“I urge you, my brothers and sisters, for the sake of the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to agree to live in unity with one another and put to rest any division that attempts to tear you apart.”
1 Corinthians 1:10
“So then, dear family, stand firm with a masterful grip of the teachings we gave you, either by word of mouth or by our letter.”
2 Thessalonians 2:15
I discern the presence of demons.
I speak in tongues.
I cast out demons.
I receive prophetic word.
I get spiritual insight into the unseen.
I receive visions that reach into the deepest and most secret parts of people.
This is the first that I am publicly confessing all of this so openly and matter of factly. But it’s a big part of my life. It’s my relationship with Holy Spirit.
Anyone ready to stop supporting me yet
I’ve grown up in the Southern Baptist world and through college and seminary I was given really great doctrine and theology by my Southern Baptist roots. Through all of my exploration in my walk with Jesus, I by far believe it’s the most accurate theology and the most in line with scripture. I’m so thankful for this family and for this guidance by the Father.
I’m also thankful for my Presbyterian family. My senior year of college I attended a Presbyterian Church, and I loved the reverence and determination that Church of the Redeemer had for God. I also ride along with their view of church polity (governing) above anyone else’s, and have a high honor for their view of the Sabbath.
At Seminary I also had a strong connection to the Anglican Church. The Church of the Apostles helped me a lot practically seek out my relationship with Jesus. There were questions and promptings to explore my relationship with Jesus in sin, healing, freedom, and truth. I love my Anglican family.
So where in the world do I fall?
Am I Baptist? Am I Presbyterian? Am I Pentecostal? Am I Assemblies of God? Am I Anglican? Well if I have to answer this question I am a hot mess. But if we can broaden our horizons… I am a follower of Jesus Christ.
What that means to me is that the Word of God is my foundation of truth. The more I know the Word (I mean both Jesus and the Bible when I say this), the more I become more like Christ. The more I read scripture the more discernment I gain for the things of the Lord verses the things that are not. It’s not just a knowledge thing but a co-laboring between the Word and Spirit to burrow the Kingdom into my heart, soul, and mind.
When I read scripture I see a God who is unchanging:
A Father that is reliable,
a Brother who is loyal,
and a Spirit who is consistent.
Which means we have a God who’s goal is to be worshipped by everyone, and to bring all peoples in to restoration with Him and His family. The God I know, YHWH of the Bible, will do anything to bring this to happen.
Which means that today He gives Muslims dreams of Himself so that they SEEK HIM out.
Which means that he delivers people of possession so that they may BELONG to Him.
Which means that He sends His children to say to others things they know only because He knows, and to say to others things they’ve seen only because He has seen, so that they know they are KNOWN.
Which means His Word is one of the most powerful things as when people read it Holy Spirit enlightens them to truth that they would not understand apart from Him, and through it people find IDENTITY.
Wait for part two of this series to learn how God specifically has moved supernaturally on the Race, and to learn more about my relationship with Holy Spirit as I opened with.
