So, for much of my life I have struggled with fear. Fear of different things…things like the dark, stray dogs, (most all animals actually), etc… but the one thing that I have always feared more than anything else is what others think of me. Thank the Lord, He is currently setting me free from the chains of people pleasing. I won't lie, it's a little scary but the courage He is building in me says "its worth it… do it anyway".
I heard something at training camp a couple weeks ago that sparked this blog. So here goes…
We should be institutionalized….. by the worlds standards anyway.
"I hear a voice in my head and I do what it says". (don't be too alarmed, In context it was said about listening to the Lord and being obedient) but that simple phrase made me think, Whoa!… when you say it like that you probably sound like a crazy person and I think most people would start to worry about your mental well being.
But then I was thinking, how many people do I hear say…
"the Lord showed me (blank)", "The Lord helped me (blank)", "The Lord answered my prayer about (blank)" …you finish the sentence…
We accept those statements as normal. Its not too intrusive. its not too in your face. It's easily dismissed, and I believe it is basically interpreted as…
"I think …" or "I realized…." or "things worked out like I wanted them to…"
They are sweet, gentle phrases that don't cause us to really evaluate what we are saying or what we believe.
But, when we start talking about prophecy or speaking in tongues and that's when things start to get a little weird by the western world's standards. It is then that we have to really evaluate what we do or do not believe. The specific gifts of the Spirit generate a response. I used to be scared of that response. I worried what others would think of me if they knew I believed that the Lord still worked in these ways. Well, over the last several years I have experienced these gifts I am more convinced than ever that He does still work in these ways and I am tired of pretending like He doesn't so that others don't think I'm weird. So yeah, "I hear a voice in my head and I do what it says!"
Just because we may not fully understand something doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
I have found several verses on the subject, and I would encourage you to research them on your own and see what the Lord reveals to you about them. No matter what your conclusion, you have the ability to dismiss them, but I challenge you not to dismiss them.
Here are just a couple…
Paul says in 1 Cor. 14:39-40 (and really that whole chapter).
"Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order" Here, Paul clearly says DESIRE to prophesy and DO NOT FORBID to speak with tongues. So then I think, how can I read parts of the bible and keep them as true and wonderful and take other parts and just discard them like they don't exist? I can't.
Or how about 1 Cor. 12: 1-11 but especially 7-11 where Paul says
"But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as he wills"
Ok, so bring on the word of wisdom and knowledge. I can accept that, and faith, I'm good with that, but whoa, wait a minute… miracles? prophecy? discerning spirits? speaking in different tongues? Now I'm not so sure. But Paul says "one and the same Spirit works all these things." So I can't accept some and not the others. The same Spirit, the Spirit of God, works all these things!
Below is a quote from a dear friend that I think is so true…
"Every word in the Bible is truth. The problem I have encountered with myself and others is that for years, we only take what we hear about the Bible. We never sit down and read it for ourselves. I used to think tongues was for weird holy rollers until I took the time to sit down and read through the Bible. The Word of God is filled with riches. And His Word, like Him is the same today as it was yesterday and throughout ages past. What Paul and the other great men and women of God had, we can have. And, I want everything the Lord has for me."
So…Call me crazy. I don't care anymore. He lives. He moves. He speaks. He acts. And He does it in ways we can experience everyday. He gives prophesies. He gives the gift of tongues. He preforms miracles/healings. His kingdom is moving and advancing. I don't know about you but I want to be a part of it. I want to stop sugar coating things and be real. We don't have time to play games. Either we believe the Lord lives and still moves or we don't.
Love ya'll. Feel free to post your comments on this one.
