Cheat Sheet #17

As you read this section, keep in mind that the New Testament is not merely a history book, it's meant to change us to become more and more like Jesus. When we read any passages in the New Testament, our goal should be to discern what God wants us to believe and do so that we can be obedient to Him.

In a moment we'll see that the Bible commands us to be led by the Spirit of God, so in obedience to God, every Christian needs to learn how to discern the guidance of the Holy Spirit within them. He's the Teacher (John 14:26), and He will help us understand what the Bible says (1 Corinthians 2:14) and lead us on the individual path that God has in mind for each of us.

As Christians, we are called servants of the Lord (e.g., Matthew 6:24, Romans 6:22, 2 Timothy 2:24, Hebrews 9:14, Revelation 1:1, 2:20). Therefore, imagine a new butler to the lord of the manor at an English estate. He has the instruction manual describing the butler's duties and can perform some of his duties after studying the instruction manual, but those are not his only duties. In order to properly function as a butler to the lord of the manor, it's not his place to do whatever he feels like doing all day, but instead, he must be available to the lord of the manor all day, every day. In exactly the same way, as servants of the Lord, we should think of ourselves as His butlers. We must obey everything that the instruction manual (the New Testament) tells us to do, but those are not our only duties. In order to properly function as butlers to the Lord, it's not our place to do whatever we feel like doing all day, but instead, we must be available to the Lord all day, every day.

My article called Cheat Sheet #02 shows that Jesus is the Head and each Christian is a part of His physical body on earth. Just as your head constantly tells different parts of your body what to do, where to go, and what to say, our Head (Jesus) constantly tells different parts of His physical body what to do, where to go, and what to say. Each part of Christ's physical body (each Christian) needs to be listening to and obeying our Head because if we're not listening to Him then we're not fully obeying Him (think about it for a moment), and we'll be disciplined (perhaps severely) both in this life and in heaven (see my articles called Cheat Sheet #11, Cheat Sheet #12, and Cheat Sheet #13).

Imagine that a family moves into your neighborhood. Over time, you learn some things about them from other people, but that doesn't mean you know them. If you go to their door and talk to them through the door without discerning any response, no matter how often you do this you still don't know them. The only way to know them is through two-way communication with them. In exactly the same way, we learn things about God from the Bible and from other Christians, but that doesn't mean we know Him (just like with the new neighbors). No matter how often we talk to Him in prayer without discerning any response, that still doesn't mean we know Him (just like with the new neighbors). The only way to know Him is through two-way communication with Him (just like with the new neighbors). Think it through for a moment.

One of the most important aspects of the Christian life is to continue growing in our relationship with the Lord. As the above illustration about new neighbors shows, we cannot and will not have the relationship with Him that we are meant to have unless we are experiencing two-way communication with Him. Christianity is not actually a religion, it's all about our relationship with Christ. The only way to have a relationship with someone is by spending time with them and having two-way conversations with them. When my kids were little, I spent a lot of time with them (and still do when I can), talking with them, doing things with them, teaching them, guiding them, and so on. When I gave them chores and tasks to do, such as cleaning their room, cleaning the bathroom, etc., they didn't particularly like those assignments but I had their best interests at heart. As a loving father, I wanted them to be equipped to live successfully on their own when the time came. God is our Father, and He wants to spend a lot of time with each of His children, talking with us, doing things with and through us, teaching us, guiding us, and so on. When He gives us tasks to do, we won't always like those assignments but He always has our best interests at heart because He is our loving Father.

All throughout the Bible, from the very first chapter to the very last, God did miracles, spoke to people, and had plans for people. That's what He does, and He never stopped. We stopped having faith and stopped listening to Him. He talks to every Christian every day (inside us), but most are turning their backs on Him by ignoring what He is telling them, which is the single most appalling travesty of Christianity. Our primary job in this life is to listen to what He says and obey what He says.

Jesus said that He is the vine and we are the branches that are meant to bear much fruit (John 15:5-8). The trunk of a grapevine communicates directly with every branch, providing what each branch needs for growing and producing fruit. In exactly the same way, since Jesus said that He is the vine and we are the branches, this means that He communicates directly with every Christian, providing what each of us needs for growing and "producing fruit" (accomplishing the assignments that He needs us to do here on earth). Therefore, we need to be listening to Him throughout the day, every day.

To learn how to discern what He is telling you throughout the day, every day, see my article called How to Discern God's Guidance.

In the passages below, notice that Jesus said that those who are of God hear God's words. He said that He will not leave us as orphans, but that He will come to us through the Holy Spirit inside us. He also said that His sheep listen to His voice, and that we should not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. We're told that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth and the Spirit of wisdom and revelation who fills us with the knowledge of His will so that we may know God better. We're told to live by the Spirit and be led by the Spirit, and that spiritual truths can only be discerned through the Spirit, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. We're also told that the Lord gives us insight into His will, and that we must listen to everything He tells us:

He who is of God hears God's words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God. (John 8:47 NKJV)

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever - the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. (John 14:16-20)

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (John 14:26)

I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you. (John 16:12-15)

Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. (Acts 16:6-7)
[As my article called How to Discern God's Guidance explains, the Holy Spirit will also guide us if we're listening for His guidance.]

Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation - but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. (Romans 8:12-14)

What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. (1 Corinthians 2:12)

The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, for, "Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:14-16)
[Spiritual truths can only be discerned through the Spirit of God, so we need His help to properly discern and interpret the truths in the Bible.]

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law...Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (Galatians 5:16-18, 25)

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people (Ephesians 1:17-18)

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives (Colossians 1:9)

Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4)

While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" (Matthew 17:5)

The Jews there were amazed and asked, "How did this man get such learning without having been taught?" Jesus answered, "My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. (John 7:15-17)

The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice...I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me - just as the Father knows me and I know the Father - and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd...The works I do in my Father's name testify about me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. (John 10:2-4, 14-16, 25-28)
[As Bible commentaries point out, the "sheep" are Jewish Christians and the "other sheep" are Gentile (non-Jewish) Christians. There were no Gentile Christians until after the cross (Acts 10:1-11:18), so when Jesus said that "They too will listen to my voice," this means that hearing Jesus' voice was not just while He was on the earth. All Christians need to be listening to His voice even after the cross because we have His Spirit in our hearts to guide us and teach us.]

"You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me." (John 18:37)

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you - even Jesus. Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. For Moses said, 'The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from their people.' (Acts 3:19-23)

Thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you. (2 Corinthians 8:16)

Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. (Ephesians 5:15-17)

And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from the Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts - deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds - [in that peaceful state] to which [as members of Christ's] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful - appreciative, giving praise to God always. (Colossians 3:15 AMP)
[The Amplified Version of the Bible (AMP) uses parentheses and square brackets to provide nuances and shades of meaning from the original Hebrew and Greek to help us better understand the intended meaning of Scripture passages.]

No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor's crown except by competing according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this. (2 Timothy 2:4-7)

So, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness, where your ancestors tested and tried me, though for forty years they saw what I did. That is why I was angry with that generation; I said, 'Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.' So I declared on oath in my anger, 'They shall never enter my rest.'" (Hebrews 3:7-11)

The one who keeps God's commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us. (1 John 3:24)

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. (Revelation 3:20)

In the above passages we are clearly told numerous times that we need to continually listen to the Lord through the Holy Spirit within us. Otherwise we are violating and disobeying the spirit of every one of the above passages.

Keep in mind that when we think we've discerned something from God, we need to make absolutely certain that it does not contradict the proper understanding of Scripture.

Some of the apostles and other Christians received new revelation from God concerning Christian doctrines, which they recorded in the Bible. But throughout the New Testament we also see examples of Christians receiving messages from God through prophecies, visions, tongues and interpretation, or other means. Some of these messages are recorded in Scripture, and we can see that they're not doctrinal truths for the entire church but instead they are messages for a specific person, a local church, or some other group:

Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Go south to the road - the desert road - that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official...The Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it." Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. "Do you understand what you are reading?" Philip asked. "How can I," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?" So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. (Acts 8:26-31)

Meanwhile, Saul [soon to become the apostle Paul] was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!" "Yes, Lord," he answered. The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight." (Acts 9:1-12)

During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) (Acts 11:27-28)

Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. (Acts 13:1-3)

Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. (Acts 16:6-10)

One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city." So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God. (Acts 18:9-11)

After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. Coming over to us, he took Paul's belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, "The Holy Spirit says, 'In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.'" (Acts 21:10-11)

The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, "Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome." (Acts 23:11)

So in the New Testament we see examples of Christians receiving messages from God through prophecies, visions, or other means. These are not doctrinal truths for the entire church, but instead they're messages for a specific person, a local church, or some other group. God still speaks messages to Christians today that are not intended to be new Scripture or new doctrinal truths. For example, in the following passages we're told that people had (or will have) dreams, visions, prophecies, tongues and interpretation, or other types of messages from God:

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.'" (Acts 2:14-18)

While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." So Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?" "John's baptism," they replied. Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus." On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all. (Acts 19:1-7)

Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven. He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied. (Acts 21:8-9)

What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. (1 Corinthians 2:12-14)

Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified. (1 Corinthians 14:1-5)
[Paul's comments about speaking in tongues in this passage are often misinterpreted. My article called Praying in the Spirit Means Speaking in Tongues examines every passage on tongues throughout the New Testament so that we can see the full picture. In this passage Paul said that prophecy edifies the church, and that tongues plus interpretation from the Holy Spirit edifies the church.]

What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up. If anyone speaks in a tongue, two - or at the most three - should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God. Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged...If anyone thinks they are a prophet or otherwise gifted by the Spirit, let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command. But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way. (1 Corinthians 14:26-40)

Then after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. I went in response to a revelation and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain. (Galatians 2:1-2)

And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth. (Revelation 11:3)

In the above passages we're told that God gave messages to various Christians but we're never told what those messages were. Therefore, those messages were not new doctrines for the church; they were messages from God specifically for a person, a local church congregation, or some other group of people. If God gives messages to Christians today through such things as dreams, visions, tongues and interpretation, or prophecies, this is not going beyond what is written because what is written in the New Testament shows that miraculous experiences such as these were never intended to be limited to the first century (see my article called All Gifts of the Spirit Are Available Today). Those messages are not adding to Scripture because they're not new doctrines for the church and they don't fit the criteria for adding Scripture to the New Testament canon (see my article above). Instead, they are messages for a specific person or group, telling them what they need to do or giving them guidance, instruction, or warning.

If we believe we've received a message from God, we're told to test and carefully weigh the message to ensure that it properly agrees with Scripture. We're also told to test the person who delivers a message to us, and only believe them if they acknowledge that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, who came in the flesh:

Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. (1 Corinthians 14:29)

Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good (1 Thessalonians 5:19-21)

Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist - denying the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also. (1 John 2:22-23)

Dear friends, 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. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world...If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. (1 John 4:1-3, 15)

And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. (2 John 1:6-7)

To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. (Revelation 2:1-2)

In the above passages we're told to test messages that might be from God such as prophecies, but we're never told to test Scripture. Therefore, prophecies and other messages from God are not the same as Scripture.

In the passages in this section we're clearly told to continually listen to the Lord through the Holy Spirit within us.

Are you able to discern His guidance within you, and are you listening to Him and obeying what He says all day, every day?