Answer to CounsellingShe passes on other anecdotes of a similar nature, including those of physical healing. People are described as "falling under the power of God". There was one who claimed "I no longer have abuse in my history. I have no memory. I have nothing. It is as if there were never anything." The subject of the 'healing of the memories', as it is claimed, is another issue, but that is what is being spoken of here. It is a most dangerous and suspect methodology, which has roots in occultism. "God is healing the sick, and He's mending our wounds, and He's doing things for us that it's taken us years of care and counselling to try and achieve." She then describes a person she knows with whom she spoke before she went to Toronto. "The Lord gave me, I know, counsel for her. It was a bit strong, but I know it was the Lord. We both agreed it was God and it was a blessing to her, and it was going to be life-changing counsel." On returning from Toronto, she met the lady, and she was "worse than ever. So I thought, well, you know, there's my wisdom. It had made no impression at all She could not break free...." That raises a very searching question. How did she know it was without a doubt a word from the Lord for this woman? Then to discover it didn't work—how then can she revert to stating it was her own word—"my wisdom"—all along! That is not only dishonouring to God—it can be, and often is, devastating to a suffering believer. It is the height of impudence to make such a claim in the first place. We seek wisdom from the Lord from His Word, not by direct revelation, for that puts us in danger of receiving error from the devil and his demons. If a thing is of God it will work. We need to come humbly before God to seek His will and guidance, and not make claims that something is categorically a "Word from the Lord". Such a view also undermines the whole doctrine of the sufficiency of Scripture. The woman, of course, was to go on to experience these things spoken of. "She fell to the ground, and she wept. And the Lord ministered to her and she was there for fifty minutes, and when she got up she said the issue was dead, and that she was restored." No doubt that was a wonderful experience. We're not questioning whether or not the Lord can do marvellous things for His people. We would question their real origin. There is such a lack of discernment, that it really does appear that people are mistaking something else for the work of the Lord. The Lord works by His Spirit who applies Scriptural promises and makes the Lord Jesus real to a troubled soul, without any so-called "slaying in the Spirit."
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Copyright © 2002 Homerton Baptist Church. |
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