Intellect and the Holy Spirit (an open letter to a false prophet).

“For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (II Timothy 1:7 ).

We are commanded by scripture to be of the same mind as Christ and to study to show ourselves approved unto God. The intellect plays an important role in our ability to discern and rightly divide scripture. However, intellect alone cannot rightly divide the Word of God. For example, scripture declares that even the most brilliant natural man cannot know or receive the things of God, for they are SPIRITUALLY discerned (I Corinthians 2:14 ). The basic element separating sound doctrine from heresy and false teaching is this: Heresy is the meaning of scripture defined by carnal MEN, and sound doctrine/truth is the meaning of scripture defined by the HOLY SPIRIT, who guides us into all truth (John 16:13 ).

“...holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (I Peter 1:21). The Holy Spirit USED the intellect of the men who penned the Canon of Scripture. The Holy Spirit used the subjective experience and intellectual capabilities of these holy men of God, but never divinely added or subtracted from their intellect when inspiring them to write the Word of God. The Holy Spirit moved upon and used only the learning/intellect which was already there. This is also illustrated in the individual characteristics of each writer of the four Gospels, reflected in their respective accounts.

This may, at first, seem to be off topic. But it really is not.

“Knowing this first, that NO prophecy of the scripture IS OF ANY PRIVATE INTERPRETATION...” (I Peter 1:20 ). Simply stated, this verse tells us in no uncertain terms, that scripture is NOT interpreted by any MAN, but by the HOLY SPIRIT (verse 21 ). There can be many APPLICATIONS to scripture, but only ONE interpretation - the HOLY SPIRIT’S. It is the HOLY SPIRIT who guides us into all truth (John 16:13). It is not absolutely necessary that any MAN teach us, for the anointing of the HOLY SPIRIT teaches us all things (I John 2:27 ). Scripture commands us to earnestly contend for the faith, and to reprove, rebuke and exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine (II Timothy 4:2 ). Fervently contending for the faith and reproving should be done in love, with strong conviction, which is distinguishable even from the most veiled forms of pride, arrogance, and condescension.

Some of the most brilliant men in the world, and historically, have also been some of the most evil. I see a lot of false doctrine, heresy and error being presented in a very ‘reasonable’, logical, intellectual and sophisticated manner. These false teachers are extremely well educated, presenting their heresy and error with convincing manner and speech. Their demeanor is often one of condescension, and veiled disdain for the less educated, and particularly the less educated who oppose their false doctrine. They use their superior knowledge, falsely so called, to intimidate and confuse the opposition into silence. And this is no surprise, for “knowledge puffs up (pride, arrogance), but love builds up” (I Corinthians 8:1 ).

When truth and false doctrine clash, proponents of both claim that the other has failed to prove their position from the scriptures. BOTH sides (the false and the true) use scripture to support their position, but the real issue is not merely whether or not the position is supported by scripture, but rather, WHO’S INTERPRETATION of scripture is correct - man’s/Satan’s or GOD’s/The HOLY SPIRIT’S. This goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden, when Satan asked Eve: “Yea, hath God said...?” One side says the scripture means one thing, the other side says it does not. Who is right? Answer: The Holy Spirit. I have even had debates with promoters of false doctrine, who claimed that the Holy Spirit’s interpretation was wrong - and that it was the Holy Spirit who told them so! Obviously, this can create confusion in the minds of Christians. But it need not be so. Fear not. Simply place your faith and dependence solely in Christ’s atonement on the Cross, deepen your relationship with Christ through prayer and Bible study, and you will know the truth, and it will set you free from doubt and confusion.

And remember, that Christians can sincerely love the Lord, and be totally wrong on some things. But if we are sincerely seeking the Lord, the Lord will bring us around - if we will listen to the Holy Spirit. Never contend against an intellectually expounded false doctrine with intellect alone, that is, don’t be deceived into relying on intellect as your POWER source. The Holy Spirit through Paul declares: “For our gospel came not to you in word only, but ALSO IN POWER, and in the HOLY GHOST” (I Thess. 1:5 ). “That your FAITH should NOT stand IN THE WISDOM OF MEN, but IN THE POWER OF GOD (the Cross of Christ)” (I Corinthians 2:5 ). “...that you may abound in hope, THROUGH the POWER of the HOLY GHOST” (Romans 15:13 ). Study this concept. POWER does not come through intellect, but rather POWER comes by the HOLY GHOST, and only in response to faith in Christ’s atonement - the CROSS. Ask Elijah if the false prophets can stand before the Power of God; ask Simon the Sorcerer and Elymas about the Power of God.

The Holy Spirit will not anoint or empower error (an interpretation of scripture that is MAN’S/satan’s and NOT the HOLY SPIRIT’S). Error and false teaching, such as denying the Rapture and scriptural dispensational truths, the plan of God for Israel and the Church as being separate and distinguishable from each other (though the plan of salvation is the same for all), rejecting the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, the error of Unconditional Eternal Security, etc..., along with all false doctrine, have one common denominator - they rely on what MEN SAY the scripture means, rather than what the HOLY SPIRIT SAYS the scripture means. I’ll take the Holy Spirit over man - hands down.

With this in mind, we understand how a young Christian, or one who is weak or not yet well founded in the Word, may listen to the most sophisticated heresy, presented in a seemingly flawless intellectual manner, and at the end simply say: “That is WRONG”. They may not be sophisticated enough to intellectually refute it, indeed, they don’t necessarily need to. For every true sheep of Christ hears His voice - the voice of the Holy Spirit. And that anointing (I John 2:27 ) speaks to the inner man and says: “This isn’t right”. They need not prove anything (though we should certainly study to disprove false doctrine), all they need do is listen to the Master’s voice.

“He THAT HAS AN EAR, let him hear what THE SPIRIT says to the Churches” (Rev. 3:22 ).

Perusing these heretical and/or false teachings has been an educational experience. I posed some questions to the Lord, and He graciously answered. The error which rejects the Rapture, dispensation and the Church/Israel as separate were of particular interest, for the Holy Spirit revealed to me that this is a necessary foundational premiss required to advance the ‘Kingdom Now’ heresy. Simply stated, these three false doctrines, may rightly be defined as crucial underpinnings necessary to lead the apostate church into the one world religion of ‘Anti Christ’, for Anti Christ is likely to falsely claim that the ‘Second Coming’ has arrived when He attempts to make himself God. The teaching that the Rapture is unscriptural goes far beyond a mere difference of opinion regarding scripture. Denial of the Rapture is an essential element in preparing the apostate church for Anti Christ.

While knowledge increases our usefulness to the Master, keen intellect and reason are NOT absolutely essential elements for discerning error and heresy. The ONLY essential element to discerning false teaching, is the regeneration, indwelling and POWER of the HOLY SPIRIT, which comes only through faith in Christ’s atonement. The Apostle Paul was arguably one of the most brilliant minds of his day, yet he counted everything that was a gain to himself as ‘dung’, that he might win Christ. The Holy Spirit through Paul warned us not to allow ourselves to be moved away from the SIMPLICITY that is in Christ (II Corinthians 11:3 ).

Babes and/or weak Christians are often confused and frustrated when they are unable to adequately, intellectually refute that which the Holy Spirit has told them is wrong, and their faith is often severely weakened. This offence is a most damnable result of heresy/false doctrine, and these offences are decidedly displeasing to the Lord; Matthew chapter 18: “But whoso shall offend (‘cause to go crooked’) one of these little ones (babes in Christ and weak Christians) WHICH BELIEVE IN ME, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged around his neck and he were cast into the depths of the sea...offences will come, but woe to that man (false teacher) by whom the offence comes!” Sobering.

Do we tremble at the Word of God? Do we tremble when we speak His Word and teach others? Is the cry of our heart: “Oh, Lord! Spirit of the Living God, guide me, direct me, let me speak only the truth and only those things you command me!” If so, then we have the promise that, like the great prophet Samuel, the Lord will let none of our words fall to the ground. No, the persuasive words and intellect of the prophets of Baal do not impress me - not one wit. I can say with Paul, who had no patience with, or tolerance of, that which caused offences: “..who is offended and I burn (to be angrily ignited as lightening) not” (II Corinthians 11:29 ).

“And my speech and my preaching was not with PERSUASIVE WORDS of MAN’S WISDOM, but in demonstration of the SPIRIT and of POWER...But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom (hidden from the unredeemed and the ‘wise and prudent’), which God ordained before the world to our glory...But God has REVEALED THEM to us BY HIS SPIRIT...which also we speak, not in the words which MAN’S WISDOM teaches, but which THE HOLY GHOST teaches...and will know, not the SPEECH of them that are puffed up, but the POWER. For the Kingdom of God is NOT in WORD (sophisticated speech), but in POWER” (I Corinthians 2:4,7,10,13; 4:19-20 ).

Jesus said: “I thank you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hid these things from the wise and prudent, and have revealed them to babes (simple, unsophisticated): even so, Father; for so it seemed good in your sight” (Luke 10:21 ). One of the works of the flesh, listed by the Holy Spirit in Galatians, 5:20, is heresies. Heresies are lies, usually taught along side or mixed with truths. A little leaven, leavens the whole lump. The ‘Reformed’ church has become for the most part merely intellectual arrogance bathed in dead letter.

The prophets of Baal can save their condescension and intellectual arrogance - it is wasted on me. Perhaps it will impress the Lord, on That Day, but I seriously doubt it, for Jude 13 and Galatians 1:8 and 9 have something to say about it. “But he that is SPIRITUAL judges all things, yet he himself is judged by no man. For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he shall instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ” ( I Corinthians 2:15-16 ).

In order to speak the truth in love, one must first be speaking the truth. If it is not truth, then it is not love. Seems to me that there is way too much “suggestin’ goin’ on” these days. This alone is a red flag. The very first ‘suggestion’ was not introduced by God, but by the serpent. The Lord does not ‘suggest’ anything - He commands (don’t try and claim that the parables were ‘suggestion’, the parables were “hidden truths” - hidden from the merely curious, but available to the sincere and diligent seeker). And Christ’s command to the teachers of false doctrine is: “Get on your FACE, REPENT, and seek Me for a good old fashioned dose of the HOLY GHOST, or you will most surely give an account. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God.”

You asked that, if what I said did not come to pass, if you might then label me as a false prophet (though I never said I was a prophet). By all means, it is scriptural for you to do so. By the same token, I have studied enough of your teachings (denial of the Rapture, dispensation and on the Church/Israel) to come to the scriptural conclusion that you, sir, are most definitely a prophet.
A false prophet.

Shilohcomes