HE GUIDES US THROUGH THE WORD
And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you
an inheritance among all them which are
sanctified (Acts 20:32).
Some people have made shipwreck of their faith because they believed certain dreams and revelations they claimed came from God. In the New Testament, God doesn’t lead us through dreams. He guides us through the Word and the Holy Spirit. We can always depend on the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us through our spirits and through the Word.
You might be quick to ask, “How about Acts 2:17? Doesn’t it indicate that God still leads through dreams?” No, He doesn’t. Dreams were for the sense-knowledge generation of men. Since the Holy Spirit came, you don’t find the apostles or anyone in the New Testament being ministered to in a dream. The Holy Spirit, nonetheless, does lead by visions and other revelations such as prophecy, the inward witness, and other gifts of the Spirit.
However, any vision, prophecy or revelation that doesn’t align with the Word is not from God. It brings to mind the story of a certain sick man who had been a Christian for many years and had a vision where someone walked into the room, wearing sandals and a white robe, and covered with a cloud. He recounted that as he looked from the person’s feet upwards to make out his face, the image suddenly spoke and said, “It’s not my will to heal you” and disappeared.
He immediately believed it was Jesus, because he said he “felt” the presence of God. From then on, he believed it wasn’t God’s will to heal him. What made him think it was Jesus who appeared to him? Was it because the person was in a white robe? Was it because the person was covered with a cloud?
Those aren’t enough reasons to assume it was Jesus. If, in a vision, you heard a voice that tells you something that’s inconsistent with the Scriptures, then it’s questionable. The question to ask is, does God want people well? Emphatically yes! Read 3 John 1:2. He’ll never come to you in a dream or vision to tell you anything contrary. He never contradicts Himself. Every revelation must be subjected to the Word of God! This is the reason you must study the Word and know it for yourself.
PRAYER
Dear Father, thank you for the immeasurable blessing of your Word and the Holy Spirit who guides me in your perfect will always. Your Word is my light, and I’m blessed always to receive the accurate guidance I need to deal wisely, enjoying my blessed life of righteousness in Christ, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Hebrews 1:1-2; Psalm 119:105; Isaiah 30:21 TLB
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 2 Corinthians 7:2-16 & Proverbs 22-23
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-10 & Jeremiah 26
