10250 North Freeway @ West Road
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10250 North Freeway @ West
Road
Houston, Texas 77037
Tel: (281) 447-8484
Peculiar
Misunderstandings
Written by Dr.
Lester Hutson
Copyright
- Lester Hutson - 1989
This material is copyrighted and may not be copied or reproduced
without the express written permission of Dr. Lester Hutson.
Message #6
MISUNDERSTANDING
THE CURRENT ROLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
(Part #2)
"The Holy Spirit Consistency"
Text * Ephesians 5:18 & I Corinthians 14:33
B. There are some people who believe the Holy Spirit talks to people today other than through the Bible:
1. It is not uncommon to hear sincere, conscientious believers say, "The Lord told me," and they go on to state what He said. Oral Roberts affirms the Lord appeared to him and told him about the hospital he was to build in Tulsa. Many radio and T.V. "evangelists" will say the Lord told them that so many people in the listening audience are to send a thousand, five hundred, or some other sum of money. They will often share their prayer and "time with God" experiences which often consist of conversations they had with the Lord. The beautiful hymn, "In the Garden" says, "I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses. And the voice I hear, is the voice of cheer." Then the refrain says, "And He walks with me, and He talks with me; and He tells me I am His own. And the voice I hear falling on mine ear, none other has ever known." Now, if that song is interpreted to mean that the Spirit of God brings biblical truths to the attention, upon which the believer meditates with joy and comfort, then well and good. But, if the song is interpreted to mean God carries on some sort of extra- scriptural conversation as two people walking through a park, then there is a misconception of the Holy Spirit. I recall as a young boy that a certain Baptist man came to my parent's home to tell my dad that God had called him to preach. He said he'd been wrestling with the call to preach for many days. He said that about 2:00 a.m. the night before, the Lord came to him, and called him by name. He said the Lord stood there in bodily form and told him he was to be a preacher. He affirmed the Lord stood there and spoke clearly and audibly to him just as one person would speak to another.
2. Though we very definitely believe the Holy Spirit of God leads the saved, we do not believe He speaks to men through some "still small voice," face to face, or in some other fashion as one person would speak to another. He did speak to men in visions, dreams, and person to person in giving the scriptures and prior to their completion. A most potent conversation between God and Abraham over the destruction of Sodam is recorded in Genesis 18:22-33. The Lord spoke right out to the child Samuel in I Samuel 3, and the voice was so clear that Samuel thought it was Eli who called him. To Elijah, the Lord appeared in "a still small voice" in I Kings 19:12; and to Saul of Tarsus, the Lord appeared in a blinding light in Acts 9:3-7 and said, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" When Saul asked who it was that was speaking, the Lord answered, "I am Jesus whom thou persecutest." The Lord went on to tell him other things.
There is no question as to whether or not the Lord can speak to a man in an audible voice or through a direct statement in the heart. We know He has. The question is, does He still do so today? As we have previously discussed in this series of lessons, we contend that the Bible is the finalized and only revelation of God. From II Timothy 3:16-17, we understand that these revealed scriptures "throughly" furnish the child of God with all the instructions he needs to do the work God has for him. Thus, we see no current believer in need of any direct word from the Lord. What we do need is the truths and principles of the Bible brought to our attention; and we believe the Holy Spirit will do that, providing we've put the Word in our hearts, thus giving Him the tool He needs with which to work in us.
3. The idea that God talks to men today through some audible or inner voice is a concept that can open "Pandora's box". Every mystic around can seize upon it as a basis for his new ideas. He can also say, "God told me this." It gives people a way of justifying virtually every action they take. They can also blame what they do on God by claiming He told them to do it.
Furthermore, even if the Holy Spirit did speak to men today in some "still small voice" or other verbalizing way, it would be awfully difficult to say for sure which inner conversations are of the Spirit; and which are of the counterfeiting Devil, or of our own old deceitful hearts. Men can, and do, talk and reason with themselves. It would surely be easy to misunderstand one of these inner conversations to be the voice of God through the Holy Spirit. But, such an assumption denies that the Bible is the completed revelation of God, for an inner conversation to one by the Holy Spirit says He's giving more. In view of the Bible being the finalized Word from God, we contend there's no need for a voice from Him today. What we do need today is to apply that which has already been written; and that the Holy Spirit will provide the grace to do, providing He is given control of one's life. So, we contend that the Holy Spirit does not talk to people today other than through the Bible.
C. Based upon their statements, it is also obvious that some very earnest people believe the Holy Spirit functions in a very confusing and inconsistent way:
1. It is highly doubtful that anyone would ever admit that he holds that concept of the Holy Spirit; yet his actions and statements betray this to be his true position. For example, good preachers often stand in the pulpit and make statements such as, "A few days ago, God gave me a message for today, but on the way to church, He changed it. So, this morning I shall preach on this subject." Though the preacher would probably deny it, he has in fact accused the Holy Spirit of inconsistency. The Holy Spirit of God is not so near-sighted, nor fickle as to lead in a sermon for a given service, only to reverse Himself before that service. Being God, He knows the end from the beginning, Isaiah 46:9-10. He never changes His perfect character and direction, Malachi 3:6. Every true preacher of the truth seeks God's leadership in the message he preaches in any given service. Sometimes he thinks he has just the message God would have him preach only to decide later that another message is in order. There is no reason for a preacher to be embarrassed about that, not to accredit the uncertainty of the matter to the Holy Spirit. Preachers are just mortal men trying to determine the Lord's will and leading in matters, including message selection. As they pray, study the Word, and consider the circumstances and needs of a given audience, they sometimes come up with the wrong message, only to have that fact become clear as the service approaches. In fact, it is the Holy Spirit of God, who through methods we shall soon consider, who makes it clear. So, what the preacher who is being led by God's Spirit must do is change messages. What he should not do is accuse the Holy Spirit of God of giving him one message early on and of then changing it in mid-course. Before the foundations of the world, the Holy Spirit of God knew exactly the message that every preacher should preach at any given service until the end of time. He doesn't ever lead a preacher to preach a message at a given service then change it before that service arrives. What we preachers who change messages should admit is the fact that we are just mortals who sometimes mistake what the Lord is leading us to do. Our messages change; not because the Holy Spirit reverses Himself (because He never does); but because we're often slow to perceive what He is leading us to do. The blame for change must rest on us; not the Holy Spirit. Sometimes, we never perceive what He's leading us to preach, and thus end up preaching the wrong message.
2. It is doubtful that those who make such claims realize what they're doing, but they are representing the Holy Spirit as really fickle, inconsistent, and short-sighted. To many who are watching, the credibility of Christianity is seriously underminded; and the very integrity of God is threatened. And, the example of preachers accusing the Holy Spirit of changing their sermons is just one little peep at one facet of a very wide-spread practice. The lives of countless preachers and other believers are a continuing saga of un- ending inconsistencies and reversals, all accredited to the leadership of the Holy Spirit. Why blame it on the Lord? Why not just admit that the mistakes, inconsistencies, and reversals of our lives are our own doings through selfishness, short-sightedness, and our mistaking of the Lord's will; not the fault of the Holy Spirit? God forbid that His Spirit be blamed for our human blunderings! King David didn't want God blamed for his failings, and so stated in Psalms 51:4 to God, "That thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest." People know we mortals are going to fail, and will understand when we admit our errors in judgment and inconsistencies in life; but when we piously act as though it happened because the Holy Spirit led us to it; we not only bring reproach upon the Spirit of God, we also make ourselves stink with hypocrisy.
3. One thing you need never doubt, the Holy Spirit, being God, will always be absolutely consistent with Himself, for, "God is not the author of confusion," I Corinthians 14:33. Abraham asked, "Shall not the judge of all the earth do fight?" Genesis 18:25. Certainly He will, for He is the author of righteousness, Isaiah 45:19 and Daniel 9:7. No man can in truth lay inconsistencies in word or deed on the leadership of the Holy Spirit, for He just doesn't function that way.
4. And, neither does He lead anyone contrary to His Word, the Bible. He is the author of it, and for him to come along in modern times and lead someone contrary to the statements and principles of it would indeed be inconsistent. That's the reason we can not accept the modern tongues and miracle healing movement to be the work of God through the Holy Spirit. That's the reason why we can not accept it as the leading of God through His Spirit when men enter into business deals that violate Bible principles; yet many in such cases claim God is leading them in their actions. Many who want to marry a wrong mate or marry when they shouldn't claim they're being led of God to do so. But, the Spirit does not lead contrary to His Word. Some get unhappy in a good, sound church over procedures, administration of programs, or because their way didn't prevail. They claim God is leading them to a church that doesn't even stand true on important doctrinal issues. But, the Holy Spirit doesn't lead men from truth into error.
5. What a hurtful shame it is to the cause of Christ that so many well intending people blame so many of their whelms, inconsistent words and deeds, and anti-scriptural activities on the leadership of the Holy Spirit! He is a very real and active person in the lives of God's people, but He never functions in an inconsistent and confusing way. He always functions totally in harmony with Himself and His written Word. And, it is indeed sad that once you take a firm position that this is how the Holy Spirit currently functions, many will think you peculiar and accuse you of not believing in the Holy Spirit. This is no doubt true, due to the fact that adherence to this position denies as His much of what is routinely accredited to the leadership of the Spirit.
6. Let me close this message with just a brief word to you who have been watching. You may very well have been disillusioned by some of the inconsistencies and blunderings you've seen in the name of the Holy Spirit leadership, even in fine and sincere people. I plead with you to not allow the mistakes and misconceptions you see in people cause you to fall-out with and turn against God. They're just people, and people make mistakes. Don't blame God for what people do. It's not His fault that some accuse Him of things He doesn't do. He is a great God and always works in a consistent and sensible way just as set forth in His Word. Don't let the failures of some well-meaning people turn you from Him into hell; or if you are saved, into a life of disillusionment, bitterness, and unfruitfulness.
"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"