Jesus Christ is called "The Word of God", because He has been given the words of God. And we read and are to teach that God is One, but have these three personalities, [Father, Son, and Spirit]. So the Spirit draws us to the Word of God [Jesus Christ]. And the Father says, "This is My son in whom I am well pleased, listen to Him."
I have a question. Is it possible to have a relationship with the Holy Spirit and not know the Son?
Many will say, "didn't we prophecy in your name." and Jesus will tell them, "I never knew you."
It is an interesting thing about the gifts; that they all draw you to the voice of the Lord, but it seems that you might still be able to have them and not know the Son.
Prophecy is a gift of the Spirit, but apparently you can prophecy in the Lord's name and still not know Him.
Moses was a friend of God's, but there was a man that got a dream from God and was prophecing in God's name in the camp. Did that man know the Lord?
Nebuchadnezzar recieved a dream from God, and Belshazzar the king saw the writting on the wall, but it was Daniel that wrote, "for we have rebelled against Him; nor have we obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in His teachings which" [Dan 9:9] and "Indeed all Israel has transgressed Your law and turned aside, not obeying Your voice" [Dan 9:11]
Now if the Sprirt is does not say anything of His own, but only says what He is told, then the Spirit willing works as a line of communication with the Word of God. Isn't that because the Spirit wants you to know the Lord Jesus Christ, and not Himself.
If you have been given a prophetec dream, don't you know what to talk to the voice of God, to find out what you should learn from the dream?
If you speak with tongues because of the gift the Spirit gave you, don't you know want to talk to the voice of God to find out what the teacher has to say?
If I have been given the faith to believe that God can do miracles if I ask Him, shouldn't I still ask Him when I should use this gift of faith, and what purpose He had in making things the way they are?
The Holy Spirit did help Paul intimately communicate with God, and it is that communication with The Word of God that we are looking for. It is that communication that we are preaching first and foremost!!
Yet at times we [even all those that know Him] start preaching another gospel. We say things like, "If you have a question, pick up your Bible as the Word of God". Or we tell people to "develope a relationship with the Holy Spirit." These things sound great, but our message is the same message the Father has, "this is My son in whom I am well pleased, listen to Him." And our message is the same message the Spirit has, "Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says, 'Today if you hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as when the provoke Me'" [Heb 3:7,8]
Jesus said "I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are luke worm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth."[Rev 3:15-16]
Some days I want so badly to tell people to listen and believe, and other days I get upset because of persecution and the worries of the world and tell the Lord, 'I am not going to tell anyone about You ever again.' Yet at both those times I hear the voice of the Lord come to me and talk with me. When He becomes far away is when I just kind of go to church on Sunday, read my Bible in the morning and think that was good enough for me, and when I put a bumper sticker on my car and think that I am a fine Christian. I can often sound much better as a Christian when I am doing what everyone thinks is write, than when I am listening to the Lord. Yet it is times like that when I no longer hear from Him.
I really like Dusty's writings, but I have trouble with this conclusion, "Finally there are 2 extremes to avoid – fear and fanaticism . Both of these can be placed in the proper context by realizing that all believers have a living relationship with the loving Holy Spirit .Our approach should be with an attitude of humility,"
First, I am looking for a relationship with Jesus Christ not the Holy Spirit.
Second, I hear from Him beter when I am hot or cold, so should I avoid these extremes?
Thrid, I am humble when I am listening to the Lord and doing what He says, not when I am pretended to do every thing right according to my understanding.
Fourth, when I am listening to Him, I often come across as strange as Sampson, but that is because I am all for Him. There is no fear then. Yet if I am not listening to Him. I can come across as clean as the Pharisees, but under it all are lies and fear.
Both Lot and Abraham were righteous, but Abraham was following the Lord and was considered His friend. So what is that like? It like having friendly conversations with Him. Here is an example, I give to you so that you will search for a relationship with Him.
I was driving down the road one day when sudden the Word of God came to me: “KARL, I’M A HOLY GOD.”
That seemed out of character to Him, because I have never heard Him brag.
“I DIDN’T SAY I WAS A HOLY GOD, I SAID I WAS A HOLIE GOD. I HAVE HOLES IN MY HANDS.”
Ha, Ha, Ha – I laughed, I had never thought of Him exactly that way. Then I started to realize I was the one that put the holes in Him and tears came to my eyes.
“KARL, I HOLD EVERYTHING TOGETHER WITH MY HANDS, SO THE HOLES MY HANDS ARE THE THINGS THAT SHOULDN’T BE THERE; THE MIRACLES, SIGNS, AND WONDERS.”
“IF MAN WASN’T REBELIOUS, I WOULDN’T HAVE THE HOLES IN MY HANDS, BUT IT WAS NECCESARY TO GET HOLES IN MY HANDS TO DRAW MEN BACK TO ME.”
“IF PEOPLE DON’T BELIEVE I WENT TO THE CROSS, WHAT GOOD IS THE HOLES IN MY HANDS TO THEM?”
“KARL I TELL YOU TRUELY, IF ANYONE DOESN’T BELIEVE IN MIRACLES, SIGNS, AND WONDERS, THEY DON’T BELIEVE IN THE HOLES IN MY HANDS. THEY DON’T BELIEVE I WENT TO THE CROSS. THEY DON’T BELIEVE I AM A HOLIE GOD AND THEY ARE NOT OF ME.”
So I told Him, “Wow, I guess we really tear you up.”
HA, HA, HA – I HEARD HIM LAUGH
Then He reminded me of a teaching He had recently given me:
“THE VERY THINGS THAT MAKE YOU LAUGH WILL MAKE YOU CRY ONE DAY! --- AND USUALLY IT’S YOUR KIDS.”