B E C O M I N G F L U E N T I N P I C T U R E D I A L E C T I N S P I R I T T O S P I R I T C O M M U N I C A T I O N

APRIL SIXTH, 2014 GREG HASWELL

THE INCREDIBLE BENEFITS OF

HEARING GOD’S WORDS

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. !James1:27

WASHING OFF THE WORLD’S DUST

Encouragement !He traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, . . . Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Acts 20:2, 1 Thessalonians 4:18

Life !Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’

Matthew 4:4

Cleansing !3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. !John 15:3

The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life.

John 6:63

Faith !Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

Romans 10:17

HOLY SPIRIT IGNITES, AND

OFTEN SPEAKS, USING PICTURES

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened

Ephesians 1:18

AN INNER SCREENIn the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he was lying in bed. He wrote down the substance of his dream.

Daniel 7:1

IMAGES IN OUR MINDS PROJECTORS

4 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home . . . 5 As I was lying in bed, the images and visions that passed through my mind terrified me. !Daniel 4:4-5

• Natural sight (Other natural stimuli)

• Memory

• Imagination

• Holy Spirit (God)

• The enemy (Using the first 3)

19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20 and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.” !1 Kings 3:5,15

1. I’m going to spin this business

God will use the furnishings of your mind to speak with you.

Your experiences, upbringing, emotions, education, skills and passions all add potential material that Holy Spirit uses to create a mental picture that means something specific to you

4. Seeing into the spiritual realm or things outside of yourself

5. You get caught up in a vision, sometimes called a trance in Scripture

1. A spontaneous picture appears on the screen of your mind

2. A picture appears while you are worshipping, in prayer for someone or asking God’s advice

3. A dream that seems loaded with meaning from heaven

John the WHAT SHOULD I

EXPECT? EXAMPLES

he  By river fr within will living

FINDING CONFIDENCE IN WHAT WE HAVE

RECEIVED

A message bears the nature

of its author

DISCERNING THE AUTHOR OF A MESSAGE

THE ENEMY HOLY SPIRITAccuser of the brothers and sisters !Revelation 12:10

Helper, Advocate !John 14:16

Father of lies !John 8:44

Spirit of Truth !John 14:17, 15:26, 16:13, 1 John 5:6

Tempter (towards sin) !Matthew 4:3; 1 Thessalonians 3:5

Guide (towards truth) !John 16:13

A message bears the nature

of its author

DISCERNING THE AUTHOR OF A MESSAGE

THE ENEMY HOLY SPIRITUnclean spirit !Matthew 12:43

Holy Spirit, Spirit of Holiness !Romans 1:4, Acts 2:4, 33, 38, 4:8

Spirit that works in the children of disobedience !Ephesians 2:2

Spirit of Adoption !Romans 8:15, 23

Thief (to steal, kill and destroy) !John 10:10

Spirit of life (abundant) !Romans 8:2, 6, 2 Corinthians 3:6

A message bears the nature

of its author

DISCERNING THE AUTHOR OF A MESSAGE

THE ENEMY HOLY SPIRITgod of this age, world !2 Corinthians 4:4

Spirit of Grace !Hebrews 10:29

Prince of the devils !Matthew 12:24

The Lord God of Hosts !Psalm 46:7, 11

spirit of heaviness (causes despair) !Isaiah 61:3

Spirit of joy (causes us to overflow with hope) Romans 15:13

MEASURING THE MESSAGE

20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt 21 but test them all; hold on to what is good, 22 reject every kind of evil. !1 Thessalonians 5:20 

WE ARE CALLED TO MEASURE THE MESSAGE

No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. 5 Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. 7 Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this. !2 Timothy 2:4 

REFLECTION WILL OFTEN BE NEEDED

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. !1 John 4:1 

WHAT FRAGRANCE OR RESIDUE DID IT LEAVE WITH ME?If it encouraged, added peace, joy, light, life, stirred my destiny and call, drew me closer to Jesus, reminded me of the cost to Jesus and the Father’s heart, then it was probably from God. If it stole from me or my call, discouraged me or put me down, added condemnation, caused a separation between me and God, or belittled me it likely originates from the thief and enemy of our souls.

If I follow this message or communication, in what direction does it lead me? Am I getting closer to God and His kingdom or is it leading me away from God. Am I going out with joy and being led forth with peace? Does the general direction of this word point me further into God’s will for my life?

WHERE IS IT LEADING ME?

HOW CAN I CO-OPERATE WITH IT?

Does it focus me on Jesus and call me to godly action? Can I see Jesus calling me to this action? Does it inspire me to want to pray? !What clarity does this word bring to my life and how does that help?

LETS TRY THIS NOW

LETS TRY THIS NOW

God has a posture towards you. Ask Him to show you what it is and respond to Him. !

I looked, and there before me

Daniel 4:10

“In the visions I saw while lying in bed, I looked, and there before me was a holy one, a messenger, coming down from heaven.

Daniel 4:13

In my vision at night I looked

Daniel 7:2

As I looked,“thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat.

Daniel 7:9

In my vision at night I kept looking, and there before me was one like a son of man

Daniel 7:13 !

TRY THIS AT HOME