Jan Smith, me too! I have never in my life experienced such peace as leaving off the pursuit of the supernatural and realizing that it's ALL about Jesus. It's not about me. It's about Jesus.
Right 👍 on! Not correcting you, just adding the 9th fruit of the Spirit from Galatians 5:22-23, that comes from the LORD and Not our happiness in circumstances, etc. : Joy !
Amen! It has come to the point in these False Churches that the Bible and Gods True Word isn't enough to them. Christ and His Salvation is enough. Christ Sacrifice Saving us through his Grace is Super Natural enough for us. God bless you my Sister.
@@vivekrajan9810 The good news is that it doesn't matter. All demons are locked into what they are doing (none are 'creative' like our God!), and we are not ignorant of their devices (ways/plans). We are not ignorant of their devices because they never change! And, most of what they do is whisper small things in your ear IN YOUR VOICE to confuse you into thinking it was your own thought!
You are hitting the nail right on the head. As someone who worked in Healing Rooms for seven years, I came to notice that certain leaders were addicted to dramatic manifestations, and were gratified by people falling down or shrieking or laughing uncontrollably. That was a measure of how much power we had or didn't have. If people know that a pastor or leader craves manifestations, they will oblige and fake it. It's been a relief to me to have left that hyper atmosphere, and concentrate on Christ, his love, his sacrifice, his worth, and the truth of the gospel. That is more wonderful than any experience we may have, as Peter says in 2 Peter 1:16-19.
@@jacquelinedavis4955, if you haven’t already read the book Kundalini Warning: Are False Spirits Invading the Church?, by Andrew Strom, I highly recommend it. I looked up a bunch of the false teachers, mentioned in the book, on RUclips and it was appallingly clear what was going on. That being said I also get how the people, who are in attendance at those meetings/gatherings, could get swept up in the moment and not realize what is actually being manifested. It’s scary how easily we can be deceived if we lack the discernment of the Holy Spirit.
@@artlopes9463 : Is evidence of our faith established by how many miracles we are personally experiencing? The miracle is that the Son of God chose to step down from His throne in heaven and humble Himself, even to death upon a cruel cross, and suffer terribly and die for me, to be a willing sacrifice for my sins, and to rise from the tomb on the third day, defeating sin, death and Satan, and to pursue me and save me after my own wandering in my own personal wilderness for 40 years, and seal me with the Holy Spirit as His forever… and the same for all who will believe and trust in Him. And you ask how many miracles she’s seen in the last seven years? I think you need to get some perspective. We are all, who believe in Him, living day by day walking in the miracle of His immense grace - even when we lose sight of that great eternal reality. “For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,…” 1 Corinthians 1:22-23 - www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Corinthians%201:22-23&version=ESV
I was spiritually and emotionally tormented for years by the well-intentioned hyper-charismatics and when I was old enough to recognize the TOXICITY of chasing after supernatural highs they said were supposed to be normal parts of my Christian walk (that I was never experiencing mind you), I had to walk through a dark valley of mistrust for my brothers and sisters in Christ. THANK GOD He created me to question and critically think! He faithfully walked with me through my anger, encouraged me with truth, and challenged my bitterness toward the church. And it is SO validating (quite frankly) to hear these words out of your mouth, Melissa. I believe this is one of the many, actual threats to Christians, especially those who struggle with or were brought up in new age/thought beliefs. May the Lord continue to give us clarity of mind and boldness to speak up about teaching perversions of theology.
Amen sister! I had the same experiences. Thank God that I began to question the things I was seeing. God answered my questions by leading me to a solid Bible teacher/pastor.
I love this commentary, because I’ve seen churches that were OBSESSED with the prophetic. Everyone had to be prophetic. Every gift had to be prophetic. The way you operated in your gift had to be prophetic. It was an unhealthy attachment to the supernatural. We call everything a miracle, when true miracles do not occur routinely. I agree with Melissa, when are we going to get back to rooting ourselves in the word of God, teaching people the Bible, and spreading the Gospel? I love the supernatural and the gifts of the Spirit, but we need balance.
Supernatural experience is a responsibility Its nothing to seek after If it be to Gods purpose it will be apparent I came out of that It has consequences Thank you Jesus for the blood and Gods protection
Well certainly balance is needed. But, the supernatural is, well, real. God is supernatural isn’t He? Jesus was and is supernatural. The gifts are supernatural. Just be careful to not be a cessationist about it.
People don't need to have spiritual experiences. Knowing that God will never leave us or forsake us should be enough to sustain us through the trials of life.
Thank you so much for helping me, I have no feelings at the moment, I'm struggling to read the Bible and I just feel flat and am finding it hard to pray. You've helped me understand that despite this, I am not abandoned by God and He still loves me 🏴😊
@@glennpesti6519 Is it necessary to use churchy language ("praise report") when wondering about someone's progress through difficulty, especially when asking for a "report" from them? If she is still struggling, you just ostracized her. Why not just (actually) care about her and offer prayer and support... This kind of expectation and use of coded language makes the church a very closed cultish community with high levels of conformity and low levels of love. Someone on the fence might leave for good. Just sayin.
@@discordian100 Thank you for saying that. I've felt super-weird around people that have been christians much longer than I have because I don't speak all this language they do. It just rolls off their lips and they all say the same things that don't really build anyone up or honor God. Glad I'm not the only one who notices. Thought there was something wrong with me for the longest.
@@krunksoft Likewise. I have no idea what the Christian language is for alot of scenarios. I'm a new Christian, and often feel it's just important to care, pray, and check in on someone.
I often hear testimonies of Christians who had supernatural experiences when they first came to Christ. When I came to Christ I didn’t have the supernatural experience. I was just like clearly the path of destruction I was on is not working out for me, I need you take over God, because I can’t keep this up. And from there things changed.
Same. God pursued me for many years, but I kept getting sucked into cults. Tired of this, I literally researched the Bible to find out if it was real. When I was satisfied with that, I examined every religion and compared it to the Word. I also began to dive into the Word and it was then that God touched my heart and I made a personal connection with Him. I surrendered my heart and my will to His and truly gained a relationship with Him. So my conversion experience started out intellectual and methodical, but ended up emotional and heartfelt. It was also gradual.
For me, my knowledge of god is a mental exercise. Its not at first an experience but an understanding that I experience if that makes any sense. The idea of god speaking to me in the way so many claim, always seemed sus to me.
So your pastor is a messenger? So he knows God? I thought that if you wanted to know God the Creator then you studied His creation, if you wanted to get to know God the Merciful than you had to look at His mercies. If you want to know God the author than read the Bible. He is not a man that you can know Him. Rather ensure that He knows you - How? That is the only important question. How do I get God to know me? When you find out please let the rest of know too because its getting really real now.
@@artlopes9463 the Lord knit you together in your mother’s womb, and has every hair on your head numbered. He not only knows you, but knows you more intimately that you can think or imagine.
God speaks in a still, small voice. I’ve had some amazing “spiritual experiences” through reading His word. I’m sure some of you know what I’m talking about. I’m in awe of the things He shows me.
Yes - when the Holy Spirit just illuminates something in the Word .... maybe something you've read many times before - and all of a sudden He reveals something to you you'd never seen before ..... that's a priceless encounter
My priest says that one should be awed and amazed when reading the word. I get that. It's like a favorite meal. It never gets old and sometimes, circumstances being whatever they are apart from the last, fresh and new as though I"d never contemplated it as deeply before. My spiritual experiences though happen when the word comes to mind unexpectedly when I'm thinking about something. It just so happens, that's the answer! It's good to know His word.
I've had 3 supernatural experiences over the course of my life, and none of them were sought by me or brought about by studying Scripture. They were gifts from God, letting me know "I see you"
I hear "don't put God in a box" way too often. I'm so tired of it. My response is always just as you said. The Bible is the box!!! He gave us that box. Thank you for your videos! Always truth filled 🙏
Amen, I agree that He is the box. Whenever I have mentioned don't put God in a box, it is in reference to the body of Christ and how the Lord may choose to use people. I've seen people be dogmatic about things, for instance Evangelism and say everyone has to do it "this way," or its not being done correctly. In that context, people are putting limitations on God, because He can use people however He chooses
Nice job, Melissa! Sometimes we make things all about "me" instead of about God. God never promised us feel-good experiences. He told us to put Him first, which means that He comes before me. And when we seek supernatural experiences or feelings, it opens the door to idol worship - a door that satan is happy to enter. Satan only needs an invitation and he will give us lots of "great" experiences to suck is into his world and away from God. We can't be guided by our feelings - we need to trust in God and allow Him to guide us.
Sister Tina, but he DID promise feel-good experiences. Happy are you when... Rejoice and be glad when... Delight thyself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart....How much more will the Father give good gifts (the Holy Spirit) to them who ask...Rejoice always, and Again I say, rejoice...Life AND Life MORE ABUNDANTLY.... He also promised suffering for his sake. All things are Christ's. Say along with him, "He (the enemy) HAS NOTHING IN ME." Blessings of revelation, peace, righteousness, holiness, in word and in deed, in health and in the fellowship of his sufferings for the Holy of Holies in opened for us to enter, but there is no backdoor, therefore may you and yours go in and find "rest for your souls" as it says in Hebrews 3.
@@carlosreira413 Yeah, we are to rejoice in tribulation and trials, and be glad when our faith is tested! Would you call those "feel good experiences?" Being blessed is not necessarily a "feel good experience."
This is the explanation I needed! I had supernatural experiences and dreams before and I wanted more....to see more. Right now I don't have. I saw people speaking or praying in tongues and I was wondering why I can't do that. Now I understand that God is with me even if I don't have dreams,visions or speaking in tongues. Thank you. 😊
Amen 😊 God created us in his uniqueness. Jesus knows this. That’s why not all people can have the same gifts because god has destined them different fitting to his creations. Some people will have prayer tongues. Some people will have gift of healing. Some of people will have gift of counseling. Some of people will have gift of preacher. that’s why Jesus said never to jealous for these gifts. Jesus will give to you when you’re ready. Jesus knows you very well on what you can handle and what you can’t handle. Not only that, Jesus always prepare us to see whether we are ready to receive the blessing by going through tests.
Remember!!! God love us equally! Just because you don’t have gift that doesn’t mean god doesn’t love you!!! Jesus love you from the moment you were born, he loves you the same forever no matter from when we were babies to old ❤️
You verbalized what I have been feeling in my spirit for years; I have noticed that people who constantly seeks new spiritual "highs" really lack Biblical insight and knowledge. These same people so often place higher priorities on their experiences and feelings than the Word of God. Thank you so much for keeping us "in-line." Blessing to you and your family!!
I needed this, I have been comparing myself to other Christians for so long it has become habit for me. You have no idea how much this message was for me! Thank you for always opening my eyes and giving me information that I can think about. You rock!
@@wakeywakey8603 I don't think your doing anything wrong, God knows that you are sincerely seeking him, one sure way to hear from God is through reading the bible, I find that the more I'm reading his word every day, the more I hear him talking to me though out the day, maybe not directly, but through thoughts, or a certain inclination, or feeling, there's a lot of ways, don't get discouraged, God loves you, he know's you're trying and he's closer than you think.
I love the association of this with idolatry, it makes great sense. My favorite sermon from years ago was about leaning to walk faithfully in the silent seasons of our life. I was struggling in the silence at the time and this message gave me such hope to keep holding on. It was a beautiful time of growth in my life. Thank you for discussing this!!!
I used to feel I wasn't good enough, or not quite there yet because I had not yet been filled with the holy spirit. But then I heard a sermon and realized I'm doing fine with my relationship with the Lord, and it's his timing when that will happen. Just keep with him and keep moving forward in your relationship and he will decide. It's a relationship, relationships grow, let it. ♡
This is what I've been going through. I've asked how do you know if you've been filled with the holy spirit? The responses I got are you'll just know, you'll have an overwhelming feeling of love and peace, you'll be completely changed.. I don't feel any of these things and I'm not a "completely new person". What you said gives me encouragement when I've started to doubt myself. Thank you.
What I've noticed growing up in that type of environment, those who had these spiritual encounters were disconnected from the people in their own household and not always having the best character(skeletons in the closet). I found it difficult to hold a conversation with these type mainly because they had a way of making me feel inadequate. I think I've been more spiritually connected with God when I'm actually following His Word than trying to speak in tongues.
I had people tell me I wasn't saved or didn't have the Holy Spirit because I wasn't praying in tongues yet. It really hurt my feelings. I was like, wait, I love Jesus, I've given my life to Him. I thought I did have the Holy Spirit?!?!? It really threw me for a loop for a while. We are all different and the Lord works differently in all of us. Sometimes it is bells and whistles and immediately born again. Some of us it's a process and a journey. I do feelcompmletely changed and like a new person, abesolutely. But it wasn't over night for me. It happened over several years of seeking Him. God bless!
@@samanthashirley206 EXACTLY!! I used to feel like I wasn't a Christian because my journey has taken years and years. Everything Melissa says just hits the nail on the head for me! I grew up in legalism, the kind where you are worth nothing. Then I wanted to experience God's love because I kind of was taught not to...y'know? So I went New Age and into all that for awhile until I realized that that's wrong. Then I got sucked into the feel good tickle the ears Health and Wealth. Luckily I see now that God was with me the whole time. I learned through that crazy 'doctrine' that God does indeed love me. I started seeing the superficial and hyped up lives and attitudes of these people. Preachers who claim you'll get miracles if you 'sow seeds'. What the heck?! Jesus specifically warned against those out for gain!! He also warned against looking for signs and wonders. And yah, the people who fall into that trap are impossible to talk to, as they go round and round with their 'biblical promises' and misplaced faith. Anyway, then He started showing me that I don't need and/or want that junk food. He lead me to online preachers and teachers that preach Jesus alone and wow, the impact. (Thanks Melissa!! You're so relatable and ask the questions I always asked!! So helpful and Biblical!) So in my long story here, I do believe God will use every situation we are in to complete His work...even New Age and False Doctrines/Ideas. I definitely don't think anyone should go down those paths if they can help it though!!! But yah, to close, I grew up never knowing if I was a Christian or not, and now I KNOW I am. Looking back I think I always was, but it's been a 40 yr journey, and still going. So for anyone out there who think they don't have a testimony or aren't spiritual enough, God will finish His work in you!!! That IS a promise He made.
@@candicear-43 don't wait on a feeling. The way it worked for me was I just became extremely stoic concerning trivial things like 'inconveniences' or pain because I could feel God's hand on me and see the bigger picture. It's definitely not how you might expect or describe a feeling of love in our culture, but the peace is totally there and in my experience its fundamentally a change in perspective
I needed to hear this.I was always like , “i can’t speak in tongues so I’m not knowing God like I profess I do, I always wanted to have feelings to know God is with me. But I was wrong, and this video showed me.
This gives me something to think about. I'm in a season right now where I feel like I'm not hearing from God at all. Intellectually I know it's me, not Him, but I still internalize this as punishment or like I'm being ignored or something because the experience aspect seems to be missing from my personal life. "Is Jesus enough without the experiences?" That's a good one. Thank you.
Addiction to the rush is absolutely right. You're missing one reason that people fall for this stuff..... it makes them feel special. You have special revelation, you can pray protection or pray to have it removed. You become a member of an elite group of the enlightened. Someone who is normally shunned or ignored for whatever reason, is now elite. I agree with most of what you have to say. You're totally spot on. I have to deal with new age christianity all the time because of where I live, and some of my family members. You keep missing this one enormous appeal of nearby Redding, and a location north of me that's managed to stay off of everybody's radar so far. (Let's hope it stays that way! 4-square gone amuck!). You can go to one of these places, no high school diploma, minimum wage job, no friends, a nobody. After going to one of these places and getting some experiences under your belt, now you got Holy Fire, you've got Special Revelation, you've got a Calling. For the first time in your life, you matter. You're special. Its a huge draw that usually gets ignored.
I think some of the overemphasis on emotion and spiritual experience comes from staying as "baby Christians" relying on the soft food of spiritual experience instead of the solid food of God's word and trust in that. I don't seek after the spiritual experiences from my early walk with God as I no longer need it to ground me in trusting Him. I have mature to relying on scripture and doctrine and focusing on Christ and his work. I think this is what was meant in part by Paul and Peter when they ground in their letters about wishing to speak of the deeper things of God but the readers were not ready for the solid food.
My friends and I actually formed 4 groups that were like this in the first 2 years of my faith ( at different time periods) . It was amazing in the beginning but as time went on it led to me personally getting depressed and I almost committing suicide because I was not the people who had the very cool and amazing spiritual gifts any way praise the Lord for his grace that I made it out of there. am now more interested in God's word than spiritual gifts. I would rather never speak in tongues than lose the word.
@Atai Beautifully said! Isn’t there in Psalms somewhere that says I’d rather be a doorkeeper in the house of the Lord than live in a palace or something to that effect? I think often I would be thankful for eternity to be a doorkeeper at Heaven’s door than to have the world’s riches and fame but be without Christ. God bless you my sister 🙏
I feel like a stronger faith is grown on what we can’t see but the continued belief on faith alone. I think you should feel good about your walk because you don’t need a lot of stuff to believe n your savior.
I was a child when I was invited to a bethel centered group (with adults) at my own church. It messed me up for a long time. I got out! Praise God! But this theology hurts people!
She is religious and know nothing about who God really is. No, God is not defined by emotional encounter, however he is always with you because he is " the God with-in you" and how you react to that is not dictated by the likes of her.
10 seconds before you said, "Pride", I said, "It's also PRIDE." My teenager: "I'd love to see you both in a room together." Me: "We'd never come out." 🤣
"God put us in a box...it's the Bible....it's box-y" 😂😂😂 You crack me up. Love this message! I've been seeking balance in this area, I get very emotional about God and His grace, but I honestly don't have "experiences" like others talk about. It's led me to feel lacking at times, but I continue to seek Him anyway. Just started a book called Blessed are the Misfits about this topic (for Christian introverts, analytical people, etc....), may be a good read if you haven't read it yet! Thanks for all you do 😊💜🙏
I'll have to find this book and check it out. It sounds like something that is along this line. I have been in a church where the experiences were put up on a pedestal and those with them were put up there.
@@Lakishia There are many flowers in Gods garden: from the smallest between the grass to the giant sunflower.......each of them has its place, duty and beauty. And God created it, as it is. 🤗
Sounds like an interesting book. I have a very different personality (especially for a female) and I do tend to believe that our unique personalities drive how we interact with God and vice versa. I have 4 daughters and I relate to each differently depending on their needs and what speaks love to them, what brings the best out of them, how to correct or confront each one, etc. Wouldn't a loving Father understand us even better? We don't all need the same experiences to be loved and used by Him.
@@TheHeggert We don't any of us need experiences to be saved and loved by Him. We need to trust what His Word tells us about Him, about us, and about who we are in Christ. 😊👍👍
I'm 76 years young. I've seen a lot over the years and have been part of some of it. I think you are spot on sister. James Dobson wrote a book maybe 35-40 years ago called "Feelings, Can You Trust Them?" I never read it but that title stuck with me to this day. There are times when His love and peace fill me but I don't make them thing to seek. To be still and know He is GOD and what He did for me is enough. Thank you for your ministry!
Love your words” to be Still” and know that He is God. So many places in scripture Jesus speaks in a still, small voice. Get alone with Him and be still, listen to Him.
@@camilleriggan9555 Ummm. One place in scripture God spoke in a "still, small voice." Many places in scripture He spoke in thundering and lightning, smoke and earthquakes!
This is the trap of the charasmatic new age movement. "What's in it for me?" That's an inverted view of Christianity that's supposed to be for the glory of God and service to our fellow man. God becomes our servant instead of us being His.
You're absolutely right! It's the idea that it's all about me and if I don't get something then it's not worth being a part of. I actually had someone in the church tell me that this was how it was supposed to be and that's how it works in the church as well. That you never do anything if you don't get something in return.
I wish I only knew this growing up. I spent so much time questioning just how much God truly loved me. I was tormented trying to figure out why I was not experiencing all these 'greater gifts,' and if I was truly saved, I should be a pro by now. I did not know that Jesus alone was even a thing. So thankful God opened by eyes.
John's experience with God in writing The Book of The Revelation of Jesus Christ, was SO unique and special that a warning was written in it: " If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book". How many people have tried to go where John went on their own, as though they could enter in there whenever they wanted to?!?! We must heed the written word, to abide well with the Word made flesh, who dwelt among us, most of the time, in very common ways. Always allow for the supernatural, but "walk in wisdom towards them without".
The Book of Revelation is one the most convincing elements in all of Scripture. The way John talks about being overwhelmed and falling on his face before the angel of the Lord who says "See thou do it *not*" only worship God
I appreciate this message. I've always thought something was wrong with my faith or my relationship with God because I never have any "experiences". Sometimes I'll get a bit teary eyed when praying or singing worship music, and I might feel peaceful, but I've never "experienced" anything intensively like some people claim to have every Sunday
Those tears during praying and singing those beautiful words are from your heart and the love you have for Jesus. Your heart overflows with love and peace. Let them flow. 🥰
This isn't funny, but why did I laugh at "hopscotch". On the real though, I can 100% relate to feelings of pride at 9:25 and being in that mindset. It was part of the deception and the lack of gospel that supernatural works were needed as evidence of Christ's reality and my salvation.
One of the troubles of the Jews was always wanting a sign. There's people like that today, too. I've even heard of people believing a person can't be saved without having a mystical experience. That isn't in scripture. Scripture says we're saved by believing and says nothing about any need for mystical experiences as proof of salvation.
Thank you again Melissa. You have no idea what a blessing this video is to me this morning. I’ve felt so alone and have prayed for the conformation and comfort of knowing that I am not alone in my struggle with this.
Thank you for saying this-- I often feel alone in this battle-- even though my mind knows that I'm not... Melissa's teaching and your words and the words of many others, here in the comments, are truly an encouragement... again, Thank you.
The apostle Paul spoke to this kind of thing in Colossians where outside teachers were trying to "sell" special knowledge that was only available from them - "In Christ alone" refutes this thinking. Too much of today's preaching appeals to the emotions and seeks a higher experience - my faith is based on the finished work of Christ not how I feel or think I should feel. Good video.
This is very encouraging cause I'm not one of those people who have had lots of spiritual experiences and because I was online and seeing so many people say that if you don't have these experiences then you aren't seeking God enough or you're not serious about Jesus, was getting to me. And I was thinking, if I was really even a Christian anymore, because while I did (and do) see God working in my life, I didn't have those experiences. I was even beginning to question if I had the Holy Spirit. It was a depressing and distressing time. Thank you for this video :))! It's a great encouragement.
Oh I’m so glad you don’t have concerns and questions about your salvation any more!!!!!! His Grace is sufficient yand Faithfulness never ends! Praise His name!!!
When someone continues to walk in the flesh, rather than spirit, they will tend to make decisions based on their last strongest emotion. As you said, chasing a feeling rather than seeking the true God of the bible. Our emotional reponse and that flesh man within us must be laid at the cross. Great message Melissa!
This is an insightful analogy, and one I intend to ponder. I think you’re spot-on. 👍🏻 There's an old Gaither Vocal Band song that has a line that I return to over and over. "I long so much to feel the warmth that others seem to know. But if I never feel a thing, I claim Him even so. I believe. Help Thou mine unbelief..." God's Word is true regardless of what I feel. God's love is real, regardless of whether I *feel* loved. God hasn't promised to give me ecstatic experiences here on earth. What He HAS promised is that when this life is over, I will spend eternity with Him rejoicing and praising in an existence my finite mind cannot comprehend. I'll take that over an emotional adrenaline rush every time.
Praise God you escaped. Word of Faith is another gospel. It is rooted in New Age thought. So many Christians are lured into it because they are not rooted in the Word.
Thank you for this!! For a long time I felt like I wasn't truly saved and wasn't truly a Christian because I didn't "feel it" like so many others. It seemed like everyone else was always having such high emotional experiences from God, but not me. I thought there was something wrong with me and I didn't have enough faith. It's so damaging!
The evidence that you have been born again is that you will begin to have a love for Christ and His Word, and for others. For some it's instantaneous, for others it's a slower, progressive thing. The great preachers of old used to call it receiving new affections. 😁👍👍
Love this, "God put us in a box..it's called the Bible, and it's boxy!" For so many years I would hear this saying, "Don't put God in a box," so we can hear from Him, and let Him "move" in our lives. But, as you said, He put us in a box..He has given us His word, a glorious prescription for godly living!
Well, those sayings are opposite. Don't put God in a box God puts us in a box. He cannot be placed in a box, but we can because we are human. I believe the saying stems from: 48 “However, the Most High does not live in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says: 49 “‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me? says the Lord. Or where will my resting place be? 50 Has not my hand made all these things?’[l] -Acts 7:47-49, Isaiah 66:1-2
@@Kharizmah thanks for the Bible verse, that is so true! I was relating to the phrase, don't put God in a box, as I had heard it often in a church I used to attend. When people said it, they were referring to not stifiling the flow and gifts of God, especially during service. So in other words, don't focus on reading/studying the scripture, just wait and see what God is doing or speaking that which is apart from what is already given to us in scripture. So, my response is in agreement with Melissa's point, that God has put us in a box, meaning God has given us His word, that has all wisdom and understanding for knowing who He is, and how we can live a holy life today. There is no need to seek out experiences to find His will or know who He is.
The Bible is a great box to be in. However, a lot of cults (JWs, Mormons, Calvinists, 7DA types etc...) put people in their Bible box and it is the wrong box.
What’s concerning me about this is that so few are sharing and speaking on this powerful and necessary discussion. I deeply appreciate this on so many levels. So many are missing real life in Christ for so many wrong reasons. And that question: if you never had a supernatural experience, would Jesus be enough?! This post hits so much on the head.
I lived with the thought that “God loves me if I can feel Him” for a very long time. But I believed it stemmed from daddy issues. My dad didn’t hug me or show affection unless we were in church. It has crippled me. I know what the Bible says yet I have felt abandoned and unloved since leaving that movement. 😢
But Jesus called the Holy Spirit the "Comforter". That is meaningless if we never experience His comfort. Obviously, Jesus meant us to anticipate His comfort in our lives, and His guidance into all truth. We do not experience this during every minute of our lives, but He does give us these moments of knowing He is near. Other times, we stand by faith, and we're sort of like a baby learning "object permanence", then. We learn that God still exists, and doesn't go away, when we don't feel Him, but according to His word, He does want us to have experiences of His comfort and conviction. This dialectical tug of war is Hegelian dialectical deception. Although both sides presented are arrayed against each other, both sides presented are unbiblical, and both are wrong. We must look to the Bible for the truth of God, and put our faith in His truth and guidance of our lives. We need to learn to be wary of the "swing of the pendulum," from "side" to "side", just as we should be of "divide and conquer", both aspects of Hegelian dialectical thought control. God gave us His word, and we can go directly to His truth, and know what He says. We don't have to swing between Left and Right, between Thesis, Antithesis and be shaped into gullible believers in the New Synthesis, whenever it appears. Let's trust God, in what He says, and we won't be bamboozled out of our faith.
I'm so sorry you grew up with that kind of idea. Our earthly fathers are deeply flawed human beings, some more so than others. I have learned that God is a Father to trump all fathers. There is *no lack* of "fathering" when God has adopted you and *made you His.* It's a matter of changing our paradigm. *Feed your mind on the scriptures,* and your *identity in Christ* will begin to *take root in your heart.* It won't happen overnight, but the more time you spend *saturating your mind* with the Word of God, the deeper will be your assurance of *His Father heart* towards you. 😁👍👍
I knew this was going to be good...I was once burned out by the hyper charismatic life. I will not deny that God did and still does amazing things, but I NEED the word of God to be the main thing in my life. I'm a worship leader and I know that my place is to set the stage for the message so that people can learn to feed themselves and fall on love with the Word of God. That's how you get to know the Lord and worship becomes that much sweeter.
Melissa, honestly I don't think this is limited to the charismatic. I remember having a discussion with my grandmother who said that she didn't like my church because the preacher just taught from the Bible. She said she went to church to get energized to make it through the week. She was a Southern Baptist.
Honestly, this is the best video of yours that i have seen, i felt very convicted and i wanna change this because its not just that it creates pride in us I think it also destroy us somehow. thank you so much for sharing. You're right, Jesus should be enough for us and i dont need supernatural experience as proof that God loves us. 🤍
I am a self-professed recovering charismatic. I spent 17 years of my life in the movement and moved my young family to Tulsa, where I graduated from the pastoral program at Kenneth E. Hagin's Rhema Bible Training Center. The constant seeking for emotional experiences, spiritual giftings or a "word" from the Lord were part of what caused me to start questioning the belief system. I saw so much destruction in the lives of those who, once motivated by the promise of power and relief from life's struggles, were crushed by failed promises. It's a sick form of idolatry that equates success with spirituality. Every teaching was an attempt to find some new profundity in scripture, as the profound simplicity of the Gospel seemed apparently insufficient. The sovereignty of God is strangely lacking from nearly all church doctrine. Whereas Charismatic teaching promised so much, the reality was nothing compared to the freedom experienced when I finally had to courage to see it for what it is. I left Charismania and found my home in a true, bible-believing church. One leaves with so much brainwashing tainting a true view of scripture that it can make the transition a long and painful one. I so much wish there was a support network for those who've left or are considering leaving the movement.
I'm so thankful for my church family. We've had people we don't even know come up and say they could feel the presence of God the moment they walked in, but it wasn't this mystical or goofy feeling, it was just because a group of imperfect people who love Jesus got together and pray and worship and dive into his Word. Our other campus pastor's have asked our pastor what the secret is. Why are we seeing a move of God on our little campus. Our pastor said it's not about our church or anything we're doing. God receives all glory for any growth and anything miraculous. My pastor mentioned the other day that "nothing kills a move of God faster when the focus becomes man centered and not Jesus centered" Humility is key. I believe our church has a balanced, not perfect, but balanced view on the supernatural yet still recognizing the struggles we're all dealing with but that's why we come together, to encourage one another, pray for one another, laugh with one another, cry with one another, just do life together and in doing so going out and sharing with others that same love, hope, and restoration that we are receiving in Jesus.
Amen ❤ that's how it is! Scripture is our solid ground and it's dangerous to claim people are "putting God into a box" just for staying satisfied in the simple truth and not being open to new revelations and experiences not found in the Bible!
I was raised southern baptist and when I turned 20 I decided to turn my life back over to Christ. I started going to a small church called the Spirit Filled Baptist Church. During the first Sunday service, I noticed it was a charismatic, speaking in tongues separate in filling of the Holy Spirit doctrine believers. I never felt right about the manner of worship and the gift of tongues that I heard one member speak at every Sunday service. It was the old standard, hundala, hundala, she with a few unintelligible words in between. Of course this is one of the most common phrases people might use when speaking in tongues, and the pastor would always interpret it differently each time. I even saw it in a cartoon when I stopped going to church. I am sixty one years old and I've learned more about God and Christ after I stopped going to church. And even if I have turned back to some of my old ways in order to exist in this world and get along with most people. I could not in good conscious believe that these people were any more filled with the Holy Spirit than any other christian, and in fact, they lived for that emotional boost that they claimed other denominations that did not believe in a separate in filling of the Holy Spirit lived by. I talked to a person who went to the church the same time that I did and he told me that most of the members who were married are now divorced and others lives were a train wreck. I told a relative that is married to a man that went the Baptist Seminary to become a preacher , but decided he had a different calling from God after he went and graduated. She said she was sad to see that I got all messed up by the teachings of that church. I did not tell her this, but I always knew something was wrong with their theology. I can't say that I am filled with the holy spirit because I don't ever get an undeniable affirmation from God in any supernatural or so called spiritual way that some people claim that they have. I only have the bible as the word of God to go by. I would not go back to another church like that, or any mega church like Hillsong, or Bethel because I know what they are about. But as the old saying goes " I wouldn't have missed it for the world." Mostly for learning that God does work that way. And claiming that you are receiving something that is given by God is a very serious offense to him if it is not.
Don’t believe everything you feel. 😉 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9 KJV Thank God that through the shedding of the blood of Jesus, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we are able to have our sinful heart transformed. “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” II Corinthians 3:18 NKJV
Thank you dear sister in Christ, for bringing 2 Cor. 3:16-18 to my mind and heart as additional encouragement today-as I Iisten to Melissa's solid and hard-hitting teaching and am encouraged by so many of the brothers and sister's comments up in here. Your verse quote has brought me back to the basics: -like being a new creation (2Cor 5:17); born from above/born again of the Holy Spirit =John 3:3; that it's His work in us, NOT ours, or any fancy feelings (Phil. 1:6, Hebrews 10:14, 12:2, etc.). Again--Thank you.
.. And love the lord your God with all your HEART and soul and mind. 'We are all made in the image of God... Even though we are all sinful. Those are also scriptures we can quote. Cherry picking a couple of verses is unhelpful. The devil quoted scripture to Jesus and he quoted opposite scriptures right back. Almost anywhere in scripture you can quote a scripture and find an opposite one elsewhere.
@@KJ-lb4tj yup-and that's why we must be unafraid to keep reading/studying and living into all these verses from His Word of Truth-in His Power and by His Righteousness & gift of faith Alone (2 Peter 1:1, Eph. 2:8-10, Romans 12:3 and 2 Cor. 5:21, to backup that statement and to name just a few verses that do so). And we must also be fearless, of course, about keeping these passages in their context- even those verses which, without the Holy Spirit's guidance, may seem contradictory. And by the Holy Spirit, who is also the Spirit of Truth- and guides us into all Truth, and teaches, reminds & testifies to us about our Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:26,15:26,16:13) - by that Same Holy Spirit, be empowered (Phil 2:12-13) to " 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of Truth.". (2Timothy 2:15) Just demonstrating the value of sometimes when we "cherry pick" a few choice verses, being true to the framework of their context- to the Glory of our Great Triune God. And doing this praying that we would, "therefore, encourage and build one another up, just as in fact (we) are doing.... " 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Not sure it's about being afraid or unafraid of scripture. It's about knowing that although the heart can be decieptful, it is also deeply needed and we are commanded to use it to love.
Thanks for putting into words what I was trying to say! I have a couple "spiritual" friends who are this way and treat me like an immature Christian because I just won't speak in tongues. I couldn't figure out what I was thinking, but you just said it!! Thank you!
For years I felt the way you described and felt I wasn’t good enough and that’s why I wasn’t having these experiences but at some point in my life I realized I was wrong and I’m so thankful I did.
Agree! People can worship knowledge of God instead of worshipping the Living active God! Calvinism almost destroyed my faith. And sadly it's on an uprise.
Reflecting back on my years in the NAR, I believe I was sucked into the “MORE OF GOD” because I got “saved” in a charismatic type church and was not discipled at all. I had no idea who Jesus was. I just knew I wanted to be forgiven and go to heaven some day, so I went from church to church trying to figure out this Christianity thing. And as the years went bye, I got into more and more error and read everything that said Christianity on it and all the pastors at the churches I went to were all over the place with their beliefs too. So I had a very shaky FOUNDATION for over 20 years. God opened my eyes to the true gospel in 2019! I repented of my sins and now love and follow Him and His Word daily. Im so grateful!
Praise God and Right on! 2019 was my year of spiritual rebirth and being re-grafted in to the Vine, too-- "23 And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again." Romans 11:23
I was brought up Baptist but had been involved in the charismatic for many years. About a year and a half ago, I started studying the Bible in a way like I never had. I recently left the charismatic church. What you said in the video was very on point of what I saw a lot of in churches in recent years. I'm not a cessationist, I believe the gifts are for today...but I've seen the idolitry of the gifts and supernatural experience a lot in the charismatic church. I think this is your best video yet. Thank you!
Yup. Christian mysticism. Very self focused. All about glorifying the little "i am" under the delusion of glorifying God. It is self idolatry. I also came out of the new age. Feels very similar. There is a difference between seeking the mystical and joyfully submitting to God's mystery. God reveals His character to us in the pages of scripture. He did put us in a box and we need to be obedient to learning about and understanding His character through His word.
I was JUST talking to my friends about this!! Perfect timing. Thank you for confirming what I’ve been realizing looking back on my charismatic conference-hopping childhood!
There are some days occasionally where I'd love a supernatural experience with God. But, then I tell him, thank you so much that I simply believe and know his word to be true. Jesus is my rock and I don't need a supernatural experience because he has given me the faith to know his word is true.
Thanks for putting that out Melissa 👍i have had a few supernatural moments in my life the first one was 40 years ago when i got saved 😇 but i had one a few weeks later where I felt the presence of God when praying it was an incredible experience that i remember to this day but have never had again 😥 but looking back on my life i can see the hand of God on my life directing my life even when i tried to run away like Jonah He drew me back with love 🙏😇
Whenever we compare ourself to others, it is a bad road to travel! However, I am so thankful for the supernatural experiences that He has blessed me with and it does not have to be one way or the other.
God bless you. We always thank God for all the graces he gives us. I’m publishing a weekly RUclips video on episodes from the life of Don Bosco, entitled ST JOHN BOSCO by JOE ZAMMIT. In this series I’m narrating events and miracles from the splendid life of Don Bosco. St John Bosco used to perform a miracle almost every day, through the intercession of Mary Help of Christians. From the lives of saints we can learn how to love God more and draw closer to him. Thank you.
I really needed this. Struggling with my feelings and not feel Gods presence. I went through a year of heavy doubt and I haven't fully come back from that I'm still struggling. I used to have such strong convictions about God, his word and even my experiences which did line up with the word of God; but what happened is I felt special, and more spiritual as you said here and became proud. How can one come back from this? My heart feels so closed off. I pray and read the bible but and then doubt comes back. I believe I'm saved and then I don't. its an up and down I used to always feel conviction when those things arose that I was indeed a child of God because of my trust in Jesus, but now my mind is all over the place and not focused on Him but on my feelings... What can I do?
Being caught in our feelings is a struggle for me too. It helps me to try and not let my emotions control the situation and try believe God will fix it and until it happens keep believing it until you see it. I have also been putting my effort on obedience, what God wants me to do, rather than my feelings and emotions and that's helped alot. ✝️💖🙌
Give it to God. When those doubts and feelings come simply surrender and commit them to the Lord Jesus Christ. We can't do anything on our own. He's working in your life. Stay the course. Be still and know he's God. Psalm 46:10. He's got you. ❤
I like Mike Winger's distinction between intellectual doubt and psychological doubt. If you have intellectual doubt, then the answer is: do some research. Research the topic you're not sure about until you have enough data to make up your mind. If you realize your intellectual questions have been given satisfying answers, then the doubt is just psychological doubt, and it's a normal phenomenon that we can accept and live with. I think Mike Winger also said this (very helpful): "Remember that 'What if it's not true?' is just a question, not an argument!" I, like a lot of people, experience the phenomenon of intrusive thoughts: for me, they are usually questions starting with "what if", followed by the idea of some catastrophe befalling people I love. It can be very distressing. But these questions coming to my mind do not increase the possibility of those things actually happening 😅 The thoughts are just that, thoughts. I have learned to recognize them as such and just move on, continuing to trust God and the knowledge that he will give me the necessary grace at the time I will need it, if I ever have to face those situations. Psychological doubt works in a similar fashion. But I remind myself that my decision to place my faith in Jesus and the Bible is based on good reason.
God knows that people pass through experiences you have mentioned and is always ready to help us. I’m publishing a weekly RUclips video on episodes from the life of Don Bosco, entitled ST JOHN BOSCO by JOE ZAMMIT. In this series I’m narrating events and miracles from the splendid life of Don Bosco. St John Bosco used to perform a miracle almost every day, through the intercession of Mary Help of Christians. From the lives of saints we can learn how to love God more and draw closer to him. Thank you.
Hi Mélissa. Watching you from France. Thank you so much for all you do. Here in France. All the topics concerning the many danger in christianity are not so exposed. God bless you. Valérie
Talk about “mountaintop experiences,” Peter had the ultimate one on the Mount of Transfiguration, but what does he say about it in 2 Peter 1:16-21. He found the “prophetic word more fully confirmed” in Scripture. Well spoken, Melissa.
Peter’s comments on the mount of transfiguration (MAT 17:4) come to mind. I wonder if they might apply here, if this wasn’t at least partially what was going on in Peter”s mind; idolizing the experience he was having instead of the revelation God was giving of who Jesus was through the experience.
Yes! Completely agree with you. My friend got totally ensnared by the NAR and WOF movements that it just broke my heart seeing the deterioration of her faith...I had no idea what these teachings were but I saw the results it gave to her life. She read alot of God's word but only in relation to the wrong teachings she received from them. In the end she has become so prideful that it didn't take long for our once thriving friendship to dry out.I am still praying for her, and I hope by God's mercy, she will come out of it in due time, before it's too late.
Christianity is so divided it's like there are different ways of being christian.. I have been confused about it for a while so many arguments and discussions. In the end it's truly personal. We will all answer for ourselves. Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, whatever it is as long as its coming from your love of Christ and not to prove yourself. Let us spend less time arguing what is right we can't tell from our reasoning anyway, let us stop believing that God can not guide us on a personal basis. A lot of the peace and clarity I get have been outside church related things.
Right 👍 on! Sometimes He definitely teaches/reaches us outside Church related things and gives Peace and clarity in our one on one time with Him... For me, I also have discovered the need to remember the importance of staying involved in a few of God's imperfect microcosms of the Body of Christ, here on Earth-- i.e., staying involved and learning to serve at a couple of doctrinally sound (again--though imperfect, like myself) local churches.
To a certain point, diversity of Christian traditions and customs is a good and permissible thing. But it is also the fact that "the rule of faith" (or "creed") was very important thing to early Christians. Not because of the rule itself but because it was the faith once delivered to us, the saints of God. It had less to do with reasoning and more with observing all things that Jesus commanded us to follow. Holy Spirit truly guide and help His people, but sadly individuals do not listen to Him very often.
Thank you so much for this. Honestly, I needed this. It has been a long time since I have sensed this closeness with God so I thought I was not right with Him. So, I would pray and read my Bible, repent of every single sin I have committed (not living in sin though, but sure to confess when I realize I have sinned), etc and still far away. Now, I am seeing that I need to continually seek God, NOT feelings. Even if the feelings don’t come back, I can live by faith that I am in the sweet spot of His Will. Thanks again........I needed this.
We’ve been conditioned through our experiences. My takeaway is that we balance ourselves with the help of the Holy Spirit. I’ve seen believers at both extremes. Very top heavy with biblical education and very top heavy with emotionalism. We have to constantly pray for one another but also teach and admonish each other. Thanks for sharing Melissa!
Good word Melissa!!! God took me on a journey to clean up the prophetic in me...he asked me.. Did it bear fruit in my life? Having to judge revelation...I found much of it unfruitful...keep up the challenge...so we can judge the motives of our heart!!!!
You hit the nail on the head I believe. You did such a thoughtful presentation here on this important topic. Faith us not a feeling and is not proved by what we feel, but what we know that we know in our spirit. Excellent word.
Awesome video. Spot on too. Honestly, it’s me. About a week or 2 ago some chick made a comment about how unbelievers need signs and wonders, it really bothered me, but it got me thinking ( the same thing you asked). If I never had another experience, is Jesus enough? It’s a very good and valid question. One I’ve been searching for. First half of my life , I ran from feelings, second half I put them on a pedestal, now I’m starting to understand that they just are. They are important but TRUTH needs to be my foundation, over feelings, over “facts”, over it all. Jesus MUST be first, if I never get another feel good experience again, Jesus is still it. ( it actually scares me to write this too, Bc I’ve based my whole life on feelings/or lack of and this requires a whole new way…a “not my way, but God’s” ) appreciate this content. Thank you.❤️🙂
Thank you for sharing this well worded, from your heart testimony-encouraging & challenging at the same time. Very much the balance that we need betwixt the two aspects....
This is so good!!! I have been in places where I was the only one who didn’t/couldn’t speak in tongues and I did feel like a second class Christian because of that (and also because of battles with mental health) and it was really hard. But it has felt like God asked me what my motives were for wanting to speak in tongues and they were all selfish, show-off-y motives for myself and had nothing to do with Him or glorifying Him and that was really convicting
Thank you so much for sharing this important topic that's rarely discussed in Christian circles. Getting addicted to "spiritual highs" can happen so easily and certain people like to sell you the tools on how...
Man, I appreciate you so much. I was saved from the prosperity gospel and from some New Age teachings. And in the past I felt the exact things you were describing. I would feel upset that I wasn’t doing enough and I wasn’t spiritual enough because I wasn’t having a grand spiritual experience daily. But the more I’ve grown to love the gospel and really study my Bible and not just hope for emotional/extreme spiritual experiences, my walk with Jesus has been so much more satisfying. I have come to understand that his love for me is not dependent on me and what I am doing to try to “earn favor”. I just need to walk in daily repentance and acknowledge my need for a savior and continue to worship him in all seasons. I’ve grown to love him for who he is and what he’s done, not just for what he will do for me. It’s been an unraveling. Thanks for taking the time to create loving content that shares the truth in love. You are appreciated sister.
Thank you for this video. This is something that's been on my heart for a while and this helps to realize I'm not alone in seeing it as idolatry. Jesus is ENOUGH! I've had experiences but not every day and was told by someone at a previous church that I wasn't a Christian because I didn't have these experiences every day. I'm going to write about this in my blog soon.
Thank you so much for this video. Because of this I almost walked away from my faith in God, thinking He did not love me as much as other Christians. Then God opened my eyes when I started reading His Word.🤗
I’m so happy you made this video, I thought that getting closer to God was to have spiritual experiences, God bless you and may God keep using you in a great way for His honor and glory.
I became a Christian after having a deeply spiritual experience, much of it was very dark. The Lord saved me from something I couldn’t see at the moment it was happening, and I got hit by his light like Paul the Apostle. Never in my life did I see it coming, and I wasn’t even surrendered to him at the time. It brought me to my knees and released me from some of the darkness that surrounded me. Then I experienced very intense spiritual warfare and attacks, which I was not looking for and dreams became something more than just your random dream. I was so broken and overwhelmed, and had I not heard scripture in my dream and messages saying “you are safe”. I would have broke completely, but as time passed and I got my bearings back. Those experiences began to disappear little by little and I continued to read my bible and pray. Now, sign from God come to me simply walking outside on a beautiful day and taking in God’s beauty in nature. God does interact with us in a grand way if he finds it necessary but seeking him when the signs aren’t as obvious, that’s when we should continue read the word and pray.
Thanks for speaking on this. There has to be balance and boundaries to how we view those things. I find this not only to be a doctrinal issue, but also one that relates to mental health and addiction. So often, people who struggle with depression, or come to Christ from difficult situations, they often have very intense initial experiences, followed by a big slump. They can struggle with a religious addiction, and try to get that initial "high" back. Or they feel unloved or like God has forsaken them because those initial feelings have faded. I know, because that was my journey exactly. When those initial feelings faded, by felt like God had forsaken me. What I really needed to do was walk out the long, hard road of recovery that was ahead of me. You have to "feel through" some hard spaces, and fill up those "holes in my soul" with Scripture and godly service, other spiritual disciplines.
Thanks for your thoughts, in listening to you address this growing problem within the church it triggered my personal encounter with some family members caught up in a movement called “ The Last Reformation “. A group transfixed on experience, you must have physical evidence of your relationship with God, we do it’s His Word!! Experience doesn’t equal truth!!
There was an enormous amount of peace when I realized that the reality of Almighty God wasn't dependent upon my experience but on His power.
Jan Smith, me too! I have never in my life experienced such peace as leaving off the pursuit of the supernatural and realizing that it's ALL about Jesus. It's not about me. It's about Jesus.
Amen
Perfectly put!
Spot on.
Well said!
People forget the true evidence of faith: love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. ❤️
Right 👍 on! Not correcting you, just adding the 9th fruit of the Spirit from Galatians 5:22-23, that comes from the LORD and Not our happiness in circumstances, etc. : Joy !
Lori, you are so right! Can I quote you on this?
@@mariaruiz447 you can just read Galatians 5:22 and quote that!
@@LoriSkees You're fantastic ❤
@@phlegmbuoyant oops! How did I forget joy? 😊
No longer an “experience” seeking Christian.
I AM A BELIEVER OF YESHUA. He is enough.
Amen Felicia😀
Amen! It has come to the point in these False Churches that the Bible and Gods True Word isn't enough to them. Christ and His Salvation is enough. Christ Sacrifice Saving us through his Grace is Super Natural enough for us. God bless you my Sister.
Truth!
Same. Amen!
G-D cannot be man
Listening while folding laundry and the 3 year old's take away (said very solemnly with round eyes), "The lady says we need to obey God." That's it. 😄
Hallelujah!!Amen!!
Awww our little ones are so precious :)
Amen😇💯💗🦋may God bless your baby.
How sweet were her words.
❤
Seeking God is one thing. Seeking "spiritual experiences" fails to take into account just how many evil spirits there are out there!
@(ISAIAH 49) ELECT- ONE ISRAEL ?
Yeah. I don’t know how many evil spirits there are but it seems like a lot and many different types of demons
@@vivekrajan9810 The good news is that it doesn't matter. All demons are locked into what they are doing (none are 'creative' like our God!), and we are not ignorant of their devices (ways/plans).
We are not ignorant of their devices because they never change! And, most of what they do is whisper small things in your ear IN YOUR VOICE to confuse you into thinking it was your own thought!
God inhabits the praise of his people
You are hitting the nail right on the head. As someone who worked in Healing Rooms for seven years, I came to notice that certain leaders were addicted to dramatic manifestations, and were gratified by people falling down or shrieking or laughing uncontrollably. That was a measure of how much power we had or didn't have. If people know that a pastor or leader craves manifestations, they will oblige and fake it. It's been a relief to me to have left that hyper atmosphere, and concentrate on Christ, his love, his sacrifice, his worth, and the truth of the gospel. That is more wonderful than any experience we may have, as Peter
says in 2 Peter 1:16-19.
And any miracles after seven years? Well?
I believe that falling down, shrieking, and uncontrollable laughing are manifestations of the demonic kundalini spirit.
@@inkgoeswildalaska8439 I think so too
@@jacquelinedavis4955, if you haven’t already read the book Kundalini Warning: Are False Spirits Invading the Church?, by Andrew Strom, I highly recommend it. I looked up a bunch of the false teachers, mentioned in the book, on RUclips and it was appallingly clear what was going on. That being said I also get how the people, who are in attendance at those meetings/gatherings, could get swept up in the moment and not realize what is actually being manifested. It’s scary how easily we can be deceived if we lack the discernment of the Holy Spirit.
@@artlopes9463 : Is evidence of our faith established by how many miracles we are personally experiencing?
The miracle is that the Son of God chose to step down from His throne in heaven and humble Himself, even to death upon a cruel cross, and suffer terribly and die for me, to be a willing sacrifice for my sins, and to rise from the tomb on the third day, defeating sin, death and Satan, and to pursue me and save me after my own wandering in my own personal wilderness for 40 years, and seal me with the Holy Spirit as His forever… and the same for all who will believe and trust in Him.
And you ask how many miracles she’s seen in the last seven years? I think you need to get some perspective. We are all, who believe in Him, living day by day walking in the miracle of His immense grace - even when we lose sight of that great eternal reality.
“For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,…”
1 Corinthians 1:22-23 - www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Corinthians%201:22-23&version=ESV
I was spiritually and emotionally tormented for years by the well-intentioned hyper-charismatics and when I was old enough to recognize the TOXICITY of chasing after supernatural highs they said were supposed to be normal parts of my Christian walk (that I was never experiencing mind you), I had to walk through a dark valley of mistrust for my brothers and sisters in Christ. THANK GOD He created me to question and critically think! He faithfully walked with me through my anger, encouraged me with truth, and challenged my bitterness toward the church. And it is SO validating (quite frankly) to hear these words out of your mouth, Melissa. I believe this is one of the many, actual threats to Christians, especially those who struggle with or were brought up in new age/thought beliefs.
May the Lord continue to give us clarity of mind and boldness to speak up about teaching perversions of theology.
Amen sister! I had the same experiences. Thank God that I began to question the things I was seeing. God answered my questions by leading me to a solid Bible teacher/pastor.
Amen Sister! It is worse in Nigeria. That's why people are suffering in poverty yet sleeping in the churches hoping for a foggy idea of Christianity.
@@anival9576 what experiences are you talking about.
@@anival9576 Yes, totally agree!
I love this commentary, because I’ve seen churches that were OBSESSED with the prophetic. Everyone had to be prophetic. Every gift had to be prophetic. The way you operated in your gift had to be prophetic. It was an unhealthy attachment to the supernatural. We call everything a miracle, when true miracles do not occur routinely. I agree with Melissa, when are we going to get back to rooting ourselves in the word of God, teaching people the Bible, and spreading the Gospel? I love the supernatural and the gifts of the Spirit, but we need balance.
Your comment is awesome. Yes. Balance is key I think.
Supernatural experience is a responsibility Its nothing to seek after If it be to Gods purpose it will be apparent I came out of that It has consequences Thank you Jesus for the blood and Gods protection
YES! Absolutely EVERYTHING has an adjective: "prophetic". Art during worship? Prophetic. Dance? Prophetic. Sigh.
A wicked and adulterous generation will look for signs and wonders ... I wonder who said that...
Well certainly balance is needed. But, the supernatural is, well, real. God is supernatural isn’t He? Jesus was and is supernatural. The gifts are supernatural. Just be careful to not be a cessationist about it.
People don't need to have spiritual experiences. Knowing that God will never leave us or forsake us should be enough to sustain us through the trials of life.
Getting saved is a spiritual experience
Thank you so much for helping me, I have no feelings at the moment, I'm struggling to read the Bible and I just feel flat and am finding it hard to pray. You've helped me understand that despite this, I am not abandoned by God and He still loves me 🏴😊
Samantha, it has been a year I hope you have a nice praise report for us as to how your relationship with God is going now.
@@glennpesti6519 Is it necessary to use churchy language ("praise report") when wondering about someone's progress through difficulty, especially when asking for a "report" from them? If she is still struggling, you just ostracized her. Why not just (actually) care about her and offer prayer and support... This kind of expectation and use of coded language makes the church a very closed cultish community with high levels of conformity and low levels of love. Someone on the fence might leave for good. Just sayin.
@@discordian100 Thank you for saying that. I've felt super-weird around people that have been christians much longer than I have because I don't speak all this language they do. It just rolls off their lips and they all say the same things that don't really build anyone up or honor God. Glad I'm not the only one who notices. Thought there was something wrong with me for the longest.
@@krunksoft Likewise. I have no idea what the Christian language is for alot of scenarios. I'm a new Christian, and often feel it's just important to care, pray, and check in on someone.
Samantha, I just found your comment. I'll pray for you, no matter how you're doing.
I often hear testimonies of Christians who had supernatural experiences when they first came to Christ. When I came to Christ I didn’t have the supernatural experience. I was just like clearly the path of destruction I was on is not working out for me, I need you take over God, because I can’t keep this up. And from there things changed.
Same. God pursued me for many years, but I kept getting sucked into cults. Tired of this, I literally researched the Bible to find out if it was real. When I was satisfied with that, I examined every religion and compared it to the Word. I also began to dive into the Word and it was then that God touched my heart and I made a personal connection with Him. I surrendered my heart and my will to His and truly gained a relationship with Him. So my conversion experience started out intellectual and methodical, but ended up emotional and heartfelt. It was also gradual.
Surrender is trust it’s trusting that changes lives 🌹🏴🙏🏼🦋
For me, my knowledge of god is a mental exercise. Its not at first an experience but an understanding that I experience if that makes any sense. The idea of god speaking to me in the way so many claim, always seemed sus to me.
Our pastor says, If you want to encounter God, you have to get in The Word!
So your pastor is a messenger? So he knows God? I thought that if you wanted to know God the Creator then you studied His creation, if you wanted to get to know God the Merciful than you had to look at His mercies. If you want to know God the author than read the Bible. He is not a man that you can know Him. Rather ensure that He knows you - How? That is the only important question. How do I get God to know me? When you find out please let the rest of know too because its getting really real now.
@@artlopes9463 God has known His own since before creation, and He gave them to Jesus.
@@artlopes9463 the Lord knit you together in your mother’s womb, and has every hair on your head numbered. He not only knows you, but knows you more intimately that you can think or imagine.
Amen
And "the word" is both within and in the Bible .
God speaks in a still, small voice. I’ve had some amazing “spiritual experiences” through reading His word. I’m sure some of you know what I’m talking about. I’m in awe of the things He shows me.
Yes - when the Holy Spirit just illuminates something in the Word .... maybe something you've read many times before - and all of a sudden He reveals something to you you'd never seen before ..... that's a priceless encounter
My priest says that one should be awed and amazed when reading the word. I get that. It's like a favorite meal. It never gets old and sometimes, circumstances being whatever they are apart from the last, fresh and new as though I"d never contemplated it as deeply before. My spiritual experiences though happen when the word comes to mind unexpectedly when I'm thinking about something. It just so happens, that's the answer! It's good to know His word.
I've had 3 supernatural experiences over the course of my life, and none of them were sought by me or brought about by studying Scripture. They were gifts from God, letting me know "I see you"
I hear "don't put God in a box" way too often. I'm so tired of it. My response is always just as you said. The Bible is the box!!! He gave us that box.
Thank you for your videos! Always truth filled 🙏
amen!
We define God how we want to, rather than what God says he is.
Amen, I agree that He is the box. Whenever I have mentioned don't put God in a box, it is in reference to the body of Christ and how the Lord may choose to use people. I've seen people be dogmatic about things, for instance Evangelism and say everyone has to do it "this way," or its not being done correctly. In that context, people are putting limitations on God, because He can use people however He chooses
I accidentally hit thumbs down when trying to hit read more. Sorry.
I myself have said God is the box, he defines what is or isn't
Yeshua spoke out against that box. Beware what you are making an idol.
That bible also says "with God all things are possible" in 3 - 5 different places :)
Nice job, Melissa! Sometimes we make things all about "me" instead of about God. God never promised us feel-good experiences. He told us to put Him first, which means that He comes before me. And when we seek supernatural experiences or feelings, it opens the door to idol worship - a door that satan is happy to enter. Satan only needs an invitation and he will give us lots of "great" experiences to suck is into his world and away from God. We can't be guided by our feelings - we need to trust in God and allow Him to guide us.
Sister Tina, but he DID promise feel-good experiences. Happy are you when... Rejoice and be glad when... Delight thyself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart....How much more will the Father give good gifts (the Holy Spirit) to them who ask...Rejoice always, and Again I say, rejoice...Life AND Life MORE ABUNDANTLY....
He also promised suffering for his sake.
All things are Christ's.
Say along with him, "He (the enemy) HAS NOTHING IN ME."
Blessings of revelation, peace, righteousness, holiness, in word and in deed, in health and in the fellowship of his sufferings for the Holy of Holies in opened for us to enter, but there is no backdoor, therefore may you and yours go in and find "rest for your souls" as it says in Hebrews 3.
@@carlosreira413 Yeah, we are to rejoice in tribulation and trials, and be glad when our faith is tested!
Would you call those "feel good experiences?"
Being blessed is not necessarily a "feel good experience."
This is the explanation I needed!
I had supernatural experiences and dreams before and I wanted more....to see more.
Right now I don't have. I saw people speaking or praying in tongues and I was wondering why I can't do that.
Now I understand that God is with me even if I don't have dreams,visions or speaking in tongues.
Thank you. 😊
Amen 😊
God created us in his uniqueness. Jesus knows this. That’s why not all people can have the same gifts because god has destined them different fitting to his creations. Some people will have prayer tongues. Some people will have gift of healing. Some of people will have gift of counseling. Some of people will have gift of preacher. that’s why Jesus said never to jealous for these gifts. Jesus will give to you when you’re ready.
Jesus knows you very well on what you can handle and what you can’t handle. Not only that, Jesus always prepare us to see whether we are ready to receive the blessing by going through tests.
Remember!!! God love us equally! Just because you don’t have gift that doesn’t mean god doesn’t love you!!! Jesus love you from the moment you were born, he loves you the same forever no matter from when we were babies to old ❤️
Playtime is OVER . God is calling out His Remnant. Thank you, Melissa
The remnant is the 12 tribes of Israel saved after the tribulation in Revelation, not the church.
That's for God to decide and to know, not us.
@@therockstar17 Or, saved during the tribulation 😊👍
You verbalized what I have been feeling in my spirit for years; I have noticed that people who constantly seeks new spiritual "highs" really lack Biblical insight and knowledge. These same people so often place higher priorities on their experiences and feelings than the Word of God. Thank you so much for keeping us "in-line." Blessing to you and your family!!
I needed this, I have been comparing myself to other Christians for so long it has become habit for me. You have no idea how much this message was for me! Thank you for always opening my eyes and giving me information that I can think about. You rock!
Same
me too
Same here
I love God & His promises. So why don't I actually hear God speaking to me clearly like these RUclips prophets ?? Am I doing it wrong ?? 😭😭
@@wakeywakey8603 I don't think your doing anything wrong, God knows that you are sincerely seeking him, one sure way to hear from God is through reading the bible, I find that the more I'm reading his word every day, the more I hear him talking to me though out the day, maybe not directly, but through thoughts, or a certain inclination, or feeling, there's a lot of ways, don't get discouraged, God loves you, he know's you're trying and he's closer than you think.
I love the association of this with idolatry, it makes great sense. My favorite sermon from years ago was about leaning to walk faithfully in the silent seasons of our life. I was struggling in the silence at the time and this message gave me such hope to keep holding on. It was a beautiful time of growth in my life. Thank you for discussing this!!!
Hey, what sermon was this? I’d love a link.
@@ccheyz6258 sadly no link. Local church from years ago:)
I used to feel I wasn't good enough, or not quite there yet because I had not yet been filled with the holy spirit. But then I heard a sermon and realized I'm doing fine with my relationship with the Lord, and it's his timing when that will happen. Just keep with him and keep moving forward in your relationship and he will decide. It's a relationship, relationships grow, let it. ♡
This is what I've been going through. I've asked how do you know if you've been filled with the holy spirit? The responses I got are you'll just know, you'll have an overwhelming feeling of love and peace, you'll be completely changed.. I don't feel any of these things and I'm not a "completely new person". What you said gives me encouragement when I've started to doubt myself. Thank you.
What I've noticed growing up in that type of environment, those who had these spiritual encounters were disconnected from the people in their own household and not always having the best character(skeletons in the closet). I found it difficult to hold a conversation with these type mainly because they had a way of making me feel inadequate. I think I've been more spiritually connected with God when I'm actually following His Word than trying to speak in tongues.
I had people tell me I wasn't saved or didn't have the Holy Spirit because I wasn't praying in tongues yet. It really hurt my feelings. I was like, wait, I love Jesus, I've given my life to Him. I thought I did have the Holy Spirit?!?!? It really threw me for a loop for a while. We are all different and the Lord works differently in all of us. Sometimes it is bells and whistles and immediately born again. Some of us it's a process and a journey. I do feelcompmletely changed and like a new person, abesolutely. But it wasn't over night for me. It happened over several years of seeking Him. God bless!
@@samanthashirley206 EXACTLY!! I used to feel like I wasn't a Christian because my journey has taken years and years. Everything Melissa says just hits the nail on the head for me! I grew up in legalism, the kind where you are worth nothing. Then I wanted to experience God's love because I kind of was taught not to...y'know? So I went New Age and into all that for awhile until I realized that that's wrong. Then I got sucked into the feel good tickle the ears Health and Wealth. Luckily I see now that God was with me the whole time. I learned through that crazy 'doctrine' that God does indeed love me. I started seeing the superficial and hyped up lives and attitudes of these people. Preachers who claim you'll get miracles if you 'sow seeds'. What the heck?! Jesus specifically warned against those out for gain!! He also warned against looking for signs and wonders. And yah, the people who fall into that trap are impossible to talk to, as they go round and round with their 'biblical promises' and misplaced faith. Anyway, then He started showing me that I don't need and/or want that junk food. He lead me to online preachers and teachers that preach Jesus alone and wow, the impact. (Thanks Melissa!! You're so relatable and ask the questions I always asked!! So helpful and Biblical!) So in my long story here, I do believe God will use every situation we are in to complete His work...even New Age and False Doctrines/Ideas. I definitely don't think anyone should go down those paths if they can help it though!!! But yah, to close, I grew up never knowing if I was a Christian or not, and now I KNOW I am. Looking back I think I always was, but it's been a 40 yr journey, and still going. So for anyone out there who think they don't have a testimony or aren't spiritual enough, God will finish His work in you!!! That IS a promise He made.
@@candicear-43 don't wait on a feeling. The way it worked for me was I just became extremely stoic concerning trivial things like 'inconveniences' or pain because I could feel God's hand on me and see the bigger picture. It's definitely not how you might expect or describe a feeling of love in our culture, but the peace is totally there and in my experience its fundamentally a change in perspective
I needed to hear this.I was always like , “i can’t speak in tongues so I’m not knowing God like I profess I do, I always wanted to have feelings to know God is with me. But I was wrong, and this video showed me.
Don't fret, not everyone gets the gift of tongues.. a true relationship with God is the best gift anyone could ever have.
Not all speak in tongues. Read here: => biblehub.com/kjvs/1_corinthians/12.htm
This gives me something to think about. I'm in a season right now where I feel like I'm not hearing from God at all. Intellectually I know it's me, not Him, but I still internalize this as punishment or like I'm being ignored or something because the experience aspect seems to be missing from my personal life. "Is Jesus enough without the experiences?" That's a good one. Thank you.
What if God never spoke to you at all? Would you be okay with that?
Melissa you are dead on ! Thank you for your honesty, study, boldness in a very loving way!
Addiction to the rush is absolutely right. You're missing one reason that people fall for this stuff..... it makes them feel special. You have special revelation, you can pray protection or pray to have it removed. You become a member of an elite group of the enlightened. Someone who is normally shunned or ignored for whatever reason, is now elite. I agree with most of what you have to say. You're totally spot on. I have to deal with new age christianity all the time because of where I live, and some of my family members. You keep missing this one enormous appeal of nearby Redding, and a location north of me that's managed to stay off of everybody's radar so far. (Let's hope it stays that way! 4-square gone amuck!). You can go to one of these places, no high school diploma, minimum wage job, no friends, a nobody. After going to one of these places and getting some experiences under your belt, now you got Holy Fire, you've got Special Revelation, you've got a Calling. For the first time in your life, you matter. You're special. Its a huge draw that usually gets ignored.
YES!
That's insightful and very well articulated.
@@MelissaDougherty lol
Bethel is involved with the Rosicrucian order.
@@blackdog1153 Can you explain further? Where are your sources. Interesting
I recently heard a good word from John Thomas: “the prophetic is part of Christianity but it’s not the only part.”
I think some of the overemphasis on emotion and spiritual experience comes from staying as "baby Christians" relying on the soft food of spiritual experience instead of the solid food of God's word and trust in that. I don't seek after the spiritual experiences from my early walk with God as I no longer need it to ground me in trusting Him. I have mature to relying on scripture and doctrine and focusing on Christ and his work. I think this is what was meant in part by Paul and Peter when they ground in their letters about wishing to speak of the deeper things of God but the readers were not ready for the solid food.
wow!
My friends and I actually formed 4 groups that were like this in the first 2 years of my faith ( at different time periods) . It was amazing in the beginning but as time went on it led to me personally getting depressed and I almost committing suicide because I was not the people who had the very cool and amazing spiritual gifts any way praise the Lord for his grace that I made it out of there. am now more interested in God's word than spiritual gifts. I would rather never speak in tongues than lose the word.
@Atai Beautifully said! Isn’t there in Psalms somewhere that says I’d rather be a doorkeeper in the house of the Lord than live in a palace or something to that effect? I think often I would be thankful for eternity to be a doorkeeper at Heaven’s door than to have the world’s riches and fame but be without Christ. God bless you my sister 🙏
I feel like a stronger faith is grown on what we can’t see but the continued belief on faith alone. I think you should feel good about your walk because you don’t need a lot of stuff to believe n your savior.
I would rather never speak in tongues. Period! 🤪🤪
I was a child when I was invited to a bethel centered group (with adults) at my own church. It messed me up for a long time. I got out! Praise God! But this theology hurts people!
The Cultish podcast motto is: "Bad theology hurts people" 🙏
@@Ephesians5-14 I listen to almost every podcast of Cultish!
Be really careful where you attend.
@@sadiek9968 me too! 🥰😍
when I first saw that, I saw brothel centered group and was like I wonder where this comment goes lol.
This woman is sound and speaks wisely and from the truth of the Bible. I really like her.
She is religious and know nothing about who God really is. No, God is not defined by emotional encounter, however he is always with you because he is " the God with-in you" and how you react to that is not dictated by the likes of her.
@@rosiecallender2679 whattt?!???
10 seconds before you said, "Pride", I said, "It's also PRIDE."
My teenager: "I'd love to see you both in a room together."
Me: "We'd never come out." 🤣
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God💗
"God put us in a box...it's the Bible....it's box-y" 😂😂😂 You crack me up. Love this message! I've been seeking balance in this area, I get very emotional about God and His grace, but I honestly don't have "experiences" like others talk about. It's led me to feel lacking at times, but I continue to seek Him anyway. Just started a book called Blessed are the Misfits about this topic (for Christian introverts, analytical people, etc....), may be a good read if you haven't read it yet! Thanks for all you do 😊💜🙏
I'll have to find this book and check it out. It sounds like something that is along this line. I have been in a church where the experiences were put up on a pedestal and those with them were put up there.
going to check that book out when I get paid, thank you!!! Im def an introvert and often wander about evangelizing
@@Lakishia There are many flowers in Gods garden: from the smallest between the grass to the giant sunflower.......each of them has its place, duty and beauty. And God created it, as it is. 🤗
Sounds like an interesting book. I have a very different personality (especially for a female) and I do tend to believe that our unique personalities drive how we interact with God and vice versa. I have 4 daughters and I relate to each differently depending on their needs and what speaks love to them, what brings the best out of them, how to correct or confront each one, etc. Wouldn't a loving Father understand us even better? We don't all need the same experiences to be loved and used by Him.
@@TheHeggert We don't any of us need experiences to be saved and loved by Him. We need to trust what His Word tells us about Him, about us, and about who we are in Christ. 😊👍👍
I'm 76 years young. I've seen a lot over the years and have been part of some of it. I think you are spot on sister. James Dobson wrote a book maybe 35-40 years ago called "Feelings, Can You Trust Them?" I never read it but that title stuck with me to this day. There are times when His love and peace fill me but I don't make them thing to seek. To be still and know He is GOD and what He did for me is enough. Thank you for your ministry!
Love your words” to be Still” and know that He is God. So many places in scripture Jesus speaks in a still, small voice. Get alone with Him and be still, listen to Him.
@@camilleriggan9555 Ummm. One place in scripture God spoke in a "still, small voice."
Many places in scripture He spoke in thundering and lightning, smoke and earthquakes!
This is the trap of the charasmatic new age movement. "What's in it for me?" That's an inverted view of Christianity that's supposed to be for the glory of God and service to our fellow man. God becomes our servant instead of us being His.
You're absolutely right! It's the idea that it's all about me and if I don't get something then it's not worth being a part of. I actually had someone in the church tell me that this was how it was supposed to be and that's how it works in the church as well. That you never do anything if you don't get something in return.
So many gifts of the Spirit and so many biblical scholars and so, so little fruit of the Spirit.
@TRUCKER_PETE wonderfully put my brother
I wish I only knew this growing up. I spent so much time questioning just how much God truly loved me. I was tormented trying to figure out why I was not experiencing all these 'greater gifts,' and if I was truly saved, I should be a pro by now. I did not know that Jesus alone was even a thing. So thankful God opened by eyes.
Beautiful ❤️
And we'll said
John's experience with God in writing The Book of The Revelation of Jesus Christ, was SO unique and special that a warning was written in it: " If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book".
How many people have tried to go where John went on their own, as though they could enter in there whenever they wanted to?!?!
We must heed the written word, to abide well with the Word made flesh, who dwelt among us, most of the time, in very common ways.
Always allow for the supernatural, but "walk in wisdom towards them without".
The Book of Revelation is one the most convincing elements in all of Scripture. The way John talks about being overwhelmed and falling on his face before the angel of the Lord who says "See thou do it *not*" only worship God
Some of them, like Brian Simmons of the "Passion Translation," are actually trying to re-write the Bible!
@@codyvandal2860 careful-that wasn't the angel of the LORD
I appreciate this message. I've always thought something was wrong with my faith or my relationship with God because I never have any "experiences". Sometimes I'll get a bit teary eyed when praying or singing worship music, and I might feel peaceful, but I've never "experienced" anything intensively like some people claim to have every Sunday
Me too!! So glad to hear another in Christ say it in a way I can relate to.
Those tears during praying and singing those beautiful words are from your heart and the love you have for Jesus. Your heart overflows with love and peace. Let them flow. 🥰
This isn't funny, but why did I laugh at "hopscotch".
On the real though, I can 100% relate to feelings of pride at 9:25 and being in that mindset. It was part of the deception and the lack of gospel that supernatural works were needed as evidence of Christ's reality and my salvation.
I stopped playing hopscotch when we were forced to wear helmets and knee pads.
Low key want HIS Glory
I could not have said it better!❤️
@@Jef.Coats-CCV
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Thank you for the laugh!!!
One of the troubles of the Jews was always wanting a sign. There's people like that today, too. I've even heard of people believing a person can't be saved without having a mystical experience. That isn't in scripture. Scripture says we're saved by believing and says nothing about any need for mystical experiences as proof of salvation.
Thank you again Melissa. You have no idea what a blessing this video is to me this morning. I’ve felt so alone and have prayed for the conformation and comfort of knowing that I am not alone in my struggle with this.
Same here!
Thank you for saying this-- I often feel alone in this battle-- even though my mind knows that I'm not... Melissa's teaching and your words and the words of many others, here in the comments, are truly an encouragement... again, Thank you.
The apostle Paul spoke to this kind of thing in Colossians where outside teachers were trying to "sell" special knowledge that was only available from them - "In Christ alone" refutes this thinking. Too much of today's preaching appeals to the emotions and seeks a higher experience - my faith is based on the finished work of Christ not how I feel or think I should feel. Good video.
This is very encouraging cause I'm not one of those people who have had lots of spiritual experiences and because I was online and seeing so many people say that if you don't have these experiences then you aren't seeking God enough or you're not serious about Jesus, was getting to me. And I was thinking, if I was really even a Christian anymore, because while I did (and do) see God working in my life, I didn't have those experiences. I was even beginning to question if I had the Holy Spirit. It was a depressing and distressing time. Thank you for this video :))! It's a great encouragement.
Oh I’m so glad you don’t have concerns and questions about your salvation any more!!!!!! His Grace is sufficient yand Faithfulness never ends! Praise His name!!!
When someone continues to walk in the flesh, rather than spirit, they will tend to make decisions based on their last strongest emotion. As you said, chasing a feeling rather than seeking the true God of the bible. Our emotional reponse and that flesh man within us must be laid at the cross. Great message Melissa!
2 corinthians 5:7 "we walk by Faith not by sight"
This is an insightful analogy, and one I intend to ponder. I think you’re spot-on. 👍🏻
There's an old Gaither Vocal Band song that has a line that I return to over and over. "I long so much to feel the warmth that others seem to know. But if I never feel a thing, I claim Him even so. I believe. Help Thou mine unbelief..." God's Word is true regardless of what I feel. God's love is real, regardless of whether I *feel* loved. God hasn't promised to give me ecstatic experiences here on earth. What He HAS promised is that when this life is over, I will spend eternity with Him rejoicing and praising in an existence my finite mind cannot comprehend.
I'll take that over an emotional adrenaline rush every time.
After 18 years in Word of Faith teaching, all I can say is Amen and Amen!
I pray God uses this video to reach so many ❤
30 years for me, and yes, Amen!
Praise God you escaped. Word of Faith is another gospel. It is rooted in New Age thought. So many Christians are lured into it because they are not rooted in the Word.
Thank you for this!!
For a long time I felt like I wasn't truly saved and wasn't truly a Christian because I didn't "feel it" like so many others.
It seemed like everyone else was always having such high emotional experiences from God, but not me.
I thought there was something wrong with me and I didn't have enough faith.
It's so damaging!
The evidence that you have been born again is that you will begin to have a love for Christ and His Word, and for others.
For some it's instantaneous, for others it's a slower, progressive thing.
The great preachers of old used to call it receiving new affections. 😁👍👍
Love this, "God put us in a box..it's called the Bible, and it's boxy!" For so many years I would hear this saying, "Don't put God in a box," so we can hear from Him, and let Him "move" in our lives. But, as you said, He put us in a box..He has given us His word, a glorious prescription for godly living!
Well, those sayings are opposite. Don't put God in a box God puts us in a box. He cannot be placed in a box, but we can because we are human. I believe the saying stems from:
48 “However, the Most High does not live in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says:
49 “‘Heaven is my throne,
and the earth is my footstool.
What kind of house will you build for me?
says the Lord.
Or where will my resting place be?
50 Has not my hand made all these things?’[l] -Acts 7:47-49, Isaiah 66:1-2
@@Kharizmah thanks for the Bible verse, that is so true! I was relating to the phrase, don't put God in a box, as I had heard it often in a church I used to attend. When people said it, they were referring to not stifiling the flow and gifts of God, especially during service. So in other words, don't focus on reading/studying the scripture, just wait and see what God is doing or speaking that which is apart from what is already given to us in scripture. So, my response is in agreement with Melissa's point, that God has put us in a box, meaning God has given us His word, that has all wisdom and understanding for knowing who He is, and how we can live a holy life today. There is no need to seek out experiences to find His will or know who He is.
The Bible is a great box to be in. However, a lot of cults (JWs, Mormons, Calvinists, 7DA types etc...) put people in their Bible box and it is the wrong box.
What’s concerning me about this is that so few are sharing and speaking on this powerful and necessary discussion. I deeply appreciate this on so many levels. So many are missing real life in Christ for so many wrong reasons.
And that question: if you never had a supernatural experience, would Jesus be enough?! This post hits so much on the head.
I lived with the thought that “God loves me if I can feel Him” for a very long time. But I believed it stemmed from daddy issues. My dad didn’t hug me or show affection unless we were in church. It has crippled me. I know what the Bible says yet I have felt abandoned and unloved since leaving that movement. 😢
But Jesus called the Holy Spirit the "Comforter". That is meaningless if we never experience His comfort. Obviously, Jesus meant us to anticipate His comfort in our lives, and His guidance into all truth. We do not experience this during every minute of our lives, but He does give us these moments of knowing He is near. Other times, we stand by faith, and we're sort of like a baby learning "object permanence", then. We learn that God still exists, and doesn't go away, when we don't feel Him, but according to His word, He does want us to have experiences of His comfort and conviction.
This dialectical tug of war is Hegelian dialectical deception. Although both sides presented are arrayed against each other, both sides presented are unbiblical, and both are wrong. We must look to the Bible for the truth of God, and put our faith in His truth and guidance of our lives. We need to learn to be wary of the "swing of the pendulum," from "side" to "side", just as we should be of "divide and conquer", both aspects of Hegelian dialectical thought control. God gave us His word, and we can go directly to His truth, and know what He says. We don't have to swing between Left and Right, between Thesis, Antithesis and be shaped into gullible believers in the New Synthesis, whenever it appears. Let's trust God, in what He says, and we won't be bamboozled out of our faith.
I'm so sorry you grew up with that kind of idea. Our earthly fathers are deeply flawed human beings, some more so than others.
I have learned that God is a Father to trump all fathers. There is *no lack* of "fathering" when God has adopted you and *made you His.*
It's a matter of changing our paradigm.
*Feed your mind on the scriptures,* and your *identity in Christ* will begin to *take root in your heart.* It won't happen overnight, but the more time you spend *saturating your mind* with the Word of God, the deeper will be your assurance of *His Father heart* towards you. 😁👍👍
@@judylloyd7901 ahh yes I love this. Thanks for the reminder. ❤️
🎯🎯🎯
I knew this was going to be good...I was once burned out by the hyper charismatic life. I will not deny that God did and still does amazing things, but I NEED the word of God to be the main thing in my life. I'm a worship leader and I know that my place is to set the stage for the message so that people can learn to feed themselves and fall on love with the Word of God. That's how you get to know the Lord and worship becomes that much sweeter.
From a die hard charismatic and non - cessationist, very well put.
Melissa, honestly I don't think this is limited to the charismatic. I remember having a discussion with my grandmother who said that she didn't like my church because the preacher just taught from the Bible. She said she went to church to get energized to make it through the week. She was a Southern Baptist.
Oh man, that is sad. Church isn't meant to be a weekly pep rally.
Honestly, this is the best video of yours that i have seen, i felt very convicted and i wanna change this because its not just that it creates pride in us I think it also destroy us somehow.
thank you so much for sharing. You're right, Jesus should be enough for us and i dont need supernatural experience as proof that God loves us. 🤍
I am a self-professed recovering charismatic. I spent 17 years of my life in the movement and moved my young family to Tulsa, where I graduated from the pastoral program at Kenneth E. Hagin's Rhema Bible Training Center. The constant seeking for emotional experiences, spiritual giftings or a "word" from the Lord were part of what caused me to start questioning the belief system. I saw so much destruction in the lives of those who, once motivated by the promise of power and relief from life's struggles, were crushed by failed promises. It's a sick form of idolatry that equates success with spirituality. Every teaching was an attempt to find some new profundity in scripture, as the profound simplicity of the Gospel seemed apparently insufficient. The sovereignty of God is strangely lacking from nearly all church doctrine.
Whereas Charismatic teaching promised so much, the reality was nothing compared to the freedom experienced when I finally had to courage to see it for what it is. I left Charismania and found my home in a true, bible-believing church. One leaves with so much brainwashing tainting a true view of scripture that it can make the transition a long and painful one. I so much wish there was a support network for those who've left or are considering leaving the movement.
In CHRIST ALONE,, ALL OTHER GROUND IS SINKING SAND...
Yes amen!
I'm so thankful for my church family. We've had people we don't even know come up and say they could feel the presence of God the moment they walked in, but it wasn't this mystical or goofy feeling, it was just because a group of imperfect people who love Jesus got together and pray and worship and dive into his Word. Our other campus pastor's have asked our pastor what the secret is. Why are we seeing a move of God on our little campus. Our pastor said it's not about our church or anything we're doing. God receives all glory for any growth and anything miraculous. My pastor mentioned the other day that "nothing kills a move of God faster when the focus becomes man centered and not Jesus centered" Humility is key. I believe our church has a balanced, not perfect, but balanced view on the supernatural yet still recognizing the struggles we're all dealing with but that's why we come together, to encourage one another, pray for one another, laugh with one another, cry with one another, just do life together and in doing so going out and sharing with others that same love, hope, and restoration that we are receiving in Jesus.
Amen ❤ that's how it is! Scripture is our solid ground and it's dangerous to claim people are "putting God into a box" just for staying satisfied in the simple truth and not being open to new revelations and experiences not found in the Bible!
I was raised southern baptist and when I turned 20 I decided to turn my life back over to Christ.
I started going to a small church called the Spirit Filled Baptist Church. During the first Sunday service, I noticed it was a charismatic, speaking in tongues separate in filling of the Holy Spirit doctrine believers. I never felt right about the manner of worship and the gift of tongues that I heard one member speak at every Sunday service. It was the old standard, hundala, hundala, she with a few unintelligible words in between. Of course this is one of the most common phrases people might use when speaking in tongues, and the pastor would always interpret it differently each time. I even saw it in a cartoon when I stopped going to church. I am sixty one years old and I've learned more about God and Christ after I stopped going to church. And even if I have turned back to some of my old ways in order to exist in this world and get along with most people. I could not in good conscious believe that these people were any more filled with the Holy Spirit than any other christian, and in fact, they lived for that emotional boost that they claimed other denominations that did not believe in a separate in filling of the Holy Spirit lived by. I talked to a person who went to the church the same time that I did and he told me that most of the members who were married are now divorced and others lives were a train wreck. I told a relative that is married to a man that went the Baptist Seminary to become a preacher , but decided he had a different calling from God after he went and graduated. She said she was sad to see that I got all messed up by the teachings of that church. I did not tell her this, but I always knew something was wrong with their theology. I can't say that I am filled with the holy spirit because I don't ever get an undeniable affirmation from God in any supernatural or so called spiritual way that some people claim that they have. I only have the bible as the word of God to go by. I would not go back to another church like that, or any mega church like Hillsong, or Bethel because I know what they are about. But as the old saying goes " I wouldn't have missed it for the world." Mostly for learning that God does work that way. And claiming that you are receiving something that is given by God is a very serious offense to him if it is not.
Don’t believe everything you feel. 😉
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”
Jeremiah 17:9 KJV
Thank God that through the shedding of the blood of Jesus, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we are able to have our sinful heart transformed.
“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
II Corinthians 3:18 NKJV
Amen 🙏
Thank you dear sister in Christ, for bringing 2 Cor. 3:16-18 to my mind and heart as additional encouragement today-as I Iisten to Melissa's solid and hard-hitting teaching and am encouraged by so many of the brothers and sister's comments up in here. Your verse quote has brought me back to the basics: -like being a new creation (2Cor 5:17); born from above/born again of the Holy Spirit =John 3:3; that it's His work in us, NOT ours, or any fancy feelings (Phil. 1:6, Hebrews 10:14, 12:2, etc.).
Again--Thank you.
.. And love the lord your God with all your HEART and soul and mind. 'We are all made in the image of God... Even though we are all sinful. Those are also scriptures we can quote. Cherry picking a couple of verses is unhelpful. The devil quoted scripture to Jesus and he quoted opposite scriptures right back. Almost anywhere in scripture you can quote a scripture and find an opposite one elsewhere.
@@KJ-lb4tj yup-and that's why we must be unafraid to keep reading/studying and living into all these verses from His Word of Truth-in His Power and by His Righteousness & gift of faith Alone (2 Peter 1:1, Eph. 2:8-10, Romans 12:3 and 2 Cor. 5:21, to backup that statement and to name just a few verses that do so). And we must also be fearless, of course, about keeping these passages in their context- even those verses which, without the Holy Spirit's guidance, may seem contradictory.
And by the Holy Spirit, who is also the Spirit of Truth- and guides us into all Truth, and teaches, reminds & testifies to us about our Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:26,15:26,16:13) - by that Same Holy Spirit, be empowered (Phil 2:12-13) to " 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of Truth.". (2Timothy 2:15)
Just demonstrating the value of sometimes when we "cherry pick" a few choice verses, being true to the framework of their context- to the Glory of our Great Triune God.
And doing this praying that we would, "therefore, encourage and build one another up, just as in fact (we) are doing.... "
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Not sure it's about being afraid or unafraid of scripture. It's about knowing that although the heart can be decieptful, it is also deeply needed and we are commanded to use it to love.
Thanks for putting into words what I was trying to say! I have a couple "spiritual" friends who are this way and treat me like an immature Christian because I just won't speak in tongues. I couldn't figure out what I was thinking, but you just said it!! Thank you!
For years I felt the way you described and felt I wasn’t good enough and that’s why I wasn’t having these experiences but at some point in my life I realized I was wrong and I’m so thankful I did.
On the other side I'd say there is also idolatry of theology
Proper theology is excellent. Bad theology is demonic and needs to be run from. Perhaps the worst theology is from the demonic cessationist cults.
Agree! People can worship knowledge of God instead of worshipping the Living active God!
Calvinism almost destroyed my faith. And sadly it's on an uprise.
Reflecting back on my years in the NAR, I believe I was sucked into the “MORE OF GOD” because I got “saved” in a charismatic type church and was not discipled at all. I had no idea who Jesus was. I just knew I wanted to be forgiven and go to heaven some day, so I went from church to church trying to figure out this Christianity thing. And as the years went bye, I got into more and more error and read everything that said Christianity on it and all the pastors at the churches I went to were all over the place with their beliefs too. So I had a very shaky FOUNDATION for over 20 years. God opened my eyes to the true gospel in 2019! I repented of my sins and now love and follow Him and His Word daily. Im so grateful!
Praise God
and Right on!
2019 was my year of spiritual rebirth and being re-grafted in to the Vine, too--
"23 And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again." Romans 11:23
I was brought up Baptist but had been involved in the charismatic for many years. About a year and a half ago, I started studying the Bible in a way like I never had. I recently left the charismatic church. What you said in the video was very on point of what I saw a lot of in churches in recent years. I'm not a cessationist, I believe the gifts are for today...but I've seen the idolitry of the gifts and supernatural experience a lot in the charismatic church. I think this is your best video yet. Thank you!
Yup. Christian mysticism. Very self focused. All about glorifying the little "i am" under the delusion of glorifying God. It is self idolatry. I also came out of the new age. Feels very similar. There is a difference between seeking the mystical and joyfully submitting to God's mystery. God reveals His character to us in the pages of scripture. He did put us in a box and we need to be obedient to learning about and understanding His character through His word.
This makes perfect sense - people are always searching for the next "high"
I was JUST talking to my friends about this!! Perfect timing. Thank you for confirming what I’ve been realizing looking back on my charismatic conference-hopping childhood!
I am charismatic and I totally understand what you are saying! Blessings Sister!
I am one who believes in going deeper with God but by His rules. I love how balanced your delivery was. Bless you.
There are some days occasionally where I'd love a supernatural experience with God. But, then I tell him, thank you so much that I simply believe and know his word to be true. Jesus is my rock and I don't need a supernatural experience because he has given me the faith to know his word is true.
Thanks for putting that out Melissa 👍i have had a few supernatural moments in my life the first one was 40 years ago when i got saved 😇 but i had one a few weeks later where I felt the presence of God when praying it was an incredible experience that i remember to this day but have never had again 😥 but looking back on my life i can see the hand of God on my life directing my life even when i tried to run away like Jonah He drew me back with love 🙏😇
Whenever we compare ourself to others, it is a bad road to travel! However, I am so thankful for the supernatural experiences that He has blessed me with and it does not have to be one way or the other.
God bless you. We always thank God for all the graces he gives us. I’m publishing a weekly RUclips video on episodes from the life of Don Bosco, entitled ST JOHN BOSCO by JOE ZAMMIT. In this series I’m narrating events and miracles from the splendid life of Don Bosco. St John Bosco used to perform a miracle almost every day, through the intercession of Mary Help of Christians. From the lives of saints we can learn how to love God more and draw closer to him. Thank you.
I really needed this. Struggling with my feelings and not feel Gods presence. I went through a year of heavy doubt and I haven't fully come back from that I'm still struggling. I used to have such strong convictions about God, his word and even my experiences which did line up with the word of God; but what happened is I felt special, and more spiritual as you said here and became proud. How can one come back from this? My heart feels so closed off. I pray and read the bible but and then doubt comes back. I believe I'm saved and then I don't. its an up and down I used to always feel conviction when those things arose that I was indeed a child of God because of my trust in Jesus, but now my mind is all over the place and not focused on Him but on my feelings... What can I do?
Being caught in our feelings is a struggle for me too. It helps me to try and not let my emotions control the situation and try believe God will fix it and until it happens keep believing it until you see it. I have also been putting my effort on obedience, what God wants me to do, rather than my feelings and emotions and that's helped alot. ✝️💖🙌
Give it to God. When those doubts and feelings come simply surrender and commit them to the Lord Jesus Christ. We can't do anything on our own. He's working in your life. Stay the course. Be still and know he's God. Psalm 46:10. He's got you. ❤
I like Mike Winger's distinction between intellectual doubt and psychological doubt. If you have intellectual doubt, then the answer is: do some research. Research the topic you're not sure about until you have enough data to make up your mind. If you realize your intellectual questions have been given satisfying answers, then the doubt is just psychological doubt, and it's a normal phenomenon that we can accept and live with. I think Mike Winger also said this (very helpful): "Remember that 'What if it's not true?' is just a question, not an argument!"
I, like a lot of people, experience the phenomenon of intrusive thoughts: for me, they are usually questions starting with "what if", followed by the idea of some catastrophe befalling people I love. It can be very distressing. But these questions coming to my mind do not increase the possibility of those things actually happening 😅 The thoughts are just that, thoughts. I have learned to recognize them as such and just move on, continuing to trust God and the knowledge that he will give me the necessary grace at the time I will need it, if I ever have to face those situations.
Psychological doubt works in a similar fashion. But I remind myself that my decision to place my faith in Jesus and the Bible is based on good reason.
@@mariemilycraig well said.
God knows that people pass through experiences you have mentioned and is always ready to help us. I’m publishing a weekly RUclips video on episodes from the life of Don Bosco, entitled ST JOHN BOSCO by JOE ZAMMIT. In this series I’m narrating events and miracles from the splendid life of Don Bosco. St John Bosco used to perform a miracle almost every day, through the intercession of Mary Help of Christians. From the lives of saints we can learn how to love God more and draw closer to him. Thank you.
Hi Mélissa. Watching you from France. Thank you so much for all you do. Here in France. All the topics concerning the many danger in christianity are not so exposed. God bless you. Valérie
“Spiritually twitterpated” ...that phrase tho, bravo sis, bravo 👏🏼
Wow Melissa... Thank you for saying the hard things.. full of compassion💜So true! God bless you.
Talk about “mountaintop experiences,” Peter had the ultimate one on the Mount of Transfiguration, but what does he say about it in 2 Peter 1:16-21. He found the “prophetic word more fully confirmed” in Scripture. Well spoken, Melissa.
Peter’s comments on the mount of transfiguration (MAT 17:4) come to mind. I wonder if they might apply here, if this wasn’t at least partially what was going on in Peter”s mind; idolizing the experience he was having instead of the revelation God was giving of who Jesus was through the experience.
that was actually religion at play and God Himself had to step in and speak which He rarely did.
We do have spiritual experiences all the time: the Spirit of the Lord Jesus dwells in me.
Right 👍 on- short & to the point!
1 Thessalonians 5:11=
"Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."
Its a coping mechanism as well. Escapism...
That's a good point.
that's good point
Yes! Completely agree with you. My friend got totally ensnared by the NAR and WOF movements that it just broke my heart seeing the deterioration of her faith...I had no idea what these teachings were but I saw the results it gave to her life. She read alot of God's word but only in relation to the wrong teachings she received from them. In the end she has become so prideful that it didn't take long for our once thriving friendship to dry out.I am still praying for her, and I hope by God's mercy, she will come out of it in due time, before it's too late.
Christianity is so divided it's like there are different ways of being christian.. I have been confused about it for a while so many arguments and discussions. In the end it's truly personal. We will all answer for ourselves. Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, whatever it is as long as its coming from your love of Christ and not to prove yourself. Let us spend less time arguing what is right we can't tell from our reasoning anyway, let us stop believing that God can not guide us on a personal basis. A lot of the peace and clarity I get have been outside church related things.
Right 👍 on!
Sometimes He definitely teaches/reaches us outside Church related things and gives Peace and clarity in our one on one time with Him...
For me, I also have discovered the need to remember the importance of staying involved in a few of God's imperfect microcosms of the Body of Christ, here on Earth-- i.e., staying involved and learning to serve at a couple of doctrinally sound (again--though imperfect, like myself) local churches.
To a certain point, diversity of Christian traditions and customs is a good and permissible thing. But it is also the fact that "the rule of faith" (or "creed") was very important thing to early Christians. Not because of the rule itself but because it was the faith once delivered to us, the saints of God. It had less to do with reasoning and more with observing all things that Jesus commanded us to follow. Holy Spirit truly guide and help His people, but sadly individuals do not listen to Him very often.
I did NOT know I wanted hopscotch with angels -- but now I do!!
As always, thanks for your videos.
How about double Dutch?
Thank you so much for this. Honestly, I needed this. It has been a long time since I have sensed this closeness with God so I thought I was not right with Him. So, I would pray and read my Bible, repent of every single sin I have committed (not living in sin though, but sure to confess when I realize I have sinned), etc and still far away. Now, I am seeing that I need to continually seek God, NOT feelings. Even if the feelings don’t come back, I can live by faith that I am in the sweet spot of His Will. Thanks again........I needed this.
Greetings Melissa! Thanks for speaking about this topic...
Don't stop living for HIM
We’ve been conditioned through our experiences. My takeaway is that we balance ourselves with the help of the Holy Spirit. I’ve seen believers at both extremes. Very top heavy with biblical education and very top heavy with emotionalism. We have to constantly pray for one another but also teach and admonish each other. Thanks for sharing Melissa!
Good word Melissa!!! God took me on a journey to clean up the prophetic in me...he asked me.. Did it bear fruit in my life? Having to judge revelation...I found much of it unfruitful...keep up the challenge...so we can judge the motives of our heart!!!!
You hit the nail on the head I believe. You did such a thoughtful presentation here on this important topic. Faith us not a feeling and is not proved by what we feel, but what we know that we know in our spirit. Excellent word.
Awesome video. Spot on too. Honestly, it’s me. About a week or 2 ago some chick made a comment about how unbelievers need signs and wonders, it really bothered me, but it got me thinking ( the same thing you asked). If I never had another experience, is Jesus enough? It’s a very good and valid question. One I’ve been searching for. First half of my life , I ran from feelings, second half I put them on a pedestal, now I’m starting to understand that they just are. They are important but TRUTH needs to be my foundation, over feelings, over “facts”, over it all. Jesus MUST be first, if I never get another feel good experience again, Jesus is still it. ( it actually scares me to write this too, Bc I’ve based my whole life on feelings/or lack of and this requires a whole new way…a “not my way, but God’s” ) appreciate this content. Thank you.❤️🙂
Thank you for sharing this well worded, from your heart testimony-encouraging & challenging at the same time.
Very much the balance that we need betwixt the two aspects....
This is so good!!! I have been in places where I was the only one who didn’t/couldn’t speak in tongues and I did feel like a second class Christian because of that (and also because of battles with mental health) and it was really hard. But it has felt like God asked me what my motives were for wanting to speak in tongues and they were all selfish, show-off-y motives for myself and had nothing to do with Him or glorifying Him and that was really convicting
I felt that for me speaking in tongues was forced and unnatural, so I stopped.
Thank you so much for sharing this important topic that's rarely discussed in Christian circles. Getting addicted to "spiritual highs" can happen so easily and certain people like to sell you the tools on how...
Man, I appreciate you so much. I was saved from the prosperity gospel and from some New Age teachings. And in the past I felt the exact things you were describing. I would feel upset that I wasn’t doing enough and I wasn’t spiritual enough because I wasn’t having a grand spiritual experience daily. But the more I’ve grown to love the gospel and really study my Bible and not just hope for emotional/extreme spiritual experiences, my walk with Jesus has been so much more satisfying. I have come to understand that his love for me is not dependent on me and what I am doing to try to “earn favor”. I just need to walk in daily repentance and acknowledge my need for a savior and continue to worship him in all seasons. I’ve grown to love him for who he is and what he’s done, not just for what he will do for me. It’s been an unraveling. Thanks for taking the time to create loving content that shares the truth in love. You are appreciated sister.
Thank you for this video. This is something that's been on my heart for a while and this helps to realize I'm not alone in seeing it as idolatry. Jesus is ENOUGH! I've had experiences but not every day and was told by someone at a previous church that I wasn't a Christian because I didn't have these experiences every day. I'm going to write about this in my blog soon.
Thank you so much for this video. Because of this I almost walked away from my faith in God, thinking He did not love me as much as other Christians. Then God opened my eyes when I started reading His Word.🤗
I’m so happy you made this video, I thought that getting closer to God was to have spiritual experiences, God bless you and may God keep using you in a great way for His honor and glory.
I became a Christian after having a deeply spiritual experience, much of it was very dark. The Lord saved me from something I couldn’t see at the moment it was happening, and I got hit by his light like Paul the Apostle. Never in my life did I see it coming, and I wasn’t even surrendered to him at the time. It brought me to my knees and released me from some of the darkness that surrounded me. Then I experienced very intense spiritual warfare and attacks, which I was not looking for and dreams became something more than just your random dream. I was so broken and overwhelmed, and had I not heard scripture in my dream and messages saying “you are safe”. I would have broke completely, but as time passed and I got my bearings back. Those experiences began to disappear little by little and I continued to read my bible and pray. Now, sign from God come to me simply walking outside on a beautiful day and taking in God’s beauty in nature. God does interact with us in a grand way if he finds it necessary but seeking him when the signs aren’t as obvious, that’s when we should continue read the word and pray.
Thank you again Melissa for being Word and Boundry based, we need more Teachers that are grounded deep in the Word to rise up. 😀
Thanks for speaking on this. There has to be balance and boundaries to how we view those things. I find this not only to be a doctrinal issue, but also one that relates to mental health and addiction. So often, people who struggle with depression, or come to Christ from difficult situations, they often have very intense initial experiences, followed by a big slump. They can struggle with a religious addiction, and try to get that initial "high" back. Or they feel unloved or like God has forsaken them because those initial feelings have faded. I know, because that was my journey exactly. When those initial feelings faded, by felt like God had forsaken me. What I really needed to do was walk out the long, hard road of recovery that was ahead of me. You have to "feel through" some hard spaces, and fill up those "holes in my soul" with Scripture and godly service, other spiritual disciplines.
Twitterpated. I'm glad someone else besides me remembers that word. lol
Thanks for your thoughts, in listening to you address this growing problem within the church it triggered my personal encounter with some family members caught up in a movement called “ The Last Reformation “. A group transfixed on experience, you must have physical evidence of your relationship with God, we do it’s His Word!!
Experience doesn’t equal truth!!