Led By the Spirit

Do some apologists tie the hands of God? I'm reading a lot of online literature recently, mostly from the Reformed side of the church, that the Bible, humanly understood and exegeted, is how we come to the truth with no divine assistance needed. In other words, God has done all He is going to do since the canon was closed two millennium ago.

I think this is an extreme reaction to charismaniacs who claim that God is doing a new thing and manifesting in their meetings by way of glory clouds, gold dust, angel gems, oil dripping from ceiling, fire anointings, slaying people in the spirit, etc. 

But kicking the Holy Spirit out of the church is not the solution to such lunacy. When Jesus spoke these words to His disciples, He wasn't addressing merely the first century church, but the church throughout the generations until His coming for us.

“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you." - John 14:16-17

Those who are indwelt with the Holy Spirit and nourished daily by the Word of God are immunized from following the voice of a stranger or mesmerized by the devil's tricks and sleight of hand. They are sealed with the Holy Spirit and are not citizens of this earth or under the rule of the god of this age. We are sealed, not soaked.

We know Jesus and recognize the attributes of God versus the carnal manifestations of the antichrist who seduces those in this wicked generation who are seeking after signs. When something is claimed to be supernatural, we can test those things to see if they line up with His nature and purpose. We discern by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit who quickens our spirits and brings the living Word alive to us. 

By making this biblical claim, those who only have head knowledge will call us mystics. That is a wrong definition of the word. A mystic uses spiritual disciplines to yoke up witih the divine. A Spirit-filled believer is a child of God and hears His voice. Those who are not attuned to His voice now sure won't be when they are dead:

"Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live." - John 5:25

Don't let anyone quench the Spirit in your life. And don't be deceived by the devil's tricky counterfeits. This is the fine line of the narrow way -- stick with it and avoid decoys.

"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." - Heb.4:12

"Then He said to them, 'Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake. But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.'" - Luke 21:10-15