One day I received a disturbing message from a student at the CoH Academy. She said, “I asked the Holy Spirit if everything was going to go my way in an earthly court case, and He said that I would be victorious. I even tested it by asking if Jesus the Messiah came in the flesh and the spirit agreed. But I lost! How can this happen?”
During my prayer time, I asked the Holy Spirit what happened: “You are never wrong, so it wasn’t you who spoke to her. Was there something wrong with the way the spirit was tested? Is there a way to get around the testing?”
He replied, “I wasn’t speaking to her. The enemy wasn’t speaking to her. It was her own mind. She is too focused on the problem. She is a young Christian; her soul is still dominating her spirit. She has placed this problem above God; it is an idol. Her own mind is in control of it.”
“Oh no,” I thought. “Then how can Christians be sure that what they are hearing is from You?”
His answer was simple, “Tell them to ask Me for a ‘chapter and verse.’ Even a new or unlearned child may quote scriptures, but chapters and verses are harder. Only I can provide those. Tell them to strengthen their spirit with the Word of God, the heavenly language, and prayer.”
Later, when I was typing out my response, the Holy Spirit added, “Tell them to practice being led by My peace.”
Let’s recap what the Holy Spirit revealed and confirm it in the Word:
1. Human beings have three parts. The correct order is: Your spirit should dominate your soul, which then rules over your body.
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body… (1 Thessalonians 5:23 ESV)
2. We should test the spirits.
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God… (1 John 4:1-2 AKJV)
If we are having a conversation in our minds or out loud, we should ask, “Do you confess that Jesus the Christ has come in the flesh?”
3. The Holy Spirit guides us through peace. In this verse, the word rule actually means to umpire a game, be the deciding factor:
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts… (Colossians 3:15 AKJV)
There is a feeling of peace, ease, and calmness that the Holy Spirit will bring to your inner being when you are going in the right direction. If you are irritated, unsettled, or anxious, this is not “peace.” The Amplified Version gives words in brackets, “[],” that explain the original Greek words a little more:
Let the peace of Christ [the inner calm of one who walks daily with Him] be the controlling factor in your hearts [deciding and settling questions that arise]. (Colossians 3:15 AMP)
There will be an inner calm when you are walking with the Lord toward your destiny. “The controlling factor” or “rule” is actually the Greek word brabeuō, which means to control or direct, to decide or determine. God will often use inner peace to guide us in the right way to go.
4. We can hear from three sources: God, Satan, and our own minds. We know we can hear from God and Satan, but what about our own minds?
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. (Romans 1:21 AKJV)
A Christian can become “vain” in their imaginations. These images or conversations take place in their thoughts. The Greek word doxazō is translated as “they glorified.” It means to honor. We must honor God and be thankful for what He has done. When we honor someone, we pay attention to what they have said, which in this case is the Word of God, the Bible.
When seeking God about this in prayer, the Holy Spirit gave me a verse to confirm what He was saying is from the Word:
They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. (Ephesians 4:18 ESV)
Our minds can be darkened where we don’t understand things. When we are without light, we can become lost. This darkness is caused by ignorance, which by definition is a lack of knowledge. The term “hard heart” describes someone whose mind is set in one direction. We may use the word “driven” or “focused” to describe these people. Even if we are reading the Bible, if we are set in what we believe or what we want, then we will be unable to see that which is right in front of us. Our understanding won't have the “light” it requires, and we may become separated from God.
A heart can be hardened for many reasons, but continual disobedience or focusing on an issue instead of God are chief among them. Both reasons typically apply to a “young Christian” but doesn’t necessarily refer to teenagers. Rather they are unlearned in the ways of God. This can also apply to a mature Christian, but one who focuses on the problem instead of God. The Holy Spirit said that the reason she heard from her own mind was because she was a young Christian.
For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (Hebrews 5:13-14 NKJV)
This verse shows us there are those who are younger or unlearned in the ways of God. It doesn't refer to one’s literal age or the actual number of years that we have been dedicated to the Lord that makes us a mature Christian. We must have solid food or meat, the stronger things of God, and exercise discernment to grow. This is why He gave new Christians a way to make sure they are hearing from Him, so they can exercise discernment!
Testing the Holy Spirit
We know that testing the spirits is what God tells us to do, and He gives us one way to test them. This should always be done first because Satan and his minions can quote scripture. But what does the Bible say about confirmation that the Holy Spirit suggested?
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of Truth, which proceeds from the Father, He shall testify of Me: (John 15:26 AKJV)
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1:14 AKJV)
The Holy Spirit testifies of Jesus, who is the Word. This is why He can give us the chapter and verse to confirm that He is the Holy Spirit. He is testifying of Jesus by using the Word, which is Jesus.
Strengthen Your Spirit
And be not conformed to this world: but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:2 KJV)
This is where we begin. In order to find or prove what God’s will is, we must be willing to be changed by what we read. This means we will not be like others in the world. Sometimes even when we are willing, we cannot walk in the ways of God until we renew our mind. The Bible tells us how to achieve this:
But be you doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. (James 1:22 AKJV)
Hearing the Word is good and necessary, but it isn’t enough. We must not only hear the Word of God but begin doing it. When we continue reading James, it really outlines what will happen when we hear without doing:
For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like to a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholds himself, and goes his way, and straightway forgets what manner of man he was. (James 1:23-24 AKJV)
If we don’t practice what we learn, then it doesn’t benefit us: There is no permanent change in the natural world. We must be willing to put into action the wisdom God brings us. God is good; He also shows us what will happen when we follow through:
But whoever looks into the perfect Law of Liberty, and continues therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. (James 1:25 AKJV)
When you don’t feel like the works of your hands are blessed, check and see if you are doing what God’s word tells you to do. Start with the obvious, The Ten Commandments, which is the “Law of Liberty.” If you don’t feel like you can find the sins that need to be removed, the Holy Spirit can help you with this, or you can come and learn at the Academy so that you can receive the charges (sins) the enemy is using against you. There is another way to tell if you are focusing too much on the world and not enough on God:
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God. (Romans 8:5-7 AKJV)
The flesh represents natural things. The Spirit represents the things of God. When we are new Christians, our minds are filled with things of this world. How can we know if we are on the right path and free of the things of this world?
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7 KJV)
We know we have let go of the things of this world when the peace of God comes, no matter what the circumstances are. As long as we are anxious, then we are still focusing on something other than God. This means that if we continue to ask others to agree with us in prayer or continue to pray and beg God to help our loved ones, we haven’t really placed them in God’s hands. We are still trying to find help for them. Once we have asked for God’s help, we should only praise and thank Him that He is in charge.
Notice that it is the peace that passes all comprehension. If there is a reason for the peace, then it isn’t what you are looking for. It is a peace, despite how it looks, and despite things not going the way you thought they would. Without the Holy Spirit, it is impossible for our hearts and souls to be at rest, for it is only He who can bring that kind of peace to you.
When the situation looks bad, don’t seek answers. Only seek Jesus. Give over all concerns to Him. Be determined that whatever comes, it is something that He can handle. This is glorifying God and praising Him. When we continue to focus on how the problem looks, seeking definite answers, then we are glorifying the problem and focusing on how big that problem is instead of how big our God is.
Remember, if it was easy, everyone would do it. We have a Helper who is the Holy Spirit. Cry out to Jesus, and He will be there to help you along the way!
In the first week we released the article below on our blog, we received this testimony:
“There was a time when I used my imagination in ungodly ways; it was a generational thing. I have since matured, and Jesus has set me free... However, often I have had trouble knowing who it is I am hearing from.
Even now, there are times when I have not been sure at all. Anyway, this message and video has been such a blessing. It has come at a time when I have again been struggling to identify who I am hearing. What stuck out to me, like a gold nugget, has been how I need to ask the Holy Spirit for a chapter and a verse. I have to confess I was really scared to ask Him for this, in case it was just coming from my own mind. (I did tell Him this, too.) But as I was talking to the Lord tonight, telling Him what I'm currently struggling with, I was reminded again of your blog saying to ask Him for a chapter and a verse. While I was not keen to do so, I also thought that I needed to give it a go and see what would happen... And as this thought occurred to me, a chapter and verse came to mind. While I was uncertain about it, I obviously had to check it out. After I read the scripture verse, I was so relieved and grateful to the Holy Spirit, Jesus, and the Father. The scripture was so relevant...There aren’t words to describe how awesome this is, and also how much of an anchor this is...to know that you know...”
Julie R.
When we KNOW that it was really the Holy Spirit, this is truly a blessing that can help our faith.
More Articles on the Courts of Heaven can be found in the:
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Believers' Boot Camp series
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Many people think of boot camp as a place you train for combat. Any veteran will tell you that basic training is about three things:
- Knowing what weapons are available
- Learning how to use those weapons
- Receiving orders and following them
The series uses the Word of God to reveal all that He has given us through Jesus. The Bible is our instruction manual and the Holy Spirit is our guide to understanding it.
Why Doesn't God Speak to Me?
Eager hearts cry out, hoping for a single word to confirm that He hears us. Yet, many times the only sound is silence. Over the years I have heard several reasons why God speaks to some and not to others. One night, as I tossed and turned, I brought each of these reasons before the Lord, stating why each of them did not line up with who I thought He was.
Words rose from my soul, pleading for Him to reveal why He has remained silent when a single word from Him would mean so much to so many. For the next few hours, God used things I learned about years ago and things I had just discovered to show why He talks to some and why He doesn’t, and in demonstrative ways.
In His grace, He also showed me how people could hear more from Him. Basic instructions on how to hear more from God and how to be led by Him are included in this book. Thank you for taking time to consider the answers I received and share with you now.
Eager hearts cry out, hoping for a single word to confirm that He hears us. Yet, many times the only sound is silence. Over the years I have heard several reasons why God speaks to some and not to others. One night, as I tossed and turned, I brought each of these reasons before the Lord, stating why each of them did not line up with who I thought He was. Keys to Authority for Every Believer
There is untapped power that is easy for every Christian to access in the form of authority. The keys to this authority will unlock weapons we can use to free ourselves from the attacks of the enemy. We must be intimately aware of the bounds and limitations of our weapon if they are to be used effectively.
Find out about your authority:- Why you need it.
- Where it comes from.
- What you can do with it.
- How to get more.
- Why you need it.
- Where it comes from.
- What you can do with it.
- How to get more.
Destroying Curses in the Courts of Heaven
Our rights to appear in the Courts of Heaven have been greatly undervalued. The missing key to our authority is here. Jesus has provided the access and the Bible shows us the court procedures. When we learn to operate in our rightful place as children of the Most High, the enemy will be defeated and we will see the victory we have prayed for.
The death of Jesus freed us from the curse of the law. However, we must declare this freedom just as we must make a declaration for our salvation.
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Our rights to appear in the Courts of Heaven have been greatly undervalued. The missing key to our authority is here. Jesus has provided the access and the Bible shows us the court procedures. When we learn to operate in our rightful place as children of the Most High, the enemy will be defeated and we will see the victory we have prayed for.
The death of Jesus freed us from the curse of the law. However, we must declare this freedom just as we must make a declaration for our salvation.
- Can curses be passed to our children?
- What are signs of a curse?
- How do you get rid of one?
Every answer is backed by scripture. Come and find out how easy it is to be free!
Roadmap to Heaven
As I meditated and sought the Lord, a vision overcame me. A “Roadmap to Heaven” was deposited into my soul. We are entering a season of unparalleled access to Heaven. Jesus is calling all who are His to visit with Him in the Secret Place of the Most High.- What is the Secret Place?
- How do we enter?
- What will we find there?
The Bible holds the answers, the mystery has been revealed. As you use the map given in this book to journey to the Secret Place, discover your destiny and find the gifts the Holy Spirit will bring along the way.
Freely given at:Amazon Kindle – iBooksPaperbacks at: Agape-CF.org
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- What is the Secret Place?
- How do we enter?
- What will we find there?
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