, they concluded that Jesus had received His information from a demon. They believed that demons were capable of communicating secret knowledge to people. (This is the means by which all mediums function.) That is why we cannot ignore Paul’s warning against false guidance in 1 Timothy 4:1: “The Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines [teachings] of demons.”

God’s View of False Guidance God did not take false guidance lightly. Mediums and spiritists were to be stoned to death (Leviticus 20:27), and those who received their counsel were to be cut off from the rest of the people (20:6). Isaiah warned God’s people about the occult and told them to return to God’s Word: When they say to you, “Consult the mediums and the spiritists who whisper and mutter,” should not a people consult their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn (8:19-20). Even though the Hebrew nation was given the law and the prophets, they still sought after false gods, turned away from the commandments of Moses, failed to heed the warnings of the prophets, and severely distorted God’s Word. In the New Testament, Jesus affirmed the validity of the law and the prophets and warned against distorting that truth. He said in Matthew 5:17-19, Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. The church is warned in James 3:1, “Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.” There are severe penalties for those who distort God’s Word, because it is the only infallible source for understanding the will of God.

Rightly Using God’s Word The fact that God guides us does not allow us to bypass our responsibility to think or to search the Scriptures. God’s guidance works through the discipline of our study as we apply it to our daily walk. We need to be like the Bereans, who were considered “nobleminded” because they examined the Scriptures daily to “see whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11). God has given us His Word as an infallible guide to life. Therefore, it is critical to be on guard against tendencies that can hinder our understanding and application of God’s Word. First, we can make doctrine an end in itself. If we do this, we will distort the very purpose for which doctrine was intended. According to 1 Timothy 1:5, “The goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” If our doctrine is correct, it will enable us to have a loving relationship with God and others. If the truth has touched our hearts, it should set us free and transform our lives. We can intellectually acknowledge the truth and still be the same old person we always have been. Such knowledge “makes arrogant, but love edifies” (1 Corinthians 8:1). Second, we can know a lot about God, but not know Him at all. Before his conversion, Paul knew the law, but he didn’t recognize God in Jesus when he saw Him. After Paul was struck on the Damascus road, he changed the way he lived and what he pursued. “I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:8). We are not commanded to love doctrine. We are commanded to love the Lord our God. Third, we can memorize Scripture and still not think scripturally. Rote memorization without understanding or appropriation has no impact on our lives. We have to incarnate the Word of God. We have to own it. Thinking about Scripture is not the same thing as thinking scripturally. Fourth, we can hear the Word and not do what it says. The Great Commission instructs us to go into the world, make disciples, and teach them to observe all that Christ commanded. It’s in the observation (the obedience) that we really learn. Average people

retain about 10 percent of what they hear and about 20 percent of what they see. But they retain about 80 percent of what they do. Not much is accomplished when we educate people beyond their obedience. Jesus said, “If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them” (John 13:17). James confirmed this: The one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does (James 1:25). Fifth, we can “neglect the commandment of God, and hold to the tradition of man” (Mark 7:8), yet think we are doing God’s will. The problem is that long-established practices and time-honored faith get blended together in people’s minds. If a young pastor advocates a different religious practice, the old guard will think he is fooling with their faith and will fiercely resist any change. You can add your own horror stories of churches being split and pastors being terminated because somebody’s traditions were being violated— even though the Word of God wasn’t.

A Timeless Message for a Changing Culture The world at the beginning of the twenty-first century is changing at an alarming rate. People are under tremendous stress to keep up with this rapid rate of change. Our challenge is to give anxious people the timeless message of Christ and present it in a contemporary way that relates to a changing culture. One of the beautiful things about Jesus is His universal appeal. If you are an ultraconservative, you will love the fact that He does not change: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). If you are a flaming liberal, you will love the way He refused to participate in Pharisaic practices, particularly the customary traditions of fasting, ritual washings, and observations of the Sabbath. The fact that Jesus was willing to suffer the rejection of the establishment clearly shows that there is something greater at stake than simply getting one’s own way.

We cannot ignore Jesus’ clear example. If the Word of God is being abused or distorted in any way, if traditional practices are no longer serving their purpose or are adding to people’s burdens, we must take an active stand. Remember the Lord’s words: “You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition” (Mark 7:9). As churches and as individual Christians, we can keep observing traditions year after year, although their purpose is no longer evident. Such practices take away from what we should be doing. To sum up, if we are to accomplish our purpose of proclaiming the timeless message of Christ, we must ask ourselves four questions: • Why are we doing what we are doing? • Is it real? • Does it relate? • Does it unify? As God leads us further into the twenty-first century, some changes are necessary. Others should wait. We need to pray that God will give us the wisdom and power to change ourselves so that we can be instruments in His hand, able to rightly set forth and obtain guidance from His Word. Dear heavenly Father, I thank You for Your Word. I want to know the truth and see life from Your perspective, not from my limited viewpoint. I want to know You and be conformed to Your image. Keep me from just being a hearer of the Word and not a doer. I ask You to show me the traditions in my life that are setting aside Your commandments. I don’t want to go to church just to go to church. I want to meet together with You and Your children in a real, living fellowship. Show me what I need to do in order for that to happen. I don’t want to criticize others and criticize the way we worship. I want to love others and to worship You. I don’t want to sit in

judgment of the message, I want to let it sit in judgment of me. Lead me, Lord, through Your Word. Transform my mind so I can prove that Your will is good, acceptable, and perfect. Amen.

QUESTIONS FOR THOUGHT AND DISCUSSION 1. What is the danger of getting our own way? 2. In what ways have you observed some Christians exhibiting the same attitudes as the Jewish community at the time of Christ? 3. What has been the biggest hindrance to your understanding and applying the Word of God to your life? 4. By what standards can you judge traditional practices? 5. Are you comfortable with change? 6. Are your church experiences real? Do they relate to your culture? Do they unify? Do they fulfill a purpose?

CHAPTER SEVEN

Are You Experiencing God’s Peace in Your Heart?

Peace results from judging rightly the influences that invade our lives.

IN TODAY’S WORLD THE FLIP OF A SWITCH instantly brings light to a dark room. In biblical times, oil-burning lamps would burn brightly when filled, but they required proper tending. Their flame would flicker if they were not cared for. The psalmist wrote, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). Earnestly seeking the clear teaching of God’s Word allows the lamp to burn brightly for us, which enables us to stay on the right path. As we saw in the previous chapter, when we fail to acknowledge our bias and limited perspective, the light diminishes and our path becomes twisted. The lamp flickers when form replaces function and traditions push aside the commandments of God. The light dims when we stay away from God’s Word and the fellowship of believers. It goes out when we serve another master. Sometimes we overlook the obvious: God’s will is expressed in His Word. As a child, I didn’t struggle with knowing my earthly father’s will. He clearly expressed it to me. I learned very early that we lived together peacefully if I was quick to obey. Since I was a farm boy, it made sense to help my father establish his kingdom (the family farm). Farmers have learned from experience that we reap what we sow. Anything that benefited my father benefited me. If his kingdom

prospered, so did my living conditions. This simple truth is evident. Yet I wonder how many Christians realize that what they are presently sowing in the kingdom of God is what they will reap for all eternity? I have learned from successes and failures that I live peacefully with my heavenly Father when I trust and obey Him. His guidance is confirmed to me. Jesus said, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My Word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make Our abode with Him” (John 14:23). It only makes sense to pray, “Your kingdom come,” because as children of God we are destined to inherit it: “Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34).

Judging How God’s Word Is Being Used Our need to know God’s Word cannot be overstated when we are evaluating guidance that people are offering. Is the person in question proclaiming the Word of God? Is what they are saying biblically true? This is not the only criterion, however. Satan will quote Scripture. He even had the audacity to quote it to Jesus when he tempted Him. Any cult or occultic group, any false teacher, can copy a legitimate Christian doctrinal statement and call it their own. Paul warned us, Such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deed (2 Corinthians 11:13-15). A number of years ago, there was a false teacher in Southern California who actually taught the Bible. In fact, he taught the Bible very well, but his moral life was decadent. Two of my seminary students were mesmerized by him, despite the fact that he indulged the flesh and despised authority, which are the signs of a false

teacher, according to 2 Peter 2:1-10. Another time, one of my best friends was in full-time missionary work. Needing some help for their marriage, he and his wife started being counseled by a false teacher. It was pointed out to my friend that this phony pastor was sleeping with his counselees, and he was given an ultimatum by his mission. Choose the mission or choose the “pastor.” My friend chose the false teacher and severed his relationships with his mission. Judging righteously is another criterion for knowing God’s will. “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?” (1 Corinthians 6:9) Not only does righteousness determine our destiny, but according to Jesus, righteousness is also the basis for evaluating whether a message or messenger is true or not. Jesus said to those who were questioning Him, “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment” (John 7:24). Good people can be deceived. “He’s such a powerful speaker!” “What a charismatic person!” “I could feel the energy in the room when he spoke!” These things could all be said of godly teachers, but those who said them would not be judging righteously. They would be judging by appearance (or worse, by how they feel). John wrote, “Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil” (1 John 3:7-8).

Peace Comes Along with Truth and Righteousness If we know the truth, the lie is obvious. Remember we are not called to dispel the darkness, we are called to turn on the light. The righteous leading of the Holy Spirit will lead us into all truth. The presence of the Holy Spirit enables us to discern and live righteously. Notice how truth, righteousness, and peace come together in the following three verses: Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that glory may dwell in our land. Lovingkindness and truth have

met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other (Psalm 85:9-10). The work of righteousness will be peace, and the service of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever (Isaiah 32:17). Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied (Matthew 5:6). Christians have relied upon a sense of peace as evidence of the Holy Spirit’s leading. It is common to hear people say, “I just don’t have a peace about it,” or I have a peace about it.” That is legitimate if everything else is in agreement with Scripture. If we are in the middle of God’s will, we should sense His peace. I wouldn’t proceed as planned if my spirit is disturbed. God doesn’t lead through anxiety. We are to cast our anxiety on Jesus because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7).

Overcoming Barriers to Peace Every Christian can have internal peace. “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 comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7). As we find peace by letting go of anxiety, we can be assured that God is guiding us. The word “anxiety” (merimna) occurs 25 times in the New Testament. In five passages its meaning is care, or concern, and it is used positively. If you have an important function tomorrow, you should be somewhat anxious about it, which should cause you to be more responsible. Anxiety is used negatively in the other 20 verses. I believe that the original Greek word, merimna, comes from two root words: merizo, which means to divide, and nous, which means mind. To be anxious is to be double-minded, and a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways (James 1:8). Jesus revealed the sources of our double-mindedness in Matthew 6:19-34. The first is related to

what we treasure in our hearts and the second is related to our concern for tomorrow.

The Treasure in Our Heart Jesus said there are “treasures upon earth” and “treasures in heaven.” “Treasures upon earth” have two characteristics. First, we know from the second law of thermodynamics that everything physical will decay. If rust doesn’t destroy it, then moths or termites will. I had a friend who owned a cabin in the hills and a boat in the marina. He spent a lot of his energy and vacation time keeping both in repair. He probably would have experienced a lot more peace if he had rented a cabin and a boat and let somebody else take care of repairs. Second, because of the value of earthly treasures, there is always the concern for security. It is hard to be free of anxiety if we are worrying about our possessions. The more we possess, the more we cause others to covet. This is why “thieves break in and steal.” “Treasures in heaven” are beyond the reach of thieves and are secure from the ravages of decay. Jesus said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth… but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven…for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:19). Question: What do you treasure in your heart? What would you exchange for love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control? Would you exchange the fruit of the Spirit for a new car, a cabin in the hills, a boat in the marina, a promotion at work, a jug of wine, a prostitute? You have believed the lies of this world if you think those things will give you love, joy, peace, and so on. Jesus said, “Beware, and be on guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions” (Luke 12:15).

Our Concern for Tomorrow The second source of double-mindedness is our concern for tomorrow. The first source for anxious thinking was related to our

possessions. This one deals with provision. The materialist and the doubter both struggle with anxiety, but for different reasons. The question is, can we trust God? Jesus answered by saying, “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?” (Matthew 6:26). Trusting God for tomorrow is a question of worth. Birds are not created in the image of God. We are! Birds will not inherit the kingdom of God, but we shall. Birds are mortal; mankind is immortal. If God takes care of the birds, how much more will He take care of us! “My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). Jesus continues, “If God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Do not worry then” (Matthew 6:30-31). God puts His own reputation on the line. If we trust and obey, He will provide. This is also a question of God’s integrity. God knows we need all these things, “so do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34). To live in the will of God we must live responsibly today and trust Him for tomorrow. Are we people of little faith, or do we really believe that the fruit of the Spirit will satisfy us more than earthly possessions? Do we really believe that if we hunger and thirst after righteousness, we will be satisfied? Do we really believe that if we seek to establish God’s kingdom, God will supply all our needs according to His riches in glory? If we do, then we will “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added” to us (Matthew 6:33).

Casting Our Anxiety on Christ Let’s assume you are seeking the kingdom of God, and you believe that God and His righteousness will satisfy you. You have sought God’s guidance, and you believe that He has led you to make specific plans. The problem is, you are still worried about whether

your plans will come about as you hope. As I noted earlier, that’s natural. A little anxiety will motivate us to live responsibly. Given those circumstances, I try to follow the steps described below to keep my anxiety within proper bounds. First, go to God in prayer and resolve any personal or spiritual conflicts. The first thing every Christian should do about anything is pray. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6). If you have any unresolved personal or spiritual conflicts, they must be resolved. Peace and unrighteousness do not go together. If the peace of God is not guarding your heart and your mind, then you will not be free from anxiety. The guidance of God will direct you back to Him before He will guide you anywhere else. Second, state the problem. A problem well-stated is half-solved. In anxious states of mind, people can’t see the forest for the trees. Put the problem in perspective. Will it matter for eternity? Generally speaking, the process of worrying takes a greater toll on a person than the negative consequences of what they are worrying about. I’ve had a lot of anxious people come into my office who only needed their problem clarified. The danger at this juncture is to seek ungodly counsel. The world is glutted with magicians and sorcerers who will promise anything. Their appearance may be striking. Their credentials may be impressive. Their personality may be charming. But their character is bankrupt. “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment” Jesus said (John 7:24). “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers!” (Psalm 1:1). Third, divide the facts from the assumptions. Facts may make people fearful, but not anxious. We are anxious because we don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow. Since we don’t know, we often make assumptions, and we usually do not assume the best. We will continue to struggle with anxiety if we believe our assumptions. If we act upon those assumptions, we will be counted among the fools! “Through insolence [presumption] comes nothing

but strife” (Proverbs 13:10). Therefore, as best as possible, separate the facts from the assumptions. Fourth, determine what you have the right or ability to control. You are responsible for that which you can control, and you are not responsible for that which you can’t. Your sense of worth is related only to what you are responsible for. Fifth, list everything related to the situation that is your responsibility. Commit yourself to live a responsible life. If you aren’t living a responsible life, you should feel anxious! Don’t try to cast your responsibility onto Jesus. He will throw it back. But if you are living a responsible life, His integrity is at stake in meeting your needs. Sixth, the rest is God’s responsibility, except for your prayer according to Philippians 4:6-8—to “let your requests be known to God.” Any residual anxiety probably comes from assuming responsibilities that He never intended you to have. After many sleepless nights and anxious days a missionary finally called me for help. She had served the Lord for many years. A philosophical difference between her and her boss had resulted in a parting of their ways. Declining health left her in much physical pain. Her list of doctors was endless. She asked me if seeing a secular counselor who specializes in hypnosis for pain reduction was advisable. I expressed my reservations and asked if we could get together. Through genuine repentance she found her peace with God. Her entire countenance changed—and on her way out she said, “I feel like I have been set free!” “You have,” I responded. The peace of God that passes all understanding was now guarding her mind. What a priceless commodity is the peace that comes from God and by judging rightly the people, possessions, and thoughts that invade our lives. God has given us His Word and empowered us with His Spirit so that we can know the truth, make righteous judgments, experience His peace, and be assured of His presence and guidance. Would you join me in this prayer?

Dear heavenly Father, I desire Your presence so I can experience Your peace. I therefore commit myself to live a righteous life. I have sought treasures on earth instead of treasures in heaven. I thank You for the physical blessings You have entrusted to me in this life, but I choose to believe that my life does not consist of my possessions. My life is in Christ, and I desire the fruit of the Spirit to be evident in me so that I may glorify You. I bring my anxious thoughts before You concerning Your provision for tomorrow. I choose to trust You by seeking first Your kingdom and Your righteousness. I believe that all other things will be added to me, and I trust You to meet my needs. I commit myself to order my internal world around You and Your Word. I have tried to control people and circumstances that I have no right or ability to control. You have forgiven me for my foolish ways of thinking, and I am deeply thankful. I cast my anxiety upon You and commit myself to live responsibly one day at a time. Amen.

Anxiety Worksheet* 1. Go to God in prayer and resolve any personal or spiritual conflicts. 2. State the problem. 3. Divide the facts from the assumptions: a. What are the facts relating to your situation? b. What are the assumptions relating to your situation? 4. Determine what you have the right and ability to control: a. What you can control as a matter of personal responsibility. b. What you have no right or ability to control.

5. List everything related to the situation that is your responsibility. 6. If you have fulfilled your responsibility, the rest is God’s responsibility.

_____________ * Anxiety disorders are the number one mental health problem in the world. For additional help in overcoming fear, anxiety, and panic attacks, read Freedom from Fear (Harvest House Publishers, 1999), which I coauthored with Rich Miller.

QUESTIONS FOR THOUGHT AND DISCUSSION 1. Why does the light from the lamp of the Word of God decrease and dim when we fail to acknowledge our limited perspective as humans? 2. What two traits characterize false prophets according to 2 Peter 2:1-10? 3. By what standards do we tend to judge leaders? How should we? 4. How do you handle anxiety? 5. What are the two primary roots of anxiety?

6. Will controlling people and the environment achieve peace in our hearts? Why or why not? 7. What do we need to “order” if we want to achieve peace for a troubled mind? 8. How can you cast your anxiety onto Christ? 9. Identify something you are anxious about and work through the “Anxiety Worksheet.”

CHAPTER EIGHT

Are You Using Sanctified Common Sense?

How does God work through human responsibility to bring about His will?

THERE WAS A DEVOUT CHRISTIAN MAN who heard an urgent news report on his radio. A flash flood was within minutes of hitting the peaceful valley where he lived. Immediately he got down on his knees, recommitted his life to the Lord, and prayed for safety. The words were still on his lips when he became aware that water was seeping under his door. As the water rose, he retreated to the second floor, and finally onto the roof of his house. While he was sitting on the roof, a helicopter flew by, and the pilot asked over the loudspeaker if they could lift him to safety. No, thank you,” he replied. “It’s not necessary. I have the Lord’s protection.” Moments later the house began to break up, and the man found himself swept away. As he clung to a tree, a police boat, braving the waters, approached to rescue him. He assured the police, however, that the Lord would save him. Finally, the tree gave way, and the man went to his death. Standing before the Lord, he said, “Lord, I’m glad to be here, but why didn’t you answer my prayer for safety?” The Lord responded, “Son, I told you over the radio to get out of there. Then I sent you a helicopter and a motorboat!”

God created the universe, and He accomplishes His purposes by working through that which He has created. It is inconsistent with Scripture to think that God works only through miraculous interventions and leads only through signs and wonders. The Jewish people were looking for a mystery man to come out of nowhere, and they were seeking a sign of His authenticity. If they had known God’s Word and used God’s wisdom, they would have recognized Jesus, since He perfectly fulfilled all the prophecies of the coming Messiah. Look at John 7:25-29 and notice how Jesus responds to the people’s speculations: “Is this not the man whom they are seeking to kill? Look, He is speaking publicly…The rulers do not really know that this is the Christ, do they? However, we know where this man is from; but whenever the Christ may come, no one knows where He is from.” Then Jesus cried out in the temple, teaching and saying, “You both know Me and know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. I know Him, because I am from Him, and He sent Me.” We always have some anxiety over the decisions we make or are about to make. We want to be in God’s will, so it is understandable why we are so easily tempted to want some sign of confirmation from God. There appears to be more certainty when we walk by sight, rather than by faith. Then there is the temptation for us to think that God is present only when something special happens. “God was really at the church service last night!” or “The Lord must have been with him then!” But the Lord is omnipresent. He is in every church service. He always resides in every one of His children, and He will never leave them nor forsake them. God is the manufacturer, and He has given us the manufacturer’s instruction book. If we want to know how we are supposed to function in this world, shouldn’t we consult the manufacturer’s handbook? If God were to give us a watch, would we be honoring Him more by asking Him to tell us what time it is, or by simply looking at the watch?

What About Signs and Wonders? Notice how Jesus responded to those who insisted on a sign: Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.” But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet” (Matthew 12:38-39). Satan tempted Jesus to produce a sign. He said, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down” (Matthew 4:6). Jesus responded, “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test” (verse 7). Jesus was saying that the sign we need is the Word of God, and we are to use the Word to guard against Satan’s tempting us to force the Lord to prove Himself. God tests us in order to strengthen our faith, but the devil tempts us in order to destroy our faith.

The Purpose of Signs and Wonders Signs and wonders did validate the ministry of Jesus and the apostles. Peter preached, “Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene [was] a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know” (Acts 2:22). Of the apostles, Paul said, “The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles” (2 Corinthians 12:12). However, signs and wonders will also accompany false teachers and false prophets (Matthew 7:21-23; 2 Peter 2:1-22). In fact, the Bible credits signs and wonders in the last days mostly to false teachers, false prophets, and false Christs (Matthew 24:11,24). The false prophet during the coming tribulation will perform signs, “and he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given to him to perform” (Revelation 13:14). Jesus is no longer with us in the flesh, and neither are the apostles. But Jesus did identify for us the sign of a disciple: “By this

all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). Does this mean that signs and wonders have ceased? We can’t say that. Signs and wonders point to a supernatural source, but without discernment we won’t know which supernatural source. We don’t want to be identified with an evil generation that seeks only a sign. Neither do we want to be identified with the powerless antisupernaturalism evidenced in Western rationalism. If we identify ourselves with Christ, however, we will experience both the power of God and the wisdom of God that are expressed in Him. Paul explained it this way: Jews ask for a sign, and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:22-24).

God’s Ways and God’s Wisdom God is not capricious—that is, impulsive or unplanned in His actions. He has clearly established His ways, and He is faithful to them. Let me illustrate with just a few references: • Moses asked the Lord, “I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight, let me know Your ways that I may know You” (Exodus 33:13). • John the Baptist said, “Make ready the way of the Lord” (Mark 1:3). • Jesus said, “I am the way” (John 14:6). God has revealed His ways, and we are to walk in them. The mystery is, how does God work through human responsibility and the natural order of the universe to bring about His will? Somehow He orchestrates human affairs in such a way as to guarantee the

outcome of all the ages. (What really impresses me is His timing, not His miraculous interventions.) Wisdom is seeing life from God’s perspective, especially as it is revealed in Scripture. Rationalism is interpreting life from our perspective. When wisdom is replaced by rationalism, our walk with God is reduced to an intellectual exercise rather than a living relationship. In the Old Testament, however, wisdom was not understood as our ability to reason independently of God. Proverbs 3:5-7, for example, reveals the relationship God desires with us: Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil. Turning away from evil signifies that there are moral boundaries. These are the ways that God has established. We are in the will of God if we live inside those boundaries. Within them we are supposed to exercise biblical wisdom and be led by the Holy Spirit. Since all unbelievers are outside the moral boundaries of God, they can expect judgment. Christians living outside the moral boundaries can expect discipline because “if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons” (Hebrews 12:8). God has instructed us to “think so as to have sound judgment,” and make wise decisions consistent with His Word. In the rest of this chapter, we’ll evaluate seven popular ways by which some seek to be guided, and then we’ll conclude with ten keys to making wise decisions.

Seven Common Methods of Seeking God’s Guidance 1. Conscience

Many of us have grown up with the axiom “Let your conscience be your guide.” This has serious limitations since our conscience is a function of our mind, not our spirit. Our mind was originally conformed to this world, so our conscience can be poorly formed. A conscience will always be true to its own standard, but that standard isn’t necessarily consistent with God’s Word. Until we come to Christ, that standard is the moral values we were taught. In fact, many people are falsely guided by a guilty conscience conditioned by the world. The guilt in our conscience may not be true guilt. Those who develop an oversensitive psychological guilt often become perfectionists. They labor under condemnation even though the Bible says, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). These Christians aren’t led; they are driven. They constantly need affirmation. They have a tendency to be people-pleasers and lean toward legalism. On the other hand, those who have been raised with no moral boundaries seem to have no conscience at all. They lean toward license. Since our minds were conformed to this world, we need to allow them to be renewed so that what we believe is in accordance with truth. Concerning the conscience and nonmoral issues, Paul wrote, “The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned” (Romans 14:22-23). We should not allow a faulty conscience to convict us in matters that we approve for others. But we should also be very cautious about going against our own conscience, and we shouldn’t be a stumbling block for those who hold different standards on nonmoral issues. We are to restrict our freedom if it causes a weaker brother to stumble, and we never have the right to violate another person’s conscience. Paul says, “I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men” (Acts 24:16).

2. Fleeces “If the sun is shining in the morning, I’ll know it’s God’s will.” “If he’s there when I open the door, I’ll know he’s the one.”

“If I pass the class on world missions, I’ll be a missionary.” This kind of thinking is all too common in Christian circles. Such propositions are commonly referred to as “fleeces.” The term fleece comes from the Old Testament story of Gideon. In Judges 6, Gideon is called by God to deliver Israel from the Midianites. Gideon questions whether God is even for Israel (verse 13), and he doubts his own ability (verse 15). So he asks God for a sign (verse 17). God gives him one, then tells him to take the family ox and tear down the altar of Baal. Gideon is afraid to go during the day, so he goes at night. Then he again questions whether God will deliver Israel. This time he puts a lamb’s fleece on the ground. If God will deliver the nation, then the lamb’s fleece will be wet in the morning and the ground around it will be dry. The next morning it was as Gideon requested. That ought to have satisfied him, right? Wrong! Wanting to be doubly sure, and hoping that God wouldn’t get too mad, Gideon asks Him to do it again, but this time with the opposite results (the fleece dry, and the ground wet). Not exactly the stuff heroes are made of, but God still answers Gideon’s request. Then He reduces Gideon’s army down to 300 men! That was not enough men, humanly speaking, to win the battle. God wanted to show that He, not man, is the Deliverer. God chose an insecure man and reduced his army down to nothing so that the victory would clearly be His. Gideon’s fleece wasn’t a means of demonstrating faith—it was just the opposite. And it certainly wasn’t used to determine God’s will, because God had already told Gideon what to do. Gideon was questioning the will of God, just as we do when we ask for a fleece when God has already shown us His will.

3. Circumstances The temptation is to assume that something is God’s will if the circumstances are favorable and that it isn’t God’s will if the circumstances are unfavorable. Next to the Bible, I would estimate that more Christians are “guided” by the circumstances of life than by any other means. Of all the possible means of guidance, this is the least authoritative and the least trustworthy.

I once heard a motivational speaker say, “I don’t like to recruit Christians, because when the going gets tough, they quit, concluding that it must not be God’s will.” Generally speaking, I believe that Christians should live above life’s circumstances and not be guided by them. Establishing God’s kingdom on earth is an uphill climb with a lot of obstacles. Paul says, “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am” (Philippians 4:11). Also, be careful about putting too much significance on unusual circumstances or coincidences. “It must be God’s will. Why else would that book be lying there?” It could be God guiding you, but it could also just be a book lying there. I have counseled many people in spiritual bondage who make bizarre associations or attach far too much significance to irrelevant events.

4. Godly Counsel Proverbs 11:14 says, “Where there is no guidance the people fall, but in abundance of counselors there is victory.” The reason for this is obvious. No one person has a complete perspective on all issues, and no one person perfectly knows the truth. God has structured the church in such a way that we need each other. I have made some dumb decisions that I would never have made if I had consulted someone else. However, be careful not to consult only with those who will agree with you. We all need meaningful friends who care enough about us to speak the truth in love. The counsel of others does have to be weighed, however. In Acts 21 Paul was warned by others not to go to Jerusalem. Disciples in Tyre “kept telling Paul through the Spirit not to set foot in Jerusalem” (verse 4). Then a prophet named Agabus gave a visual demonstration by binding his own feet and hands and saying, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man [Paul] who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles’” (verse 11). Everyone began begging him not to go. Paul responded, “ ‘What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.’ And since he would not

be persuaded, we fell silent, remarking, ‘The will of the Lord be done!’” (Acts 21:13-14). The disciples and Agabus were probably hearing from the Lord, but their conclusion wasn’t right. The Holy Spirit wasn’t trying to prevent Paul from going; He was preparing Paul for coming persecution. Paul correctly chose not to take the easy way out. The famous missionary Hudson Taylor often went against the advice of others, and circumstances nearly destroyed him. But he more than anyone else opened China to the Gospel. Sometimes people can tell you the truth, but they draw the wrong conclusions. We need to examine both our own motives and those of the people we seek counsel from. The value of counsel is that we get an unbiased opinion from spiritually sensitive people who add to the recipe of ingredients God has provided for our guidance.

5. Gifts and Abilities After I taught a class on spiritual gifts, a young man asked me, “Is my gift prophecy or exhortation?” Knowing him very well, I was careful in my response. “I don’t think either one is your gift. If anyone ever had the gift of helps, you have it. I have seen you moved to meet the needs of others, and you always seem ready to help.” A look of disappointment came over his face. “I knew it!” he responded. Struggling with a poor sense of worth, he thought if he had some other gift he would be worthier. I told him, “You will never be fulfilled trying to become somebody you aren’t.” We don’t all have the same gifts and talents. For that reason alone we can be assured that our identity and sense of worth isn’t based on gifts and talents. Our identity and sense of worth comes from knowing who we are in Christ and from our growth in character. God has known us from the foundation of the world. He has entrusted us with certain life endowments. He will certainly lead us in a way that makes best use of our gifts and talents. It is our responsibility to take advantage of opportunities as they become available. Tragically, many people go to the grave with their music still in them, never contributing to the symphony of God’s work. They don’t reach their potential or take the risks that faith requires. They

hang on to the security of the tree trunk—but the fruit is always on the end of the limb.

6. Duty Most of our Christian calling is simply a matter of duty. You don’t need some special leading to live a responsible life. You don’t need some subjective confirmation for every decision. I confess that I don’t “feel led” to do a lot of things I know I should. There are some mornings I don’t feel like getting out of bed, but I know I should. I don’t need any special guidance to love my wife, nor did I need it in order to discipline my children when they were young. Scripture tells me to do it, so I try to do it in the power of the Holy Spirit. “If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them” (John 13:17).

7. Desires The psalmist wrote, “Delight yourself in the LORD; and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). If we delight ourselves in the Lord, our desires will change. I have seen my desires change as I have matured in the Lord. After engineering school, I had very little desire to read until I came to Christ. Now I read volumes. After I had received Christ, I wanted to serve Him fulltime. I had completed engineering school and was prepared to do anything God wanted… except go back to school. But within a year I could hardly wait to get to seminary. It was the best educational experience of my life, and the only one I had enjoyed up to that point. Since then I have finished four more degrees. Only the desires that God puts in us satisfy us. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied” (Matthew 5:6). Do you believe that? I do because I don’t believe anything else brings lasting satisfaction.

Ten Keys to Wise Decision-Making Here are ten questions you can ask yourself when you need to make a decision. The first five questions are general, and they apply

to anything concerning God’s will. The next five relate more to God’s guidance in specific situations, such as career changes, moves, opportunities, and so on. (At the end of the chapter you will also find these in checklist form.) First, have you prayed about it? The Lord’s Prayer begins with a petition for His will to be done. Prayer was never intended to be a fourth-down punting situation—a request for God to bail us out after a hasty decision. It was intended to be a first-down huddle. We aren’t supposed to ask God to bless our plans—we’re supposed to ask God for His plans. God could just give us what we need, but He taught us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.” Prayer is a demonstration of our dependency upon God, and therefore we can’t pray in the flesh. We can only pray in the Spirit. Sometimes, when we have exhausted all we can do, we say, “There is nothing more to do but pray.” But Jesus taught us to “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.” Second, is it consistent with the Word of God? In our culture, ignorance of the Word is no excuse, since resources abound. Every Christian home should have a concordance, Bible dictionary, topical Bible, a good commentary, and a study Bible with notes. Computers and the Internet have made such resources even more available. Most communities in America have a pastor within driving distance, or one who is reachable by phone. Godly pastors would love to share what God has to say about any given matter. We also have many Christian radio programs with great Bible teachers. Some of these programs invite people to call in with questions, and Christian bookstores make books available on every conceivable subject. You can receive valuable input to help you make decisions if you will make it a habit to consult the Bible and godly resources. Third, can I do it and be a positive Christian witness? A seminary student asked me about a job he had been offered. It would take care of some financial needs, but he had some reservations concerning the sales pitch he was required to use. I asked him if he could use the sales technique and be a positive witness for Christ. He didn’t take the job.

That simple question will govern a lot of behavior. Several spin-off questions also are helpful: Would I do that if Jesus were physically present and watching? Would I go to that movie if Jesus were my escort? Can I tell that joke in front of the church? And of course, “What would Jesus do?” Fourth, will the Lord be glorified? Can I do this and give glory to God? In doing it, will I be glorifying God in my body? Am I seeking the glory of man or the glory of God? Am I dong this to be noticed by man, or am I seeking to please the Lord? Those sent by God seek His glory. Fifth, am I acting responsibly? God doesn’t bail us out of our irresponsibility. He will allow us to experience the consequences of irresponsible choices. But when we are faithful in little things, He will put us in charge of greater things. Don’t get ahead of God’s timing, or you will be over your head in responsibilities. Seek to develop your life and message, and God will expand your ministry. Sixth, is it reasonable? God expects us to think. His guidance may transcend human reasoning, but it never excludes it. As we’ve discussed previously, God doesn’t bypass our mind—He operates through it: “Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature” (1 Corinthians 14:20). We are warned in Scripture not to put our mind in neutral. We are to think and practice what we know to be true (Philippians 4:8-9). Seventh, does a realistic opportunity exist? Closed doors are not meant to be knocked down. If you have a hopeless scheme, let it go. If it isn’t God’s timing, wait. If a realistic opportunity exists and all the other factors are in agreement, then step out in faith. God may open a window of opportunity, but that window will close if not taken advantage of. The faithless Christian asks, “What do I stand to lose if I do?” The faithful Christian asks, “What do I risk losing if I don’t?” Eighth, are unbiased, spiritually sensitive associates in agreement? Be careful not to consult only those who will agree with you. Give your advisors permission to ask hard questions. Don’t be afraid of “no” answers. If it isn’t God’s will, don’t you want to know it before you make the mistake of acting impulsively? Ninth, do I have a sanctified desire? Don’t think that being in the will of God must always be an unpleasant task. The joy of the Lord

should be our strength. I find my greatest joy in serving God and being in His will. But don’t get the idea that if everything feels wonderful you must be in the will of God. Is this a desire to satisfy a lust of the flesh, or a Spirit-filled desire to see God’s kingdom established and people helped? Tenth, do I have a peace about it? This is an inner peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but in Christ we have the assurance of overcoming the world. God’s presence in us brings conviction when we are out of His will and peace when we are in it. Is the peace of God guarding your heart and your mind? If you have been able to answer yes to all ten of these key questions, what are you waiting for? Let’s pray: Dear Lord, I thank You that I do not have to drift through life in uncertainty, never really being sure that my steps are being guided by You. I thank You that I can have the privilege of walking according to Your way. Lord, keep me from looking for signs when You have already spoken so clearly in Your Word. And don’t let me be bound by circumstances, but help me seek the wisdom that is from above through Your Word and the godly counsel of others. I want nothing more than to be in Your will. May You be glorified in all that I do. Thank You, Lord. I know the way will not always be easy, but it will be the path of love, joy, and peace. Amen.

QUESTIONS FOR THOUGHT AND DISCUSSION 1. Why do people want signs from God? Are they necessary to know God’s will?

2. Is it ever appropriate to test God? 3. Why do we have to be cautious about signs and wonders in the last days? 4. What is the distinguishing characteristic of a true disciple? 5. Describe the difference between biblical wisdom and Western rationalism. 6. If you are striving to please men, who are you a bond servant of? Why does being a people-pleaser interfere with God’s guidance? 7. Should we or shouldn’t we use fleeces to determine God’s guidance? 8. Why are circumstances an unreliable guide to making important decisions? 9. Why do we have to carefully weigh the counsel of godly friends? 10. Has God’s guidance been consistent with your gifts and talents? 11. How have your desires changed as you have grown in Christ? 12. Are you faced with an important decision? Work through the ten keys to wise decision-making.

CHAPTER NINE

Are You Living by Faith in Jesus?

Faith is not a means of getting man’s will done in heaven; it is the means of getting God’s will done on earth.

AFTER SUNDAY SCHOOL ONE MORNING, a mother asked her young son what he had learned. He responded, “I learned how Moses built this pontoon bridge across the Red Sea and how all these people were transported across with tanks and half-tracks. As soon as they were across, the bridge was blown up with the Egyptians on it, and they were all drowned in the Red Sea.” The mother was astonished and asked if that was what the teacher had told him. “Oh, no,” he said, “but you wouldn’t believe what she did tell us.” That young boy is like a lot of people. They think that faith is believing the impossible. You don’t need faith for commonsense, everyday life; you only need it for what you can’t see and have trouble believing by nature. For some, faith is little more than wishful thinking at best or an illogical leap at worst. Nothing could be further from the truth. After Jesus had claimed to be sent by God the Father, some people were seeking to arrest Him, having come to the conclusion that He was not a good man. Others did believe in Him, “and they were saying, ‘When the Christ comes, He will not perform more signs than those which this man has, will He?’” (John 7:31) There

was sufficient evidence to come to the right conclusion. Some chose to believe—others chose not to believe. People do the same today. Faith is the operating principle of life. It is the means by which we relate to God and carry out His kingdom activities. It is the means by which we receive God’s guidance. The words faith, trust, and believe are all the same word (pistis) in New Testament Greek. The man who has faith believes in something. The one who believes also trusts, or else he doesn’t truly believe. Faith is not giving mental assent—it is a demonstrated reliance on something or somebody. There is no more important concept than faith, because what we choose to believe determines how we live. People don’t always live according to what they profess, but they always live according to what they believe. There are three basic principles concerning faith. If you understand them, they will keep you on the right path.

1. Your Faith Is Dependent upon Its Object The question is not “Do you believe?” The real question is, “What or whom do you believe in?” Everybody walks by faith. The only difference between Christian faith and non-Christian faith is its object. For instance, we drive our cars by faith. When we see a green traffic light, we don’t slow down or stop at the intersection. We normally drive right through by faith, believing that the drivers coming along the other street have a red light (even though we can’t see it), see the red light, and will stop because of it. That is a lot of faith in a mechanical device and other people. If we didn’t believe any of that (that is, we thought the light wasn’t working, or the other drivers didn’t see it, or they wouldn’t stop if it was red), what would we do at the intersection? We would probably stop and proceed very cautiously. Everybody has an established belief system, and everybody is walking by faith according to what they already believe. When we received Jesus and became new creations in Christ, we became children of God by faith. We were transferred out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God’s beloved Son (Colossians 1:13).

We are no longer “in Adam,” we are spiritually alive “in Christ.” But as we saw earlier nobody pushed the clear button in that mental computer between our ears. Everything we learned from the past is still programmed into our memory banks. That is why Paul wrote, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2). Unless we were raised in a perfect Christian home, much of what we learned to believe was not consistent with God’s Word. If you learned to believe that pleasure can be found in possessing things rather than life, you will never be satisfied. If you believe that success can be measured by the amount of toys, trophies, or titles you accumulate, you will likely be at odds with Scripture. The world system will take you off the biblical path of faith, and today’s alternative spiritualities will encourage you to walk in the wrong direction. Many teach that if you believe hard enough, whatever you wish will become true. But believing something doesn’t make it true, and not believing it doesn’t make it false. God’s Word is true whether you believe it or not. (You can try not believing in hell, but that doesn’t lower the temperature one degree!) To think that we will get what we want if we just believe makes our own selfish desires the object of our faith. That would mean that truth originates within us—but we don’t create truth. God is the ultimate reality—and His Son is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth (14:17), and He will lead us into all truth (16:13). We have to know the truth in order to walk by Christian faith. You don’t want to be like the Christian who says, “I don’t know the Bible, but I have faith.” For that person, faith becomes a poor substitute for knowledge and an inadequate compensation for ignorance.

The Visible Versus the Invisible “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Hope is not wishful thinking— it is the present assurance of some future good. Hope is the parent of faith. Suppose you wanted to catch a bus at 11:00 A.M. You leave the

house at 10:45 and walk to the bus stop by faith, hoping that the bus will be on time and that the schedule is right. If the bus is late or the schedule is wrong, your hope will be dashed. If you had no hope of catching the bus, though, you would not proceed by faith. That would be foolish. Someone once said that life with Christ is an endless hope. But life without Christ is a hopeless end. Biblical faith enables us to see the reality of the spiritual world we presently live in, and it gives us the assurance of heaven. According to Scripture, the invisible world is more real than the visible world: “By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible” (Hebrews 11:3). The ultimate reality is spiritual, not physical. Every physical thing we see is only temporal and passing away. “We do not lose heart…we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). God is a Spirit. He is the ultimate reality, and what He says is true both about who we are and what our destiny is.

The Object Worthy of Genuine Faith Scripture asserts that Jesus is the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). He is the ultimate faith object because He never changes. He is immutable (cannot change): Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:7-8). The only object for the true believer’s faith is God. A vibrant faith is based on the will of God. Faith is not a means of getting man’s will done in heaven; it is the means of getting God’s will done on earth. That is why we cannot receive God’s guidance apart from it. After hearing me speak on spiritual conflicts, a young man came by to talk about his personal life. He remarked that there had been times when he could not speak the name of Jesus out loud. I asked

him about his faith. He thought he had made a decision for Christ years earlier in an evangelistic meeting. He had tried living with some American Indians to continue his spiritual journey, but that had proved to be disastrous and he had finally ended up living in a pastor’s home, where he was helped with the assurance of his salvation. This pastor had encouraged the young man to step out in faith. “I’ve been trying to live by faith for three years, and it has been one trial after another,” he lamented. “Faith in what?” I asked. He didn’t know how to respond. This young man was trying to live by faith in faith. Faith without an object is invalid. The only perfect object for our faith is God and His Word.

2. The Size of Your Faith Depends on How Well You Know Its Object When my son, Karl, was about a year old, I stood him on a table, backed away, and told him to jump into my arms. He hesitated only momentarily, and then with childlike faith he leaned forward and fell into my arms. As we repeated the activity, he became bolder and bolder. It wasn’t long before he was jumping several feet into my arms. He would continue to do that as long as I continued to catch him. At the age of two he was ready for the majors, so we moved from a table to the lower limb of a tree. It was a greater leap of faith for him to jump down into my arms from a tree, but he obediently did it. Suppose one day he had jumped, but I hadn’t caught him. Would he have climbed up the tree and done it again? Suppose I had asked his sister to catch him. Would he have jumped? Probably not, because I had just switched the object of his faith. Faith increases with every larger step, provided the object of faith remains faithful (the same). What is going to happen to my son’s faith in me as he continues to climb the tree of life? There was a time he thought I could whip anybody and answer any question, but that eventually proved not to

be true. It was a childish confidence doomed to be shaken since I’m neither omniscient nor omnipotent. That is why we must help our children understand what it means to be children of God. No matter how high my son climbs, God the Father will always be there for him. He is physically a child of Neil Anderson, but spiritually He is a child of God.

Big God, Big Faith “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). We increase our faith by increasing the knowledge of our faith. If we have little knowledge of God’s Word, we will have little faith. If we have a lot of knowledge of God’s Word, we can have a lot of faith. The heroes of Hebrews 11 had great faith because they knew they had a great God. Big God, big faith. Little God, little faith. If we know and put our trust in seven promises from Scripture, we can only have a seven-promise faith. If we know and believe seven thousand promises of Scripture, we can potentially have a seventhousand-promise faith. Belief is a choice. If I believe the Bible, so can you—and every believer has to personally make that choice. Let me quickly add, however, that nobody (including me) is presently living up to his or her faith potential. That’s why we are to encourage one another in our faith. We are to encourage people to step out in faith according to what they already know to be true. Understanding increases with obedience. I may not know why God wants me to do something, but as I commit myself to doing it, I often understand later.

If God Wants It Done, It Can Be Done! Question: If God wants it done, can it be done? Yes! “All things are possible to him who believes” (Mark 9:23). If God wants me to do it, can I do it? Of course! “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). What are the “all things” mentioned in those verses? Is this “miracle-a-moment” living? Can we just “name it and claim it”? No!

“All things” pertains to God’s will. What God makes possible is the doing of His will; what He empowers us to do is what He desires done. Every miracle outside the will of God is a work of the devil. Satan can work miracles, but he cannot please God. Notice the sober warning of Jesus in Matthew 7:20-24: You will know them by their fruits. Not every one who says to Me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?” And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.” Jesus cursed a fig tree that bore no fruit for Him. The next day Peter noticed the tree was withered from the roots up and pointed it out to Jesus, who answered, Have faith in God. Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, “Be taken up and cast into the sea,” and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him. Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you (Mark 11:22-24). Can such a miraculous thing happen by exercising prayer and faith? Yes, if we understand what a God-wrought miracle is. A true miracle from God is a supernatural intervention in the fixed order of the universe for the sole purpose of establishing His kingdom. A true miracle is accomplished by God—and only to help fulfill His redemptive purpose. The “name it and claim it” or “positive confession” movement uses such passages to teach that anything is possible if we believe hard enough. They correctly point out that the mountain doesn’t move until we speak—that is, act on our faith. The problem is, we are never given the prerogative to believe whatever we want to believe. Remember, there is only One who can speak something into existence and spiritually move physical objects.

Moving a mountain into the sea fulfills no redemptive purpose. Besides, given enough time and earth-moving equipment, we could accomplish that without God. The point that Jesus is making is, “If God wants it done, it can be done.” Nothing can keep us from doing the will of God if we believe. And nobody can stop us from being the person God created us to be except us. “Mountains” are often obstacles standing in the way of accomplishing God’s will. Faith removes such barriers.

God Is Faithful to Himself We can claim what God promises, we can do what He has commanded us to do, and we can choose to believe what He says is true, “for as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes” (2 Corinthians 1:20). God will never command us to do something that He will not enable us to do. The will of God never leads us where the grace of God cannot enable us. It is never a question of whether God can, but rather, if He wills. If He wills, then we can if we believe. Those predisposed to do His will understand what it is (John 7:17), and by the grace of God will do it. Jesus was on the verge of starvation when the devil tempted Him to turn the rock into bread. Satan wanted Jesus to use His own divine attributes independently of the Father. Jesus withstood the temptation by quoting Scripture. He declared that His food was to do the will of His Father who had sent Him. We too have to resist the temptation to live independently of God. It is important to understand that God is under no obligation to man. God is only under obligation to Himself and to keep the covenants He has made. He will faithfully respond according to His Word, which becomes operative in our lives when we choose to believe and act upon it. God does not cater to our every whim! The goal is not to be so clever that we can manipulate God. He will not be boxed in by our requests. He faithfully stays true to His Word, and when we respond by faith, He “causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

3. Your Faith Is Made Evident by What You Do and Say Faith is an action word. What we have chosen to believe affects our walk and our talk. If it doesn’t, then we don’t really believe. You may have heard the story of the circus performer who strung a wire over a river and proceeded to ride across it on a unicycle. When he returned, the onlookers applauded. Then he asked, “Who believes I can do that with a man on my shoulders?” When everyone responded affirmatively, he said, “All right—who will hop on?” The person who hops on is the person who really believes. Remember that faith is not just giving credence to something or someone. Faith is a demonstrated reliance upon something or someone. Just like agape love, faith can be a verb or a noun. When we use faith as a noun, we’re talking about what we believe. “Under the pressures of life, make sure you stay true to your faith,” that is, what you believe. When faith is used as a verb, it is made evident by the way we live. Faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. But someone may well say, “You have faith, and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder (James 2:1719). James is not challenging the doctrine of justification by faith and faith alone. He is telling us that what we do or say is the fruit of what we truly believe. The devil believes in the existence of Jesus, and he even knows that God’s Word is true. But he doesn’t seek to glorify Jesus or to obey Him. He seeks his own glory. Let’s return to the illustration of my son’s adventure with faith. What if Karl had never left the table but had kept insisting, “My daddy can catch me!” Would he really have believed it? We demonstrate what we believe by how we live our lives. If we believe it, we will live it. If we don’t live it, then what we profess to believe is just wishful thinking and a false security.

Faith That Talks One primary means by which we express our belief is confession —verbally expressing what we believe. God expects us to take a stand in this world. “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels” (Mark 8:38). The power of God’s Word is evident throughout the Bible. The worlds “were prepared by the word of God” (Hebrews 11:3). “By the word of the Lord, the heavens were made” (Psalm 33:6). “He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast” (Psalm 33:9); Jesus “upholds all things by the word of His power” (Hebrews 1:3). His word is an expression of His will. Our words also reflect what we believe. In rebuking the Pharisees, Jesus said, “By your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:37). Paul taught that it was the confession that resulted in salvation: If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation (Romans 10:9-10). One major purpose for speaking what we believe is to overcome the god of this world. Satan is under no obligation to obey our thoughts. He doesn’t perfectly know them. Only God perfectly knows the thoughts and intentions of our heart (Hebrews 4:12). Satan does have the advantage of observing our behavior, and since we live out our thought life, it is not hard to understand how he can seem to know our thoughts. If we are paying attention to deceiving spirits (1 Timothy 4:1), then of course he knows our thoughts because they are the same as his. Satan will do all within his power to distort the truth of God’s Word, thus discrediting God and undermining our confidence in His Word. But if there is a counterfeit, there must be a truth. If there are deceiving spirits, there must be a Holy Spirit who will lead us into all

truth. Notice how we are to respond to the counterfeit and choose the truth: Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world… You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world…Whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (1 John 4:1,4; 5:4-5) To stand against a spiritual attack, we must speak forth the Word of God, which is the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17). In the Greek language, there are two different words translated as word. The most common is logos, and it represents the substance of God’s Word. In John 1:1, Jesus is the logos. The second is rhema. There is only one Word of God, but rhema refers more to the communication of the Word. We are to hide the Word (logos) in our hearts, and when Satan attacks, we stand against him by confessing God’s Word (rhema). Our confession of what we believe is the evidence of our faith. Confession doesn’t create faith—faith makes possible true confession. For example, when we confess our sins, we are responding to the convictions of God and agreeing with Him about our moral condition. Confession is agreeing with God. We cannot receive guidance from God unless we are in agreement with Him.

Faith Is Worth the Risk The story is told of a nineteenth-century prospector who had to make a four-day journey across a burning desert. He couldn’t carry enough water to complete the journey without dying of thirst, but he was assured that there was a well halfway across the desert. So he set out—and sure enough, there was a well with a pump right where he’d been told it was. But when he pumped the handle, the well only

burped up sand. Then he saw this sign: “Buried two feet over and two feet down is a jug of water. Dig it up and use the water to prime the pump. Drink all the water you want, but when you are done, fill the jug again for the next person.” Sure enough, two feet over and two feet down was a jug with enough water for the prospector to either prime the pump or finish the two remaining days of his journey. Should he pour the water down the well, or should he drink it? In such a situation, the skeptical person would probably drink the water! He wouldn’t know who had written the sign on that rusty old pump. It could be a cruel joke. Why pour the water down a well, only to perhaps die of thirst? Unlike the prospector, we know who wrote the sign. This is the sign that promises living water. When we drink from His well, out of our inner being will flow rivers of living water. God said so, history verifies it—and I, for one, can testify that it is true. Is faith a risk? Of course! But failing to step out in faith according to what God says is true is to risk missing life. What a privilege it is for us to walk by faith, when the object of our faith is God and His Word. Let’s express our gratitude and ask for His continuing guidance in prayer: Dear heavenly Father, You are the object of my faith. I choose to believe You. You are the way, the truth, and the life. By the counsel of Your will, all things hold together. Thinking I was acting in faith, I have acted presumptuously. I have not always taken Your Word seriously, and I have failed to act when I know I should have. I thank You for Your forgiveness. I want to know You and know Your ways so I can walk by faith. I ask You to fill me with Your Spirit and guide me in the way of truth. I ask that You not lead me into temptation but deliver me from evil. I pray that You would never allow me to lead another person astray by my words or my example. As You direct my steps, may I glorify You in all that I do and say. Amen.

QUESTIONS FOR THOUGHT AND DISCUSSION 1. How is faith demonstrated in your life? 2. Why is it hard to believe in the invisible world? 3. What determines our level of faith in God? 4. What are the “all things” that you can and should do in Christ? 5. Do you believe that the will of God will never lead you where the grace of God cannot enable you? 6. How can we know what a person believes? 7. Why do we need to speak what we believe? 8. How can we be assured that we have not been paying attention to a deceiving spirit when we step out in faith? 9. How can you improve your walk of faith?

CHAPTER TEN

Are You Discerning the Unseen by the Power of the Word and the Spirit?

This is a precious resource: our spirits quickened by the Holy Spirit to discern right and wrong, good and evil.

A WONDERFUL CHRISTIAN COUPLE I knew was being used by the Lord in full-time ministry. Some difficulty developed in their marriage so they consulted a pastor-counselor. The wife’s response to him after the initial meeting was negative, but they continued with this “counselor” because some colleagues told them he was a good man. Over the next year their ministry deteriorated, as did our friendship. A short time later their “counselor” was exposed for having sex with a number of counselees. The damage he did to several women was incredible. He justified his behavior by claiming, “What we do in the flesh doesn’t matter. Only what we do in the spirit counts!” (That is a modern form of Gnosticism.) As I mentioned in chapter 4, my friends were given an ultimatum by their ministry: “Choose your ministry with us, or choose him.” They chose to stay with the apostate pastor! In order to be guided by God, Christians must learn to exercise discernment and judge righteously. “Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil” (1 John

3:7-8). The arrogant, authoritarian spirit of this “pastor” had some kind of spiritual hold on many people, since half his church stayed with him. The wife’s initial discernment was correct, but her husband ignored the warning of the Holy Spirit. Spiritual discernment is our first line of defense when our ability to reason is limited by incomplete knowledge. Jesus demonstrated spiritual discernment throughout His earthly ministry. We need to examine His example and learn how to develop our ability to discern good from evil so we can receive God’s guidance clearly.

The Example of Jesus Because of His deity, Jesus could perfectly discern good from evil, and He knew what was in the hearts of people. “Jesus…was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man” (John 2:24-25). It’s not hard to know the truth if you are the Truth, and speaking with authority would be natural if you’re God! Discernment is also easier if you know, as Jesus does, what’s in people’s hearts. Though we don’t possess these attributes, we do have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. We must yield to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to lead us into all truth. Then we can know the truth, speak God’s Word with some degree of authority, and discern good and evil. Let’s briefly look at these three ways in which we can continue the work of Jesus.

The Spirit Carries On the Work of Christ Through Us First, we have within us the Spirit of truth. Jesus said, When He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me; for He will take of

Mine and will disclose it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you (John 16:13-15). This promise has primary reference to the apostles, but its application extends to all Spirit-filled believers (1 John 2:20-27). The Holy Spirit is first and foremost the Spirit of truth, and He will lead us into all truth. In His high-priestly prayer, Jesus prayed on our behalf, “I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one…Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth” (John 17:15,17). Truth is what keeps us from the evil one. Truth is God’s will made known through His Word. The Holy Spirit’s role is to enable us to understand the Word of God from God’s perspective. The Holy Spirit enables us to make the Word of God our own as we abide in Christ. Second, as we conform to God’s image we can speak His Word with authority. Although Jesus had no earthly position of authority, He had a heavenly one. Those around Him recognized His authority because of the quality, conduct, and character of His life. The true shepherd exercises spiritual leadership with the heart of a servant. Spiritual leadership is not based on any earthly position of authority, since there is no position lower than a servant. Spiritual authority is based on our position in Christ. We are seated with Him in the heavenlies. Our ministry and message will take on a greater degree of authority when our character is Christlike and our message is true. Servant leaders are subject to the needs of those they are called to lead. That’s why Jesus said His disciples would be known by their love. Christian leaders who base their authority on their position in Christ and godly character don’t lord it over others. They lead by example and people respect them and their teaching. And what kind of marriage does a couple have if the husband demands that he be respected because he is the head of the home? Being the head of the home is an awesome responsibility, not a right to be demanded. The spiritual head of a home assumes his responsibility by meeting the needs of his family. A wise husband listens carefully to the

counsel of his wife and depends upon the Holy Spirit. By the Spirit’s power, he can live a righteous life and lead with loving authority. Third, the Holy Spirit enables us to discern. According to John 16:8, He “will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.” The Holy Spirit doesn’t take up residence in our lives and then sit by passively while we participate in sin. Since we are in Christ, we have become partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4), and we sense conviction when we choose to behave in a way that isn’t consistent with the Spirit’s presence in our lives. The Holy Spirit is not compatible with the world, the flesh, and the devil, and therefore He enables us to discern good from evil.

How Discernment Comes I don’t know any legitimate Christian who questions the role of the Holy Spirit in leading us to truth, enabling us to live a righteous life, or helping us discern good from evil. The questions usually center on how the Spirit does it. A passage central to this discussion is 1 Corinthians 2:9-16: Just as it is written, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him.” For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he can not understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.

But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no man. For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ. I believe it is safe and helpful to draw the following conclusions from the above passage. 1. A natural man cannot discern what is spiritually true. He can only know his own thoughts and that which he can perceive through his natural senses. 2. The Holy Spirit knows all things and is capable of revealing the nature of God and His will. The Spirit of God knows the thoughts of God because God and the Spirit are one and the same. 3. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God. The Spirit makes known to us the things freely given by God. 4. We have the mind of Christ because He indwells us. 5. The Holy Spirit takes words (logos), that are not taught by human wisdom but by Him, and combines (brings together, compares, or explains) them. What is actually being combined or compared isn’t clear. The original language literally says, “spirituals with spirituals.” The NASB translates the phrase as “combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.” The NIV translates the phrase as “words taught by the Spirit, expressing the spiritual truths in spiritual words.”

The Natural Man Versus the Spiritual Man The natural man looks like this:

The natural man is spiritually dead, separated from God. He has neither the presence of God in his life or the knowledge of God’s ways. He has learned to live independently of God. (This learned independence is an essential part of what the Bible identifies as the “flesh.”) His mind has been conformed to this world and his heart is desperately sick. When we are born again, the Holy Spirit takes up residence in our life. Because we are now spiritually alive and united with Christ, we have the mind of Christ. We have become a partaker of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). At conversion we are given a new heart and a new spirit (Ezekiel 36:26). The heart is the center of our being. Only in the heart do our mind, emotions, and will converge. That is why the truth must enter our hearts and why we forgive from our hearts. However, our brains are still programmed to live independently of God. The Christian now looks like this:

The battle is for the mind: “The flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another” (Galatians 5:17). They are in opposition because the flesh is learned independence, while the Spirit is totally dependent upon God the Father. God has given us the responsibility to choose to be renewed in the spirit of our minds (Ephesians 4:23), and the Holy Spirit discloses the mind of Christ in our hearts. In order to be conformed to the image of Christ, we have to be diligent to present ourselves, approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15). When we do, we are transformed by the renewing of our minds. We choose to think the truth, and the Holy Spirit enables such thoughts and renews our minds with the logos. Then the peace of God guards our hearts and minds. We let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts by letting the Word of Christ richly dwell in us (Colossians 3:15-16). We are now in a position to discern good and evil.

Distinguishing Right and Wrong In a world saturated with deceiving spirits, false prophets, and false teachers, the importance of exercising discernment cannot be

overemphasized. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word bin is used 247 times and is translated as “discern,” “distinguish,” and occasionally “understand.” It means “to make a distinction, or separate from.” The New Testament counterpart, diakrino, also means “to separate or divide.” It is used primarily in reference to judging for the purpose of making decisions. The Holy Spirit enables us to distinguish right from wrong, truth from lies, God’s thoughts from man’s thoughts. An incident in King Solomon’s life reveals God’s thoughts on discernment. David, Solomon’s father, had died, and Solomon had taken his place as king of Israel. The Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at night and said, “Ask what you wish Me to give you” (2 Kings 3:5). Solomon told God he was too young and inexperienced to be the king: “Now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king in place of my father David, yet I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in” (verse 7). Solomon then made his request, and the Lord responded as follows: Because you…have not asked for yourself long life, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself discernment to understand justice, behold, I have done according to your words. Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you (1 Kings 3:11-12). This passage reveals two key concepts about discernment. First, God gave Solomon the ability to discern because of the purity of his motives. Solomon wasn’t asking for personal gain or an advantage over his enemies. He was asking for the ability to discern good and evil, and God gave it to him. The ability to discern comes from God, and He knows the thoughts and intentions of our hearts. The Lord does not enable us to use His power with wrong motives coming from an impure heart. This is true for the proper use of any spiritual gift. Wrong motives open the door for Satan’s counterfeits. A few years ago, a young undergraduate was following me around to various speaking engagements. After an evening service at a local

church, she was shaking visibly. I saw her plight and asked if I could help. Learning she was a student at our school, I asked her to stop by my office the next day. When we got together, she told me she was seeing one of our Christian counselors. I asked her how that was going, and she replied that it was like a game. She could tell everything the counselor was going to do next. When I realized she enjoyed playing mind games with her counselor, I challenged her: “You like doing that, don’t you? You like the advantage it gives you over other people.” As soon as I exposed the deception, an evil spirit began to speak through her. This young woman believed that God had given her a spiritual gift that enabled her to point out people’s sins. She could point to various other students and say, “That person is struggling with sex, that person with alcohol,” and so on. As near as I could tell, she was right. Yet when she found her freedom in Christ, the ability disappeared. It hadn’t been the Holy Spirit enabling her to discern. It had been an evil spirit that was compatible with the evil spirits related to the moral problems in other people. This student’s goal had been to be a Christian counselor and use this “gift” to “help” people. After she was freed, she instead went to the mission field. She is helping people—now by the Spirit of God. Second, this incident in Solomon’s life clearly establishes that true biblical discernment is on the plane of good and evil. The “distinguishing of spirits” mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:10 is the ability to distinguish between a good spirit and an evil spirit. Spiritual discernment is primarily a function of the Spirit, but it doesn’t bypass the mind, nor does it replace the need to know the truth from the Word of God. Rather, it builds upon the truth already understood in our hearts. Our mind wants to know what is wrong, but we may not always know. In spiritual discernment, the Holy Spirit is simply alerting us that something is wrong— like a built-in spiritual alarm. Let me illustrate. Suppose, when he was young and living at home, my son had come home and I sensed something was wrong. So I ask him, “What’s wrong, Karl?” He replies, “Nothing!” Again I ask him what’s wrong, and again he claims that nothing is wrong. My “buzzer” is going off because I’m discerning that something is wrong. At this point it is very easy to blow the discernment. If we try to be

objective, we are likely to guess what we think is wrong (isn’t that being objective?)—“Karl, have you been doing such and such again?” If the guess is wrong (and it probably will be), we blow the discernment. Our children will stalk away into their rooms, mad at us for falsely accusing them. So what should we do? Just share the discernment. “Karl, something is wrong.” “No, Dad, nothing’s wrong!” “Karl, I know something is wrong.” He shrugs his shoulders and goes to his room. Is that it? No, that’s not the end of it. The Holy Spirit will convict him of his sins. The Holy Spirit made me aware that something was wrong, and I expressed my discernment. God now has a direct shot at my son (actually, His son) in his bedroom. Guess what happens in there? Conviction! He is probably thinking, Dad knows! I really don’t know what is wrong, but my discernment has told me that something is wrong. When I was pastoring, I would sometimes enter a family’s home and sense that something was wrong. There was nothing visible. The people were smiling and friendly, they had a pot of coffee on the stove, and they had even dusted off the Bible. But the air was thick with something, and I could have cut it with a knife. Back then, I would know that something wasn’t right, but I never knew what to do about it. We tend to ignore our discernment and conduct business as usual. But if we discern that something is wrong, we should stop and pray for guidance.

Discernment, a Spiritual Weapon Discernment is like an early warning system. It’s the first line of defense in the spiritual world. (Thus, it is not the same as women’s intuition.) How does it work? It only makes sense that the Holy Spirit is not going to be compatible with an evil spirit. “You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons” (1 Corinthians 10:21). The Holy Spirit is not going to remain passive in the face of opposition. He is testifying with our spirit and counteracting the influence of the world, the flesh, and the devil. When our spirit and those influences

are incompatible, the buzzer goes off. The corollary is also true. Without a word being spoken, we sense a compatible spirit in strangers whom we “know” are true believers. The ability to discern increases with our maturity, according to Hebrews 5:12–6:2: Though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For every one who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. What the writer of Hebrews identifies as elementary teaching is advanced theology for some people. A good systematic theology, however, is the foundation upon which we build our lives. It is to our walk with God what our skeleton is to our body. It holds us together and keeps us in the right form. However, doctrine is never an end in itself. Some Christians have a theological relationship with God, but not a personal relationship with Him. True doctrine should govern our relationship with God and our neighbors. It is the Spirit who gives life to the body (Romans 8:11), and those accustomed to the word of righteousness are sensitive to the personal leading of the Holy Spirit. Many Christians come faithfully to church on Sunday, and the words sink into their ears, but not into their hearts. They haven’t had their senses trained to discern good and evil. I’m not sure my senses would have been trained if God hadn’t called me into the ministry of setting captives free. If we are going to minister in a world of

deception, we had better learn to rely upon God and not lean on our own understanding.

Discerning Specific Issues The Holy Spirit does more than warn us. He enables us to understand Scripture, leads us into all truth, and impresses our spiritual understanding so that we can effectively minister to others. For instance, suppose a person is sharing their story in counseling, and I’m sensing that they are struggling with homosexuality. Is this impression from God? We need to test the spirit, so I do this by waiting for the right opportunity. Then I ask something like this, “Have you ever struggled with homosexual thoughts or tendencies?” If they do not respond affirmatively, either the impression wasn’t right, or the person doesn’t want to deal with the issue now. They have the right not to deal with their problems with me, and I respect that. In either case, I continue to develop the relationship and remain available for them. As I have matured in the Lord, I find that these kinds of impressions are generally true and that they get to the heart of the issue with people. But I never ascribe scriptural authority to them, nor do I believe they are a substitute for knowing the Bible. Our ability to discern grows in proportion to our spiritual maturity and knowledge of God and His ways. God brings to our minds the Scripture we have already put into our hearts through studying His Word. There are no shortcuts to maturity. The Holy Spirit doesn’t bypass the parts of Scripture that require us to show compassion, develop trusting relationships, and exercise patience. Rather, the leading of the Holy Spirit works with the whole counsel of God. I have had people say to me, “God gives you words of knowledge.” That may be true, but I am not going to develop a whole ministry from half a verse in 1 Corinthians 12. Deceiving spirits encourage shortcuts, try to bypass the mind, and seek to create a dependency upon esoteric knowledge (knowledge that does not come through our normal channels of perception or disciplined study). “You won’t even have to think. Just go by what

you hear in your head.” Sounds good, doesn’t it? But that’s how mediums work. Channelers and spiritists are making big money with their esoteric knowledge. Satan gives them enough truth to hook a gullible public. Some even profess to be Christians. However, John writes, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1). This is not an optional exercise for Christians. We are instructed by God to test the spirits. There is only one infallible source of faith and practice, and that’s the Word of God. It’s the logos hidden in our hearts that the Holy Spirit uses to enable us for ministry. As exercise strengthens the body and education enlarges the mind, so the spiritual faculty within us grows as we use it in doing God’s will (Book of Discipline, Society of Friends). Let’s not waste such a precious resource that God has made available to us—our spirits quickened by the Holy Spirit to be able to discern good and evil, right and wrong, and hear God’s guidance clearly. If you desire to be a discerning Christian, join me in prayer: Dear heavenly Father, I desire to know You and Your ways. I don’t want to take any shortcuts and be deceived by evil spirits. I want to know the truth—and You are the truth. Teach me to think so as to have sound judgment. I want to base my leadership in godly character, not earthly positions, so I commit myself to be like You. I want people to know me for my love. May that be the proof that I am Your disciple. Deliver me from knowledge that would make me arrogant. I confess to You my pride. I humble myself before You and ask that You would fill me with Your Holy Spirit. I ask You to lead me into all truth, so that I can discern good and evil. I ask for the courage to take my stand in the world with the authority that comes from truth and righteousness. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

QUESTIONS FOR THOUGHT AND DISCUSSION 1. Why don’t Christians always judge with righteous judgment? 2. Jesus was able to discern what was in the hearts of men and women. Since the Holy Spirit lives in us, should Christians have a special level of discernment as well? Or is it the right of only a few? 3. How does a true shepherd lead? 4. What five conclusions can be drawn from 1 Corinthians 2:9-16? 5. Why do we need to renew our minds? How does this put us into a position to discern good and evil? 6. What does spiritual discernment reveal? 7. What are the conditions for a Christian to have spiritual discernment? 8. What are the characteristics of deceiving spirits? 9. How can we approve our ability to discern? 10. Share some times when you sensed a compatible spirit in another person, and also when you sensed an incompatible spirit.

Notes

1. As cited in Martin Wells Knapp, Impressions: From God or Satan, How to Know the Difference (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1984), p. 32. 2. Knapp, Impressions, p. 43. 3. Knapp, Impressions, p. 14. 4. Neil Anderson, Who We Are in Christ (Regal Books: Ventura, CA, 2001). © 2001 Gospel Light/Regal Books, Ventura, CA 93003. Used by Permission.

The Bondage Breaker® Series In each book of this new series, bestselling author Neil Anderson takes you to the Word of God and digs out truth that will bring you freedom in your life.

Praying by the Power of the Spirit “If prayer is so important, why is it so difficult?” If you’ve ever asked yourself this question, you’re not alone. Neil Anderson looks at why you can be confident in bringing your struggles before God, how personal dialogue with the Father can help you pray for others, and how, through prayer, you can gain freedom to walk in the Spirit. Praying by the Power of the Spirit reinforces the truth that prayer is a relationship, not a ritual—and as a child of God who is already accepted by Him in Christ, you have open access to your Father and are free to be honest with Him.

Finding God’s Will in Spiritually Deceptive Times Do you wonder whether God wants to help you make decisions? Do you have questions about how you can receive His guidance— and about who has the authority to speak for Him? In Finding God’s Will in Spiritually Deceptive Times, Neil Anderson offers help, dealing with how you can identify false thinking, false messages, and false teachers; what the roles of Scripture, the Holy Spirit, and other believers are; and what true spiritual discernment is and how you can put it into action.