My dreams do not matter unless they bring me to Your Word.  You have chosen to give me new information about this world.  Somewhat irrelevant, unless I effectively verify and match that new information against the Word, then discern Your intention and direction for showing me.  This is a dangerous world for those willing to take information from disparate providers without verification.  Thinking new information is of God and never combing through Your Word to verify the source is a recipe for eventual disaster.

Jesus answered enemy interrogatory and prompting utilizing scripture, effectively demonstrating to us the method to handle incoming data, inquiry or temptation.  Verifying that the source is “of God” will determine the appropriate secondary action.  Certainly over time, one becomes accustomed to “the small quiet voice of Almighty God”, but that in and of itself is a gift from God.  However in this world, currently chaired by the devil who is by nature a deceiver, it is imperative that we are certain of the source of information before taking action or developing faith relying upon its accuracy.  If it isn’t in the Word, the Lord is not the source.  I am not saying that God may not reveal something new to His children, but what I am saying is that if He does it will be entirely consistent with the Word.  Nothing which contradicts the Word of God is of God.

The original sin involved deception.  Certainly there was a propensity to sin that allowed Adam and Eve to be deceived, but that is separate from the deception itself.  satan will suffer judgment from God for his participation in deceiving God’s children.  I must be forever vigilant in my memory and awareness that satan seeks to deceive us and destroy us, so that I am mindful to demonstrate the Berean attitude toward incoming data.  God wants us to check, verify, discern and act upon Truth not be easily led astray by fad, misinformation, misdirection or deception.  So many people want so desperately to personally hear God’s voice that sometimes they naively approach new information without verification that it came from God.  This is especially important for new believers who may not have a solid level of discernment available but must remain cautionary to even the most mature Christian.  Our vigilance and reliance upon God is our only protection.  We should never allow false pride, or misplaced confidence in our own abilities to allow us to drop our shield or put down pieces of God’s Spiritual Armor.

It is pretty safe to say that there is no new Word to be delivered to mankind.  We already have every piece of information we are ever going to need embedded in the Living Word of God.  Most revelation is not new information but rather a revealing of Truth already incumbent to the Bible into which God provides new clarity of understanding.  Especially in these last days we are understanding segments of the Bible that were either shrouded in mystery to original believers or have simply become relevant because of the current circumstances in the world.  Frankly some things just didn’t make sense to old testament believers because they were intended to “unfold” at some distant point in their future.  Though the Author of the Bible knew exactly what everything meant, the scribes tasked with putting it down on parchment most certainly wondered about the mysteries they encountered.  We have blessedly been chosen to be alive during a period of time when all is rapidly being revealed to our waiting eyes.  This is great blessing to see the unfolding of God’s Holy Word and should not be taken lightly.

I hear and obey but I also hear promptings, temptations and sirens meant to turn me from God’s Word.  If I do not develop the spiritual understanding, ask for discernment and wisdom to only follow truth it is inevitable that I will eventual follow false doctrine or direction.  I ask that the Lord protect our minds with the helmet of salvation and the Mind of Christ so that the thoughts, tempting and enemy deceptions take none of us captive.  I also however, pray that believers armor themselves against deception by practicing the policy of verifying the origin of each relevant thought.  Trust in God alone, not on your own understanding.  Praise Him for His grand protection of our minds, hearts and faith.  Thank you Father in Jesus’ Name.